Henwell doesnât continue tormenting Pajaje, or Scar Tiger, as heâs also known. Instead, Henwell leaves the banquet and returns to his castle chambers to rest.
The next morning, under the escort of the Holy Lake Knights, Henwell resumes his journey northeast.
Around noon, Monica finds the restless Scar Tiger. Her first words nearly make the worn-out Scar Tiger fall to his knees.
âPajaje, I need you to do something for me. If you succeed, Iâll find a way to make you a viscount!â
Scar Tiger blinks in confusion, looking at the princess. âWhat do you want me to do, Your Highness?â
âGo! Take people and kill the lord of Blood Hill!â
âWho?!â
Kill who? Kill Henwell? Me?!
The sudden, daunting mission causes Scar Tigerâs mind to freeze.
Seeing his silence, Monica explains, âMany want him dead. If he dies within Lumir, itâll surely spark chaos. Both you and I can seize this chance to gain more benefits. Peace Haven may be powerful, but it has many enemiesâŠâ
Scar Tiger stares blankly at her, not wanting to understand why she wants Henwell dead.
The real question is, why me?
And is this widow princess really that stubborn? Doesnât she know who Henwell is? How powerful he is? Yet she wants me to kill Henwell? If I had that kind of ability, Iâd be a grand duke by now! Why wait to kill Henwell just to become a viscount?
Is this woman still half asleep?
After a long pause, Scar Tiger awkwardly says, âYour Highness, you might not know, but Henwell is incredibly strong. Heâs already a Grand Knight, and Iâm just a knight, no match for him!â
Monica snaps, âOf course I know you canât beat him! Thatâs why you bring more people. Iâll arrange four knights for you. With a dozen or so of you, you still canât kill one man? As for the Holy Lake Knights, yes, theyâre a problem. Theyâll definitely block your attack, so itâs best to strike when theyâre not aroundâŠâ
A dozen people, less than half knights, planning to kill Henwell?!
Scar Tiger has seen Henwellâs unmatched battlefield prowess. Back then, over a hundred knights and a dozen Battle Knights fell to Henwellâs blade, scattered and broken!
Forget about this small group, even combining the forces from two territories wouldnât be enough to trouble Henwell for long.
Scar Tiger starts to realize that Monica is clearly not a professional and has never truly seen how powerful a Grand Knight really is. She has no idea what being a Grand Knight even means, let alone how ruthless Henwell can be.
There are plenty of people who want Henwell dead, enough to fill the entire Billie Kingdom. Yet Henwell is still alive and well, which alone shows just how strong he is.
Still, Scar Tiger doesnât quite know how to explain this, especially since, technically speaking, his Hodith family is still Monicaâs vassal.
So, with a dazed expression, Scar Tiger leads a small group, walking blankly along the official road.
By afternoon, the escorting Holy Lake Knights are returning, and another group approaches from behind.
The newcomer is Lierul, the eldest son of the Earl and Monicaâs brother.
Duaili greets the Holy Lake Knightsâ centurion, then curiously asks Scar Tiger, âPajaje, where are you headed?â
Scar Tiger replies expressionlessly, âWeâre going to hunt down the lord of Blood Hill.â
Silence falls over everyone. The atmosphere turns tense.
Duaili sizes up Scar Tiger, thinking this guy must be crazy. Kill Henwell? With this small a group? What, planning to have Henwell for dinner tonight?
The Holy Lake Knightsâ centurion beside him widens his eyes in surprise. He hadnât expected Scar Tiger, who was timid just last night, to be so bold today.
The centurion gives Scar Tiger a thumbs-up. âBrother, youâre fierce! Get going quickly! The lord of Blood Hill is about to cross into Ika Kingdom. If you hurry, you might catch them by tonight.â
Duaili rolls his eyes and turns to Scar Tiger. âPajaje, whatâs going on? Who told you to go after the lord of Blood Hill? Donât you understand the consequences? If you die, thatâs one thing! But if that warmonger finds an excuse to start a war, itâll be a disaster for the entire duchy!â
Scar Tiger grimaces. âSir, I donât want to either! Itâs Princess Monica who ordered me to go!â
Duaili looks puzzled. âWhy does she keep dragging you into this?â
The centurion speaks up. âAt last nightâs banquet, the lord of Blood Hill spoke with the princess for a while. It seemed to have really angered her. Maybe he said something disrespectful that offended her, perhaps thatâs whyâŠâ
Duaili snaps, âNonsense!â Then he scolds Scar Tiger sharply, âTake her back to her territory! Youâre in charge of her landâs defense now. If she causes no trouble, donât leave the castle.â
Scar Tiger hesitates. âSir, you know Iâm the princessâs vassal. This isnât proper protocol!â
Duaili pulls out a badge. âTake this! Tell them itâs my fatherâs order. The Dienbos family wonât let her run wild!â
Grasping the badge like a pardon, Scar Tiger immediately turns and rushes back with his men.
Watching Scar Tigerâs embarrassed retreat, the centurion chuckles. âThis baron must be terrified. Just now, I saw his eyes go blank. Heâs probably replaying his whole life on the way back. No telling if heâs said goodbye to his family.â
Duaili glares at him. âChapman, enough with the sarcasm! Has the lord of Blood Hill crossed the border yet?â
Chapman replies, âIâve got people watching. Looks like heâs not sticking around here. With Midsummer Festival coming up, heâs gotta hurry back to prepare for the wedding. I even got an invitation! Iâll have to take a leave to go, his wedding feast isnât something you get to skip! By the way, Duaili, what brings you here? Also chasing the lord of Blood Hill?â
Duaili snaps, âWhy would I chase that troublemaker? Iâm heading east. The merchantsâ guild is having some issues there, and I need to negotiate with the local nobles.â
âWant me to back you up?â
âNo need! You better get back and report!â
While they talk, Henwell nears the border.
Originally, he planned to visit Viscount Matilda of Lumir, the closest major noble to his territory. Matilda had always been cautious, insisting on dealing with Roderick instead of Henwell directly. Henwell wanted to seize this chance to meet the careful collaborator in person.
But Peace Haven sends word that Duke Jansen demands his immediate return, no loitering.
Henwell has no choice but to change course, heading north into Ika Kingdom to reach Louis City first.