62
Icevant Fortress, early morning.
A hazy mist swept across the courtyard as soldiers busily started their day.
I was already pressed against the window, peering down with sparkling eyes.
"…There he is."
Theon Luxior.
As always, he was strolling all around the fortress.
'What is this, a sightseeing tour or something?'
I frowned at the sight of the main male lead, not liking it one bit, and quietly fluttered my wings to follow after him.
Starting today, I was officially switching into surveillance mode.
'Whatever schemes you're hiding, I'll uncover them all.'
Theon walked down the fortress corridors with his usual calm smile.
Then, in the front courtyard, he happened to run into Genevia.
"Oh! Your Grace, good morning!"
"Ah, Miss Genevia."
I sucked in a breath.
'An accidental encounter!'
Seeing the two of them strike up such a friendly and cheerful conversation, I immediately flew over and landed firmly on Genevia's shoulder.
"Genevia!"
"Oh, Ms. Lin, you're here too?"
"Mm-hm! I came to fetch some ointment for Sion."
I squeezed myself right between Genevia and Theon, glaring at him.
Theon, looking slightly amused by my behavior, let out a quiet chuckle.
"Well, thank you, Fairy, for taking such good care of my younger brother. Though, it feels like your real purpose is to keep me under watch."
Tch, so annoyingly perceptive.
Just then, Genevia smiled softly and said.
"Ms. Lin, His Grace has been such a great help. Everyone in the fortress is grateful to him now."
I smoothed my wrinkling brow.
Why did Genevia's innocent words sound so dangerously alarming to me?
"Later, if you ever need an extra hand, call on me, Genevia. I'd like to repay you for all the care you've shown me."
"If it's extra hands you need, call me instead!"
I quickly cut in.
"I can help too! I even have wings, so if you need something from a high shelf or dust cleared from a tall place, no one's better than me!"
Theon let out a hearty laugh at that, light yet warm.
Watching him laugh, my eyes cooled with suspicion, when suddenly, I noticed someone watching us from afar.
Looking up, I saw Sion standing there.
He stood silently at the end of the corridor, watching us.
"Oh, Sion~!"
I waved both hands energetically toward him.
But Sion's cold gaze flicked to me, then shifted over to Theon.
And with that, he turned his back and disappeared.
"…?"
"Well."
Theon, watching beside me, gave a bitter smile.
"Looks like my younger brother still resents me."
"Of course he does. If you were Sion, would you have any good feelings toward yourself?"
I snapped my head away and clenched my tiny fists.
Don't worry, Sion. I'll keep this guy under the strictest surveillance!
By nightfall, I finally managed to return to Sion's room.
After shadowing Theon all day, my body felt completely worn out.
"Ugh, my whole body aches…"
Sion, who had arrived earlier, was standing by the window. He turned his head toward me.
"…Lin."
"Mm, Sion."
I quickly perched myself on Sion's shoulder.
He then gently set me down on his palm and asked.
"Why are you paying so much attention to that guy?"
"Huh?"
The sudden question made me tilt my head.
But when I looked up at Sion, I was a little startled.
Because his bluish-gray eyes seemed so weighed down.
"Huh? What's wrong, Sion?"
"……"
"Ah, is this about Theon? Don't worry. I've been sticking close to him all day long, keeping him under the tightest watch."
After a moment of silence, Sion asked quietly.
"…Why, though?"
"Because… that guy really bothers me."
Somehow, his gaze sank even deeper.
I said solemnly.
"It feels like he could interfere with my noble mission."
After a long silence, Sion muttered in a low voice.
"…Wasn't that so-called mission of yours about me?"
"Yes, it is."
"Then why…."
Sion trailed off.
"…No, it's nothing."
It was clear that Theon's presence unsettled Sion to no end.
Wanting to soothe him, I added.
"Don't worry, Sion. As far as Theon is concerned, I won't take my eyes off him for even a second, I'll keep him under constant watch!"
At that, Sion let out a quiet sigh, his expression faintly complicated.
***
Late in the afternoon.
I trailed after Theon and snuck into the fortress's council chamber.
Through the thick curtains, the slanting glow of the sunset streamed in, casting a tense stillness across the room.
At the central seat sat Theon, flanked on both sides by Commander Valdeor, Deputy Commander Ulrich Thurman, and other key figures of the First Knight Order.
Of course, Sion was present as well.
"Before we begin the council meeting."
Commander Valdeor said, pointing to the official document on the table.
"A dispatch has arrived from the Grand Duke's castle. Her Grace the Grand Duchess, the elders, and the retainers all request the Young Grand Duke's immediate return."
Listening from behind a pillar, I clenched my fists tight.
'Yes! Go back!'
Meanwhile, Sion, arms crossed and eyes closed, didn't even twitch a brow.
From his seat at the head, Theon glanced at Sion briefly, then quietly rose and walked to the window.
After a short silence, he turned back and spoke calmly.
"No. I will remain here at Icevant Fortress to monitor the borderlands' movements. And one year from now, I shall return together with my brother, Sion."
I grabbed the pillar in shock.
W-What did he just say?!
"…Will that truly be acceptable?"
"This is my decision. My mother will understand."
At Theon's resolute gaze, Commander Valdeor nodded.
"Then we shall send word back, as you wish, Your Grace."
"Thank you."
No… This can't be happening…!
Behind the pillar, I gnawed anxiously at my lips.
Moments later...
"Now then, let us move on to the main agenda."
At Theon's words, the atmosphere in the chamber grew even heavier.
The topic shifted.
"First, we must address the recent phenomenon of demonic beasts pushing southward."
Theon spoke in a low, steady voice.
"In my view, this is not merely a matter of beasts straying beyond their usual territory."
He cut in firmly.
"From what I observed during the northern expedition, as well as what I've confirmed here firsthand, their behavior patterns are becoming increasingly organized. At first, I thought it temporary, but now I am convinced. There must be a deeper cause."
Commander Valdeor added.
"The intelligence we've gathered here at Icevant over the past three years supports your assessment, Your Grace. We've documented clear evidence of beasts moving far outside their original territories, with their incursions southward becoming more frequent and larger in scale."
A heavy silence filled the chamber.
Sion sat quietly, listening to Theon's words, while Garen and Diene exchanged uneasy glances.
Then Theon spoke again.
"If this phenomenon continues, it'll only become a battle of attrition between humans and beasts. In the long run, the North will be at an overwhelming disadvantage, and eventually, we'll lose."
"Then…?"
"For the next year, we must closely monitor both the beasts' movements and the flow of the Alketa Icefield. Our primary goal is to uncover the root cause of this sudden surge southward as quickly as possible."
Commander Valdeor nodded gravely.
"We'll expand the reconnaissance radius and form additional scouting units. It will also be necessary to re-inspect the structure of the defensive lines and outer watchposts."
Theon looked around the room and concluded.
"As you all know, I've declared my intent to return to the Grand Duke's castle a year from now, together with Sion. Until then, I intend to dig deeper into the truths hidden here."
And with that, the meeting was adjourned.
Once everyone had left the chamber, I lingered behind, my mind swirling.
What's going on here?
The reason behind the beasts' southward surge…
That was something that didn't exist in the original story.
Well, sure, in the later parts of the original, there was a war between the northern forces and the beasts pushing across the borderlands. But that was just portrayed as a simple subjugation war. They never dug into deeper causes or phenomena like this.
And in that original war, the heroine Genevia was placed in grave danger of losing her life. To save her, Sion sacrificed his own life, meeting a lonely, tragic end.
From the very beginning, my fangirl mission was to prevent Sion from facing such a sorrowful fate, to help him achieve love with the heroine, and to secure a happy ending for him.
But at this rate… forget love or romance, this feels like it's all heading toward some catastrophic "everyone dies" ending in the final war.
Nervously gnawing on my finger, I drifted weakly down the corridor.
Somehow, I knew this was how things were going to turn out the moment we came to this fortress!
And then.
Thunk.
"Ugh!"
I had collided with something blocking my way.
Looking up, I found Sion standing there with his arms crossed, towering above me, gazing down in silence.
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