Chapter 81

“…Viscount Valère blamed mother for avoiding him. And he told Adol that you must prove your worth by giving birth to a son and sending him as heir to the Valère family.”

Even now, Viscount Valère’s angry voice echoed in Lennox’s ears. And he could still recall the murderous intent that surged toward him, and the image of Ellen that flashed before he killed him.

“I wanted to kill Viscount Valère in the most painful, miserable way. I couldn’t forgive him for causing my mother’s death. But I couldn’t kill him.”

“…Was it because of me?”

Ellen asked in a trembling voice. Lennox’s cold, sunken red eyes met Ellen’s, then turned back to the gravestone. He nodded heavily.

“I didn’t want to erase the place you could return to, since you were so lonely. At that time, I had nothing.”

“…….”

“The day I went to find you… I didn’t know what to say. I wanted to ask if you knew why my mother died. At the same time, I felt resentment toward you. But I couldn’t resent you, couldn’t hate you. It was Viscount Valère who killed my mother, not you, and how could I hate someone I loved just for being his daughter?”

“…….”

“It was confusing. Even then, I only wanted to ask you one thing. Would you come with me? Would you abandon this marriage and come with me? Then I’d forget everything Viscount Valère did to my mother, and I wouldn’t ask why you had to marry, even if it meant leaving me.”

“Lennox.”

“Even when you looked at me with different eyes, I couldn’t hate you. Because you were Ellen. Because it was you. Because you are Ellen.”

“…….”

“I thought it was time to accept it. That the separation I thought could never happen between us was real. If you didn’t want to see me, I was willing to respect that. Yes, I could bear a brief separation. When we met again, it would be when we could stand side by side, like we said as children.”

So Lennox left Ellen and crossed into the Aryan Empire. There, he swore loyalty to Richel. The day he pledged loyalty to Richel, Lennox met with him privately.

“There’s someone who bothers me.”

Richel spoke lightly, swirling his wine glass against his lips.

“Kalik Knold. Marquis Knold, Captain of the Pamphilenet Order.”

Lennox listened to Richel’s words in silence, tossing back his drink. The wine was sweet but strong.

“He swore loyalty to me, but now he’s joined hands with the third prince, who opposes me and the King of Kursh, and dares to watch me. It’s irritating.”

Lennox didn’t reply. Richel continued without concern.

“I let him loose for a while, but it seems Sir Knold and the King of Kursh have forgotten who I am. It’s about time I taught them a lesson.”

“Do you need a dog?”

Lennox asked bluntly. Richel smiled beautifully and replied.

“Yes. A loyal dog with no backing, who will die miserably the moment I discard him.”

“…….”

“Of course, as long as that dog doesn’t bite me, I’ll love him. I can give him wealth and honor, even a title. Yes, if he wants it.”

Lennox’s somber gaze fell on his half-empty glass. The red wine glowed prettily in the candlelight. For a moment, Lennox thought it looked like Ellen’s hair as he spoke.

“Will you grant me a request?”

Richel’s eyes softened. He nodded, as if to say ‘go ahead’, tilting his glass.

“If I become captain, grant me a title in the Aryan Empire. Give me a large mansion and much wealth. And…”

“And?”

“Send me to Kursh Kingdom. And whatever I do there, turn a blind eye.”

“Yes. If that’s what you want.”

Richel agreed readily, then warned,

“But you know, it won’t be easy. You’re from Kursh Kingdom and a commoner—don’t expect the proud Pamphilenet knights to accept you easily.”

“I’ll be the Crown Prince’s dog. For you, I’ll gladly crawl through mud, even swamps.”

Lennox knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply. Richel smiled, tipped his glass, and spilled wine on the floor. Lennox licked the wine from the floor without hesitation. Richel’s laughter deepened.

“I look forward to it, my loyal dog.”

Lennox became a Pamphilenet knight. Officially, it was by Karan’s recommendation. The Pamphilenet knights didn’t welcome Lennox, a commoner from another country. Lennox endured their contempt and hostility in silence. He endured harsh training, and the captain Kalik’s enmity. He completed all kinds of missions under Kalik’s orders, returning bloodied, nearly losing his life, but kept enduring. He bowed his head to Kalik’s insults, almost pitifully.

To stand side by side with Ellen, to create a place for her to return, he endured and endured.

Sometimes, when missing Ellen became unbearable, or when he hated and resented her madly, he would bury his nose in the handkerchief she gave him at his knighting ceremony, soothing his longing and rage. He treasured it, so her scent, her heart, their memories would not fade; so his love for her wouldn’t be consumed by anger.

“Sir Lennon!”

It was a terrible battlefield. The Aryan Empire’s frontier. In a battle against the barbarians living beyond the mountains, Lennox slaughtered them mercilessly, and as he wiped blood from his face, he realized Ellen’s handkerchief was gone. His expression hardened as he searched among the corpses. With a numb face, he cut limbs from the bodies, searching for the handkerchief.

Roy Kail, second son of Earl Kail and a friend from his days as a Pamphilenet knight, saw Lennox hacking through bodies and looked horrified. As Roy tried to stop him, Karan grabbed Lennox’s shoulder first.

“Sir Lennon. Stop.”

“Let go.”

Lennox coldly brushed off Karan’s hand. Karan gripped his shoulder harder.

“There’s a recall order from the captain. I don’t know what you’re looking for, but let’s go back first.”

“…….”

“If it’s something, you can buy another. So just…”

Karan trailed off. When Lennox glanced at him, his eyes were ferocious, like a demon. His hand gripped his sword, veins bulging, as if ready to cut Karan down. His jaw trembled slightly, his breath grew rough. Karan realized instinctively—if he said more, Lennox would kill him instantly. Karan’s large hand fell away. Lennox turned back to the corpses, slicing and searching. At last, he found the handkerchief under a barbarian’s body. Picking it up, he sighed in relief. The fierce look in his eyes faded, returning to normal. He was glad to have found Ellen’s precious handkerchief.

* * *

Pamphilenet Order Captain Kalik Knold died in an accident the year Lennox’s skill surpassed his and he began to earn Richel’s trust. He’d gone hunting, as he often did, and died instantly in a sudden fall from his horse.

“It’ll be handled as an accident. The Pamphilenet knights probably suspect something.”

Richel smiled as he looked at Kalik Knold’s saddle strap on Lennox’s desk. The strap showed signs of being cut.

“I’ll recommend you as captain. Your loyalty and skill make you more than fit.”

“…….”

“I’ll grant you a fitting title, wealth, and honor. And…”

Richel tapped the desk slowly with his finger.

“I’ll send you to Kursh Kingdom too. After they become our vassal.”

“Thank you.”

Kalik’s death was ruled an accident, and the captaincy became vacant. Lennox received an Earl’s title and, with Richel’s recommendation, rose to captain. With the Pamphilenet captain as his dog, Richel crushed the third prince’s power, and soon blocked all Kursh Kingdom’s trade routes. No nation dared defy the now-powerful Aryan Empire. Kursh Kingdom was slowly eaten away from within and without. The King of Kursh grew impatient, already corrupted by pleasure and unable to think straight, like the other nobles. Richel whispered that he would allow the king to keep his lifestyle if he agreed to become a vassal, and the King of Kursh agreed far too easily.

By treaty, Kursh Kingdom officially became a vassal of the Aryan Empire, and Lennox headed straight for Leodell.