ICM Chapter 135

Ice had formed between the piles of fallen leaves. The once-soft forest path had frozen solid, making it all too easy to slip if one wasn’t careful. The two hunters pushed forward through frost-covered branches that had turned white and brittle.

“Shh, stay quiet for a moment.”

The hunter in front stopped walking and crouched down. It was the depths of winter in a forest where bitter winds blew. The cold air receded and warm air began flowing from somewhere.

“What’s that sound?”

“Over there, isn’t that the herb gatherer’s cabin?”

“Fire, it’s on fire!”

“Shh!”

Along with the warm air, acrid smoke began piercing their nostrils. The two hunters quickly hid behind trees.

“Th-those bastards. Aren’t they from the other territory?”

The cabin that had been spewing acrid smoke was instantly engulfed in flames. Around it, figures in familiar uniforms were wandering about fully armed.

A whistle sounded from somewhere. Upon hearing the signal, those who had been surveying the area quickly left.

The two hunters, who had been crouching low for fear of being discovered, turned pale.

“Those bastards. They’ve finally caused trouble. They’ve caused trouble.”

Residents of one territory could not harvest resources or hunt in another territory without permission. Because of this, those living in areas where two territories bordered each other often got caught up in disputes. No matter how much the law prohibited it, there were always those who would invade other territories by targeting places where surveillance was lax.

Recently, reports had been coming in from both territories one after another. As a result, soldier patrols had increased significantly. The land where the two hunters were currently staying was at the northern edge of Talion territory.

The hunters hurriedly descended the mountain and delivered shocking news to the villagers: armed patrol members from Maiheller territory had harmed territorial residents.

The same incidents occurred everywhere, and residents at territorial borders became extremely nervous. Reports had already reached the lord’s castle, so patrols by soldiers had increased on this side as well.

Then that incident occurred. At dawn when dry, cold winds were blowing, a village at the territorial border was engulfed in flames. The situation rapidly deteriorated after they captured fleeing Maiheller soldiers.

Flames shot up from the temporary barracks.

“It’s a surprise attack!”

Soldiers on guard duty ran throughout the barracks shouting. On one side, people were frantically carrying water to put out fires, while on the other side, soldiers were taking cover from incoming arrows.

A black-haired man burst out of the largest barracks in the center. His face clearly showed signs of confusion.

“Hey, what’s going on! Give me a report first!”

“It’s too dark to gauge how many enemies there are.”

“There aren’t enough forces over there for this! At most, it’s just a few sentries from the observation post!”

“Th-that… look over there!”

Torches appeared in a line from the edge of the forest surrounding the barracks.

“What is that?”

The man’s eyes widened as if they would pop out in shock.

The garrison wasn’t small in scale. Yet torches were approaching from a wide enough range to completely surround that space – hundreds of them.

The incoming arrows stopped, and finally, mounted figures began emerging one by one from the forest’s edge. Following them, soldiers carrying torches appeared in a continuous line.

“It would be best not to put up useless resistance.”

A deep, heavy voice warned the man who was about to draw his sword.

A black cloak bearing the family crest, bright golden hair that stood out even in the darkness, and a well-built, exceptionally tall frame clad in dark gray armor. Even just looking down from horseback, he was a man who could intimidate his opponents.

“D-Duke Talion?”

“Do you know me?”

Drushia found it curious that someone he had never met recognized him. No, perhaps they had encountered each other once or twice, he thought.

“What is the meaning of this? Talion invading another’s territory!”

“Speak correctly. Your side started it first.”

“What do you mean?”

“You set fire to a village at the territorial border not long ago, didn’t you?”

The opponent didn’t immediately understand and blinked. He had heard that there was a big fire at Talion territory’s border recently. He couldn’t think of what connection that had to the current situation.

Without waiting for an answer, Drushia looked around the garrison barracks. The fire had been quickly suppressed, and startled soldiers had gathered to face off against Talion’s soldiers.

“Are you the commander of this unit?”

The black-haired man kept his mouth shut. He had sensed something strange in the air.

“Tell your master this: Talion cannot help but hold Maiheller accountable for their illegal invasion.”

“Wh-what kind of… nonsense! We never did such a thing! We didn’t come here to fight either. We were just…”

“Just what? What did you come all the way here to do?”

The man realized that things had gone terribly wrong. Drushia’s eyes flashed as he pressed again.

“If you don’t answer properly, I’ll declare territorial war right here. Will you fight against Talion’s army?”

The corners of Drushia’s mouth turned up. It was a sneer mixed with mockery, as if to say “go ahead and try.” The man struggled to steady his wavering vision.

‘This is a trap!’

****

“What do you mean? Territorial war? Battle? Where do we have forces for that!”

Maiheller only possessed the minimum forces needed to defend his territory. The numbers were woefully insufficient to wage territorial war against Talion. Erwin, who had come to deliver the news, also had a bewildered expression.

“An urgent report came saying there’s fighting. It definitely said our soldiers and Talion are fighting at the territorial border…”

“Why are you only telling me this now! You should have sent a messenger bird immediately when problems arose!”

Marquis Maiheller roughly snatched the letter from Erwin’s hands. As the marquis unfolded the small piece of paper, his face instantly hardened.

“What is this…”

“What’s wrong?”

“Why did this bastard send the letter? Don’t tell me the ones currently waging territorial war are these scoundrels?”

Only then did Erwin realize the situation and was horrified.

“Why are those who should be hiding in border villages fighting Talion under our family’s name!”

A thunderous voice echoed through the study.

Marquis Maiheller had planned to somehow push out Talion and enter the grand duchy. Given the small number of authorized forces, he would need to hire mercenaries long-term like Igraine, or borrow soldiers from other families with larger forces.

The marquis, who wanted neither option, had been raising private soldiers to use as his hands and feet. He had put so much effort into them over the years that when the opportunity arose, he planned to make them official knights of the family.

But everything had gone awry. Now, losing troops was secondary – the fact that he had been secretly raising private soldiers would be exposed.

“Did you give the order to move? Did you do it?”

“How could I, father?”

Erwin’s face was pale. He had never lived against his father’s will from birth until now. Moreover, Erwin didn’t even have the command authority to do such a thing.

“Then why did these bastards move troops on their own without permission…”

Suddenly, a realization struck him like a blow to the head. The soldiers’ sudden movement and news of battle, when they would only take orders from him. He felt déjà vu. It was so clever and familiar that it was astounding.

“Talion… that damned Duke Talion…”

The marquis’s face twisted viciously. Where had the gap appeared? Who had committed such a bold act to toy with him? In his mind, he went through the attendants, maids, and closest associates who had been by his side.

But before long, one person came to mind. Someone so lowly that he had never paid attention to them. A worthless existence that he could use at will and discard at any time.

Grinding his teeth, words leaked out between them.

“Shafri, where is that child now?”

“Didn’t you send her to the villa last time, father?”

“Has she been there the whole time?”

At the marquis’s interrogation, Erwin tensed up completely. It had been just recently that he had earnestly begged Shafri to do nothing and stay hidden. Anxiously worried that his father’s anger would once again turn toward Shafri, he continued his answer.

“She came by briefly a while ago to pack some necessary belongings, then went back. Last time the maids forgot to pack her things…”

“Immediately…”

A light like madness flashed in Marquis Maiheller’s eyes.

“Bring her here. Shafri, that insolent thing.”

It was impossible. He had chosen her with his own hands and tamed her under his control. Yet the hunting dog that had outlived its usefulness had bitten its master.

“Bring her here immediately!”

At the thunderous shout, Erwin jumped back in fright.

The marquis’s hand holding the letter trembled with rising fury.

****

News reached Duke Talion’s castle only two days later. Instead of the awaited news from Drushia, the messenger bird that arrived belonged to someone else.

Ashika left her bedroom, abandoning her still-unpacked luggage. She hadn’t even put on a winter robe, so Mia, who was outside the door, hurried over.

“My lady, the weather is cold. What if you catch a cold…”

“Where is Jeanne?”

Mia’s worried face didn’t register in Ashika’s vision. With an anxious expression, Ashika looked around. She was looking for her own people who had come with her to Talion territory.

“She was at the training ground until just a moment ago, but she stepped out briefly saying she was going to the quarters.”

“What about Nile and Pelburn?”

“Shall I call someone to find them?”

“Tell them to come immediately to my reception room, no, to Lady Majes’s room.”

‘Lady Majes? Who was that?’

Mia’s light brown eyes became triangular as she tried to remember.

“Ah, that person. Yes, I’ll tell them.”

The mysterious middle-aged woman who had come with Nile right after Ashika entered Duke Talion’s castle. Since the day of arrival, she hadn’t stepped foot outside her room, so they had almost forgotten about the guest’s existence.

Watching Mia run off hurriedly, Ashika recalled the location of the guest room. Talion’s main castle was hundreds of years old and built in preparation for war, so its structure was complex.

“Oh, oh…”

“My lady, good day to you.”

Several servants passing through the corridor spotted Ashika and quickly bowed. Because Ashika had entered the duke’s castle alone without Drushia, they hadn’t been able to give proper greetings.

Therefore, most people working in the main castle didn’t know Ashika’s face. They only knew that she was someone with an uncommon appearance – black hair and black eyes.

After wandering from the 3rd floor to the 1st floor, then from the 1st floor back to the 2nd floor, Ashika was finally able to find where the guest room was located.

“Is the guest inside?”

“Yes, shall I announce you?”

There was also a guard in front of Clemen’s door. It was positioned for protection, not surveillance. When Ashika nodded, the knight knocked on the door to announce the visitor.

“Ah, Young Duchess Igraine.”

Clemen, who had been sitting in a table chair reading a book, stood up.