The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 36

After revealing her origins, Veronica felt a pang of anxiety. Would this woman know the situation in Bayern?

“Bayern? Oh my goodness. You grew up by the sea then? I’m so jealous. I’ve never seen the ocean, not even once,” Hannah said cheerfully, and Veronica’s tension eased instantly. Clearly, Hannah knew nothing of the outside world. She wasn’t looking at Veronica with pity.

“I used to dream of crossing the sea to the Rom Archipelago. When other kids were dreaming about the knights in shining armor and the city of Kart, I was drawing bare-chested barbarian men. I can still remember the look on my mom’s face, completely horrified!”

Hannah’s quick chatter was as lively as a sparrow’s, and her sociable nature quickly drew Veronica in.

It was warm—the sunlight, the atmosphere. It felt almost unreal. Veronica sat there in a daze until Hannah suddenly clapped her hands as if coming to her senses.

“Oh, I almost forgot! I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Hannah, and the shy guy you saw beside me yesterday is Emmett.”

“I’m Veronica,” she said briefly, unsure of what else to add, before hesitantly asking, “How do you know Sir Berg?”

“Oh, you mean Mr. Oscar? He’s our lifesaver.”

Hannah shrugged her shoulders, picking up her knitting as she continued, “Technically, he’s Emmett’s lifesaver, but without Emmett, I wouldn’t be here either. So, he’s practically my savior too. When Emmett was trapped under the carriage after an accident, Mr. Oscar was the only one who didn’t look away.”

Hannah’s formal way of referring to Oscar, paired with the couple’s unconditional hospitality, suddenly made more sense.

“He’s a true knight, despite being of common birth. To think he wears the armor of the White Lion! My husband and I are happy to repay even a bit of our debt to such a noble person. So, please make yourself comfortable here.”

Veronica thanked her again and took the opportunity to ask about a name that had been lingering in her mind.

“I heard there was another common-born knight. They say Leon Berg returned to Kart. Have you heard anything about him?”

“Of course! Even here, there are plenty of rumors about the incident in Tiran,” Hannah replied eagerly.

Veronica wondered if Hannah was referring to Leon’s abandonment of the frontline. There was something odd about her phrasing, though.

“Incident?”

“You don’t know? I thought someone from the Holy See would know for sure.”

Hannah widened her eyes, lowering her voice as if afraid a passing bird might overhear.

“They say the rumor started with one of the papal stable boys, so it might be true. On the day Leon Berg fled the front in Tiran, none of the six hundred knights who went with him returned.”

Veronica frowned, confused. Did that mean all six hundred knights abandoned their positions together? Then why was Leon the only one roaming freely?

“They all died. All except the Red Knight.”

A shiver ran down her spine. It was a warm, sunlit afternoon, yet a chill filled the room. She released her grip on the cutlery, and it clattered softly against the dish.

“Rumor has it that the Red Knight went mad and killed his comrades with his own hands. And then he fled out of fear. The Holy See has been trying to cover it up because he was a beloved hero, but those in the Order know what really happened.”

Her hands trembled. Leon’s face flashed through her mind—eyes gazing into the distance, arms resting on his knees. His eyes, when they met hers, seemed as deep as an abyss. She had always been curious about him. She wanted to peer into the darkness of his soul. She sensed the same loneliness in him that she felt in herself. And yet, he seemed so strong.

The stronger the mask, the more shattered the soul beneath.

She imagined Leon, now having heard of the Commander’s death. He would still be alone. His face showing no emotion, slicing away his own flesh to sever the sadness within him.

Someone needed to be by his side. Anyone.

Looking back, Veronica had relied on his blade before the ashes of her hometown. She hadn’t fallen into despair because she had hated him. When something precious is lost, even an enemy can help.

Lost in thoughts of Leon, she missed most of Hannah’s continued chatter. The conclusion she reached was simple—she had to meet him.

And then, a single sentence broke through her reverie.

“He’s your lover, right?”

Veronica’s eyes shot up, startled. Hannah was grinning teasingly, and Veronica felt her face flush hotly before she could stop it.

“I knew it. That’s what it was all along. You shouldn’t feel guilty about it. If love were truly a sin, why would God give us the capacity to love? I’m rooting for you! Honestly, you even seem like a perfect match with Mr. Oscar—even your names fit so well together!”

Oh, how foolish of her. What had she been thinking? Clearly, Hannah wasn’t talking about Leon. Veronica realized that her nun’s habit and Oscar’s involvement must have sparked Hannah’s imagination.

A holy knight in love with a nun—it was indeed a romantic and forbidden pairing. Veronica, her face flushed pink, quickly waved her hands.

“No, it’s a misunderstanding. Sir Berg and I—no, Mr. Oscar and I are not like that.”

In her haste to deny it, Veronica almost used Leon’s title, but corrected herself at the last moment. Hannah gave her a knowing smile while Veronica wore a distressed expression.

She recalled Leon’s advice that getting defensive would only lead to more teasing. With effort, she focused on her meal, hoping that concentrating on something else would help change the topic.

But what now? She had to meet Leon again.

Surely, it was that strict deputy commander who had been keeping Leon from seeking her out. Kart was an unfamiliar land, and without Leon, she knew no one here. She was lost in these thoughts when Hannah spoke up again.

“Speaking of which, it’s best if you stay indoors for a while, even if you want to get some fresh air. Sir Leon Berg is staying just down the street.”

“What?”

Veronica almost shouted in surprise, and Hannah pointed her index finger towards the sunny street. Veronica’s gaze followed to the window with the potted plants, her eyes wide. Mistaking her reaction for fear, Hannah tried to reassure her.

“Oh, there’s no need to worry too much. We heard he’s staying at the inn nearby, but it’s been over a week, and we haven’t seen him even once. He probably leaves early for the Holy See and comes back late at night. You’ll be fine.”

Leon was staying nearby. Oscar must have known, which was why he had brought her here. Blinking, Veronica’s face slowly brightened. She put down her spoon, her expression filled with relief.

“That’s a relief. Truly, thank you for telling me.”

She took Hannah’s hand in gratitude, and Hannah paused for a moment before smiling back.

“Don’t mention it. If you’re really thankful, then finish another bowl. Honestly, watching someone eat so little makes me anxious. You need to eat more when you’re unwell.”

Even as Hannah took away the empty plate, Veronica made no move to stop her. Normally, she ate like a bird, but today she felt as if she could eat three more bowls. The cactus-shaped shadow on the blanket was beautiful.

***

Meanwhile, at that very hour, the Holy See was in an uproar. To say it was turned upside down would be an understatement. A dangerous prisoner had vanished without a trace, not even leaving a footprint.

“Verify that this is the guard who spoke with him,” Philip said, his tone icy with controlled fury, as he commanded the hunched executioner before him.

Knights armed and ready to subdue Leon stood in line in the black corridor, spears glinting in readiness. Inside the darkened room, three people stood—Philip, Leon, and the executioner. The executioner sniffed Leon, who stood leaning against the wall, and after a moment, wrinkled his thick lips.

“No. Different smell. Completely different smell.”

“See? I told you it wasn’t me. Seems like you’ve been fooled, Sir Wittelsbach,” Leon said with a sly smile at the executioner, and Philip’s face grew even colder. It was clear that Philip believed Leon was behind it all.

He spoke sharply, “She won’t get far even if you release her.”

“Of course not. The city is under lockdown.”

“Do you have an issue with the lockdown?”

Leon slowly turned his gaze to meet Philip’s sunken purple eyes—eyes wounded from the defeat in Bayern, eyes that had witnessed the terror of the Bahamuts.

“Not at all. After all, someone who’s been outside the walls would understand the situation best. Even if I disagreed, it’s not something I could change.”

Leon continued slowly, his words deliberate, “It’s just a shame. It seems Kart has enough resources to endure until next winter.”

The lockdown itself wasn’t the problem—it was the timing. It was too soon. They could have accepted refugees. Both the Emperor and the Pope were too preoccupied with preserving their own interests. Even Philip, who had not been in Kart at the time, seemed to silently agree, closing his mouth.

“If we’re done here, may I leave? Playing court jester for the Imperial family all morning has left me exhausted,” Leon said, pushing himself off the wall.