The Witch of Paitan — Chapter 4

YOU ARE AWARE THAT ANOTHER CONFLICT BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE KINGDOM AND THE PRINCI- PALITY SOLDIERS AT THE BORDER, RIGHT?

IF THE PRINCIPALITY BECOMES INDEPENDENT-WE WILL SUFFER MASSIVE LOSSES.

IT MEANS HAVING AN ENEMY RIGHT ABOVE OUR HEADS.

THEREFORE, THE CONDITION THE KING PROPOSED TO THE PRINCIPALITY'S FORMER GRAND DUKE FOR THE PEACE OF BOTH COUNTRIES WAS A POLITICAL MARRIAGE.

IT FEELS LIKE BUGS ARE CHEWING THROUGH MY BRAIN!

ARE YOU TRYING TO LECTURE ME RIGHT NOW?

TRACES OF SORCERY WERE FOUND AT THE ASSASSINATION SCENE.

SO WHAT?

YOUR HIGHNESS! DIDN'T I TELL YOU THAT THE GRAND DUKE IS SOMEONE FREE FROM THE INFLU- ENCE OF SORCERY!

CROSSING SUCH A DANGEROUS LINE LIKE THIS—!!

STOP!!

I DECIDE WHAT I WILL DO.

YOU... DON'T CROSS THE LINE.

UNDERSTOOD...

HE SHOULD BE REACHING THE GRAND DUKE BY NOW, SHOULDN'T HE?

PROBABLY.

I’M CURIOUS.

WHETHER HE WILL...

ACTUALLY COME TO PICK UP MARTA.

SIGH...

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS, PLEASE CLOSE THE WINDOW. I'M WORRIED YOU MIGHT CATCH A COLD.

WHO...?

I AM CALLED "JIN," SERVING LADY ASLA.

FROM NOW ON, I WILL BE ATTENDING TO YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS. IT IS AN HONOR TO MEET YOU.

IS THAT SO?

NICE TO MEET YOU...

CORNWALL CASTLE, UNDERGROUND TORTURE CHAMBER

PL-PLEASE—

GRAND... DUKE—

I REALLY DON'T KNOW...!

PLEASE FORGIVE ME...

PLEASE... FORGIVE ME...

PLEASE...

AN ASSASSINATION SQUAD MEMBER MAKES A CONTRACT WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THEIR EMPLOYER?

THEY JUST OFFERED TEN TIMES THE ORIGI- NAL AMOUNT...! IF YOU ASK OUR CAPTAIN—!!

YOUR CAPTAIN IS ALREADY DEAD.

AND YOU'RE SAYING THE EXACT SAME THING HE DID BEFORE DYING.

I-I WAS WRONG!!

PLEASE, HAVE MERCY—!!

THIS GUY WAS THE LAST SURVIVOR, YOUR HIGHNESS...

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

LOVE BETWEEN AN OLDER BROTHER AND A YOUNGER SISTER...

WHATEVER-.

WE JUST NEED TO PAY BACK WHAT WE RECEIVED.

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS DEPARTED FOR CORNWALL, THREE DAYS AGO.

SHE MUST BE ENTERING WOLVERINE MOUNTAIN BY NOW.

YOU SHOULD GO MEET HER IN TIME.

ME?

AS YOU KNOW, WOLVERINE MOUN- TAIN IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS!

THERE AREN'T EVEN ANY PROPER VILLAGES FOR HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS TO STAY IN!

ESPECIALLY IF SHE UNLOADS HER BAGGAGE EVEN FOR A MOMENT THERE ON HER FIRST TRIP...

ARE YOU FOLLOWING WELL, PEPE?

THERE'S NOT MUCH LEFT NOW, YOU NEED TO MEMORIZE THE PATH WELL.

WHEN THAT TIME COMES...

AT THAT TIME, WE...

YOUR ROYAL HIGHNESS THE GRAND DUCHESS.

HERE IS YOUR REGULAR MEDICATION AND FEVER-SUPPRESSING MEDICINE, PLEASE TAKE THEM AND REST NOW.

THANK YOU, JIN.

HM?

WHAT'S THAT SOUND...

GR-GRAND DUCHESS—!

YOU MUST AVOID THEM— A PACK OF WOLVES IS—!

N-NO...

JIN! GET INSIDE THE TENT!

YOU TOO, YOUR HIGHNESS!

Y-YOUR HIGHNESS...

BE QUIET AND HIDE IN THE CORNER...!

I CAN'T... DIE HERE.

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!

...WHAT IS IT THIS TIME??

G-GIVE ME YOUR SWORD, I WILL HANDLE THEM.

VERY WELL...

...CARLOS?