SOTBW - 105

These days, Amelia’s daily life was monotonous yet incredibly exhausting. In the morning, she prepared meals in the kitchen, trained with the Recheo Knights from after lunch until dusk, and spent the remaining time working as a maid to earn money.

When she had run twenty laps around the training ground with the young soldiers who were the same age as her late younger brother, she nearly vomited the piece of bread she had eaten to survive. However, upon hearing from a Recheo knight that this was basic training, she quickly gathered herself. The only training Amelia had consisted of swinging a wooden sword and getting used to the weight of a shield, which she hung on her arm. Strangely, even this simple task gave her a sense of relief and a faint feeling of accomplishment that she was doing something.

Of course, she was still afraid of fighting Serith. She often had nightmares about being consumed by that monster. Yet, oddly, every time her sword speed increased, a strange sense of pride welled up in her.

Amelia hadn’t told Najane that she was training or that soon she would be going to the field with the young soldiers. If Najane knew, he would strongly oppose it. He would refuse and try to stop her no matter what. That was clear to her, so she couldn’t tell him.

Najane might not have understood Amelia’s feelings. The life Amelia could have chosen was either marrying a fellow farmer and repeating a life of poverty, living as a maid serving others, becoming a mistress or concubine to a newly wealthy man, or something similar. Amelia, destined to live such a life, never thought she could live a different life.

That was always the best option. What would be the worst for others was the best future for Amelia Royan. Amelia always dreamed of a better life, and that was why she had come to Noctis. Perhaps it was a desperate desire to escape from a life as filthy as a sewer that had led her fate to this place.

On the other hand, she was curious about what kind of heart and appearance Najane had while fighting on the field. What on earth was keeping Najane enduring in that dreadful place? Was it for a better life, just like herself? Or was it out of a sense of duty to protect people?

The moment you step onto the field, beliefs become useless as weapons. Even the holy knights from the Papal See, who had once come down to defend the Noctis Fortress, couldn’t escape death from Serith’s strike.

Amelia knew that she could never be like Najane. She wasn’t envious of his abilities. She simply wanted to live the life she desired by her own will. Not as a peasant’s daughter, a tavern dancer, a maid in the knight’s order, a newly rich man’s concubine, or a noble’s mistress, but just as Amelia Royan.

Sighing, Amelia rubbed her reddened hands and quickened her pace. She saw servants carrying carts full of raw meat to the kitchen. This was a sight she hadn’t seen in a while. She had heard that after a group of bandits had settled at a certain pass leading to the Noctis Fortress, there had been supply issues. As a result, even the knights had to make do with rotten potatoes and old flour for their meals.

As Amelia noticed the cart, she then saw a line of carts loaded with boxes in front of the knight’s headquarters. Usually, the maids only took care of cleaning, but today they were all busy carrying small boxes, sleeves rolled up. For the first time in a while, the knight’s headquarters was buzzing with life.

Amelia was about to approach and help, but as she saw someone inspecting the goods, she instinctively stopped in her tracks. It was Maximón. Maximón was listening to the explanation of an elderly merchant while inspecting the contents of the boxes. There seemed to be so many supplies coming in at once that the commander himself was checking them.

As soon as Amelia saw Maximón’s face, her body stiffened with tension. Hidden behind a bare branch, she secretly watched him with a look full of dissatisfaction.

The maids had been gossiping early in the morning, saying that Maximón had committed some crime and had been dragged to the authorities. They said he was tortured in the dungeon and had his body ruined, with one of his eyes gouged out, making him a one-eyed man... Yet, Maximón was now directing the servants, looking perfectly fine.

Amelia used to gossip with the maids and overhear all the happenings in the fortress, but recently, she had been too busy to have that time. Back then, spending time chatting with the maids, even about meaningless things, had been a form of enjoyment that helped her endure her life as a maid. Of course, at that time, she was merely a supporting character, carefully responding while keeping an eye on the maids who had borrowed money from her.

As she recalled those days, a feeling of melancholy settled on Amelia’s face. At that moment, Maximón turned his head. Startled, Amelia quickly shrank her body and hid behind the tree. Maximón briefly stared at the hem of her dress peeking from behind the tree before quietly walking in the opposite direction.

Amelia stood frozen, her face rigid. Her heart was pounding so fast she felt it might leap out of her chest. With her hands clasped together in a prayer-like manner, Amelia nervously glanced toward the headquarters. Fortunately, Maximón’s figure was no longer visible.

Relieved, Amelia fled. Her face pale, she hurried toward the kitchen, but in her narrow vision filled with anxiety, a vague red color appeared. The knight’s dormitory was gloomy, and if something colorful hung by the window, it would instantly catch the eye of anyone passing by. So, when Amelia saw someone leaning against the window, she had no choice but to stop.

Every time the cold wind blew, the red curls fluttered gently. Amelia, looking at the back of the person, wondered. Had there ever been a knight with red hair? In fact, ever since Amelia had been kicked out of the cleaning duties and into the kitchen, she hadn’t known much about the knights staying there. Maybe a new knight had joined, or it could be one of Gwyneth’s guests.

If Amelia’s memory was correct, the person in that room should be Archbishop Gwyneth. It was impossible to bring outsiders into the knight’s dormitory, but since Gwyneth was a holy person, perhaps everyone just pretended not to notice.

At that moment, the person leaning against the window turned to look outside. Amelia briefly doubted her eyes. The woman had the same dark green eyes as Maximón. Dark green eyes were a unique feature that only appeared in the Elgort family. Maximón’s adoption by Edwin must have been heavily influenced by his eye color.

Could it be Maximón’s sister or younger sister? As soon as Amelia thought the woman might be related to Maximón, she suddenly felt a quiet sense of reluctance. Nevertheless, just in case, she decided to nod her head and leave, but the woman gestured for her to come closer.

Amelia looked around with a puzzled expression, wondering if she had truly seen the gesture correctly. She was the only one standing there.

Although she was not inclined to engage in conversation, Amelia approached the woman and politely greeted her. Despite her shabby appearance, she had once briefly studied the manners of the upper class, aiming to become a noble’s mistress.

“Did you call for me, Sir?”

“Where are you headed?”

The woman asked with a rather friendly tone.

“I was on my way to work. Is there something you need me for?”

“No, nothing like that. I just called out because a pretty girl passed by.”

Amelia blinked in surprise at the woman’s words and looked up at the window. Despite the woman having the same dark green eyes as Maximón, her gaze was warm.

“By the way, don’t most maids start working early in the morning? You seem quite free.”

“Ah, well... the truth is, I overslept. I train during the day and work at night, so sometimes I get tired and make mistakes like this. Since I was already late, I thought I might as well take my time... I usually work very hard, though. Please be lenient with me, Sir.”

When Amelia smiled sweetly, the woman burst into laughter.

“You’ve always been shameless, huh? That’s your charm.”

“...Forgive me for asking, but have we met before, Sir?”

“Yes, quite some time ago.”

At the woman’s words, Amelia tilted her head. The woman appeared to be of a high rank. Amelia had worked for the Romsoa Knights for quite a while, but she hadn’t had many opportunities to meet nobility or people of similar status.

Moreover, it was rare to encounter someone with fiery red hair like the woman’s. If she had met such a person before, she would have surely recognized her right away.

But Amelia dared not voice her doubts. The woman looked at her with a confident expression, and that determined gaze made Amelia feel as though she must have met the woman somewhere after all.

“By the way, you said you were training? Are maids like you being trained like soldiers?”

“I decided to become a soldier to earn money and to prove the men who say women can only prattle to be wrong. There’s no special reason.”

The woman narrowed her eyes at Amelia’s words.

“You know what’s beyond the walls, right?”

“I do. It’s filled with the horrible Serith.”

“Do you think it’s your mission to wield a sword like Najane?”

The unexpected name caught Amelia off guard. She was momentarily surprised that the woman knew Najane, but as the question came to her, she closed her mouth. Mission... it was too grand and heavy a word. The truth was, the reason Amelia gave up being a maid and decided to become a soldier was because of Maximón’s encouragement.

She was a little angry, but everything Maximón said was true. Amelia had been nothing but a burden to Najane. In fact, Maximón had even been slowly helping her pay off some of the debts she owed to Najane.

A useless burden. A hindrance that only held others back... If she didn’t want to owe Najane any more, she needed to repay the debt quickly, and Maximón’s offer had seemed very sweet.

It was true that she had been pushed into becoming a soldier. But didn’t everyone go to the field knowing they were likely to die? Now that she had decided to become a soldier, Amelia knew she had to be prepared for that much.

But if she were to die, what would happen to the debt she owed? What about her two younger sisters back home... and Najane... her life, which had never known freedom...

“Come to think of it, I never asked your name.”

Just as Amelia was about to fall into a pit of overwhelming fear, the woman’s voice interrupted her. Startled, Amelia jerked her head up. The woman, resting her chin on her palm, looked at Amelia and kindly smiled. Amelia realized that she hadn’t even introduced herself and quickly bowed her head.

“My name is Amelia Royan. How should I address you, Sir?”

“Ashu.”

The woman smiled slyly.

“It’s a nickname, but I’d like it if you called me that.”