Chapter 6 - The Siblings
"I want to follow Miss Mellerfield just like my father did!"
The young girl Anna Duran was clearly inspired by Charlotte.
Beatrice's panic almost completely overshadowed the sorrow of her husband's death. She desperately wanted to believe that her husband had sacrificed his life to protect Charlotte.
However, about half a month ago, when Marion received Charlotte's order to leave for Platinum City, he had said to his wife, "If I am ever demoted to a slave by Duke Mellerfield, or even… sentenced to hang, don't hesitate—take Anna and run immediately. Escape from the Duchy of Greenplain, go to your parents' house. Someone will protect you both."
Then, he died.
Beatrice wasn't sure what Marion had done, but the Duke of Greenplain certainly wouldn't want to hang someone just because they sacrificed themselves to protect his daughter.
So, despite being lost and unsure of how they, as mother and daughter, should live after her husband's death, Beatrice did not want to leave with Charlotte.
However, working to inherit the glory of one's ancestors, even sacrificing one's life for the title, was almost politically correct in this world.
Charlotte invited Anna on these grounds, and Anna expressed her willingness, so Beatrice couldn't say anything further. It would have seemed too out of place otherwise.
With mixed emotions, the two women boarded the giant eagles. Beatrice had intended to pack a bit, but Charlotte said it wasn't necessary. She would have all the Duran family's belongings packed and sent to Lord Lanbay's territory.
The five giant eagles, foaming at the mouth, clearly didn't want to fly anymore, but the Orlan Empire's eagle trainers were highly skilled. Even though the eagles were exhausted, they still flapped their wings and took off.
Charlotte's fingers lightly brushed over the giant eagle's hard feathers beneath her. The three-day-and-night journey had greatly changed Charlotte's opinion of the giant eagles.
According to Charlotte's rough estimate, the giant eagles' cruising speed had remained above 80 kilometers per hour. This was an impressive flying speed. Additionally, their endurance was also quite good. Charlotte had mentally prepared to exhaust two or three of the eagles, but unexpectedly, all five had survived.
Charlotte recalled a saying among the bow and arrow makers: the giant eagles' feathers were a kind of miracle that people still didn't fully understand. This miracle seemed to have the ability to harness the wind, allowing arrows to fly further.
However, the miracle effect was not very strong. It only slightly increased the flight distance of arrows, and since the giant eagle's feathers were thicker and heavier than other bird feathers, the miracle effect seemed almost negligible. Therefore, bow makers didn't use the giant eagle feathers very much.
Now, Charlotte thought, perhaps people had underestimated the miracle feathers' effect. Her previous knowledge told her that birds suited for long-distance flights generally had lightweight bodies and slender wings. The giant eagle did have long wings, but compared to its massive body, the wings didn't seem quite adequate. Despite its body structure not being ideal for long-distance flights, the giant eagle could still fly for extended periods and over long distances. Charlotte suspected that the miracle feathers might be even more effective than people realized.
"Renee, why do you think the Empire's army only likes to use griffins but not giant eagles?"
From Charlotte's perspective, griffins had a cruising speed of only around 30 to 40 kilometers per hour, and their endurance wasn't very impressive either. During long-distance marches, griffin riders would let their griffins rest after flying for four or five hours to replenish water and energy. It could be said that griffins were inferior to giant eagles in both aspects. Thinking of this, Charlotte couldn't help but wonder why the military in this world favored griffins over giant eagles.
"Uh..." Renee, a weak little maid, didn't really understand fighting or military matters. She tilted her head, thinking for a long time, unsure how to answer, until a gray castle appeared in their line of sight.
The gray castle covered several hundred acres, with watchtowers, arrow turrets, and walls that were well-arranged, giving it an imposing look from a distance. The main part of the castle was located on high ground, backed by steep cliffs. Below the cliffs flowed a raging river, making it an easily defendable, hard-to-attack position. It also controlled the Nibo River's waterway. The castle had everything, from gardens and hunting grounds to docks and military camps.
Charlotte's private residence, a small castle just outside Platinum City, couldn't compare to this massive gray castle at all.
Suddenly, Renee had an idea and said, "Because griffins have the Steel-Breaking Claws, but giant eagles don't, right?"
"Oh..."
Looking at the approaching gray castle, Charlotte nodded.
Griffins possessed multiple miracles, and the Steel-Breaking Claws were one of the most representative. These claws, resembling eagle talons, gave them unparalleled destructive power.
In this world, lords ruled over their territories from castles, and most castles were made with the toughest timber for gates, massive stones for walls, melted copper for wall seams, and steel to cover the surface. Wealthier lords would even use rare materials in their castles, making siege weapons like giant crossbows, battering rams, and catapults nearly useless against them.
Charlotte knew that the massive gray castle in front of her was a prime example.
Given that griffins, with their Steel-Breaking Claws, could effectively damage fortifications, they held an irreplaceable position on the battlefield.
So, Renee's reasoning was certainly valid.
However, Charlotte felt that the preference of the Eagle Continent's military for griffins wasn't so simple.
Perhaps she would have time to study this in more detail later...
Charlotte didn't want to make Renee uncomfortable. After all, she was just a little maid.
Boom boom...
Five giant eagles landed one by one on the walls of the gray castle, two of them collapsing after landing, unable to stand due to exhaustion and rolling several times.
Charlotte leapt off the eagle's back and onto the familiar gray stone floor. Even though she didn't particularly like this ancient castle, it stirred a complex mix of emotions in her heart.
This gray castle was called "Mellerfield Riverside Castle." As the name suggested, it was the ancestral home of the Mellerfield family and the center of both the court and military administration of the Duchy of Greenplain. Therefore, common folk often referred to it as the "Lord's Castle" or the "Duke's Castle."
Charlotte had been born here, grown up here, witnessed the death of her mother, Helen Mellerfield, here, and had also determined here that her life's goal was to strive for something worth dedicating her whole life to, even if it meant dying in the process.
The guards on the walls were initially hesitant upon seeing Charlotte. Her clothes and demeanor clearly marked her as a noble, but they didn't recognize her. It wasn't until an officer recognized her identity and exclaimed, "Miss Charlotte!" that the commotion began.
The guards hurried forward, kneeling on one knee in salute, and took the giant eagles' reins, leading them away for feeding, watering, and rest.
"Arrange a room for Mrs. Duran and Miss Anna, something with decent conditions. Have their luggage packed and sent over as soon as possible." Charlotte gestured toward Beatrice and Anna.
"Mm, don't worry, miss, I won't neglect your guests," Renee responded with perfect understanding.
Beatrice and Anna both thanked Charlotte, with Anna's gratitude being sincere, while Beatrice, on edge, carefully considered every word Charlotte said, inevitably overthinking things.
Charlotte didn't care about Beatrice's thoughts. After giving instructions to Renee, she began walking down the familiar path toward the deeper parts of the castle.
"I know that kind of torment isn't easy for both of us, but it's all for a sweeter happiness in the end."
"Happiness? What does happiness even mean? For me, being able to be with Andre often is happiness."
As Charlotte passed a staircase corner, she overheard this whispered conversation between a lovesick couple. Even without hearing the full context, Charlotte could easily guess who the speakers were.
Andre. There was only one Andre in Riverside Castle, and that was Charlotte's full-blooded older brother, the eldest son of Duke Mellerfield, Andre Mellerfield.
The soft, sweet words could only belong to a woman who, if Andre hadn't already fallen for someone else, was likely Anne Paste, the daughter of Duke Bonan.
"Ahem…"
Charlotte didn't hide her presence, letting out a loud cough as she passed.
The couple jumped in surprise, quickly pulling away from each other. After a moment, they both realized who had approached, and they let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Charlotte!" Anne Paste exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise.
As the two largest duchies in the Orlan Empire, the Duchy of Greenplain and the Duchy of Bonan maintained long-standing relations, so Anne and Charlotte had known each other since childhood, and were considered childhood friends.
"Charlotte? Why are you back so soon?" Andre's voice carried surprise, but also a hint of frustration, clearly complaining that Charlotte had interrupted his private moment with his lover. "I only received the news you were coming home the day before yesterday."
"Because I missed you so much, brother! That's why I traveled day and night to get here." Charlotte smiled sweetly.
Andre shuddered at the high-pitched tone of her voice, a chill running down his spine. He quickly waved his hand, urging Charlotte to leave. "Father is in the study handling government matters. You've just arrived; you should go and greet him first."
"Mm." Charlotte nodded, smiling as she waved goodbye to Anne Paste and turned to leave.
Andre let out a sigh of relief. He really did feel a bit intimidated by his younger sister.
If there was anyone in this world born with a naturally bad temper, Andre thought Charlotte had to be one of them. When Charlotte was a baby and couldn't even talk, she already knew how to make trouble for her older brother. She would intentionally knock over her milk bottle right under Andre's feet and then cry loudly. Poor Andre would be scolded by the adults, completely bewildered. That kind of injustice had been a childhood trauma.
Now, with Charlotte leaving obediently to give him and his lover some space, Andre was deeply grateful.
However, just as Andre was about to pull Anne back into his arms, Charlotte suddenly stopped after taking two steps. She turned around and said coldly, "By the way, I met Lord Henry Holovin in Platinum City. He specifically asked me to send his regards to you, Anne."
The couple, who had been lost in their romantic bubble just moments ago, were immediately doused in cold water, and any desire to embrace each other vanished.
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