“What is Queen Gilsis doing?”
There was no answer for a moment. But Rogero could quickly see that the silence was not one of anxiety. It was difficult to explain in words, but Judith’s silence was more like a hushed joy. It was a kind of triumph that came from letting the other person delude themselves a little longer before finally seizing what they had long been separated from.
“She is currently living in seclusion in the Queen’s palace. I heard that her illness has worsened, but they are using the power of medicine to prevent rumors from leaking out.”
“Is the palace doctor serving the medicine?”
“No, Samona... There is an herbalist who cured and detoxified His Highness the Crown Prince when he was poisoned. She is in the Queen’s palace.”
“So Your Highness sent that herbalist to the Queen?”
Judith suddenly stopped talking. She knew that Rogers wanted to ask something. He waited for Judith to answer, and his expression seemed to show that he was impatient and interested. It was an attitude that had never been seen before, but there was no reason why she could not answer honestly.
“Yes, that’s right. I sent her. Thanks to Samona, I also found out what the Queen Mother sent to her son in the south.”
“She bravely accepted such a job. That herbalist too. Didn’t she know that if she got caught, it would end with her own head being blown off?”
“She knew... Maybe.”
“The same goes for Your Highness. It’s really surprising.”
Judith looked at Rogero.
“Unexpected... right?”
“Yes. When I first met you, Your Highness... Oh, not the first time. At that banquet hall, you know. The night we held the banquet to celebrate Franz’s return, do you remember?”
“Of course.”
“When I was talking to Your Highness back then, I thought that you were a rare person in a place like this. In many ways. So it was surprising that even Your Highness knew how to use such a trick. Oh, I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s better to be moderately experienced than to be completely incapable of political strife or secret fighting.”
The last words sounded like an excuse, which was not typical of Rogero, but Judith was not listening to him. Instead, she seemed lost in her own thoughts.
The faint blurring of focus and the listless expression, which seemed barely noticeable, added strength to such a guess. The moment Rogero tilted his head with a puzzled expression, Judith, who had come out of her reverie, smiled at him. Her white fingers elegantly wrapped around the teacup.
“I learned it all from the Queen Mother.”
Rogero couldn't figure out what secret was contained in those words. However, his curiosity grew even more as he raised his head.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Anything.”
“I also know that Your Highness has a kind heart. You know how to care for others and are generous. Anyone can tell just by looking at the way you treat Mary Anne.”
Judith smiled, her nose slightly wrinkled. Her eyes seemed to ask what he wanted to say. Rogero continued.
“I don’t know what other people think, but in my view, it seems like Your Highness doesn’t like to use politically weak tactics. And you don’t seem to have a very weak personality. Even if you have an opponent you're opposed to, you're the kind of person who tries to understand that opponent. Isn’t you the kind of person who does?”
At that time, the two did not speak to each other, but they were thinking of the same person's face. It was Flavia. Judith knew that Flavia hated her, and more than that, she hated her day by day and considered Judith a thorn in her eye. She had felt this many times since she had become the second Princess and entered the palace of Serene.
Nevertheless, Judith tried to open her heart every time she met Flavia. Neither Queen Gilsis nor Krald. She felt sorry for Flavia because no one knew better than she did how unbearable they were. Even though Flavia tried to harm her repeatedly, she did not curse her for those things. She only felt bitter.
Rogero also knew Flavia a little, and he knew how Judith treated her, so he brought up the subject on purpose. Their eyes met for a moment at the same place, then moved on, passing each other again.
“However you judge me, it is your own opinion. I can’t say anything more about it.”
“I’m not trying to judge Your Highness. I’m just wondering why you're so stubborn as if you'll never forgive the Queen and the second Prince.”
“...”
“It takes energy to hate others. Every day is hard until you achieve your goal. I’ve always thought that someone like Your Highness wouldn’t want their lives for a few petty grudges. Why is that?”
Rogero, elbows on knees, leaned forward and approached Judith. He had a somewhat detached expression on his face, but his eyes were like those of an eagle hunting a fox on a cliff. His unique humming intonation as if he were always humming, was nowhere to be found. Instead, a quick, calm, reprimand-like tone took its place.
This is the man's true form, Judith thought. No, rather than his true form, it would be more correct to say 'another form'. The two sides of Rogero. It was like the two sides of a coin. She could even imagine him running around the battlefield, called a beast.
“Even if I tell the truth, Your Highness the Prince will not understand.”
Judith had once said something similar to Franz. But this time, she had a slightly different thought. Perhaps, it would be okay to tell Rogero the truth?
There was no answer for a moment. But Rogero could quickly see that the silence was not one of anxiety. It was difficult to explain in words, but Judith’s silence was more like a hushed joy. It was a kind of triumph that came from letting the other person delude themselves a little longer before finally seizing what they had long been separated from.
“She is currently living in seclusion in the Queen’s palace. I heard that her illness has worsened, but they are using the power of medicine to prevent rumors from leaking out.”
“Is the palace doctor serving the medicine?”
“No, Samona... There is an herbalist who cured and detoxified His Highness the Crown Prince when he was poisoned. She is in the Queen’s palace.”
“So Your Highness sent that herbalist to the Queen?”
Judith suddenly stopped talking. She knew that Rogers wanted to ask something. He waited for Judith to answer, and his expression seemed to show that he was impatient and interested. It was an attitude that had never been seen before, but there was no reason why she could not answer honestly.
“Yes, that’s right. I sent her. Thanks to Samona, I also found out what the Queen Mother sent to her son in the south.”
“She bravely accepted such a job. That herbalist too. Didn’t she know that if she got caught, it would end with her own head being blown off?”
“She knew... Maybe.”
“The same goes for Your Highness. It’s really surprising.”
Judith looked at Rogero.
“Unexpected... right?”
“Yes. When I first met you, Your Highness... Oh, not the first time. At that banquet hall, you know. The night we held the banquet to celebrate Franz’s return, do you remember?”
“Of course.”
“When I was talking to Your Highness back then, I thought that you were a rare person in a place like this. In many ways. So it was surprising that even Your Highness knew how to use such a trick. Oh, I’m not saying it’s bad. It’s better to be moderately experienced than to be completely incapable of political strife or secret fighting.”
The last words sounded like an excuse, which was not typical of Rogero, but Judith was not listening to him. Instead, she seemed lost in her own thoughts.
The faint blurring of focus and the listless expression, which seemed barely noticeable, added strength to such a guess. The moment Rogero tilted his head with a puzzled expression, Judith, who had come out of her reverie, smiled at him. Her white fingers elegantly wrapped around the teacup.
“I learned it all from the Queen Mother.”
Rogero couldn't figure out what secret was contained in those words. However, his curiosity grew even more as he raised his head.
“Can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes, Your Highness. Anything.”
“I also know that Your Highness has a kind heart. You know how to care for others and are generous. Anyone can tell just by looking at the way you treat Mary Anne.”
Judith smiled, her nose slightly wrinkled. Her eyes seemed to ask what he wanted to say. Rogero continued.
“I don’t know what other people think, but in my view, it seems like Your Highness doesn’t like to use politically weak tactics. And you don’t seem to have a very weak personality. Even if you have an opponent you're opposed to, you're the kind of person who tries to understand that opponent. Isn’t you the kind of person who does?”
At that time, the two did not speak to each other, but they were thinking of the same person's face. It was Flavia. Judith knew that Flavia hated her, and more than that, she hated her day by day and considered Judith a thorn in her eye. She had felt this many times since she had become the second Princess and entered the palace of Serene.
Nevertheless, Judith tried to open her heart every time she met Flavia. Neither Queen Gilsis nor Krald. She felt sorry for Flavia because no one knew better than she did how unbearable they were. Even though Flavia tried to harm her repeatedly, she did not curse her for those things. She only felt bitter.
Rogero also knew Flavia a little, and he knew how Judith treated her, so he brought up the subject on purpose. Their eyes met for a moment at the same place, then moved on, passing each other again.
“However you judge me, it is your own opinion. I can’t say anything more about it.”
“I’m not trying to judge Your Highness. I’m just wondering why you're so stubborn as if you'll never forgive the Queen and the second Prince.”
“...”
“It takes energy to hate others. Every day is hard until you achieve your goal. I’ve always thought that someone like Your Highness wouldn’t want their lives for a few petty grudges. Why is that?”
Rogero, elbows on knees, leaned forward and approached Judith. He had a somewhat detached expression on his face, but his eyes were like those of an eagle hunting a fox on a cliff. His unique humming intonation as if he were always humming, was nowhere to be found. Instead, a quick, calm, reprimand-like tone took its place.
This is the man's true form, Judith thought. No, rather than his true form, it would be more correct to say 'another form'. The two sides of Rogero. It was like the two sides of a coin. She could even imagine him running around the battlefield, called a beast.
“Even if I tell the truth, Your Highness the Prince will not understand.”
Judith had once said something similar to Franz. But this time, she had a slightly different thought. Perhaps, it would be okay to tell Rogero the truth?
He was such an unusual person that she thought he would accept Judith’s own unrealistic experiences. But when she thought about it calmly, she knew that it couldn’t be true and that she shouldn’t do it.
“So I’ll tell you a more convincing reason than the truth that cannot be revealed. The reason why I cannot forgive the Empress is because of what she did to Prince Franz. In front of a young child who had lost his mother, he burned a portrait of his mother and tried to kill him. As he endured those years alone, His Highness Franz slowly went mad. If I had left it alone, His Highness would have been the one suffering, unable to go outside by now.”
This time, Rogero had a thoughtful expression. His curiosity only deepened as he could sense that Judith’s words were not a lie.
What on earth is the truth that cannot be revealed? But the feeling that he will never know crawled out, weighing on his doubts.
He was a man who had been used to threats and interrogation. He had been opening the mouths of those who were waiting for an opportunity to deceive, hide, and betray since he was thirteen.
That is why Rogero has seen countless people like Judith today. There are bound to be one or two people in every place who cannot open their mouths no matter what they do. People who do not care about any pain or fear.
Judith tilted her head slightly.
“Is that an answer, Your Highness?”
Of course not. That wasn't what Rogero wanted to know in the first place. But it was clear that asking any further would be fruitless. Above all, Judith's true intentions were not that important to Rogero. He was only curious about what had happened to make someone like her hate someone so much.
Rogero's gaze turned downwards. Then, as usual, he assumed the expression of a defenseless boy.
“Of course.”
"Thank God."
The teacup was now empty. The tension that had been tense just a moment ago had disappeared somewhere, and the calm atmosphere had returned as if nothing had happened. Rogero, who was playfully tapping the tip of his shoe, which had a sharp tip like a swallow's tail, said.
“Oh, by the way, I heard an interesting story on my way here. I heard that Tien had sent troops to the Grand Duchy of Melgan. Of course, Your Highness knew about this, right?”
Judith nodded. Rogero cocked an eyebrow as if he had expected that.
“Do you think things will go as you expected? War is something you can’t predict even an inch ahead.”
“Your Highness is right, but this time it won’t be so. Because it will be over before the real war even begins.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“You’ll find out in a few days, but wouldn’t it be boring if I told you in advance?”
Then, Judith suddenly picked up a small jewelry box that was sitting on the nightstand. It was a nice size that would have been perfect for holding a diamond or coral earring, but when she opened the lid, instead of a piece of jewelry, she found a rolled-up note. Judith handed it to Rogero.
“It contains part of the answer that Your Highness the Prince wishes to know. You may read it now or hear it later, it is your freedom.”
“I don’t really need to ask why you’re showing me this.”
“Yes, that’s right. I already knew why you came here.”
The note twirled between Rogero's fingers. Unable to contain his curiosity, he eventually unfolded the note and read the short text written on it. It was a language that was not used in the Empire or even in Rotair, but Rogero was the only one who could read it faster and more accurately than anyone else. It was a kind of secret language that soldiers on the battlefield mainly used.
“That’s a good plan. Did you come up with this idea, Your Highness?”
Rogero asked, shaking the note between his fingers. Judith didn't bother to answer, but just looked away and smiled.
South of Rotair, Grand Duchy.
The Duke of Laetian and Libencia Montfort had secretly left the castle, but not many people knew about it. No one, except a few of the Duke's close servants and a couple of maids in Libencia's quarters, knew of their absence.
Krald's eyes scanned the dark room. It wasn't that the sun hadn't risen, but that the thick curtains were drawn, but he was too drunk to even realize that. His dim, open eyes were lifeless, and his limbs hung limply as if his joints were all out of joint.
“So I’ll tell you a more convincing reason than the truth that cannot be revealed. The reason why I cannot forgive the Empress is because of what she did to Prince Franz. In front of a young child who had lost his mother, he burned a portrait of his mother and tried to kill him. As he endured those years alone, His Highness Franz slowly went mad. If I had left it alone, His Highness would have been the one suffering, unable to go outside by now.”
This time, Rogero had a thoughtful expression. His curiosity only deepened as he could sense that Judith’s words were not a lie.
What on earth is the truth that cannot be revealed? But the feeling that he will never know crawled out, weighing on his doubts.
He was a man who had been used to threats and interrogation. He had been opening the mouths of those who were waiting for an opportunity to deceive, hide, and betray since he was thirteen.
That is why Rogero has seen countless people like Judith today. There are bound to be one or two people in every place who cannot open their mouths no matter what they do. People who do not care about any pain or fear.
Judith tilted her head slightly.
“Is that an answer, Your Highness?”
Of course not. That wasn't what Rogero wanted to know in the first place. But it was clear that asking any further would be fruitless. Above all, Judith's true intentions were not that important to Rogero. He was only curious about what had happened to make someone like her hate someone so much.
Rogero's gaze turned downwards. Then, as usual, he assumed the expression of a defenseless boy.
“Of course.”
"Thank God."
The teacup was now empty. The tension that had been tense just a moment ago had disappeared somewhere, and the calm atmosphere had returned as if nothing had happened. Rogero, who was playfully tapping the tip of his shoe, which had a sharp tip like a swallow's tail, said.
“Oh, by the way, I heard an interesting story on my way here. I heard that Tien had sent troops to the Grand Duchy of Melgan. Of course, Your Highness knew about this, right?”
Judith nodded. Rogero cocked an eyebrow as if he had expected that.
“Do you think things will go as you expected? War is something you can’t predict even an inch ahead.”
“Your Highness is right, but this time it won’t be so. Because it will be over before the real war even begins.”
“Really? Why is that?”
“You’ll find out in a few days, but wouldn’t it be boring if I told you in advance?”
Then, Judith suddenly picked up a small jewelry box that was sitting on the nightstand. It was a nice size that would have been perfect for holding a diamond or coral earring, but when she opened the lid, instead of a piece of jewelry, she found a rolled-up note. Judith handed it to Rogero.
“It contains part of the answer that Your Highness the Prince wishes to know. You may read it now or hear it later, it is your freedom.”
“I don’t really need to ask why you’re showing me this.”
“Yes, that’s right. I already knew why you came here.”
The note twirled between Rogero's fingers. Unable to contain his curiosity, he eventually unfolded the note and read the short text written on it. It was a language that was not used in the Empire or even in Rotair, but Rogero was the only one who could read it faster and more accurately than anyone else. It was a kind of secret language that soldiers on the battlefield mainly used.
“That’s a good plan. Did you come up with this idea, Your Highness?”
Rogero asked, shaking the note between his fingers. Judith didn't bother to answer, but just looked away and smiled.
***
South of Rotair, Grand Duchy.
The Duke of Laetian and Libencia Montfort had secretly left the castle, but not many people knew about it. No one, except a few of the Duke's close servants and a couple of maids in Libencia's quarters, knew of their absence.
Krald's eyes scanned the dark room. It wasn't that the sun hadn't risen, but that the thick curtains were drawn, but he was too drunk to even realize that. His dim, open eyes were lifeless, and his limbs hung limply as if his joints were all out of joint.
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