"I, I’m sorry.”
Belen’s face turned red as he apologized before shutting his mouth tightly like an angry person.
Sophia couldn’t help but laugh at Belen’s dumbfounded appearance, glaring at the water glass and spoon with his eyes wide open.
“You look like I poisoned this place.”
Belen flustered, tried to wave his hand away but instead grabbed his shoulder and groaned.
“No... That’s not it! Please don’t. I’m so sorry and embarrassed... Stop it.”
“Please open your mouth.”
When Sophia lifted the spoon and spoke, Belen opened his mouth as if someone had grabbed his chin.
Sophia expertly poured water into his mouth and said casually,
“You were getting beaten up so much.”
At that moment, Belen coughed as if he had caught a cold. His muscles and joints screamed as his whole body began to tense up, but he clenched his molars, determined not to show himself any more shameful in front of Sophia Fiddler.
When Belen hesitated, at a loss for words, Sophia asked again.
“Is Her Majesty really that great? I am not an expert in martial arts. Even when I watched you two fight right before my eyes, I didn’t know what to admire or what to focus on.”
Belen, who had been absent-minded for a moment, spoke.
“I was so out of it from the middle that I was beaten up, but honestly, I wondered if she was human.”
Then, he belatedly remembered that Sophia Fiddler was Erdene’s close maid, and he hastily added,
“That’s how great she is.”
“Hmm... I see. Is the water okay now?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
Sophia put the glass and spoon down on the side table.
Belen thought she would stand up soon, but for some reason, she was still sitting there, staring down at his face as if she were deep in thought.
Belen’s face suddenly flushed as he looked at her soft, walnut-colored curly hair that seemed to flow down.
He had no idea what was going on, and why Sophia, who was so elegant, graceful, and beautiful that even the most famous nobles would bow down to her, was sitting here and pouring him water. Belen, who had no idea what was going on inside her, was understandably perplexed.
“Um, um... Is Miss Fiddler, okay?”
In an attempt to cover up his awkward feelings, he ended up saying something so awkward that it was embarrassing for him to hear.
As expected, Sophia looked like she didn’t know what he meant.
Belen spoke again.
“Her Majesty, I mean. I know that Miss Fiddler serves Her Majesty... I was wondering if you were scared while serving her.”
“Her Majesty doesn’t dance with swords every day, so why I'm scared?”
Sophia’s answer sounded calm, almost peaceful.
Belen tried to imagine Erdene dancing with swords in the Queen’s palace but stopped.
At that moment, Sophia stared straight at Belen’s face with her straight eyes.
“There’s something I want to ask you, Commander.”
A nervous look appeared clearly on Belen’s face.
“Yes, anything.”
“I know it’s rude to ask, but you don’t have a fiancée yet, right?”
Belen nodded, bewildered.
He was completely taken aback by Sophia’s smile as if she was quite satisfied.
Sophia asked again.
“Is there anyone you have in mind and were planning to rush over and confess to next week?”
“No, no.”
“Yes.”
Sophia smiled brightly and got up from her seat.
Belen was dumbfounded the whole time, not knowing what on earth she liked about him and why she was asking about his fiancee and lover who didn’t even exist.
“Please stay away from women for the time being and focus on your training, Commander.”
Belen’s eyes blinked.
“Did Her Majesty order you?”
Oh. Sophia sighed internally. She had expected him to be dull, but he was so dull. There would be a lot to teach him in the future.
“Well, I guess Her Majesty would have wanted to say that too.”
She left him with an ambiguous remark that was neither dismissive nor anything else and then disappeared with a short greeting.
Belen, who had been lying there with his aching body, suddenly came to his senses at the lingering scent left behind by Sophia.
And he thought of Erdene’s face. Suddenly, excitement and desire welled up in his chest, making his heart race.
Less than five minutes after sitting down, Erdene grew tired of just quietly opening a book.
It was not like she could have Sophia by her side like usual and chat about trivial things—usually small gossip about Arkan—but there was no way to sneak away either.
‘Damn, do we have other prisoners? I look like the prisoner.’
Erdene grumbled to herself as she moved her body.
However, whenever she tried to move away even a little, Arkan’s arm would tighten without fail.
This is something that, if she were to shake it off and stand up, there’s nothing she couldn’t do, and if she had the will to do it, she could make it so that he wouldn’t dare wrap his arms around her waist again... For some reason, she had been tolerating Arkan up until now.
‘I wish Thelma and the others had seen this.’
Erdene’s mind, tired of the meaningless conversations of the tiny earth nymphs, kept drifting elsewhere.
If Arkan had not only hugged her waist but was also holding her still, the Hirschsten officers who had been following Erdene would have probably reached for their shovels without even considering the circumstances.
To dig Arkan’s gravesite...
Then Arkan suddenly spoke.
“I can hear you thinking about something else.”
As soon as the silence was broken, Erdene closed her book with a thud as if she had been waiting for this opportunity.
However, Arkan still held Erdene’s waist tightly, his eyes fixed on the book he was reading.
Erdene, who was trying to find a way out by getting on Arkan’s nerves, was momentarily distracted by his profile as he looked down at the book. His smoothly descending nose bridge, his straight philtrum below it, and his lips were all visible.
Perhaps it was a habit when he was concentrating, but the corners of his mouth were slightly lower than usual and his lower lip was slightly protruding.
His face was handsome. With his mouth expressionless and shut, he looked much more cool.
“My face is going to be pierced.”
Arkan said without even turning his head.
Erdene realized only then that she had been observing him with such a fervent attitude and jerked away.
Arkan’s shoulders swayed at the chill, and the book in his other hand shook.
“What are you doing?”
Arkan finally looked at Erdene. He had a face that pretended not to know anything, even though he was not ignorant of it.
Erdene grumbled.
“Can I just go out now?”
“Have you finished reading the book?”
When Arkan glanced at the closed book cover, Erdene tapped the book with the back of her hand as if she were going to break it.
“I'm not going to read it all in the first place!”
“That’s not true. It’s good to develop the habit of reading any book from beginning to end. That’s the first step to loving a book.”
“You told me not to have a mistress, right? What if I get so absorbed in a book that I don’t care whether Your Majesty lives or dies?”
“I don’t even want that.”
“Oh, you’re really making me mad!”
Erdene suddenly raised her voice, shook Arkan’s arm off, and stood up.
“If you’re just going to read the book anyway, why are you tormenting me like this when you’re reading it alone?”
Arkan blinked widely as if he was going to hear all of her nonsense.
“When have I ever tormented you?”
Then he glanced at the toy rubber dragon whose eye had burst and continued,
“I gave you a present.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Yes, I was joking about the present. But it hasn’t even been half an hour yet. Why do you hate reading so much? I didn’t tell you to read “Etiquette and Rules for Ladies”.”
Erdene laughed in disbelief.
“Does this country have such books?”
“We do, volumes 1 through 5.”
“Are you going to tell me to read them someday?”
Arkan rolled his eyes as if to say, “Well, what should I do?”
“If it’s necessary, you’d better read it.”
I can’t stand it anymore, Erdene thought. She regretted bursting the dragon’s eye so hastily.
If she was going to burst it, she should have done it now! She should have squeezed the rubber so tightly that it fell apart, showing this brat how angry she was!
But the dragon had already gone on a long journey from which there was no return.
There was no use in feeling sorry for spilled milk. Erdene dismissed the thought of the rubber dragon and looked down at Arkan.
'I'll sit down and poop.'
His leisurely gaze seemed to say something like that, which hurt Erdene's pride. She had endured enough...
Even if it were a children's textbook, the book he had just mentioned, with the ridiculous title of "Lady", would never be opened on her lap.
Erdene took a deep breath and said,
"If you ask me to read something like that."
Arkan moved his gaze slightly, narrowing his brows and tilting his head.
"If I ask you to read it?"
Erdene glared at him, imagining her messing up his curly hair and making a bird's nest.
"I'll get a divorce."
Sophia couldn’t help but laugh at Belen’s dumbfounded appearance, glaring at the water glass and spoon with his eyes wide open.
“You look like I poisoned this place.”
Belen flustered, tried to wave his hand away but instead grabbed his shoulder and groaned.
“No... That’s not it! Please don’t. I’m so sorry and embarrassed... Stop it.”
“Please open your mouth.”
When Sophia lifted the spoon and spoke, Belen opened his mouth as if someone had grabbed his chin.
Sophia expertly poured water into his mouth and said casually,
“You were getting beaten up so much.”
At that moment, Belen coughed as if he had caught a cold. His muscles and joints screamed as his whole body began to tense up, but he clenched his molars, determined not to show himself any more shameful in front of Sophia Fiddler.
When Belen hesitated, at a loss for words, Sophia asked again.
“Is Her Majesty really that great? I am not an expert in martial arts. Even when I watched you two fight right before my eyes, I didn’t know what to admire or what to focus on.”
Belen, who had been absent-minded for a moment, spoke.
“I was so out of it from the middle that I was beaten up, but honestly, I wondered if she was human.”
Then, he belatedly remembered that Sophia Fiddler was Erdene’s close maid, and he hastily added,
“That’s how great she is.”
“Hmm... I see. Is the water okay now?”
“Yes, it’s okay.”
Sophia put the glass and spoon down on the side table.
Belen thought she would stand up soon, but for some reason, she was still sitting there, staring down at his face as if she were deep in thought.
Belen’s face suddenly flushed as he looked at her soft, walnut-colored curly hair that seemed to flow down.
He had no idea what was going on, and why Sophia, who was so elegant, graceful, and beautiful that even the most famous nobles would bow down to her, was sitting here and pouring him water. Belen, who had no idea what was going on inside her, was understandably perplexed.
“Um, um... Is Miss Fiddler, okay?”
In an attempt to cover up his awkward feelings, he ended up saying something so awkward that it was embarrassing for him to hear.
As expected, Sophia looked like she didn’t know what he meant.
Belen spoke again.
“Her Majesty, I mean. I know that Miss Fiddler serves Her Majesty... I was wondering if you were scared while serving her.”
“Her Majesty doesn’t dance with swords every day, so why I'm scared?”
Sophia’s answer sounded calm, almost peaceful.
Belen tried to imagine Erdene dancing with swords in the Queen’s palace but stopped.
At that moment, Sophia stared straight at Belen’s face with her straight eyes.
“There’s something I want to ask you, Commander.”
A nervous look appeared clearly on Belen’s face.
“Yes, anything.”
“I know it’s rude to ask, but you don’t have a fiancée yet, right?”
Belen nodded, bewildered.
He was completely taken aback by Sophia’s smile as if she was quite satisfied.
Sophia asked again.
“Is there anyone you have in mind and were planning to rush over and confess to next week?”
“No, no.”
“Yes.”
Sophia smiled brightly and got up from her seat.
Belen was dumbfounded the whole time, not knowing what on earth she liked about him and why she was asking about his fiancee and lover who didn’t even exist.
“Please stay away from women for the time being and focus on your training, Commander.”
Belen’s eyes blinked.
“Did Her Majesty order you?”
Oh. Sophia sighed internally. She had expected him to be dull, but he was so dull. There would be a lot to teach him in the future.
“Well, I guess Her Majesty would have wanted to say that too.”
She left him with an ambiguous remark that was neither dismissive nor anything else and then disappeared with a short greeting.
Belen, who had been lying there with his aching body, suddenly came to his senses at the lingering scent left behind by Sophia.
And he thought of Erdene’s face. Suddenly, excitement and desire welled up in his chest, making his heart race.
***
Less than five minutes after sitting down, Erdene grew tired of just quietly opening a book.
It was not like she could have Sophia by her side like usual and chat about trivial things—usually small gossip about Arkan—but there was no way to sneak away either.
‘Damn, do we have other prisoners? I look like the prisoner.’
Erdene grumbled to herself as she moved her body.
However, whenever she tried to move away even a little, Arkan’s arm would tighten without fail.
This is something that, if she were to shake it off and stand up, there’s nothing she couldn’t do, and if she had the will to do it, she could make it so that he wouldn’t dare wrap his arms around her waist again... For some reason, she had been tolerating Arkan up until now.
‘I wish Thelma and the others had seen this.’
Erdene’s mind, tired of the meaningless conversations of the tiny earth nymphs, kept drifting elsewhere.
If Arkan had not only hugged her waist but was also holding her still, the Hirschsten officers who had been following Erdene would have probably reached for their shovels without even considering the circumstances.
To dig Arkan’s gravesite...
Then Arkan suddenly spoke.
“I can hear you thinking about something else.”
As soon as the silence was broken, Erdene closed her book with a thud as if she had been waiting for this opportunity.
However, Arkan still held Erdene’s waist tightly, his eyes fixed on the book he was reading.
Erdene, who was trying to find a way out by getting on Arkan’s nerves, was momentarily distracted by his profile as he looked down at the book. His smoothly descending nose bridge, his straight philtrum below it, and his lips were all visible.
Perhaps it was a habit when he was concentrating, but the corners of his mouth were slightly lower than usual and his lower lip was slightly protruding.
His face was handsome. With his mouth expressionless and shut, he looked much more cool.
“My face is going to be pierced.”
Arkan said without even turning his head.
Erdene realized only then that she had been observing him with such a fervent attitude and jerked away.
Arkan’s shoulders swayed at the chill, and the book in his other hand shook.
“What are you doing?”
Arkan finally looked at Erdene. He had a face that pretended not to know anything, even though he was not ignorant of it.
Erdene grumbled.
“Can I just go out now?”
“Have you finished reading the book?”
When Arkan glanced at the closed book cover, Erdene tapped the book with the back of her hand as if she were going to break it.
“I'm not going to read it all in the first place!”
“That’s not true. It’s good to develop the habit of reading any book from beginning to end. That’s the first step to loving a book.”
“You told me not to have a mistress, right? What if I get so absorbed in a book that I don’t care whether Your Majesty lives or dies?”
“I don’t even want that.”
“Oh, you’re really making me mad!”
Erdene suddenly raised her voice, shook Arkan’s arm off, and stood up.
“If you’re just going to read the book anyway, why are you tormenting me like this when you’re reading it alone?”
Arkan blinked widely as if he was going to hear all of her nonsense.
“When have I ever tormented you?”
Then he glanced at the toy rubber dragon whose eye had burst and continued,
“I gave you a present.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Yes, I was joking about the present. But it hasn’t even been half an hour yet. Why do you hate reading so much? I didn’t tell you to read “Etiquette and Rules for Ladies”.”
Erdene laughed in disbelief.
“Does this country have such books?”
“We do, volumes 1 through 5.”
“Are you going to tell me to read them someday?”
Arkan rolled his eyes as if to say, “Well, what should I do?”
“If it’s necessary, you’d better read it.”
I can’t stand it anymore, Erdene thought. She regretted bursting the dragon’s eye so hastily.
If she was going to burst it, she should have done it now! She should have squeezed the rubber so tightly that it fell apart, showing this brat how angry she was!
But the dragon had already gone on a long journey from which there was no return.
There was no use in feeling sorry for spilled milk. Erdene dismissed the thought of the rubber dragon and looked down at Arkan.
'I'll sit down and poop.'
His leisurely gaze seemed to say something like that, which hurt Erdene's pride. She had endured enough...
Even if it were a children's textbook, the book he had just mentioned, with the ridiculous title of "Lady", would never be opened on her lap.
Erdene took a deep breath and said,
"If you ask me to read something like that."
Arkan moved his gaze slightly, narrowing his brows and tilting his head.
"If I ask you to read it?"
Erdene glared at him, imagining her messing up his curly hair and making a bird's nest.
"I'll get a divorce."
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