Chapter 18

“Master”? When did that start?

At first, he wouldn’t even speak to me. But then, subtly as flowing water, he began calling me “Master.” The change was so gradual, it left no real impression. I hadn’t even noticed.

Now, in this new life, fate has brought us together again, student and teacher. When he first addressed me as “Master,” it felt like a twist of destiny. I even questioned whether Matthias knew something.

“There she is!” A man’s voice boomed, cutting through the tense silence. “The lady! Quickly, someone call for the transport carriage!”

Armed knights flooded into Köbeck, their boots echoing on the cobblestones. The scene that greeted them was horrific: blood pooled on the floor, bodies strewn everywhere. In the center of the carnage, a frail woman and a young boy cowered, covered in crimson.

The knights instinctively drew their swords, their gazes wary as they fell upon Matthias, who held Odelliana’s hand tightly. But before any blades could clash, Odelliana stepped forward, her voice surprisingly steady.

“He saved my life,” she declared. “Sheathe your swords.”

The tension bled from the room as the knights obeyed, their blades disappearing back into their scabbards. Soon, the rumble of a carriage approaching filled the air. Odelliana, with Matthias by her side, climbed inside. As the carriage rolled away, carrying them out of Köbeck, it began its journey towards Anatolia Castle in the inner district.

***

The castle buzzed with frantic activity. Blair, awake for a harrowing day, looked ghastly. Bloodshot eyes underscored his haggard state. Lord Anatolia appeared a decade older, etched with worry.

Odelliana, upon her return, received immediate medical attention. Her body, battered by the massive assailant, bore the brunt of the attack. Diagnosis revealed broken ribs, a fractured right arm, and a shattered leg, rendering it unusable. Lord Anatolia’s face drained of color. Blair, fueled by fury, demanded an immediate return to Köbeck to capture and punish the perpetrator.

Devastated by the incident, Lord Anatolia declared his intention to raze the entire Köbeck area. Her initial plan to simply retrieve Matthias had spiraled out of control, threatening to obliterate Anatolia’s largest slum. Odelliana felt a sense of helplessness as the situation escalated beyond her control.

Köbeck, designated for eventual redevelopment, would likely fall victim to the Tribal Suppression War within a year anyway. The displaced residents, though unfortunate, would possess the tenacity to survive. After all, hadn’t they already endured the harsh conditions of the slum? Their resilience was akin to that of cockroaches; they would adapt. Perhaps this displacement, however brutal, was a preferable alternative to potential death or enslavement by barbarian raids during the coming civil war.

But a nagging doubt lingered. Köbeck had served as a haven for barbarians until the outbreak of war. Razing it… how would it impact the Great Barbarian Subjugation…?

“Odelliana,” Blair began cautiously, “about the boy you brought back…”

“He saved me,” Odelliana interjected firmly.

“I understand,” Blair sighed. “If it’s difficult, you don’t have to tell me everything, but any details you can share would be helpful.”

Unfortunately, the truth was impossible. Odelliana wove a believable narrative. “I was abducted at the market by a stranger,” she began, “dragged off to Köbeck. Likely, they intended to sell me. While being hauled away, helpless…” she trailed off, a flicker of fear in her eyes.  I even stayed there overnight. My rescuer offered me a place to sleep and tried to provide food. However, things took a turn for the worse…”

“Worse?” Blair echoed, his brow furrowing.

“The man who kidnapped me must have seen the flyers oppa distributed,” Odelliana explained. “Upon discovering the substantial reward for my return, he planned to cut out my tongue to silence me before returning me to my brother.”

“Cut out your tongue?” Blair blanched, his gaunt features draining of color. He couldn’t handle it any longer, burying his face in his hands.

“…Thank goodness you’re safe,” he finally rasped. “Thank the gods you’re back alive.”

Odelliana couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes. The journey he’d undertaken for his sister had morphed into a terrifying ordeal. What cruel twist of fate had condemned him to such suffering?

“I’m fine,” Odelliana insisted, though her voice lacked conviction.

“Does it hurt?” Blair pressed, worry etched on his face.

“I can handle it,” she gritted out.

“Handle it?” Blair scoffed. “You’re seriously injured – broken bones everywhere. This is far from ‘fine.’ Damn it all, we should never have come here. If only…” His voice trailed off, choked with regret.

“It was my decision,” Odelliana interrupted gently. “We had a good trip, even with the unfortunate turn of events. It’s bad luck, nothing more.”

“Bad luck?” Blair’s voice shook. “If anything had happened to you…” He couldn’t finish the thought.

“The important thing is, I’m safe,” Odelliana pressed. “A little banged up, yes, but alive. Honestly, I’m okay.”

Despite her outward calm, Odelliana felt a pang of guilt at Blair’s obvious distress. She couldn’t hold his gaze and averted her eyes.

As if on cue, the door creaked open. Matthias, returning from questioning, entered the room. Despite the somber atmosphere, he approached Odelliana and Blair with a calm demeanor.

His arrival broke the suffocating tension. Relieved to see a familiar face, Odelliana reached out and grasped his arm.

“Brother,” she said earnestly, “this is the boy who saved me.”

Matthias remained silent, taking in the scene.

“If not for him,” Odelliana continued, “I might not be here. Or I might be missing a tongue.”

The focus now shifted to Matthias. While Odelliana had brought him back, Blair held the power to decide his fate. Highlighting Matthias’s heroism was crucial.

A spark of life flickered back into Blair’s eyes. He grasped the hands of the man who saved his sister and wept openly.

“Thank you,” he choked out. “Thank you for saving and protecting Odelliana. Truly…”

“There’s no need,” Matthias replied modestly. “I simply did what anyone would have done.”

“You deserve a reward for your bravery,” Blair insisted. “Is there anything you desire?”

Instead of answering, Matthias turned his gaze towards Odelliana. Understanding his unspoken request, she spoke up on his behalf.

“Brother,” she began, “I’d like to take this young man on as my squire.”

Blair raised an eyebrow. “A squire? You mean you want him to stay by your side?”

“He saved my life,” Odelliana explained. “On top of that, his actions put his own home in ruins, and now he’s being hunted.”

“Hmm, well then,” Blair pondered. “I can set up separate living quarters for him if you’d prefer.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Blair’s face. This wasn’t entirely unexpected. While squires were common among nobles, Odelliana’s residence in the Hirschberg Forest was a female-dominated domain. All tasks were handled by female servants, likely a concession to her physical limitations.

Blair’s unease was understandable. Having a young, strong boy as Odelliana’s squire – especially considering her past mistreatment by female attendants – was a cause for concern. He wouldn’t be able to constantly watch over her, and his hesitation was perfectly reasonable.

“I want to train him to become my loyal knight,” Odelliana declared.

Blair’s surprise deepened. “A knight?” he sputtered.

“This boy possesses exceptional talent,” Odelliana insisted. “He has the makings of a true knight.”

Blair clutched his head, his face pale. “Odelliana, if you require your own knight, I can find someone with an impeccable background. This young man is still too young, and we have no way of knowing if he’s truly suited to be by your side. Even with extensive training, there’s no guarantee of his absolute loyalty.”

“I understand your apprehension, brother,” Odelliana conceded. “It’s an unorthodox proposition. But this time, I implore you to trust my judgment and offer your support.”

“Odelliana,” Blair began, concern etched on his face, “I appreciate your desire to repay your savior. However, as your older brother, the thought of a young stranger, especially one of unknown origin, being so close to you fills me with worry.”

Ultimately, Blair’s noble upbringing made the idea of a poor boy with an uncertain past becoming his sister’s confidante a difficult pill to swallow. His protectiveness towards Odelliana was clear.

Odelliana sighed, unsurprised by her brother’s hesitation. “There’s something else I need to say, though I hesitated to bring it up…”

Blair’s posture tensed. He braced himself for whatever difficult truth she might reveal.

“When you leave,” Odelliana continued, her voice trembling slightly, “I’ll be alone again.”

Blair stiffened. The weight of her words settled heavily on him.

“You can’t always be here to protect me,” she pressed. “…Leaving me back there, to endure the whispers and isolation…” Her voice trailed off, thick with emotion.

“No! Absolutely not,” Blair interjected, his voice laced with panic. “I’ll find trustworthy people to staff your household. You’ll have all the care and support you need.”

Odelliana’s gaze held a quiet defiance. “Those who treated me cruelly weren’t always cruel, brother. Circumstances can change people.”

Blair fell silent, the gravity of her words sinking in.

“I need someone who will truly look after me, someone I choose, not someone chosen for me,” Odelliana stated firmly. “Do I not deserve a say? Am I denied these choices simply because I’m different?”

Her words struck a chord deep within Blair. Shame and regret flickered across his face.

He tried to argue, to plead with her to reconsider, but Odelliana’s resolve was unshakeable. Seeing her unwavering determination, Blair knew he had no choice but to yield.

With a resigned sigh, he turned to Matthias. “Very well,” he conceded. “Tell us your name.”

A grateful smile lit up Matthias’s face. “It’s Matthias,” he replied.

Thus, Odelliana’s plan to have Matthias by her side was secured.