Lantern Against the Wind

“Will she not come to save you guys, after all?”

Lydia had let William live on purpose, but Elena, the woman who had sold herself to Gareth for her family, had not come to rescue her sisters even after a long time.
Logan grumbled about Elena’s absence as if it was Lydia’s fault, continuously asking her why Elena was not here yet when Lydia had promised him that the woman would be in his hands soon.
He took out his anger and impatience on Lenoa as well as Elena’s two sisters by beating them severely.
Lydia’s lips would twist into a frown every time Logan would beat Elena’s sisters as Rowena would cover Marina’s body to protect her.

‘How pitiful,’ Lydia thought, then she muttered under her breath, “I’m guessing your sister has decided that she won’t sacrifice herself for you guys.
All that crying and calling her name was useless.” She then rose from her seat and approached the steps leading to the castle tower.

“Where are you going?” Lenoa asked, hurriedly following her.

“Why are you even asking? You know where.
I need something.”

Lenoa continued to follow Lydia, who was climbing the stairs without hesitation, and threatened, “If you don’t keep your word, I’ll tell my father everything.”

“And what must you mean by that?”

“I’m going to tell him that the soldiers gathered in his estate are for a rebellion against the king, so keep your hands off of them as you’ve promised.”

“You’re an accomplice, too, Lenoa,” Lydia whispered sweetly, unperturbed.
“And treason? What are you talking about? You’re being strange today.”

“Princess Lydia!”

* * *

Elena, who had been listening in on Lydia and Lenoa’s conversation from the kitchen, flopped down to the floor without realizing it.

‘The tower.
My sisters are there.
Rowena and Marina…’ Anxiety tightened her chest, and Elena exhaled roughly, grabbing the place near her sternum.

“Oh, my goodness.
You must’ve been standing in front of the fire for too long! Are you okay?” a maid asked with a worrisome expression.

“I’m fine—I just didn’t realize how scorching this place was.”

“Get some rest.
I’m sorry that you’re being overworked like this.
Well, I’m at least glad that our madam can move around like that.”

Elena closed her eyes for a moment as she listened to the maid speak. ‘I see that you’ve managed to win the hearts of the women in this castle, Lenoa.
You wanted to run away from this place so much, yet you’ve held on and survived… And now,  you’re protecting my sisters.
Thank you, thank you so much.’ As the burning feeling in her heart began to subside, Elena heard a woman’s scream echo throughout the castle.

‘Marina!’

* * *

Lydia looked gloatingly at the black hair in her hand.
She had cut off Marina’s hair with a dagger for the second time, causing the beautiful girl to now look like a young boy.
Marina covered her head with her arms and shuddered, and Rowena held her younger sister tightly like a mother bird.

“Just kill us.
Kill us, you witch,” Rowena spat out.

Lydia smirked at Rowena’s harsh words and remarked, “I’m not the one who’s going to kill you—Elena will be.
If she had come to this place, I would have let you both go.
Unfortunately, I’m guessing she has decided to abandon you two.
The death of her father must not even mean anything to her.”

“Shut up, you hag! Who do you think you are to say something like that!” Rowena shrieked.

Lydia swung her hand and smacked Rowena in the face.
“I’ll only keep you alive until Gareth dies.
After all, you would both be useless if it weren’t for him.”

Lydia had kept Rowena and Marina alive until now.
Logan had suggested killing them multiple times out of anger, but Lydia had strongly insisted on keeping them alive since she knew how much Gareth valued his oath.
It was now a fact that Elena was not going to rescue her sisters, but Lydia planned to use these two women as pawns if Logan were to lose to Gareth.
She was going to use them as her shield if Gareth were to threaten her.