Old Castle by the Lake 4
I had him let me row the boat once on the way, but it was
harder than expected. It is frustrating, but if Ashren-sama hadn't been
there, I might have been stranded on a lake where the opposite shore is
visible.
When I held the oars, the boat went unsteadily somewhere or
drew circles in the same place, but with Ashren-sama, it smoothly headed
for the island. What is the difference?
Reaching the island in the blink of an eye, he stopped the
boat as if washing it up on the shore. My backpack was snatched away before I
could grab it, and Ashren-sama carried it on his back.
「So, where do you intend to head?」
「To the old castle to rescue the
princess, of course.」
「In that case, shall I take care of
the kiss?」
「If the princess agrees to it.」
A princess, huh,
Ashren-sama muttered, looking at me reproachfully.
「...Aren't you even a little jealous?」
「Did you say something?」
「No, nothing.」
I couldn't hear the voice he muttered quietly, but it's
probably nothing major.
Ashren-sama let
out a sigh, drew his sword from its sheath, and swung it toward the bushes. The
cleanly sliced leaves fluttered away in the wind. It seems he is looking for a
path leading to the old castle, but cutting the waist-high grass is an endless
task.
「It is unusual for you to carry a
sword.」
「For self-defense, since we were
planning to go on a long horseback ride. Hmm, could this possibly be the path?」
Stone bricks buried in the dirt could be seen faintly
between the grass. After clearing the area, he trampled down the grass, which
was still up to his calves, to make a path so it would be easier for me to
walk.
「Thank you very much.」
「I have a question, but what did you
plan to do if I hadn't been here?」
「I brought a small knife just in
case. But it is highly likely I wouldn't have been able to reach it.」
The grass growing was within expectations, but I was a bit
too optimistic. Ashren-sama stood in front, mowing down the grass with
his sword and pushing his way through for me. I followed behind him, shrugging
my shoulders apologetically.
「Thank you very much.」
「Don't mention it, it's my thanks for
letting me see something nice.」
He turned around and wickedly narrowed his light blue eyes. Something
nice? I tilted my head, and Ashren-sama's gaze fell on my thighs.
This guy!
「I asked you to forget that.」
「Unfortunately, I have a good memory.」
「...Perhaps I should make an amnesia
potion.」
When I glared at him resentfully, he chuckled, 「I feel like you actually could, Layla.」 He truly is an unpredictable man.
But it is a fact that I was saved. He casually lends a hand
in places with poor footing and treads down the grass for my sake, so his
trousers are covered in mud and grass juice.
Despite everything he says, he is kind. That is exactly why
I feel I shouldn't rely on him too much.
「Could that be it?」
Walking slightly ahead, Ashren-sama stopped and
peered beyond the trees. I stood next to him and looked as well, and saw a
dirty, dull white brick wall.
「I am sure it is. We should be around
the center of the island.」
Grass and shrubs had proliferated to what must have been the
garden, and wild roses grew in clusters everywhere. Pushing through them and
struggling a bit with the rose thorns, we finally reached the entrance door entwined
with ivy. It's grubby, but it seems the door's color was originally white too.
So to speak, a chalk castle.
「Who built this old castle?」
「Apparently, a feudal lord who ruled
this land in the past imprisoned his beloved wife who betrayed him here.」
「That certainly gives it quite a
history.」
It seems the story of the imprisoned wife changed over time
into a trapped princess. It is common for folklore to change its contents as
time passes. A cheating wife is unsuited for a story told to children, after
all.
「So the lake water was cursed by the
curse of the betrayed husband or the imprisoned wife, right?」
「Well, that is what has been passed
down around here, but according to documents I researched, it seems the water
was undrinkable even before the wife was imprisoned.」
In that case, I am curious after all. Why build a castle
here?
「You have never come to this island
before, have you?」
「Yeah. I realized the reason the lake
water couldn't be drunk a few years ago. My mother knows it too, but that has nothing
to do with the old castle.」
It is true that the old castle and the lake water are
unrelated. So I can somewhat understand why he didn't come to this island, but.
「Aren't you curious? About why they
went out of their way to build a castle in a place where drinking water had to
be transported by boat.」
「Isn't that exactly why it is perfect
for imprisonment? He could just threaten not to give her water if she defied
him.」
Hmm, two-faced as expected. Unwavering.
「Water is a lifeline. There must have
been servants as well, so transporting large amounts of water every time is
inefficient. If he wanted to threaten her against rebelling, cutting off food
should have been enough.」
「In other words...?」
His ice-blue eyes peered in, trying to read my thoughts. I
felt a bit good, somehow outsmarting Ashren-sama. Perhaps my personality
has become a bit twisted too.
「There was drinking water on this
island.」
「Even though it is surrounded by a
lake and the well water is undrinkable?」
「But there was. Aren't you curious
about how they secured their drinking water?」
Even if I learned that, it wouldn't necessarily be useful
for making medicine, and I don't expect it to be. After all, today is a
holiday, my first trip in years. I want to do something a little out of the
ordinary. All the more if it satisfies my intellectual curiosity.
「I see. It looks like it will be a
fun holiday.」
「Right?」
Now then. Where shall we start our exploration? And if I find the sleeping princess while we're at it, I'll let you know. Ashren-sama.
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