“Did you observe all that in that short time?”
Belen was shocked, but that was normal for Erdene. She had a lot of experience leading various types of soldiers, but more than anything, she had encountered many such assassins herself.
“Those kinds of people usually sneak in through blind spots in the outer wall where they are not noticed. That’s why I told you to place soldiers on the outside. If there were too many eyes watching, they wouldn’t be able to show their strengths.”
Belen nodded.
“I understand what Your Majesty said.”
“Do you really understand?”
“Of course. I understand perfectly.”
“Then you also understand that we need to strengthen the guards inside more thoroughly, right?”
“Of course... Yes?”
Erdene looked at Belen with an expression that said she knew this would happen, and squeezed his shoulder tightly.
“Ugh!”
“If they really came with evil intentions, would they give up so easily? If they can’t get through the outer wall, they would try to enter inside. So, I’m telling you to warn the guards. There can’t be any confusion, so don’t even open your mouth to talk about assassination. Got it? We have to act under the pretext of ensuring the safety of the guests visiting Vetor.”
Erdene politely took Pelarhar’s outstretched hand and approached the table.
However, her expression as she sat down was an ambiguous smile, unlike her usual.
“I’m terrible at this kind of game.”
Pelarhar burst into a pleasant laugh. He seemed to be just moderately drunk, and he smelled of fragrant plum wine.
“I’ll teach you the rules.”
He pulled a chair toward Erdene and sat down. Their shoulders touched slightly, but Erdene seemed unfazed.
However, Arkan, who was watching them, was not.
Marquis Fiddler realized that Arkan had lost focus on the conversation at some point. And that it was from the moment Erdene appeared.
From the moment Erdene appeared, Arkan had been talking about a philosophy book he had recently read with interest, but his eyes had been following Erdene.
When his eyes met hers, he stood up and wiggled his hips as if to speak, but Pelarhar stopped him.
Immediately after that, Arkan suddenly looked offended and answered, looking only in the direction where Pelarhar and Erdene were.
Arkan looked openly displeased when he saw her sitting at the card game table and Pelarhar approaching her.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
Marquis Fiddlers stared blankly at Arkan’s profile, who was turning his gaze toward the table, and cleared his throat lightly.
“Wouldn’t it be okay for Your Majesty to play cards with them?”
“There are already four people, so what..."
Arkan, who had been responding bluntly, suddenly looked at the Marquis.
“Why are you suddenly talking about that?”
Marquis Fiddler rolled his eyes indifferently.
“I told you because you seemed to be concerned since Her Majesty came.”
“Concerned? Me? Not at all. You too, Marquis.”
Arkan let out an awkward laugh.
He changed his posture, pretending to be relaxed, leaning back against the sofa, but the heels of his shoes kept hitting the floor.
The Marquis said,
“His Highness Pelarhar is a cheerful and informal person. That must have been a great comfort to Her Majesty. After all, Vetor is a country with strict rules.”
“Huh, both of them are self-indulgent, so it suits them well.”
Arkan replied indifferently, but once again looked toward the card game table.
His shoulders flinched when Erdene, who had been looking at the cards with Pelarhar, burst into laughter.
“How is Your Majesty?”
Arkan looked at Marquis Fiddler.
“How are you? What do you mean?”
“Well done.”
Arkan raised one eyebrow and laughed weakly.
“Well done?”
“Yes. Don’t misunderstand, Your Majesty. I... love my wife. Of course, how can I condone the crime of trying to deceive Your Majesty and Her Majesty? However, a married couple is someone who shares rewards and punishments. As the mistress of the Marquis’s family, her conduct was inadequate and reckless, but I couldn’t kick her out because of that.”
“I know you care for the Marchioness.”
Arkan glanced at Erdene again. She must have just learned the rules because she was looking at her cards quite seriously.
Nevertheless, Pelarhar occasionally approached Erdene to look over her cards and offered her some advice.
It was hard to tell whether it was Pelarhar or Erdene who was bothering him.
As if something was stuck in his throat, a faint discomfort and foreign feeling did not leave him.
Just as Marquis Fiddler was about to change the subject, someone rushed in from the open door.
Arkan, who was already in a bad mood, raised his head with a frown.
“Your Majesty.”
The one who was casually flustered in front of the guests was unexpectedly Plat. Not only was he fidgety, but his face was pale.
“What is it?”
“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”
When Plat whispered, Arkan’s face also instantly hardened. He turned his head and asked Plat urgently.
“Is it true?”
“I am sure.”
The Marquis asked.
“Your Majesty, what is it?”
However, Arkan shook his head at him. He didn’t know whether it was because he couldn’t answer, or because he was telling the Marquis not to ask. Maybe it was both.
Arkan got up and strode toward the table where the card game was in full swing.
When he approached, the two noblemen and the man stood up first, putting down their cards.
Erdene and Pelarhar turned their heads and before they could stand up, Arkan grabbed Erdene’s wrist.
Erdene’s eyes widened.
“Your Majesty, why are you doing this?”
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
At that moment, Pelarhar gently interjected.
“Your Majesty, one more turn and you'll be the talk of the town tonight.”
“I did not tell you, Duke.”
Pelerhar hesitated as he was about to reach out, then stepped back.
Although he always called him ‘Duke’ in front of others, Arkan’s atmosphere was completely different from usual.
Erdene must have noticed it too, as she turned around the table and said,
“His Majesty will repay me if I do it. You guys do it yourselves.”
Arkan didn’t have time to say anything else and led her into a smaller, deeper room.
After sending all the servants out and making sure no one was inside, Arkan locked the door and turned around with an angry expression.
“What are you doing? Without consulting me!”
Belen was shocked, but that was normal for Erdene. She had a lot of experience leading various types of soldiers, but more than anything, she had encountered many such assassins herself.
“Those kinds of people usually sneak in through blind spots in the outer wall where they are not noticed. That’s why I told you to place soldiers on the outside. If there were too many eyes watching, they wouldn’t be able to show their strengths.”
Belen nodded.
“I understand what Your Majesty said.”
“Do you really understand?”
“Of course. I understand perfectly.”
“Then you also understand that we need to strengthen the guards inside more thoroughly, right?”
“Of course... Yes?”
Erdene looked at Belen with an expression that said she knew this would happen, and squeezed his shoulder tightly.
“Ugh!”
“If they really came with evil intentions, would they give up so easily? If they can’t get through the outer wall, they would try to enter inside. So, I’m telling you to warn the guards. There can’t be any confusion, so don’t even open your mouth to talk about assassination. Got it? We have to act under the pretext of ensuring the safety of the guests visiting Vetor.”
When Belen made an impressed expression, Erdene said.
“So you look exactly like Thelma.”
“Huh, aren’t I better?”
“What specifically?”
Belen swallowed as he was about to ask if everything was like that and coughed in vain.
“I’ll do my best.”
“What are you talking about out of the blue?”
“I know that Sir Thelma was Your Majesty’s favorite aide, but I’ll show you that I can do just as well.”
If you have time for that, you should practice swordsmanship. Erdene thought.
If things continue like this, Sophia won’t be able to get married...
“Then I’ll prepare as Your Majesty says.”
“Don’t forget to keep your mouth shut.”
“Understood.”
Erdene said goodbye to Belen and went back to the banquet hall and the separate room set up behind it.
She thought everyone had left, but a couple of the envoys were still there, chatting with the people.
When Erdene entered, the people at the door bowed politely.
Arkan was sitting on one of the sofas, talking to Marquis Fiddler, when their eyes met, and someone suddenly blocked Erdene’s view.
“Your Majesty.”
“The Duke.”
It was Pelarhar. He extended his hand with a cool attitude as if he was used to playing.
“If it’s okay, wouldn’t you like to play a card game with me?”
Erdene turned her head. A pair of noblemen she didn’t know were sitting at a round table. They seemed to be lovers or a married couple, and they smiled at Erdene with a friendly smile, probably because they were friends with Pelarhar.
“Your Majesty, it would be an honor if you could join us.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s the first time I have come to a place like this.”
“So you look exactly like Thelma.”
“Huh, aren’t I better?”
“What specifically?”
Belen swallowed as he was about to ask if everything was like that and coughed in vain.
“I’ll do my best.”
“What are you talking about out of the blue?”
“I know that Sir Thelma was Your Majesty’s favorite aide, but I’ll show you that I can do just as well.”
If you have time for that, you should practice swordsmanship. Erdene thought.
If things continue like this, Sophia won’t be able to get married...
“Then I’ll prepare as Your Majesty says.”
“Don’t forget to keep your mouth shut.”
“Understood.”
Erdene said goodbye to Belen and went back to the banquet hall and the separate room set up behind it.
She thought everyone had left, but a couple of the envoys were still there, chatting with the people.
When Erdene entered, the people at the door bowed politely.
Arkan was sitting on one of the sofas, talking to Marquis Fiddler, when their eyes met, and someone suddenly blocked Erdene’s view.
“Your Majesty.”
“The Duke.”
It was Pelarhar. He extended his hand with a cool attitude as if he was used to playing.
“If it’s okay, wouldn’t you like to play a card game with me?”
Erdene turned her head. A pair of noblemen she didn’t know were sitting at a round table. They seemed to be lovers or a married couple, and they smiled at Erdene with a friendly smile, probably because they were friends with Pelarhar.
“Your Majesty, it would be an honor if you could join us.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s the first time I have come to a place like this.”
Erdene politely took Pelarhar’s outstretched hand and approached the table.
However, her expression as she sat down was an ambiguous smile, unlike her usual.
“I’m terrible at this kind of game.”
Pelarhar burst into a pleasant laugh. He seemed to be just moderately drunk, and he smelled of fragrant plum wine.
“I’ll teach you the rules.”
He pulled a chair toward Erdene and sat down. Their shoulders touched slightly, but Erdene seemed unfazed.
However, Arkan, who was watching them, was not.
Marquis Fiddler realized that Arkan had lost focus on the conversation at some point. And that it was from the moment Erdene appeared.
From the moment Erdene appeared, Arkan had been talking about a philosophy book he had recently read with interest, but his eyes had been following Erdene.
When his eyes met hers, he stood up and wiggled his hips as if to speak, but Pelarhar stopped him.
Immediately after that, Arkan suddenly looked offended and answered, looking only in the direction where Pelarhar and Erdene were.
Arkan looked openly displeased when he saw her sitting at the card game table and Pelarhar approaching her.
“Your Majesty.”
“Hmm?”
Marquis Fiddlers stared blankly at Arkan’s profile, who was turning his gaze toward the table, and cleared his throat lightly.
“Wouldn’t it be okay for Your Majesty to play cards with them?”
“There are already four people, so what..."
Arkan, who had been responding bluntly, suddenly looked at the Marquis.
“Why are you suddenly talking about that?”
Marquis Fiddler rolled his eyes indifferently.
“I told you because you seemed to be concerned since Her Majesty came.”
“Concerned? Me? Not at all. You too, Marquis.”
Arkan let out an awkward laugh.
He changed his posture, pretending to be relaxed, leaning back against the sofa, but the heels of his shoes kept hitting the floor.
The Marquis said,
“His Highness Pelarhar is a cheerful and informal person. That must have been a great comfort to Her Majesty. After all, Vetor is a country with strict rules.”
“Huh, both of them are self-indulgent, so it suits them well.”
Arkan replied indifferently, but once again looked toward the card game table.
His shoulders flinched when Erdene, who had been looking at the cards with Pelarhar, burst into laughter.
“How is Your Majesty?”
Arkan looked at Marquis Fiddler.
“How are you? What do you mean?”
“Are you doing well with Her Majesty?”
Who could know all the thoughts that passed through Arkan’s mind at that moment? The two months of squabbles, arguments, things broken by Erdene, and being irritated because he couldn’t even focus on important things, let alone read peacefully, flashed before his eyes.
Arkan frowned and answered.
“Well, there hasn’t been any bloodshed yet.”
Marquis Fiddler remained silent for a moment, then furrowed his eyebrows with a strange expression.
“Actually, my wife has been worrying about you all the time, so I wanted to see you today for the first time in a long while and ask you about it.”
Arkan felt a little embarrassed when the topic of the Marchioness came up.
In fact, Arkan had been thinking about talking about his wife since he first saw Marquis Fiddler, but he had missed the right moment because of the commotion in the restaurant.
“Even if I didn't, I was going to tell you about it when I saw you... She has written to me several times, but I have not read them.”
Who could know all the thoughts that passed through Arkan’s mind at that moment? The two months of squabbles, arguments, things broken by Erdene, and being irritated because he couldn’t even focus on important things, let alone read peacefully, flashed before his eyes.
Arkan frowned and answered.
“Well, there hasn’t been any bloodshed yet.”
Marquis Fiddler remained silent for a moment, then furrowed his eyebrows with a strange expression.
“Actually, my wife has been worrying about you all the time, so I wanted to see you today for the first time in a long while and ask you about it.”
Arkan felt a little embarrassed when the topic of the Marchioness came up.
In fact, Arkan had been thinking about talking about his wife since he first saw Marquis Fiddler, but he had missed the right moment because of the commotion in the restaurant.
“Even if I didn't, I was going to tell you about it when I saw you... She has written to me several times, but I have not read them.”
“Well done.”
Arkan raised one eyebrow and laughed weakly.
“Well done?”
“Yes. Don’t misunderstand, Your Majesty. I... love my wife. Of course, how can I condone the crime of trying to deceive Your Majesty and Her Majesty? However, a married couple is someone who shares rewards and punishments. As the mistress of the Marquis’s family, her conduct was inadequate and reckless, but I couldn’t kick her out because of that.”
“I know you care for the Marchioness.”
Arkan glanced at Erdene again. She must have just learned the rules because she was looking at her cards quite seriously.
Nevertheless, Pelarhar occasionally approached Erdene to look over her cards and offered her some advice.
It was hard to tell whether it was Pelarhar or Erdene who was bothering him.
As if something was stuck in his throat, a faint discomfort and foreign feeling did not leave him.
Just as Marquis Fiddler was about to change the subject, someone rushed in from the open door.
Arkan, who was already in a bad mood, raised his head with a frown.
“Your Majesty.”
The one who was casually flustered in front of the guests was unexpectedly Plat. Not only was he fidgety, but his face was pale.
“What is it?”
“Your Majesty, I have something to tell you.”
When Plat whispered, Arkan’s face also instantly hardened. He turned his head and asked Plat urgently.
“Is it true?”
“I am sure.”
The Marquis asked.
“Your Majesty, what is it?”
However, Arkan shook his head at him. He didn’t know whether it was because he couldn’t answer, or because he was telling the Marquis not to ask. Maybe it was both.
Arkan got up and strode toward the table where the card game was in full swing.
When he approached, the two noblemen and the man stood up first, putting down their cards.
Erdene and Pelarhar turned their heads and before they could stand up, Arkan grabbed Erdene’s wrist.
Erdene’s eyes widened.
“Your Majesty, why are you doing this?”
“Let’s talk for a moment.”
At that moment, Pelarhar gently interjected.
“Your Majesty, one more turn and you'll be the talk of the town tonight.”
“I did not tell you, Duke.”
Pelerhar hesitated as he was about to reach out, then stepped back.
Although he always called him ‘Duke’ in front of others, Arkan’s atmosphere was completely different from usual.
Erdene must have noticed it too, as she turned around the table and said,
“His Majesty will repay me if I do it. You guys do it yourselves.”
Arkan didn’t have time to say anything else and led her into a smaller, deeper room.
After sending all the servants out and making sure no one was inside, Arkan locked the door and turned around with an angry expression.
“What are you doing? Without consulting me!”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment