Ever Ever After

Chapter 12: Don’t Worry Too Much

Note: There’s a mistranslation on Ailea’s name. Instead of Aelia Elgar Ilyanna, it’s supposed to be Ailea Elgar Euliana. Apologies for the mistranslation. I’ll be going back through the previous chapters to correct the mistranslated name.

Ailea had known Clint since she was a child. When she grew of age, she heard of his name again.

Clint Risher was the hero of the country who’d take back the castle of Geneva, which the Teniac Empire lost to the Khanna Empire. He then would be granted ownership of the castle of Phylio located in the outer province.

Born as the second son from the House of Risher’s three sons, Clint was far from a noble title. But two years later, he’d be given the title of Duke and a castle from Phylio.

Just before she died, Clint became a notorious man that even Ailea, who’d been stuck in the Outer Castle, heard rumors of him. Rumor had it that he was a cruel and cold-hearted man.

Clint hadn’t spent two years on the battlefield, yet the conditions of the war had changed him so.

“I’m Ailea. Ailea Elgar Euliana.”

Ailea held the hem of her pajamas with both hands and said a curt greeting.

Elgar Euliana. Clint flinched at the name.

“I often hear of Captain Ron bragging about his beautiful daughter.”

“My father?” He’s not one to do that…”

“He’s a different man inside and out,” Clint said merrily.

The Knights Order had all been killed in the last war, leaving only five minors in training. Ron Elgar Euliana met his death in that war. But their deaths weren’t in vain. The Khanna Empire, too, lost a huge army.

Seven years later, the Khanna Empire still failed to rebuild its troops. In this lifetime, Clint would be taking back five castles lost in the war, but Ailea’s return cursed his hand.

Her heart was filled with sorrow.

The disease wasn’t something Ailea was familiar with. The only thing she knew in her two years of living in the Outer Castle was that it never made her sick nor was it contagious and infected anyone.

Her heart ached for Clint.

“Which castle will you be going to?” Ailea asked.

“Hmm… Geneva.”

“Ah, I see! Geneva is a great place!” Ailea admired.

His life from then on would begin in earnest.

His knights would regain the castle.

Ailea recalled that the Knights Order would dig a tunnel under the gates of Zeta and head towards the underground prison where the Green Family was held. They’d then join forces with them, shooting volleys of fire arrows to kill the drunken soldiers of the Khanna Empire.

With Clint’s cautious strategy, the Knights Order succeeded in recapturing the castle of Geneva without causing a single death.

From then on, he’d recover the fortresses one by one from the south. Two years later, he’ll have recovered all of Phylio.

Much to her admiration, Clint thought, for a moment, that Ailea was a woman who had no idea of the dangers of war. Otherwise, recapturing the castle where a thousand enemy soldiers were stationed would be as easy as killing two birds with one stone.

Clint wasn’t sure if he’d live through it all.

As he frowned a little, Ailea said in a firm voice, “You won’t die.”

“Huh?”

“You’ll live, Clint Risher. I’m sure of it.”

Ailea looked at Clint’s hand pitifully. She hoped dearly that this poison, this disease would not spread to his body.

Smiling woefully, she said, “And this hand, it won’t burden you.”

It won’t spread. He’ll be different from her. He was a strong man. Ailea strongly believed in Clint Risher’s future.

With that woeful smile, Clint realized that Ailea didn’t fear death. The look in her eyes said many unspoken words. Right then and there, Clint’s hand shook. He didn’t know why.

“So don’t worry too much about what will happen in the battle. You’ll make it,” she said.