Yuri fired a few questions at Enochs. Though there was a bit of roughness involved, the interrogation went mostly smoothly.
“What kind of tea did you drink?”
“Huh?”
“When you talked with Ekaterina, what kind of tea was it?”
“I’m a knight. I don’t remember every detail about the tea.”
Smack.
“Now do you remember?”
“W-well, come to think of it, I think it was some kind of gray tea.”
“Earl Grey?”
“Yeah.”
Smack.
“Why are you hitting me?”
“Why keep denying something you could’ve said from the start and just earn yourself a beating? Do you like getting hit or something?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Anyway, back to the point. Did you drink the Earl Grey straight, or was it milk tea?”
“I think milk was added.”
“How was it mixed?”
“What?”
“How did you mix the milk and Earl Grey?”
“Why ask something so obvious? Just poured the milk in…”
As Enochs answered, his eyes suddenly widened.
“Now that you mention it…”
“Was there something unusual?”
“Yes!”
Enochs flipped over and bounced his hips to sit up. Bound as he was, he couldn’t express much more.
“At first, I thought it was some kind of quirk. She drank the tea as milk tea, but suddenly…”
“Don’t stir it, shake it?”
“Exactly! She told the servant not to stir but to shake it! The servant, as if used to it, naturally brought a shaker and shook it up and down, then served the milk tea with foam on top. It was really…”
“She knows how to enjoy it properly, huh?”
“Huh?”
“People who know how to drink milk tea do it that way.”
Yuri lowered her head and pressed her forehead with her hand as she answered. Her guess was proving true.
It seemed Ekaterina had also traveled back in time, just like her.
Yuri recalled those green eyes that had stared at her so intently.
Huff…
But judging by the circumstances, it was unlikely Ekaterina had come back with her memories intact.
Because the very reason Ekaterina had started shaking her milk tea was him.
He had joked that people who know how to drink milk tea shake it, and Ekaterina had taken it completely seriously, going around doing just that for a while.
She even convinced herself it tasted different. She was so earnest that he hadn’t been able to tell her the truth for some time.
Eventually, when he confessed it was all a lie, Ekaterina blushed and punched him repeatedly.
Of course, none of it hurt at all…
“Yuri Briole, why the sudden wistful look?”
“Nothing.”
Anyway, after that, Ekaterina never shook her milk tea again.
“If her memories are incomplete, it makes sense she stayed quiet…”
“What are you muttering to yourself?”
“Enochs, are there many knights loyal to Ekaterina like you?”
“You keep calling me by name so casually, Yuri Briole.”
Smack.
“Ow!”
“You’re calling my name too.”
“Oh, right.”
Enochs shook his head and said,
“Of course there are. Many knights are captivated by the princess’s beauty and kind heart.”
“Doesn’t the crown prince keep them in check?”
“Hmm, I don’t know the behind-the-scenes politics.”
“Useless.”
“What did you say?”
Yuri came to a conclusion.
Ekaterina had come back to the past, just like her.
But it was highly likely her memories were incomplete.
Yuri still had some questions.
Why would Ekaterina, who belonged to the empire, try to help her?
Could this be misinformation instead?
“Enochs.”
“Yes?”
“Why would Ekaterina send you and still try to help me?”
“I don’t know. But personally, it seemed the princess felt some kind of guilt toward you.”
“Guilt…”
Yuri chuckled softly.
“Yeah.”
Whatever the reason, it was something she could confirm by meeting Cedric in person.
“Interrogation’s over.”
“So you’re letting me go now?”
“No.”
“My part’s done. I should be heading home soon…”
“Who said so?”
Yuri opened the interrogation room door.
“Jared, lock her up.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Wait! Yuri Briole!”
He started to panic. Yuri sighed.
“Enochs, you useless fool!”
“Why the sudden insult?”
“If a prisoner like you got released right away, do you think the empire would welcome you with open arms? Or suspect you of colluding with Briole?”
“Well…”
“If you want to be accused of espionage and spend your days inhaling beef stew through your nostrils in the palace dungeon, I’ll let you go.”
“No, that’s not it…”
“Then stay inside.”
“How about pretending you barely escaped?”
“Just rest here.”
“Okay.”
Enochs looked at his bound body and said,
“I wish someone would loosen these…”
“Jared, put him away.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Hey, young man. Jared, right? You’re…”
Gag!
“I’ll gag him too.”
“Good.”
After locking up Enochs, Yuri headed straight for the castle walls.
Night had already fallen.
In the distance, the empire’s campfires glowed.
Just like Briole’s forces, they were healing the wounds from the day’s battle and preparing for the next war to come.
“Jared.”
“Yes?”
“I can’t leave my post, can I?”
“Hmm…”
Jared crossed his arms and looked in the same direction as Yuri.
Occasionally, the sound of drums echoed faintly from afar.
“Yes.”
He said,
“Everyone’s fighting hard, but the empire’s forces are strong. Since His Majesty is facing the Black Knight and the empire’s elite knights, the prince should command the soldiers from the walls.”
Being too capable was a problem.
Originally, a more experienced knight should have taken this role, but Yuri was doing it.
Not just doing it, but doing it so well that the entire force depended on him.
If he left now, it was doubtful they could respond properly if the empire attacked again.
“This is my fault.”
He couldn’t do everything alone.
He should have delegated roles earlier but had overstepped.
“Is this because of Enochs? You want to return to the palace to see the crown prince?”
“Yes.”
“Why not ask by letter?”
“I feel I need to see him in person.”
“Hmm…”
Jared nodded.
“I understand. Sir Laurent said something similar. He’s been acting strange lately. And it’s Laurent, no less.”
“Exactly.”
“Go.”
“Huh?”
“That’s my judgment. It’s better if you go.”
“Hmm…”
“You don’t look convinced.”
“You said I should stay earlier.”
“That was then, this is now. Want me to explain logically?”
“Go ahead.”
“If the war is lost just because one prince is absent, then we deserve to lose.”
Yuri looked at Jared’s profile as he stared out at the distant horizon.
“What if we really lose?”
“No, that can’t happen. And look, what’s more important—the border or the palace? Honestly, the palace is the heart of the kingdom. If the crown prince had really, say, been conspiring with the empire, Briole would be in grave danger right now. It wouldn’t end with just one castle.”
Jared pounded his chest.
“Go quickly, then come back and fight with peace of mind. You can’t fight well if your mind’s not at ease. If you kill only five out of ten enemies, the prince becomes useless. Understand?”
“Jared.”
“Yes?”
“You’re really…”
“Impressed?”
“Lucky bastard.”
“Huh?”
“You were hardly human before, but now you’ve met me and even act like a decent person. I can only call that incredibly lucky.”
“Isn’t this the time to praise me?”
“For what?”
Sigh…
“Never mind. Explain it well to Father.”
“Huh?”
“Leave out what Enochs said. Just say you have urgent business at the palace and will explain later. Tell him you’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“Suddenly? I’ve never spoken to His Majesty before.”
“This will be your chance.”
“Shouldn’t I escort the prince as his guard?”
“There’s no time. The longer the tail, the slower the progress.”
Yuri said that and turned around.
“I’m going.”
“Wait, Your Highness? Right now?”
“Yes.”
Yuri didn’t hesitate.
She headed straight to the stables, took out her black horse, and mounted.
“Take care.”
Watching Yuri’s retreating figure as she started to gallop, Jared stood there dumbfounded.
“Wow, she’s really going.”
Yuri rode southeast toward the royal castle.
Using mana mode to reduce air resistance, the horse galloped without hesitation.
After some time, an old signpost appeared at a crossroads.
One path led to Francaise, the other stretched toward the kingdom’s center.
Laurent must have stopped here, then turned his horse toward Francaise.
It wasn’t far.
If she rode a bit further, she’d reach Francaise, so maybe she could stop by briefly.
Yuri hesitated for a moment.
Francaise was currently under lockdown and inaccessible. But checking with the soldiers whether Laurent had passed through seemed acceptable.
“…”
Yuri gripped the reins firmly.
There was no need to go to Francaise right now. She couldn’t afford to waste time. The more urgent matter was to reach the palace and clear up the suspicions.
She urged the horse forward.
As Yuri disappeared into the distance, a strong wind blew, making the old signpost creak.
Then, with a cloud of dust, it collapsed.
Leaving only the crossroads standing alone.
Laurent gazed silently at the mansion.
Though this was a place he had known since childhood, somehow it felt unfamiliar now.
In his memories, the mansion had always gleamed white, bathed in sunlight.
But today was different. The sky was thick with clouds, casting eerie shadows over the entire estate. The building’s surface looked as if it had faded to a dull gray.
Laurent approached the gate in the wall surrounding the mansion. The knights who were supposed to greet him were nowhere to be seen.
“Sir, do you really have to go in?” Stephanie asked from behind him.
Laurent gave a brief nod.
“I’m just going to check and then leave.”
“Okay…”
Stephanie wanted to leave Francesse behind, but Laurent had unfinished business. They had agreed that once he visited the castle, they would leave Francesse immediately afterward.
Laurent pushed the door handle.
The iron-barred gate creaked unpleasantly as it slid open.
The moment he stepped inside, a hostile presence hit him.
“Step back.”
Laurent warned Stephanie and drew his sword.
The zombies lurking in the shadows revealed themselves.
They were grotesque, their skin melted away in horrific patches.
These were the stronger creatures Stephanie had warned him about.
Laurent had learned from fighting zombies before: those who had been strong in life remained strong in death. The few formidable ones he’d encountered bore the marks of knights.
The zombies charged at him with terrifying speed.
Laurent raised his sword.
Though their forms were hideous, most were familiar faces.
They were the knights of Francesse who had once called him “Young Master” and followed him loyally.
As he cut them down, Laurent thought to himself: maybe today is the day I die here.
Looking down at the dismembered zombies, he let his sword tip drop. Then he spoke to Stephanie, who was hiding behind the gate.
“Stephanie. Stay here.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll be back.”
“B-But, sir, I want to come with you…”
“No.”
Laurent said firmly, then turned away.
“If I don’t come back, run.”
“What? How can I run alone…?”
Laurent said nothing.
Terrified, Stephanie glanced around before slipping into a small guard post beside the gate, built for watching the perimeter.
“You have to come back soon…”
Ignoring her voice behind him, Laurent crossed the garden and stood before the mansion.
He could sense the zombies crouched in the darkness.
Francesse—and the Flandre family—were destroyed.
Laurent accepted that truth anew.
As the last survivor of the Flandre line, he had to bring this to an end himself.
He stepped inside.