The winter region belonged to the Duke of Winter. That was a lesson the people of Biflten had been learning more and more recently. Even now whispers spread through the mansion that the Duke was already going on another campaign, as if he needed no rest from the two recent battles he'd just fought.

I heard only the Grandmaster of Delrose is going.

Wouldn't the Duke also leave later?

The knights' house is loud but the mansion is quiet. Doesn't that mean the Duke is resting?

Rumors like these scurried through the halls of Biflten, stirring up questions and speculation as they ran. And no one in Delrose would comment on any of them, leaving the whisperers from the other houses lost as to what the truth could be.

I heard they're attacking Yesters?

Right. Seems the knights will be taking a lot of warm items, preparing for the cold.

Like before?

A few of the rumors were relatively close to the truth but of course Ilyin knew even that truth was a lie.

Looks like Idith will be able to rest this time, she said sitting by her window. Yes, Idith had no need to worry about squashing rumors this time. That must have lightened his burden quite a bit.

Unfortunately, not, said Etra, smiling as she poured drink into Ilyin's glass. He has to prepare for the campaign.

They must be very tired. Den and the knights, Ilyin mused.

Perhaps, but they've said they're still used to it, Etra replied.

A faint steam seemed to rise from the alcohol in Ilyin's glass, and a sweet fragrance wafted to her. Warmth seemed to spread to her hand from the glass when she grabbed it. She thought of the drink she'd had before and smiled.

It'll all be easier once there are fewer monsters, Etra said.

Ilyin waved Etra to the seat across from her. That was always Etra's seat, but she never failed to thank her mistress for it. She bowed deeply, then sat without the slightest sound.

Well, it is true that there will be one less type of monster if this campaign is successful, Ilyin said, choosing her words carefully. Even here, on the 7th floor, it was just as well not to specify Mollys versus Yesters.

That is true, Etra remarked. Do you know what Delrose knights always say?

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Ilyin cocked her head curiously. Etra smiled.

For the era where the knights are no longer needed, she said.

As soon as the women had begun speaking, one of the maids had fetched a second glass, and now set it down in front of Etra. She carefully filled it with the same drink Etra had served her mistress, then stepped back.

The era where the knights are no longer needed, Ilyin repeated thoughtfully. Etra nodded.

They're hoping that after our generation, we can all just play and run around in the snow without swords, she said.

They wanted the people after them to have a safer place to live. It wasn't a fanciful wish it was quite a sensible one, actually. It was toward that wish to which the knights charged in ever battle, fighting for a better future.

But Ilyin couldn't help noticing Etra's word choice ourgeneration. Was it because she used a sword as well? There seemed more to her words than that.

Etra, she asked, were you a knight before you came to the 7th floor?

Etra's hand seemed to flinch at the question.

I lifted the sword for Delrose, she said simply, not quite meeting Ilyin's eyes. The room dropped into sudden silence.

If it's a past you'd rather not speak of you don't have to, Ilyin said. She was curious about Etra, certainly as much as Etra was about her. The curiosity born from familiarity, from love. But she didn't want to dig into things Etra would rather forget.

There's nothing I can't tell you, Etra replied. She bowed deeply, and Ilyin's hand rose to meet her cheek, and Etra sank into the gesture, resting her face on her Lady's hand.

It's enough that you lifted the sword for Delrose, Ilyin said. Etra continued to rest her head as though she couldn't lift it. You're lifting your sword for me now.

You don't know how safe I feel, Ilyin thought. Etra shifted her head slightly and met her Mistress's eyes again.

And I'm always thankful, Ilyin said.

Not at all, Ma'am, Etra replied. I'm grateful to be able to serve you.

It was true. Ilyin could tell those who spoke from the heart from those who only said what one wanted to hear. Etra was the former. Her words had a weight to them, like those of Idith and Emil.

Was that how all knights spoke? She thought of Aden's softer tone, unlike those of the knights. But then he sounded different in front of Idith or Milo authoritative, hard to approach.But not to me, she thought.To me he was always softer. However high his walls, they were like sand to me.