If You Leave Without a Word - Chapter 64
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
read more chapters on luna kofi
But now that he was injured, and to the point of having difficulty moving on his own, it explained why Ethan had reacted so sensitively to the news of Cain’s injury.
Receiving information through letters alone had its limitations. The best course would have been to rush to the front lines and assess the situation in person. But Ethan was tasked with staying in the capital to protect Agatha, so he couldn’t move hastily.
“He’s currently in Arta. If we ride fast, we could reach there in about fifteen days.”
“But didn’t the commander order us to stay and assist the Madam?”
“Yes, but I can’t just sit comfortably in the mansion knowing the commander has suffered such a serious injury.”
“The commander’s orders are absolute.”
“In wartime, yes.”
“Isn’t this a wartime situation?”
“I meant, this is not the battlefield.”
A tall, dark-haired knight shook his head. He was a junior knight of the Vernat Knights but had recently gained Cain’s trust and was soon to be promoted to a senior knight.
“So, what do you plan to do? Go to the front lines yourself?”
“I wish I could. But I’m concerned about who to leave in charge of the Madam’s protection.”
“Why not take her with you?”
“What did you say?”
“The commander ordered us not to part from the Madam no matter what. So…”
“You mean to say his order was to stay with the Madam in the mansion, not to bring her to the front?”
“But leaving without her would be disobeying his orders.”
“I know that. I’m weighing the importance of the situation here.”
Between the safety of his superior and following orders, the latter is important only after the former’s safety is ensured – at least that was Ethan’s belief. The question now was whether the commander’s safety was compromised enough to warrant disobeying orders.
Ethan pondered this, ignoring the unhelpful comments of the dark-haired knight.
However, the dark-haired knight didn’t leave him alone.
“The commander’s order was clear: do not leave Madam’s side and protect her.”
“What?”
“He didn’t specifically say not to travel with the Madam.”
“That’s just playing with words. He meant to guard the Madam in the mansion.”
“He said to guard the Madam in the mansion, yes, but he didn’t expressly forbid leaving the mansion.”
“So you’re suggesting we take the Madam to the commander?”
“It’s not impossible. The commander isn’t on a dangerous battlefield right now. And to be honest, the north isn’t that dangerous…”
“Quiet. What kind of knight talks so loosely? Should you be blabbering about the commander’s situation like that?”
Ethan was considering reevaluating the promotions of the lower-ranking knights. For a knight, qualities like steadfastness and reticence were crucial, and this one lacked them. Not being perceptive was also a fault in a knight.
Displeased, Ethan glanced at the knight before him and burned the letter with a candle. It turned to ash in an instant.
He wished the letter had come with clear orders. Instead, this conversation had only muddled his thoughts further.
Knock, knock.
Ethan brushed the remaining ashes from his hands as the knock sounded. The one who entered was one of Agatha’s closest maids.
“Excuse me, the Madam is looking for you.”
“Me? Why?”
“She has something urgent to discuss with you.”
Why would Madam need to see him? He recalled Agatha’s curiosity about the differences between the letters sent from Cain to him and hers. Surely she wasn’t seeking that information.
Even if she asked, he had no answer to give. Affairs of the knight order were never to be disclosed outside, even if the question came from the commander’s wife.
Following the maid, Ethan signaled to the dark-haired knight, a warning and a lesson to keep his mouth shut. The knight quickly nodded in understanding, but Ethan didn’t relax until he had disappeared from sight.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The first thing Cain was aware of upon awakening was the persistent smell of gunpowder.
The front lines had been quiet for some time, making it unlikely for the scent to linger, yet each breath seemed to carry the acrid smoke, a hallucination of sorts. For Cain, who had spent most of his life on the battlefield, the smell of gunpowder was as familiar as the air around him.
Yet, familiarity didn’t mean welcome, as evidenced by the heavy sigh that escaped his lips.
He slowly got up, feeling a sharp pain in his shoulder with even the smallest movement. The familiarity of pain was no more welcome than that of gunpowder. His body bore more scars than unmarred skin, a testament to the numerous battles he’d endured.
