A legacy ?
Emilya asked.
— Yes.
For several generations now, my family has inherited these deformed monsters, with no way of getting rid of them.
— How did you end up with these creatures?
What exactly are they?
she asked.
— I don’t know myself, because my father didn’t know either.
All I know is that my family has been responsible for keeping them under control so they don’t destroy this town and its surroundings.
That being said, I have a request to make of you.
Emilya found the count rather bold.
After making them face that monster and nearly getting them killed, he was now asking them to listen to him.
She sighed before asking what his request was.
— I have an eighteen-year-old daughter.
She is now of marriageable age.
She is due to be engaged in two weeks.
I would like you to escort my daughter safely to the capital, said the count.
Everyone was stunned.
— You’re not going to ask us to get rid of the monsters?
Lucius asked, surprised.
— Ha ha ha!
Why would I ask you to do that?
Besides, I’ve already found a safe way to get rid of all of them at once, without anyone getting hurt.
— You have these monsters under your control, don’t you?
Then why did you make us fight one of them?
Emilya asked, slightly irritated.
— I owe you an apology for that.
At the last minute, I changed the champion because I wanted to put the two of you to the test.
You had defeated all the other participants with astonishing ease, so I wanted to confirm just how strong you were, said the count calmly.
— And what if we had died?
What would you have done?
Emilya asked, beginning to lose patience.
— I would have stopped it before that happened.
Throughout the fight, I kept thinking about when I should intervene, but you exceeded my expectations.
So I can safely entrust my daughter to you.
Emilya sighed, wondering how she had ended up in such a situation.
Melvis and Lucius remained silent, as Emilya was speaking on their behalf as well.
— What method did you find to eliminate all these monsters?
Lucius asked, intrigued.
The count did not answer.
Instead, he changed the subject and suggested that they go back upstairs so he could introduce them to his daughter.
The others couldn’t understand his sudden change of subject, but they had no choice but to follow him upstairs.
On the way, they couldn’t stop wondering whether the count had been telling the truth when he claimed not to know what these monsters were.
They all doubted his sincerity, but when he refused to answer their question about how he intended to get rid of the monsters, they realized that whatever method he had in mind was probably not entirely honest and decided not to ask any more questions.
They climbed the stairs again in silence, their minds filled with questions.
By the time they reached the top, it was already night.
The count led them to the grand room where he received his important guests and served them tea.
They had so many questions, but none of them dared to ask, as they already knew more than they should.
Just as Lucius was about to speak, someone entered the room and interrupted him.
They all turned to look.
She walked gracefully, her steps light as a feather.
Her curly hair fell softly over her shoulders, and her eyes were violet with amber flecks.
She introduced herself to everyone with a slight curtsy.
— Good evening.
My name is Maria, said the young girl.
Everyone was impressed.
After the horrors they had just witnessed and the dark secrets hidden by the count, seeing such a delicate and refined young girl was nothing like the image they had formed of her.
— My sweet girl, how are you?
the count asked his daughter.
My sweet girl?
Did they all just think the same thing?
— I’m well, Father.
Thank you.
Why did you ask me to come here?
the young girl asked.
He cleared his throat before introducing the people who would be accompanying her to the capital.
— How absent-minded of me!
I didn’t even think to ask our dear guests for their names.
You are…?
— My name is Emilya.
I’m a mage.
— I’m Melvis.
I’m her servant.
— I’m Lucius.
I’m a warrior.
A warrior?
the young girl thought.
She greeted them all before telling them that she was tired and would be returning to her chambers.
Once she left, Lucius was the first to speak.
— Is she really your daughter?
Because between what you’re hiding in the basement and the way you behave, it’s as if you’re two completely different people.
The count laughed at the remark.
— She takes after her mother more than she does me.
It’s actually a good thing that she doesn’t resemble me.
He then told them about his daughter.
— When she was born, the whole town was overjoyed…
My wife and I had struggled to have children before her.
So having Maria was a blessing.
We were so happy…
But six years later, my wife was injured in a tragic accident and, some time later, she passed away.
They listened to his story in silence.
The count’s face was bitter.
It was obvious that he still hadn’t come to terms with her death.
Since no one dared to say anything, he realized he had brought the mood down and changed the subject.
— Not long ago, I learned that my daughter had been exchanging letters with a nobleman from the capital.
She never wanted to tell me who he was until recently.
Tomorrow, I will hold a banquet to celebrate my daughter’s engagement and departure, and to reward you for your bravery.
Hearing this, Emilya and Lucius pulled themselves together.
They were eager to receive their reward after everything they had been through.
— Would there be any way to renegotiate the original reward?
Emilya asked.
Everyone turned to look at her in stunned disbelief.
— What do you mean?
the nobleman asked, perplexed.
— After everything we’ve been through and everything we’ve seen, I don’t think the original reward is justified.
— You mean you want more money?
— Yes, she said, flashing her best smile.
Lucius couldn’t believe his eyes.
This girl, who seemed so detached and mysterious, was actually even more frightening than he had thought.
— How much do you want?
— Taking into account the last-minute change of opponent, the secret of the monsters in the basement, and the escort of your daughter to the capital, not to mention the original reward…
I think 4,500 gold coins would be fair.
— 4,500?
they all exclaimed, shocked.
I didn’t know she had this side to her, Lucius thought.
Melvis, on the other hand, wasn’t surprised in the slightest.
She already knew this side of Emilya.
Hearing this, the count burst out laughing and agreed to the most absurd deal.
Emilya politely thanked him.
After this exchange, Emilya, Lucius, and Melvis headed to their respective rooms.
A servant was assigned to each of them to assist them throughout the rest of the day and the following day.
They all fell asleep peacefully, although Emilya had some trouble getting to sleep.
The priest and the count remained in the room for a while to talk.
— Tell me, Damien, why did you lie to those children?
You know very well what’s in the basement, the priest said bitterly.
The count paused, and the atmosphere grew heavier.
Then he said: — I couldn’t exactly tell them that the monsters locked away in the basement were the inhabitants of my town.