“Cousin?”
Then, a subtle smile appeared on Erdene’s lips, an expression that could not be determined whether it was a smile or a sneer.
“I don’t even know if His Majesty is older or younger than me?”
Sophia said.
“His Majesty Arkan celebrated his birthday in the spring. He is twenty-six this year.”
His birthday is in the spring, Erdene thought. Twenty-six was somewhat unexpected.
Sometimes, whenever she saw Arkan, she would catch a glimpse of him as a boy who was younger than her, who had only just become an adult.
Maybe that was why Erdene often felt like teasing Arkan whenever she saw him. She didn’t think of him as a brat like she had at first.
A maid who had been working in the outer living room cautiously came in.
“Your Majesty, His Excellency the Duke of Sonetum has arrived.”
Erdene glanced at Anne’s face. Anne flinched slightly as if to say, “Oh no,” and then smiled calmly and added,
“Your Excellency Pelarhar has arrived.”
“Oh, that cousin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Take him to the reception room and prepare some refreshments.”
Anne bowed and quickly disappeared. The maids Sophia had brought in were all calm and quick.
Anne, in particular, had originally been employed by the Marchioness of Fiddler’s, and although working in an unfamiliar castle would not have been easy, she had adapted very quickly.
Erdene pushed the table away and stood up. Her hands were stained with ink from practicing her calligraphy.
“I thought we would meet tonight, but you are impatient.”
Sophia slightly soaked a handkerchief in water and wiped the ink off Erdene’s hands.
“He is a bit of a brazen person.”
“Who, that cousin?”
Sophia nodded as if to say yes. The ink marks had not completely disappeared, but they had faded considerably.
Erdene slowly moved her eyes as if imagining things for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and said,
“Sophia, if what you say is true, it won’t be so frustrating.”
Pelarhar, who was guided to the reception room, looked around the interior, which had a very different atmosphere than when the previous Queen stayed.
Nothing had changed in terms of decoration, furniture, or fixtures.
The curtains had been replaced, and a few paintings and tapestries had been changed.
Nevertheless, Pelarhar thought that he could not sense the shadow of the previous Queen, who had been his aunt.
“Her Majesty is here.”
Pelarhar, who heard the servant’s words, raised the corners of his mouth and got up from his seat.
Erdene entered the drawing room, kicking the hem of her dress. It was because of her long strides, but the deep green dress, which seemed to be covered with the deepening summer green, strangely suited her brisk gait.
Her long hair was pulled up high, revealing her white nape.
Pelarhar briefly glanced at the small scars on her ear and under her chin, then smiled.
“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty. My name is Pelarhar Cyprusmain.”
“Nice to meet you, Duke. Please take a seat.”
Erdene’s answer was concise. However, Pelarhar knew that she was studying him closely, like a wild beast lurking in the grass.
Every time her pale blue eyes moved nimbly, he felt the urge to cover his nape.
Sophia and Anne brought out refreshments together.
Anne went out, and Sophia stood a little away from Erdene as usual.
“Sophia, it’s been a while. Isn’t it?”
Erdene glanced at Sophia.
Sophia lowered her gaze slightly and bowed lightly.
“It’s been a while, Your Excellency Pelarhar.”
“How is your mother?”
A slightly sinister smile appeared on Sophia’s lips, then quickly disappeared.
“She’s fine. I don’t know about my sister.”
Pelarhar burst into laughter. It was a refreshing laugh. Erdene watched him with a more curious expression and said,
“Do you know each other well?”
“Oh, excuse me. If you mean Sophia and me, then I guess we do. In fact, it would be harder to find someone in Vetor who doesn’t know about Sophia Fiddler.”
Sophia was silent.
Pelarhar’s expression was as indifferent as usual as if it was not the first or second time that he had been talking about her.
Pelarhar smiled again and looked at Erdene’s face.
“Now, there is someone more famous than Sophia in front of me.”
“I am famous?”
“You wouldn’t say you don’t know, would you?”
Erdene laughed as if it was amused.
“Well, I have never been not famous. Now, I have no time to worry about where my name is mentioned.”
Pelarhar’s eyes widened slightly as if he were surprised by her answer. Then he burst into laughter again.
“Well, that’s true. I could hear your name wherever I went.”
“You must have been to many places.”
“I don’t tend to stick to one place.”
“You must have seen and heard a lot, right?”
“Of course. That is my only pride. My cousin, His Majesty Arkan, is calm, wise, and delicate, but I am far from such things. I rather like to wander around.”
Then, Pelarhar suddenly smiled with a sad and somewhat mischievous smile.
“Actually, I met Your Majesty once a few years ago.”
Erdene’s eyes, which had been scanning the opponent in front of her, lit up for the first time.
She was always ready to get up from her seat if he started rambling on, but this story was unexpected.
“The Duke saw me? Where?”
“About four years ago. You probably remember the battle at Lengnoldor Canyon.”
Erdene’s face clearly showed a surprised expression.
“How do you know that?”
“The archers and spearmen of the Kingdom of Blatcherd surprised the imperial soldiers passing through the canyon. I was among the soldiers of the Kingdom of Blatcherd at that time.”
Even Sophia could not help but be surprised by his words.
However, Erdene, who vividly remembered the situation at the time, immediately figured it out.
“Mercenaries, is that what you mean?”
“I knew you would remember.”
The Kingdom of Blatcherd recruited mercenaries from various places to fight the imperial army.
In fact, Erdene and the soldiers were not on their way to war at that time.
They were simply searching for the fastest route to the coast under the orders of the Emperor, Erdene’s father.
There were many rugged mountains and valleys difficult to cross around the empire, so in order to get to the sea, they had to go inland.
To overcome this situation, the imperial family spent several years meticulously examining the route.
“In the valley, Blatcherd’s army and mercenaries attacked Your Majesty, the Princess at that time... Anyway, they ambushed a procession of less than a hundred people.”
Erdene snorted.
“That’s right.”
“Blatcherd’s spearmen took the lead, but they were swept away like fallen leaves under the imperial army’s swords. The archers who saw that trembled without even firing an arrow, and half of the mercenaries fled. When the mercenary next to me saw you riding up the steep valley, he screamed and fainted.”
Erdene’s voice was half curiosity and half wariness as she asked.
Sophia glanced over Erdene’s writing, she had finally managed to get the textbook into her hands and then nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Yes, Your Majesty. His Excellency Pelarhar is the son of His Majesty the previous King’s older brother and is the cousin of His Majesty Arkan. They are the same age.”
Sophia, who had been putting down the pages of the textbook that Erdene had been writing one by one, suddenly narrowed her brows as if she had remembered a serious problem.
“Your Majesty.”
Erdene, who had been lost in thought with a cold expression, put down her pen and turned her gaze.
“I just remembered that I didn’t know how old His Majesty is.”
“What does it matter whether you know or not? You are twenty-three this year, and twenty-four after your birthday.”
“Right, I'll keep that in mind.”
Sophia glanced over Erdene’s writing, she had finally managed to get the textbook into her hands and then nodded with a satisfied expression.
“Yes, Your Majesty. His Excellency Pelarhar is the son of His Majesty the previous King’s older brother and is the cousin of His Majesty Arkan. They are the same age.”
Sophia, who had been putting down the pages of the textbook that Erdene had been writing one by one, suddenly narrowed her brows as if she had remembered a serious problem.
“Your Majesty.”
Erdene, who had been lost in thought with a cold expression, put down her pen and turned her gaze.
“I just remembered that I didn’t know how old His Majesty is.”
“What does it matter whether you know or not? You are twenty-three this year, and twenty-four after your birthday.”
“Right, I'll keep that in mind.”
Then, a subtle smile appeared on Erdene’s lips, an expression that could not be determined whether it was a smile or a sneer.
“I don’t even know if His Majesty is older or younger than me?”
Sophia said.
“His Majesty Arkan celebrated his birthday in the spring. He is twenty-six this year.”
His birthday is in the spring, Erdene thought. Twenty-six was somewhat unexpected.
Sometimes, whenever she saw Arkan, she would catch a glimpse of him as a boy who was younger than her, who had only just become an adult.
Maybe that was why Erdene often felt like teasing Arkan whenever she saw him. She didn’t think of him as a brat like she had at first.
A maid who had been working in the outer living room cautiously came in.
“Your Majesty, His Excellency the Duke of Sonetum has arrived.”
Erdene glanced at Anne’s face. Anne flinched slightly as if to say, “Oh no,” and then smiled calmly and added,
“Your Excellency Pelarhar has arrived.”
“Oh, that cousin.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Take him to the reception room and prepare some refreshments.”
Anne bowed and quickly disappeared. The maids Sophia had brought in were all calm and quick.
Anne, in particular, had originally been employed by the Marchioness of Fiddler’s, and although working in an unfamiliar castle would not have been easy, she had adapted very quickly.
Erdene pushed the table away and stood up. Her hands were stained with ink from practicing her calligraphy.
“I thought we would meet tonight, but you are impatient.”
Sophia slightly soaked a handkerchief in water and wiped the ink off Erdene’s hands.
“He is a bit of a brazen person.”
“Who, that cousin?”
Sophia nodded as if to say yes. The ink marks had not completely disappeared, but they had faded considerably.
Erdene slowly moved her eyes as if imagining things for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders and said,
“Sophia, if what you say is true, it won’t be so frustrating.”
***
Pelarhar, who was guided to the reception room, looked around the interior, which had a very different atmosphere than when the previous Queen stayed.
Nothing had changed in terms of decoration, furniture, or fixtures.
The curtains had been replaced, and a few paintings and tapestries had been changed.
Nevertheless, Pelarhar thought that he could not sense the shadow of the previous Queen, who had been his aunt.
“Her Majesty is here.”
Pelarhar, who heard the servant’s words, raised the corners of his mouth and got up from his seat.
Erdene entered the drawing room, kicking the hem of her dress. It was because of her long strides, but the deep green dress, which seemed to be covered with the deepening summer green, strangely suited her brisk gait.
Her long hair was pulled up high, revealing her white nape.
Pelarhar briefly glanced at the small scars on her ear and under her chin, then smiled.
“Nice to meet you, Your Majesty. My name is Pelarhar Cyprusmain.”
“Nice to meet you, Duke. Please take a seat.”
Erdene’s answer was concise. However, Pelarhar knew that she was studying him closely, like a wild beast lurking in the grass.
Every time her pale blue eyes moved nimbly, he felt the urge to cover his nape.
Sophia and Anne brought out refreshments together.
Anne went out, and Sophia stood a little away from Erdene as usual.
“Sophia, it’s been a while. Isn’t it?”
Erdene glanced at Sophia.
Sophia lowered her gaze slightly and bowed lightly.
“It’s been a while, Your Excellency Pelarhar.”
“How is your mother?”
A slightly sinister smile appeared on Sophia’s lips, then quickly disappeared.
“She’s fine. I don’t know about my sister.”
Pelarhar burst into laughter. It was a refreshing laugh. Erdene watched him with a more curious expression and said,
“Do you know each other well?”
“Oh, excuse me. If you mean Sophia and me, then I guess we do. In fact, it would be harder to find someone in Vetor who doesn’t know about Sophia Fiddler.”
Sophia was silent.
Pelarhar’s expression was as indifferent as usual as if it was not the first or second time that he had been talking about her.
Pelarhar smiled again and looked at Erdene’s face.
“Now, there is someone more famous than Sophia in front of me.”
“I am famous?”
“You wouldn’t say you don’t know, would you?”
Erdene laughed as if it was amused.
“Well, I have never been not famous. Now, I have no time to worry about where my name is mentioned.”
Pelarhar’s eyes widened slightly as if he were surprised by her answer. Then he burst into laughter again.
“Well, that’s true. I could hear your name wherever I went.”
“You must have been to many places.”
“I don’t tend to stick to one place.”
“You must have seen and heard a lot, right?”
“Of course. That is my only pride. My cousin, His Majesty Arkan, is calm, wise, and delicate, but I am far from such things. I rather like to wander around.”
Then, Pelarhar suddenly smiled with a sad and somewhat mischievous smile.
“Actually, I met Your Majesty once a few years ago.”
Erdene’s eyes, which had been scanning the opponent in front of her, lit up for the first time.
She was always ready to get up from her seat if he started rambling on, but this story was unexpected.
“The Duke saw me? Where?”
“About four years ago. You probably remember the battle at Lengnoldor Canyon.”
Erdene’s face clearly showed a surprised expression.
“How do you know that?”
“The archers and spearmen of the Kingdom of Blatcherd surprised the imperial soldiers passing through the canyon. I was among the soldiers of the Kingdom of Blatcherd at that time.”
Even Sophia could not help but be surprised by his words.
However, Erdene, who vividly remembered the situation at the time, immediately figured it out.
“Mercenaries, is that what you mean?”
“I knew you would remember.”
The Kingdom of Blatcherd recruited mercenaries from various places to fight the imperial army.
In fact, Erdene and the soldiers were not on their way to war at that time.
They were simply searching for the fastest route to the coast under the orders of the Emperor, Erdene’s father.
There were many rugged mountains and valleys difficult to cross around the empire, so in order to get to the sea, they had to go inland.
To overcome this situation, the imperial family spent several years meticulously examining the route.
“In the valley, Blatcherd’s army and mercenaries attacked Your Majesty, the Princess at that time... Anyway, they ambushed a procession of less than a hundred people.”
Erdene snorted.
“That’s right.”
“Blatcherd’s spearmen took the lead, but they were swept away like fallen leaves under the imperial army’s swords. The archers who saw that trembled without even firing an arrow, and half of the mercenaries fled. When the mercenary next to me saw you riding up the steep valley, he screamed and fainted.”
Blatcherd’s soldiers, who had targeted Princess Erdene because they were outnumbered and not prepared for battle, were later met with thorough retaliation.
“You managed to survive.”
Erdene stared at Pelarhar.
Her eyes seemed to boil over, and her smile, revealing white, even teeth, was like a ferocious leopard searching for prey.
Pelarhar had joined them as a mercenary not because of his resentment toward the Empire or his love for his allies, but out of curiosity.
Although he was armed, he had no intention of going down to the valley and fighting the Imperial forces.
However, on the cliff, the spearmen who had rushed down were entangled with each other and were killed one by one by Erdene and the imperial officers.
“Come to think of it, the King of Blatcherd was really foolish. He raised those weak-hearted people who were about to run away after seeing that sight as archers. If they had just done their part, would things have been different?”
Erdene tilted her head with a leisurely smile.
“No way. Still, it was quite a coincidence. There weren’t many people I saved back then, but you were one of them.”
“You managed to survive.”
Erdene stared at Pelarhar.
Her eyes seemed to boil over, and her smile, revealing white, even teeth, was like a ferocious leopard searching for prey.
Pelarhar had joined them as a mercenary not because of his resentment toward the Empire or his love for his allies, but out of curiosity.
Although he was armed, he had no intention of going down to the valley and fighting the Imperial forces.
However, on the cliff, the spearmen who had rushed down were entangled with each other and were killed one by one by Erdene and the imperial officers.
“Come to think of it, the King of Blatcherd was really foolish. He raised those weak-hearted people who were about to run away after seeing that sight as archers. If they had just done their part, would things have been different?”
Erdene tilted her head with a leisurely smile.
“No way. Still, it was quite a coincidence. There weren’t many people I saved back then, but you were one of them.”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment