Chapter_12: Last Midnight

Ragnar stared at his bandaged wounds, his mouth agape and sweat beading on his forehead. Lady Ana met his gaze with a menacing smirk, her eyes locked onto his.

"Would you like an explanation, Ragnar?" she taunted, her tone dripping with malice.

Meanwhile, Damian turned to Lancelot with a furrowed brow. "How could his wounds be from blades, Lancelot? Have you been aware of this all along?" he questioned, his confusion evident in his voice.

"Let Lady Ana explain, and then it will all make sense," Lancelot stated calmly, his gaze fixed on Ragnar.

Damian nodded and turned his attention back to Ragnar, who looked at Lady Ana with a mixture of confusion and uncertainty.

"Then I shall enlighten you," Lady Ana said gently, smiling at Ragnar as she prepared to reveal the truth.

"Last midnight, five of my guards heard screaming in the distance while they ventured into the Harburg Mountains. They rushed to the source of the sound, only to discover a gruesome scene. A massive man sat among the carnage, unconscious and wounded, while three soldiers from the empire lay lifeless, their bodies mutilated.

"We rescued you, Ragnar, as you were still alive. However, we suspect you may have been responsible for their deaths. Can you confirm this, Ragnar?" Lady Ana's smile remained menacing as she addressed him.

Ragnar sat on his bed, consumed by confusion and a whirlwind of emotions, grappling with the disturbing possibility that his own hands had taken lives.

Meanwhile, Damian's confusion intensified as he struggled to comprehend how Ragnar could have been involved in the deaths of the empire's soldiers. "Lancelot, how could this have happened? You mentioned that the empire's soldiers were near our city in the south, right?" He pressed for answers, seeking clarity.

"I did mention that, but I didn't confirm the fate of those soldiers. Damian, have you been spreading this information among the other royal guards again?" Lancelot's gaze settled on Damian, his expression serious and weighted with concern.

Damian gazed at Lancelot with fear in his eyes as he nodded, his head shaking in fear. Meanwhile, Lady Ana shifted her gaze to the guards. "Quiet!" She ordered the guards.

"I deeply apologize, Lady Ana," Lancelot said as he kneeled on one leg, bowing his head in a display of respect and loyalty.

Lady Ana smiled at him before shifting her gaze to Ragnar, whose confusion was palpable as he continued to gaze at his hand. "Are you certain, Ragnar, that you weren't responsible for those deaths?" she inquired gently.

"We appreciate that you've eliminated our enemies, so there's no need for concern. We would only consider eliminating you if you pose a threat to us, which you already do. However, we will endeavor to avoid such a drastic measure," she added in the same tone.

Ragnar turned his gaze to Lady Ana, her menacing smile still etched on her face. "I don't recall killing anyone, and if I did, I would surely feel the guilt," Ragnar replied in his deep, rough voice.

"That's understandable, Ragnar. We also believe that you didn't kill those soldiers. However, I refuse to let my emotions and thoughts cloud my judgment. I trust that you are not responsible for their deaths, but my instincts warn me that you may pose a threat to us." Lady Ana's kind voice resonated with Ragnar.

"Ragnar, there are countless possibilities, but I believe only five will reveal the truth. One, you killed those men and pose a threat to us. Two, you killed them in self-defense and are lying now."

"Three, you didn't kill those men, but someone killed them to save you while you were unconscious. Four, you are lying and those soldiers were used to infiltrate this castle. Five, you have turned into a Grimiore while you thought you were about to die.

"The fifth one is less likely because you would have died if you truly became a Grimiore. Grimiores are one-time use, and then the user dies. Now, Ragnar, tell me which possibility is the truth?" Lady Ana stated confidently.

"I believe none of those is true. I don't recall anyone killing. The last time I was awake was when the entities were about to kill us," Ragnar continued in a serious tone.

"Regarding the story you shared, Ragnar, we found no evidence to support it—no bodies, no bags of gold. If there's no tangible evidence, then it would seem that your tale is a fabrication, wouldn't it?" Lady Ana questioned.

"No, it's the truth! I vividly remember every detail of that night; it couldn't be a lie if I felt it," Ragnar responded to Lady Ana with a serious expression.

"Ragnar, as confused as you are, we are equally perplexed. Frankly, after conversing with you for a day, I have a slight degree of trust in you," Lady Ana stated, adjusting her posture and placing her hands on her lap.

"This time, Ragnar, I am placing my trust in you. However, from now on, you must procure evidence to support your claims. I will also arrange a Stazyc Ritual for you, so we can uncover the truth about what truly transpired," Lady Ana smiled kindly, her tone surprisingly gentle.

Ragnar was visibly taken aback by Lady Ana's expression, and suddenly, he felt neither disappointed nor angry. He smiled slyly and responded in a kind tone, "I will, Lady Ana."

Lady Ana stood up, stretching her tired body, and suggested, "Now that we're done, let's have dinner."

She then looked at Ragnar with a happy expression and said, "I, Lady Ana, invite you, Ragnar, to join me for dinner tonight!"

Ragnar was momentarily shocked, but he maintained his sly smile. "I will just follow after I fix myself," he said, his smile remaining as he examined the room.

"If you say so," Lady Ana said as she handed the key to Ragnar.

With that, Lady Ana left the room, and the guards swiftly retrieved the bags and the holder of the Acherontian Crusher. They followed Lady Ana, and Damian, the last to leave, gazed at Ragnar before carefully closing the door.

'I'm all alone in this room now,' Ragnar thought to himself as he removed the trench coat Arawn had given him. He took out the silver pocket watch from his pocket and glanced at the time. It was now "7:36 HU."

Ragnar made his way to the closet, carefully opening it and using a hanger to hang up the trench coat before gently closing the door with a smile.

Noticing a mirror on the closet door, Ragnar felt compelled to tidy himself up. He approached the table, retrieving a wooden comb and a rubber band, then gazed at his reflection in the mirror as he meticulously groomed his long, brown hair.

As he looked at himself in the mirror, he observed small wounds on his face. "It's beginning to heal itself," Ragnar remarked aloud, relieved that the pain had subsided. He continued grooming his hair, securing it with the rubber band he had retrieved from the table.

As he tidied up, his countenance took on a more formal air, presenting a refined appearance. Observing his reflection in the mirror, he couldn't help but be amused by the transformation. He slowly headed out of the room, closing the door behind him. He took a calming breath before proceeding toward the dining hall.

In the meantime, Lady Ana and the two guards transported the bags and the sledgehammer holder to the storage room. As Lancelot placed the holder of the sledgehammer, he expressed concern: "Lady Ana, are you sure this won't be stolen?"

"It won't be; don't worry. Arawn said that if you open the holder, it will electrocute you," Lady Ana responded with confidence.

"Wait, Damian, give me the bag from Yeoman's Yard," Lady Ana ordered, gazing at Damian.

Lancelot rose and wiped his face with a towel, damp with sweat. As he stood, he voiced his concern: "Wait, how can you open this holder then?"

"I have a key that can open it carefully, given by Arawn himself," Lady Ana explained as Damian handed the bag from Yeoman's Yard to her.

"Are we finished here?" Lady Ana inquired as she surveyed the surroundings.

"Yes, there's nothing more that can be done here now," Lancelot replied, demonstrating his unwavering loyalty to her.

"Let's head to the dining hall!" Lady Ana exclaimed, rushing outside with the bag from Yeoman's Yard in her hand. Damian and Lancelot stood and watched as Lady Ana laughed. "It's kind of surprising how this lady is the exact same age as us, but she still acts this way," Damian remarked with a smile.

"Lady Ana is still enjoying her life like a kid," Lancelot said, smiling with his eyes closed.