Episode 42

Episode 42. How Dare You Speak That Name

Mary’s home, the old Dubon baronial house, sat in a quiet area on the outskirts of town. The two-story building hadn’t been maintained in ages and looked practically haunted.

Suddenly, one of its windows shattered with a loud crash.

“Damn it. Where’s the money? The money! Bring it out now—I know you’ve got it hidden somewhere!” someone shouted.

Mary’s voice rang out in defiance. “We don’t have anything! You took it all last time. Can’t you see there’s nothing left, not even to feed the children?”

The first voice snarled. “Not my problem. If you don’t bring it out, I’ll kill you all!”

Outside, I locked eyes with Leonard.

“Something’s definitely wrong in there,” I said.

Leonard’s jaw tightened. “Stay here. I’ll check it out.”

He climbed out of the carriage. I followed close behind. He’d told me to wait, but I couldn’t just sit by when I heard Mary’s voice shouting.

Leonard gave me a sharp look over his shoulder but didn’t argue. He probably figured he could at least protect me himself.

He approached the battered old house and listened. Another furious voice spilled out.

“You miserable bitch. How long do you think you can hold out? Huh? Do I have to twist your arm to make you talk?”

Mary’s voice was raw. “You bastards!”

Children’s wails rose behind her.

I felt my pulse spike. “I’m going in,” I said quietly.

Leonard didn’t waste time arguing. “I’ll make sure Mary and the children are safe,” he promised.

He kicked the door open with a deafening crash.

I flinched in shock. I’d expected some subtle infiltration, but Leonard wasn’t subtle at all. For a moment I forgot that under the gentle smiles and calm words was the imperial knights’ commander, one of the Empire’s top fighters.

The men inside turned at the noise.

“Who the hell are you?!” one of them barked.

The dim room stank of sweat and fear. Four men glared at Leonard with murderous eyes. They were big, scarred, knives hanging from their belts.

I spotted Mary on the couch, held down like she was being interrogated. One of the men had a knife to her throat.

Mary’s eyes went wide in relief. “Leonard!”

Her captors scowled.

“Leonard? The hell is this guy?”

Another sneered. “He’s some fancy little noble boy?”

Leonard’s voice dropped dangerously low. “Drop the knife.”

The thug laughed. “You kidding me?”

“What, ‘drop the knife’? You think you can order us around?”

They sneered at him like he was entertainment.

“You here for the girl? Aw, look at that face. Must be sweet on her.”

Another added with a cruel grin. “What family are you from, huh? Bet you’ve got money.”

I winced inwardly. God, please, make them shut up before they get themselves killed.

But the idiots just kept talking.

“Check out this guy’s expression!”

“Nice sword you got there. Trying to look like a real knight?”

“Hey, kid. Best get on your knees and beg. We might just let you crawl out of here alive.”

They cackled, exchanging jeers.

Leonard ignored them completely and turned slightly toward me in the doorway.

“I’m going to act,” he said calmly.

“Don’t kill them,” I answered immediately.

Leonard moved the instant my words were out.

The man holding Mary screamed as a dagger buried itself in his arm.

“Aaargh!”

The others roared.

“You bastard!”

“Kill him!”

Blades flashed.

Leonard flowed among them in one smooth motion. His sword never even left its scabbard as he drove its sheath into one man’s solar plexus, twisted to smack another in the neck, and dropped a third with a sharp blow to the gut.

Cries of pain and terror filled the room.

One man stayed conscious, the one with the hooked nose who’d held Mary hostage. He backed away in terror.

“Y-you’re really a knight?!”

I almost laughed. What do you think he is, a cosplayer?

Leonard’s voice was like ice. “If I took your insults seriously, I’d be justified in killing you here. Be grateful she asked for mercy.”

“Sh-she?” The thug’s eyes darted wildly and landed on me.

I cleared my throat and walked in.

Leonard dropped to one knee. “Your Majesty.”

“Good work, Leonard,” I said, nodding to him.

The hooked-nosed man froze. His eyes went huge.

Mary, realizing I was there, dropped to the floor in a bow. “Your Majesty!”

Seeing her so terrified made my chest tighten.

The thug gaped at us both. “H-Her Majesty?!”

Leonard drew his blade an inch with a steely rasp.

“Speak one more word about her and I’ll cut out your tongue.”

His tone was so cold it made even me shiver.

“S-spare me! Please!” the man whimpered, dropping flat on his face, not daring to move.

I glanced around the wrecked room, broken furniture, crying children. Then I walked over to Mary.

“Mary.”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she sobbed.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

Mary’s voice shook as she wiped her eyes. “They’re loan sharks, Your Majesty.”

As expected. No matter where you went, loan sharks were the same vile breed.

“Your parents left you with debts?”

She nodded miserably. “They disappeared years ago after borrowing a huge sum. These men keep coming back, terrorizing us for payments.”

“How much do you still owe?”

“Nothing. We already paid the principal. We sold everything. Even a relative helped. My brother and I both worked.”

I turned to the cowering thug.

“But you’re still demanding money?”

He stammered. “W-well… yes, but… it’s the interest—”

“The illegal, sky-high interest you tacked on, I assume?”

He went pale, searching for words.

“Save it. Go bandage your arm before you bleed out.”

“Y-yes. I’ll just… stop the bleeding…”

“Don’t even think about using her curtains. Use your own damn clothes.”

“O-of course. Right away.”

As he scrambled to tear his sleeve for bandages, Leonard hauled the unconscious thugs outside to dump them somewhere out of sight.

I turned back to Mary, my heart heavy.

“You’ve been through so much.”

Mary shook her head, crying harder. “I’m so sorry you had to see me like this, Your Majesty. I don’t know what to do…”

I reached out and rested a hand on her hair.

“I heard you weren’t feeling well, so I came to see you. How bad is it?”

Mary sniffled. “It’s just a little fever. Nothing serious.”

I frowned. Anyone could see she was pale and exhausted.

She’d been working all day in the palace and all night caring for her siblings, all while being terrorized like this. No wonder she was sick.

“You hid it well.”

When I lifted my gaze, I noticed several small faces peeking nervously from the kitchen.

“Your siblings?”

Mary wiped her eyes. “Yes.”

I beckoned gently.

“Come here, little ones. Don’t be afraid.”

They hesitated but shuffled closer in a ragged line. Seven in total.

I felt a lump in my throat looking at them.

“I brought a little something for you all. It’s not much, but I hope you’ll like it.”

I nodded to Countess Chloe. She understood immediately and called softly to them.

“Come with me, children. There are surprises in the carriage. Don’t you want to see?”

Their eyes lit up. Laughing and chattering, they followed her out. Soon squeals of delight rang through the yard as they discovered the pies.

I allowed myself a relieved sigh.

“You’re incredible, taking care of so many on your own.”

Mary managed a tiny smile. “My brother helps when he can. Business hasn’t been good lately…”

“Your brother?”

Suddenly there was another loud crash as the half-broken door gave way completely.

A man stormed in, broom in hand like a sword.

“Mary! Are you alright? You bastards—if you hurt her, I’ll kill every last one of you!”

He was the spitting image of Mary, just older and fiercer.

I blinked at the sight and murmured softly.

“…Quite the protective brother.”

Mary groaned, red-faced. “…Please, pretend you don’t know him for now.”