Under the Oak Tree Novel - Chapter 239

239 Side Story: One Spring Day at Calypse Castle
This story takes place at Calypse Castle before the Livadonian Campaign.

In the knights’ assembly room, Gabel tousled his hair in frustration as he organized the intelligence reports. When Ursuline Ricaydo had left for Livadon leading a division of the Remdragon Knights, the duties of those participating in the campaign had been divided among the remaining members.

Unfortunately for Gabel, he had agreed to take on Elliot Charon’s responsibilities without much thought and was presently paying a hefty price for his ignorance. He was surprised that Charon tended to so many tedious tasks on his own without ever voicing a word of complaint. Not only was the knight in charge of decrypting and classifying coded messages from all over the realm, but he also managed the weapons inventory and recorded members’ individual performances.

Gabel groaned as he stared down at the barely legible ciphers. Though he had learned military codes and mathematics during his time as Sir Evan Triton’s squire, he had not been the most diligent student. After struggling through the message from the north, Gabel muttered a curse and threw down his quill. His back was stiff from staring down at scraps of parchment all day. Had he known this was how things would turn out, he would have made more of an effort to join the campaign.

I’m a knight, not a scholar.

Grumbling inwardly, he rose from his seat and flung open the window. The weather was noticeably warmer these days, and no doubt even hotter in Livadon. The knights would be marching under the scorching sun in heavy armor by now. Thinking of his comrades’ plight quashed Gabel’s discontent, concern taking its place.

It was not that he doubted the other knights’ abilities. It was simply that the battlefield was unforgiving, where a single blunder could cost a man his head. He could not count the times he had witnessed comrades fall to their deaths in the mud. If reports were correct, they would not see the end of this war anytime soon. In fact, Wedon might even be sending additional reinforcements.

Gabel turned his gaze to the distant north with a grave expression just as a knock came at the door.

“Come in,” he called over his shoulder.

…..
“Please pardon my intrusion.”

It was Kyle Hager, one of Hebaron’s squires.

Gabel sighed as soon as he saw the lad’s glum expression. “Has Sir Hebaron disappeared again?”

“I haven’t been able to find him since the morning drills,” Kyle lamented, his shoulders sagging. “He was supposed to train the sentries today. Three hundred men are waiting in the training grounds, but he’s nowhere to be found.”

“Can’t you have someone else do it?”

“Sir Riftan is inspecting the construction site, and the other high-ranking knights are patrolling the walls. Would you take on the task, Sir Gabel?”

Gabel looked down at the messy pile of parchments on the desk. Though he was stiff from sitting all day, he knew it was no excuse to shirk his duties.

He shook his head. “I’m afraid I have an important report to complete for the commander this evening. Go and ask Breeman. He should be at the watchtower.”

“Jack Breeman?” Kyle said, clearly unsure if it was wise to have a fledgling knight supervise a strategy training. “But Sir Jack has no experience training men. Do you think that would be all right?”

“Let this be an opportunity for him to learn, then. Go and inform Breeman of my orders.”

“Yes, sir.”

The squire reluctantly nodded and turned to leave.

Taking pity on the sight of the lad’s slumped shoulders, Gabel added, “I’ll be going to the great hall later. If I find Sir Hebaron there, I will tell him to head to the training grounds at once.”

Kyle paused with his hand on the door handle. “Please, do. He really should not be behaving like this, especially with Sir Ursuline away.”

When the squire left the room, Gabel resumed the task of summing up the reports. All of them contained unsettling news. Repeatedly clicking his tongue, he pulled out a new piece of parchment and began writing his report. When he was done, he rose to his feet.

He trudged out of the assembly room to find Jack Breeman positioned on a platform, shouting incoherent instructions at the sentries. Clicking his tongue, Gabel headed to the great hall through the garden. It was bustling with activity, with servants lugging chests into the castle. He walked past without much thought to the proceedings but stopped when he spotted Maximilian Calypse recording something in front of the kitchen entrance. He could not help but smile.

The Lady of Anatol was counting a stack of liquor casks, her face drawn in a grim expression. From the way she was pulling at her hair, he mused that something must not be adding up. He suppressed a laugh. She had a habit of tormenting her hair this way but always seemed perplexed by the state of it whenever she caught her reflection.

He cleared his throat and gave a jovial greeting. “Lady Calypse! A beautiful day we’re having, is it not?”

Startled, she hunched her shoulders before giving him a shy smile. “H-Hello, Sir Gabel.”

He discreetly scanned her blue silk dress. “What a lovely gown, my lady. Will you not be visiting the infirmary today?”

“T-Today is… the delivery of the food provisions f-from the merchant guild. I have to m-make sure we’ve received our order, so…” She waved the ledger before a concerned look crossed her face. “Is… s-someone hurt? If you need me to—”

“No, my lady. I only ask out of curiosity. You’ve been a fixture at the infirmary of late.”

A small smile briefly tugged at her lips. “There is m-much work to be done there. I don’t understand… h-how Ruth managed to do it all b-by himself until now. Th-The day seems to fly by… when I’m making remedies.”

Recognizing the hint of pride on her face, Gabel chuckled. He was fairly certain she was reminiscing about the time she had stood up to the commander and officially earned the title of castle healer. It truly had been an unforgettable sight — the great Riftan Calypse, rendered helpless by a dainty noblewoman.

Gabel bit back a laugh and maintained his solemn expression with great effort. “It worries me that we might be troubling you too much.”

She blushed and replied awkwardly, “N-Not at all… I am happy t-to be of assistance.”

He found her so commendable he almost patted her on the head. He folded his arms to stop himself. It was a strange feeling. Who would have thought he would feel such amity toward the Duke of Croyso’s daughter? He took a step back as the mixed emotions washed over him.

“Thank you for saying so, my lady. Well then, I shall be on my—”

He was about to excuse himself when a servant came rushing over. “My lady! We counted the casks in the cellar. We are still missing a few.”

Lady Calypse’s attention snapped to the servant. After asking him a few questions, she turned her gaze to the merchant hovering nearby.

“A-As you can see… there are f-four casks missing.”

“Th-That’s not possible,” the merchant protested. “We counted them several times while they were being loaded. Perhaps someone has taken—”

The man paused abruptly when he felt the glares of the castle servants on him. He adopted a more respectful tone as he continued.

“The casks were all there when the head steward counted them earlier. The missing ones must be somewhere in the castle.”

“Th-The steward… may have miscounted. I have had the cellars ch-checked five times now, and… I do not think wooden casks could simply d-disappear.”

The merchant grew visibly frustrated. After awkwardly standing at the edge of their dispute, Gabel concluded that it was not his place to meddle. He turned around when a sudden thought made him freeze. He cast a suspicious glance over the stacked liquor casks.

Can a sparrow fly by a mill without stopping?

Gabel groaned and stepped forward. “Did Sir Hebaron happen to be at the great hall this afternoon, by any chance?”

Lady Calypse looked surprised before turning her gaze on the servants.

After flicking glances at each other, one of the servants cautiously said, “He was here for lunch, my lady. He had a simple meal in the kitchen and went to the second floor.”

“When did the delivery arrive?”

“Around when lunch was served…” the servant answered tentatively, cottoning on to the knight’s suspicions.

Gabel sighed. “Where is he now?”

“We saw him enter the biggest guest room on the second floor.”

He immediately started up the stairs. Maximilian Calypse, the merchant, and a few of the servants followed behind. Thinking of the order’s reputation, he was about to send them away when he saw how determined the merchant was to see the truth for himself. Cursing, he soon reached the second floor and swung open the door to the guest room.

True to his suspicions, Hebaron was busy having his fill of liquor. Gabel gritted his teeth when he saw the casks strewn about the floor. Lounging behind a desk, Hebaron tipped a goblet into his mouth, seemingly unfazed by their presence.

“Great God, you’re fast,” Hebaron said, waving.

“It’s still daytime, Sir Hebaron!” Gabel yelled. “Have you forgotten your commitment to training the sentries today?”

“Oh, right.”

Gabel ground his teeth at the knight’s blasé answer. “Oh, right?! You are the vice commander! It’s inexcusable! Especially as we are overwhelmed with—”

“Blimey, have you taken over Ricaydo’s nagging duties too?” Hebaron said, snorting. “Don’t be such a stick in the mud. It doesn’t suit you. Come, join me. The drink is—”

“How can you be so at ease at a time like—”

“Ahem.”

The merchant’s pointed cough interrupted Gabel’s outburst. Standing in the doorway, the man made an indignant show of counting the casks on the floor before turning to Lady Calypse with a deadpan look.

“I believe we can safely conclude that the missing casks are all accounted for, my lady.”

“Oh… y-yes. I-It appears everything was… d-delivered correctly.”

Snapping out of her shock, Lady Calypse hastily signed the order form. A flush colored her cheeks at the mortification of having blamed the wrong person.

“I-I apologize for the misunderstanding. R-Rodrigo… please make sure… e-everyone who made the delivery is well-compensated.”

“Yes, my lady,” replied the steward.

The merchant accepted the signed order form and slipped it into his cloak. It was obvious that he was trying to contain his displeasure as he said, “I look forward to you employing our services again, Lady Calypse.”

“O-Of course. I shall call on you… soon.”

Once the merchant left with his payment, Lady Calypse sent the servants away and hastily closed the door behind her as though hiding a shameful secret. She shot Hebaron a resentful glare. The knight, however, continued to imbibe wine without a care for the trouble he had caused.

“H-How could you take the casks… b-before they were even c-counted?!” Lady Calypse exclaimed in incredulity at his brazenness. “Th-This wine was meant to be served… f-for special guests… yet you are having it all to yourself!”

“You wound me, my lady.” Hebaron lowered his goblet, pulling an exaggeratedly dejected face. “Are you saying I am not worthy to partake of this wine?”

“Th-That is not what I meant. I ordered… th-this after m-much deliberation… s-so it could be served to our g-guests. I-I will have you know… that it cost s-six denars per cask.”

Hebaron grew wide-eyed. Not long after, his shameless demeanor returned. “Six denars is certainly too costly a drink for the likes of me. What nerve, to taste something so expensive!”

“A-As I said… th-that’s not—”

“You needn’t say more!” Hebaron cried woefully. “It was presumptuous of me to think you would allow this humble man to partake. A brazen presumption if there ever was one! Aye, as someone so insignificant, I should content myself with cheap ale!”

Not fooled by his ridiculous theatrics, Gabel stared at the man in disbelief. Maximilian Calypse, on the other hand, looked completely at a loss for what to do.

“Th-That truly was not what I meant. I made… the order b-because I was told that… th-the princess and her entourage… f-found our wine subpar… during their v-visit…”

“To think that I dared drink wine meant for royalty! Ah! I am too ashamed to face you, my lady. How am I to make amends for this outrageous—!”

“I-I understand!” she interjected. “I understand… so please… s-stop. I-It pleases me… t-to have you enjoy the wine too, Sir Hebaron… P-Please forget… what I said earlier… a-and drink as much… as you’d like.”

…..
“How generous of you, my lady. You are truly kind.”

Hebaron looked up at her as though he were moved to tears, then nonchalantly held out a fresh goblet.

“Would your ladyship like to enjoy it with me? I was beginning to crave company. You too, Gabel. Don’t just stand there. Come, sit down.”

“Jack Breeman is currently training the sentries in your stead. Are you not going to go to the grounds?”

“It’s about time the lad learns to take command. I’m sure he’ll do just fine,” Hebaron said, opening a new cask without a hint of guilt.

Aghast, Maximilian Calypse watched on, but he pretended not to notice.

“Come, take a seat, my lady. This is the best wine I’ve ever tasted in my life. You must try it.”

“I-I’m… a-all right. I-I have much to do, you see…”

“You burden yourself with too much work, my lady. There is no shame in putting your feet up every once in a while.”

He pulled out the chair next to him and motioned for her to sit. Clearly troubled, Maximilian Calypse’s eyes darted back and forth between the goblet and the door before shuffling back. Noting her worried expression, Gabel guessed she was recalling how angry the commander had been when she had become inebriated at the fall banquet.

The memory made him shudder. Hebaron Nirtha was surely mad to offer the ladyship liquor after that particular run-in with the commander’s fury.

“I will keep you company, so don’t trouble her ladyship.”

“Trouble her? I merely wish for her ladyship to experience this superb wine.”

Gabel squinted, wondering if the man was drunk. It would hardly be surprising since he had already finished an entire cask by himself.

“Please don’t indulge too much,” Gabel said, shaking his head. “If the commander learns of this, he will pulverize you down to your bones!”

“The commander is much too rigid. What’s the harm in being a bit tipsy? I don’t see what the fuss is about. I swear, if I lived like him, I’d be smothered to death.”

Hebaron grumbled as he filled a new goblet. The whiff of liquor made Gabel’s mouth water. It certainly smelled like a delicacy. It wafted into his nose as Hebaron held the wine out to him. Just as Gabel reluctantly accepted it, a startlingly cold voice came from behind.

“R-Riftan… i-is a man who takes his duties seriously.”

The icy tone took Gabel aback. He had not thought her ladyship capable of speaking in such a way.

“H-He simply doesn’t like to… drink himself into a stupor… l-like the rest of the knights,” she added stiffly, sounding defensive.

Hebaron snorted. “It’s not that he detests being drunk, my lady, but that he cannot. The man can drink all night long and still remain lucid. Once, Princess Agnes and I hatched a plan to get him drunk, but he did not so much as turn red after five barrels of ale. A monster is what he is.”

Over the rim of his goblet, Gabel nervously darted his eyes when he saw Maximilian’s face still.

Feigning indifference, she asked, “D-Did he… d-drink with the princess often?”

“Why, of course. We were all comrades who fought in the same lengthy campaign. The princess enjoys a rowdy gathering, so she’s never one to pass up the chance to drink with the others. It never fails to amaze me how much that small frame can hold. She’s also the one who lasted the longest in a drinking match with the commander.”

Recognizing that the knight was trying to goad the lady, Gabel gave Hebaron’s leg a surreptitious kick under the table.

Lady Calypse had her lips firmly pressed together. She flicked a glance at the liquor cask before striding toward the table. As she sat down, she haughtily raised her chin.

“I-I can h-hold my liquor just as well.”

“Ah, is that so?” Hebaron asked, egging her on.

Gabel kicked Hebaron’s shin a second time, but the knight did not so much as flinch. The alcohol must have bolstered his already rock-hard pain tolerance. Smirking, he offered her ladyship a goblet filled to the brim with wine.

“Shall we put that to the test?”

“Sir Hebaron, are you not afraid that the—”

“Now, now. Enough with the nagging, and drink up. It’s positively divine.”

Clearly finding the situation thoroughly amusing, Hebaron chuckled to himself as he filled another goblet and held it out. It was then that Gabel realized the vice commander was a lot more intoxicated than he had thought.

With a groan, Gabel rose to his feet, intending to drag Hebaron out of the room by the collar if need be. Before he could move, however, Lady Calypse drained her goblet. Gabel gaped at her.

She extended the empty vessel toward Hebaron. “O-One more, please.”

“Your wish is my command, my lady.”

Hooting with laughter, Hebaron poured more wine into her goblet, which she promptly downed in one go. Feeling the situation spiraling out of control, Gabel anxiously watched as an eager Lady Calypse and Hebaron continued to pour each other more wine. He could already see the commander’s murderous face.

He was briefly tempted to save himself by slipping away, but he was unsure if it would be wise to leave these two alone.

“My lady,” he said, desperately trying to stop her. “I think you have indulged too much. Please don’t push yourself any fur—”

“I-I am not pushing myself!” she exclaimed with a furious glare. “I-I am completely s-s-sober. I-I can handle th-this much just fine.”

Startled, Gabel backed away. Contrary to her timid appearance, Maximilian Calypse had a competitive streak. She brought the goblet to her lips again and gulped more wine.

“My word, you really can hold your drink. I’m impressed, my lady.”

She looked pleased with Hebaron’s praise. She seemed to be so inebriated that it did not occur to her that such words were not a compliment for a lady. Her face blazed as red as her hair. If the commander were here, Gabel would share Hebaron Nirtha’s doomed fate. He licked his lips nervously as he reminded himself of how blindly protective their commander was of this small woman.

Oblivious to the other knight’s apprehension, Hebaron continued prattling. “I had no idea you were so daring, my lady. I must admit, at our first meeting, I thought your ladyship a dull and demure noblewoman.”

Offended by the knight’s remark, Lady Calypse’s face grew drawn, and she said sharply, “I-I’m afraid… m-my first impression of you was not so great either, S-Sir Hebaron. Y-You were i-impossibly large… a-and intimidating… a-and your voice so loud…”

Hebaron clutched at his chest and groaned as though he had been dealt a mortal blow. Lady Calypse’s lips curled in satisfaction, pleased with her retort.

After gleefully observing her, Hebaron said cautiously, “What was your first impression of the commander?”

When she cocked her head in confusion, Hebaron added, “Sir Riftan, I mean. The commander’s nearly as large and intimidating as I am, is he not?”

She knitted her brows, engrossed in thought, before admitting, “I-I was… scared of Riftan as well.”

“You forget the commander’s looks are far superior to yours, Sir Hebaron,” Gabel interjected. “I doubt her ladyship’s first impression of him was as terrifying.”

There was no way he was letting this farce of a situation cause a rift between the married couple.

“T-To be honest…” said Lady Calypse, shaking her head, her goblet clutched in both hands, “I-I was m-more afraid of Riftan… th-than you, Sir Hebaron. A-Always expressionless… c-cold eyes… a-and he spoke… so callously…”

“The man certainly is intimidating,” Hebaron agreed enthusiastically. “I suppose the refined and comely types like Ursuline Ricaydo are more popular among noblewomen than men like the commander.”

“Th-That is not true,” Lady Calypse snapped, glaring at the knight for having the audacity to suggest that anyone could hold a candle to Riftan. “R-Riftan is… i-incredibly dashing!”

“But I thought your ladyship did not like him at first.”

“Th-That’s because… I thought h-he did not like me…” she mumbled, struggling to get the words out. She gulped down the remaining wine in her goblet and added, “I-I was merely n-nervous… b-but I always thought… h-him handsome s-since I first saw him. E-Even the s-servants… w-were always t-talking about him. I-I s-stole glances at him f-from afar—”

Lady Calypse’s face flushed all the way down to her neck at the unintentional confession, making even those watching feel embarrassed on her behalf. She raised her goblet to her lips to hide her mortification but, realizing it was empty, slowly lowered it. Hebaron pulled her empty vessel toward him to refill it.

“Oh… Th-Thank you.”

She took another gulp. Hebaron watched her quietly, looking pensive.

“Then, does that mean the commander was to your liking?”

Dazed from the drink, Lady Calypse blinked before slowly shaking her head. “I-I am not sure. I-I thought him dashing… b-but I was frightened… a-and nervous w-whenever I was close… s-so when… I f-first learned I was to m-marry him… I-I only wanted to run away. H-He looked like a v-violent man.”

“It is true that the commander is ruthless with his enemies, but that is not how he is with the weak,” said Gabel.

With her goblet still in hand, Maximilian Calypse nodded vigorously, spilling wine over her silk dress. She did not seem to notice.

“I-I know that. I-I know now… th-that I m-misjudged him. R-Riftan is… k-kind… a-and thoughtful… Th-Though, I-I still f-find him frightening… w-when he is angry… B-But I know the anger… c-comes from a p-place of concern for me… so s-sometimes, even th-that pleases me.”

She sighed and sipped at her goblet. The alcohol must have helped ease her tension, as her tongue soon became much looser.

“I-I no longer… f-find him as i-intimidating. H-He’s rather… endearing i-in a lot of ways.”

A fountain of wine sprayed from Gabel’s mouth. Hebaron, who suddenly found his face dripping in liquor, bellowed curses, but Gabel appeared deaf to his obscenities.

“You find the commander… endearing?” he said, gaping at Lady Calypse.

He could not believe that was how she saw the knight who towered over six kevettes and a hech (approximately 192 centimeters).

“H-He is v-very endearing w-when he’s asleep,” she insisted. “I-It is adorable when his hair s-sticks out at the back… and his e-eyes soften… m-making him look m-much younger, less scary…”

After expounding her point, Lady Calypse grew shy and began twisting her hair.

“A-Also… I’ve o-only recently n-noticed this… b-but I th-think it’s adorable… h-how his hair is p-parted slightly on the right.”

Gabel’s jaw practically fell to the floor. He felt genuine concern that the alcohol had scrambled her brain. Even Hebaron appeared stunned.

“Is one’s hair being parted on the right considered adorable?”

“W-Well, it’s not p-parted on the left!” she exclaimed. “It could’ve been p-parted on the left or the middle, but… i-it’s not! I-It’s on the right!”

Confounded by how he had ended up in a discussion on the minutiae of his commander’s hair, Gabel was struck dumb. Maximilian Calypse, however, still had more to say.

“I-I also f-find adorable… h-how he runs his hand through h-his hair w-when he’s anxious… A-And his hands are so large and w-warm. I-I feel safe… w-when I’m holding them… H-His deep v-voice… i-is also pleasant.”

His ears now burning, Gabel desperately looked to the door. Why must he be forced to listen to this mortifying confession? He was dying to slip away, but it seemed Lady Calypse had no intention of ending this torture.

“H-He is also… i-incredibly handsome when he smiles. N-Not that… h-he isn’t just as handsome w-when he frowns… b-but since that’s a b-bit intimidating… I-I think he’s most dashing w-when he’s smiling — like this.”

“…”

“And… his broad chest… f-feels wonderful w-when I’m… s-snuggled up against it…”

With that, Maximilian Calypse stopped talking. Gabel had been stewing in mortification as he listened, but he shot to his feet in alarm when he saw her face go pale. She swayed as if struck with a dizzy spell before lurching toward the table.

“M-My lady!”

He swiftly caught her shoulders, his heart pounding. Had the excessive drinking made her ill? That fool of a man would get him killed.

Gabel shot Hebaron, who seemed as deathly pale as he was, a fierce glare before helping Lady Calypse to her feet. As he did so, a faint snoring sound made him look down. Her ladyship’s breathing and pulse appeared normal, albeit her face was still pallid.

“I think she has fallen asleep,” he said, shifting her in his arms and heaving an exhausted sigh. “If the commander were to see this, it would be a painful death for us both.”

Hebaron, unperturbed by his frigid warning, chuckled and said, “Then we’d best get rid of the evidence before he returns. Hurry, take her ladyship to—”

“And what exactly do you intend to do with my wife in such a hurry?”

The temperature in the room plummeted to freezing. The two knights somehow found the courage to turn around. Riftan Calypse stood in the doorway looking as grim as a lion risen from the depths of hell.

Gabel gulped. The commander’s dark eyes swept over the casks on the floor and the disorganized table before landing on his unconscious wife, presently in the arms of another man. The chilling sound of grinding teeth reached the two knights.

“Explain yourselves.”

“We had a delivery of fine wine today, so we thought we’d sample some,” Hebaron said, finishing his excuse with a hearty laugh.

The commander’s eyes only grew darker. A chill ran down Gabel’s spine as Riftan slowly walked over and snatched Lady Calypse from his arms. Panicking at the waves of hostility emanating from him, Gabel hastily tried to explain.

“H-Her ladyship drank herself to sleep. I was attempting to escort her to her chambers!”

“What I don’t understand is why my wife was drinking herself unconscious with you bastards in the first place.”

Having no desire to shield Hebaron, Gabel pointed an accusatory finger at the vice commander.

Riftan adjusted his grip on Lady Calypse’s slumped form as he gave Hebaron a murderous glare. “Have you grown bored of living, Nirtha?”

“Do you not think you’re overreacting to a simple sharing of friendly drinks, building camaraderie…?”

Hebaron’s teasing voice trailed off when he registered Riftan’s expression growing more thunderous.

At least he knows when to stop talking.

An unbearable silence descended upon the guest room as Riftan glowered at the knights. He hissed through gritted teeth, “Both of you are to wait for me on the training grounds. We’ll build that camaraderie you speak of.”

“C-Commander, I was merely—”

Gabel’s protests fell on deaf ears. Riftan spun on his heel and walked out as smoothly as flowing water, being careful not to disturb his sleeping wife. The sight sent shivers down Gabel’s back.

I am a dead man.

After watching the commander disappear with faraway eyes, Gabel refocused a resentful look on Hebaron. The large knight was evidently still drunk.

Oblivious to the gravity of the situation, Hebaron said with a smirk, “Well, this is an unexpected turn. It’s been a while since I’ve had a proper spar with the commander.”

As Hebaron picked up his sword, Gabel swore that he would never let himself get dragged into this scoundrel’s devilry again.

“Now, then!” Hebaron barked as if determined to rile his subordinate further. “Off we go to face the endearing Sir Riftan, whose hair is parted slightly on the right!”