The Red Witch - Chapter 18
“It’s a capital offense that could warrant immediate execution. Let alone the audacity to think of taking the imperial knight order’s military rations. Should I call this boldness, or should I call it ignorance…?”
Ael was fully armored, just like in the chapel. The only difference was that he wasn’t wearing his helmet, so she could see his face. Yet, his expression was so emotionless that it was impossible to read his thoughts or feelings.
In that way, it was no different from a helmet or mask. It was eerily unreal.
After all, this was someone she thought she’d never see again, so his appearance didn’t feel quite real.
It wasn’t until Ael drew closer that Kiara snapped out of her daze.
“Military… rations…? Are you saying these are military rations?”
Kiara looked back and forth between Raelin and Ael. Could these dried figs really be considered military rations?
Neither of them answered, but when Kiara saw Raelin’s pale face, everything clicked.
So that’s why she hid it. She must have stolen it.
With a deep sigh, Kiara set down the snack she was holding.
“I’m sure she didn’t know they were rations. She just heard about figs, something she’d never heard of before, and thought it was fascinating… And I wanted to try them…”
“…Wanted to try them…”
Now standing right in front of her, Ael bent down slightly and looked at her directly.
“So, was it good?”
“Huh?”
“Did you like it?”
Once again, Ael asked with the same blank expression, his crimson eyes fixed on her face. He only lifted the corner of his mouth slightly as he asked again.
“I’ve heard that first-timers usually find it quite troublesome. Too sticky and hard, they say.”
“I’ve always liked food like this. Where I’m from, we called them ‘gangjeong.’[1] Figs were especially my favorite fruit.”
“Ah-hah.”
Ael’s eyes seemed to curl upward in amusement. He slowly straightened his back and muttered to himself, almost as if forgetting she was there.
“So, it seems like witches have similar tastes.”
Suddenly, he was talking about another witch. Has he ever met another witch?
‘But he mentioned something about similar tastes?’
Are there others like me?
Kiara’s heart raced. Where could they be? At least, she never saw anyone like that in the Black Forest where she stayed.
“…Aren’t witches born in the Black Forest?”
Kiara murmured to herself, narrowing her brows as she got lost in thought. For a moment, Ael looked at her, but then turned his attention to Raelin.
“What’s your name?”
His voice and tone were monotone, but his demeanor was uncharacteristically firm. Raelin bowed deeply in proper form as she addressed him.
“R… Raelin… Raelin Verhenan… I serve the Altnebra royal family as the head maid, and I am here to attend His Highness, the Prince.”
“Head maid?”
Ael repeated the question, confused about why someone in such a position would be here. Raelin, maintaining her composed demeanor, explained in a more measured tone.
“I… am currently serving Lady Kiara.”
“Heh. The head maid is attending someone who isn’t even a royal… I see.”
Ael muttered bitterly and glanced sideways at Kiara, his gaze sharp and calculating. It was clear to him now. The maid had probably been sent as a caretaker after all others had refused or been unable to handle the situation. In the end, it was probably the king who had entrusted this responsibility to her.
What was with this legend, anyway?
“…Tsk.”
Ael clicked his tongue softly, his thoughts lingering on the matter. As he was sent to this far northern region, his older brother had told him that Altnebra is where the first emperor was born. It’s no surprise that they cling to the first emperor’s legend so fiercely.
‘Witches are hardly born these days, and yet a Red Witch appears after decades… And she’s supposed to marry the king of Altnebra? Doesn’t that sound like a story we’ve heard before?’
The young king and his witch bride — the legendary figures who conquered the empire.
It was the story of their royal ancestors, specifically the tale of the first Grandilgale. The king of the small northern kingdom, Altnebra, had united the empire with the help of the Red Witch after marrying her, and it was through her influence that he founded Bretnach.
‘The current young king of Altnebra is probably trying to leverage that legend for his own gain.’
This was the very reason why Ael had been sent to the far northern reaches by his older brother, the Crown Prince.
‘That legend isn’t just of interest to the people of Altnebra — it’s the fascination of the entire empire. So, it can’t be anyone else. An actual Grandilgale has to win over that witch. Besides, your name, with that ‘Altnebra’ in it, sounds just right for the role, doesn’t it?’
This served as an excellent excuse to get his threatening younger brother far away from the capital.
Ael continued to think about the king of Altnebra.
‘Blaine, I believe it was.’
Although Ael had never truly met him, Blaine was known to be a rather timid person. But in his own way, he was delicate and meticulous. Normally, a person wouldn’t go so far as to marry a witch just to gain her power.
‘Tie her up, lock her away, cut her ankles, pluck out her eyes… there are plenty of ways.’
Ael glanced at Kiara, noticing her pale skin, untouched by sunlight. It seemed they had at least kept her confined in the tower. It was a bit much to go as far as assigning someone to tend to her, though. If she had just stayed quietly out of sight, Ael wouldn’t have needed to bother coming all the way here. But the problem was that, for some strange reason, the king had started thinking about marrying the Red Witch — and worse, he had started telling everyone about it. That was the fatal mistake.
“…Blame your weak ruler.”
Ael muttered with contempt and drew his sword.
¹Traditional Korean confection made by deep-frying ingredients. Looks like a rice puff or a granola bar.↩
