CHAPTER 15: The Countess and Her Troubles Part 2

The Countess owned two mansions in this land. This one where she currently stayed and the other one which was at the other side of the wide Danuve River — a river that divided the county in half. She was advised to depart as for now to her second home.

Condor immediately left the room as he began the initiatives to be taken for this whole crisis. Clea was still immobile thinking of the fact that countless of lives in the ranks would soon be sacrificed. The saying, "Offering the lives of the few for the many" seemed unable to coincide with her personal philosophy. Unlike her father, the former count, she was kinder and softer. This was how she steered the whole territory to its current situation since her inheritance to the position two years ago. At first, she was inflexible in her governance, much expected of those who had just started in politics. Nevertheless, she became smarter as time had elapsed with countless of experience to ascribe and learn from. Now, she was aware that the suggestions from Edward and Condor were the only feasible course of action. But, deep inside, she was in turmoil. She thought that being conveniently learned in politics had somehow brought her perception about the world around with slight indifference and apathy. Imagining the loss of a hundred lives, while nothing that could be done to prevent it, really frustrated her to the core.

She married another noble but was unfortunately widowed after the latter died in a battle against monsters seven years ago. The only main family members left with her were her old mother, his 10-year-old son, and her old uncle. Ever since then, her time had always been allotted in managing the whole county. Nothing more and nothing less. There had been countless of marriage proposals for a few years now, but she declined them for one reason — she was not prepared to be knotted again. Thus, she remained single for a few years.

While immensely caught up with her diverging thoughts, the door inside suddenly and forcefully opened. A young boy in lavish outfit came inside.

"Mom, did I hear it, right!? There are monster assaults in the gate again!?" The boy yelled as his messy boots tainted the shiny floor. "I've been waiting and practicing my sword art just for this day!"

"Claus, what's it this time…? Phew," she heaved a heavy sigh, "don't make this hard for me again. You're right, there are scary monsters outside, so please pack up your things already or else you'd be devoured by them if you don't hurry. We'll depart in a few minutes now…"

"Pho-ho-ho! Ha-ha-ha! Are you afraid, Mom? Leave those monsters to your hero, Claus! Alright, I'll get my sword and—" Before he could run away again, two maidservants in the mansion, who had just arrived panting, held him tightly. Their shoes were as dirty like his shoes, as they had just chased him from the muddy yard of the mansion.

"Lady Clea, we're sorry! He disappeared in our sights out of the blue after he heard Sir Condor and the guards talking…" the maid said.

"Y-Young master, please settle down! We should prepare your things for the departure…" the second one added.

"I-It's fine. I should be the one apologizing. He's a very playful child, you see. Please bear with him… And hey, Claus, apologize to them, okay?"

"Y-Yes… I'm sorry… Pho-ho-ho! Ha-ha-ha! Like the heck I'll apologize…" He ran again outside the hallway while teasing the two. "I'm going to get my swords. I'm gonna kill those monsters!"

"Y-Young Master! Please wait a second!"

"Pardon us, Lady Clea! Wait a second, Young Master…!"

Clea just watched the two maidservants running after the young boy. Every time she looked at his face, she always remembered the face of her deceased husband. She heard from the attendants that the boy seemed to be longing for a father figure. His behavior became like this after his father disappeared. He was once a very frail child, but his attitude somehow changed the moment he realized that he didn't have a father he could rely on. With Clea always working her back on daily workloads in the office, the boy so far felt the bitterness of loneliness all by himself. One way of diverting himself from such an emotion was immersing himself with unscrupulous things. Not that he had turned depraved day by day, as in Clea's eyes, her son was still as kind and innocent as ever. And the same sentiment could be heard from the maidservants.

"Is it time to look for someone… that kid can rely on…?" Her mind soared without bound as she pictured a few people lucidly along those lines. These people, of course, were those who had gallantly proffered to her a hand for marriage. However, she abruptly put her finely pale palm on her embarrassed face. "No! W-What am I thinking!? Am I not a bit too old for that…? This isn't like me… I think I should just focus on the problems at hand…"

"Milady, your things are now ready for your departure…" A maidservant in the mansion suddenly approached her. "Lord Condor said—"

"—Wait. I've made up my mind! I'm not going anywhere! I just can't leave the troops here while they risk their lives for me, can I? Depart with Claus right away! I'll be staying here."

"B-But…"

"My decision is final. Don't worry, I've already sent a letter to the Capital for reinforcements. In a day, I think they'd arrive here to assist us. Bring the other maidservants and attendants of the house along you and join with the other citizens' evacuation. Got that?"

"Y-Yes!"