As time passed, the atmosphere inside the castle calmed down.
Faint crying sounds were the only sound sometimes heard.
The castle maids began distributing the stew they had prepared in large quantities to the people.
“I cannot bear this.
Despite your objections, Madam, I will reveal your identity as Grand Duchess Esther and ask if they can provide a private place for you.”
Amy suddenly stood up as if she couldn't take it anymore.
I grabbed her and pulled her, saying: “In this chaos, what does it matter whether I am a duchess or not?
Please, don’t do this and stay calm.”
Amy lowered her eyes, stood for a moment, then sighed deeply and sat down next to me heavily again.
The castle was filled with the smell of stew.
My stomach began to react to the smell and make loud noises.
“Our Lady loves meat, but this stew doesn’t seem to contain any.”
“Don’t talk like that in front of others.
I know very well that my reputation is not good, and you are making it worse.
I didn’t say anything, let’s line up for the stew.”
I got up with Amy and Mary, and we stood at the end of the long line to get the stew.
We returned to our place and ate the vegetable stew in no time.
“I'll get more.”
Amy got up, carrying my plate and hers.
“You're really not suited to crises.”
I shook my head at Amy and she said, “What?”
“Just stay calm.”
Suddenly, people near the door started whispering.
Mary craned her neck to see what was happening, then turned to us with a worried face and said: “Ma’am, what’s going on?”
I tilted my head and tried to listen to what they were saying, but the whispers increased without me understanding the content.
After a while, news reached us from the front.
“They say the Imperial Guard has arrived.”
"Ma'am!
This is wonderful!"
Mary clapped her hand happily.
"This is good."
Amy and I did not clap for joy at the words “Imperial Guard,” but we breathed a sigh of relief.
The expressions of the people inside the castle clearly changed from the despair before.
“We finally survived!”
As if this hope had come true, the castle gate opened wide.
People cheered and rushed out of the castle.
“Isn't it dangerous to go out now?”
Amy carefully grabbed my arm and asked me.
“It'll be fine.”
I held their hands tightly and we went out with the people.
The Imperial Guard was filling the space between the castle and the ramparts.
By the way, are Zeus and the others who came out okay?
I craned my neck and started looking for Zeus.
"my lady!"
Zeus ran towards me, eye-catching even from afar, smiling the brightest smile I'd ever seen before as he waved at me.
“Amy, why is Zeus acting like this?”
Not expecting such an enthusiastic reaction, I asked a confused Amy.
Amy looked at Zeus with a stunned expression.
Since our arrival in Palanopu, Zeus has never shown such a bright expression towards me.
His strong impression turned into something sweet because of his smile.
"Are you well?"
“…Are you okay, Master Zeus?”
“As you can see, I'm perfectly fine.
The Imperial Guards are over there showing off now, but the one who really shined was someone else.”
Zeus spoke, smiling happily.
I'm not used to seeing him smile like that yet.
"Who is he?
Not you, right?"
"What?
You're kidding...
Why do you think it's not me?
But it's really not me.
That person appeared as a black knight in a moment of crisis...
Anyway, they're bragging like it's their credit, and it bothers me."
Speak in a low tone.
“Anyway, it's good that it ended so quickly.”
“I think I did the right thing in obeying your orders, ma’am.”
He started singing a cheerful tune.
“Let's go back and gather our things to return to Aster.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
The situation outside the walls was chaotic.
The monsters' corpses were covered with white cloth, but the stench made us hold our noses and stave off nausea as we tried to find a carriage to return to the villa.
But because of the monster attack, our carriage disappeared, and we could not find any taxis.
“It's no use.
Let's go back to Aster directly.
Our things are in the villa, Zeus, send them to Aster later.”
“What?
What do you mean?
I’ll go back to Esther with you.
Haha.”
He laughed very energetically.
"What?
Why?"
“As you said, I have become your right-hand man.”
Did he lose his mind after fighting monsters?
How does someone become a right arm?
Is it extreme stress and fear?
She looked at him with compassionate eyes.
“What are you talking about?”
“Literally.
I have been appointed as His Highness the Duke’s right-hand man.”
Why did Leon's name suddenly appear, and what is the story of him becoming his right-hand man?
His strange words made me feel like I was losing my mind.
When she looked at him with a strange expression, Zeus began scratching his head with wide eyes.
“Ah… How did that happen… Yes, right.
I received orders through the communication stone.
There is a place ready in Aster, and I have been ordered to accompany you back.”
Leon?
She looked at Zeus with a skeptical expression.
Leon may have issued this order.
But now, there are many competitors to become Zeus's right-hand man.
Maybe it will become his little toe.
“So, Leon asked you to accompany me to Aster?”
“Yes.
No, yes, no.
Not like that.”
"What do you mean?"
I shouted.
I'm sure now he doesn't know what he's talking about.
“I mean, it's not like that.
Master Calsen ordered.”
"Understood."
I nodded and slicked back my messy hair.
Even if Calsen gave the order, he was moving on Leon's orders.
Can this be considered a positive sign?
My heart suddenly started beating fast.
"Then, let's all go to Aster.
My things are in the villa, when you settle in Balanobu, be sure to bring them.
There are things that are valuable to me."
The money Walter gave me is also there.
“Don't worry.
I'll be back to deliver the assignments anyway, and I'll pick them up then.”
We headed to the transfer gate without delay.
But most people seemed to think like us, as the gate was crowded with people wanting to leave Palanubo.
“It will take time...”
“Ah!”
Zeus searched his pockets and took out a gold card from his inside pocket and waved it in front of me.
“Wait a minute.”
Looking around, he saw the gate clerk, and made his way through the crowd.
“What is this and why is he acting like this?”
“Madam, don’t you know?
It is a royal card given to nobles of the rank of duke and above.”
Are we in an amusement park?
“Royal card?
Of course I know.”
Amy didn't care about my response and was trying to protect me from the crowd.
But why haven't I seen this card before?
I could have used it then.
“I heard that Master never uses it, but I didn’t expect it to be with Master Zeus.”
“Indeed, why with Zeus and not with me?”
With a little thought, I understood why Leon wouldn't use the Emperor Card.
He probably didn't want to use any privileges from the Emperor.
But for the card to be with Zeus was incomprehensible.
The transportation gates from Palanobo to Astir were usually not crowded.
Zeus came back to pick us up, cutting his way through the crowd.
We heard people protest as they stared at us.
“These hold an ownership card.
Please, check the rules for using the portal.”
The gate clerk heard the people's protests and repeated it out loud.
The protests calmed down, but the angry looks remained.
Thanks to the royal card, we returned to Aster quickly.
The ducal carriage was waiting for us outside the gate, as if someone had known we were coming.
We were hit by the cold of Esther, different from Palanobo, but we were grateful to come back alive.
Esther was very cold, but calm and peaceful.
Contrary to my slightly positive expectations, Leon did not come out to greet us.
Instead, we were greeted by Kalsen.
“Ma’am, are you okay?”
"Yes, fortunately I'm fine.
Where's Leon?"