Plat said.
“It wasn’t such a poetic question, Your Majesty. Did you fall asleep reading “Cold Lover” again last night?”
Arkan narrowed his eyes and looked at Plat.
“I told you not to pay attention to my reading list, Plat.”
“I didn’t necessarily pay attention...”
Plat trailed off when Arkan waved his hand.
King Arkan Cyprusmain of Vetor was famous for his youthful and handsome appearance, but he was also renowned for being a bookworm.
If Arkan had his own heaven, it would be a huge and comfortable study filled with great books he had yet to read.
His tastes ranged from grand historical books, philosophical books, and biographies to short stories sold at street stalls and children’s stories, so much so that his nickname of a bookworm was truly worthy of its name.
He also occasionally enjoyed sharing his thoughts on books with bureaucrats who were book lovers.
However, since his tastes were so broad, romance novels with occasional erotic content also took up a considerable portion of Arkan’s reading list.
In particular, “The Cold Lover” mentioned by Plat was a series of novels by an anonymous author that Arkan had recently fallen in love with, and was known for its delicate and sensual descriptions.
Arkan wanted to meet the author even if it meant using the King’s power, but for some reason, the author kept his identity a secret and never showed up.
Arkan said.
“I have always had trouble with the question, ‘What kind of person do you want to marry?’ How can I deal with someone whose face, voice, and existence I don’t even know?”
“It wasn’t such a poetic question, Your Majesty. Did you fall asleep reading “Cold Lover” again last night?”
Arkan narrowed his eyes and looked at Plat.
“I told you not to pay attention to my reading list, Plat.”
“I didn’t necessarily pay attention...”
Plat trailed off when Arkan waved his hand.
King Arkan Cyprusmain of Vetor was famous for his youthful and handsome appearance, but he was also renowned for being a bookworm.
If Arkan had his own heaven, it would be a huge and comfortable study filled with great books he had yet to read.
His tastes ranged from grand historical books, philosophical books, and biographies to short stories sold at street stalls and children’s stories, so much so that his nickname of a bookworm was truly worthy of its name.
He also occasionally enjoyed sharing his thoughts on books with bureaucrats who were book lovers.
However, since his tastes were so broad, romance novels with occasional erotic content also took up a considerable portion of Arkan’s reading list.
In particular, “The Cold Lover” mentioned by Plat was a series of novels by an anonymous author that Arkan had recently fallen in love with, and was known for its delicate and sensual descriptions.
Arkan wanted to meet the author even if it meant using the King’s power, but for some reason, the author kept his identity a secret and never showed up.
Arkan said.
“I have always had trouble with the question, ‘What kind of person do you want to marry?’ How can I deal with someone whose face, voice, and existence I don’t even know?”
“Your Majesty loves books so much, but it seems that you don’t spend as much time imagining things as I thought.”
“I read books to see reality more accurately, not to get lost in a world of imagination. So the current problem is... It’s not whether I like Princess Erdene or not.”
Plat waited for Arkan to speak in silence.
Arkan thought for a moment and pressed his eyebrows together.
“If this marriage can help the allies in the interior maintain peace, then that’s the goal achieved. Isn’t it? If there’s one thing I’m worried about, it’s whether Princess Erdene will be content to be the Queen of Vetor.”
His voice was low and dignified as if they were joking at some point.
His deep golden eyes, looking straight ahead, were deeply shadowed as if a layer of black sugar had been sprinkled over them.
If Marchioness Fiddler, who could talk nonsense all night long about Arkan, had seen them, it was a serious gaze that would have been praised as ‘the gaze of a wise man facing a profound problem.’
“Plat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Go and examine the Princess. And ask what she wants for dinner, and tell the chef to prepare it.”
Plat bowed politely as the most loyal subject.
“Very well, Your Majesty.”
While Arkan was imagining things like a sack with the Marchioness of Fiddler’s, Viscountess Wickes, who had been ordered to guide her around the castle in his place, was on the verge of tears.
Her age, which was close to middle age, and her pride in her family’s low status compared to the Marchioness of Fiddler’s, held Arkan’s trust and restrained her from running away at any moment.
The Viscountess’s reaction was somewhat natural, as Erdene barely said a word the entire time she was guided through the vast living quarters that the Queen mainly used!
‘My God, how can you give me such a harsh ordeal? My God, is this person made of stone and steel?’
In the Queen’s living quarters, there was a huge tapestry that took up one wall of the corridor from end to end, the pride of the Kingdom of Vetor.
It was a series of important events in the history of the founding of the Kingdom of Vetor, embroidered one by one, and it could be said that it was one of the must-see tourist attractions that foreign envoys had to visit.
Nevertheless, Erdene stared at the tapestry with indifferent eyes the whole time and only said a word at the end.
“Wasn’t it Orteller, the commander-in-chief of Hirschsten, who caught the Beast of Heyden, not the second King of Vetor?”
Erdene said, chuckling and taking a step back from the tapestry.
“I think it would be better to have that part re-embroidered.”
It was nonsense, but the Viscountess couldn’t say a word.
She didn’t care whether it was the King of Vetor, the commander of Hirschsten, or a shepherd who caught the Beast of Heyden! The only problem she faced was that Erdene’s mind was further twisted by this tapestry—it was already twisted.
“Ah, Your Highness! Please come this way. This is Her Highness the Princess’s residence.”
The Viscountess called Erdene in a hurry as she was about to go the other way.
She had said this to be threatened, asking, “Who are you to tell me to come?” But surprisingly, Erdene obediently followed the Viscountess’s lead.
However, that did not mean she did not say anything.
“I wish you had told me a little sooner.”
“Of course, I was slow.”
The Viscountess’s answer was quicker than ever.
The Queen’s quarters were located separately from the central palace and the King’s private quarters. Erdene did not like everything, but she was satisfied with that one thing.
Even though the distance was not that far she thought about sharing quarters and having to see that trembling man every day...
No. Erdene shook her head. And she thought to herself.
The other person was not a piece of silk that could be torn at will. He was a living person who would become a serious problem if torn...
“This is the bedroom, Your Highness.”
As the double doors opened, a magnificent and wide bed appeared in front of them.
Whether it was the taste of the previous Queen or something passed down from generation to generation, the antique yet magnificent furniture was harmoniously arranged. It did not smell artificial, but rather the fresh scent of flowers. Only then did Erdene feel her nerves, which had been on edge like the tip of a needle, relax somewhat.
“It smells.”
At that, Viscountess Wickes’s face turned pale.
“I, I’m sorry. It seems that the castle servants prepared it for Her Highness the Princess, but I’ll have them cleaned up right away! Look!”
Erdene said as the servants ran over, panting at the Viscountess’s out-of-breath voice.
“No... I meant that it smelled good.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness the Princess likes the gruesome scent of the battlefield more... Yes?”
Erdene wrinkled her nose and stared at Viscountess Wickes.
“That’s what I meant, Viscountess. Does that mean I like the smell of blood, dirt, and filth more than the scent of flowers?”
“I read books to see reality more accurately, not to get lost in a world of imagination. So the current problem is... It’s not whether I like Princess Erdene or not.”
Plat waited for Arkan to speak in silence.
Arkan thought for a moment and pressed his eyebrows together.
“If this marriage can help the allies in the interior maintain peace, then that’s the goal achieved. Isn’t it? If there’s one thing I’m worried about, it’s whether Princess Erdene will be content to be the Queen of Vetor.”
His voice was low and dignified as if they were joking at some point.
His deep golden eyes, looking straight ahead, were deeply shadowed as if a layer of black sugar had been sprinkled over them.
If Marchioness Fiddler, who could talk nonsense all night long about Arkan, had seen them, it was a serious gaze that would have been praised as ‘the gaze of a wise man facing a profound problem.’
“Plat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Go and examine the Princess. And ask what she wants for dinner, and tell the chef to prepare it.”
Plat bowed politely as the most loyal subject.
“Very well, Your Majesty.”
***
While Arkan was imagining things like a sack with the Marchioness of Fiddler’s, Viscountess Wickes, who had been ordered to guide her around the castle in his place, was on the verge of tears.
Her age, which was close to middle age, and her pride in her family’s low status compared to the Marchioness of Fiddler’s, held Arkan’s trust and restrained her from running away at any moment.
The Viscountess’s reaction was somewhat natural, as Erdene barely said a word the entire time she was guided through the vast living quarters that the Queen mainly used!
‘My God, how can you give me such a harsh ordeal? My God, is this person made of stone and steel?’
In the Queen’s living quarters, there was a huge tapestry that took up one wall of the corridor from end to end, the pride of the Kingdom of Vetor.
It was a series of important events in the history of the founding of the Kingdom of Vetor, embroidered one by one, and it could be said that it was one of the must-see tourist attractions that foreign envoys had to visit.
Nevertheless, Erdene stared at the tapestry with indifferent eyes the whole time and only said a word at the end.
“Wasn’t it Orteller, the commander-in-chief of Hirschsten, who caught the Beast of Heyden, not the second King of Vetor?”
Erdene said, chuckling and taking a step back from the tapestry.
“I think it would be better to have that part re-embroidered.”
It was nonsense, but the Viscountess couldn’t say a word.
She didn’t care whether it was the King of Vetor, the commander of Hirschsten, or a shepherd who caught the Beast of Heyden! The only problem she faced was that Erdene’s mind was further twisted by this tapestry—it was already twisted.
“Ah, Your Highness! Please come this way. This is Her Highness the Princess’s residence.”
The Viscountess called Erdene in a hurry as she was about to go the other way.
She had said this to be threatened, asking, “Who are you to tell me to come?” But surprisingly, Erdene obediently followed the Viscountess’s lead.
However, that did not mean she did not say anything.
“I wish you had told me a little sooner.”
“Of course, I was slow.”
The Viscountess’s answer was quicker than ever.
The Queen’s quarters were located separately from the central palace and the King’s private quarters. Erdene did not like everything, but she was satisfied with that one thing.
Even though the distance was not that far she thought about sharing quarters and having to see that trembling man every day...
No. Erdene shook her head. And she thought to herself.
The other person was not a piece of silk that could be torn at will. He was a living person who would become a serious problem if torn...
“This is the bedroom, Your Highness.”
As the double doors opened, a magnificent and wide bed appeared in front of them.
Whether it was the taste of the previous Queen or something passed down from generation to generation, the antique yet magnificent furniture was harmoniously arranged. It did not smell artificial, but rather the fresh scent of flowers. Only then did Erdene feel her nerves, which had been on edge like the tip of a needle, relax somewhat.
“It smells.”
At that, Viscountess Wickes’s face turned pale.
“I, I’m sorry. It seems that the castle servants prepared it for Her Highness the Princess, but I’ll have them cleaned up right away! Look!”
Erdene said as the servants ran over, panting at the Viscountess’s out-of-breath voice.
“No... I meant that it smelled good.”
“I’m sorry, Your Highness the Princess likes the gruesome scent of the battlefield more... Yes?”
Erdene wrinkled her nose and stared at Viscountess Wickes.
“That’s what I meant, Viscountess. Does that mean I like the smell of blood, dirt, and filth more than the scent of flowers?”
At that moment, the Viscountess Wickes truly realized what it felt like to have her heart drop to the tips of her toes. She would have rather let out a weak groan and fainted, but unfortunately, she had strong nerves.
“That, that, that’s not it...”
Erdene looked at the Viscountess with a sullen face—of course, her eyes only showed a murderous expression—and said.
“That smell is familiar, but I don’t like it. And even if I did, what would I do? Would I cover this room in blood? I’d spread cow dung everywhere, and bring a shovelful of ashes.”
“I, absolutely not! Your Highness, please forgive me!”
“That, that, that’s not it...”
Erdene looked at the Viscountess with a sullen face—of course, her eyes only showed a murderous expression—and said.
“That smell is familiar, but I don’t like it. And even if I did, what would I do? Would I cover this room in blood? I’d spread cow dung everywhere, and bring a shovelful of ashes.”
“I, absolutely not! Your Highness, please forgive me!”
As the Viscountess bowed almost to her knees, the servants who had come running without knowing what was going on also bowed their heads and pretended to be criminals.
It’s so annoying... Erdene thought.
She couldn’t tell if all the people of Vetor were this arrogant, or if these women, More Wickes, was like that.
If it was the former, she would feel a little more sympathy for her invisible future.
“Raise your heads. You guys, get out of here.”
The servants quickly left. Erdene said.
“What kind of flower is that?”
Only then did Viscountess Wickes come to her senses, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead and barely smiling on her pale face.
“Oh, it’s a peony. It’s the flower of Vetor. It’s still a little early for its season, but some of the impatient ones tend to bloom early around this time of year. The newly bloomed flowers are the first to be decorated in the King’s and Queen’s chambers.”
“A peony.”
She knew what a peony was. Aren’t those the ones embroidered on Arkan’s mantle?
However, she had never seen a peony in full bloom.
While the Viscountess was fidgeting, Erdene went inside the bedchamber and looked around the interior more closely.
At first glance, she seemed to be carefully examining the furniture and fabrics that she had never seen before, but Erdene’s interest was elsewhere.
‘This is the Queen’s bedchamber, but why is it structured like this? It wouldn’t be strange if an assassin were hiding somewhere like this. That window looks loose, and most of all, she's concerned that it’s on the second floor. It’s the perfect place to escape after breaking in from the outside. She doesn’t know who designed it, but it was definitely a 'brainless guy.’
Erdene was looking around every corner of the bedchamber, preparing for an emergency situation, that is, someone wielding a flashy sword or a morning star or something like that. There were many places where she could hide, but only deep into the night would she know how sensitive she was to the outside presence.
She looked at a small table with a flat, cute seashell pattern.
In the vase in the center were several lush flowers that she had never seen before.
Each one was so big that some of them looked almost the size of a newborn baby's head.
"What is this?"
It’s so annoying... Erdene thought.
She couldn’t tell if all the people of Vetor were this arrogant, or if these women, More Wickes, was like that.
If it was the former, she would feel a little more sympathy for her invisible future.
“Raise your heads. You guys, get out of here.”
The servants quickly left. Erdene said.
“What kind of flower is that?”
Only then did Viscountess Wickes come to her senses, wiping the cold sweat from her forehead and barely smiling on her pale face.
“Oh, it’s a peony. It’s the flower of Vetor. It’s still a little early for its season, but some of the impatient ones tend to bloom early around this time of year. The newly bloomed flowers are the first to be decorated in the King’s and Queen’s chambers.”
“A peony.”
She knew what a peony was. Aren’t those the ones embroidered on Arkan’s mantle?
However, she had never seen a peony in full bloom.
While the Viscountess was fidgeting, Erdene went inside the bedchamber and looked around the interior more closely.
At first glance, she seemed to be carefully examining the furniture and fabrics that she had never seen before, but Erdene’s interest was elsewhere.
‘This is the Queen’s bedchamber, but why is it structured like this? It wouldn’t be strange if an assassin were hiding somewhere like this. That window looks loose, and most of all, she's concerned that it’s on the second floor. It’s the perfect place to escape after breaking in from the outside. She doesn’t know who designed it, but it was definitely a 'brainless guy.’
Erdene was looking around every corner of the bedchamber, preparing for an emergency situation, that is, someone wielding a flashy sword or a morning star or something like that. There were many places where she could hide, but only deep into the night would she know how sensitive she was to the outside presence.
She looked at a small table with a flat, cute seashell pattern.
In the vase in the center were several lush flowers that she had never seen before.
Each one was so big that some of them looked almost the size of a newborn baby's head.
"What is this?"
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment