It was evening when Louis returned to the Red Tide Fief.
Outside the city gates, Bradley had been waiting for some time with a group of attendants.
The old steward was formally dressed. Seeing Louis riding toward him in the distance, he immediately stepped forward. "My lord, welcome back."
"Mm." Louis dismounted, his gaze passing over the specially designed beehive transport wagon behind Bradley.
Three hives of Azure-Pattern Bees were securely fastened inside.
"No trouble with the bees?" he asked casually.
"They became slightly agitated twice during the journey, but the Misting Sprayer worked. Everything is stable now," the Bee-Taming Knight reported succinctly.
Louis nodded and looked toward another carriage behind him. It carried the wounded. Leichir lay inside with white cloth wrapped around his forehead, his face pale, yet he still insisted on opening his eyes to smile at Louis.
Louis waved, and several medics accompanying the party immediately stepped forward. They carefully lifted Leichir out and took him to the infirmary in the main castle.
The bees, meanwhile, were taken to an open plot of land south of the Red Tide Fief.
With ample sunlight, easy access to water, and plenty of distance from populated areas, it was a special breeding site set aside by the Red Tide Fief.
Only after everything had been settled did Louis let out a long breath, as though he had finally emerged from a silent battle.
He removed his gloves, glanced at the Red Tide Fief as it gradually settled into the evening quiet, then followed Bradley toward the office deep within the main castle.
He had expected mountains of paperwork after so many days away, but when he pushed open the door, the desk was surprisingly tidy.
Aside from a few urgent documents awaiting his signature, Bradley had already dealt with