Chapter 514

Ian, who had paused for a moment, brought the goblet to his lips again as if nothing had happened, but Thesaya's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I thought this was a very generous decision. Am I wrong?" asked Thesaya.

"Of course, it is."

Though Diana herself would hate it just short of dying.

Thinking, he set down his empty goblet and reached for a cigarette.

Thesaya, who had been watching him quietly, finally exhaled smoke and said, "Do you want that girl to stay here?"

"I don't think it's my place to interfere. It's an Erenos matter, and you're the head of the house," Ian said, taking the wine bottle.

Thesaya readily held out her goblet and replied, "I appreciate you respecting my authority. But I'm genuinely curious about your thoughts, Ian."

"Honestly, I do feel a little bad. She kept saying she wanted to spend her remaining years peacefully here. But what can you do? She has her mother and grandmother to blame. I can just take her to the mainland. She’s capable enough," said Ian.

"Is she good at fighting?"

"Quite. She's not a knight, but she's an excellent scout."

"Hmm... is that so?" Thesaya nodded her head.

Watching Ian pour wine into his goblet for a moment, she finally brought her goblet to her lips and added, "Then, I'll give it some thought."

"Hm?" Ian, who had been looking down at his goblet, turned his gaze back to her.

Thesaya smiled. "Whether it would be alright to keep that girl here."

Ian's brow furrowed slightly as he placed the bottle on the table. "Are you sure that's okay?"

"I said I’d think about it. Honestly, it might not be a bad idea to let her stay. At the very least, it would allow me to torment those devilish women even more."

Tilting her head and taking another sip of wine, Thesaya smiled, tapping the cigarette held between her fingers.

"They'll be on pins and needles when they find out Diana has returned alive, won't they? They might even get their hopes up, thinking there might be a way for them to return to the family."

Ian, who had been listening quietly, finally let out a laugh. "So you want to use her to give them false hope."

Giggling, Thesaya put the cigarette to her lips and said leisurely, goblet in hand, "I was thinking of her as a hostage, but I like your version better. False hope. You’re good with words, Ian. Besides, you said she's capable. I was getting frustrated with all the useless chaff around here anyway. I might as well work her to the bone,"

She exhaled a long stream of smoke, her gaze returning to Ian. "Of course, that's only if she follows me obediently. If she tries to contact Savina or Aela, or holds any grudge against me, then I won’t be able to help her."

Thesaya's swamp-colored eyes sank deep. "I'll have no choice but to make a proper example of her."

"Hmm..." Ian hummed, taking a sip of wine.

He set down his goblet and said, "I'll check what her true intentions are."

"You, Ian?"

"She's probably heard the situation by now, so she'll know I'm her only lifeline. In any case, she'll be more honest talking to me than to you."

He put the cigarette, which he had just tapped the ash from, back in his mouth and added, "If I see even the slightest sign that she's thinking of doing something foolish, I'll just take her with me. That would be better for everyone."

Of course, the Diana he knew didn't seem like the type to cause such problems. Still, family ties made people unpredictable. If conflict arose after his departure, one of them would likely end up dead, or worse.

Although it seemed overwhelmingly likely that Diana would be the one to end up that way, that was an equally unwelcome outcome. He had gone through the trouble of saving her with an elixir.

"Alright, Ian. I'll leave it to you, then." Thesaya smiled brightly and slumped back against her chair. She held the cigarette in her right hand and the goblet in her left.

She continued, "It's been a long time since I've felt this at ease. Maybe it's because I whined to my heart's content, but I feel refreshed. I've been a little troubled lately."

"I should apologize in advance, then," Ian said, looking at her as he exhaled a puff of smoke. "Because when you hear the news I've brought, you'll be troubled again."

"Don't worry. I'm already somewhat prepared." Thesaya said with a wink and took a large gulp of wine as if to prove her point.

While Ian let out a soft laugh, she licked her lips and brought the half-smoked cigarette to her mouth, and said, "Now, tell me your story, Ian. What you went through over there, what you saw. Everything."

Ian swirled his goblet and said, "Well. It's too long a story to tell all in one sitting."

"Then you can just tell it to me in parts. Surely you’re not planning to leave after just one day, not after coming back from beyond the Black Wall after all these years? I’ve still got plenty to say. And things to discuss." She responded instantly, narrowing her eyes.

"Of course not."

So the real business hasn't even started yet, huh?

"I’ll stay a few more days at least. There’s another group joining us here."

"Really? Why didn't they come with you?" Thesaya blinked.

Ian took another sip and answered, "They went to Arvant. To deliver news of the situation on the inland sea to His Grace the Duke."

"Ah."

"Archdemons and sea monsters have crossed over from the distant sea. They may not have perished or passed into the Black Sea. Instead, they might’ve seized control of the inland sea. We need to shut down all ports and assess the situation before doing anything else."

Thesaya, who had been listening while sipping her wine, finally murmured, "So the rumors about no ships arriving from the mainland were true. No wonder. I thought it was strange that this month's support funds hadn't arrived."

Unlike others, she didn't seem particularly surprised to hear about the archdemons. She reacted as if she were hearing about someone else's problems.

Typical of her.

Ian took a sip of wine and added, "We'll know the exact situation when my friends get back. Depending on the outcome, what I'll need to ask of you will change."

"Alright. I'll keep that in. Wait a minute—"

Thesaya, who had been nodding, paused and looked at Ian, who was setting down his goblet.

"That group... is one of them, that red-haired cousin?"

"One of the two is." Ian, who answered, also frowned slightly and looked at her.

A slight smile was already playing on Thesaya's lips. "So the cousin really is safe. That's a relief."

"How did you know I was with Lucy? Did that spread as well?" Ian asked, his frown deepening.

Thesaya smiled. "No. I heard it directly. Redhead came to visit."

Ian’s eyes widened. "Mev, all the way here?"

"Yes. With Half-Ear and the Scar, who kept insisting we call him Iron Fist."

She must have meant Nasser and Miguel.

Ian sat up straight and said, "Tell me more."

"It was over a year ago. They came with a message from the Platinum Dragon. That Scar, he was the messenger."

"The Platinum Dragon went to see Miguel," Ian murmured, his eyes narrowing.

The Platinum Dragon must have wanted to hear the full story directly from someone who had experienced the front lines.

"So he said. Since there's only one agent of the Platinum Dragon per generation, he became the messenger. Redhead and Half-Ear were accompanying him as knightly escorts. Anyway, thanks to them, I was able to hear exactly what had happened to you."

She looked at Ian with a strange smile on her lips.

"They all believed with absolute certainty that you were alive beyond the Wall, Ian. Of course, the red-haired cousin included."

"You too?"

Before Ian's question was even finished, Thesaya nodded. "Of course. There's no way you would die so meaninglessly, Ian. That's why I waited like this. I had a feeling I'd be the first one to meet you. My premonition was correct."

Everyone has such great, baseless faith.

Ian let out an involuntary chuckle and brought the goblet to his lips. The aroma of the wine felt stronger. He wanted to share the news with Lucia immediately.

"The interrupter is already here." Thesaya looked toward the door and clicked her tongue.

Ian, turning in the same direction, also listened. A tiny, regular sound of footsteps was approaching, likely that fairy attendant from earlier.

I haven't even heard what the message was yet.

Ian smacked his lips as Thesaya set down her goblet.

"It's probably for the best. Let's continue the rest of the story at night, Ian. Comfortably. For now, shall we eat first?"

"Are you hungry?"

"Honestly, not yet. I think it's because of the wine and fruit." Thesaya shrugged, wrapping the leather strap with the dagger around her thigh.

Ian reached for the collar of his armor and added, "Then I'd like to wash up first and change into something more comfortable. I should probably meet with Diana, too."

"Alright. Let's do that. I'll assign Phoebe to you as an attendant." Thesaya nodded readily, picked up the Elixir of Life, and stood up.

As she fastened the necklace, she tilted her head. "If things go well with Diana, bring her to dinner too. If not, just come alone, Ian."

"Got it."

"See you later, then. Oh, right."

Thesaya, who had been speaking as she walked, paused at the door.

"Did you know that, Agent of the Saint?" Thesaya said in the tone of an elder fairy, looking back at Ian.

She slowly opened the door and added, "I am probably older than you. Much, much older."

Ian, who had been detaching his pauldrons, paused.

Thesaya smiled slightly at his gaze, tapped the cigarette holder resting on her neck, and whispered, "Just so you know."

And with that, she left. In the brief moment she stepped into the hallway, her face turned expressionless, as if she’d never smiled at all.

"He says he wants to bathe first. Take good care of him, Phoebe," said Thesaya.

"Me? Understood," replied Phoebe.

Ian, who had been blankly listening to the conversation drifting from the hallway, finally let out a laugh.

"Guess she is."

Shaking his head, he moved his hands again. Not that he had any intention of treating her like a senior.

***

The day had grown dark.

In the Forest of Erenos, which spread out beyond the railing, faint lights flickered here and there, like a swarm of fireflies.

Creeak—

The attendant fairy, Phoebe, carefully opened the closed wooden door.

"You can stay back. It won't take long," Ian murmured. He was now in much cleaner and lighter attire. His hair was still damp.

"I will have the meal prepared." With Phoebe's polite reply, Ian stepped into the room.

A modestly sized chamber stretched before him, lit by the quiet flicker of candlelight. Sitting alone at the edge of the bed was the platinum-haired fairy.

Diana, now without her mask and in simple clothes, looked as pale as if the color had been drained from her. There wasn’t a trace of life in her expression; she looked as though a gust of wind might scatter her like ash.

"You seem to be in great shock," Ian said as he closed the door and entered the room.

Diana's hollow eyes turned toward him a beat too late.

"I'm screwed," she muttered listlessly, then forced a hollow smile. "I think I'm completely screwed, Ian."