I'm leaving.
Laurent's empty room contained only this small note, on which was scribbled just those few short words.
Or rather…these were among the few words that Uncle Jacques could even read.
His hands trembled slightly as he held the piece of paper, not knowing what to say.
Standing beside him, Isabelle covered her mouth in disbelief as she stared at the note.
"That boy Laurent… How could he…how could he just leave without saying anything…?"
Her voice was tinged with sadness, but even more so, with a sense of helplessness at being unable to hold him back.
Jacques steadied himself, eventually releasing a long, slow sigh.
"That kid Laurent—he's always had that kind of personality. He probably didn't want us to be sad, so he quietly left without telling anyone."
"But even so, couldn't he at least have given us the chance to say goodbye?"
"Isabelle, let's just believe in that boy. His heart is shattered."
Jacques spoke with quiet resignation.
"We all know he grew up alongside Jeanne since childhood. Today, he couldn't even bring himself to see her off. Nobody could possibly understand how lost he must feel, how desperately he wanted her to stay."
"Poor Laurent…"
"No, Isabelle. Rather than pitying them, we should wish them well—pray that their paths are smooth, and that they'll ultimately end up together. After all, they're truly meant for each other. No one can tear them apart."
"Yes, I believe so too."
And just like that, time passed quietly. About ten days later, Jeanne finally arrived in Vaucouleurs.
Now, she had to speak with the local garrison commander—Baudricourt—to explain her purpose here.
Though she'd already received her revelation, how to accomplish it would still depend upon her own methods and efforts.
"Thank you, Uncle Durand."
After thanking Durand, who'd escorted her here, Jeanne said goodbye and walked alone toward her destination.
Durand had dropped her nearby, so Jeanne arrived at her goal quickly enough.
However, before she could proceed far, she was stopped.
"Please halt here. The area ahead isn't accessible to just anyone."
Because she was dressed in men's clothes and wore a hat, no one had yet noticed she was a girl. Yet even so, not everyone was permitted to enter ahead.
Jeanne showed no surprise. She calmly spoke:
"If possible, could you let me speak to Commander Baudricourt?"
"Commander Baudricourt?"
One of the soldiers looked at her strangely.
"What business do you have with him?"
"It's very important."
Jeanne nodded firmly, her expression earnest. Seeing her seriousness made the soldier waver slightly, believing she truly had something important to say.
Meeting wasn't such a big issue anyway. This wasn't spy warfare, and assassinations were practically unheard of—especially for a mere local commander, not some important figure.
A soldier quickly went inside to deliver the message.
Jeanne stood patiently waiting. Soon enough, the soldier returned, waving Jeanne forward.
"Fine, follow me. Let's hope what you have to say is useful."
The two men escorted Jeanne inside. Upon arriving, she saw a man already seated in a chair, staring at her with puzzled eyes.
"You're the one who claims to have something important to tell me?"
"Yes."
She removed her hat, allowing her golden hair to spill out. The sight momentarily stunned the men present.
"A woman?"
Baudricourt frowned in displeasure. What business could a woman possibly have here?
Jeanne was unsurprised. Situations like this happened often, which was exactly why she needed to change her image in their eyes.
She knew clearly this meeting wouldn't yield immediate results. After all, expecting someone she'd just met to let her lead troops was obviously impossible. Yet she wouldn't let this opportunity pass. Her voice was clear and determined:
"Commander, if possible, please pay attention to an event occurring two months from now. The Dauphin's army will suffer a severe defeat at Orléans."
"…Huh?"
Everyone listening looked at her strangely, unable to grasp what this woman was talking about.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Two months from now?"
Baudricourt clearly had no idea what her words meant.
"Why should I pay attention to something so far away? Besides, who exactly are you? Why should I trust you?"
"I understand, Commander. I'm someone you're meeting for the first time—earning your trust so easily is impossible."
She spoke without arrogance or humility, placing a hand gently over her chest.
"But please understand this clearly: everything I'm doing is for the sake of France's victory. If possible, I truly wish to gain your trust today and lead soldiers against the English right now—but I know very well that's impossible."
The people listening around her didn't mock or dismiss her words outright.
Was this Jeanne's unique personal charisma?
They weren't sure—but it still wasn't enough to trust a stranger they'd just met.
"Who exactly are you?"
"My name is Jeanne d'Arc. Merely a girl who dreams of saving this country."
"Haha."
Baudricourt laughed loudly.
"At least you yourself admit your words are nonsense. Someone, throw this woman—who knows where she came from—out of here! Honestly, I thought you'd brought me useful intelligence, yet instead, you brought me this foolish woman?"
He faced Jeanne again directly:
"Woman, I don't know what kind of illness your brain has, but you should count yourself lucky my mood's good after our recent victory. Otherwise, I wouldn't let you off this easily today."
He waved his hand, and several men immediately stepped forward, ready to take her away.
"Perhaps I am crazy, Commander—but if this truly happens, I hope you'll remember me then."
As Jeanne was led away, she still uttered these final words.
Baudricourt clearly didn't take her seriously, only thinking he'd encountered a madwoman today.
He continued commanding his troops as usual.
Yet still, hadn't the woman mentioned something about the Dauphin's army two months from now?
Could something really happen to the Dauphin's forces then?
No, impossible. He laughed. Why was he even considering that crazy woman's words seriously?