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Chapter 83 Part 2 – A letter from Rona. And the “Thunderbolt Polka”. Ironically, the dance that plunged so many young ladies into the abyss became the bridge between mother and Countess Rosenthal.

Wendell’s horsemanship was as brilliant as usual, but his already white face had become completely pale.

From the moment Wendell saw the letter from a woman named Rona at his place of destination, he lost his usual composure. A frown of anguish has been carved between his brows the whole time. It is the same even now in the pale moonlight. He repeatedly muttered. ‘Rona was alive’. It’s proof that his thoughts have been going in circles for a long time. It was an unusual occurrence for the decisive and resolute master.

…… Written in that short letter is, ‘Wendell-sama’s beloved wife, Cornelia-sama, has been invited to a ball held at the mansion of Countess Rosenthal. Please rush there as soon as possible.’ Then, at the closing of the letter was, ‘From someone who is greatly indebted to you, Rona. Although I cannot see you directly, I always wish you the best of luck’. When Wendell saw the tear-smeared words, he stiffened as if struck by lightning. He didn’t even realize he had dropped the letter.

That letter had thoroughly gouged out the old wound in Wendell’s heart.

As the hero and greatest war force of Hydrangea, Wendell has many enemies both inside and outside the kingdom. Moreover, Countess Rosenthal was the leader of the bullying that happened to the madam 14 years ago. If this letter is a trap, it could be fatal to the master. It was natural for Bernard to be worried, but Wendell dismissed it.

「…… There is no possibility of this being a trap. This is definitely Rona’s handwriting. There is …… no way I can forget it.」

A messenger pigeon from Seraphy that flew in at the same time also told them that the ball was a fact. Seraphy had given Wendell one of the valuable messenger pigeons that could track him even if he moved to a different place.

Wendell picked up the letter with trembling fingertips and looked into the distance.

「Why? Rona. Why didn’t you tell us if you were still alive? No matter what you looked like, our feelings towards you wouldn’t change.」

Muttered Wendell as his lips trembled.

Rona had been severely sexually abused. She also noticed that all of us knew about it. It must have been unbearable for her as a sensitive, young girl. And yet she still opened up to us. Although we only knew each other for a short period of time, we had a solid emotional bond between ourselves. I can assure you that I am not being conceited.

And yet, Rona had hesitated to show herself to them after the night of the witch hunt. She must have suffered something so terrible and gruesome to describe in words. Wendell gritted his teeth at that thought.

Having traveled through war zones, Wendell had witnessed firsthand the extent of the misery that people endure. After being treated as playthings, the women had their faces peeled off as a warning, then they were hung on pillars with chains threaded directly through their flesh …… People whose entire bodies were burned with a soldering iron and whose festering skin had fallen off …… People who are not bound by moral restraints exhibit a heinous capacity to behave in a horrifying manner. Conquest, sexual urge, destruction, all those dark and sordid desires are unleashed on other humans.

The Inquisition official Matthew, who tried to burn Rona at the stake at that time, was the embodiment of such human darkness. Under the banner of justice in the name of a witch hunt, he did whatever dirty acts he could. His vile way of doing things were described as nauseating by the three old warriors even though they have lived through numerous battlefields.

That Inquisition official dragged Rona down with him and both of them sunk into the blazing river surface. But what if that man had survived, and had retaliated against Rona, who had also survived?

…… Rona ……!!

He felt a chill run down his spine and was about to collapse.

From there onwards, it was too horrible to imagine. The state of Rona’s younger brother’s corpse was so horrendous that it was completely unthinkable to think of that as the work of a human being. If Rona had been subjected to such torture, she would have experienced a pain that is much worse than dying. Even if she was still alive, she may no longer retain her human form.

‘Even so, Rona. I, the three old men, and Marielle-san were all drawn to your kind heart. You are a rose that blooms in winter. No matter how much your appearance change, our feelings will not change. That’s why, once more …… I want to see you.’

Wendell’s favorite horse further increased its speed after his feelings were conveyed to it.

‘…… I was powerless at that time. That’s why I couldn’t protect you. That was also the case with Cornelia 14 years ago. But I will never make the same mistake again. If it is the current me, I can crush any enemy.’

Wendell raised his head in the midst of the headwind.

Why does Rona know about Countess Rosenthal’s movements? Why is she contacting him now? How did she deliver the letter to his secret place of residence at his destination? Doubts and hesitation still persist. But there was only one destination.

「Let’s go, Bernard. To Countess Rosenthal’s mansion. All the answers are surely there.」

「Yes, master!!」

Like meteors, the two horses run through the darkness.

‘…… Rona, you’ve taken the trouble of telling me this. I will definitely save my beloved Cornelia from the countess’s evil clutches. I will not let them do whatever they want as they did 14 years ago. If they dare to lay a finger on Cornelia, I will not hesitate to slay them. And Rona. I hope I can meet you again. My two precious women. This time for sure, I will protect you two to the end.’

With determination in his heart, Wendell rushes through the wind.

「Run!! Uranus!! Carry me!! To Cornelia and Rona!!」

Hearing Wendell’s wish, his beloved horse gallantly neighed.

But sadly, Wendell hadn’t noticed. The shocking truth that the detestable Countess Rosenthal was Rona herself. It’s no wonder. Who would have thought that Rona, who was a poor girl, would have given up everything in her life to climb to the position of a countess in order to protect Wendell because of her love for him.

「But if she went to the trouble of informing master by letter, then perhaps Rona-san is not at Countess Rosenthal’s mansion?」

Wendell responded to Bernard’s question.

「…… No, she is there. My intuition tells me that those two irreplaceable people, Cornelia and Rona, need my help.」

「I understand.」

Master’s intuition on the battlefield has never failed.
The only time he was shaken was because he was too worried about his beloved wife when the duke’s mansion exploded.

Bernard said nothing more. And then …… after everything was over, he realized that Wendell’s intuition had been right this time as well.

Even when they met at the royal palace, Wendell and Rona only passed each other. After a long night of sorrow, fate had finally decided to bring them together. But the time left was too short.

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「…… The ‘Thunderbolt’ dance!?」

After noticing Countess Rosenthal’s intentions, the ladies made a commotion.

The atmosphere of contempt for my mother that had prevailed until a moment ago had changed completely.

「No way!? That’s the pinnacle of dance. Something like that, even I can ……」

The aquiline-nosed madam, who had been whispering behind my mother’s back that the duchess who was raised in the mountains could not possibly dance the first dance properly, was stunned into silence. If she said it, she would be admitting defeat. The tip of the folding fan in her hand trembled. The only reason she can make fun of others is because she thinks they are lower in rank than herself.

Worthy of its name, the ‘Thunderbolt’ rumbled above the heads of the gossipy ladies and sent them all into a mild panic

「If anyone wishes to take the duchess’s place, please come forward.」

Countess Rosenthal asked with an elegant flourish of her feather folding fan. At her question and gaze, the thick-skinned red nobles quickly averted their eyes. Cold sweat broke out on their forehead. Because they knew that if they were nominated, only embarrassment and disgrace awaited them.