Chapter 134: Impressment [2]

With all the security magic undone, and the third underground level of the Vault left exposed, it was only natural for the Draken ducal family to fall into turmoil.

The guardian deity—slain, its arms severed.

Several priceless elixirs—missing.

The vault that had stood untouched for generations—violated.

And that was why Alice had come to see me.

She stood just outside the cell, her hands wrapped tightly around the cold iron bars. Her voice was low, barely above a whisper.

“…I’m sorry.”

I looked up from the cot, stretching a little. “For what?”

“You’re locked up because of me,” she said, her voice trembling. “If I hadn’t dragged you into that mess—”

“Oh come on, don’t say it like that.” I grinned. “It’s honestly not that bad in here. I’ve got a bed, they bring me food on time, and best of all… no chores.”

“You’re way too relaxed about this,” she muttered, her brows knitting with worry.

She gripped the bars a little tighter. I could tell she was trying not to let the guilt show, but it was there—simmering beneath the surface.

Truth be told, though, I was fine. This prison cell was probably meant for VIPs. It didn’t reek of mold or dampness. The bed was clean and decently soft. There wasn’t even a breeze leaking through the stones, and the meals arrived like clockwork.

No chains. No guards yelling at me. Just peace.

Still, I figured she needed a distraction.

“So,” I asked casually, “did the Duke say anything about the sword?”

Alice blinked, then tilted her head. “You mean the Ancestor’s sword?”

“Yeah,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Wasn’t it a giant greatsword?”

Instead of answering right away, she stepped back, tugging at the edge of her cloak. From underneath, she revealed a slender blade resting at her hip. The moment it caught the light, I felt it—the subtle, constant breeze it gave off.

The massive sword that once clashed against the guardian… was gone.

In its place, a thin rapier with a needle-like point.

“This thing can shift forms,” she said, noticing my surprise. “I went with this shape because my old rapier got wrecked during that fight with the Wampa.”

I gave an approving nod.

“Not bad. Looks good on you.”

She gave a faint smile, her fingers brushing the hilt with quiet reverence.

Yeah. The sword may have changed shape, but the meaning behind it hadn’t.

And neither had she.

There was silence for a moment, and then Alice said, “I will take you out of here. No matter what it takes.”

I just shook my head, leaning back lazily on the cot. “Please don’t do that. I really like it here.”

She blinked at me, clearly not expecting that answer.

“I mean it,” I continued, stretching my arms behind my head. “No chores, no sparring, no Hans nagging me every time I walk in five minutes late. I even get three meals a day delivered straight to my door—well, bars.”

Alice stared at me like I was some criminal genius who figured out how to get paid without doing any work. Her brows furrowed, lips pressing into a flat line. That mixture of disbelief and mild irritation on her face? Classic.

I chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of my head. “What? Can you blame me? The guy made me polish all the silverware after we got back from hunting that chimera.”

“That chimera nearly bit your arm off.”

“And I still had to scrub pots afterward,” I said, grinning. “At least in here, I’m finally getting what I deserve—early retirement.”

Her eyes softened, but she didn’t smile.

“You joke about it, but I know you’re just trying to make me feel better,” she said. “Julies, this whole thing… it’s bigger than either of us. The elders are pushing harder now. They’re using this incident to tighten control over everything.”

I sighed, sitting upright.

“Of course they are. They always hated me. Outsider blood, foreign tongue, bad haircut… I tick every box on their list.”

“That’s not why they hate you,” she said quietly.

I looked at her, one eyebrow raised. “Oh?”

She met my eyes. “They hate you because I listen to you. Because I trust you more than I trust them.”

That caught me off guard.

For a second, I didn’t know what to say. My grin faltered.

Alice glanced down at the sword at her side, fingers resting lightly on the hilt. “When I took Valkrath, it didn’t feel like stealing. It felt like reclaiming something we’d forgotten. Something they buried because they were afraid.”

I nodded slowly. “Yeah. That sword… it’s not just some relic to be polished and stared at behind glass. It’s meant to be wielded.”

“And yet, they treat it like I’ve committed treason,” she said bitterly. “They wanted me to ask for permission. To bow, to kneel, to beg. But I didn’t. And now you’re paying the price.”

I smiled again, this time softer.

“You say that like I didn’t jump headfirst into the Vault with you. You didn’t drag me—rememeber, I was the one who dragged you to that underground Vault.”

Her eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, neither of us said anything.

Then she whispered, “Still… it wasn’t supposed to be this way.”

I tilted my head. “What way, exactly?”

“I wanted to change things,” she said. “Not start a war inside the house.”

I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “Lady Alice, sometimes you don’t get to choose how the fire starts. Only what you do once it’s burning.”

She laughed quietly, a hollow sound.

“I’m not sure if I’m ready to be that kind of fire.”

I leaned back, folding my arms behind my head with a casual grin.

“Then let me stay a little longer,” I said. “At least until you’re ready to burn everything down properly.”

She gave me a look like I’d just said the stupidest thing in the world—and maybe I had—but there was warmth behind her eyes now. The guilt she’d been carrying had softened, if only a little.

But before she could say anything, a deep voice cut through the moment.

“That’s problematic,” it said. “I can’t allow you to stay here doing nothing. It’s a waste to let someone capable just sit and idle.”

I straightened up instinctively.

“…Greetings, Duke Draken.”

He stood just outside the cell, arms folded, posture as commanding as ever. Yet, there was no hostility in his expression.

If anything, he looked… almost amused.

“That much formality is enough,” he said, stepping closer. “I’m in no position to demand respect. Have you forgotten? I’m the one who had you imprisoned.”

His voice was calm, almost apologetic.

Despite everything, he seemed surprisingly… friendly.

Alice stood beside him, arms crossed, clearly still annoyed.

“Father, how many times do I have to say it? Julies did that on my orders—to protect me.”

The Duke sighed, nodding. “Yes, yes, I know. And I’ve already confirmed that the relic hasn’t been tampered with—aside from the elixir you consumed.”

“I’m just glad Alice came back alive,” I said lightly. “As for the elixir… maybe consider it a reward for winning the martial arts tournament?”

That earned me a suspicious glare from the Duke and a gleam of approval from Alice.

I shrugged, pretending to look innocent.

Honestly, though? I was a little disappointed. Not about the impressment—I’d gotten some rest out of it—but about missing out on the dagger that had taken Wampa’s arm.

A real artifact. One of a kind.

Still… considering the mess we caused—the guardian’s death, the Vault’s breach—I couldn’t exactly demand a souvenir on my way out.

The Duke’s expression softened.

“Your restraint is commendable,” he said. “Alice chose her attendant well.”

He nodded a few times, as if convincing himself, then stepped forward. With a heavy creak, he pulled open the iron-barred door that had kept me in this stone box for the past week.

“A loyal man like you doesn’t belong behind bars. Come out. I’ve prepared a gift.”

“A gift…?” I blinked.

Honestly, I expected freedom. Eventually. But a gift? That caught me off guard.

’So you lock me up… and now you’re giving me a reward?’

Not that I was complaining.

I stood, brushing dust from my shoulders as I stepped out of the cell. Alice was watching me closely—proud, maybe. Relieved.

The Duke noticed my hesitation and gave a slight chuckle.

“You’re not the only one who made sacrifices,” he said. “You stepped into danger for someone you serve. Risked your life for her. Whether the elders like it or not, that matters.”

I met his eyes, and for the first time, I saw not the Duke, the symbol of northern nobility—but a father, and maybe… just a man who understood the weight of everything that had happened.

He clapped a hand on my shoulder.

“Come. You’ve earned more than rest.”

I didn’t say anything. Just followed.

Behind me, Alice smiled—and for the first time in days, it felt real.

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