Shadow Oath

Chapter 33: Charlon

“Astian, the captain, didn’t come with us, I see. I thought he’d accompany us all the way to Ellum.”

Charlon poked her head out of the carriage and spoke.

Ruseph, riding alongside the carriage as an escort, explained.

“Captain Astian stayed with the main force. Not all of Borne’s troops are heading to the village of Ellum. Someone has to oversee the remaining forces. Since I couldn’t stay behind, Astian volunteered to take charge.”

Charlon nodded indifferently.

To her, he was someone who seemed to come and go as he pleased.

Throughout the long journey to the north, he had often appeared and disappeared without notice.

He’d greet her every morning with relentless repetition, asking if all was well to the point of boredom, only to vanish for a few days.

Whenever she looked for him, he’d suddenly reappear, chatting cheerfully with Borne’s soldiers.

Sometimes, he’d act as if he hadn’t seen her for years, greeting her enthusiastically after just one day apart.

‘He’s a strange man. We’ve talked so much, yet I can’t seem to understand what’s really on his mind. Well, he’s probably off doing something as usual.’

As someone from the Kingdom of Triton, and clearly there to monitor Ruseph, Charlon couldn’t exactly interrogate him about his every move.

“Why are you so curious about that spy, milady?”

Oedel, seated next to Charlon, spoke up.

“Why would you call him a spy?”

Charlon asked with a laugh.

Oedel responded in an exasperated tone.

“If he’s not a spy, why does he roam around our knights and army like that? That man goes around asking all sorts of questions. He even came to me and inquired about every little detail concerning you. I didn’t bring any maids along on this expedition to prevent anyone from falling for his handsome face.”

The decision not to bring other maids was Ruseph’s, not Oedel’s.

And it wasn’t because of Astian; it was out of concern that the expedition might be delayed.

Ironically, the one who ended up delaying things was Oedel herself.

Oedel was Charlon’s old nursemaid.

Though over sixty years old and frail, she refused to leave Charlon’s side.

From Charlon’s calculations, their journey from Borne to the north had been delayed by at least four days because of Oedel.

Even now, it was because of Oedel that Charlon was riding in a carriage, slowing down the soldiers’ march.

“Don’t tell me, milady, you’ve fallen for that spy’s looks?”

“What? Of course not!”

“You’re a grown woman now. And a beautiful one at that. If you don’t conduct yourself properly, all sorts of men will swarm around you.”

“Oedel, I’m only sixteen.”

“In the old days, you’d already have two children by now.”

Charlon couldn’t help but laugh at Oedel’s words.

‘I always seem to want to contradict adults.’

When Ruseph treated her like a child, she’d insist she was an adult.

Now, when Oedel said she was an adult, she wanted to claim she was still young.

Oedel had supposedly never left Charlon’s side since she was a child, and Charlon had spent far more time with her than with her own mother.

Though Oedel’s nagging was excessive, Charlon knew that she was usually right.

But knowing that didn’t make the nagging any less irksome.

Especially not here, far from home, where listening to an old woman’s scolding was anything but pleasant.

“In my opinion, milady, you are more knowledgeable than anyone here. You’ve likely read every book in Langborne and studied under the best teachers. So don’t think of yourself as young. True maturity lies in knowledge.”

Charlon glanced at the barren northern plains outside the carriage and replied absentmindedly.

“But I haven’t experienced much in practice. Knowledge without experience is like a roof without pillars, isn’t it?”

“That’s something men say. Women don’t need experience. Men are fools who must act out their knowledge to understand it, but women make knowledge their own the moment they learn it.”

Oedel fussed over Charlon’s hair, face, and outfit as she spoke.

Charlon didn’t want to bring Oedel to the Geran village of Ellum.

But Ruseph had stubbornly insisted that if Charlon didn’t bring Oedel along, he’d refuse to accompany her to Prince Demion altogether.

Left with no choice, Charlon had agreed, even though it meant she couldn’t ride proudly on horseback into Ellum, clad in armor.

“If you’re to become the queen of the north, milady, you must hold your head high.”

Oedel stressed her point.

‘If I want to hold my head high, I need to ride beside the prince on horseback. No northern warrior will accept a woman as their queen if she rides into their land in a carriage. I want to show the women here that southern women are just as strong.’

Even after marriage, Charlon worried about Oedel following her to the north.

Her age of sixty was concerning enough, but Charlon didn’t want someone constantly scrutinizing her every move by her side.

Thud!

Once again, the carriage became stuck in the mud.

Five soldiers strained to lift the wheels free.

“Apologies, milady. The ride may get bumpy.”

A knight from Borne approached to apologize.

“It’s fine. Wouldn’t it help if I got out? Less weight might make it easier to lift.”

At Charlon’s suggestion, Oedel snapped.

“Do you intend to ruin the silk His Highness gave you? Don’t even think of stepping onto this filthy ground!”

“I could ride a horse and avoid touching the ground.”

“Absolutely not! If you ride in that dress, your calves will show. Are you planning to expose your legs to these savages, milady?”

‘Then I should’ve worn my armor. This white silk would’ve looked much better draped over it.’

Charlon fiddled with the silk draped over her shoulders like a shawl and sighed.

“Fine, I’ll stay here. Just stop yelling.”

The knight from Borne chuckled.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be over soon.”

As he promised, the carriage gave a strong lurch and resumed its journey.

Nearby, General Terrdin’s voice rang out.

“By late autumn, these roads freeze solid, making travel much easier.”

“Then the enemy must have relied on these roads to supply and move their forces when they fought us? Is that why the war started in the summer?”

Prince Demion’s voice, also nearby, responded.

“That wasn’t calculated. The timing wasn’t up to me—I was simply told to march.”

“Of course, His Majesty likely didn’t account for that either.”

Listening to the two men, Charlon sensed the tension in their conversation.

It was clear Demion was raising his voice deliberately to shield her from that tension.

But Charlon felt no tension at all.

What she wanted was to leave the carriage, ride beside Demion, and join their discussion.

She wanted to talk more with the veteran general who had defeated Borne.

“You’re making a face that says you want to join those men’s conversations, aren’t you?”

Whenever Oedel said the word “men,” her already wrinkled face became even more stubborn.

“If I’ve gained knowledge, isn’t it natural to want to use it in conversation?”

Charlon had unwittingly brought up a topic bound to spark an argument.

Even as she finished speaking, she already knew what Oedel’s response would be.

“Women don’t join men’s conversations. The less a woman speaks, the more her wisdom shines. Treat your words like jewels and keep them scarce.”

Oedel looked pleased, as if she had just said something profound.

‘Jewels that never see the light don’t shine at all.’

Charlon didn’t respond.

Arguing with Oedel would lead nowhere; Oedel never let her win.

“I don’t want to join their conversation, Oedel. I’m just bored and watching the scenery.”

Charlon kept her gaze outside.

She wanted to stick her head out of the window and look, but that would only invite another lecture on safety and dignity.

So, feigning disinterest, she leaned back and maintained her posture.

At the very front of the procession rode Jedric.

Behind him were twelve royal guards bearing the Triton Kingdom’s flag.

Following them were Terrdin, Demion, and Charlon’s carriage.

Close behind was Ruseph, leading ten Borne knights.

Further back came a cavalry of thirty, trailed by one hundred infantrymen at some distance.

“Entering a barbarian village with such a small force, this old woman fears the ‘General of Tritern’ has lost his mind, milady.”

Charlon had corrected Oedel several times, telling her the name was Terrdin and the kingdom was Triton, not Tritern, but Oedel stubbornly stuck to the wrong pronunciations.

“This isn’t all of them. Yesterday, a hundred soldiers went ahead to occupy Ellum village and set up an allied camp nearby.”

Charlon spotted a hill jutting out along the horizon.

Houses were embedded into the hill like stones.

It was the village of the Ellum Tribe.

Below the hill, dozens of tents were being erected.

The flags of Triton and Borne flew together in the wind.

No other family banners were visible.

It was unclear whether the absence of knights from other families was due to Terrdin’s strategy, a royal command, or the refusal of those families.

“If they don’t bind all those barbarians, this old woman’s worries won’t go away. Those beasts treat women like objects.”

Oedel spoke as if she had visited the north dozens of times.

Yesterday, she had frightened Charlon as if ten of her cousins had been killed by the Gerans.

‘When I was little, she used to say lions would carry me off if I didn’t sleep. She hasn’t changed a bit.’

Instead of telling Oedel that the Gerans were just people with families, who cherished their wives and daughters, Charlon chose words Oedel would appreciate.

“Don’t worry, Oedel. Look outside. The southern soldiers have already taken over this village.”

As the prince’s procession passed the allied camp, soldiers building the tents began to organize themselves to greet them.

But Demion waved his hand, signaling them to continue their work.

‘He’s kind. Not just to me, but to everyone. He’s different from Father or Aduer. Being his wife would be a blessing.’

Charlon kept the thought to herself.

If she voiced it, Oedel would undoubtedly criticize Demion and praise her father endlessly.

The procession soon reached the base of the hill where Ellum village was located.

At the beginning of the gentle slope, soldiers of Triton stood in formation, holding spears.

Demion approached the carriage and spoke.

“Just in case, don’t be afraid, Charlon. We’ve confiscated the Gerans’ weapons and gathered them all in one place. They’re completely disarmed. Even the wolves and dogs they keep have been driven out or killed.”

Charlon listened casually but suddenly frowned.

“You… killed the wolves and dogs?”

“These people tame wild wolves to guard their villages. Those wolves are so ferocious they even attack their own villagers.”

“But killing them is…”

Terrdin interjected with an explanation.

“To be precise, we didn’t order them killed. When we said that any owner whose wolf injured a single soldier would be executed, they drove the animals out themselves. The ones that returned were killed out of necessity.”

Still unconvinced, Charlon looked at Terrdin with disapproval.

Terrdin added further explanation.

“It’s the same punishment we impose on ourselves. If a trained war dog attacks our soldiers, its handler is punished.”

“I see.”

Charlon nodded reluctantly, but the image of exiled dogs returning to their owners only to be killed haunted her mind.

She couldn’t fully agree, but she refrained from saying that the dogs could’ve just been tied up.

They must’ve resorted to such measures because nothing else worked.

Seeing Charlon’s somber expression, Demion misinterpreted it and spoke.

“Don’t worry, Charlon. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

As Charlon expressed her gratitude, Oedel chimed in mockingly.

“How reassuring, Your Highness. But where is Young Master Ruseph? He was by our carriage just moments ago… It’s still Young Master Ruseph who must protect our lady.”

Charlon frowned at Oedel.

But Oedel was unfazed, tilting her chin as if demanding an answer.

Demion, whether oblivious to Oedel’s sarcasm or courteously ignoring it, answered politely.

“Captain Ruseph stayed at the allied camp we just passed.”

He pointed to the base of the hill and then gestured towards the top.

“The feast will be held in the village, and we’ll return to the camp to spend the night. To ensure everything is in order, Deputy Adun will oversee Terrdin’s army, and Captain Ruseph will manage Borne’s forces.”

Charlon already knew this and thought it reasonable.

But Oedel didn’t share that sentiment.

“My goodness, are you saying our young master wasn’t even invited to the feast? Outrageous! And what about protecting our lady…”

“Oedel!”

Charlon raised her voice to silence her nursemaid and sent Demion off with a smile.

“I’ll explain things to her. Please go ahead. The soldiers are waiting for you.”

Demion ended the conversation with a smile and rode forward.

He joined Jedric, speaking briefly with him.

Jedric, at the head of the procession, remained silent.

Although he had spoken at length with Terrdin before their departure, he hadn’t uttered a word since.

‘He’s returning home after being held captive. It should be a happy occasion, but there’s no trace of joy.’

Charlon wanted to know more about Jedric.

Not out of romantic interest.

Though his clean-cut appearance and clear voice were appealing, she never forgot that her fiancé was Demion.

Compared to Borne’s subpar “fiancé candidates,” Demion was an exceptional match.

So, she could easily curb any interest in Jedric.

‘Never bring your woman before me again.’

Jedric’s growling words from yesterday resurfaced in her mind.

‘So that’s how you feel? But what now? You’ve run into me again after just one day.’

Charlon exhaled sharply without realizing it.

“What pleasant thoughts are you having, milady?”

Oedel asked irritably.

“Huh? I wasn’t thinking anything pleasant.”

“Then why are you smiling like that?”

“Was I smiling?”

Oedel clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

“I know that look of yours, milady. It’s the same expression you had when you received that horse from Akiyan for your fifteenth birthday. Even after falling off it the next day and injuring your ankle, you couldn’t stop smiling for a month.”

“Was my face like that?”

Charlon asked with a serious expression.

Oedel shook her head.

“What could be so delightful about entering a barbarian village, milady? While this old woman trembles with fear, you seem far too excited. Do you have no sense at all?”

Charlon glanced at Jedric briefly, then quickly shifted her gaze elsewhere.

‘Was my expression really like that? No way!’