“It tells the time.”
“Oh, but one thing.”
So when Erdene spoke first, Arkan looked at her with an expression that was almost overly welcoming.
Erdene said.
“The bedroom is so poorly structured. Still, it’s surprising that the Queen of the Kingdom of Vetor, can sleep in such an unprotected place. Or was the Queen also trained in martial arts? She just put up a sign telling assassins and scoundrels to come in.”
Plat's face turned pale, but Arkan's expression did not change.
Many people thought he was soft and gentle, but in reality, Arkan was not that easy.
"My mother has only ever held an embroidery needle in her hand all her life. However, the Princess has been through many hardships on dangerous battlefields. If you see any shortcomings, they are correct, so tell me later where and how I should fix them."
Look at this. Erdene thought.
I hate this flashy and sly attitude.
The people of the empire, regardless of age or gender, were strong-willed and impatient.
If Erdene had said the same thing to someone in the empire just now, there would have been a fight, not to mention a fight with a knife.
She tried to scratch Arkan by deliberately saying and doing rude things. But even her fingernails wouldn't go in.
It wasn't because it was too hard, but because it was too smooth and elastic.
Arkan was a delicate opponent who could neither be broken nor damaged.
For now, that was the case.
When the servants brought out the food, Arkan gently gestured at the table.
“I told the servant to prepare each type of alcohol because you wanted to drink it. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but Vetor’s wine is very famous in the area for its taste and aroma.”
He made a small gesture and called the servant.
When the servant, holding a glass that had been kept at the perfect temperature for drinking, approached the table, Erdene grabbed the nearest bottle of wine.
With a soft “crack,” the cork came off.
It was difficult to open without a metal opener, but she easily pulled the cork out with just the strength of her thumb as if she were breaking a tree branch.
Then as if provoking, she looked straight at Arkan and drank the entire bottle.
The servant, who was about to put down the glass, was so surprised that she almost fainted on the spot.
Plat, who had been watching the previous King and Crown Prince from the side for nearly forty years, also gaped at Erdene’s unheard-of attitude.
And Arkan’s eyes almost popped out.
Erdene knew full well that it was impolite.
This is something she would do on the battlefield, and only with her close aides.
However, something was off, and she didn’t want to show off her docile appearance.
Erdene drank half of the bottle of wine without even taking a breath, then wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and asked in a sarcastic tone,
“Why is that, Your Majesty? Is this the first time you’ve seen someone drink from a bottle?”
Arkan, who had been silent, said.
“To be honest, it’s the first time I've seen a Princess.”
Erdene glanced at the bottle, shaking it slightly as if she was not listening to him.
“This isn’t wine, it’s water. I think they put something in it wrong.”
Arkan, who almost said, “Are you talking about that?” bit the inside of his lips.
He barely regained his sanity, which had flown away from the absurd sight, and spoke awkwardly, just like when they first met.
“You seem to be quite good at drinking.”
Erdene didn’t give him a proper answer this time either and looked around at the other bottles.
“Which one is the strongest?”
At that moment, Plat came running in hastily.
Whether it was his duty as a subject or something else, he didn’t want to see Arkan serving the unruly Princess alcohol.
“This alcohol is really strong, Your Highness. You should drink it slowly, little by little, starting from the bottom of the glass...”
“Understood, so just serve it.”
Plat glanced at Arkan as if asking for help, but he was still a bit absent-minded and didn’t really know what Plat and Erdene were talking about.
Plat had no choice but to hand the entire bottle to Erdene, and this time she opened the tightly sealed cork with just a flick of her thumb.
“Into the glass!”
The moment she was about to tilt the bottle, Arkan, who had been bewildered the whole time, stretched out his long arm and grabbed Erdene’s wrist.
Erdene muttered softly, and the servant tilted his head.
He had no idea why she was reacting like this to the sound of a bell.
“Go out and see.”
The servant immediately retreated.
Erdene slowly blinked, recalling the magnificent sound of the bell that still lingered in her mind.
The Hirschsten Empire did not yet have the technology to accurately tell the time.
The people of the empire focused more on making a living to survive in the harsh north, and they fought to conquer the land in the inland or received tributes to overcome starvation.
While the allies in the inland developed culture and science, Hirschsten relied on classical and old-fashioned technology that belied the name of the empire.
The only thing that was far more advanced than other countries was weapons used in war, so skilled blacksmiths were treated most preciously in the empire.
‘If the Empire had this technology, the people’s lives might have been much better. However, there were too few people who could ignore the problem of making a living and focus on technologies that wouldn’t yield immediate results... Maybe it shouldn’t have been that way.’
Erdene, who had been lost in thought, let out a short sigh. It was pointless to think about it now, but it was a thought that couldn’t be stopped.
“Uh, Your Highness.”
It was the servant from earlier. When Erdene raised her eyebrows as if asking what was going on, the chief chamberlain, Plat, appeared.
Erdene stared at Plat’s slightly displeased face before grinning and snickering.
“Did His Majesty ask me to pay for breaking a precious treasure?”
Plat furrowed his thinly shaved eyebrows—a recent trend.
“No, Your Highness. His Majesty has requested that you have dinner together.”
This time, Erdene furrowed her eyebrows with a similar expression to Plat.
“Dinner with me?”
“Yes. The maids will help you change into your clothes and show you to the restaurant.”
Erdene felt her head start to hurt. The thought of having to sit down and see that annoying man made her feel like her heart was going to burst for the first time in a long time.
Should I just refuse?
He had no idea why she was reacting like this to the sound of a bell.
“Go out and see.”
The servant immediately retreated.
Erdene slowly blinked, recalling the magnificent sound of the bell that still lingered in her mind.
The Hirschsten Empire did not yet have the technology to accurately tell the time.
The people of the empire focused more on making a living to survive in the harsh north, and they fought to conquer the land in the inland or received tributes to overcome starvation.
While the allies in the inland developed culture and science, Hirschsten relied on classical and old-fashioned technology that belied the name of the empire.
The only thing that was far more advanced than other countries was weapons used in war, so skilled blacksmiths were treated most preciously in the empire.
‘If the Empire had this technology, the people’s lives might have been much better. However, there were too few people who could ignore the problem of making a living and focus on technologies that wouldn’t yield immediate results... Maybe it shouldn’t have been that way.’
Erdene, who had been lost in thought, let out a short sigh. It was pointless to think about it now, but it was a thought that couldn’t be stopped.
“Uh, Your Highness.”
It was the servant from earlier. When Erdene raised her eyebrows as if asking what was going on, the chief chamberlain, Plat, appeared.
Erdene stared at Plat’s slightly displeased face before grinning and snickering.
“Did His Majesty ask me to pay for breaking a precious treasure?”
Plat furrowed his thinly shaved eyebrows—a recent trend.
“No, Your Highness. His Majesty has requested that you have dinner together.”
This time, Erdene furrowed her eyebrows with a similar expression to Plat.
“Dinner with me?”
“Yes. The maids will help you change into your clothes and show you to the restaurant.”
Erdene felt her head start to hurt. The thought of having to sit down and see that annoying man made her feel like her heart was going to burst for the first time in a long time.
Should I just refuse?
Erdene thought. But she quickly changed her mind.
‘No, since it’s come to this... maybe I can get some useful information out of him.’
But that thought also blew away like dust with a laugh. Information? Information?
‘Did I come here to fight? Did I come here to fulfill my duty as a spy? I don’t need to get anything out of here. My presence here is my only duty.’
Erdene sighed and walked obediently toward the toilet room, led by the neatly dressed servants.
Her shoulders, which had always been dignified and upright, slumped for the first time in her life.
'What is the meaning of my life if I don't fight? I couldn't become an Emperor. I couldn't die on the battlefield as a commander.'
Nothing she had aimed for, nothing she had dreamed of, had come true.
It would never come true.
But there was one thing Erdene hadn't expected.
Fighting didn't always take place on the battlefield.
Arkan had finished preparing and arrived at the dining hall before Erdene.
There were various dining halls in the palace. The dining halls where the King usually resided and where the Queen resided had different atmospheres, but the one Arkan had invited her to was strangely simple and cozy, like a private room.
In the middle was a table just big enough for two people to dine, and there wasn't much decorative furniture.
Beautiful dishes were displayed on solid shelves across the gorgeous wallpaper, and Erdene recognized that a large plate with a glittering gold border and pattern was from the empire, but she didn't pretend to know.
It was an intention to express through silence that she had no intention of talking openly with Arkan.
“After the wedding, the Queen’s palace will be gradually renovated.”
Arkan said.
He had been unable to take his eyes off Erdene’s extravagant posture since a while ago.
Even in her dress, she had one leg almost up on the chair, and the other leg was stretched out under the table.
Although he pretended not to notice, he could see the astonished expression of the chamberlain Plat waiting behind him.
Erdene, who had picked up a grape and put it in her mouth with an indifferent expression, finally responded as if she was not interested after a long time.
“It didn’t seem like there was anything that needed to be fixed.”
Arkan smiled awkwardly yet softly—it took a lot of effort.
“It was decorated according to my mother’s taste, so I thought there would be a lot you wanted to change. Isn’t it?”
“I guess Her Majesty the Queen had good taste. It’s okay.”
Arkan quickly realized that she was saying that she didn’t want to cause any trouble, so she shouldn’t even start. The more he dealt with her, the more difficult she became.
‘No, since it’s come to this... maybe I can get some useful information out of him.’
But that thought also blew away like dust with a laugh. Information? Information?
‘Did I come here to fight? Did I come here to fulfill my duty as a spy? I don’t need to get anything out of here. My presence here is my only duty.’
Erdene sighed and walked obediently toward the toilet room, led by the neatly dressed servants.
Her shoulders, which had always been dignified and upright, slumped for the first time in her life.
'What is the meaning of my life if I don't fight? I couldn't become an Emperor. I couldn't die on the battlefield as a commander.'
Nothing she had aimed for, nothing she had dreamed of, had come true.
It would never come true.
But there was one thing Erdene hadn't expected.
Fighting didn't always take place on the battlefield.
***
Arkan had finished preparing and arrived at the dining hall before Erdene.
There were various dining halls in the palace. The dining halls where the King usually resided and where the Queen resided had different atmospheres, but the one Arkan had invited her to was strangely simple and cozy, like a private room.
In the middle was a table just big enough for two people to dine, and there wasn't much decorative furniture.
Beautiful dishes were displayed on solid shelves across the gorgeous wallpaper, and Erdene recognized that a large plate with a glittering gold border and pattern was from the empire, but she didn't pretend to know.
It was an intention to express through silence that she had no intention of talking openly with Arkan.
“After the wedding, the Queen’s palace will be gradually renovated.”
Arkan said.
He had been unable to take his eyes off Erdene’s extravagant posture since a while ago.
Even in her dress, she had one leg almost up on the chair, and the other leg was stretched out under the table.
Although he pretended not to notice, he could see the astonished expression of the chamberlain Plat waiting behind him.
Erdene, who had picked up a grape and put it in her mouth with an indifferent expression, finally responded as if she was not interested after a long time.
“It didn’t seem like there was anything that needed to be fixed.”
Arkan smiled awkwardly yet softly—it took a lot of effort.
“It was decorated according to my mother’s taste, so I thought there would be a lot you wanted to change. Isn’t it?”
“I guess Her Majesty the Queen had good taste. It’s okay.”
Arkan quickly realized that she was saying that she didn’t want to cause any trouble, so she shouldn’t even start. The more he dealt with her, the more difficult she became.
“Oh, but one thing.”
So when Erdene spoke first, Arkan looked at her with an expression that was almost overly welcoming.
Erdene said.
“The bedroom is so poorly structured. Still, it’s surprising that the Queen of the Kingdom of Vetor, can sleep in such an unprotected place. Or was the Queen also trained in martial arts? She just put up a sign telling assassins and scoundrels to come in.”
Plat's face turned pale, but Arkan's expression did not change.
Many people thought he was soft and gentle, but in reality, Arkan was not that easy.
"My mother has only ever held an embroidery needle in her hand all her life. However, the Princess has been through many hardships on dangerous battlefields. If you see any shortcomings, they are correct, so tell me later where and how I should fix them."
Look at this. Erdene thought.
I hate this flashy and sly attitude.
The people of the empire, regardless of age or gender, were strong-willed and impatient.
If Erdene had said the same thing to someone in the empire just now, there would have been a fight, not to mention a fight with a knife.
She tried to scratch Arkan by deliberately saying and doing rude things. But even her fingernails wouldn't go in.
It wasn't because it was too hard, but because it was too smooth and elastic.
Arkan was a delicate opponent who could neither be broken nor damaged.
For now, that was the case.
When the servants brought out the food, Arkan gently gestured at the table.
“I told the servant to prepare each type of alcohol because you wanted to drink it. It’s a bit embarrassing to say it myself, but Vetor’s wine is very famous in the area for its taste and aroma.”
He made a small gesture and called the servant.
When the servant, holding a glass that had been kept at the perfect temperature for drinking, approached the table, Erdene grabbed the nearest bottle of wine.
With a soft “crack,” the cork came off.
It was difficult to open without a metal opener, but she easily pulled the cork out with just the strength of her thumb as if she were breaking a tree branch.
Then as if provoking, she looked straight at Arkan and drank the entire bottle.
The servant, who was about to put down the glass, was so surprised that she almost fainted on the spot.
Plat, who had been watching the previous King and Crown Prince from the side for nearly forty years, also gaped at Erdene’s unheard-of attitude.
And Arkan’s eyes almost popped out.
Erdene knew full well that it was impolite.
This is something she would do on the battlefield, and only with her close aides.
However, something was off, and she didn’t want to show off her docile appearance.
Erdene drank half of the bottle of wine without even taking a breath, then wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand and asked in a sarcastic tone,
“Why is that, Your Majesty? Is this the first time you’ve seen someone drink from a bottle?”
Arkan, who had been silent, said.
“To be honest, it’s the first time I've seen a Princess.”
Erdene glanced at the bottle, shaking it slightly as if she was not listening to him.
“This isn’t wine, it’s water. I think they put something in it wrong.”
Arkan, who almost said, “Are you talking about that?” bit the inside of his lips.
He barely regained his sanity, which had flown away from the absurd sight, and spoke awkwardly, just like when they first met.
“You seem to be quite good at drinking.”
Erdene didn’t give him a proper answer this time either and looked around at the other bottles.
“Which one is the strongest?”
At that moment, Plat came running in hastily.
Whether it was his duty as a subject or something else, he didn’t want to see Arkan serving the unruly Princess alcohol.
“This alcohol is really strong, Your Highness. You should drink it slowly, little by little, starting from the bottom of the glass...”
“Understood, so just serve it.”
Plat glanced at Arkan as if asking for help, but he was still a bit absent-minded and didn’t really know what Plat and Erdene were talking about.
Plat had no choice but to hand the entire bottle to Erdene, and this time she opened the tightly sealed cork with just a flick of her thumb.
“Into the glass!”
The moment she was about to tilt the bottle, Arkan, who had been bewildered the whole time, stretched out his long arm and grabbed Erdene’s wrist.
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