Episode 642

“It looks like it’s going to rain.”

At the servant’s muttering, Hana glanced out the window. Indeed, the sky was heavy and gray, as if it might pour at any moment.

She ordered the servants to bring inside the fabrics and ingredients left out in the yard, then went to find the stablemaster. The saddle where Nersarn had ridden was still empty.

“Butler, is something the matter?”

“Has Lord Nersarn returned yet?”

“No, ma’am. I haven’t seen him since he went out earlier.”

“I see. Thank you.”

Hana clicked her pocket watch. It had already been an hour since he left the mansion. There was a guest waiting, so he couldn’t have gone far. Could something have happened? Since he went out chasing a hawk, maybe there was trouble near the border.

As Hana pondered this and headed upstairs, she bumped straight into Lady Lien standing in the hallway.

“Lady Lien, may I help you with something?”

“No, it’s not that. Have you seen Lord Nersarn?”

“I’m sorry, there’s been no word yet. If you return first, I will make sure to contact you as soon as he arrives.”

“No!”

Lady Lien’s voice had risen unexpectedly, and she quickly covered her mouth, eyes wide with surprise.

Hana motioned the servants away and gently led Lady Lien back to the guest room.

Creak.

“Lady Lien, is something wrong?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, but I read the letter Roel sent to Lord Nersarn.”

“Oh, no, that’s my fault for leaving it untidy.”

Since Nersarn had left, the letter he was reading must have been left lying around.

Lady Lien pressed her trembling hand to her forehead.

“Clark.”

“Who’s that?”

“Clark. My… servant who went to Tolun.”

“Ah! Yes, I remember. The servant.”

Hana knew very well what Clark meant to Lady Lien. But careful not to be overheard, she slowly peeked outside the door. Fortunately, the hallway was empty.

“You can speak freely, Lady Lien.”

“Ian seems to have met Clark.”

“Excuse me? Where?”

“I don’t know the details, but it was clearly written in the letter Roel sent. It seems Clark is with Ian. I want to try contacting him. To reach Ian, we have to go through the palace, so I’d appreciate your help. Or perhaps I should go myself—”

“Please, please calm down first, Lady Lien.”

After Nersarn, now Lady Lien was talking about leaving the territory! Hana’s vision darkened. What is love, really.

“Do you not remember what we discussed earlier? Hwan and Luswena could attack Hielo at any moment. I must be firm: leaving the territory is absolutely, under no circumstances, allowed.”

Since Hielo held real power over the Merelrof territory, Hana’s words carried weight. Seeing Lady Lien’s distress, Hana gently squeezed her hand.

“Don’t be too upset. You can send a letter requesting a meeting with Clark. It may take some time, but given the circumstances, please wait a little longer.”

Drip. Drop.

Raindrops began to fall against the window. The sky had darkened as if night had fallen. Hana sighed softly and comforted Lady Lien.

“Lady Lien, I’m sorry, but since Lord Nersarn shows no sign of returning and the rain has started, it would be best if you returned before it gets any darker.”

Lady Lien nodded quietly. Hana called a passing servant downstairs to prepare a carriage, and soon the bell signaling the coachman’s readiness rang.

“Lady Lien, I will contact you immediately when Lord Nersarn returns. I’m sure he will help with reaching Ian.”

“Very well. I will wait.”

“Please don’t be too distressed.”

“No, it’s alright. I was the one who misspoke.”

Lady Lien reassured Hana and climbed into the carriage.

The carriage sped along the familiar forest path toward Merelrof. The rain grew heavier, shaking the carriage violently, but Lady Lien sat upright, staring out the window, lost in deep thought.

“Hey.”

“Yes, Lady Lien?”

As they neared Merelrof, Lady Lien opened the window beside the coachman.

“Don’t go to the mansion. Head to the Cheil Hotel next to the central district park. I want to meet ‘Valijuard.’”

“Understood.”

Valijuard? Hana didn’t know who that was, but judging by the location, it seemed to be a merchant guild that had come over from Hwan. They all had bases near the central district.

The coachman pulled the reins sharply, turning the horse’s head, and soon they arrived at their destination through the pouring rain.

“We’ve arrived, Lady Lien.”

“Wait here a moment.”

The hotel manager, recognizing Lady Lien, hurried out to greet her.

“You wish to meet the head of the Valijuard guild?”

“He’s staying upstairs. Please wait here a moment. I will inform him that Lady Lien has arrived.”

Valijuard was a relatively new guild among those who had come from Hwan. But with unmatched delivery speed, they quickly rose to prominence in the market, becoming leaders in high-end services dealing with valuables.

Lady Lien glanced at the paintings lining the hotel lobby.

‘Are these entrusted items?’

Various sizes of paintings were placed on the floor. Guards standing nearby bowed their heads respectfully whenever their eyes met Lady Lien’s.

‘All these paintings depict empty rooms.’

Strange, she thought. The style wasn’t particularly impressive…

As she examined the paintings without suspicion, she suddenly gasped, eyes wide. The sunlight streaming through the windows in the paintings was subtly shifting, as if alive.

“Oh, Lady Lien, it’s a pleasure to meet you. You were looking for me?”

At that moment, the head of Valijuard descended from upstairs. Seeing Lady Lien so startled by the paintings, he chuckled.

“Is there a magician here?”

“No, there isn’t. These paintings are mixed with mana stones. It’s Valijuard’s secret that allows same-day delivery over any distance.”

“…Anywhere?”

“Unfortunately, no. Only to designated points. Lady Lien, have you come with a request? If so, please come inside. These are the lowest grade items managed by Valijuard.”

Lady Lien opened her mouth in disbelief. The claim of express delivery was no exaggeration. It seemed the entire hotel was reserved for them; paintings and guards were everywhere along the corridors.

“You have a keen eye. The manager stationed in the lobby seems completely unaware.”

“Not at all. It’s the virtue of a servant to pretend not to notice even when they do.”

“Is that so? Haha. We keep the paintings on the floor because hanging them on walls is dangerous. Please watch your step. Oh, and though it’s late, thank you. Thanks to your kindness, I’m quite comfortable here.”

Paintings of a back alley in the market, a vast meadow, a forest with a waterfall, a quiet road—every imaginable scene was displayed. All these places were accessible through Valijuard’s network.

“If this is possible, why did you flee to Merelrof? You could have come straight here.”

“As you can see, the paintings are quite small. Many things can’t fit inside. More importantly, an entrance and exit must exist simultaneously to be meaningful. We’ve painstakingly opened paths throughout Gaia, but if we used them to cross, it would be like closing those paths.”

Indeed, the paintings were barely large enough for a person to enter. Valijuard’s head sat on a sofa and asked,

“Please, speak freely, Lady Lien. Since you’re under our care here in Merelrof, we’ll charge only half the usual fee.”

“I want to deliver a letter. And if possible, a person as well.”

“We allow only up to two people besides our staff.”

“One person is fine. The recipient is Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic. We assume he’s at Burgos Kalamath Castle, but I’m not certain. Can you deliver faster than the royal courier?”

“Ian Hielo, Minister of Magic?”

Valijuard frowned, looking troubled.

“I’m sorry, Lady Lien, but Valijuard does not accept political requests.”

Since they operated in the shadows, crossing borders at will, staying away from politics was their survival strategy. Normally, they wouldn’t even explain their paintings to strangers, but Lady Lien was the lord of the Merelrof territory, where they were indebted.

“This is not a political matter, but a deeply personal one. You may even inspect the letter if you wish.”

“Hmm. Really?”

“What are the fees?”

“Fees vary by weight and number of people transported, but in this case, twenty gold coins. Remember, that’s already half price.”

Highway robbers. But there was no other way. The royal courier from Hielo to the palace, then to Ian, could take an unpredictable amount of time.

Lady Lien nodded in understanding. Valijuard bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Lady Lien. When shall we begin?”

“As soon as possible—”

Ding! Ding!

The sudden ringing startled Lady Lien. Riding on the sound of rain, it was an alarm from Hielo. There was a security issue; all residents were ordered to return home and stand by.

‘What’s going on?’

“What is it, Lady Lien?”

Something must have happened back in Hielo just moments ago. Now that I think about it, Nersarn hasn’t returned yet. Could it be connected? If so, is this an invasion from Luswena’s side?

Rien shrugged casually, trying to appear unfazed, then picked up the paper and pen from the table.

“It’s probably nothing serious. They’re likely just warning us to be cautious because of the sudden heavy rain. I’ll write the letter now—please deliver it quickly. We’ll send someone tomorrow morning to pay the balance.”

Swish.

Lady Rien wrote the letter with concise efficiency. If Ian learned that the merchants from Hawan had crossed over to Merelrof, he’d be able to grasp the broader situation. Setting aside political details, she needed to give him as many clues as possible.

—Lord Ian, this is Rien of Merelrof. Has Clark returned? If so, please send him here immediately. Nersarn is absent, and we’re short-handed.

Valijuard read the letter carefully, then smiled faintly and folded it neatly. That meant no issues on his end.

“Understood. I’ll head toward the Burgos area right away. The maximum time frame is fifteen days, including travel.”

“I see. If possible, within a week. I’ll pay extra for that.”

As the guild master bowed respectfully, Rien turned and stepped outside. The rain poured down as if the sky itself had been torn open.

Yet, the heavy tolling of bells continued to ring out. It was the moment everyone realized that Hielo was under attack.