CH 111

Rowena looked out the parapet into the pitch-black night. In the distance, she could hear ominous sounds, and a slight vibration shook the platform that she was standing on. Without further thought, Rowena began to run to the second-floor corridor barefoot. Before she could knock on the door to her father’s bedroom, the door popped open and her father jumped out with a sword clutched in his hand.

“Wake up Marina. Right now!” he shouted.

Rowena ran to Marina’s bedroom and pushed open the door. “Wake up, Marina! Wake up!”

Marina jumped up in surprise. “What’s wrong? What’s going on? Stop playing with me!”

At that moment, there was a loud banging sound from downstairs, followed by William’s shouting. “Everyone, get up! We’re being attacked! Get up!”

Rowena hurled clothes and shoes as quickly as she could to Marina who was standing rigid and yelled, “Come on, Marina! Get dressed! Wear the warmest clothes you have!”

Rowena trembled like a leaf, her disheveled blonde hair scattered onto her shoulders and down to her waist. Still, she continued to rush her younger sister who was frozen in place with superhuman willpower, forcing her to put on multiple layers of clothes.

“What’s… going on, Rowena?” Marina asked in confusion.

“Keep your mouth shut and follow me.” Rowena grabbed Marina’s hand and ran out of the bedroom and down to the hall, where Count Townsend—who had not been able to put his armor on yet—was receiving an urgent report from William.

William had discussed the matters mentioned by Elena with the count upon returning to the Townsend estate. The war that involved the king and his cousins meant that they had to make proper preparations as well, but their poverty prevented them from doing so. The people of the estate could not do anything without being paid, so the count could neither blame them for not working nor force them to work. If he did so, there was a chance that they were going to leave.

In other words, Count Townsend was being paid back for not acting properly as the people’s lord. Neither walls nor a moat could be constructed. However, William didn’t give up and patrolled day and night with the few knights he was in charge of. He had been on night patrol again tonight when he had noticed what was happening.

“It’s Logan, and he is bringing a huge amount of men. I don’t think he’s just going to attack some villages and leave this time. They will crush our castle,” William gave a straightforward report of what he had seen with his eyes.

Count Townsend turned completely pale. The acrid smoke from the hastily lit torch shook frantically in the howling wind.

“Father, Father. What are we supposed to do?” Rowena cried out.

At her shrill voice, Count Townsend turned around slowly to look at his two daughters. The sound of horses’ hooves shook the ground beneath them.

“Take refuge, my lord. We’ll take care of this,” William said, urgently grabbing the count by the arm.

However, Count Townsend remained still. Instead of escaping, he looked at William and asked, “William, I wasn’t good enough, was I?”

“What are you talking about, Lord Townsend?! Get out of here!” William snapped without realizing it, then he pushed the count and his two daughters away.

“This is how I’m paying for my sins. I’ve ended up like this because I wasn’t good enough…”

“Lord Townsend, please go,” William uttered, frustrated that the count was jabbering nonsense. However, the count drew his sword and pushed Rowena and Marina to William.

“Go, William. You have to take these kids to Elena. Don’t let them get hurt.”

“What are you talking about, Father? Come with us. You have to get out of here!” Rowena insisted.

The ground began to quake more intensely. Feeling as if he was being choked, Count Townsend shouted back at Rowena once again.