Chapter 4-1:
Summer Retreat
MY ENGAGEMENT WITH PRINCE EDWARD WAS quickly decided upon, though this time it occurred a year earlier than in my previous life. Needless to say, I had no issues. However, this momentous occasion, which I had long looked forward to, didn’t make me jump with joy as I’d expected. I felt like the dogs had sealed the deal for me.
To add to that, Prince Edward, who had looked so dashing in my eyes in my previous life, was somewhat lacking to me now. The prince couldn’t even match Richard or Lewis, much less Oscar. Was it because I had lived a total of some thirty-odd years? I no longer understood my own feelings.
While I was in a state of confusion, Lewis made an atrocious suggestion.
“Lady Serena, as you are engaged to the crown prince, who happens to love dogs, perhaps it would be good practice to spend time with the dogs every day?” he said. “It’s just a suggestion, of course.”
What in the holy hell is he on about? I thought. Me? Play with dogs every day? Is this some kind of torture? Did he sense my disdain for dogs?
“What are you trying to say?” I asked.
I tried my best to maintain my composure, but my body became drenched in cold sweat.
“Perhaps you should play with our dogs for an hour a day, every day, my lady,” Lewis replied.
“An hour?” I asked.
Was this his way of getting back at me for making him endure all that strict training? His suggestion was nothing short of harassment. Plus, since he’d brought up the crown prince, it made it even more difficult for me to refuse. What a cunning guy!
“Is that too short?” he inquired.
I reluctantly accepted Lewis’s proposal.
“No, that’s a fine suggestion!” I replied. “I’ve got an excellent squire, and I offer you my praise!”
He looked like he wouldn’t hurt a fly, and yet he had immediately waved the flag of revolt against his master. He terrified me. Oscar and Isabel were downright sweet and gentle in comparison.
“Thank you!” Lewis cried. “I shall bring the dogs right away!”
I had no time to stop him as he led the other squires back into their rooms. Wait, seriously? Starting today?
✦ ✦ ✦
If I were to make an analogy, the waiting period was similar to when I had sat waiting for my execution.
I prayed to God. Please have the dogs fall under some sort of illness and be wiped out before they reach me, I begged.
But my quiet pleas didn’t reach God’s ears, and my six squires brought out their dogs. The animals were brimming with energy, which only made me feel even more dejected.
“Please, take your time,” Lewis said warmly.
He simply gave me my death sentence. The moment the dogs were free from their owners, they rushed to my side. They were bigger than the last time they’d pounced on me all those years ago. They had grown spectacularly, and they moved like beasts out for blood.
The dogs panted, huffed, barked, squealed, sniffed, and growled around me.
“E-eep!” I shrieked.
I couldn’t help it—I could no longer endure my situation. However, the beasts were relentless and unforgiving.
First, Richard’s large dog pushed me down, and the other five joined in, trampling me. They tugged on my clothes, placed their feet on me, and gently nibbled my hands and legs. They rubbed their butts against me and did whatever they wanted.
And I have to endure this for an hour?! No! I’ll die! I tried to ask for help, turning to my squires, but all I saw were six grinning demons watching my unhappy situation. I-I was tricked!
No one was on my side. I was certain that these orphans had been searching for an opportunity to exact their revenge the moment they’d arrived at this manor.
But I was Serena Rosenberg, the daughter of a duke. As the future queen of this kingdom, I wasn’t one to fold against this level of lowly harassment. I stood up in a display of pride, despite the dogs all over me. I wanted someone to praise this feat and make a bronze statue showing my current display of bravery so that I would be praised for all time.
Serena Rosenberg, The One Who Faces Beasts, the title of the statue would read. It was a splendid idea.
I tried to daydream my way out of my situation, and I even managed to muster a smile out of sheer willpower. I remained standing for an hour and endured this suffering, though my outfit became drenched in slobber.
Behold! This is the pride of the daughter of a duke!
I glared at my squires as they all smiled back at me. Their expressions implied that they were letting me off the hook for today, but this hell would continue from tomorrow onward. I cried as I took a bath.
✦ ✦ ✦
Dogs aside, I had a more pressing matter at hand. Now that my engagement was set, I knew that if I stayed the course, that wretched Eleanor would destroy my life as she had done before. To prevent that, I had to steal away any sort of glory that she would have.
In my previous life, when I’d turned fifteen, Eleanor used her holy powers to pacify a monster, earning her fame throughout the kingdom. From there, her legend as a saintess was born. However, if I defeated that monster first, that legend would never exist.
I was going to turn fifteen this year and finally display my power.
“At attention!” Oscar bellowed.
All my squires stood in a neat line and prepared to listen to my words.
“We shall head to Lake Elfen!” I declared. “I suggest everyone make preparations.”
This summer, a massive snake monster was supposed to wreak havoc at the lake. My plan was to head there first and defeat it before Eleanor had the chance.
Isabel gingerly raised her hand. She asked, “Lady Serena, what business do we have there?”
“A colossal serpent monster is lurking about there,” I replied. “Our goal is to vanquish it.”
She gazed back at me dubiously. “A monster at Lake Elfen?”
Lake Elfen was a popular place amongst the nobles for summer retreats. There had been no reports of a monster lurking about.
“Do you not trust my words?” I asked.
“No, nothing like that!” Isabel shouted with a respectful salute. “I apologize! Your words are never wrong, Lady Serena!”
“Only I know about the location of this serpent. I ask that none of you speak of this matter to anyone else.”
“Sir, yes, sir!” my squires chanted.
I knew that they were tight-lipped, and that information wouldn’t leak.
“This isn’t like combat training,” I said. “This will be our first taste of real battle. This fight is crucial so that the entire kingdom hears my name! But we will be against a powerful monster. We cannot let our guards down, and you must make proper preparations to ensure our survival! Do I make myself clear?”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
When will they stop replying like that? I wondered.
Now came the important bit. While my squires were aware that we were off to defeat a monster, I couldn’t tell my father the truth. So I stuck with the very normal request of heading to Lake Elfen for a summer retreat. Of course, my father smiled and immediately allowed it.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Serena, what in the world is that?” my father asked.
On the day of our departure, he had sent me off to Lake Elfen. He pointed to a carriage that carried my belongings for the trip.
“They’re all necessary for my summer retreat, Father,” I replied.
Armor, helmets, shields, swords, spears, and bows were packed into the carriage, glimmering ominously under the bright sunlight. Healing elixirs were also loaded by the barrel. The carriage was supposed to be for a vacation trip, but it clearly looked more prepared for a military campaign. “Are they, now?” my father asked.
“I’ve been told that the path there has become treacherous,” I replied.
“I haven’t received such a report…”
He seemed a bit confused and quickly turned to face my squires.
“What in the world are they doing?” he inquired.
My squires were huddled together in a circle and were chanting loudly.
“Do we love Lady Serena?” Oscar shouted.
“We’re faithful to her for life!” the others bellowed back. “We’ll cast our lives at her feet! Loyalty! Loyalty! Loyalty!”
“What will allow us to grow?” Isabel yelled.
“Blood! Blood! Blood!” the others replied.
“Why do we exist?” Richard asked.
“Kill! Kill! Kill!” the others roared.
My squires resembled a squad of mercenaries who had braved hundreds of battles.
“Oh, Father, they’re simply trying to heighten their concentration before they conduct their duties as my attendants,” I replied coolly.
It wasn’t a lie, though I did feel that they were a bit too fired up for this mission.
“Their words sound rather ominous for squires,” my father muttered.
“Ah, well, I’m sure they learned such vulgar vernacular back at the orphanage and the words remained with them to this day,” I replied, deciding to use this opportunity to blame it all on the orphanage.