IRKUA - Chapter 2

"I need to prepare a banquet."

Rune headed toward the office and gave Lares an order.

"I think we'll be short on workers. Would it be okay if I invited the village women to the castle?"

"Do as you wish."

As soon as Lares asked the question, the answer followed quickly like a tail.

Lares glanced sideways at the back of Rune's head. Her back was steady and dry, but her steps were impatient.

Lares looked back at the path Rune had walked. The end of the hallway was bright with sunlight. From beyond, voices welcoming Drial were loud.

It seemed as if Rune was running away from Drial. Her steps were impatient as if she was running away from the things that were trying to brighten her life.

"I didn't know that the Lord would come back riding a dragon. As soon as the news of the end of the war arrived..."

When Lares brought up the topic of dragons, Rune turned her head to the side. The gold dragon that had brought Drial to Arhon was flying again.

Rune stared at the leisurely flying dragon and then lowered her gaze...

"Could a person tame a dragon?"

"I heard that wizards and transcendents are possible."

Rune paused at the word transcendent.

After the World Tree died, the Gods did not descend to earth.

Instead, harsh trials were imposed on heroes worthy of ascending to the Constellation, and those who safely withstood the pain became transcendents.

Rune's complexion quietly turned pale. If Drial had become a Transcendent, it meant one thing.

During the Northern War, he experienced events that ordinary people could not handle, and he overcame them alone.

She also couldn't shake the feeling that Drial's life was ruined by an unwanted marriage. Rune Helid completely ruined Drial Stein's life.

After standing in one place for a long time, Rune slowly took steps. She was so used to blaming herself that she had no expression on her face. 

"... To Drial."

The voice was full of resignation.

"Ask that person about the return date of the Arhon Knights. Because we have to invite guests and prepare hospitality."

"Why don't you ask directly?"

"He hates me."

There was no subject, but Lares retreated without asking any more questions. Rune heard the sound of footsteps moving away from her and moved silently like a fog.

Drial chose the battlefield as a means of escaping from his wife and his position as Lord Arhon. He decided that it would be better to go to war than to live with his wife.

Because of that choice, Rune became the most miserable wife in the world, but she did not blame Drial. She rather hoped that Drial would not get hurt on the battlefield.

Even though she knew that Drial left for the battlefield with a suicidal mindset, she hoped that he would not fight to the point of losing himself. Did Drial really go through such difficult trials that he became a Transcendent?

What happened?

Probably not. It had to be no.

Wizards also participated in the Northern War. Maybe he was using their help to control the dragon.

Rune stopped and imagined the time Drial must have spent on the battlefield. A lot of emotions crossed her mind. The biggest emotion was regret.

Rune chewed her lower lip hard.

"Drial, frost giants are different from monsters. You can't go... Вetter, just wait a few years and then get divorced. That's okay, then..."

"Please, Rune. Shut your mouth."

"Drial..."

"I have no intention of coming back alive, so I will leave my will now."

"No, Drial Don't say that. Please, please, please... It's my fault. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything..."

"Stop saying sorry. I will never forgive you. Even if someone on the battlefield offers to spare me on the condition of forgiving you! This is my last words to you. Remember clearly."

Rune's eyes slowly became red.

Rune regretted her choice for countless hours. She also cursed her own situation in having been forced to choose Drial as her husband.

There was no change in her thought that she had to somehow reflect on the choices she made that day.

She felt dizzy due to the heavy emotions. She had to control her emotions.

The best way is to think about what needs to be done right away. Now that Drial is back, he's handing over affairs, getting divorced, and...

Rune stopped walking. Salty water droplets fell and wet her cheek.

Rune looked at her cheek getting wet and rubbed her face vigorously.

Why is there no inertia to sadness and regret?

Hardly any calluses formed on her heart.

Every time she thinks about what Drial said to her, she gets choked up. Rune hoped that Drial had not suffered too much, and she opened the door to her office.

When she pulled the doorknob, a breeze blew.

The wind blowing her hair back was cool and soft. Blue light swayed in the wind.

Rune n knew only one master of the wind whose waves were as blue as the sea.

Unusually, Rune was able to see the wind generated by the spirit of Drial with her own eyes. Of course, she couldn't even guess that it was something special.

A strong wind blew the door open.

Papers piled up on the desk started flying around, stopped for an instant, and then settled down in one place, following the wind.

When the paper storm stopped, Rune saw a man sitting at a desk.

"It's been a while, Rune."

Drial Stein, who was sitting in a comfortable position, patted a stack of organized papers and said hello. His tone of voice was gentle.

Rune didn't know that Drial could talk to her, so instead of answering, she just licked her lips. Drial was quite different from what she remembered.

They have been apart for three years. It was enough time for the boy to become a man.

She gazed cautiously at the unfamiliar Drial. The thick lines and deep eyes were unfamiliar. But it was clear that it was Drial Stein.

Rune looked away from his masculine face and lowered her head. It was her first reunion in three years and she didn't know what to say.

".....Hi."

After hesitating, Rune spoke out. Drial chuckled at the timid greeting.

"Where are you going? Did you know I came?"

I came early because I wanted to see you, but you asked why you came only now.

Rune thought it was very strange that Drial was trying to talk to her. Drial was kind to most people, but only one person... To Rune Helid, he was like the north wind.

She hesitated to answer and glanced at Drial. Their eyes met. Drial continued to look at Rune.

Rune, embarrassed, lowered her gaze again.

"I'm on my way after seeing you come back."

"Yes? I actually didn't see you."

"Because I was standing on the stairs."

"Why didn't you come down and stay there?"

"Yeah... Because you hate me as much as your father."

Rune trailed off her words and focused her gaze on the documents. She wanted to end the conversation quickly. This moment was uncomfortable and unsettling...

As she tried to step back, the door slammed shut. The wind closed the door to prevent escape.

Rune looked back at the closed door and found a place to focus. Her face was expressionless, but her blue eyes showed nervous emotion.

Drial swallowed loneliness as he looked at Rune, who was avoiding eye contact. It's not that he didn't expect this reaction, but he couldn't help but feel sad.

"How have you been?"

Drial spoke again. Rune swallowed her saliva thinly.

"So so"

"How do you feel?"

At that question, Rune's expression, which had been tense, calmed down.

Rune clenched her hand while trying to touch her lower abdomen out of habit.

"Healthy."

Drial stared at Rune's twitching hand and then clenched her chin.

"I'm still fine, even though I fell on the battlefield."

Drial got up from his desk and approached Rune.

"I have a lot of things I want to say to you... I don't know where to start."

Drial walked with long legs, narrowing the distance between him and Rune. Rune leaned against the door, like a cornered rabbit.

"All sorts of things happened on the battlefield."

Rune closed his mouth and turned away from Drial's gaze. She couldn't figure out why Drial was doing this.

She didn't understand how the situation was going, but one thing was certain.

Drial doesn't hate Rune as much as he used to.

But Rune was not pleased with the change.

Rune passed by the large body as if ignoring the Drial that was approaching her.

She didn't want to hear about the battlefield. If she found out what Drial had been through there, she would hate herself even more than she did now.

Rune stopped in front of the dresser where the divorce certificate was stored. Her breathing trembled faintly.

"The sagas are told at the banquet. It's not too late even then. I will organize and hand over the territory affairs as soon as possible. At the latest, within this week...." 

"I think it would be better for you to look after internal affairs rather than me." 

Drial knew that Rune was avoiding conversation, so he leaned against the doorway Instead of approaching her.

"You know, I'm not good at documents or numbers. You take care of the territory. I will do the fighting against the monsters."

"You can't do that."

Rune spoke firmly and took out a divorce certificate.

"The managers will help you with the estate affairs. All you have to do is review and sign."

"Is there any reason to hasten the handover? If you're tired of working alone...."

"We'll be divorced before the end of summer."

In an instant, Drial's eyes widened. The wind blowing through the office was agitated. She put the divorce papers down on the desk.

Drial approached at a fast pace and grabbed the divorce certificate. The touch was rough.

Golden eyes busily read what was written as if they were being chased.

His gaze stopped at the section where the reason for divorce was written.

"Infertility due to sequelae of miscarriage."

His hand slowly shook. Drial put down the divorce papers without a word.

"The divorce was written in your favor. If you read it, you will see that I don't want any division of property. I'm leaving empty-handed. So all you have to do is simply sign. Then we can become strangers."

"Is this why you want to divorce?" 

Rune thought he would sign happily, but Drial looked angry.

The reaction was strange, but she thought it was because Rune asked for a divorce first. Or maybe he was just dumbfounded because he thought the culprit who made him a lord was running away.

Looking down, Rune explained calmly.

"I know you didn't want to be Lord of Arhon. But... You are the lord of Arhon, Drial."

Before Drial could respond, Rune spoke as if being chased.

"I know, I made you that way...."

Three years ago, under the pressure of Drial's father, Phaeton, Rune was forced to choose a husband from among the men of the Stein family, and among them, she chose Drial as her husband.

Drial, who dreamed of freedom as a wind spiritist, was stranded in Arhon due to Rune's choice.

Rune couldn't look straight at Drial.

"Even considering the unstable situation. Arhon should be led by someone from the Stein family. Your son will follow in your footsteps. I can't have children anymore. I know you don't want my child, but no, no, what I want to say is...."

Rne, who muttered her words, slowly lifted her chin.

Drial finally made eye contact with Rune, who was staring at her. Her blue eyes were tired from long years of self-blame and regret.

"There is no wife who cannot bear an heir. This is enough grounds for divorce. I understand that you feel like I am running away alone after making you the Lord. But you too... You don't want to live with me."

Rune also knows that it is against morality to bring up a divorce with a husband who has returned from the battlefield.

Still, Rune didn't think she had the right to discuss tomorrow with Drial. She was convinced that it was for Drial's sake that she divorced quickly and left Arhon.

Rune was too broken to treat everything as if it had never happened and mend their relationship. It was no exaggeration to say that Rune had been waiting for this moment today.

She stared at Drial's mouth like a person awaiting sentencing. Drial looked a little, no, very distraught.

Drial, who was silent for a while, wiped his face.

"I wonder why, out of all the many reasons, you wrote this down... There are many other reasons for us to break up."

It was shameful for Rune that the reason for the divorce was infertility. But Rune thought there was no better reason to punish her than that.

She thought Drial would sign the divorce without saying anything, so she couldn't understand why he was asking why. His puzzled expression made her think of the wry smile on Drial's face.

"The verbal abuse I made after marriage, the vow I made not to love you, or the time I went to war without knowing my wife was pregnant... If the family God knew, you only chose to do things that would make them angry."

"All your actions were justified. I don't think anyone would disagree that I ruined your life. I understand you hate me."

Rune's answer was calm. A smile was also visible at the corner of her mouth.

Drial could no longer look at Rune and looked away. Drial licked his dry lips and covered his eyes as he let out an inexplicable laugh.

The sound of laughter was strange. It was such a sound that it was hard to tell whether he was crying or laughing.

"I'm not getting divorced."

This time, Rune's eyes widened.

Drial nailed it in a stern voice.

"I have no intention of divorce even if I die. So, you give up too."



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