Chapter 2

About a year ago, at Usley Castle.

“Excuse me.”

A woman with sparkling hazel-colored eyes and glossy cream-colored hair tied in a single ponytail knocked cheerfully on the door. However, the person she needed to meet did not respond, no matter how long she waited.

Elcia was not disappointed.

Ian Kypris, master of Usley Castle and once the Holy Knight Order’s commander of the Tyr Church. He was the one Elcia was to care for from now on.

He was once the leader of the Grand Expedition, but three years ago, he lost the Saint he had accompanied for a noble mission right before his eyes and fell into deep despair. The Saint was celebrated as a hero who saved the world, and even a grand funeral was held despite there being no body, but this only marked the beginning of another tragedy.

Ian, who had brought the Saint from the temple, could not accept the bitter reality and, in the end, began to show increasingly mad symptoms day by day.

Thus, the originally kind and exemplary Ian vanished, and the holy knight who lost the Saint became a madman unable to overcome his sorrow. He even injured himself by smashing the medal awarded by the Imperial Family with his fist, rendering him unable to hold a sword, and yet he refused treatment and locked himself away in his bedroom…

Eventually, he was forcibly removed from Kypris County and his position as the Holy Knight Order’s commander, and confined here at Usley Castle. No one could guarantee what further trouble he might cause if left alone, and if news of his rampage spread, even his last remaining title of hero could be taken away.

But that did not mean poor Ian was completely abandoned by the world.

Elcia, a puppet master, was personally selected by Crown Prince Conrad of the Empire half a year ago and received various support. He recently took the opportunity to secretly ask Elcia for a favor.

-Elcia Bennett, go to Ian Kypris who has taken refuge in the old castle. He was my close friend and loyal servant, and a great talent of the Empire. Please help him return to me whole.

The Crown Prince declared that if Ian could be cured, he would grant any wish Elcia desired. Even if he had not said so, Elcia admired the fame of the Grand Expedition and would have readily agreed to help Ian.

In truth, curiosity about Ian Kypris, the leader of the expedition, was what brought Elcia this far. The moment she heard she could meet the great knight who had served the saint, she immediately accepted the Crown Prince’s offer. Others would have asked what compensation they would receive first, but she had no interest in such things.

With the Crown Prince’s letter in hand, Elcia hurried to Usley Castle and met Ian’s knight, Seiran. After confirming the letter filled with warm encouragement, he spoke pessimistically.

“It’s truly appreciated, but I’m not sure it will work. Did you say you’re a puppet master?”

“Yes. The puppets I have can heal the lord’s hand. Where should I go?”

He looked extremely troubled.

“In fact, several people have come before with similar letters. Healers, famous priests, and even a reclusive druid came last.”

“What? And?”

Elcia was quite surprised. To have found even a druid—Conrad’s determination was impressive.

“All failed. Our lord usually won’t even open the door when outsiders come.”

“It might work this time!”

A young boy who had been hiding quietly behind Seiran bravely spoke up. Seiran scolded him with a look that said it was impossible.

“Quiet, Haden. Who told you to speak up?”

Elcia, curious, spoke to the boy named Haden.

“Hello? I’m Elcia Bennett, a puppet master.”

Haden waved his hand.

“Oh, please don’t use formal speech! I’m just a servant at Usley Castle. Hehe, Miss Elcia, you’re like a big sister to me and, more importantly, the Crown Prince’s guest. Please speak comfortably.”

“Is that okay?”

Elcia liked this cute servant and wanted to treat him like a younger brother. Haden smiled brightly and shouted.

“Of course!”

In the pleasant atmosphere, Seiran interjected.

“Miss Bennett? There’s one problem. Our castle only has men, including the lord and myself. If you’re going to try to convince the lord and attempt treatment, you’ll probably need a maid. Can you wait a few more days? We’ll send someone from the capital.”

“No, it’s fine. The Crown Prince offered to provide a maid, but I declined. I’ve already heard a bit about the lord’s reputation.”

“…Is that so.”

Seiran seemed quite impressed by Elcia’s determination. She then spoke energetically to Haden.

“So, Haden, can you guide me? Just to the door—I’ll state my business and go in alone. If I just keep waiting, he won’t come out on his own, right?”

“Yes!”

Thus, Elcia was left alone in front of Ian’s bedroom door and took a deep breath.

‘Alright, Elcia. Let’s begin.’

Without knocking a second time, she bravely opened the door and entered.

Creak—

“…Wow.”

Elcia let out a gasp almost akin to horror as soon as she opened the door. The room was filled with a sharp stench of alcohol, and even though it was midday, it was so dark she couldn’t see ahead. Clicking her tongue, she headed for the window, searching for Ian somewhere in the room.

To get rid of this strong smell, she needed to draw the curtains and air out the room quickly—

“Kyah!”

Someone grabbed Elcia’s ankle without warning, blocking her path. She nearly toppled forward but managed to hold onto the edge of the curtain. Her unbalanced body swayed precariously between a rough hand and the curtain.

“…Don’t bother me and get out. Must be a new maid Seiran hired, but I don’t need one.”

The low voice filled with pain and the feeling of a dry, gnarled hand clutching her ankle—Elcia instinctively knew the person holding her was Ian, the rumored madman. She responded bravely, though her voice trembled.

“I’ll leave.”

“…”

“After cleaning, in an hour.”

“…What?”

With her ankle still held by Ian, Elcia yanked the curtains open wide. Through the rain-spattered window, dazzling white sunlight poured in.

She then reached out to open the closed window, letting go of the curtain. At that moment—

“Kyah!”

Ian pulled her ankle harder, causing her to fall awkwardly onto the carpet. Luckily, the floor was soft, so only her bottom stung a little, but the real shock was elsewhere. Ian’s furious blue eyes glared down at her.

She lay on the carpet, and he hovered above, arms outstretched, trapping her.

He looked extremely displeased, as if very angry.

Elcia stared at him in a daze, her eyes wide like a rabbit.

His cold gaze softened a little upon seeing her vulnerability, but his words remained harsh.

“I told you to get out, do you think I’m a joke? Usley Castle is a place for men only, and you barged in here alone without fear?”

As he spoke, the strong smell of alcohol mixed with his unfamiliar breath drifted over Elcia’s face. Having little experience with men, she blushed deeply and protested.

“L-later.”

“Don’t be stubborn, I’m the master of this castle. I don’t need any servants, so ask Seiran for a recommendation and find work elsewhere.”

Ian thankfully moved aside, but Elcia’s heart pounded even harder than before. She’d heard rumors of his madness, but he seemed surprisingly coherent.

More than anything, meeting the man she’d admired from afar made her excitement hard to contain.

That must be why her heart kept beating wildly.

“His Highness Conrad personally chose me and sent me here.”

At those words, Ian, who had been avoiding the sunlight and moving toward the wall, flinched. Elcia didn’t miss her chance and continued brightly.

“I’m a puppet master. I only have two puppets, but both are useful. From now on, White Bunny will regularly care for your wounds, Lord Kypris—shall we start treatment tomorrow?”

“No need…”

Hearing Conrad’s name after so long, Ian’s words faltered. Though he had drowned his unspeakable sorrow in drink and hidden himself away, he hadn’t forgotten the name of the master who had cherished him. Regaining her strength after Ian’s ankle attack, Elcia stood and declared,

“And I still have another puppet, right? Woody! Come out and clean this room—except for the Count.”

Before the familiar wooden puppet was summoned, Elcia opened Ian’s bedroom window wide to the outside. The stale air, unventilated for so long, escaped into the sunlit castle garden.

Now, with the help of sunlight, Elcia could see Ian much more clearly.

His hair was as black as the curtains, his beard had grown thick from neglect, and his cool blue eyes were piercing. His complexion was so pale from avoiding sunlight, it resembled freshly cut marble. His white pajamas, with all the buttons torn off and threads dangling, looked ready to be thrown into the laundry at once.

And…

Elcia tried hard not to stare at his disfigured right hand, which had healed crookedly after the bones were crushed.

“You should wash and eat.”

Ian sat slouched on the floor, his left elbow propped against the wall. If not for the empty bottles at his feet, Elcia might have treated him like a wayward younger brother.

「Passing through, passing through!」

The wooden puppet made dull noises as it gathered dust balls from the carpet into its hollow sphere. Elcia worried Woody might collide with Ian, who sat blankly on the floor, and so she approached and offered her hand.

“Come this way.”

He ignored Elcia’s slender hand and muttered with his head bowed.

“…What orders did His Highness give?”

“Um, he asked me to look after your well-being, Count Kypris.”

“I meant the orders he gave me.”

Ian’s sharp eyes scanned Elcia’s face, making her ear, hidden by cream hair, blush despite itself. For a man who’d been locked away for so long, he was irresistibly attractive. Avoiding his intense gaze, she replied quickly.

“T-that… Maybe he’ll give you orders after you recover?”

“So nothing urgent, then.”

“Huh?”

Startled by his suddenly gloomy tone, Elcia looked at Ian. But after mentioning Conrad’s name, the light that had briefly appeared in his eyes faded again. His broad, solid shoulders looked pitiful, as if they might break at any moment.

“Tell His Highness to give up on me. An idiot who can’t even hold a sword is useless, even if he returns…”

He spoke of his situation with a deeply pained expression.

“Count?”

「Ah, don’t block the way! Ack!」

Contrary to his reputation as a drunken madman, Ian sprang to his feet and strode across the carpet, leaving the bedroom. It happened so fast that Elcia could only stare at his retreating back.

The reason was simple. She was still a novice puppet master, and Woody, her first creation, had many flaws. If the distance between master and puppet grew too great, it could stop working altogether—a big problem.

“Cleaning comes first, right? If I leave and the Count comes back and locks the door…”

Muttering to herself, Elcia justified her decision.

Cleaning was harder than expected. She hadn’t noticed at first, but there was mold in the corners of the walls and the sheets were a mess. About half the items in the bedroom would be better off thrown away. Elcia rolled up her sleeves and helped Woody with the cleaning, wanting to finish quickly in case the Count returned.

It was only when the sun began to set beyond the castle walls that the tidying was mostly done. Exhausted, Elcia wiped sweat from her brow with her sleeve and her knees buckled.

“Ouch…”

As she tried to stand with the dropped towel, she noticed something shoved under the dresser. Thinking it was trash, Elcia pulled it out and her eyes widened.

“Who is this?”

Inside a small leather frame, smaller than her palm, was a portrait of a smiling beauty. The bouquet of lilacs she held suited her perfectly, making the painting look almost lifelike. On the lower edge of the leather frame was the phrase, 「To my sweetheart, who holds all my joy and love」, beautifully stitched.

She didn’t know who this woman was, but she was so lovely that Elcia smiled just looking at her. She gently dusted the frame with her towel and placed it carefully atop the dresser.

That evening.

After roughly tidying the bedroom, Elcia headed to the dining room with Seiran and ran into Ian again. He had changed into clean clothes and looked much better. However, upon seeing Elcia, he spoke coldly.