Chapter 15

Even So

In the pocket was the gold bracelet she’d given Elaine.

Sycamore took care of it neatly.

Adelaide opened the letter with a sense of relief.

“Your Grace,

Congratulations on your victory in your reckless gamble.

I’m sending you a gold bracelet as a congratulatory gift, and I hope you like it.

I heard that the Duke was looking for me, but unfortunately, I will be staying in the capital for a while on personal business.

Don’t worry, there will be no interruption in the delivery of food supplies.

If you have any instructions for me, please contact me at the shop near the market entrance.

By the way, I heard that there is a shortage of manpower at the ducal residence.

I recently obtained information that a slave auction will be held near Tiflis soon, and I have enclosed an invitation and entry ticket for you.

I’m sure you’ll find it an interesting spectacle.

I’ll see you in the capital.

Until then, please stay healthy.

Carter Siben. 

“Slave auction?”

Adelaide frowned as she quickly read the letter.

Slave trading was prohibited by law.

The class of slaves was not hereditary but imposed on those who committed serious crimes, so their numbers were small, and they belonged to the state rather than individuals, making trading impossible.

In principle, that was how it was.

But principles were just principles. There were plenty of ways to circumvent the law. Adelaide knew very well that slave trading was happening secretly.

There were many people who were not slaves by rank but who were treated like slaves.

Slaves made up the bulk of the labor force in dangerous workplaces such as castle building and mine digging, as well as in the deadly maritime trade.

Slaves were considered expendable because they were cheap to buy and could be easily killed.

Slave auctions.

A good way to fill a labor shortage.

The slaves at the auction would not be under Elkius’ control, and they would be much better off working in the Duchy than being dragged off to the slave fields.

The problem is Callion. 

Callion, being so upright, wouldn’t tolerate a slave auction.

She could attend the auction secretly and alone, but…

“Is it my role to be a puppet on your board, and then one day pick up the crown you drop in front of me and wear it?”

If she gets caught deceiving him again, he’ll never really regain his trust.

What should she do?

Adelaide pondered.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

The drill hall was noisy with the hustle and bustle of soldier selection. Callion scanned the applicants with a keen eye.

“There are some good ones here.”

“Yes, they’ll be useful once they’re trained systematically.”

“Recruit those with good physiques, even if they lack skills.”

“Understood.”

At Callion’s direction, Julian checked the list.

After a quick screening with paperwork and interviews, the number of applicants was enough to fill the training hall. Their skills weren’t bad.

Tiflis’s geographical location, adjacent to the Kingdom of Helenia and the Caucasian Autonomous Region, meant that it was often in conflict with the outside world.

As a result, the untrained commoners were often superior to the soldiers of the capital, whose only experience was pickpocketing and brawling.

“I think we’ve seen enough; dismiss them.”

“Understood, My Lord.”

Callion, who declared the end of the selection competition, roughly wiped his face. The fatigue accumulated after staying up all night for the selection competition was extreme.

“After…….”

Callion shook his head, pushing up his closed eyelids.

‘I wonder how Adelaide is doing.’

He wondered if she’d skipped her medication again, now that the person who’d been nagging her for a week was gone.

He hadn’t seen her for days, working morning to night on the soldier’s recruitment. If he went to her after work, she’d be sleeping.

It’s rude to barge into someone’s room when they’re sleeping, and if he tells them he’s coming, they’ll be waiting for him without rest.

With a shake of his head, Callion watched them leave the castle. His heart was heavy, knowing that the lives of so many depended on him.

He suddenly felt terribly alone.

Callion slowly closed his eyes and opened them.

“……Adele.”

His vision was blurred. When she stared at him without answering, he closed his eyes again.

‘I should get some sleep.’

He must not be in the right frame of mind to be dreaming with his eyes open.

Shaking his head vigorously, Callion lifted his eyelids.

“Are you alright, Your Grace?”

This time, he even had auditory hallucinations.

As he gave a tired smile, the illusion stretched out its hand towards him. He roughly grabbed her wrist and immediately let go of his hand, feeling the warm touch.

“Adele?”

For a moment, sleep escaped him.

“What are you doing here? It’s chilly out; what if you catch a cold?”

“I was feeling stuffy in my room, so I came out. If I’m disturbing you, I’m sorry…….”

“No.”

Shaking his head quickly, Callion studied Adelaide’s complexion. Despite the lack of makeup, her complexion had noticeably improved, putting his mind at ease.

“You look tired.”

Though it seemed not to be the case for himself.

Callion smiled bitterly and made excuses.

“It’s probably because I’ve been losing sleep over recruitment.”

“How much longer before you finish with the recruitment?”

“It’s all over the day after tomorrow.”

“Are you eating on time?”

Callion replied with a vague smile.

Normally Jensen would have taken care of it, but he was short-handed and didn’t seem to have time to chase and nag.

“Go inside and have your meal. Get some rest too.”

“I’d love to, but I still have work to do…….”

“You can leave the rest of the work to the others.”

“I just need to hold out for two more days.”

“And what if you collapse before the knights’ recruitment is finished?”

Adelaide insisted, her tone stern.

Who was worried about whom?

His image of reprimanding her a few days ago overlapped in his mind.

Callion turned obediently.

“Let’s go inside.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

When they entered the castle, the meal was ready.

“I’ve got your bath water ready for you, Your Grace.”

Jensen, waiting at the head of the dining room, said politely.

Jensen looked exhausted from the extra work he’d had to do, but he was driven by a sense of duty to serve Callion.

“Your coat, Your Grace.”

Jensen clicked his tongue briefly as he removed the dusty jacket. Part of him wanted to shove Callion into the bath right now.

He wiped his hands on a hot towel and sat down at the kitchen table.

It was a sumptuous dinner, as if the new head chef had pulled out all the stops for a rare feast.

The only problem was that Adelaide still couldn’t eat anything but soup, so the rest was all his.

“This meal seems too extravagant.”

“You’ve been so busy that you haven’t eaten in days, so I made it this way.”

“I didn’t skip a meal.”

“I thought you said you only had a sandwich because you were in a hurry, so stop talking and eat.”

Adelaide pushed the plate toward him, urging him on. Despite thinking he had no appetite, hunger struck him when he saw the food.

In no time at all, Callion devoured two bowls of soup, three plates of salad, and three chunks of steak.

With his stomach full, drowsiness crept in, and he absentmindedly rubbed his temples. When he removed his hand, he found Adelaide looking at him with concern.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, if you’re tired, go back inside and sleep.”

“I’d like to, but I have to go to the knight’s hall. – Jenson, could you make a strong cup of coffee for me?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Jensen quickly brought the coffee. Callion inhaled the hot coffee without letting it cool. It peeled the roof of his mouth, but it sobered him up a bit.

Adelaide gulped down the last few sips of soup and wiped her mouth with a napkin when she finished.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes.”

Callion rose with a smile at her response.

“I’m going to wash up and get out of here, so you can rest too.”

“Wait, Your Grace.”

Adelaide hastily stopped him.

“Can I see you for a moment after you’ve washed up?”

She must have something to say.

Although he knew that, he was a little disappointed.

It seemed like an admission that they weren’t going to see each other unless something special happened.

Callion merely nodded.

“I’ll come to your room after washing up.”

⚜ ⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Adelaide fiddled with the note from Sycamore, then hid it at the sound of approaching footsteps.

Callion stepped forward, looking fresher than before the meal.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, come in.”

Adelaide beckoned gently. There was a simple tray of tea and sweets on the table.

“Please eat.”

Callion popped one of the sweets into his mouth. The tongue-melting sweetness melted his fatigue. After washing his mouth out with the bitter tea, he spoke.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s not urgent.”

“Why did you come all the way to the training grounds to see me if it wasn’t urgent?”

Adelaide asked cautiously, the question cutting to the chase.

“Do I make you uncomfortable by visiting you only when I have business?”

“Not at all.”

The answer came immediately. Callion added calmly,

“At least, you came to find me.”

There was a light chuckle at the end of his words.

Adelaide, unsure if he was joking or serious, bowed her head apologetically.

“It’s fine, just tell me.”

“I’m planning to go out and wondered if you could accompany me.”

“Go out? Where are you planning to go?”

“I won’t be leaving the territory.”

At her answer, Callion knew instinctively that this was no simple outing.

“Is it dangerous?”

“It’s not like that since I’m coming with you.”

“It is dangerous.”

“…….”

He didn’t need to hear the answer; he heard it. Callion stared at her, his eyes narrowing.

If he refuses to go, she’ll go alone.

He had no choice.

“All right, then.”