The next morning, they prepared to leave for Nova Mesto.
"Feeling better?"
Isabel helped Joshua to stand up.
"I am better. Nothing to worry about. Only light wounds remained. How's your leg?"
"Still need time to heal but nothing to worry about."
"Good. Because you're the only one I can rely on to protect Iris. But that man…"
Joshua said as he glanced at Leon who was busy getting ready too.
Isabel patted Joshua's back with a smile.
"You don't need to worry about Duke Greyson. He is Iris' future fiancé. I think he would do anything for the woman he loves."
"Is that true? Something's been bothering me. Then why did you and him show up and wear the same uniform as the knights who carried out the massacre at Abminster Monastery?"
"Oh, this?"
Isabel then removed her uniform and threw it away. It turned out that the uniform Isabel had taken off was just to cover the clothes she was wearing.
"This is just a disguise. We follow the trail that Iris will be in Abminster Monastery. Our goal is to find Iris and bring her home."
Joshua was still hesitant and dissatisfied with Isabel's explanation.
"Joshua, do you know how we found you? We followed the corpse which had a claw-shaped wound. Including the corpse of…. Archpriest Jerome."
For a moment Joshua's face tensed up.
"Sigh…. You've always been sharp and quick thinking, Isabel. Okay. I believe in your judgment."
Then Joshua walked to his horse.
Isabel turned around and approached Leon who was busy tidying up.
"Duke Greyson, there is something I need to discuss with you. It's urgent."
"Urgent matter?", Leon replied nonchalantly.
Isabel stopped Leon from getting on his horse.
Leon sighed and folded his arms.
"I'm listening. What do you want to talk about?"
"Go back home and meet Duke Albert to report on your mission."
!
Leon tried to hide his surprise at Isabel's words.
"Isn't that why you're at Abminster Monastery?"
Isabel stared intently.
"Finally, you know it."
"So, it's true that you went to Abminster Monastery because of a mission from Duke Albert? Wasn't it because of looking for Iris?"
Leon just glanced at Isabel without answering her question.
"Answer me, My Lord or…. I will burn this book."
Isabel threatens while taking out a book from under her clothes.
Leon immediately reached into his pocket and realized the book he took from the Abminster Monastery was missing.
"Okay. What do you want to know?"
"First of all, you can start telling me. What mission did you receive from Duke Albert."
Leon seemed to think hard then took a deep breath.
"Duke Albert has received orders from Archduke Rondo to find evidence that Archpriest Jerome is working with The Free Insurgent. Duke Albert and I secretly investigated and obtained evidence of their involvement as well as their dark secrets. But one of the pieces of evidence…. about the book containing the crimes of St. Varos was accidentally brought up by Iris…."
Isabel then took the book out from under her clothes and looked at it. Her mind recalled where she had seen the book. When Duke Albert brought out proof that the St. Varos church was involved with black magic in front of his knights.
"Because the book Duke Albert is holding is a forgery. The real one is in Iris' hands."
Leon reluctantly nodded.
"Luckily Iris went to the Abminster Monastery so I was able to find the book. What a fortunate coincidence."
"Everything you said to find Iris was Duke Albert's order… was a lie?"
"From the start my main mission was to retrieve the book and immediately bring it to Duke Albert. Finding Iris was just a sideline and…. my own initiative. I just want to bring her home safely."
Isabel stared at Leon intently. Trying to find out the lie in his words. But it seemed that Leon was telling the truth.
"Go to Duke Albert and complete your mission. Bringing Iris back, let me take care of it."
Isabel gave the book to Leon and then turned away.
"..."
"I am her guardian, My Lord. I will do my best to bring her home safely."
"It's not that I don't trust your abilities. But…"
Leon glanced at Joshua.
"You are worried about him, My Lord? I can confirm Joshua has no ill will towards Iris. To him, Iris is like his late sister."
"So…. you see it that way, huh?"
"What do you mean, my Lord?"
Leon stuffed the book into his clothes and mounted his horse.
"Never mind. Forget what I just said. I will consider your suggestion."
Isabel just put her hands on her hips and sighed.
"Boys…."
After done with all preparations. The five of them galloped their horses eastward to go to Nova Mesto.
They only stopped briefly to give their horses a drink and buy supplies.
Until nightfall, they stopped to rest.
They gathered before the campfire. The atmosphere looked awkward and somber. Everyone was busy with their own thoughts while enjoying their food.
"Hey. Can you eat with your hands tied?"
Malcolm handed Angus a tough piece of bread.
Without answering anything, Angus roughly took the bread.
"Angus... why do you want to work with that witch in the first place?"
Suddenly Joshua made a voice as he turned to Angus.
"WHY are you saying?! Don't you know how I felt when I found Weststray village slaughtered?!! BEA DIED AND YOU DISAPPEARED!!!"
Angus emotionally answered. His mouth twitched in anger.
"But you don't need to deal with THAT WITCH!!! You know she kidnapped Iris and could do terrible things to HER!!! You don't know what she did. Kill so many people to achieve her wish!"
Angus suddenly got up and threw the bread he was holding in Joshua's face. After that he stepped forward and bumped into Joshua and grabbed Joshua by the collar of his coat.
"THEN WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE WITH YOU! YOU KILLED THE WESTRAY VILLAGE AND RUN! TH- Though…. Bea likes you…"
Joshua broke free from Angus' grip.
"Isabel, lend me your knife."
"You didn't plan…."
"It is okay. I'm not going to hurt him."
Isabel took a knife and gave it to Joshua.
Joshua then handed the knife to Angus.
"Joshua, what are you going to-"
But Joshua gestured for Isabel not to do anything.
"This. Stab ME! Give vent to all your anger and hatred!!!"
Angus looked confused. Joshua took hold of Angus' hand holding the knife and thrust it into his own chest.
"Stab me until satisfied, Angus. I know I'm guilty of you. Because I…. Bea and all of Weststray's villagers died. But…. I will not DIE until I SAVE Iris."
Everyone who saw what was happening was silent.
Angus pulled the knife out of Joshua's chest. Blood pouring. Angus paused before making his move to attack Joshua. But the stab stopped right next to Joshua's head.
"No! You're right how deep my grudge against you... won't bring Bea back. But death is too easy for you. I hope…. Lady Morrigan killed that woman so you could feel what I feel!"
Angus then threw the knife and sat down with a sad expression.
Isabel then kept the knife and approached Joshua who looked somber.
"Sigh…. You've just recovered and injured yourself again."
Isabel put a new bandage on Joshua's chest.
Joshua held his head with a stress face.
"Isabel, I was worried about Iris so much that my head felt like it was going to explode. I don't think I could bear it if something bad happened to her…."
Joshua's face looks very sad and tired at the same time.
This wasn't the first time Isabel had seen Joshua's expression like that.
"Isabel, it's getting late. I'll watch first. You get some rest."
Malcolm walked over to Isabel and tapped her on the shoulder.
Isabel nodded.
Leon watched all the commotion that was happening without commenting anything. This incident made him realize something. Iris' bond with Joshua was too strong. He must find another way to get Iris back even if it's only a small chance. After all, visiting Nova Mesto is not an easy thing to do.
Leon looked up at the sky with a sigh.
It was getting late at night and after the incident, everyone rested without saying anything. Only the occasional sound of Malcolm's chattering from being bitten by a bug while on guard duty was heard.
====
The next morning, everyone got ready to continue their journey. They were getting closer to their destination.
"Supposedly before night we arrived in Nova Mesto.", muttered Isabel.
Leon approached Isabel.
"Isabel, I have decided to return to Lindheim."
"What made you suddenly change your mind, My Lord?"
Isabel was surprised. She didn't expect Leon to take her suggestion.
Leon didn't answer Isabel's question instead pointing at Angus.
"I'll take him too. As a criminal and also an important witness."
Leon then grabbed Angus and forced him to quickly get on the horse.
"Hurry up!"
Angus glared resentfully.
"Hey, take it easy!"
Leon prepares to leave with Angus. When he passed Joshua, their eyes met.
"Tell Iris when you find her. Duke Leon Greyson awaited her return. And I will make her happy when we get married!"
After saying that, Leon spurred his horse while pulling the horse carrying Angus.
Hearing what Leon said, Joshua just looked away in annoyance. His hands were tightly clenched into fists. What Leon said offended him but Leon wasn't wrong either. Joshua knew that Leon could provide a life with a better future for Iris.
Unbeknownst to Joshua, Isabel was watching him.