It’s Not Night - Chapter 119

Jonathan’s words started to sound more distant, and Andra realized that her vision was spinning. More than anything, she felt a tightness in her chest made it difficult to hold onto her consciousness.

In addition, the heat began to rise even on her wrist, where the pattern was engraved. An excruciating pain that she could not ignore wrapped around her wrist.

Andra lost consciousness when Jonathan’s face stared at her in fright.

* * *

Viola and Dustin arrived at the Durs County without a hitch. It was a futile result considering that they were prepared to wander about for half a day. However, the atmosphere in the Durs County was not good.

The sentries standing guard at the entrance of the estate looked on edge, as if they hadn’t slept properly for several days. They immediately treated the two people who appeared out of nowhere as spies and acted harshly.

“It’s the first time I’ve been treated like this.”

Viola, locked up in a makeshift prison until her identity can be confirmed, sat in an old chair and groaned. In response, Dustin, who had been looking at the cluttered outside through the small window, responded by touching his scabbard.

“They seem to be at war.”

“Yes, the situation has gotten serious.”

Hearing Dustin’s words, Viola nodded as she recalled the sunken-eyes and large and small injuries of the Count’s soldiers.

The Durs County was obviously at war. All sorts of weapons were fully prepared within the walls of the tall borders of the territory. But more notably, the soldiers had clearly taken up arms while preparing for the inevitable outbreak of the battles. As it was the territory of a margrave in charge of defending the national border, the level was different from that of other nobles’ soldiers.

Dustin carefully watched the soldiers. They seemed to be diligently preparing for the next battle without losing order, even though they were undeniably exhausted. Even so, they tried to look at as many places as possible in their spare time.

“The Norrant County on the other side must be in a similar situation. I heard that the two counts have armies of a similar size.”

“So it seems. Both families are margrave households that have guarded the borders of Morgennis for generations. Both have delved into the terrain here, and must have trained hard for it. Of course, it’s a battle that can’t be easily judged. This is really troubling.”

Viola clicked her tongue. She doesn’t know how the relationship between the two families, which was getting along so well originally, became this far. But it was a headache for her to mediate their fight.

Then Dustin suddenly asked.

“What do you plan to do next?”

“First, let’s meet the count and listen to her side of the story. Everyone has their own position. Fortunately, Count Durs isn’t a tight-fisted person. If things go well, we might be able to stop the war with dialogue.”

“You seem to know the Count well.”

“My mother was taught by the Margrave. She’s a famous knight and a great general. She’s a perfect veteran now. Lord, ask your sister too. The Count is one of the few people who has stood up to the head of the Airak family.”

She was now over seventy years old, but the Count had been famous as a high-level knight in her youth. During the previous Emperor’s reign, she participated in the war early and made numerous contributions.

She was a nobleman who indirectly helped the emperor catch the third prince who was trying to escape to the Mezei Mountains in the previous battle for the throne and sending him back to the capital.

“I know something about the Count’s fame in her hayday. My sister said she’s a crazy old woman.”

“How bold, like the head of the Airak family.”

“More than that, it seems our identity verification is over.”

The soldier who went to check their identity was rushing to the makeshift prison with a person next to him who seemed to be the count’s vassal. Viola got up and did a light stretch. Soon the prison door opened and the Count’s vassal fell to his knees right before Viola, bowing deeply.

“I greet the dignity of the noble Issur. Greetings from Cezanne, faithful servant of the sun, second thorn of the black wolf. I beg your forgiveness for committing the rudeness of not recognizing your precious presence.”

“I forgive you. Sir Cezanne, where is the Count?”

“She just finished her round turn and is coming back. And so, inevitably, I had to serve Your Highness instead. Forgive us generously. I will take you straight to the main building.”

The vassal got up and led Viola and Dustin into the lord’s castle. Count Durs arrived just in time, and the castle was bustling with knights who had just returned from battle. Eventually, the two arrived at the parlor with the vassal’s guidance.

The parlor was spacious, and they could see the castle from the window. Dustin moved closer to the window and looked around. They were all soldiers, knights, and occasionally busy servants, and apart from them, nothing special was visible. Still, he continued to look outside. Seeing this, Viola suddenly asked.

“Why? Do you think Lady Avellin is somewhere in this castle?”

Only then did Dustin turn to Viola. Viola was staring at Dustin with narrow eyes.

“…You never know.”

“If Lady Avellin was here, the vassal would have already told us. Are you so worried about the lady? Come to think of it, I don’t know how you lost the young lady in the middle. Oh, it’s rather obvious. Did the lady leave you behind?”

Dustin flinched at the words that felt like one punch after another. Viola clicked her tongue. He couldn’t even hide it. Even though Viola had been talking on the premise that Dustin liked Andra, and Dustin didn’t deny it once. The reaction was different from Andra, who was acting with a lost face, not knowing what she was talking about.

‘Is it because he has no intention of hiding it, or because he was worried about Lady Avellin?’

If Lady Avellin had seen this situation right now, she would have rolled her eyes. She’s doing her best to pretend it’s nothing, but Dustin was openly showing it.

Even though Viola wasn’t the one involved, she felt frustrated with Dustin. She should say it’s a relief that she already knew the relationship between the two to some extent.

‘Lady Avellin is going to have a hard time. Well… An Airak is an Airak.’

Viola sighed softly.

She suddenly remembered Anthony. Even Anthony sometimes couldn’t control his emotions in this way.

The first time was when she had proposed to him. Contrary to her expectations, where he would coldly reject her at first, Anthony openly showed confusion on his blunt face, and soon, contrary to his displeased face, he agreed.

So at first Viola thought that Antony was making fun of her.

‘If you don’t want it, then don’t, Lord. You don’t have to force yourself.’

‘…I never said no.’

‘Then, what’s with that face? I can read it all. You look like you absolutely loathe the idea.’

‘When did I…’

‘Now you’re teasing me. You’re really pretending to deny it when you have that kind of expression? Do you think I’m blind?’

After hearing that, Anthony even touched his face with his hand. Viola found it funny. She was wondering what he was doing. But she soon realized that Anthony wasn’t used to expressing his feelings when he honestly apologies and sincere replies.

An Airak was honest, but they didn’t realize just how honest they were.

“Don’t worry. If not here, they would have arrived in the Norrant County. Or maybe they’re still taking their time.”

“…I should be glad, but I’m worried. Honestly, I want to go back there and find her. Even now, we have to tell the Count to set up a search party—”

Dustin’s answer caused Viola to cut him off in irritation.

“Stop it. You’re really agitated. Aren’t you supposed to hate her? Alright, alright. Wouldn’t it be nice to ask the Count? You can send a letter to Count Norrant to confirm.”

“Thank you.”

Coincidentally, as soon as Viola finished speaking, the Count entered the parlor.

“Your Highness!”

As soon as Count Durs saw Viola, she ran in front of Viola with a smirk. It was so aggressive that Dustin unconsciously tried to stop her, but was stopped by her princess and backed away. Viola slightly lowered her guard towards Count Durs.

“Long time no see, Count.”

“The black wolf, faithful servant of the sun, greets the noble dignity of Ishur. Really, this old woman is very happy. You grew up really well. I almost don’t recognize you.”

“Isn’t it obvious that it’s been over ten years since I last saw you? You are the same. When are you going to retire?”

Viola smiled and asked the Count, who still maintained a straight back and dignified spirit. Then the Count smiled and led Viola to her seat and answered.

“Haha, it’s still too early to retire. Rather, I heard that my men have committed disrespect against you. This old woman asks for your forgiveness on their behalf. Those kids have lived their whole lives here in these remote mountains, so they don’t know better.”

“I have already forgiven them. I also enjoyed having a different experience. It’s nothing compared to what the Count did to me.”

“How is Her Majesty? It’s been a long time since I didn’t step into the capital, so I feel guilty.”

“She is healthy. She will continue to be healthy…”

At that point, Viola paused for a moment. It was enough to exchange greetings here. Now it was time to get to the point. Because it was not a good situation if it kept getting dragged on.

Count Durs, who understood what Viola meant, deftly kept her expression, and then spoke with strength in her voice.

“I’m sorry, but please forgive this old woman’s stubbornness. I cannot yield.”

“You’re completely adamant. What are your reasons?”

“Because that punk from Norrant has finally gone mad. Even when he was young, he had already gone senile. Your Highness can’t even imagine what he did.”

The count rubbed her wrinkled forehead with her index finger in fatigue. Then she nodded her head at the vassal. The vassal immediately picked up something and set it down in front of Viola. These were the correspondences Count Durs had exchanged with Count Norrant.

Viola picked up one of the letters and began to read it.

“This…”

“Well well, even the sky closes its eyes. You can’t raise a child wrong and expect a decent family. Where the hell did he learn that manners? Tsk, greenhorn bastard…”

“Have these not been forged?”

Viola frowned as she read the letter written with profanities towards Count Durs.

“So you think this old woman is playing around with this?”

“So what did the Count do?”

“A child with no manners should be cursing. I can’t just sit still and eat cursing until I’m full, can I? I replied that I won’t let the matter go.”