Chapter 2 Part 4

By the time they realized, the carriage had already reached the royal castle. Passing through a lavish garden and entering the annex, they arrived at a massive hall where a towering arched gate stood before them. Winged apostles were engraved along the arch, and embedded at its center was a luminous golden gem—the rune that symbolized Tavalon.

“The Rune Gate…”

Melissa, who had been stealing glances through the window, now pressed her hands to the frame, mesmerized by the mystical sight. At the gate, the guards stepped aside after inspecting the insignia-bearing seal from Boris. Then, the empty arch began to glow brightly from within.

At the same time, light pulsed from the back of Alexander’s hand.

Just as she caught sight of him smirking with a cigarette between his lips, the blinding light swallowed her vision whole.

The end of that light was darkness.

Within the swaying dark, what roused her was his voice—a whisper by her ear.

“It’s alright now, my lady.”

His voice carried a note of amusement, and only then did Melissa realize her eyes had been shut tight. Slowly, she opened them—and beyond the carriage’s window unfurled a view of Tavalon she had only ever read about in books.

Above, winged drakes cast shadows like clouds across the sky. Below, the streets bustled with merchants and townsfolk going about their day as if nothing were unusual.

The air was rich with the scent of exotic spices and the savory aroma of roasted meat.

The attire was markedly different from that of the central capital. Brightly colored fabrics were draped in various styles, cinched tightly at the waist, and due to the temperate climate, much skin was exposed. Yet the look felt more relaxed than indecent. The locals, recognizing the lord’s carriage, merely stepped aside or whistled in greeting. No one went overboard with ceremony. Even though a carriage had just appeared from thin air, not a single person looked surprised. The Rune Gate’s destination was likely at the center of the plaza—or perhaps such arrivals were just that common.

Melissa could hardly contain the swelling in her chest.

She had spent most of her life confined to the Bergritz estate. Though she had lived in the capital, Rafe—the so-called land of the apostles—her only outings were grim hunting trips with Franz. But Tavalon was breathtaking. Everyone passing by looked as free as birds, and prosperity radiated from the streets. She’d heard, in passing, that after purging the land with dragons, he had transformed it into the second-largest grain-producing region on the continent.

Paved roads for merchants, triple-layered defensive walls against monsters, trenches deep as rivers, dozens of watchtowers—this was the land of dragons.

Alexander Bergritz had built it all.

A subtle pain pricked at the corner of her heart.

What was it? Was it because, while he built all of this, she had done nothing but live as a political hostage—only to end up betraying him?

“It will be a long journey.”

When she couldn’t fully hide the crumble in her expression and turned to him, she found his gaze still on her. He whispered softly.

“Within Tavalon, as long as you stay inside the citadel, you may go wherever you like. You needn’t seek my permission.”

The bold offer didn’t register right away. She asked, “Really… am I allowed to?”

He pressed his cigarette out against the carriage door and nodded.

“But I’ll assign you an escort.”

“…I don’t know what to say. Thank you… truly.”

Alexander seemed to be offering her a sweet fruit, ripe for the taking with just the reach of a hand—though whether it was poison or remedy, she could not know. She hadn’t even managed a proper answer when he spoke of her “special power,” but when he gave her free rein to explore the fortress, it was a proposal she couldn’t easily refuse.

Just then, a white dove fearlessly took flight into the sky, gliding between the half-dragons. The scene was breathtakingly peaceful.

***

“I mean, I’m all for it, but who’s going to handle my work?”

Inside the study, Boris—who had been hopping around in excitement—suddenly grew cautious. Scratching the corner of his eye, he couldn’t hide his unease.

“You told me to guard Miss Melissa and report her every move, sure, but who’s going to manage the informants? Who’s reviewing last quarter’s crop tax reports—”

“I will.”

At Alexander’s curt reply, Boris clenched his fists and let out a victorious cheer.

Truth be told, Alexander would have preferred to assign someone else to guard Melissa, but no one was as suited to the task as Boris. Melissa might wear her emotions plainly, but she rarely let anyone truly get close. The fact that she hadn’t easily fallen to his side despite her obvious, impulsive feelings was proof enough.

She needed someone she felt at ease with. Only then would her guard begin to drop—only then would the cracks he could wedge open begin to show.

Alexander leaned back lazily into his velvet-covered chair and gave a half-hearted order.

“Bright must have given Gallandia something to do. Stay close and find out.”

Boris replied skeptically, “Even the Brights aren’t dumb enough to send someone like Miss Melissa—a soft little bird—on a mission.”

Alexander chuckled, rubbing the edge of his brow.

“Is that so? Then how does a soft little bird throw herself into a horde of monsters to save a mere squire?”

“…”

“Seems to me you’re underestimating her.”

“I’m not underestimating anyone—it’s just a saying. She probably didn’t realize what she was doing.”

“You sound awfully defensive.”

“I do not…” Boris mumbled, averting his eyes.

“She hasn’t changed a bit since she was a kid—that’s what makes it worse. …And the thought of her marrying someone like Franz? It’s upsetting.”

Alexander silently agreed. The fact that she’d come to him alone in the middle of the night said enough—she clearly didn’t know what she was doing. Maybe from being locked up for so long, she still had that same innocent air. Just arriving in Tavalon had made her act as if she might take flight any second. That childhood wish to become a bird—it seemed it hadn’t changed either.

“Oh, right.” Boris scratched his chin mid-grumble. “The knights who were there, they’ve already started talking about Miss Melissa. Should I keep them quiet?”

He was referring to the battle in the forest.

“Let them talk.”

Alexander propped his chin in his hand with a smile, imagining a bird flapping helplessly in a cage called Tavalon.

***

Despite being told she could go anywhere freely, Melissa spent the next two days shut in her room recovering from a bruised stomach. As soon as she stepped out of the carriage, she’d staggered and vomited up bile. Maybe it was the sudden release of tension, but the dull pain in her abdomen turned sharp. Clutching her stomach and barely holding herself up with the carriage door, she felt a large hand gently cup her cheek.

“Ah…”

Startled by the sudden touch, her eyes wavered in panic. Without a change in expression, Alexander brushed her forehead with the back of his hand.

“You have a fever.”

He sighed.

“You should rest. We’ll need to examine your abdomen too. I’ll call a physician.”

His words were gentle, but the grim scowl on his face made refusal impossible. She only managed to nod.

What followed was a blur. For several days, she had little memory—her body feverish, being touched, someone dripping medicine into her mouth, voices speaking over her. She’d rarely been this unwell. It must’ve been her body collapsing from the strain of facing a wraith in combat.

It was only after several days of illness that she realized she was in a place so grand it left her stunned. The bed was draped with a canopy dyed in bold colors, different from the splendor of the capital, and the room was filled with silks and a vanity adorned with jewels. Boris, leaning casually against the wall, shrugged and smiled at the astonished her.

“The Marquis likes ostentatious things. A form of showing off, really.”

If his aim had been to show off, it had worked. Melissa, overwhelmed by the room’s grandeur, could only swallow her breath. Boris approached and lightly tapped her shoulder, as if to ease her nerves.

“Starting today, I’ll be staying by your side as your escort. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. The lord wanted to assign three attendants, but… judging by your face, maybe not. Still, let me know if you need anything.”

Boris naturally poured water into a cup from the nightstand and handed it to her. Melissa, caught off guard, accepted it and gulped. It was his attire that gave her pause—so different from what she was used to in the capital. A brooch fastened the sleeveless mantle at his shoulder, and his clothes, which revealed his thighs up to above the knee, showed off firm muscles. His sword hung low around his hips, and he wore sandals that left even his toes exposed. The influence of the warm southern climate was clear.

Just as she was beginning to feel the reality of being in a new place, a concerned voice broke in.

“I heard you saw the wraiths.”

It was the physician, seated near the bed. Unlike Boris, he wore trousers that reached down to his ankles. Melissa felt a deep sense of relief. She wasn’t yet used to southern customs enough to casually look at the hairy thighs of strange men.

“It must have been quite a shock, given the terrible battle. But there’s no need to worry here. Not only inside the stronghold, but even outside it, the half-dragons keep things safe.”

Though the doctor chatted on garrulously, his eyes never left Melissa. An unmistakable curiosity gleamed in them. Melissa was confused, but since he gave no room to interrupt, she simply listened.

“Make sure you eat properly… Ah, if the lord ever asks to spend the night, it’s best to decline for a few days. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet…”

“You really don’t know when to shut up!!!”

Boris scowled and shoved the physician, who let out a surprised yelp and stumbled as he tried to pack away bone-made tongs and cupping jars. Ignoring him, Boris yelled,

“Do you even know who she is, running your mouth like that?!”

“Uh, well… I mean, I just… assumed she was the lord’s lover…”

“Have you gone mad?”

“What else would explain it? Why else would he give her the chamber attached to his office?”

“So this is why he said to let them talk. Hah. What’s he even plotting?”

Boris stopped mid-sentence, eyes rolling as he muttered to himself. Melissa couldn’t fully follow half of what was being said between Boris and the doctor, but she spoke up with tact.

“I never had the chance to introduce myself. The lord must have been busy. It’s understandable to mistake things.”

“I—”

“Melissa Gallandia.”

All eyes turned to the figure leaning by the doorway. No one had noticed his arrival, but there stood Alexander, arms crossed, watching them from where he leaned casually against the frame. He wore a deep crimson cloak that left his firm chest and muscular left arm fully exposed. Nothing else he wore registered—his golden eyes outshone any ornament.

Melissa’s head went light.

“She’s my brother’s fiancée and therefore my sister-in-law.”

He strode forward and rested a hand on the bed, offering Melissa a bright smile.

“I brought her here as a guest before she formally becomes part of the Bergritz household. Thought it best she visit Tavalon first.”

“Oh…”

The doctor paled, a sigh slipping from his lips.

“I’ve made a grave mistake.”

“No, not at all,” Melissa said, waving both hands. Embarrassed by the awkward situation, she quickly tried to smooth things over.

“We were all flustered. I arrived suddenly and caused a bit of trouble. I should be the one apologizing.”

“Trouble?” Alexander said, his tone warm. “Not at all, sister-in-law.”

Alexander composed himself and sat down between them as if that were his rightful place.

“You brought down the wraith leader. Thanks to that, our casualties were far fewer. Even as a joke, don’t say such things again.”

Melissa, still glancing anxiously at the physician, couldn’t quite focus on what he was saying. Alexander gave a faint sigh and looked at the doctor instead. The man fidgeted in place, clearly wanting to say something.