Die Melusine - Chapter 48

Halfway up the Laphiro Mountains stood the Grand Duke’s lodge—a two-story log cabin, not flashy, but undeniably cozy.

While Kieron’s men set up temporary outposts and tents for an overnight camp around the lodge, Melusine wandered inside, curiously exploring every corner.

“So… did you do any of these?”

The hunting lodge had been built during the reign of the previous emperor and was used occasionally during hunting season. Mounted animal heads adorned nearly every wall—stags, boars, wolves—each frozen in death, their glassy eyes staring blankly ahead.

The wide, dilated pupils and rigid expressions only made them more eerie the longer she looked. It reminded her of the room belonging to the man who used to hit her back when she lived in a glass tank—he had filled it with similar trophies.

“Most of them,” Kieron replied.

He gave a small nod toward the stag with the impressively curved antlers.

“That one… was my first. Caught it when I was eight.”

Eight? Just a child. How young had he been when he first picked up a blade?

The bear—by far the largest—the wolf, the boar, even the fox were also his, apparently. Melusine felt as if all those severed heads were staring directly at her, and she kept inching closer to Kieron’s back, half hiding behind him.

“Why do humans do this?”

Her voice trembled without her realizing it.

She didn’t understand. She and her sisters had hunted too—shellfish, crabs, fish—but that was out of hunger, never anything else.

In the sea, no one killed for sport or pride. No one slaughtered what they didn’t need and then mounted the corpses as decoration.

“No idea,” he said.

He could feel the woman behind him trembling slightly.

“Probably… so no one finds out.”

“Finds out? What?”

“That humans… are actually the weakest ones.”

His gaze met hers—deep blue eyes locking with gold.

The waves in her eyes shimmered quietly and flowed toward him, mirroring back in his.

“But Kieron, you’re not like that. You’re stronger than anyone.”

She gripped the edge of his coat, her voice firm and certain. Her words, unexpected and resolute, made the Grand Duke pause for just a beat.

A quiet scoff escaped him, equal parts amused and disbelieving.

“Your Grace, the bedroom is ready.”

At that moment, Anne came down from the second floor, having finished preparing the room.

“Take her.”

Kieron gently but unmistakably unlatched Melusine from around his waist and passed her to Anne, as if peeling her off.

The warmth she had just barely grasped vanished like foam on the tide. Every time she thought they were drawing closer, he would retreat just as far again.

Melusine watched him in confusion, eyes searching.

“Kieron… aren’t you coming too?”

But the Grand Duke had already turned away, checking the weapons he had brought. The firelight from the hearth glinted off the blade he drew with a metallic shing, making it look even sharper.

Still hoping he might say something—anything—Melusine lingered in place for a while longer.

Eventually, with her head low and steps heavy, she followed Anne up the stairs.

***

“Your Grace, everything’s prepared as you instructed, but…”

When Ian came to report, he found Kieron fully armed, seated before the fireplace, silently watching the flames flicker and curl in hues of deep crimson and orange.

“The corridor outside the second-floor bedroom?”

“I’ve stationed five men.”

“Add two more.”

“Ah… yes, sir. But do you really think it’s necessary?”

Ian’s eyes drifted to the fire as well, its tips burning a vivid scarlet as he followed his superior’s gaze.

The terrain of Laphiro Mountain was treacherous, with only a handful of viable paths. Not long after entering the forest, Kieron had sensed it—someone had passed through before them. The evidence was subtle but clear: crushed leaves trampled under heavy boots, scratches along the bark of trees. When he pressed his palm to the ground, the earth was still faintly warm.

“This isn’t a trade route, hunting season’s long over, and there’s no record—or memory—of any special travel permits being granted.”

“That’s true, but still…”

The odds of dozens of people randomly entering this mountain—just before they did—were slim to none. More importantly—

“They’re still nearby.”

“What? Ah, so that’s why…”

Ian recalled the same subtle unease he’d felt while organizing the troops earlier.

“Yes. Faint, but there’s the smell of soot lingering in the air.”

“Then I’ll have everyone douse their fires and pretend to settle in for the night. We’ll break down the camp loudly—make it look casual.”

It was a textbook tactic: suppress all movement and lie in wait, allowing the enemy to reveal themselves before launching a swift counterattack—striking before the other side even had a chance to fully initiate their assault.

Kieron estimated no more than thirty enemies, at most. On any other day, he would’ve hunted them down first without hesitation.

If only he hadn’t brought her here.

Hh…

He exhaled sharply, annoyed at the thought.

He kept thinking—over and over—that she was the one creating these unpleasant exceptions.

But… was that really the case?

With a sharp breath, Kieron pressed two fingers to his throbbing temple, trying to force the irritation down.

About an hour passed.

Just as Kieron had predicted, the outside finally stirred into commotion.

So it begins. Took them long enough.

Bored with waiting, he rose to his feet, drew his blade with a crisp metallic ring, and opened the lodge door.

***

This was Melusine’s first time deep in the mountains.

In the vast silence, only the occasional chirp of insects pierced the air. If she thought about it, the rustling wind brushing her ears wasn’t all that different from the sound of waves back at sea.

Maybe Kieron would still come, even if it was late. Holding on to that hope, she kept her drowsy eyes wide open, staring at the door—until sleep finally crept in and she dozed off. It wasn’t a time she’d normally sleep, but this was the first time she’d traveled so far without much rest. Her body was more tired than she realized.

“Mmm…”

When she stirred, she noticed Anne fast asleep in the chair by her bedside.

That must be uncomfortable. Melusine quietly pulled out one of her own pillows and gently slid it under Anne’s tilted head and neck.

Thud. Thud. Clang.

Suddenly, sharp bursts of noise rang out not far away—metallic clashes, the sound of blades striking, followed by men shouting and grunting in pain.

Even without understanding exactly what was happening, Melusine’s heart began pounding.

It wasn’t unfamiliar. She’d often heard similar sounds from the training grounds beside the palace Annex where she used to secretly watch. And on the day she met Kieron, too…

What was going on out there?

Could it be—no, it couldn’t be—but was Kieron… in danger?

With a surge of anxiety, Melusine jumped to her feet and rushed to the door. Clack, clack. She twisted the handle forcefully, but it didn’t budge.

Bang! Bang! Just like she’d done once before, she threw her body hard against the door.

She had to see for herself—only then would the panic in her chest ease, even a little.

Suddenly, a stranger’s voice rang out from just beyond the door in the hallway.

“Miss, please stay inside your room. You absolutely must not come out. That’s His Grace’s order.”

Tap, tap. Urgent footsteps echoed past, followed by the scrape of gear being hurriedly moved.

“K-Kieron? Is he okay? What’s happening?!”

Her desperate questions received no reply.

Whatever was going on, it was definitely not normal—and being trapped inside only made it worse.

“Miss Melusine! Wh-what’s going on?”

Anne had just woken and rushed to her side, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

“I don’t know. It’s loud outside, and there were strange sounds… I don’t know what to do.”

Melusine pressed her ear to the door again, straining to hear more, but the alarming noises had already faded into silence.

“Over there! What about that? Maybe that one opens?”

Melusine scanned the room quickly before sprinting toward a small balcony tucked into one corner.

“W-wait! Miss Melusine! You can’t just—!”

Clack.

Thankfully, the door opened.

Before Anne could stop her, Melusine had thrown the windows wide and rushed out onto the balcony.

Below her, chaos reigned.

Dozens of bodies lay strewn across the ground, blood-soaked and still, while others clashed violently, swords striking with brutal force.

But this wasn’t like when she’d secretly watched soldiers train near the Annex.

Now, the sounds pierced her ears mercilessly, and the air was thick with the iron stench of blood.

Ugh! Aaargh!

Agonized screams tore through the night.

She clutched her ears and turned her head toward the source—only to finally spot him.

There, turned away from her but unmistakable in the dark, stood the man she had been desperately searching for.

Even in the chaos, his large frame stood out. In the next instant, a man—his neck sliced cleanly by Kieron’s blade—collapsed lifelessly at his feet.

“Kieron!”

Melusine cried out his name, instinctively, without even thinking.

“Damn it, what the hell is that?!”

Just then, a voice growled from directly beneath the balcony.

A man—crouched behind a tree—had locked eyes with her.

His pupils glinted eerily in the moonlight, something feral and chilling in the way he looked at her. He grinned, slowly rose to his feet, and began climbing the wall—using the protruding logs to scale toward her.

He definitely wasn’t one of the Grand Duke’s men. She didn’t know who he was, but the murderous intent radiating off him was so intense, even she could feel it.

“O-oh no…!”

It wasn’t a tall lodge—only two stories—but still high enough that he was getting closer fast. His ragged breathing grew louder by the second. Fear prickled up her legs like ice.

She had to move. She had to get back inside. Now.

Melusine turned quickly, but her foot caught on something.

It was a small stone sculpture—roughly carved but solid and heavy-looking.

She crouched, grabbed it with both hands, and gave it a good heave. It was definitely heavy, but when she hugged it to her chest, she could just about manage.

The man’s brown head was already rising into view at the edge of the balcony.

There. That’s it. Right there. I can hit him.

Melusine took a deep breath and waited until the man’s full form came into view.

One. Two. Three.

She lifted the sculpture high above her head—arms trembling, but steady—preparing to throw it with all her might.