Chapter 3
Yulaina slipped away quietly and headed for the hill. She was already feeling stifled, and listening to those endless, tiresome stories about the war made her head throb.
“Ah, now I can finally breathe.”
The hill was Yulaina’s favorite place. The green meadow, even more vivid than last week, was dotted with sheep and goats grazing on the grass.
Spreading out her handkerchief and sitting down, Yulaina found a pitch-black baby goat approaching her side, rubbing its head against her.
“Talta, hello.”
Meeeh, Talta responded softly before starting to nibble on the grass beside Yulaina.
Her father always said, “Goats are livestock,” but this little one recognized her as a friend and greeted her so affectionately.
“Eat up.”
She stroked its coarse fur a few times, then gazed at the landscape before her.
A blessed natural fortress, my foot. If she could, she’d shove those towering mountains right out of the way.
Yulaina lowered her eyes to stare at the crevice in the canyon below the mountains. There was an escape route there.
The only entrance to the village, squeezing through the layered gaps in the mountains to reach the outside world.
“Talta, someday I’m going to leave for the outside. Even if it’s just me.”
Yulaina pressed her palms against the grass and closed her eyes. It was a gesture she always made when trying to calm her frustrated heart.
As if to soothe her noisy mind, the wind wrapped gently around her body, and the birds chirped sweetly in song.
…Clang, clang, clang, clang.
‘What was that?’
Yulaina’s eyes snapped open. An unfamiliar metallic sound was coming from somewhere.
“Did you hear it too?”
Meeeh, Talta cried, burrowing between Yulaina’s legs. The goats and sheep that had been grazing lifted their heads rigidly—it didn’t seem like a hallucination.
“What is it?”
Yulaina cautiously stood up and peered down the hill.
From far off in the canyon. The noise was growing closer. Amplified by the narrow rock walls, the sound felt eerie, sending chills down her arms.
Clang, clang, clang, clang…
Gradually, other noises began to mix in. The whinnying of horses, the rumbling of carriage wheels…
It meant a large group of people was heading this way. Her palms started to sweat clammily.
Not long after, Yulaina could make out the source of the sound. From the entrance of the distant canyon, cavalry in black uniforms were just emerging.
Riding sleek, glossy black horses with fluid movements, they were laden with long swords, canteens, backpacks, and rifles.
The mysterious noise Yulaina had heard was the clatter of weapons clashing as the soldiers moved.
One, two, three, four…
They poured in endlessly, like a massive black snake wriggling through the gap.
Stunned by the sudden turn of events, Yulaina stood frozen until she snapped back to reality at the sight of a black carriage appearing in the middle of the long procession.
The carriage had large, sharp wheels, and on its side was emblazoned a golden eagle, thorns wrapped around its body, clutching a rose in its beak.
“That’s…”
Norden.
Pale and rigid, Yulaina staggered to her feet with great effort.
There was no time to wonder why they were here or how they’d made it this far. Just one thought: she had to warn everyone, fast.
Yulaina ran with all her might. She didn’t stop until her heart felt wrung out and the taste of blood rose in her throat.
Above her, the evening sky, beginning to darken, was stained blood-red.
***
The festival grounds, thrown into chaos, were now deathly silent. Overturned tables, shattered lamps, someone’s shoe rolling in the dirt…
The villagers huddled together in a tight circle, shoulders touching. Those who were drunk staggered but tried to sober up, while the sober ones stifled their sobs.
There was nowhere to run. The Norden soldiers surrounding them like a wall held bayonets pointed like they could pierce right through their chests.
“How on earth did they get here…”
Aunt Rose, standing beside her, sobbed and clutched Yulaina’s hand tightly.
Through the ranks of Norden soldiers standing at rigid attention, a tall young man strode forward with heavy steps. His uniform was impeccable, adorned with many insignia, but his long red hair hung loose, leaving a striking impression at first glance.
“I am Colonel Shevik. As you can see, we’re from the Norden army. Cooperate peacefully, and no one gets hurt.”
No one laughed, but the red-haired colonel grinned broadly. It seemed like a habitual smile.
“Now, we’re looking for someone in this village. ‘Walter Dorf.'”
The colonel quickly dropped his smile, scanning the crowd with sharp eyes. Silence fell, and when no one responded, he furrowed his brows slightly.
“It’d be best if he came out quickly.”
Still, no one answered. In Kisov Village, there was no one named ‘Walter Dorf.’
“Walter? Come on out.”
Among the people shrunk like frightened turtles, someone cautiously spoke up.
“Um… there must be some misunderstanding. No one here is named Walter.”
“Don’t talk nonsense.”
The colonel’s face twisted in discomfort.
“We know he’s hiding here.”
“It’s true.”
“Are you saying the Norden Imperial Army’s intelligence is wrong?”
His expression turned icy as he reached for his waist. Seeing the pistol holstered there, the crowd began to stir uneasily.
“It’s really true, please believe us.”
“M-maybe you came to the wrong place!”
The villagers murmured. Someone urgently sought out Yulaina.
“Yulaina, where’s the doctor? He’s the only one here who could talk sense to them.”
Yulaina, her face drained of color, barely managed to reply.
“I-I don’t see him anywhere. I looked everywhere in a hurry.”
From nearby, someone’s low voice interjected.
“The doctor just ran off to the warehouse with the nutrition supplement makers. Said there are some weapons hidden there.”
Yulaina blinked anxiously. The soldiers already had them surrounded with bayonets; there was no way to move.
If he showed up with weapons in a situation like this, who knew what would happen…
Her chest tightened so much it felt like it might burst. Did her father even know about this?
“What are you whispering about? So, you’re saying Walter isn’t here?”
Amid the growing clamor, a voice suddenly cut in from behind.
“Shevik, stand down.”
Even amid the noise, the low, smooth voice came through unusually clear.
Seeing the colonel immediately step back, the people fell silent again. A higher-ranking figure was emerging.
From the shadows, a tall man in a kepi slowly stepped forward.
Someone exhaled in dismay.
“That man, could he be…”
The speaker trailed off, and a strange hush fell over the crowd.
His face was hidden in shadow under the brim of his military cap, but the people instantly sensed he was no ordinary man and began to whisper.
Sometimes, a person reveals their presence just by the way they move.
He was that kind of person.
Tall with broad shoulders, his sleek and solid build fit his uniform perfectly, but his straight, elegant posture and unhurried gait made him seem even larger, bolder.
Clearly, someone who’d never bowed his head before another.
The red-haired colonel barked fiercely.
“The son of the Norden Empire, Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army, His Highness Grand Duke Erich von Norhert.”
Everyone was terrified. Yulaina took a deep breath, trying to calm her pounding heart.
The Norden Grand Duke, infamous for collecting severed fingers. The one who’d spent half his life killing since childhood… that notorious devil of a grand duke.
“Why is the Norden Grand Duke here…”
The murmuring crowd stumbled back, stepping on each other’s feet and tumbling in a tangle. Some whispered desperate prayers through quiet sobs.
The grand duke watched the panicking people with apparent amusement, hands in his pockets, lounging casually.
His eyes were shadowed and unseen under the brim, but his straight nose and lips curved into a subtle smile.
“Quite the grand welcome.”
He scanned the limp, dangling garlands and offered a brief comment. His soft Norden accent sounded surprisingly gentle compared to his fearsome aura.
Afraid to meet his gaze, Yulaina still cautiously lifted her eyes to study him.
Only the lower half of his face was visible, but as the rumors said, it was no ordinary countenance.
“Walter Dorf is definitely in this village. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to be right here. Search the buildings.”
“Yes, sir!”
The Norden soldiers, rifles slung over their shoulders, quickly dispersed. Glancing at them, the grand duke wore an inscrutable smile.
Yulaina swallowed dryly, her body trembling. Please, let Father be safe…
“Well then. We’ll handle the search ourselves.”
The grand duke personally righted an overturned wooden chair, unbuttoned his jacket, and sat down leisurely, crossing his legs.
“So, while we wait, how about we chat a bit?”
Tilting his head slightly, he had just pulled a cigar case from his inner pocket when,
“…Mister!”
Right beside where the grand duke sat, a small head suddenly popped up.
