Chapter Twenty #6
“Elba is my second eldest brother’s nickname. Elbarto Calima,” Idsilla explained. “He and Alyssa were engaged when they were twelve, and he pledged his geas to her right after his knighting ceremony.”
Maxi tilted her head. “How rare…for a knight to pledge his g-geas to his betrothed.”
A knight’s geas was usually pledged to a member of the royal family or the wife or daughters of the lord he served. Idsilla bobbed her head, affirming that this was also the case in Livadon.
“They share a very special bond. My cousin will be happy once I tell her my brother is safe.” She stopped in front of a pavilion inside the garden. “Come, let us sit over here and rest for a bit. My feet are aching as well.”
Maxi sat down and let out a shaky breath.
Idsilla took the seat across from her and silently smoothed the creases of her dress.
Though they were not well acquainted, Maxi found it consoling to have someone next to her.
If she had been alone in her room, she would have only tortured herself with images of the scene at the square.
All of a sudden, Maxi realized the reason Idsilla was helping her. The girl needed Maxi to help shake off the shock as well.
Idsilla smiled stiffly and interlaced her fingers on her lap. “The clerics will be busy holding funerals over the next few days.”
Maxi swallowed hard. “True, but…won’t the knights be back s-soon now that the battle is over?”
“Have you not heard?” Idsilla’s eyes widened. “The coalition army has decided to continue marching north. It seems that after recapturing Louivell, they chased the retreating monster army to the Pamela Plateau. I think they intend to reclaim the remaining castles that were taken.”
“Th-Then…” Maxi willed her bluish lips apart. “Then when…w-will they be able to return?”
It was a foolish question. She knew that Idsilla would not be able to answer it. The girl pressed her lips together and avoided her gaze. Feeling dizzy once more, Maxi slumped against the post of the pavilion. Despite the sweltering summer heat, she felt chilled to her bones.
The battle at Louivell was just the beginning. Soldiers came to the city every three or four days bringing carts laden with the dead.
True to Idsilla’s words, the clerics were up to their ears in funeral preparations, and somber requiems played in the basilica every day.
The fallen were victims of monster attacks.
If not given a proper funeral, they were likely to turn into ghouls or liches.
For this reason, the soldiers were only buried after their bodies had been purified.
Hundreds of corpses were laid in the basilica, and the line of bereaved family members stretched on and on. The monastery was calmer compared with the halls of the main church, which were filled with the anguished wails of mourners.
Perhaps concerned by the gloomy atmosphere, Duke Aren came to see Maxi one day and offered to accommodate her in his castle. Maxi firmly refused. She knew that reports regarding the coalition army always arrived at the basilica first.
The duke looked troubled. “Do reconsider. The clerics are too busy attending to the dead. They will no longer have the time to look after you and the other noblewomen. If you come to Aren Castle, I will make sure that you have everything you need.”
Despite Duke Aren’s persistence, Maxi resolutely shook her head.
“I…truly am content to remain here. I have grown quite accustomed to life here…. B-Besides, no matter where I am…I-I could never be at ease.”
The duke opened his mouth to reply but let out a sigh of resignation when he saw Maxi’s determined expression.
“If that is your decision, then I cannot force you,” he said. “But if you ever change your mind, ask the clerics to send word to me.”
After imploring her to let him honor his promise to Riftan, the duke left the monastery.
Just as the duke had warned, the clerics in the basilica were too busy to look after the women staying at the monastery.
Of the three maidservants who had been assigned to serve Maxi, only one remained, and even she could only be spared to collect laundry and bring a basin of water in the morning and evening.
Everything else, Maxi had to do by herself.
She was not alone in this situation; some of the noblewomen gathered at the basilica to voice their complaints.
Had Maxi not experienced the hardships of travel during the campaign, she would have undoubtedly felt uncomfortable as well.
Now that she had already grown used to doing things on her own, however, she quickly adapted to the new conditions.
Every morning, she would personally clean her room and make her bed, then dress herself to attend the service in the prayer hall.
If her laundry was late in returning, she washed her own undergarments and socks.
Though she had never had to clean or do laundry in her life, she was less averse to the work than she expected.
It was comforting having something to do. Previously, all she had ever done at the monastery was eat, sleep, and attend prayers twice a day. Such a monotonous routine only filled her head with endless worries. Maxi had desperately needed a distraction from her thoughts.
She even went as far as committing herself to grooming Rem at the stables. She spent so much time brushing the mare that her wiry white mane turned sleek silver.
Maxi was stepping out of the stables when she heard Idsilla’s voice behind her.
“Lady Calypse! There you are. We were just thinking about visiting you in your room.”
It was Idsilla, Alyssa, and three other noblewomen with whom Maxi sometimes exchanged nods in the prayer hall. They were all dressed for an outing.
When Maxi gave them an inquiring look, Alyssa offered a faint smile and said, “We are on our way to the local shelter. Would you like to come with us?”
Maxi paused, her eyes growing round at the unexpected invitation. “Do you mean…right now?” she finally asked.
Alyssa smiled politely. “Please feel free to refuse if you are busy.”
“N-Not at all. I was merely…dropping by the stables…and was about to return to my room,” said Maxi, lightly shaking her skirt in an attempt to rid the smell of horse from her clothes.
Ignoring the stench, Idsilla genially pulled Maxi by her arm. “Then you must come with us. Being trapped inside a monastery listening to requiems all day will stifle us to death.”
Although she frowned at her cousin’s ill-mannered remarks, Alyssa agreed.
“We were talking about doing something meaningful. We have heard that many of the bereaved families are going through hard times and are staying at the shelter. I know that the shelter is sorely lacking in supplies, so we’ve collected donations from the ladies to help in any way we can. ”
Alyssa proudly held up a large leather bag.
From the shape of it, Maxi surmised that they had collected jewelry to sell.
She tried to recall if she had anything valuable in her possession.
Since she had packed as lightly as possible to avoid weighing down the campaign party, she did not think she would find anything worth donating.
Maxi flushed with embarrassment. “I’m afraid…I won’t be of much help. I-I did not bring much from Anatol.”
“Goodness, please do not worry about that. Simply having Sir Riftan’s wife visit would offer many of them much solace, I’m sure,” Alyssa said. “No matter what anyone says, Sir Riftan is the greatest hero of the Western Continent, after all.”
Maxi could not help smiling with delight at the woman’s praise of Riftan. She nodded. “V-Very well. I shall come with you.” She mused that it would be a hundred times better for her to accompany them on their excursion than to languish in her room, sighing the day away.
Maxi excused herself and hastened to her chambers, where she changed into the cleanest clothes she had. Afterward, she scoured through her belongings to see if there was anything worth selling.
She thought the dagger Riftan had given her would sell for a hefty sum, but she could not bear to part with it.
The same went for the battered shekel coin.
After much thought, Maxi took out the palm-sized mirror from her pocket.
She remembered hearing that mirrors were quite expensive, so surely it would fetch a good price.
She placed the mirror back in her pocket and headed out. When she arrived at the entrance of the basilica, she saw three carriages and six guards waiting in the square.
Maxi tentatively walked over to them. Idsilla, who was already seated in one of the carriages, waved at her.
“Come, sit with me. We asked the clerics for permission in advance, and they said that we only need to return before the evening service.”
Maxi climbed into the carriage and sat beside Idsilla. At the command of one of the guards, the carriage slowly began making its way down the road. Maxi watched the exotic roads of Levan pass by through the coach window.
Under the blazing summer sun, the white buildings glimmered like polished ivory, and the leaves of the laurel trees were a deep green. It was such a peaceful scene that it was almost difficult to believe there was tragedy raging outside the city walls.
Maxi was wallowing in the paradox when Idsilla spoke.
“We thought we would drop by the merchant guild first to purchase aid supplies. Some of the women donated gold coins, but most offered jewelry like bracelets or rings. It might take some time for us to reach a bargain with the merchants.”
“I-I also found something to help the cause,” Maxi said, hastily pulling out the hand mirror from her pocket.
Idsilla waved her hands, frowning. “That really isn’t necessary. It is more than enough that you have agreed to come with us.”
“P-Please accept it,” Maxi insisted. “I am also…relying on the kindness of Levan’s m-monastery, so I would like to help as well.”
When Maxi’s adamant expression did not budge, Idsilla resignedly took the mirror and placed it inside the bag along with the other ornaments.