The land that had been a conflict zone until now contained a huge amount of natural resources. And there was still no technology in Puldufin that could utilize it.
It was as if all the energy in the world was cheering Carson on to gain strength. It was to the point where he felt that he was pushing him as hard as he could so that he would become stronger than he was now and no one would dare shake his weakness.
“Then what kind of guarantee can I receive?”
Hansen, who had been silent until now, finally opened his mouth.
“What kind of compensation are you talking about...?”
“If I hand over that land, will Puldufin’s safety be secured after that?”
“You have already become the King of Puldufin.”
It was not sarcasm, but pure words. At times like this, Carson thought. Maybe royal bloodlines were truly a gift from heaven.
“I just want to prevent innocent people from being put in danger for my personal revenge.”
“And you're a good King.”
“....”
“It’s simple. Let’s make a secret pact. For the next ten years, Monstera will never attack Puldufin. I can’t discuss the details right now, but it won’t be a loss.”
“Ten years...”
“More than that is impossible. And I think it’s enough time. It’s enough time for you to prepare to become a real King and protect the country.”
Of course, Carson would return to Landhill soon, but Monstera was already his principality. It meant that the owner of this place wouldn’t change easily unless he wanted it to. So he could definitely keep his promise.
“If you want, I’ll even have a political marriage. As a token of my promise of safety.”
Hansen shook his head. Carson had already guessed that he wouldn’t accept it, given his personality.
“Your promise is enough. I also have faith that you have enough strength to keep that promise.”
It was as if all the energy in the world was cheering Carson on to gain strength. It was to the point where he felt that he was pushing him as hard as he could so that he would become stronger than he was now and no one would dare shake his weakness.
“Then what kind of guarantee can I receive?”
Hansen, who had been silent until now, finally opened his mouth.
“What kind of compensation are you talking about...?”
“If I hand over that land, will Puldufin’s safety be secured after that?”
“You have already become the King of Puldufin.”
It was not sarcasm, but pure words. At times like this, Carson thought. Maybe royal bloodlines were truly a gift from heaven.
“I just want to prevent innocent people from being put in danger for my personal revenge.”
“And you're a good King.”
“....”
“It’s simple. Let’s make a secret pact. For the next ten years, Monstera will never attack Puldufin. I can’t discuss the details right now, but it won’t be a loss.”
“Ten years...”
“More than that is impossible. And I think it’s enough time. It’s enough time for you to prepare to become a real King and protect the country.”
Of course, Carson would return to Landhill soon, but Monstera was already his principality. It meant that the owner of this place wouldn’t change easily unless he wanted it to. So he could definitely keep his promise.
“If you want, I’ll even have a political marriage. As a token of my promise of safety.”
Hansen shook his head. Carson had already guessed that he wouldn’t accept it, given his personality.
“Your promise is enough. I also have faith that you have enough strength to keep that promise.”
Even after everything was sorted out between the two, Hansen couldn’t easily give an answer. Carson sat back down and poured himself a drink.
“Do you need more time to think...?”
Hansen had no easy answer to that question.
“If you need more, I’ll give you more. It’s not a simple matter. But it won’t take long. On the day of the Water Festival, some of our troops will be dispatched. It’s for that changed strategy.”
“Do you need more time to think...?”
Hansen had no easy answer to that question.
“If you need more, I’ll give you more. It’s not a simple matter. But it won’t take long. On the day of the Water Festival, some of our troops will be dispatched. It’s for that changed strategy.”
As Carson finished speaking, he finally downed his share of the drink in one gulp.
His face naturally grimaced because of the strong alcohol that burned his throat. However, Hansen’s face, which had swallowed all the drink, took on a different color than before. He shook his head and smiled slightly.
“No. I don’t need more time.”
Noah refilled Hansen’s glass as Carson gestured.
“There was a woman I knew who didn’t hesitate to become a temple maid or give up her noble status for revenge.”
Noah’s hand stopped pouring the drink with a start. And he glanced at Carson without realizing it. As expected, Carson’s face, which had always been relaxed, cracked for the first time when he talked about Ines.
“Besides, she said she didn’t regret her choice.”
Hansen’s face, clearly thinking of her, lit up with joy. He clenched his molars, feeling an inexplicable surge of emotion.
“So there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be that King.”
Carson, who had lost his answer, got up and walked to the window.
It was his habit when he felt that everything was out of his control.
Hansen had no idea, but Noah knew. The lord’s shoulders rose and fell.
Carson stared into the distance for a moment, then slowly turned around, sweeping his hair. He turned around and placed his hand on the window frame, using the light of the midday sun as his background.
Carson slowly walked over and sat down across from Hansen again. He then put the red gem ring on the table directly onto Hansen’s fourth finger on his right hand. When he met his eyes and smiled brightly, the room felt brighter. At that, Hansen and Noah held their breath.
“You suit him very well.”
The young priest’s face turned red, like a woman who had received an unexpected marriage proposal.
“But, does the new King of Puldufin know how to shoot a gun?”
“Oh, no.”
“Then you must learn from today.”
When Hansen nodded resolutely, Carson held out his hand. The handshake confirmed the contract. It was the birth of a new King and a new principality that did not require anyone’s permission.
In the dim dawn light, people began to gather one by one in the square near the lord’s castle of Monstera.
Liberalia, the guardian of water sent down by the primordial God to create life.
On the last day of July as if to stand against the blazing sun, people gathered in the streets and prepared to sprinkle water on the whole world.
On this day, regardless of status or gender, everyone accepted the water pouring down from the square like rain.
Ines, Charlotte, and Hansen left everything behind and went to the square to enjoy the festival.
People gathered water at home as if they were gathering gold for today.
They dragged out earthenware vessels called nesium as if they were competing. Some were big enough to reach a grown man’s chest, while others were small enough to stand on a woman’s head.
Children also held cute nesiums in their hands.
When someone filled a sack with water and poured it out to an unrelated person, people scattered the water they had brought in all directions as if they had made a promise.
As the water poured down on the dry land, the ground gave off an earthy smell as if it was screaming, and soon white dust rose up.
Everyone standing here believed that this water would rise to the sky and bring heavy rain. Anyone who did not want to be pushed away by God’s blessing did not spare water.
On this day, even the Castle employees poured water.
In the corner of the square, there were countless buckets of water for everyone to use.
“Oh, it’s cold.”
Starting with Charlotte’s mischievous prank, Ines and Hansen gradually got soaked. It was still hot, even though the sun had not yet fully risen. Their whole bodies were soaked, and they felt cool.
When Charlotte poured more water than they had expected, Hansen opened his mouth wide and let out a deep breath.
Ines stared blankly at him as he was about to leave.
Three nights ago, he had come to see her and told her everything about Carson. By this evening, he would no longer be able to wear the priest’s robe and would take up a gun and go out for revenge.
Hansen's silver hair had grown even longer.
He smiled innocently like a child as he was hit in the face by the water that Charlotte had sprinkled again. The transparent water droplets that fell and collided with his hair gave off a beautiful light.
He looked freer than ever, living a completely new life after his fate was overturned.
Although she didn't know whether his path ahead would be a path of thorns or a path of flowers, Ines hoped that he would never lose his beauty.
If Hansen became the King of Puldupin as planned, today might be the last time she would see him.
"Ah! It's cold."
At that moment, Ines held her breath at the large shower of water that came from somewhere, and Charlotte laughed loudly at her.
As everyone on the street was enjoying the festival, a trumpet sounded to announce someone's arrival. And from afar, she saw Carson von Raymond, the master of this duchy, walking while holding Louis' hand, protected by a large number of people.
The people in the square stopped spraying water for a moment and cheered at the appearance of him and Louis. When he climbed onto the stage, the people’s voices grew louder.
He stood on the stage, perfectly grown, and waved his hands for the citizens of the duchy. Carson, who was clearly taller and seemed gigantic despite the knights behind him, radiated an aura that could not be approached.
The feeling Ines felt while looking at him was arrogantly pride.
She was proud of him.
“Really... cool.”
Charlotte whispered on Ines’ behalf.
“Yes, he shines just like a God.”
Hansen, still in his priest’s attire, irreverently compared him to a God.
Lost in words, Ines simply closed her eyes for a moment. She hoped and hoped that Carson would be safe, that he would return to where he was without a single hair being damaged.
Carson, who stood on the stage, did not say anything to the people.
When he gave some instructions to Noah, who was standing next to him, the knights each came forward, pulling long ropes. Unbelievably, water gushed out from the ropes.
Ines knew what it was, of course. Sometimes, when the weather was too hot and the railroad sagged, the guards would come out and spray water on the railroad with that hose.
The people of Monstera, whose civilization was not yet as advanced as the capital, tilted their heads up and received the water with their whole bodies as if it were sacred water.
Carson looked down from afar with a smile on his face as if he were a God who sprinkled rain on poor farmers.
The people of the duchy chanted his name as if there was a set slogan.
“Carson! Carson! Carson!”
Ines followed them, clenching her fist and shouting his name more passionately than anyone else.
Soon, the climax of Liberalia had arrived.
People stopped throwing water at each other and looked for someone to express their feelings to. And they knelt before him.
When the son knelt down before his father, the father put his hand on his forehead to acknowledge his son. After that, the son took water from an earthenware vessel and poured it on his father’s hand. Then he quickly received the water and drank it.
Somehow, it was a scene that made the viewers feel sad.
Some knelt before an old priest, and others before their wives.
Some couples knelt facing each other and poured water on each other’s hands.
Ines looked at Carson as if it was natural.
She also wanted to kneel before him and pour all the water from an earthenware vessel on him, but Carson was already surrounded by a large crowd. Ines was not in a position to pay him respect.
His face naturally grimaced because of the strong alcohol that burned his throat. However, Hansen’s face, which had swallowed all the drink, took on a different color than before. He shook his head and smiled slightly.
“No. I don’t need more time.”
Noah refilled Hansen’s glass as Carson gestured.
“There was a woman I knew who didn’t hesitate to become a temple maid or give up her noble status for revenge.”
Noah’s hand stopped pouring the drink with a start. And he glanced at Carson without realizing it. As expected, Carson’s face, which had always been relaxed, cracked for the first time when he talked about Ines.
“Besides, she said she didn’t regret her choice.”
Hansen’s face, clearly thinking of her, lit up with joy. He clenched his molars, feeling an inexplicable surge of emotion.
“So there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be that King.”
Carson, who had lost his answer, got up and walked to the window.
It was his habit when he felt that everything was out of his control.
Hansen had no idea, but Noah knew. The lord’s shoulders rose and fell.
Carson stared into the distance for a moment, then slowly turned around, sweeping his hair. He turned around and placed his hand on the window frame, using the light of the midday sun as his background.
Carson slowly walked over and sat down across from Hansen again. He then put the red gem ring on the table directly onto Hansen’s fourth finger on his right hand. When he met his eyes and smiled brightly, the room felt brighter. At that, Hansen and Noah held their breath.
“You suit him very well.”
The young priest’s face turned red, like a woman who had received an unexpected marriage proposal.
“But, does the new King of Puldufin know how to shoot a gun?”
“Oh, no.”
“Then you must learn from today.”
When Hansen nodded resolutely, Carson held out his hand. The handshake confirmed the contract. It was the birth of a new King and a new principality that did not require anyone’s permission.
***
In the dim dawn light, people began to gather one by one in the square near the lord’s castle of Monstera.
Liberalia, the guardian of water sent down by the primordial God to create life.
On the last day of July as if to stand against the blazing sun, people gathered in the streets and prepared to sprinkle water on the whole world.
On this day, regardless of status or gender, everyone accepted the water pouring down from the square like rain.
Ines, Charlotte, and Hansen left everything behind and went to the square to enjoy the festival.
People gathered water at home as if they were gathering gold for today.
They dragged out earthenware vessels called nesium as if they were competing. Some were big enough to reach a grown man’s chest, while others were small enough to stand on a woman’s head.
Children also held cute nesiums in their hands.
When someone filled a sack with water and poured it out to an unrelated person, people scattered the water they had brought in all directions as if they had made a promise.
As the water poured down on the dry land, the ground gave off an earthy smell as if it was screaming, and soon white dust rose up.
Everyone standing here believed that this water would rise to the sky and bring heavy rain. Anyone who did not want to be pushed away by God’s blessing did not spare water.
On this day, even the Castle employees poured water.
In the corner of the square, there were countless buckets of water for everyone to use.
“Oh, it’s cold.”
Starting with Charlotte’s mischievous prank, Ines and Hansen gradually got soaked. It was still hot, even though the sun had not yet fully risen. Their whole bodies were soaked, and they felt cool.
When Charlotte poured more water than they had expected, Hansen opened his mouth wide and let out a deep breath.
Ines stared blankly at him as he was about to leave.
Three nights ago, he had come to see her and told her everything about Carson. By this evening, he would no longer be able to wear the priest’s robe and would take up a gun and go out for revenge.
Hansen's silver hair had grown even longer.
He smiled innocently like a child as he was hit in the face by the water that Charlotte had sprinkled again. The transparent water droplets that fell and collided with his hair gave off a beautiful light.
He looked freer than ever, living a completely new life after his fate was overturned.
Although she didn't know whether his path ahead would be a path of thorns or a path of flowers, Ines hoped that he would never lose his beauty.
If Hansen became the King of Puldupin as planned, today might be the last time she would see him.
"Ah! It's cold."
At that moment, Ines held her breath at the large shower of water that came from somewhere, and Charlotte laughed loudly at her.
As everyone on the street was enjoying the festival, a trumpet sounded to announce someone's arrival. And from afar, she saw Carson von Raymond, the master of this duchy, walking while holding Louis' hand, protected by a large number of people.
The people in the square stopped spraying water for a moment and cheered at the appearance of him and Louis. When he climbed onto the stage, the people’s voices grew louder.
He stood on the stage, perfectly grown, and waved his hands for the citizens of the duchy. Carson, who was clearly taller and seemed gigantic despite the knights behind him, radiated an aura that could not be approached.
The feeling Ines felt while looking at him was arrogantly pride.
She was proud of him.
“Really... cool.”
Charlotte whispered on Ines’ behalf.
“Yes, he shines just like a God.”
Hansen, still in his priest’s attire, irreverently compared him to a God.
Lost in words, Ines simply closed her eyes for a moment. She hoped and hoped that Carson would be safe, that he would return to where he was without a single hair being damaged.
Carson, who stood on the stage, did not say anything to the people.
When he gave some instructions to Noah, who was standing next to him, the knights each came forward, pulling long ropes. Unbelievably, water gushed out from the ropes.
Ines knew what it was, of course. Sometimes, when the weather was too hot and the railroad sagged, the guards would come out and spray water on the railroad with that hose.
The people of Monstera, whose civilization was not yet as advanced as the capital, tilted their heads up and received the water with their whole bodies as if it were sacred water.
Carson looked down from afar with a smile on his face as if he were a God who sprinkled rain on poor farmers.
The people of the duchy chanted his name as if there was a set slogan.
“Carson! Carson! Carson!”
Ines followed them, clenching her fist and shouting his name more passionately than anyone else.
Soon, the climax of Liberalia had arrived.
People stopped throwing water at each other and looked for someone to express their feelings to. And they knelt before him.
When the son knelt down before his father, the father put his hand on his forehead to acknowledge his son. After that, the son took water from an earthenware vessel and poured it on his father’s hand. Then he quickly received the water and drank it.
Somehow, it was a scene that made the viewers feel sad.
Some knelt before an old priest, and others before their wives.
Some couples knelt facing each other and poured water on each other’s hands.
Ines looked at Carson as if it was natural.
She also wanted to kneel before him and pour all the water from an earthenware vessel on him, but Carson was already surrounded by a large crowd. Ines was not in a position to pay him respect.
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