Antidote

“It’s still uncertain whether they’ll send reinforcements.”“They will. Kirdara and Karlac are tied by marriage.”“Come on, the princess’s fate in the Grand Canyon was last winter. A marriage alliance means nothing now…”One of the workers wiped his bloodied hands on his apron.“They’ll send them anyway. Terron’s been running his mouth. He said the King of Ipsen has been in Karlac for far too long…”“You believe that idiot?”“He’s got sharp ears, you know.”“Well, he has been here for a while. You know, ever since what happened last time, that bastard staying in Karlac this long…”At that moment, the head cook slammed a butcher’s knife into the cutting board. There was a collective gasp as everyone immediately fell silent.My shoulders, pressed against the kitchen door frame, tensed in response.“Do you know where you are? If you don’t want your tongue cut out, watch what you say.”The stern warning silenced the gossip. The only sounds left were the chopping of the knife, boiling water, and the clatter of dishes.Quietly, I slipped away from the door.My heart pounded in my chest.Sending reinforcements? To Kirdara?The words the workers had spoken echoed in my ears. The King of Ipsen had been in Karlac too long…Jiyod had returned to Karlac before last year’s sandstorm season, and now, with another storm season approaching, it had already been a year.I stopped at an empty corner of the hallway, resting my elbows on the windowsill, trying to calm my breathing. My mind was in disarray.Jiyod was leaving East Karlac again.Another war…This isn’t like the internal conflicts within Karlac. And now, right before the sandstorms, by the time the army is ready, fall will be over and winter will set in. Are they planning to march through the Grand Canyon in winter?It’s absurd.I took a few deep breaths, then turned back the way I had come, retracing my steps through the corridor.I had to see Jiyod. Someone had to tell him it was a foolish idea. He didn’t need to leave Karlac and throw himself into another war. He should let them handle the external conflicts on their own.As I reached for the door at the end of the hallway, someone yanked it open from the other side. My hand, gripping the handle, was pulled forward, causing me to stumble a few steps before I managed to straighten myself.Standing there was a familiar face, an elderly maid who served Lisbeth. Her face was twisted in fear and distress.“Hurry! Come quickly!”She immediately grabbed my wrist, pulling me along.“What’s going on?”“The Lady… Lisbeth…!”Her words were choked with sobs, barely making sense.A sense of dread surged through me.“What about Lisbeth?”Normally, she would have scowled at my disrespectful use of Glenberg’s matron’s name, but now she seemed too frantic to care.“She collapsed a little while ago. She hasn’t regained consciousness. Others have gone to fetch the Young Lord. The steward told me to bring you as well…”The ominous feeling that had been vague and formless quickly became tangible. My heart sank.When I rushed to Lisbeth’s quarters, a deathly stillness hung over the room.The curtains were all drawn, shrouding the space in darkness, and there was a faint sound of sobbing. People moved about silently, like ghosts, their robes brushing against the floor. An apothecary passed by me, cradling a ceramic bowl filled with pungent-smelling herbs. In one corner of the room, a terrified young maid crouched by the brazier, fanning the flames. The water in the bronze pot atop the brazier bubbled, releasing steam into the heavy, humid air.The room smelled strongly of bitter and sour herbs.The steward spotted me and approached silently. Deep lines of worry etched across his forehead, and dark circles shadowed his eyes.I looked from his face to the large bed hidden behind the curtains.“What happened…?”“She collapsed suddenly.”The steward’s voice was somber.“She hasn’t regained consciousness.”I clasped my hands together, swallowing dryly.“And Lister?”“The Young Lord is outside the outer walls. We’ve sent for him, but it will take some time for him to return. With him absent, I thought it best for you to be here… in case the Lady regains consciousness and asks for you.”“I’ll stay. What about the children?”“I didn’t see the need to show them their mother in this state, so I haven’t told them. Do you think we should bring them?”His head tilted slightly as he asked the question, his gaze lingering on me as if expecting an answer. Why was he asking a slave like me? The peculiar glint in his eye stirred a suspicion—did he know about Lisbeth’s outrageous marriage proposal to me? But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.I shook my head once.“If she wakes up, then we can bring them.”“I thought the same.”The steward nodded.“Anyway, the mages are keeping watch. There’s not much more we can do.”He looked utterly exhausted, as if he’d aged ten years.“She’ll recover. She has to…”He muttered, nodding to himself before placing a hand on my shoulder.“I need to step out for a while. There are other matters to attend to… If anything happens, let me know immediately. I’ll be back soon.”“Alright.”The steward passed by me and left.The mages and apothecaries, having done all they could, quietly withdrew from the room after administering medicine to the unconscious Lisbeth through a long straw.I dismissed the young servant stoking the brazier and sat down in their place. Steam seeped out through the intricately crafted bronze lid, moistening the dry air. I fanned it gently, ensuring the steam would spread more evenly throughout the room.As I moved my hand, I unconsciously lifted my head and gazed at the ceiling.Etched into the high ceiling were the twin founders of our Karlac royal family. Each twin sibling held a bow, aiming arrows at each other. The light from the glass lamps in the four corners of the room reflected off the stained glass at the ceiling’s edge, casting shimmering, multi-colored shadows across the glassy faces of our ancestors.The beginning of Eastern Karlac was kin-slaying.The twin hunters, bow in hand, arrived at this desolate land, killing thousands of monsters and laying the foundation for Karlac’s thousand-year reign. They eventually quarreled over who would claim the fertile land along the eastern riverbank, agreeing that whoever’s arrow flew truer would get the more fertile land. However, both were such skilled archers that their arrows crossed the flooded Kövisto River and pierced each other’s hearts. The overflowing waters consumed their bodies, and the blood that drained from their corpses fertilized the land.As I stared at the twins aiming their arrows at each other, I recalled the myth every Karlacian had heard countless times. A bitter smile crept across my lips.How absurd it was.In the end, I had pushed my father to his death, and the Duke of Karlac had enslaved me, his nephew.There was no need to prove that we were descendants of Karlac’s founders in such a way…I lowered my head, which had been raised high. My gaze naturally fell upon the silent bed.Nothing could be heard from beneath the layers of curtains.As if no one was there…A sudden wave of anxiety overtook me.Just as I had inherited the blood of Karlac’s founders, so too had Glenberg. The former Duke of Glenberg, the father of Lisbeth and Lister, carried the bloodline of a former Duke of Karlac from several generations ago.If Lisbeth didn’t recover…Kirsten was only seven, and the two younger sisters were even more vulnerable. It was obvious who would take control of Glenberg in Lisbeth’s absence. Lister claimed he had no interest in Glenberg, but was that really true? Even if he had no intention now, what about in the future? And what of those around him?I set the fan down, stood up, and approached the bed.Carefully, I lifted the curtain to reveal Lisbeth, lying buried in thick blankets and pillows. I quickly reached out and placed my fingers over her slightly parted lips. A faint, lukewarm breath brushed between my fingernails and skin. Ha… A sigh of relief escaped me. As I relaxed my shoulders and let the curtain fall back, a commotion stirred outside.Light footsteps halted at the door to the bedroom. After a brief silence, the heavy door swung open soundlessly, and Lister entered the room.Upon seeing me, his eyebrows shot up.“How is my sister?”Lister, approaching me, asked in a low voice, his gaze fixed on the curtained bed.“She’s… alright.”“Just alright?”Lister’s voice took on a displeased tone.“What happened?”“Didn’t the chamberlain tell you?”“I came straight here. Explain it to me.”He spoke as if I were responsible for this place. I wanted to argue that it wasn’t my job, but this was Lisbeth’s bedroom. With her still unconscious in bed, I had no desire to argue with Lister. So instead, I calmly answered.“She collapsed suddenly.”“When?”“Not long ago. I came as soon as I heard.”“What did the mages say?”“I didn’t hear much. Do you think they’d tell a slave anything important?”I couldn’t help but let irritation seep into my voice. Lister flinched. He rubbed his forehead and swept his hair back with an irritated gesture. His eyes kept darting toward Lisbeth’s bed, concern visibly etched on his face.I sighed quietly.“Ask the chamberlain. I’ll call him, and I’ll have the mages come with him.”Just as I turned to leave, a faint cough came from within the curtains. We both flinched. Lister rushed to the bedside and pulled back the curtains.“Sister, are you alright?”Standing behind him, I glanced over his shoulder to catch a glimpse of Lisbeth. She was coughing softly, her brow furrowed. Lister placed his large hand on her shoulder, helping her sit up slightly.After several more coughs, Lisbeth finally managed to open her eyes. Her gaze, veiled by a translucent film, was cloudy, and both Lister and I gasped in shock. The once strong woman’s weakened state felt alarmingly ominous.After a moment, Lisbeth let out a small sigh.“What happened?”That was the question she asked.Lister, his voice thick with emotion, replied tersely.“We heard you collapsed.”“Me?”“Who else could it have been?”Lisbeth looked around, then noticed me. A faint, sorrowful smile appeared on her face.“I must have worried you. Even you came, Slan…”I shook my head.“It’s nothing. How are you feeling?”“Well, I couldn’t say.”She muttered bitterly. Then she tried to prop herself up on her elbows. Lister slid his arm behind her back to help. Even after just barely sitting up, beads of cold sweat appeared on Lisbeth’s pale forehead. I carefully wiped them away with my sleeve.“Thank you.”“Would you like some water?”“Yes, for now…”She tilted her head slightly to look up at me.“I have something to discuss with Lister for a moment. Could you give us some privacy?”“Ah…”I nodded hurriedly, my cheeks flushing slightly. I was embarrassed. Without realizing it, I had intruded upon a conversation between family members…“Sure. I’ll bring the General Overseer as well.”“Alright. I’m counting on you.”I hurriedly stepped away from the siblings. As I closed the bedroom door, I caught a glimpse of Lister’s grimacing face through the crack, sitting on a chair by the bed. Lisbeth was whispering something with a serious expression. Urging my hesitant hand, I closed the door. Thud. The louder-than-expected sound startled me, and my shoulders flinched. Both hands clutching the doorknob were slick with cold sweat.What are they talking about?The memory of Lisbeth’s mention of marriage and Lister’s threat to take her to Glenberg surfaced together. Rumors floated by gossips about Glenberg’s succession, the twisted history of our Karlac bloodline, which began with familial murder, and Kirsten, still so young… What would happen to me if Lisbeth couldn’t get up from this? The moment that thought crossed my mind, I felt a surge of shame, realizing I was more concerned about my own safety than Lisbeth’s condition.With a face flushed in embarrassment and shame, I left her bedroom.From then on, my ominous feelings seemed to manifest into reality, one by one.Lisbeth couldn’t get out of bed and started to worsen. The hours she spent lying down exceeded those she was awake.In front of witnesses, Lisbeth took off the Glenberg signet ring from her finger and handed it to Lister. Though he declined a few times, it was clear there was no other option. Visitors and gifts gradually ceased, leaving only magicians and apothecaries to come and go from the residence.Time flowed both slowly and roughly, like the deep river coursing through the vast Gorge.A sandstorm swept through Eastern Karlac.Workers covered the garden trees with cloth and boarded up the gilded wall decorations and window frames.Dark clouds covered the sky, and gray sand grains swirled and swept everything around. The air was dry. With each breath, the pungent smell of sand clawed its way deep into my lungs.This air severely worsened Lisbeth’s health, so the General Overseer tightly sealed all the windows of her quarters and drew thick curtains. Various herbs said to soothe the mind and help with coughs were boiled throughout the day, filling her room with a faintly spicy, bitter scent of mint and lavender.It was the time when the sun began to set toward the Western Gate.The red sunset, seeping through thick clouds of sand, bathed the Karlac fortress in a dusty golden hue.I was returning from the apothecary, where I had been sent to obtain dried butterbur root at the General Overseer’s request. The root was used in Lisbeth’s medicine, but it had run out, likely due to the sandstorm that had begun a little earlier than last year. Short-staffed and rushing to prepare for the storm, they must have forgotten. I had no reason to refuse his request—I had no luxury of being picky about work, given my slave status.The fierce wind whipped grains of sand against my body. The large grains pelted my knees and chest hard enough to sting. I pulled my hood further down, but even so, I couldn’t stop the sand from slipping through the gaps and falling inside my collar.I clutched the bag containing the butterbur root tightly to my chest and hurried my steps.On the other side, servants, also wearing long robes and hoods, were yelling as they moved a large plank. It seemed like a window had broken in the violent storm.My gaze was momentarily drawn to their commotion when a sharp wind sliced between the buildings, spiraling upward. Shouts rose from the servants, and they dropped the plank, scrambling to get away. The sandstorms at this time of year were no joke. Occasionally, people suffered severe injuries from the wind, and it wasn’t rare for buildings to collapse or trees to be uprooted and sent flying.Hunching over, I ran to the nearest building’s colonnade, hiding between the pillars.The wind roared so fiercely it hurt my ears. The sound of sand striking the building walls was deafening. Pressing myself against a pillar, I caught my breath, waiting for the wind to die down. The sun beneath the western castle walls disappeared entirely, faintly visible through the hazy cloud of sand. A mixture of red and turquoise briefly flickered in the darkening western sky before fading away. The eastern sky, covered by thick clouds, looked like a sheet of pale indigo overlaid with a thin film. Tall buildings pierced through the gradient sky, and between them, the sand-filled wind flowed like a fierce current.I watched the scene for a while.The wind showed no signs of calming down.By now, the sky had almost completely darkened.The servants who had been huddling in a corner, avoiding the wind, had long since left, cursing as they fought against the storm.The wind might worsen after sunset.I had the layout of Karlac fortress in my head. This colonnade stretched northward and led to a small courtyard between the glass greenhouse and the sky garden. The sky garden, landscaped atop a tall building, had an open space below it supported by hundreds of pillars. If I passed through there, I could reach the Glenberg residence without being swept up by the wind.But…The area was near the northern Ipsen residence…After hesitating for a few minutes, I finally pressed myself against the wall and slowly started walking down the colonnade. If I stayed here any longer, I might just spend the night clinging to a pillar.Hugging the bag with the butterbur root tightly, I trudged forward, shoulders hunched.By the time I reached the sky garden, the sun had completely set.The towering garden was shrouded in darkness, and a weakened wind swirled between the hundreds of pillars supporting the massive square structure. It was dark. A few lamps hung above, but apart from those, there were no lights.Just as I sighed and stepped onto the narrow path between the pillars—“That’s not the right way.”A low voice called from behind me.A chill ran down my spine.My face flushed with excitement, and my heartbeat skyrocketed in an instant.I jumped, turning around with a start.Between the large pillars, a long shadow stood. In the darkness, the shadow looked like a massive hill swelling backward. Hundreds of pillars cast irregular shadows in the faint lamplight, creating hundreds of overlapping silhouettes. Perhaps that was why—the rounded shadow looked like the back of a giant, bristling beast.Cold sweat trickled down my neck.Jiyod smiled softly.“You were heading for the Ipsen residence, weren’t you? It’s this way.”With those words, he strode toward me.Behind him, the shadow strangely swelled and shrank with every step he took.His hand gently rested on my shoulder.I opened my lips and barely managed to squeeze out a voice.“How did you….”“That’s not important, is it?”He bent down and pressed his lips against my forehead.His lips were hot.The moment they touched, my body jolted. My heart was racing uncontrollably. My gaze fell to his feet. My eyes traced the long black shadow trailing from his heels. But before I could follow it any further, Jiyod’s arms wrapped tightly around me.“Ah!”A gasp escaped from the sudden embrace. My arms crossed tightly, clutching the bag, as if rejecting his embrace.Jiyod casually slid one of his hands between my arm and side. I tensed up, not sure what to do, but he effortlessly pried my arm open, as if handling a child. My bag slipped to the ground, and with my arm freed, our chests touched. I could hear the rhythmic thudding of his heartbeat.“Stop sulking and hug me with your arms open,” he whispered softly into my ear.My ears burned all the way to their tips.When I shook my head, Jiyod’s hand gently caressed my back. A shiver started from my tailbone and rapidly spread through my body. My lips began to tremble. How long had it been since I had resolved not to meet him again, convincing myself I shouldn’t? The realization of my own weakness brought me to the verge of tears.“Why didn’t you flip the coin?”I dropped my head without answering his question.“Do you not want to see me anymore?”His voice carried a faint trace of laughter.“The medicine’s changed, so you couldn’t have forgotten me again… So why? Are you still mad? I gave Lady Lea a proper scolding, but I won’t tell you the details here since you wouldn’t like it. Did you read the letter I sent through Ida?”His kind voice loosened my resolve. Blood rushed through my veins, heating up my face. The sharp tension that had spiked in my nerves began to soften like the frayed edges of a worn fabric. I wanted to throw my arms around him, bury my face in his chest right that instant.I clenched my twitching hands into fists.As I turned my head to avoid looking at him, afraid my resolve would weaken further, Jiyod lowered his head and kissed my temple. Startled, I covered the spot with my hand, but he only pressed his lips to the back of my hand next.“Don’t.”“Are you still angry?”“It’s not that. I didn’t read the letter either. Stop sending them. It’s a bother to Ida.”“She probably doesn’t think so. But what do you mean you didn’t read it? Did you just keep it untouched?”“That’s not….”At that moment, Jiyod dipped his head and swiftly bit my upper lip. I shuddered and tried to close my mouth, but he was faster. His tongue slipped between my parted lips. I raised my hands, intending to push him away, but ended up grabbing his collar as he yanked me toward him, pressing our bodies tightly together. His warm tongue delved into the space between my lips. My eyes closed instinctively. As our tongues intertwined and filled my mouth, my body trembled involuntarily. Each time his fingertips stroked near my tailbone, my body jerked, and my knees buckled.“Mmm…”A soft moan escaped, as if I had been entranced by the kiss.Jiyod’s tongue slowly explored my mouth. His hand cradled the back of my head, tilting it to deepen the kiss. As my neck bent back, my mouth opened wider, and he thrust his tongue deeper inside. My body shuddered, recalling the sensation of pleasure. Helpless, I pushed against his shoulders with both hands. Jiyod pulled back a little, loosening our lips. Tears clung to my lower lashes, making my vision blur.The sound of the wind roared distantly, like it was coming from far away.“Should I kiss you more?”He whispered as his lips pressed against mine again.I shook my head and turned away to avoid the kiss. A tingling sensation, like I’d been struck by lightning, crept up from the backs of my knees.“Don’t worry. The wind is so strong that even if you scream, no one will hear. If you don’t like that, should we go inside? Before the wind gets any worse… But before we do, just a little more. Open your mouth.”He gripped my chin impatiently, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer.When I clenched my lips shut, he kissed them with soft, wet sounds, insisting I open my mouth.“Come on, open up. Don’t you like it outside? Last time, didn’t you cling to me in that corridor, begging for a kiss?”“That’s not true!”My face flushed crimson.“It’s not like that. Just… let go.”As I frantically pushed at his shoulders, the arm around my waist loosened. I immediately took a step back and grabbed my bag from the floor. But he quickly pulled me back by my shoulder with one arm.“What’s the rush? Is it urgent?”“Yes, it is. I need to go back.”“Then I’ll wait here. Go quickly. Or should I come with you? Should I walk you there? But before that, can’t we kiss one more time?”He bent down as if he was about to dive at my lips again, his face drawing nearer.I awkwardly pressed my palm against his chin and mumbled.“I won’t do this with you anymore.”“What are you saying? Don’t joke around. You don’t like being outside?”Jiyod chuckled softly, pulling me tightly against his chest. His firm body felt like a wall. I shook my head.“I’m not joking. I didn’t even read your letter. Stop sending those.”I couldn’t muster the courage to look into his eyes, so I stared helplessly at the ground as I continued.“I’m just a slave… and you’ll leave Karlac soon….”“Who said I’m leaving Karlac?”His voice was cold.Startled, I looked up.Jiyod’s expression was ambiguous. His lips were gently curled in a smile, but a shadow obscured the upper part of his face, hiding his eyes. I hesitated, glancing nervously at him as I spoke.“I heard there’s a war in Kirdara. People say that if you stay in Karlac, you’ll be the one sent as reinforcements. And since the Duke of Karlac hates you, if that really happens… you don’t need to get involved in some foolish war. It’d be better to return to Ipsen….”I trailed off, unable to finish my sentence.A brief silence followed. My chest tightened as if someone had slipped a hand between my ribs and squeezed my heart. My lungs fluttered, making my chest rise and fall with each breath.“Let go now.”I pushed against his shoulders. But his solid body didn’t budge.I raised my gaze.The moment our eyes met, my heart dropped. Jiyod was staring down at me. His lips still curved in that gentle smile, but his eyes were cold. His irises, drained of color, were dark, without any hint of emotion.My breathing quickened. I had never imagined Jiyod looking at me like this. An overwhelming mix of sorrow and fear crashed over me.I turned my head to the side, staring blankly at the empty space between the columns, and mumbled softly.“Let me go… I have to go back.”My voice was trembling like a dry leaf.Jiyod still didn’t budge. His chest, pressed against mine, felt like a heavy wall, and I could feel his slow, steady heartbeat. The thick arms wrapped around my waist and shoulders didn’t move either, as if they had taken root. I felt trapped, as if caught in a snare, or wedged between heavy, narrow walls.I breathed shallowly, looking down, waiting for him to release me. Each second felt like an hour—no, perhaps an eternity. The longer it went on, the more my body trembled in an inexplicable way. I wanted to push him away and turn to flee immediately, but an instinct told me that I mustn’t.I remained still, waiting for him to let go of me on his own.Only after a long time did his arms slip away from me.Yet even then, I stayed frozen in place for a while. A few more minutes passed before his body finally pulled away from me, and he stepped back. Only then did I jolt, as if awakened from death, turning and running away.My hand, clutching my bag, was trembling violently. I had gripped it so tightly that the leather lid, secured by a strap to prevent anything from falling out, had loosened.By the time I barely made it to Glenberg Manor, I was drenched in cold sweat.My back and even my armpits were soaked.Trembling to my lips, I ran to a dark, desolate corner of the north courtyard, kneeled beneath a bare orange tree, and crouched down. Tears welled up and spilled down. The wind was loud enough that I didn’t even need to suppress my sobs.It’s over now.It’s all over.I’m going to live like this forever…After crying my heart out for a long time, I finally managed to stand.Although I was very late, the steward didn’t say much. He glanced at me briefly, then clicked his tongue.“Go wash your eyes. It looks like sand got in them and made a mess. And take a bath too…”“Yeah.”“You’ve done well going to the apothecary in this sandstorm.”I merely nodded in response to his consideration.Time passed once again.The sandstorm passed, and the blue sky spread above the walls of Karlac. Migratory birds flew across the clear sky, and the air, filled with the coldness of the north, slowly seeped into Karlac like water through a cracked porcelain cup.The days marched briskly toward the cold season.I suddenly woke up at dawn, and the embers in the furnace had gone out. When I stepped out from under the blanket, the cold air touched the nape of my neck. I hunched my shoulders and lowered my feet to the floor. Yawning, I picked up a small poker propped against the wall and stirred the embers in the furnace. The charcoal broke, and sparks crackled. It had already been quite some time since I’d gotten used to the furnace, which I had to tend to myself in the small room.Winter was approaching again.It had already been three years of this life.As I crouched in front of the furnace, reviving the flames, my mind filled with a tangle of complicated thoughts.I shook my head a couple of times to chase those thoughts away and climbed back onto the bed. Even though I pulled the feather blanket—far too luxurious for someone of my status as a slave—over my head, a strange chill crept up from my toes. My hands instinctively groped under the bed for the neatly folded black cloak. I wrapped it around myself beneath the blanket and curled up. The cold was too biting for me to mock my own weakness and pathetic state.Morning passed fitfully, with me half-asleep.The water I had prepared the night before was lukewarm. I washed my face and body hastily, put on my coat, and left the room. A thin layer of frost clung to the corners of the tiles along the corridor leading to the main building.I went to the kitchen to prepare Lisbeth’s morning tea.Since Lisbeth had fallen ill, the tea time, which had once been her sole hobby, had diminished. Still, I never forgot to prepare it, just in case she might feel well enough one morning to get out of bed and share tea with me.As always, Lisbeth was still in bed that day.Her maid, with a grim expression, shook her head.I forced myself to maintain a calm face as I handed the tray with the teapot and cups to her.“I’ll pour it for her if she wakes.”“Alright.”She answered, but the tea would probably go cold again today.I quietly stepped away from her.It was still early morning, before Lisbeth’s three children would wake.With nothing else to do, I returned to the annex. At the far end of the first-floor hallway, as always, the old woman sat alone. Without a word, I went to her and began helping her spin the thread. It was an easy task—just keeping the wheel turning with my foot. The spinning wheel whirred as her wrinkled hands skillfully pulled the thread.“Is this fun for someone young?”The old woman asked, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.“It’s not because it’s fun.”“Then why?”“Because I have nothing else to do…”I replied quietly.“Someone of low status can’t just idle away.”The old woman fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject.“Did you burn the Ipsen crest?”“What?”I looked at her involuntarily, and our eyes met. Although I knew her vision was too blurry to see my face properly, my body instinctively stiffened.The woolen cloth hidden in my bosom felt as if it were blazing with heat. Unconsciously, I clenched my right hand into a fist and pressed it tightly.“Seems like you didn’t burn it.”The old woman muttered indifferently.“You should burn it.”“Why?”“Just because I can’t see doesn’t mean I’m deaf.”She continued as she wound the long thread onto the spindle. The spinning wheel clattered.“There’s going to be a war, they say.”“Not in Karlac.”“I’m not talking about that war.”Her words made me flinch, and I bit my lip. I almost pricked my finger on the wheel but managed to pull my hand away just in time. My toes, which had pressed down on the pedal, briefly tensed before relaxing again. I stepped on the pedal once more, and the wheel began to spin.“He won’t return to Ipsen, and he won’t leave Karlac either.”