Erdene's eyes grew wide in an instant. Although she was the type of person to never show any surprise at simple things, this was truly something she had not expected.
What would her adjutants Thelma or Merton, the knight commanders, have done if they had seen this scene? They would have captured anyone who wrote poetry to mourn Arkan and forced them to write a memorial poem. Their large eyes blinked twice. Their bluish pupils stared blankly at Arkan...
'Where should I hit to knock him out?'
Even though Erdene was flustered, Arkan tilted his head as he looked at Erdene’s hand, not realizing that she was thinking such aggressive thoughts.
“How strange.”
“Should I let go and then strike? Or should I strike first?”
Arkan’s mouth fell open.
“Did you say you were going to hit me now? You said it was better to communicate with fists, and you were planning to show me right away?”
“I wonder. Let go of my hand.”
In fact, Erdene could have easily shaken it off with her own strength, but she didn’t.
It was a new experience to be held by someone else’s hand for the first time in her life—except when she was very young and was held by her father after beating up Tenek—and more than anything, she was curious about what Arkan was going to do.
“I thought about it before, but I didn’t have a chance to look closely then. Your hand is... smaller than I thought.”
“It’s not that small.”
Rather, it could be said that the hands of a young lady who was not even twenty-five were rough and clumsy, but Arkan seemed to think differently.
“They’re so small that it’s hard to imagine them swinging swords and spears.”
When she felt the strength leaving his fingers, Erdene pulled her arm away as if she was annoyed.
The ticklish feeling on her face due to an inexplicable embarrassment was really annoying.
“Why are you angry?”
“Who’s angry?”
“Your arm just like that!”
There was a “bang!” At the same time, Arkan’s upper body bent forward and a boiling groan escaped.
The hand he had swung violently had hit the edge of the table.
Erdene, who had been staring at Arkan who was groaning, said,
“Are you doing this on purpose to make me laugh?”
Arkan raised his head with a furious expression.
“Who would hit a stone table with the edge of their hand to make you laugh?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps someone like Your Majesty would do that?”
“I think my bones are broken.”
Erdene snickered openly.
“If they were that fragile, they would break every time you breathe.”
Then she took a deep breath, her shoulders rising, her rib cage puffing out, and let out a “thud.” sound.
Then she arched her back as she exhaled, making the same sound again and giggling.
I hate you so much, Arkan thought.
Her hands were cold, but her bones seemed fine, just as she had said. I’ll probably be bruised by tomorrow...
Arkan frowned and swallowed a groan, straightening his hunched back.
“Relax your eyes. You’ll get wrinkles.”
After saying that, Erdene muttered under her breath, “The only thing I can see is your face.”
Arkan grumbled.
“Fine. We haven’t even started talking about the important things yet, and I don’t know how this happened. Let’s get back to what we were talking about.”
Now, Erdene couldn’t even remember what she had originally planned to say, but she pretended not to know and listened to him.
And on the other hand, it was funny and new to see Arkan not nervous at all while she kept her mouth shut.
[Your Highness, please say something.]
[What? I was listening carefully. What are you saying?]
[I’m scared that something might fly at Your Highness if you stay quiet. Like the golden cup next to it... Ouch! Look at this!]
At that time, Thelma really had a bump on her forehead.
Erdene burst out laughing as she thought of Thelma pretending to faint after being hit by the cup.
If it had been any easier, she would have dodged it, but she must have missed the beat because she got hit right above the forehead.
“Erdene.”
Erdene came to her senses at the voice calling her name.
Arkan said.
“Were you listening to me?”
Erdene nodded.
“Yes, I was listening.”
Arkan narrowed his eyes and spoke again.
“What do you think? Do you agree?”
What do you agree with? Erdene’s eyes moved slowly.
In fact, she couldn’t hear what Arkan was saying at all.
She was so absorbed in the vivid image of Thelma rolling around that she felt as if she had aged by several decades at once...
‘Well, this is when you have to go along with it,’
Erdene said.
“Yes, I agree.”
“You agree with the idea that the concubine system should be revived?”
Erdene, who was about to nod without thinking, opened her eyes wide and looked straight at Arkan.
She couldn’t understand how and where the conversation had led to such a thing.
“Reviving the concubine system? What do you mean?”
“Look, you weren’t listening at all. When someone else is talking, listen carefully. It’s basic manners.”
“I think it’s also polite not to force words on someone who doesn’t want to hear them, Your Majesty.”
Arkan fixed his posture as if he was lightly ignoring Erdene’s objection. He had pretended not to care in front of Plat, but in fact, Arkan had been paying attention to what Plat had said throughout the wedding and the reception.
The story that in Hirschsten, men and women, married or not, were free to have multiple lovers and that it was even encouraged was stuck in his head like a misplaced stone and would not go away.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard from Sophia or others, but Hirschsten and Vetor have different laws. The Hirschsten Empire does not interfere with married men and women having concubines or mistresses, but Vetor does not.”
What would her adjutants Thelma or Merton, the knight commanders, have done if they had seen this scene? They would have captured anyone who wrote poetry to mourn Arkan and forced them to write a memorial poem. Their large eyes blinked twice. Their bluish pupils stared blankly at Arkan...
'Where should I hit to knock him out?'
Even though Erdene was flustered, Arkan tilted his head as he looked at Erdene’s hand, not realizing that she was thinking such aggressive thoughts.
“How strange.”
“Should I let go and then strike? Or should I strike first?”
Arkan’s mouth fell open.
“Did you say you were going to hit me now? You said it was better to communicate with fists, and you were planning to show me right away?”
“I wonder. Let go of my hand.”
In fact, Erdene could have easily shaken it off with her own strength, but she didn’t.
It was a new experience to be held by someone else’s hand for the first time in her life—except when she was very young and was held by her father after beating up Tenek—and more than anything, she was curious about what Arkan was going to do.
“I thought about it before, but I didn’t have a chance to look closely then. Your hand is... smaller than I thought.”
“It’s not that small.”
Rather, it could be said that the hands of a young lady who was not even twenty-five were rough and clumsy, but Arkan seemed to think differently.
“They’re so small that it’s hard to imagine them swinging swords and spears.”
When she felt the strength leaving his fingers, Erdene pulled her arm away as if she was annoyed.
The ticklish feeling on her face due to an inexplicable embarrassment was really annoying.
“Why are you angry?”
“Who’s angry?”
“Your arm just like that!”
There was a “bang!” At the same time, Arkan’s upper body bent forward and a boiling groan escaped.
The hand he had swung violently had hit the edge of the table.
Erdene, who had been staring at Arkan who was groaning, said,
“Are you doing this on purpose to make me laugh?”
Arkan raised his head with a furious expression.
“Who would hit a stone table with the edge of their hand to make you laugh?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps someone like Your Majesty would do that?”
“I think my bones are broken.”
Erdene snickered openly.
“If they were that fragile, they would break every time you breathe.”
Then she took a deep breath, her shoulders rising, her rib cage puffing out, and let out a “thud.” sound.
Then she arched her back as she exhaled, making the same sound again and giggling.
I hate you so much, Arkan thought.
Her hands were cold, but her bones seemed fine, just as she had said. I’ll probably be bruised by tomorrow...
Arkan frowned and swallowed a groan, straightening his hunched back.
“Relax your eyes. You’ll get wrinkles.”
After saying that, Erdene muttered under her breath, “The only thing I can see is your face.”
Arkan grumbled.
“Fine. We haven’t even started talking about the important things yet, and I don’t know how this happened. Let’s get back to what we were talking about.”
Now, Erdene couldn’t even remember what she had originally planned to say, but she pretended not to know and listened to him.
And on the other hand, it was funny and new to see Arkan not nervous at all while she kept her mouth shut.
[Your Highness, please say something.]
[What? I was listening carefully. What are you saying?]
[I’m scared that something might fly at Your Highness if you stay quiet. Like the golden cup next to it... Ouch! Look at this!]
At that time, Thelma really had a bump on her forehead.
Erdene burst out laughing as she thought of Thelma pretending to faint after being hit by the cup.
If it had been any easier, she would have dodged it, but she must have missed the beat because she got hit right above the forehead.
“Erdene.”
Erdene came to her senses at the voice calling her name.
Arkan said.
“Were you listening to me?”
Erdene nodded.
“Yes, I was listening.”
Arkan narrowed his eyes and spoke again.
“What do you think? Do you agree?”
What do you agree with? Erdene’s eyes moved slowly.
In fact, she couldn’t hear what Arkan was saying at all.
She was so absorbed in the vivid image of Thelma rolling around that she felt as if she had aged by several decades at once...
‘Well, this is when you have to go along with it,’
Erdene said.
“Yes, I agree.”
“You agree with the idea that the concubine system should be revived?”
Erdene, who was about to nod without thinking, opened her eyes wide and looked straight at Arkan.
She couldn’t understand how and where the conversation had led to such a thing.
“Reviving the concubine system? What do you mean?”
“Look, you weren’t listening at all. When someone else is talking, listen carefully. It’s basic manners.”
“I think it’s also polite not to force words on someone who doesn’t want to hear them, Your Majesty.”
Arkan fixed his posture as if he was lightly ignoring Erdene’s objection. He had pretended not to care in front of Plat, but in fact, Arkan had been paying attention to what Plat had said throughout the wedding and the reception.
The story that in Hirschsten, men and women, married or not, were free to have multiple lovers and that it was even encouraged was stuck in his head like a misplaced stone and would not go away.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard from Sophia or others, but Hirschsten and Vetor have different laws. The Hirschsten Empire does not interfere with married men and women having concubines or mistresses, but Vetor does not.”
Only then did Erdene recall what Sophia had said.
What had she said? So, did Arkan say that he would devote his life to Erdene alone from the moment they got married?
While she was silently blinking, Arkan continued.
“So, I want you to promise me that you will be faithful to me for the rest of your life since we are married.”
Erdene said, leaning back leisurely in her chair.
“I have heard that story, Your Majesty, but don’t you think it is a bit of a waste?”
Arkan’s eyebrows rose upwards with suspicion.
“A waste? What do you mean a waste?”
“I mean, having to spend your whole life with only one person. I guess Your Majesty doesn’t think so?”
“Isn’t that obvious? Far from being a waste, I think it is a beautiful thing.”
Erdene crossed her arms and leaned toward Arkan.
Her hair, loosely styled with minimal accessories, flowed down and tickled Arkan’s lap.
“Well, I guess you’re in love with me now, so it makes sense...”
Before she could finish speaking, Arkan opened his eyes wide as if he were going to hear something so strange.
“No, who fell in love with whom?”
“No?”
Arkan’s lips trembled for a moment. As Erdene bent down even deeper, he could now feel her breath.
As the clothes were so thin that his skin was completely transparent, he could feel her hair, her breathing, and even her movements if he focused just a little.
When her upper body was just barely touching his thighs, Arkan clenched his fists at the strange sensation he was experiencing for the first time in his life.
“Look at that. You can’t answer. You’ve been staring at my face for a while now.”
“It’s also polite to look at the other person when talking.”
At that moment, Erdene’s body, which had been bent down deeply as if she was going to climb up Arkan, suddenly shot up.
The temperature and scent that had been so close suddenly became distant, and surprisingly, Arkan felt a deep sense of loss at that fact.
“Your Majesty is polite, unlike me. Anyway, at first, it may be refreshing and good for both of us, but later on? Won’t you be attracted to younger and more attractive people?”
Arkan frowned and stared at Erdene.
“Are you announcing that you will have a young and attractive man as your mistress?”
“Who said that? You keep trying to lead me to your story, but is there any guarantee that Your Majesty won’t do that? All Kings are naturally attracted to women. As for men, I don’t really feel like it’s worth talking about.”
'Even though they weren’t the dark men around me.'
Erdene thought.
All the men around her desperately wanted to swing a sword forged by a renowned blacksmith rather than hold hands with a pretty young lady.
Arkan shook his head, clicking his tongue in a low voice.
“I don’t know what kind of prejudice you have against Kings or men, but I wouldn’t do that.”
“Well. If a young lady fell in love with Your Majesty’s face and came running to you, would you really be able to refuse her?”
Erdene laughed and made a joke that wasn’t really a joke, and Arkan’s face turned bright red.
“What are you imagining? I’m not that kind of lecherous! Why on earth are you so persistent in... Aha, I see.”
Arkan clicked his fingers together.
Suddenly, Erdene couldn’t help but ask, feeling an ominous feeling as she realized something.
“What did you realize?”
Arkan shrugged at her words.
“Are you worried that I might leave you and fall in love with another woman?”
What had she said? So, did Arkan say that he would devote his life to Erdene alone from the moment they got married?
While she was silently blinking, Arkan continued.
“So, I want you to promise me that you will be faithful to me for the rest of your life since we are married.”
Erdene said, leaning back leisurely in her chair.
“I have heard that story, Your Majesty, but don’t you think it is a bit of a waste?”
Arkan’s eyebrows rose upwards with suspicion.
“A waste? What do you mean a waste?”
“I mean, having to spend your whole life with only one person. I guess Your Majesty doesn’t think so?”
“Isn’t that obvious? Far from being a waste, I think it is a beautiful thing.”
Erdene crossed her arms and leaned toward Arkan.
Her hair, loosely styled with minimal accessories, flowed down and tickled Arkan’s lap.
“Well, I guess you’re in love with me now, so it makes sense...”
Before she could finish speaking, Arkan opened his eyes wide as if he were going to hear something so strange.
“No, who fell in love with whom?”
“No?”
Arkan’s lips trembled for a moment. As Erdene bent down even deeper, he could now feel her breath.
As the clothes were so thin that his skin was completely transparent, he could feel her hair, her breathing, and even her movements if he focused just a little.
When her upper body was just barely touching his thighs, Arkan clenched his fists at the strange sensation he was experiencing for the first time in his life.
“Look at that. You can’t answer. You’ve been staring at my face for a while now.”
“It’s also polite to look at the other person when talking.”
At that moment, Erdene’s body, which had been bent down deeply as if she was going to climb up Arkan, suddenly shot up.
The temperature and scent that had been so close suddenly became distant, and surprisingly, Arkan felt a deep sense of loss at that fact.
“Your Majesty is polite, unlike me. Anyway, at first, it may be refreshing and good for both of us, but later on? Won’t you be attracted to younger and more attractive people?”
Arkan frowned and stared at Erdene.
“Are you announcing that you will have a young and attractive man as your mistress?”
“Who said that? You keep trying to lead me to your story, but is there any guarantee that Your Majesty won’t do that? All Kings are naturally attracted to women. As for men, I don’t really feel like it’s worth talking about.”
'Even though they weren’t the dark men around me.'
Erdene thought.
All the men around her desperately wanted to swing a sword forged by a renowned blacksmith rather than hold hands with a pretty young lady.
Arkan shook his head, clicking his tongue in a low voice.
“I don’t know what kind of prejudice you have against Kings or men, but I wouldn’t do that.”
“Well. If a young lady fell in love with Your Majesty’s face and came running to you, would you really be able to refuse her?”
Erdene laughed and made a joke that wasn’t really a joke, and Arkan’s face turned bright red.
“What are you imagining? I’m not that kind of lecherous! Why on earth are you so persistent in... Aha, I see.”
Arkan clicked his fingers together.
Suddenly, Erdene couldn’t help but ask, feeling an ominous feeling as she realized something.
“What did you realize?”
Arkan shrugged at her words.
“Are you worried that I might leave you and fall in love with another woman?”
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