It was an unwanted marriage. It was something she had never thought about. Until just three or four months ago, Arkan had been a non-existent person in Erdene’s life.
If she had ascended to the throne of the Emperor and tried to conquer the entire inland, well. If she had, would she have met him then?
If she had, she would never have met his eyes like this. There would have been no reason to smile or talk to him.
Erdene would have done everything she could, and Arkan and his army would never have been able to stop her.
She didn’t know why she felt fortunate.
No, it wasn’t fortunate... At least she was glad that she had escaped the situation where she had to kill him. Even Erdene herself found it hard to accept and understand.
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
Arkan asked, who was silently massaging her wrist.
Erdene stared blankly into his golden eyes, which were like an eagle’s, and thus reminded her of her hometown, and shrugged her shoulders.
“Thoughts about Your Majesty.”
Suddenly, Arkan blinked with a surprised expression.
From the way he held out her wrist to the answer she had just given, Erdene had been constantly evading Arkan’s expectations.
Then, Erdene added a word with a half-smiling expression.
“I’m not saying that I’m swearing inside.”
Arkan pursed his lips at her words.
“I didn’t say anything. Are you saying that because you were offended?”
If she had ascended to the throne of the Emperor and tried to conquer the entire inland, well. If she had, would she have met him then?
If she had, she would never have met his eyes like this. There would have been no reason to smile or talk to him.
Erdene would have done everything she could, and Arkan and his army would never have been able to stop her.
She didn’t know why she felt fortunate.
No, it wasn’t fortunate... At least she was glad that she had escaped the situation where she had to kill him. Even Erdene herself found it hard to accept and understand.
“What are you thinking so deeply about?”
Arkan asked, who was silently massaging her wrist.
Erdene stared blankly into his golden eyes, which were like an eagle’s, and thus reminded her of her hometown, and shrugged her shoulders.
“Thoughts about Your Majesty.”
Suddenly, Arkan blinked with a surprised expression.
From the way he held out her wrist to the answer she had just given, Erdene had been constantly evading Arkan’s expectations.
Then, Erdene added a word with a half-smiling expression.
“I’m not saying that I’m swearing inside.”
Arkan pursed his lips at her words.
“I didn’t say anything. Are you saying that because you were offended?”
Even so, Arkan continued to knead her wrist. With very careful hands.
Just like Erdene, Arkan felt a strange sensation the whole time he was touching her wrist. He had brainwashed himself into thinking that it was because he had never done this to anyone, and that it was unfamiliar...
But Arkan knew better than anyone that it wasn’t just because of that.
Erdene, sitting in front of him, seemed like a completely different person from the girl he had known until then.
Was it because she didn’t speak? Or was it because of her defenseless expression? Arkan’s gaze had already lingered on Erdene’s face.
[First love, make a fuss.]
Pelarhar’s reprimand stabbed at the center of his heart.
First love. Arkan thought. First love! That was ridiculous.
No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t make sense that he loved Erdene.
He hadn’t married for love.
Even if that wasn’t the case, Arkan’s idea of love should be peaceful.
For example, something without doubt, something without conflict, something that makes you smile with happiness when you open your eyes in the morning.
Just like Arkan’s own life before his only brother died.
The world that had been shattered by the death of Prince Iris never returned to its original state.
It simply maintained a precarious balance until the very end.
That was why Arkan couldn’t easily love anyone.
He didn't even bother to look for someone he could love. As he had told Plat, royalty was the most valuable item in the marriage market.
A King's marriage wasn't all about love.
Many Kings and Queens married without love and had as many children as possible without any affectionate expectations.
Continuing the royal bloodline was the only important task for the King and Queen. There was no need for feelings.
However, Arkan wanted to be faithful to Erdene. That was also because of Arkan's own guilt.
He had no small part in forcing her down from the throne she had almost ascended to.
Their goals for taking the throne from her were different, but Tenek and Arkan had clearly joined hands for a moment and thrown Erdene to the ground.
If Arkan had found out the detailed process of leading the seven countries in the interior and conducting a conspiracy with Tenek, Erdene might have tried to kill Arkan.
So his feelings were not love, and they shouldn't have been.
As he had told her, the reason he didn’t like Erdene hanging out with other men besides him was because he didn’t want to spoil the royal family’s reputation, and the reason he thought about her all day was because Erdene kept nagging at him about everything.
“What are you thinking about?”
Erdene repeated the question Arkan had asked her.
Arkan suddenly looked down at her wrist, realizing that he had been massaging the same spot the whole time.
“Did it hurt?”
“Not much. I think I’m okay now. It’s not like I broke any bones, it’s just a little sprain.”
“Still, I think it would be better to call the palace doctor.”
Erdene burst into laughter, naturally pulling his hand away and lowering his sleeve.
“If I keep calling the court doctor for this kind of thing, the court doctor will come and go whenever I sneeze. It’s not like my wrist was cut off, so there’s no need to make such a fuss.”
Arkan frowned.
“What are you talking about? You’re going to get in big trouble.”
He regretfully held his empty hand and hid it. Erdene’s wrist was now hidden by the sleeve.
However, Arkan could still feel Erdene’s skin, its warmth, and the occasional pulse that beat vigorously with his fingertips.
“You won’t be suspicious anymore, right?”
Arkan made a cold expression at Erdene’s words.
“You just shouldn’t do anything suspicious in the first place.”
“You like me that much?”
Arkan opened his mouth wide.
What are you talking about? He should have told her to just sleep-talk in her dreams, but he couldn’t say anything.
Does he like Erdene? Or is he in love, as Pelarhar said? Is that why he loses his composure like this and destroys the image of a King he has built up so far several times a day?
Arkan turned his head sharply, his face flushed. Then, without answering, he opened the book he had been reading again.
Although he did not see any words, he kept his eyes fixed on the same page and did not answer Erdene.
The second letter from Merton arrived just before the end of summer.
Erdene opened the window as soon as she saw the shadow circling near the palace, and at that moment Glucker folded his wings and glided inside.
“Your Majesty!”
Sophia, who was just now adjusting her new dress, came running in startled.
Erdene made a shushing motion with her hand for her to be quiet, then closed the door and did not let anyone in.
The bird seemed a little tired from the long flight, fighting the heat.
Erdene took out the sack she had temporarily saved and stashed it on one side of the shelf, made Glucker sit down, and untied the letter tied to his ankle.
Sophia, still wide-eyed, pursed her lips.
“Your Majesty, what is this eagle...?”
“It’s not an eagle, it’s a falcon. In Hirschsten, they use falcons as well as pigeons to deliver messages. By the way, I forgot to tell you about Glucker.”
“Then this falcon is from the Empire...!”
Erdene hissed again and placed her index finger on her lips.
When Glucker clicked his beak, she said,
“Sophia, would you bring him some water? And some food?”
“If you say he’ll eat...”
“Raw meat. Anything.”
Raw meat. What on earth should I tell the kitchen to get raw meat?
Sophia racked her brain, thinking of an excuse to give the cook.
In the meantime, Erdene quickly opened Merton’s letter. This time, the content was shorter than last time.
[Your Majesty.
Glucker has safely arrived with the letter you sent. I have trained him to be careful when crossing the border, but I hope that no accidents occur.
After much difficulty, I have finally had the opportunity to meet the Empress. I tried to persuade her as Your Majesty suggested, but it was not easy.]
The content was somewhat disappointing. The first was when Empress Roelica rejected Erdene’s offer of cooperation through Merton.
[Princess Erdene, no. I do not know what she, who is now the queen of Vetor, is thinking...I just want to focus on prenatal education. I just hope this child is born safely, so please don’t confuse me.]
Empress Roelica seemed to have decided to prioritize her own safety and that of her child overtaking an uncertain gamble.
However, judging from the fact that she didn’t report Merton to Tenek or anything, there was still hope.
Even though she had chosen to conceive for the time being, she might be able to take action on her own after the child was born.
Merton’s letter continued a little further down.
[The search for the court doctor who retired and returned to his hometown is still ongoing. I say search because, regrettably, we have not been able to find the person in question in his hometown. His family does not even know that he has resigned.]
This was worse news than losing Eoelica’s help.
The person who most likely knew something about the sudden death of the late Emperor, the person who might have altered the record of the letter of resignation, had disappeared without a trace...
'That means there was someone else's intervention. If the family back home didn't even know that he had resigned, that means they couldn't even send a letter to tell him that they were returning home. If that's true, then even if we find him...'
We won't find him alive.
Erdene clenched her molars so hard that they made a cracking sound.
Just like Erdene, Arkan felt a strange sensation the whole time he was touching her wrist. He had brainwashed himself into thinking that it was because he had never done this to anyone, and that it was unfamiliar...
But Arkan knew better than anyone that it wasn’t just because of that.
Erdene, sitting in front of him, seemed like a completely different person from the girl he had known until then.
Was it because she didn’t speak? Or was it because of her defenseless expression? Arkan’s gaze had already lingered on Erdene’s face.
[First love, make a fuss.]
Pelarhar’s reprimand stabbed at the center of his heart.
First love. Arkan thought. First love! That was ridiculous.
No matter how much he thought about it, it didn’t make sense that he loved Erdene.
He hadn’t married for love.
Even if that wasn’t the case, Arkan’s idea of love should be peaceful.
For example, something without doubt, something without conflict, something that makes you smile with happiness when you open your eyes in the morning.
Just like Arkan’s own life before his only brother died.
The world that had been shattered by the death of Prince Iris never returned to its original state.
It simply maintained a precarious balance until the very end.
That was why Arkan couldn’t easily love anyone.
He didn't even bother to look for someone he could love. As he had told Plat, royalty was the most valuable item in the marriage market.
A King's marriage wasn't all about love.
Many Kings and Queens married without love and had as many children as possible without any affectionate expectations.
Continuing the royal bloodline was the only important task for the King and Queen. There was no need for feelings.
However, Arkan wanted to be faithful to Erdene. That was also because of Arkan's own guilt.
He had no small part in forcing her down from the throne she had almost ascended to.
Their goals for taking the throne from her were different, but Tenek and Arkan had clearly joined hands for a moment and thrown Erdene to the ground.
If Arkan had found out the detailed process of leading the seven countries in the interior and conducting a conspiracy with Tenek, Erdene might have tried to kill Arkan.
So his feelings were not love, and they shouldn't have been.
As he had told her, the reason he didn’t like Erdene hanging out with other men besides him was because he didn’t want to spoil the royal family’s reputation, and the reason he thought about her all day was because Erdene kept nagging at him about everything.
“What are you thinking about?”
Erdene repeated the question Arkan had asked her.
Arkan suddenly looked down at her wrist, realizing that he had been massaging the same spot the whole time.
“Did it hurt?”
“Not much. I think I’m okay now. It’s not like I broke any bones, it’s just a little sprain.”
“Still, I think it would be better to call the palace doctor.”
Erdene burst into laughter, naturally pulling his hand away and lowering his sleeve.
“If I keep calling the court doctor for this kind of thing, the court doctor will come and go whenever I sneeze. It’s not like my wrist was cut off, so there’s no need to make such a fuss.”
Arkan frowned.
“What are you talking about? You’re going to get in big trouble.”
He regretfully held his empty hand and hid it. Erdene’s wrist was now hidden by the sleeve.
However, Arkan could still feel Erdene’s skin, its warmth, and the occasional pulse that beat vigorously with his fingertips.
“You won’t be suspicious anymore, right?”
Arkan made a cold expression at Erdene’s words.
“You just shouldn’t do anything suspicious in the first place.”
“You like me that much?”
Arkan opened his mouth wide.
What are you talking about? He should have told her to just sleep-talk in her dreams, but he couldn’t say anything.
Does he like Erdene? Or is he in love, as Pelarhar said? Is that why he loses his composure like this and destroys the image of a King he has built up so far several times a day?
Arkan turned his head sharply, his face flushed. Then, without answering, he opened the book he had been reading again.
Although he did not see any words, he kept his eyes fixed on the same page and did not answer Erdene.
***
The second letter from Merton arrived just before the end of summer.
Erdene opened the window as soon as she saw the shadow circling near the palace, and at that moment Glucker folded his wings and glided inside.
“Your Majesty!”
Sophia, who was just now adjusting her new dress, came running in startled.
Erdene made a shushing motion with her hand for her to be quiet, then closed the door and did not let anyone in.
The bird seemed a little tired from the long flight, fighting the heat.
Erdene took out the sack she had temporarily saved and stashed it on one side of the shelf, made Glucker sit down, and untied the letter tied to his ankle.
Sophia, still wide-eyed, pursed her lips.
“Your Majesty, what is this eagle...?”
“It’s not an eagle, it’s a falcon. In Hirschsten, they use falcons as well as pigeons to deliver messages. By the way, I forgot to tell you about Glucker.”
“Then this falcon is from the Empire...!”
Erdene hissed again and placed her index finger on her lips.
When Glucker clicked his beak, she said,
“Sophia, would you bring him some water? And some food?”
“If you say he’ll eat...”
“Raw meat. Anything.”
Raw meat. What on earth should I tell the kitchen to get raw meat?
Sophia racked her brain, thinking of an excuse to give the cook.
In the meantime, Erdene quickly opened Merton’s letter. This time, the content was shorter than last time.
[Your Majesty.
Glucker has safely arrived with the letter you sent. I have trained him to be careful when crossing the border, but I hope that no accidents occur.
After much difficulty, I have finally had the opportunity to meet the Empress. I tried to persuade her as Your Majesty suggested, but it was not easy.]
The content was somewhat disappointing. The first was when Empress Roelica rejected Erdene’s offer of cooperation through Merton.
[Princess Erdene, no. I do not know what she, who is now the queen of Vetor, is thinking...I just want to focus on prenatal education. I just hope this child is born safely, so please don’t confuse me.]
Empress Roelica seemed to have decided to prioritize her own safety and that of her child overtaking an uncertain gamble.
However, judging from the fact that she didn’t report Merton to Tenek or anything, there was still hope.
Even though she had chosen to conceive for the time being, she might be able to take action on her own after the child was born.
Merton’s letter continued a little further down.
[The search for the court doctor who retired and returned to his hometown is still ongoing. I say search because, regrettably, we have not been able to find the person in question in his hometown. His family does not even know that he has resigned.]
This was worse news than losing Eoelica’s help.
The person who most likely knew something about the sudden death of the late Emperor, the person who might have altered the record of the letter of resignation, had disappeared without a trace...
'That means there was someone else's intervention. If the family back home didn't even know that he had resigned, that means they couldn't even send a letter to tell him that they were returning home. If that's true, then even if we find him...'
We won't find him alive.
Erdene clenched her molars so hard that they made a cracking sound.
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