Chapter 68: Milayna Akasha

Hearing the commotion, additional guards rushed out, their footsteps hurried and frantic. Upon spotting Ketal, they visibly recoiled.

“A barbarian!”

“Why is there a barbarian in the capital?!”

The guards raised their spears, surrounding Ketal in an instant.

Tilting his head in confusion, Ketal wondered,

Did I misunderstand what they meant?

He repeated himself, this time speaking slowly and deliberately. “I am not your enemy. Milayna Akasha invited me.”

He emphasized each word carefully, ensuring there was no room for misinterpretation. The guards seemed to understand his words, but their expressions only hardened further.

“An intruder!”

“You're working for the mages, aren’t you?”

“No, I’m being honest,” Ketal replied, exasperated.

“Don’t make me laugh! Lady Milayna—the Iron Lady—would never invite a filthy barbarian like you!”

Iron Lady?

Ketal thought.

Apparently, that was Milayna’s nickname. It didn’t quite match the impression he had of her—someone who wore her emotions openly on her face. He considered trying to reason with them further but realized it would be futile.

In situations like this, physical proof was always the best solution. Ketal reached into his pocket. “She gave me this and told me to come find her.”

The guards’ faces widened as Ketal produced a token bearing the Akasha family’s crest.

“And if it’s my status as a barbarian you fear,” Ketal continued, pulling out another item. “I also have this—a token that permits me free movement within the Denian Kingdom.”

The second token was the one King Barbosa had personally given him. The guards’ jaws practically dropped.

“W-what is this?”

“Is this real...?”

The panic spread among the guards like a ripple. They exchanged nervous glances, unsure how to proceed. At that moment, a commanding voice rang out from behind them. “What is all this commotion?”

“C-captain!” the guards exclaimed, visibly relieved.

They quickly approached their captain, explaining the situation in hushed tones. The more he listened, the more his expression shifted, his confusion deepening.

“A barbarian... invited by Lady Milayna?” the captain asked, his voice filled with doubt as he approached Ketal.

“I don’t understand why you find this so unbelievable, but yes. She gave me this,” Ketal replied, holding out the Akasha family token.

The captain took the token and examined it closely. His eyes widened in astonishment. “This is...”

It was unmistakably the crest of the Akasha family, crafted with meticulous detail. The token was a rare and valuable item, produced only by the Akasha family’s most skilled artisans.

The captain knew this was no forgery. Such precision and craftsmanship could not be replicated.

What’s going on?

the captain thought. As far as he knew, only a select few had ever been given such a token. The idea that a barbarian could possess one was unthinkable.

“And there’s also this,” Ketal added, handing over the token from Barbosa.

The captain’s expression twisted into something almost comical as he examined it. “This... this can’t be...!”

The token bore the royal crest of the Denian Kingdom. Tokens issued by the royal family varied in status based on the number of crests engraved in them. One crest signified a person with connections to the royal family, two crests indicated a close relationship with the royal bloodline, and three crests meant the token bearer’s status had been personally certified by the king himself. A token with three crests signified a status comparable to the nobles of the capital. And of course, Ketal’s token had three crests.

A barbarian holding a token with three royal crests?

The captain felt lightheaded. Just from the look of it, he knew that the token wasn’t fake. However, because it was so extraordinary, it almost felt fake. The absurdity of the situation made his head spin.

After a long pause, the captain finally spoke. “This is beyond my authority to judge. We will wait for Lady Milayna to arrive and confirm this herself.”

“That’s fine by me,” Ketal agreed easily.

“However, until she arrives, I will have to detain you,” the captain added.

While he couldn’t fully trust Ketal, it was equally impossible to simply drive him away. The only solution was to hold him in custody until Milayna could verify the situation.

“I don’t mind. Where will I be staying?” Ketal asked.

“There is a room in the basement. We will take you there,” the captain replied reluctantly.

“Oh, a basement room in a noble’s home?” Ketal’s eyes lit up. “That sounds interesting.”

Ketal was ecstatic to be staying in a room in a noble’s basement. His imagination ran wild.

Is it used to seal something dangerous? Or perhaps to hide something valuable? Could there be a secret chamber within the basement?

“Please lead the way,” Ketal said with a cheerful grin.

The captain hesitated, baffled by Ketal’s enthusiasm.

What’s with this guy?

By all accounts, the captain’s behavior was highly disrespectful. He was essentially throwing a guest into the basement. Any barbarian—especially one who valued freedom—should have been outraged. The captain braced himself for a fight.

However, instead, Ketal seemed genuinely excited, leaving the captain completely off balance.

“Okay, follow me,” the captain stammered, trying to mask his confusion as he led the way.

Ketal followed leisurely, his steps unhurried and his mood seemingly unshaken.

***

Late at night, Milayna returned to her home after completing the collateral inspection. As she approached the gate, the guard on duty straightened and gave her a respectful bow.

“You’re back, my lady,” the guard said.

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work,” Milayna replied.

“My lady, there is something I need to inform you about.”

“Is it urgent?”

“I don’t believe so...” the guard hesitated.

Having taken over the day shift, the guard wasn’t fully aware of the earlier events. He only knew that a barbarian had been detained in the basement. Since the matter had already been dealt with, and security was tight, he figured it wasn’t an issue that required immediate attention. After all, the individual in question was just a barbarian, far from anyone of notable status.

“In that case, let’s discuss it tomorrow. I’m a bit tired right now,” Milayna said.

“Understood,” the guard said, bowing again before stepping back.

Milayna entered the building and made her way directly to her room. She sank into her chair and leaned back, closing her eyes. The soft fabric of the chair enveloped her, offering a rare moment of comfort in her otherwise demanding schedule.

Reaching out instinctively, she grabbed a bottle of wine and uncorked it with practiced ease. She carefully poured the liquid into a glass and brought it to her lips. The aroma of the wine filled her senses as she took a sip.

After a few glasses, the alcohol began to take effect. She swirled the wine in her glass absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting.

“A defiler who abandoned her family and retainers...,” she muttered.

The words of the foolish Diablos noble from earlier resurfaced in her mind. A bitter smile played on her lips. He wasn’t entirely wrong.

Even the one ally who had followed her into the White Snowfield had eventually grown distant, unable to reconcile with her decisions. Though she had grown used to the loneliness, the sting of it still lingered.

How many months has it been since I have been relying on wine to numb myself to sleep?

she thought as she closed her eyes, allowing the fog of her thoughts to lull her into unconsciousness.

***

The next morning, Milayna dressed and stepped out of her room. The guard stationed outside bowed. “Good morning, my lady.”

“Good morning,” she replied.

She had a quick breakfast before heading to her office, where she immediately began sorting through stacks of documents. By lunchtime, she was still buried in her work.

A guard entered, bowing respectfully. “Your lunch is ready, my lady.”

“Is it that time already? Thank you,” she said, setting aside her paperwork and rising from her chair.

After lunch, she returned to her office and resumed her tasks, spending several more hours diligently processing the mountain of documents. When evening arrived, another guard appeared.

“Dinner has been prepared, my lady,” the guard said.

“Thank you. I’ll be right there,” she said, standing up and following the guard.

As they walked, a thought suddenly came to her. “Now that I think about it, didn’t Malak say he had something to tell me yesterday?”

She had completely forgotten about it. The guard accompanying her seemed to recall as well, nodding.

“Ah, yes. Someone came to see you,” the guard said.

“Someone came to see me? Was it someone who owed me money?” Milayna asked.

“No, my lady.”

“Then, was it a family member?”

“No, not that either.”

Milayna’s expression grew puzzled. “Who was it, then?”

The guard began explaining what had happened yesterday, and as he spoke, Milayna’s face turned pale.

***

Milayna ran through the corridors, her composure entirely forgotten. Normally, she would have maintained her dignity, opting for a brisk walk instead of sprinting. However, this time, she didn’t have the luxury of maintaining appearances.

No,

she thought.

It can’t be. It has to be a misunderstanding.

She repeated these reassurances to herself as she rushed toward the basement room. Arriving at the door, she was met by a startled guard.

“L-Lady Milayna?”

“Move aside,” she ordered sharply.

The guard quickly stepped out of her way. Milayna threw open the door and froze at the sight inside. Sitting in the room was a barbarian.

“Oh, Milayna, it’s good to see you again,” Ketal said with a casual smile.

Milayna’s expression crumbled immediately. Her face drained of color, and she bowed deeply. “My deepest apologies, Lord Ketal! How could I be so disrespectful as to house you in such a lowly room? I am truly sorry!”

Milayna’s mind raced in panic. She had imprisoned the barbarian of the White Snowfield—a figure who was practically a force of nature—and had left him locked up for more than an entire day. Just imagining his potential anger made her feel faint.

However, Ketal’s expression remained calm. “This room is more than adequate.”

The room where Ketal had been placed was a hidden guest room in the Akasha house’s basement. It was typically reserved for nobles or merchants seeking discreet lodging. Apart from its underground location, the room itself was well-furnished. It was a small mercy that the accommodations weren’t entirely inappropriate.

“I invited you, but I failed to provide the hospitality you deserve. Please accept my deepest apologies,” Milayna said, lowering her head again.

“There is no need to worry about it. Except for the lack of any secret passages, this was a fine room,” Ketal replied, a hint of humor in his tone.

“I will make sure to prepare one next time,” Milayna said hurriedly.

“No need to take that seriously. I was joking,” Ketal said, amused.

What’s going on?

The guard captain thought. He was shocked at the sight.

Milayna Akasha was the master of the Akasha family and the so-called Iron Lady. She had stood firm against family betrayals and the desperate pleas of debtors without so much as a flicker of emotion. Yet here she was, apologizing profusely and flustered in the presence of this barbarian.

If the Iron Lady was reacting like this, then this barbarian had to be someone truly extraordinary.

The guard captain’s thoughts darkened.

I’m doomed...

When Milayna finished her apologies, she turned to the guard captain, her expression icy.

“Escort him to the reception room immediately. And as for you and the others... we will speak later,” she said through gritted teeth.

The captain’s face turned ashen as dread settled over him.

***

In the reception room, Ketal held a teacup in his hand. The pleasant aroma wafted through the air, and as he took a sip, his face softened in satisfaction.

“Excellent tea,” he said.

The tea’s flavor and aroma were exceptional, rivaling even the finest tea leaves from modern times.

Milayna, sitting across from him, bowed her head once more. “I apologize again. The guard didn’t know who you were and acted rudely.”

“I told you, it’s fine. You don’t need to keep apologizing,” Ketal replied, his expression genuinely unconcerned.

Only then did Milayna feel a sense of true relief.

“In that case, Lord Ketal—”

“You can drop the

Lord

,” Ketal replied.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

“Ah... Ketal?” she corrected herself hesitantly.

“That works just fine,” he said with a nod.

Feeling slightly less formal, Mialyna offered a faint smile. “It’s been a long time, Ketal.”

“Indeed. How many years has it been?”

“About three, I think,” she answered.

“Time flies,” Ketal murmured. It had already been three years since he last saw her.

As she observed him, Milayna asked cautiously. “When we last spoke, you mentioned being tied up with matters in the White Snowfield. Have those issues been resolved?”

“They have,” Ketal said with a smile.

The sight of his smile sent a shiver down her spine. It was a primal, predatory grin that revealed raw emotion, unfiltered and untamed.

“I resolved everything, perfectly. Thanks to that, I finally escaped that accursed place,” Ketal said., his tone calm yet carrying an underlying intensity.