Chapter 32

After several days of hesitation, I visited Lady Yorana's house.

Nonna was with me, but she quickly disappeared into another room with Susan. She must be discussing bobbin lace and knitting with great enthusiasm.

"What's wrong, Victoria? Is there something troubling you?"

"Am I showing it on my face?"

"You can't lie, so I can tell right away."

A sharp pain shot through my chest.

I have told countless lies in my work, and I have lied to Lady Yorana many times.

"So, what happened?"

"I obtained something that a person left behind, something they wanted someone to hear before they passed away."

"I see. And?"

"I can read it, but I'm afraid to. I keep hesitating, and it's driving me crazy."

"Victoria, if it's bothering you, just read it. If it makes you sad, come to me. We can share your pain together."

"Lady Yorana..."

"Because we are friends, aren't we? Friends share both the good and the bad, don't they?"

Encouraged by Lady Yorana's smile, I returned home. But no one was there to greet me.

Nonna had gone to Elizabeth's house, and Jeffrey was with the Second Knights. My house has only a few servants, so this sometimes happens. However, when I leave the house, Bessa always informs me in advance.

Moreover, it's impossible for all the cooks and young maids to be absent.

I entered my room and, as usual, looked at the baby powder on the floor. I saw a man's footprint and took a deep breath, stretching my back. No male servant enters my private room. I started using baby powder after Jeffrey left. So...

I put my hand in my pocket and reached through the hole at the bottom to grip the knife tied to my thigh. Who entered?

"Finally, you're back. I was tired of waiting because you were so late."

I turned around and saw Will Zachary standing by the door.

"Oh, what a rare sight."

"I came to thank you. I can't do forced labor anymore."

"Mr. Zachary, you look well. How did you escape from the detention center?"

"Well, I thought you, as the king's dog, would know. I started a fire in the detention center and escaped with some friends. I could have run away, but I thought it would be nice to make your husband sad."

He's not that skilled. I can handle him alone...

"Can you not move? If you try to attack me, your servants will die. I brought some friends. You're so kind to your servants, aren't you?"

"Hello, Mrs. Asher. I showed them around the house."

"Ori!"

Ori, wearing clothes he must have stolen, was smiling with a knife in his hand. Behind Ori was a young man with a lecherous grin, holding Bessa's arm. The man had a small knife in his right hand. Bessa had a gag in her mouth and was tied up. I see. You came all this way for revenge.

I quickly checked for any others, but there were no signs of more people hiding.

Zachary approached with a smirk.

"You're the king's dog, right? I've been hindered by the king's dogs many times. I had to take care of at least one of them to feel better... gah"

Zachary leaned forward, unable to finish his sentence. My knife was deeply embedded in his thigh. I ran over and punched his stomach as I threw the knife. When he leaned forward, I hit the back of his head with an elbow, putting my weight into it.

I left Zachary, who couldn't even make a sound, and lunged at Ori, striking his arm with a full-force chop to make him drop the knife. I then punched his stomach with my left hand. Ori fell backward, unconscious. I kicked the crotch of the shocked man behind him, and when he rolled on the ground, I kneed him in the stomach. He also passed out.

I quickly tied up Zachary, Ori, and the young man with belts and ropes and freed Bessa, who was trembling.

"Madam, I'm sorry. I tried to run away, but I was caught."

"It's okay. There's something I need you to do. Go to Reade and tell him to call the Second Knights because we've been robbed."

"Y-Yes, Madam!"

Bessa left, trembling, and I hurried to find the cook and the young maids. I met the cook at the stairs, who was running up. The cook's uniform was torn, and there was a lot of blood on it.

"Madam, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Are you hurt?"

"I'm not seriously injured. Most of the blood is from the thieves. They broke into my kitchen and attacked me."

"And? Did you take them down?"

"I was knocked out once, but I regained consciousness quickly. I tackled them when they were off guard and managed to survive."

The cook and I then searched for the young maid. We found her unharmed but tied up in the laundry room. Zachary must have intended to sell her.

I returned to the room and slapped Zachary's face to wake him up.

"Get up."

"Ugh, ugh..."

Zachary slowly regained consciousness, looking pained.

"Now, you won't be doing forced labor anymore. You could have survived if you had behaved. You think you're a veteran, but you should realize you're just an amateur who can't gauge your opponent's strength. As you can guess, I'm not an ordinary person. But I'm not the king's dog. I'm just a stray dog. Too bad for you."

I ignored Zachary's and Ori's protests and waited for the Second Knights to arrive. Ori was making excuses, but I had no intention of responding.

It was a shame. For Nonna's sake and for Ori himself, it was really a shame.

Eventually, the Second Knights arrived and took them away. Jeffrey, who had rushed over, was looking at Ori with a cold stare.

"Jeff, I want you to oversee their interrogation."

"Sure, I'll make it happen. Don't worry."

If Jeffrey is involved, he will ensure that nothing about me leaks out.

Now, I am talking to Bessa.

"I want you to keep what you saw a secret. I want you to forget how I took them down. I'll improve your conditions as long as you stay in this house. Keep it a secret from others. I don't want rumors about this."

"Yes, yes, Madam, thank you for saving me. I will never, ever tell anyone."

I looked into Bessa's eyes, confused.

I thought I would see fear, but I saw admiration and respect. I considered making an excuse (it's better than saying too much and being transferred to another house), but I gave up.

Then I checked the house to ensure no one else had entered. I told the cook that he had taken them down when they were off guard. It was a stretch, but I would think about it more when I had time.

◇ ◇ ◇

"Mom, I'm home."

"Welcome back, Nonna."

Nonna returned in the evening.

"Today, intruders entered the house. I caught them and handed them over to the knights."

"In this house? Wow. The person who entered must have had bad luck."

Nonna only smiled wryly and wasn't particularly surprised. I intended to tell Nonna about Ori when the time was right. I thought Nonna would ask, "What kind of person entered?" but she asked, "What technique did you use to take them down?" with sparkling eyes.

"I threw a knife and stabbed his thigh. Then I punched his stomach and hit the back of his head with my elbow."

"Hmm. Like this?"

Nonna mimicked throwing a knife, running up to punch the stomach from below, and making an elbow strike.

"Yes, something like that. You got it."

"Well, yeah. I see. Like this, like this, like this, like this, like this, like this. Hmm? Oh, I suddenly felt very nostalgic. I wonder why."

"Who knows?"

I laughed, saying, "Who knows?" Those were the words I used when I first showed Nonna how to fight.

That night, Jeffrey returned home.

"I'm glad I'm part of the Second Knights. I handled the interrogation of those two and made sure no unnecessary information leaked out. Mike came, so I handed it over to him."

"Mike has been very helpful."

"Anna..."

"What?"

"I'm glad you're safe."

"Jeff, I'm fine. Those guys weren't that skilled."

"This time, but it might not always be the case."

Jeffrey hugged me, resting his head on my shoulder and taking a deep breath.

"I sowed the seeds. I'm sorry."

"No, you can be free. Leave the rest to me."

"I've caused you trouble."

"It's no problem. We should hire a skilled man to prevent this from happening when you're away."

"Good idea."

"It might be a bit restrictive, but please bear with it."

"Jeff, I won't complain about that."

If I hadn't saved Ori in that forest, this wouldn't have happened. But I couldn't leave her there or send her back to the Kingdom of Subartu. At the time, I thought it was the best decision.

It was all my decision, and I have to acknowledge that.

That night, I read Elmar Archibald's new work, "The End of a Long Journey," and deciphered the hidden code.