A Simple Choice

"You're saying there was an eye beside that Beastfolk, one like this?"

Seated upright before the broad desk in accordance with noble etiquette, Melard pointed to the bottled eyeball circling his shoulder, incredulous.

"Impossible! My father used his connections to rent this personally from the Duchess.

"It's a rare item, and only three can operate at any one time.

"How could those monsters possibly have one?"

Catherine, who had remained bowed before them, shook her head.

She was only a farm girl. She knew nothing of magic and had never even heard of the Duchess.

All she could do was answer in general terms:

"I don't know how important it is, my lord. I'm only telling you what I heard from Black Snake—

"According to his dying words, those who attacked you were an entire tribe heading toward Star Plum Town."

"Nonsense! Dragon Gold City is thousands of miles from the Southern Great Wall, with no telling how many well-defended towns between them.

"Unless they broke through the defenses and fought their way north, how could an organized Beastfolk tribe possibly appear here?

"Catherine, I thought you had inherited your mother's honesty.

"I never imagined you would dare invent such an absurd lie. Deceiving a noble and trying to incite panic—what exactly are you after?"

"My lord, I didn't—"

"Enough! Perhaps the master and young master have indulged you so much that you've grown spoiled.

"If you aren't punished, you may forget your place entirely!

"Guards, take her away and have her whipped—"

"Wait, Mr. Hus."

Melard hurriedly stopped him. Under the old steward's urgent, helpless gaze, he forced himself to speak.

"I think she was worried about me and believed that Mercenary's nonsense too easily. After all, she's just a farm girl. She doesn't know much about the world beyond this town, does she?

"Since she meant well, a harsh punishment would be unkind.

"So I'll sentence you to go home, bring back your tavern's sweetest wine, and help me through this dull evening."

"Young master..."

Hus bent close, at a loss for words, and said softly, "I suggest you leave tonight."

Melard blinked his round eyes, stunned.

"What do you mean? You think those Beastfolk will raid this town too?"

Hus stroked his neat little mustache, his voice troubled.

"Logically, I don't think so, and I don't want to believe this town is their target. We are talking about an entire Beastfolk tribe.

"But the Beastfolk did appear. That alone is extraordinary.

"So, for your safety, I should immediately prepare two good horses for you and that Mercenary captain.

"He can escort you all the way back to Dragon Gold City. If the town isn't raided, all the better.

"And even if disaster does strike, you'll be safe.

"That is the safest course I can see."

Hus had faithfully followed the teachings of his mentor, that renowned, exceptional, kindly old butler—

As a noble's most loyal and capable aide, a steward ought to have two faces.

The first was his true self: loyalty that genuinely put his master's interests first.

The second was the stern face he showed servants of lower rank, sometimes with an unavoidable measure of performance.

As he was doing now.

It wasn't that he disbelieved Catherine.

He simply could not let a farm girl like Catherine see his master frightened witless by the Beastfolk, ready to abandon his territory and flee.

He had to protect both his master's safety and his reputation.

If Lord Mel had been present, he would surely have praised his steward to the skies.

But young master Melard was not yet an adult and still naive. Puzzled, he asked:

"Why me and that Mercenary?"

"He needs you alive to collect his fee. Unless he has no other choice, he'll keep you safe."

"But if the Beastfolk really mean to raid this place, what will happen to you and the townspeople left behind?"

"I'm grateful for your concern. But as steward, I have a duty to remain on this land and protect the lord's property—

"This so-called 'Beastfolk tribe' is still only someone's word. They may not even find their way out of the forest anytime soon.

"Even if they do find a way out, I can try to lead our men and hold on until reinforcements arrive from Dragon Gold City.

"As for the townspeople... we cannot let them leave, whatever happens."

"Why?"

Hus answered as though it were obvious:

"If we tell them, they'll panic. Many will flee the town, and we'll lose people.

"If the Beastfolk never emerge from the forest to raid the territory, what happens to the harvest after all that work is disrupted?"

To Hus, it was a simple choice.

If the Beastfolk raided, he would organize a defense. Victory would be welcome; defeat would be a loss he would bear.

If there was no raid, yet he caused a panic and lost some of their already scarce population, that would be a certain loss.

Either way, he could first ensure that Explosive Wolf protected the young master.

With all that in mind, he did not even need to hesitate.

Melard nodded in sudden understanding.

Then, after hesitating for a while, he asked:

"Could you grant me one small request?"

"Go ahead."

"A horse can carry two people, can't it? I want to take Catherine with me."

"Young master, that—"

"Mr. Hus!"

Melard pouted, looking both aggrieved and pleading.

"You watched me grow up. You're also the only person in the family who knows whom I'm truly attracted to.

"So you understand that if I marry a noblewoman, she won't tolerate her husband keeping a man on the side.

"But Father would never agree to my marrying a commoner, either.

"Only Catherine—her beauty is enough to make people overlook that she's a farm girl. With a little training, she might even be able to represent us in society.

"That's why Father allowed me to marry Catherine...

"I need a woman without status or power to be my shield.

"For the sake of my future happiness, please let me take her back to Dragon Gold City with me. All right?"

As Melard had said, Hus found it hard not to feel for the young master he had watched grow up—the future head of the family.

After a long moment, he sighed.

"All right. But you must promise me that if anything happens, you'll leave this woman behind and put your own safety first."

"Of course. I'd never die for a commoner."

Melard broke into a delighted smile, and even some of the fear left by the earlier attack faded.

At last, he looked toward Catherine, who had kept her head lowered and said nothing, and declared:

"It's settled, then. Catherine, bring your wine here yourself in an hour. You know I'm showing you mercy."

"Of course, young master Melard. May Gullagas's joy always be with you."

Catherine let out an involuntary sigh, then hurriedly bowed her way out.

Once she had left the village official's residence, surrounded and guarded by mercenaries,

she gathered up her skirts, baring a length of pale, slender calf, and hurried down the village dirt road.

By the time she reached the tavern, breathless, she found a dejected Father Lynn reporting something to Tang Qi in the courtyard.

She went over to them.

"Things went smoothly on my end. How did it go for you?"

Father Lynn shook his head. The creases in his face drew together, making him look older still.

"I'm afraid it didn't go well."