Chapter 5
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05. Where is Reina?
Jousting was especially favored in Naparoa.
It involved charging on horseback and striking your opponent with a long spear.
The victory was achieved by knocking the opponent off his horse or injuring him to the point where he couldn't continue the duel.
The winner was unconditionally right, and the loser had to accept his demands.
"I heard that the Duke of Aviles won every single one of his many jousting duels. I'm sure you’re just as skilled as your father, and I'd love to see it, wouldn't you, gentlemen!"
"I'd like to see it too!"
"It would be a glorious duel."
Kian's deliberate boisterousness drew a cheer from the soldiers.
The late Duke was not satisfied with simply knocking the impudent challenger from his horse.
He struck the opponent's helmet with his long spear with precision, crushing their skull and breaking their neck.
Even those who were lucky enough to survive suffered irreparable injuries or were left paralyzed.
"In this way, you must spread the honor of your family, the authority of your royalty, and the manners of chivalry. Do you understand?"
The young Angulem nodded vigorously at his father.
"We will duel in the tradition of Naparoa, and the victor's will be ours."
Josef touched Angulem's cheek with the broad side of his sword, causing him to jump in fright.
In a duel, even if the king were to be killed by his challenger, he could not hold his opponent responsible.
Angulem swallowed dryly, unwilling to accept the challenge.
As he hesitated, the cold sword against his cheek subtly angled.
A thin red line immediately drew across his skin, and a trickle of tepid blood ran down his cheek.
In an instant, Angulem could see his own corpse lying on the ground with his head shattered.
With a trembling hand, Angulem grasped Josef's left hand.
The golden eagle bearing the seal of Ascania looked unusually fierce and large.
Angulem's lips, trembling with indignation, moved closer and closer to the ring.
"No!"
Angulem’s chamberlain shouted.
"This is not just a matter for the young master. What would His Majesty say?"
"Shut up!!!"
Angulem shouted back.
Josef was going to win anyway, and he, the loser, would have to submit to his will.
Who would be responsible if he was crippled or killed in the duel?
"What are you doing, take him out!"
Kian ordered the soldiers, and as the chamberlain was dragged away, he continued to plead.
"You must never give in to their demands. Rather, rather die!!!!!"
The chamberlain screamed as if vomiting blood.
Angulem remained stiff with his sticky, wet hand clutching Josef's left hand like a fetlock, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"Will you change your mind now and go out for a joust?"
But Josef did not wait for the poor Angulem.
Angulem closed his eyes tightly and kissed the ring, which glittered with a golden eagle.
"Angulem of the House of Naparoa Sabelli pledges allegiance to Grand Duke Josef Ascania." Then, in a voice as small as an ant's, he took the oath.
"I, Josef Ascania, do swear by God to take Angulem of the House of Sabelli as my subject, and to guarantee his life and safety."
As the Ascania soldiers watched the historic scene, their hearts nearly burst with pride.
"From now on, the Duchy of Aviles belongs to the Grand Duke of Ascania. Raise the flag of Ascania on the castle!"
The Ascanian soldiers cheered and ran through the castle with the banner.
Josef, meanwhile, left Angulem alone, stunned, and looked around.
He couldn't find her.
"The Princess of Aviles needs to take an oath of allegiance, so fetch her."
"What?"
Angulem couldn't comply with Josef's order.
Her sister was still locked up in the spire, undergoing a rigorous education.
"The girl was unwell and could not come out. Please forgive........."
Angulem said, modestly.
"Aviles has changed masters. Aviles took an oath of loyalty just a moment ago, and unless she's dying, bring her out now."
Kian urged, but Reina was indeed on the verge of dying as he said.
"Reina is just a little girl. It would be pointless to get her to swear allegiance….”
"You are my servant. If I command you, you will carry your sister on your shoulders, even if she is a corpse. That's our oath, you and I."
Josef commanded Angulem sternly.
The image of Reina's left eye socket, swollen and bulging, and her shaking, skinny body haunted him. He had a bad feeling about this.
Meanwhile, Angulem was suspicious of Josef's true intentions in his relentless search for Reina.
He wondered how he would show him her face, and how he would explain it.
"Ahhhh."
When Angulem hesitated to answer, Josef struck him in the thigh with the broad side of his sword.
The pain felt like bone breaking, and Angulem fell to the side, making a sound like a goose hit by a poker.
Josef wasted no time, raising his sword once more to Angulem, who opened his eyes, whites showing and crusting over.
"She’s in the spire, in the spire."
Angulem croaked out.
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The further up the spire they climbed, the more agitated Kian became.
Why on earth would he lock his sister up at the top of a backwater spire?
The cobwebs swaying in the draughts that pierced the walls were eerie and reeked of musty dust.
It was no place for human habitation.
‘What if it’s a trap?’
Kian's suspicions were justified. The place didn't feel human.
Besides, he was concerned that Josef was trying so hard to find Reina.
They climbed stair after stair, and when there was no more to climb, a thick door blocked their way.
Josef grabbed the doorknob, and Kian blocked it with his whole body.
"Do you know what's coming out of there? What if it's a poisoned arrow or something?"
"No, no."
Marian, Reina's maid, who was leading them, said.
"If you're doubtful, I'll go in first."
Marian already knew what Reina would look like.
She couldn't stop her from being dragged here, but she wanted to make sure her appearance was in order so she could at least preserve her dignity.
"What do you have in mind? Your Highness, I'll go in first."
"Please trust me. I have to go in first."
And so, while Kian and Marian bickered, Josef opened the door and entered.
The smell of damp mold and gore mingled with the cold air.
"Your Highness, you shouldn't go in there alone like that. Uh, why won't the door open? Your Highness!! Your Highness!!!!"
"I'll be out soon, just wait. If you open the door, I won't forgive you."
Josef shouted, blocking the door with his back.
At Josef's stern warning, Kian let go of the doorknob.
As time passed and there was no sound from inside, Kian decided that he had to break the door down, even if it meant being reprimanded.
He had just kicked the door open with his foot when Josef came out carrying Reina.
She was curled up like a caterpillar in his robes.
"Give her to me."
Kian held out his hand.
But Josef ignored him and ran right on.
"There are too many eyes downstairs! Give her to me."
Kian shouted after him in a huff. He didn't want the wrong rumor to get out.
Josef ignored Kian's words and hurried down the stairs.
He could feel Reina's bones clearly through the thick robes.
His eyes lost their usual sparkle and turned dull as the arm that held her grew damp.
Kian gave up trying to convince him and squinted at Reina.
The limp calf poking out of the robes was a mess of gaping wounds.
Worst of all was her heels. He couldn't imagine how it had gotten that bad.
"What the..hell............. is this....................."
Kian opened his mouth, unable to speak.
Josef said nothing. His steps down the spire only quickened.
***
"Get the doctor now."
Josef ordered Marian as he set Reina down on the bed.
Unconscious, Reina had been cooling rapidly.
Now she seemed rather calm, with no twitches or faint moans.
Josef placed his hand under Reina's nose.
Her warm breathing grew weaker and weaker until it barely ruffled the feathers.
"Your Highness, please share with us the cures and medicines the Ascanian army has, I will never forget your kindness. There is nothing in Castle Aviles, and even if we call the doctor, there is nothing he can do."
Marian clasped her hands together and pleaded desperately.
There were no cures, no medicines, not even food for the immediate future in the castle.
Josef involuntarily stopped to rub his face. His palms and forearms were covered in blood.
The Ascanian army had long since run out of supplies and medicine. The supply lines had been cut.
But even if the war was over, he couldn't tell the enemy's maid about this.
Unable to think of a solution, Josef became impatient and tried to sit down.
But there were no chairs in the room.
He looked around Reina's chamber carefully.
It was night, the air was chilly, and there was no firewood in the fireplace.
There were no curtains or tapestries to keep out the drafts. There was nothing in Reina's room but her bed.
Blockaded by Josef, Aviles had split chairs for firewood in the winter, ripped down curtains and tapestries to make clothes to wear.
It became clear to Josef that there was nothing left in the castle, not even a cure to save Reina.
He had worked day and night to strategize and execute a plan that would deplete Aviles’ supplies.
And wasn't that how victory was won in the end?
But what about Reina?
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