Arkan let out a sharp laugh.
“Isn’t that obvious? He couldn’t have done something like this just once. You’re so outrageous.”
The Privy Councilor seemed somewhat surprised and horrified by Arkan’s angry voice.
Arkan, who had been quietly glaring at his back as he hurriedly retreated, leaned his head back on his chair.
“Plat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What’s good for autumn fever?”
Plat, who had been rolling his eyes, answered calmly.
“We use things that are good for fever first. People in the old days used willow bark water, and I’ve also heard that yellow apples that grow in the fall are good...”
“It’s not the season for yellow apples yet, is it?”
Plat, who had been silent again, tilted his head slightly.
“That’s true for Vetor, but if you go south, the apple harvest will have started.”
To the south of Vetor were the Kingdom of Femens and the Duchy of Stradhog.
Both countries were places where many kinds of fruits were harvested abundantly from spring to fall.
“Shall we send someone to the duchy, Your Majesty?”
Between the Duchy of Stradhog and Vetor, there was a waterway that followed the large river, allowing faster travel than by land.
That was why Plat mentioned the duchy first, not Femens.
He also felt anxious and pressed for time because he had heard the palace doctor’s story from Arkan’s side.
Arkan, who had been silent for a while, said,
“Yes, do so. And if there are any herbs used in the duchy, find out about them and bring them back.”
“I will do so.”
Plat, who was going out, stopped abruptly in front of the door.
Arkan, who had raised his head to ask why, frowned fiercely.
It was Pelarhar. His expression was also unusual.
Plqt, who was caught in the middle, looked back at Arkan in embarrassment and then looked at Pelarhar with his eyebrows furrowed with a somewhat awkward expression.
“Your Majesty, now it is Your Highness...”
“No, come in.”
Unexpectedly, Arkan called Pelarhar in first. Plat was surprised, but he carefully stepped aside.
Pelarhar’s attitude as he strode in like an angry person was unsettling, but Arkan did not allow Plat to watch the two.
“You go.”
Plat hesitated with a worried expression and quietly walked out. Arkan, who had been watching Plat without taking his eyes off him until the moment the door closed, looked at Pelarhar with a tired expression the moment he heard the sound of the hinges locking.
“What’s going on?”
He was so confused by Erdene that he didn’t immediately notice that Pelarhar’s clothes were lighter than usual.
“I came to tell you something, Arkan.”
“Nothing. I don’t have the energy to joke around with you right now.”
“I know.”
Pelarhar answered briefly, raising his eyebrows and waving his fingers as if playing a game.
“I’m coming from the palace.”
Only then did Arkan look up and see Pelarhar. And he realized that he looked different.
It wasn’t the clothes he wore when he was staying at the palace.
A light shirt, a leather vest, and a bag tied diagonally behind his back.
“Pelarhar, you...”
“Arkan, you’ve been jealous of me and Her Majesty a few times. Haven’t you? Don’t tell me you haven’t. I can tell just by looking at your expression.”
Arkan’s forehead wrinkled.
He had no idea what he was trying to say.
And why was he saying this now of all times?
Pelarhar continued.
“Your jealousy... If I say it like this, you’ll get upset, but in fact, it’s no different from childish jealousy. It’s because your favorite person seems to be closer to someone else than you.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Think about it. You were angry about me and Her Majesty being close... but you never thought that Her Majesty truly adored me. You never really thought that there was something immoral between us, did you? If you did, you would have questioned Her Majesty all along.”
It’s not like he never questioned her, Arkan thought.
But as Pelarhar had said, it was just like a child’s tantrum.
He had tried very hard to bury and push away the many things that made him uncomfortable.
Was that also one of his guilt? Arkan stared at Pelarhar, sinking the sudden question deep into his heart.
As if he knew what Arkan was thinking, Pelarhar stared at him blankly for a moment without saying anything.
“It’s true that Her Majesty has no selfish motives toward me. But that’s not the case with me.”
There was a bang! The hand that had slammed the table felt numb, but Arkan didn’t even realize it.
Even if his bones had broken, he certainly wouldn’t have noticed.
Arkan had reacted so violently without even knowing what he was doing.
“Say it again.”
A dark shadow fell over Pelarhar’s vision.
Pelarhar’s eyes, which had always held a sad smile, were now cold and settled.
“You knew that I had feelings for Her Majesty. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. I know better than anyone that you’re not that stupid.”
As Pelarhar muttered softly, Arkan closed his mouth.
However, as if he could not control his anger, the veins on his forehead and temples swelled.
His clenched molars made a cracking sound.
He was right. Arkan was not a dull person.
He knew what his feelings were for Erdene, and he had simply buried them with his guilt.
Just as she knew that Arkan had a lot to do with the mess her life was making, Arkan knew that he was already completely in love with Erdene.
“Pelarhar, you...”
“Arkan, did you know that the Vikings were being ridiculed by the people?”
Arkan’s brow furrowed.
“What are you talking about?”
Pelarhar burst out laughing.
Although he had never thought it was possible, he was shocked and secretly angry when he confirmed that Arkan had no knowledge of the rumors surrounding Erdene.
“Rumors spread that you were treating Her Majesty coldly, and people like Montiel Zelma, who liked to make up gossip, were all pointing fingers at Her Majesty. You didn’t know. I understand. Her Majesty wouldn’t have lamented every little thing to you. But, Arkan. Why did you do that? Why didn’t you have the courage to kneel before that person, even if it meant breaking your pride? Why didn’t you honestly confess that you would take some responsibility for the life you had twisted?”
Pelarhar recalled Erdene’s gaze, which sometimes seemed empty, as she looked out the window, and felt a new sense of anger.
Whenever he heard rumors that Arkan had not slept with her yet, that they were never close as a couple, it was not Arkan or Erdene who would get angry as if it were his own business, but Pelarhar.
He was even more angry because he knew why Arkan could not approach Erdene. It was absurd that he was no longer young, had the ability and authority to deal with her properly, and yet did not try to use it at all in his relationship with Erdene.
And yet, he was irritated by the fact that he was not abandoned.
Now, he had to cut it off.
Pelarhar had to give up before his feelings for Erdene deepened and became irreversible before he could not cut it off on his own.
“...You put your pride before the companion you have received with your own hands, Arkan Cyprusmain.”
Arkan tried to straighten his vision, which was shaky even while sitting as if he was staggering.
Pelarhar’s words were right, and the sense of guilt he had always tried to hide was right before his eyes, making him feel dizzy.
Pelarhar said,
“The King’s knees should not be too light. But they should not be unnecessarily heavy either. You should apologize to your consort.”
Pelarhar ordered his servants to pack their luggage and headed straight to the Queen’s palace.
The maids were busy with their work, being careful not to make a fuss as much as possible, and the bedroom door was closed.
It felt strange to see the usually bustling place now enveloped in silence.
“Your Highness.”
Sabnake, who had noticed his entrance first, bowed respectfully.
Pelarhar glanced at the tightly closed bedroom door and asked,
“Is Her Majesty still unconscious?”
Sabnake’s eyebrows furrowed gloomily.
“Yes, Her Majesty. Not yet...”
“What are the palace doctors doing?”
Pelarhar let out a short sigh, his voice cracking with anger.
“Who is guarding her?”
“Miss Sophia. And Anne and I are taking turns wiping down Her Majesty’s body. We need to bring down the fever...”
“I have something to say to Her Majesty, so tell Miss Fiddler.”
“Yes? But...”
“Tell her. I will wait.”
Sabnake tilted her head but had no choice but to go into the bedroom.
After a while, the door opened with the sound of small footsteps, and Sophia appeared.
“Isn’t that obvious? He couldn’t have done something like this just once. You’re so outrageous.”
The Privy Councilor seemed somewhat surprised and horrified by Arkan’s angry voice.
Arkan, who had been quietly glaring at his back as he hurriedly retreated, leaned his head back on his chair.
“Plat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“What’s good for autumn fever?”
Plat, who had been rolling his eyes, answered calmly.
“We use things that are good for fever first. People in the old days used willow bark water, and I’ve also heard that yellow apples that grow in the fall are good...”
“It’s not the season for yellow apples yet, is it?”
Plat, who had been silent again, tilted his head slightly.
“That’s true for Vetor, but if you go south, the apple harvest will have started.”
To the south of Vetor were the Kingdom of Femens and the Duchy of Stradhog.
Both countries were places where many kinds of fruits were harvested abundantly from spring to fall.
“Shall we send someone to the duchy, Your Majesty?”
Between the Duchy of Stradhog and Vetor, there was a waterway that followed the large river, allowing faster travel than by land.
That was why Plat mentioned the duchy first, not Femens.
He also felt anxious and pressed for time because he had heard the palace doctor’s story from Arkan’s side.
Arkan, who had been silent for a while, said,
“Yes, do so. And if there are any herbs used in the duchy, find out about them and bring them back.”
“I will do so.”
Plat, who was going out, stopped abruptly in front of the door.
Arkan, who had raised his head to ask why, frowned fiercely.
It was Pelarhar. His expression was also unusual.
Plqt, who was caught in the middle, looked back at Arkan in embarrassment and then looked at Pelarhar with his eyebrows furrowed with a somewhat awkward expression.
“Your Majesty, now it is Your Highness...”
“No, come in.”
Unexpectedly, Arkan called Pelarhar in first. Plat was surprised, but he carefully stepped aside.
Pelarhar’s attitude as he strode in like an angry person was unsettling, but Arkan did not allow Plat to watch the two.
“You go.”
Plat hesitated with a worried expression and quietly walked out. Arkan, who had been watching Plat without taking his eyes off him until the moment the door closed, looked at Pelarhar with a tired expression the moment he heard the sound of the hinges locking.
“What’s going on?”
He was so confused by Erdene that he didn’t immediately notice that Pelarhar’s clothes were lighter than usual.
“I came to tell you something, Arkan.”
“Nothing. I don’t have the energy to joke around with you right now.”
“I know.”
Pelarhar answered briefly, raising his eyebrows and waving his fingers as if playing a game.
“I’m coming from the palace.”
Only then did Arkan look up and see Pelarhar. And he realized that he looked different.
It wasn’t the clothes he wore when he was staying at the palace.
A light shirt, a leather vest, and a bag tied diagonally behind his back.
“Pelarhar, you...”
“Arkan, you’ve been jealous of me and Her Majesty a few times. Haven’t you? Don’t tell me you haven’t. I can tell just by looking at your expression.”
Arkan’s forehead wrinkled.
He had no idea what he was trying to say.
And why was he saying this now of all times?
Pelarhar continued.
“Your jealousy... If I say it like this, you’ll get upset, but in fact, it’s no different from childish jealousy. It’s because your favorite person seems to be closer to someone else than you.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Think about it. You were angry about me and Her Majesty being close... but you never thought that Her Majesty truly adored me. You never really thought that there was something immoral between us, did you? If you did, you would have questioned Her Majesty all along.”
It’s not like he never questioned her, Arkan thought.
But as Pelarhar had said, it was just like a child’s tantrum.
He had tried very hard to bury and push away the many things that made him uncomfortable.
Was that also one of his guilt? Arkan stared at Pelarhar, sinking the sudden question deep into his heart.
As if he knew what Arkan was thinking, Pelarhar stared at him blankly for a moment without saying anything.
“It’s true that Her Majesty has no selfish motives toward me. But that’s not the case with me.”
There was a bang! The hand that had slammed the table felt numb, but Arkan didn’t even realize it.
Even if his bones had broken, he certainly wouldn’t have noticed.
Arkan had reacted so violently without even knowing what he was doing.
“Say it again.”
A dark shadow fell over Pelarhar’s vision.
Pelarhar’s eyes, which had always held a sad smile, were now cold and settled.
“You knew that I had feelings for Her Majesty. Don’t tell me you didn’t know. I know better than anyone that you’re not that stupid.”
As Pelarhar muttered softly, Arkan closed his mouth.
However, as if he could not control his anger, the veins on his forehead and temples swelled.
His clenched molars made a cracking sound.
He was right. Arkan was not a dull person.
He knew what his feelings were for Erdene, and he had simply buried them with his guilt.
Just as she knew that Arkan had a lot to do with the mess her life was making, Arkan knew that he was already completely in love with Erdene.
“Pelarhar, you...”
“Arkan, did you know that the Vikings were being ridiculed by the people?”
Arkan’s brow furrowed.
“What are you talking about?”
Pelarhar burst out laughing.
Although he had never thought it was possible, he was shocked and secretly angry when he confirmed that Arkan had no knowledge of the rumors surrounding Erdene.
“Rumors spread that you were treating Her Majesty coldly, and people like Montiel Zelma, who liked to make up gossip, were all pointing fingers at Her Majesty. You didn’t know. I understand. Her Majesty wouldn’t have lamented every little thing to you. But, Arkan. Why did you do that? Why didn’t you have the courage to kneel before that person, even if it meant breaking your pride? Why didn’t you honestly confess that you would take some responsibility for the life you had twisted?”
Pelarhar recalled Erdene’s gaze, which sometimes seemed empty, as she looked out the window, and felt a new sense of anger.
Whenever he heard rumors that Arkan had not slept with her yet, that they were never close as a couple, it was not Arkan or Erdene who would get angry as if it were his own business, but Pelarhar.
He was even more angry because he knew why Arkan could not approach Erdene. It was absurd that he was no longer young, had the ability and authority to deal with her properly, and yet did not try to use it at all in his relationship with Erdene.
And yet, he was irritated by the fact that he was not abandoned.
Now, he had to cut it off.
Pelarhar had to give up before his feelings for Erdene deepened and became irreversible before he could not cut it off on his own.
“...You put your pride before the companion you have received with your own hands, Arkan Cyprusmain.”
Arkan tried to straighten his vision, which was shaky even while sitting as if he was staggering.
Pelarhar’s words were right, and the sense of guilt he had always tried to hide was right before his eyes, making him feel dizzy.
Pelarhar said,
“The King’s knees should not be too light. But they should not be unnecessarily heavy either. You should apologize to your consort.”
***
Pelarhar ordered his servants to pack their luggage and headed straight to the Queen’s palace.
The maids were busy with their work, being careful not to make a fuss as much as possible, and the bedroom door was closed.
It felt strange to see the usually bustling place now enveloped in silence.
“Your Highness.”
Sabnake, who had noticed his entrance first, bowed respectfully.
Pelarhar glanced at the tightly closed bedroom door and asked,
“Is Her Majesty still unconscious?”
Sabnake’s eyebrows furrowed gloomily.
“Yes, Her Majesty. Not yet...”
“What are the palace doctors doing?”
Pelarhar let out a short sigh, his voice cracking with anger.
“Who is guarding her?”
“Miss Sophia. And Anne and I are taking turns wiping down Her Majesty’s body. We need to bring down the fever...”
“I have something to say to Her Majesty, so tell Miss Fiddler.”
“Yes? But...”
“Tell her. I will wait.”
Sabnake tilted her head but had no choice but to go into the bedroom.
After a while, the door opened with the sound of small footsteps, and Sophia appeared.
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment