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Chapter 26

Flashback to the night before.

Wilhelm asked Fernaha Glencia for only two things when he visited his room. Of course, he laid the groundwork before that.

“Marquess Glencia gathers knights to strengthen his territory, right?”

“….”

“And because the Marquess’s life could be in danger.”

Those who already knew were rolling their heads and predicted as much. But Fernaha Glencia was a little surprised. He had always thought that Wilhelm was just a rookie knight who blindly kills and was good to rent, mainly because he was always backed by Dietrich Ernst.

Looking at him now, he seems to have some idea of what was happening. Besides, what’s with his old-fashioned attitude?

Fernaha nodded.

“So what you want to say is….”

“I would watch for my head if I was the Marquess. He should’ve thought of the Emperor first.”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!”

Argen waved his arms in fright. What was this talk about being beheaded? But neither his Young Master nor Wilhelm blinked an eye. Fernaha raised his chin with an almost laughing expression.

“Tell me more.”

“If he thought it would be worthwhile to have 10,000 soldiers, he can’t confront the Empire from the barbarians left behind. His territory on the border is vast even if the war is now over.”

“Did Sir Ernst teach you?”

“No.”

Wilhelm’s eyes flashed. Fernaha remembered how Dietrich always said that he was like his archenemy, but he heard that Wilhelm studied under Sir Ernst. Even his dangerous eyes looked a little sad when he talked about Sir Ernst. But perhaps it doesn’t have that much effect on this nutcase.

“He’s such a good person that he wouldn’t even think of those things.”

“Ah ah ah ah ah!”

Argen shouted again in fright when he mentioned the words ‘Emperor’ again, fearing that anyone would hear it. Fernaha just waved his hand.

“You look ridiculous, Argen, stop.”

“Both you and Sir Wilhelm were the ones who look crazy to me!”

Fernaha somewhat understood Wilhelm’s words, not caring whether Argen was struggling beside them. Dietrich Ernst was a man who seemed to be a lump of loyalty and devotion. He was a soft person, but he would go crazy if the sword wielders were easygoing.

Sir Ernst was also a man who would not speak out even if he dared to rebel against the empire. At the very least, treating the Emperor a bit kinder…. They’d come up with the same deal – especially with this thing.

‘He’s the type of person to not talk to someone who was a nutcase.’

If Dietrich Ernst had a serious conversation, it would be limited to the type of person who could make an opinion similar to Sir Ernst. For example, the Viscountess.

“So?” Fernaha asked.

Wilhelm was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, but his posture was strangely relaxed and bothered him from the beginning. It was absurd to think that he was only 19 now.

“I don’t need 5,000 Allanquez. You don’t even have to pay my Lord. 500 soldiers – please lend them to me for only six months.”

“… Ha, and what, I’ll be under you?”

Wilhelm tilted his head arrogantly. Fernaha knew where this kid was coming from, and it was as if he was born a beast that had been ferocious since birth.

“You should listen to what people have to say until they finish. Luden will be a great estate in six months.”

“…… What?”

“And when that happens, my master will become a great lord that she won’t care about how much your horse eats.”

〈So, that’s what he means. Fernaha pretended to be relaxed and smiled.〉

“…… Are you going to take Glencia’s private soldiers and fight the territory?”

“Glencia doesn’t need their private soldiers now after all, right? Even if the Imperial Family sent an order for their dissolution, they are a force that cannot be used immediately.”

Wilhelm’s attitude in accepting Fernaha’s words seemed to be arguing for something really obvious. It was unfamiliar to Fernaha how he came to know everything that he almost rubbed his eyes. Where did that guy who was running around splattering blood go, and how did he suddenly change to a negotiator? Fernaha pressed down his stuffy chest and asked him.

“What would make me trust you?”

“I will be Glencia’s dog for the rest of my life if I can’t get any results after six months.”

“AHA?”

This was definitely a leftover business. The budget for feeding, dressing, and sleeping the 500 privates was less than that of 100,000 Allanquez. And six months before that, the Emperor would’ve ordered Glencia to disband the enlisted men.

In that case, it is better to send the enlisted soldiers to another territory in advance. In fact, the Marquess was also slightly considering this.

The Marquess’ Territory could normally maintain a number of about 5,000 soldiers. The remaining 5,000 were sold to other estates through referral, a plan to make them rental knights and then rake them up in case of emergency. However, in this case, it was difficult to recover military power if another territory betrayed them.

“Aren’t you overconfident of yourself? If you kill 500 of Glencia’s enlisted men in six months and run away, then Glencia will be completely robbed.”

Fernaha Glencia knew that Wilhelm wouldn’t. At Ernst’s funeral, and in his dealings with the Viscountess, Fernaha was able to truly see Wilhelm. Fernaha Glencia had a good view of him being human – in a slightly different sense.

The Viscountess was always in Wilhelm’s eyes. And it was after Fernaha saw that when he figured out what that gaze meant. Though he threw him the bait of his younger sister, he was sure with just one look that Wilhelm would refuse.

‘Even this kid is a man.’

“I can see why your nickname is Glencia’s Fox. You can’t be a criminal – you don’t have enough guts to do that.”

Glencia’s freckles flickered. But this b*st*rd.

“So, what if she becomes a grand lord?”

“Glencia will have a strong ally. The lord of the great territories that stretched across the eastern part of the country. Under Luden lies the Orient.”

Orient – the wealthiest estate in the East. The mountain above yields iron and grain below. But it was such a powerful territory. Fernaha almost laughed at his ambition to acquire such a place like Orient. This 19-year old sure had big guts to do that.

“And the Emperor will double-check on us?”

“That’s right.”

Wilhelm said bluntly. Fernaha narrowed his eyes. Wilhelm opened his mouth slowly.

“It’s okay. By then, they would stop holding you by the neck. And even if I don’t ask you, you’ll come under me.”

“What…. Sir Wilhelm, you’re talking big now.”

“Fernaha Glencia.”

Wilhelm pointed at Argen with his chin. Realizing what he meant, Fernaha winked at Argen.

Argen contorted his face. 〈No, my Young Master didn’t understand what I was saying, but I was the one who has to understand him?〉

But there was nothing he could do. He grumbled and walked out of the room. 〈How long do I have to stand outside? Shall I go around Luden Castle? A cup of tea is enough time to go around this pea-sized castle. 〉

As he racked his brains on what to do, he slowly moved away from the room and admired the shabby tapestry of Luden Castle hanging in the corridor. Not long afterward, he heard Fernaha roaring from the other side of the corridor.

“Argen Stugall! Pack your bags!”

Argen answered in a sullen voice, “… Yes?”

“We’re going back to Glencia right now!”

“No, why?!”

Fernaha Glencia did not answer his aide’s questions. The horses that had their saddles down snorted when they saw their owners who had entered the stable in the middle of the night. Among them, the one who resisted the most was Thunder. But as soon as Fernaha got on the saddle, he kicked the horse’s ass without any care. Argen followed him hurriedly. “Ah, please explain why!” On a dark night, Glencia’s party went back without saying goodbye to the Viscountess.

And a month later, more than a thousand enlisted men of the Marquess Glencia arrived in Luden.

It was twice the number of soldiers Wilhelm requested.

At most, Luden could only house 200 people. It was only natural because there were only a few people that worked and lived in Luden.

Then, about a thousand enlisted men naturally set up positions in front of Luden Castle. It was buzzing with people. Everyone was bewildered that a war was going on, and Mrs. Sarah almost fainted.

“I don’t have the money to feed so many soldiers! Wilhelm, what are you doing?”

Reinhardt, the Lord of Luden, looked down at the troops from the top of the castle with a pale face while grabbing Wilhelm and expressing her anger. Wilhelm smiled and kissed her hand.

“Because you like land.”

“Is that land? Those are humans!”

“Rein.”

Wilhelm called her name softly, ignoring her anger. Reinhardt paused.

Marquess Glencia lent private soldiers to the Luden Estate without receiving a penny. That’s twice as much as what Wilhelm asked. Wilhelm argued that the reason was that the Duke was recruiting him, but Reinhardt didn’t believe it. Nothing was free in the world.

So Reinhardt urged Wilhelm to give a reason, but he said, 〈“Rein, can I get some fresh air?”〉 and led her to the castle.

The wind blew. It was autumn now in Luden. Autumn in Luden comes earlier than in other places, and even summer wasn’t that hot. A pleasantly cold wind was blowing over the castle. Thousands of soldiers set up their camps and lit a fire to eat, and the sound of chattering amongst them could be heard up to the top of the wall. In short, the surroundings were very noisy.

But for some reason, Reinhardt felt that those noises drifted away when Wilhelm called her name. Perhaps it was because of his black eyes staring at her – his black and hot eyes that seemed to swirl all the heat Luden had lost from summer.

He smiled softly and took a step closer to Reinhardt. They stood near each other since they weren’t that far from each other.

It was strange how that friendly and affectionate young man earlier was now surprisingly unfamiliar. Reinhardt felt her body tense up unconsciously. She was the person who asked him what his reason was, but she felt that somehow it was her being interrogated when facing him like this. Reinhardt stared at the man who was a head taller than her.

“Tell me, Wilhelm.”

“I know you don’t trust me like Dietrich.”

If Dietrich Ernst had been here, he would have been delighted at the forlorn expression on the young man’s face. It was because Reinhardt was more suspicious of the soldiers he had brought rather than being delighted. However, the young man had uttered Dietrich’s name with such sorrow. Reinhardt naturally felt ashamed of herself for not trusting the young man as the trust she had in Dietrich.

The young man then spoke.

“You wouldn’t have been this surprised now if he was the one who brought enlisted people like this. No, I think you would’ve screamed with joy. Am I right?”

Reinhardt stopped at the words that came out of the young man’s lips.

“No, Wilhelm, there’s no way….”

“I also knew the fact that there’s no use in bringing up my teacher who isn’t here. I just….”

“….”

“I grew a lot more than you thought while I was away from you. Just look at my height alone.”

Wilhelm raised the corners of his lips as he put his palm on the top of her head. Reinhardt’s head was now below Wilhelm’s chin. Though he was originally half a head smaller than her. She suddenly realized how their height differed. Looking straight into Reinhardt’s trembling eyes, Wilhelm whispered softly.

“We’ve been apart for quite some time, right?”

For the first time, Reinhardt learned that Wilhelm had this kind of talkativeness inside him. Her grown knight now had a knack for making long and upsetting statements, and she realized the little boy she knew was no longer there. The young man also gave Reinhardt a sense of guilt that she had thrown him on a lonely battlefield while he was still growing up.

“I can’t say that I know all of your sorrows and your anger, but I know the feeling of deprivation – very detailed and clear. Ever since the time I couldn’t speak to Reinhardt, I’ve seen you grind your teeth even in your dreams while you call out Mikhail Allanquez’s name.”

Reinhardt pursed her lips as she had a lot to say but didn’t know where to start. Wilhelm took her hand gently.

“And now Mikhail Allanquez took Dietrich from us. You aren’t the only one hating him now, but I wanted to remind you that my actions weren’t purely for my personal revenge.”

“Wilhelm.”

Reinhardt calmly called out his name. Her eyes had a hint of embarrassment and remorse, but Wilhelm finished what he wanted to say. It was one-sided.

“I did this to return what was yours, and this is just the beginning.”

“I never told you to give it back to me. And if I get it back, it would be me —”

“But you wanted it through me, didn’t you?”

She was speechless again. She had been wanting to do one thing ever since meeting Wilhelm – revenge. Reinhardt, swearing, never dreamed that Wilhelm knew about it. Every time she saw Wilhelm, she was enveloped in an endless tenderness and she couldn’t turn cold to him. But this kid knew it all. Even so, he was smiling gently in front of her.

Seeing her speechless, Wilhelm smiled brightly. It was Reinhardt’s favorite boy’s flawless smile.

“You were going to use me as a tool anyway, so whatever I do, it was within your ability and anger. I will be the thunder and lightning of your storm. A storm has a road to go, but thunder and lightning only follow the storm and have no will of its own.”

Thunder and lightning struck people one step ahead of the storm and caused fear. But that’s only part of the storm to come. Wilhelm was willing to be her instrument.

“I’m just paving the way for you first.”

“….”

“I hope you like the path I have paved.”

The young man said and looked down at the castle. A thousand soldiers were there. Reinhardt looked at the young man’s back and felt as if he was far away.

In the relentless winds that blew over the castle, the child who had saved her life suddenly grew up to become a huge wall, standing in front of her. That wall will also block another rainstorm from hitting her.

However, Reinhardt could never have thought that the wall would be hers. The man knew too well what she wanted, yet Reinhardt was still unwilling to accept what the man gave her – because it was unfamiliar.

〈Was this really the child I cherished and loved?〉

She could’ve praised him for growing up well in a blink of an eye, but she didn’t want to. When a puppy becomes an adult, it can be said that he grew up well, but how would people feel if that puppy grew up to be a monster? Can they praise him for being a beast enough to bite and kill others?

“Oh, right.”

“…?”

The man turned to her.

“If you like it, then….”

“….”

“Then, I’ll tell you what I want.”

Reinhardt didn’t answer. It was because she instinctively felt that he was not asking for an answer.

If the young man told her what he wanted, she had to give it to him. It wasn’t a choice, but a duty and debt she had to pay. However, Reinhardt doubted if she had anything to give the young man.

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