Chapter 54

Fjord stopped while climbing the stairs.

'Sandar Marquess?'

Even though he only saw the silhouette, he couldn't miss it. The Marquess, who had quickly disappeared into the crowd, was well-disguised, but Fjord's eyes were sharp.

'Why is Sandar here? Is something going on?'

Fjord organized his thoughts as he went up to his room. The dissolution of the Southern Alliance had caused Sandar some headaches, but it must have also been a relief in many ways.

The useless trash had been swept away.

He also heard that the Sandar cadet branch had swallowed up several fragmented territories. Of course, this had left the South in turmoil, but...

'But Barat and Sandar?'

Flowers and snakes.

He needed to investigate this further. As Fjord entered his room, a servant brought a silver tray with letters on it. The others silently helped him take off his coat.

Barat's servants rarely spoke.

Fjord glanced at the letters and smiled faintly.

One was from the royal family, and the other was from Lilica. He stopped the servant who was about to change his clothes and picked up the letters.

'It's an invitation to the hunting festival.'

He didn't even read the letter from the royal family. His fingers quickly moved to Lilica's letter.

You are invited to the Wild Strawberry Alliance!

Fjord's eyes widened at the first sentence, and he laughed as he read on.

We are recruiting members to harvest and cook wild strawberries together.

Those who are not afraid to pick wild strawberries.

Those who can pick and cook wild strawberries together.

Those who can share the cooked wild strawberries.

Those who can respect and acknowledge the alliance members.

Those who can keep everything a secret.

If you wish to join the alliance, please reply.

At the bottom, there were two crossed keys and a wild strawberry, seemingly drawn by her. Fjord thought he should reply immediately. He had a rough idea of who would be in the alliance.

Even if Athel would be furious, he couldn't miss out on this.

"Master."

The servant who approached quietly whispered.

"The Duke is calling for you."

Fjord put down the letters and nodded.

As always, the study was opulent. Outside the window, the rain was pouring heavily, but inside, it was quiet.

Duke Barat stood with his back to Fjord. Fjord waited for him to speak.

"A letter came from the princess, didn't it?"

"Yes."

"Stop getting involved in trivial matters. It's time to pay attention to what's visible."

"..."

Fjord remained silent. When no answer came, Duke Barat turned around.

"Fjord, don't disappoint this mother."

Fjord still didn't respond. The Duke chuckled.

"When you raise a son, you face his rebellious phase. I thought my child wouldn't have that. Good. Follow me."

The atmosphere was unexpectedly gentle, but Fjord didn't let his guard down. The Duke enjoyed shattering small hopes.

The candlestick was pulled, and the bookshelf turned, revealing a narrow passage. The Duke led the way into it.

Fjord followed. He knew where this path led.

A cold smile rose from deep within him.

Does everyone know what's in the basement of the splendid Barat mansion?

Cold iron beds, restraints, and various drugs.

Even now, Fjord felt his breath catch as he entered the dark, sealed space.

But he was no longer a child to be terrified by being brought here and tied to a bed.

Still, he couldn't help but clench his damp palms. The fear ingrained in him since childhood shook him.

"This is your first time here, isn't it?"

At the Duke's words, Fjord lifted his head. At the end of the seemingly endless dark path, something was manipulated, and a new path opened.

A deeper passage.

He felt as if he wouldn't be able to return once he entered. Fjord glanced at the Duke's face and stepped inside.

Inside, moans of pain echoed. Through the dense iron bars, dark silhouettes were visible.

The moment he realized what they were,

Fjord's breath caught in his throat. His whole body trembled.

The Duke didn't bother to illuminate beyond the bars with the dim light. He said,

"They are all failures. You are here because of their sacrifices, Fjord."

His voice was cheerful. Fjord felt the ground beneath him shake.

"How can I describe my joy when you finally emerged? Rebelliousness, good. If you want to become one of those failures."

The soft voice echoed well in the basement. The Duke's voice was clear, with moans and sobs of pain as the background.

"What do you think will happen if the princess learns this? Will that lowlife accept you? Fjord, my masterpiece. Your essence is the same as theirs."

The Duke grabbed Fjord. Fjord couldn't resist. His body was weak.

Pushing Fjord against the bars, the Duke laughed.

"Look closely. You should be grateful to me. If you want to know what happens when you stop taking the medicine, feel free to rebel."

Her hand gently stroked Fjord's head.

"That pain is necessary for you. My proud masterpiece."

The tender voice sent shivers down his spine. He felt suffocated.

"Think about it as much as you want."

The sound of the Duke moving away echoed. The heavy door closed. In the narrow space, the sounds of pain resonated and grew louder.

Fjord clutched the bars with both hands. Otherwise, he might have fallen.

The bars began to freeze from where he held them. White breath flowed out.

The tears that ran down his cheeks froze and shattered before hitting the ground.

Now the underground prison was quiet. No sounds of pain were heard. Even the breath froze.

A cold silence enveloped the space.

'Even in this cold...'

Fjord thought absently.

Even in this cold, his body felt like it was burning. His blood seemed to sizzle and boil, ready to consume his entire body.

Would fire, not breath, come out of his mouth when he spoke?

Pain cannot be atonement.

But

But

—Don't break.

Vivid blue eyes.

The moment he recalled them, the prison seemed empty. Only something like snowflakes lightly drifted.

* * *

It was a heavy summer rain.

Lilica sat on the porch of the secret garden's cottage, enjoying a rare moment of rest.

Her relationship with her mother seemed closer, and with the rain, invitations had decreased. Thanks to this, she could write letters for the 'Wild Strawberry Alliance.'

'How many times did I rewrite it?'

Her fingers still ached.

She sat in the rocking chair on the porch, listening to the rain and gazing absentmindedly at the scenery. It was pleasant to watch the rain from a safe and warm place.

'When it rains, the roof always leaks.'

It didn't matter if she got wet, but it was a big deal if the bedding or furniture got wet.

Why was this old memory so vivid?

"Princess."

Bryn offered a warm cup of milk tea. Lilica took it.

"Thank you, Bryn."

"It's nothing."

"Where's Raub?"

She tilted her head and asked Raub, who was standing guard at the entrance. He shook his head.

"I'm fine. My Lord."

After the oath, Raub called her 'My Lord.' She found it very embarrassing, but when she suggested he call her 'Mistress,' she had no choice but to say, 'Just call me My Lord.'

All the awkward smiles, tones, and actions disappeared. In short, he became even more stoic.

He didn't speak unless necessary and didn't smile. Being with him felt like performing a silence meditation, but the atmosphere was much more comfortable and gentle.

Lilica liked it.

Moreover, he seemed more natural when he was with her.

"It would be nice if we could all drink it together."

Since it was just the three of them today, Bryn nodded.

"Since it's a rare invitation from the princess, why don't we join you?"

At Bryn's gentle words, Raub looked at him with a blank expression. Bryn understood. He was on guard. Bryn's eyes narrowed.

'Hmm?'

Suddenly, Lilica felt a familiar sense of déjà vu.

'It feels like someone is calling me...'

It was like a dream. She leaned the rocking chair forward and placed her feet on the ground.

'Ah, as expected.'

She felt something calling her, pulling her. She stood up with the cup and glanced at Raub.

He was staring in one direction like a hunting dog that had heard a bird. His pupils widened like an animal's.

Lilica also turned her gaze in that direction.

"Ah!"

The moment she saw a silver glint behind the wild strawberry bushes, she knew who it was.

"Raub!"

She handed the cup to Raub, who approached cautiously.

"My Lord."

"Princess!"

"It's fine, don't come any closer!"

Lilica grabbed an umbrella and ran into the rain.

She wanted to tell them not to come at all, but they wouldn't accept that.

'Somehow, I feel like I should go alone.'

Her intuition was shouting that.

There was no one behind the wild strawberry bushes. She followed the pull and found Fjord standing under a tree, drenched in rain.

How long had he been there?

How did he get in?

These questions briefly arose and then vanished.