Erdene, who was walking half a step ahead of Arkan, turned her head.
“How is it?”
Arkan tilted his head.
“Is the work of the Queen’s palace going well, or... Is there anything inconvenient about living with her?”
“No, of course. With how well Sophia does her job, you should feel sorry that she is not a bureaucrat.”
Arkan made a strange expression at her words.
He also knew very well that Sophia Fiddlers was exceptionally intelligent and wise.
It wasn’t just because the Marquis Fiddlers kept repeating it to him, but because he could actually infer it from their short conversation.
“Actually, I’ve never thought about that.”
As Arkan bowed his head and muttered deeply, Erdene let go of her clasped hands and turned to look at him.
“Having Sophia as a bureaucrat? Or a woman becoming a bureaucrat?”
“Both. They fall over when they walk backward like that.”
“It’s okay. Well, female officials are rare even in the Empire. But they’re not completely non-existent. I don’t know about now.”
Among the female officials of the Empire, many supported Erdene, even if they weren’t military officers.
Tenek and Atelgadis couldn’t just leave them alone.
No matter how talented or great they were, they would have just thrown them away like crumpled pieces of paper. It was obvious.
Arkan said.
“The inland kingdoms don’t have a law that allows women to be officials. It’s the same even when it comes to the issue of succession to a family. They usually adopt a child, and don’t pass down titles and families to their daughters.”
“The duchy seems to be the same. I think Your Majesty said before that the duchy’s perception of women is better than Vetor’s, but after hearing Princess Limepale’s story, it seems to be the same.”
“That’s... Yes. I didn’t know. However, I thought that was because I heard that the nobles of the duchy also gave succession to women.”
Erdene nodded.
“It could be so if it were a normal noble family succession. However, Grand Duke Joelvy chose a stubborn son instead of a smart daughter...”
“I’ve only heard rumors about the little Duchess. I haven’t actually met her, so it would be difficult for us to say anything.”
Arkan spoke cautiously, but Erdene didn’t answer. When he glanced at her face, she didn’t seem to agree.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“I heard it. Well, Your Majesty wasn’t wrong. But in my opinion...”
Erdene turned her head and frowned. Her expression looked bitter.
“I think it’s because Your Majesty isn’t a woman and doesn’t have any male brothers who are bad friends that you can say such things.”
“What does that have to do with this story?”
“It does. Very much.”
Erdene softly replied and reached out and broke off a thin branch of the crape myrtle.
The crape myrtle, whose flowers had withered after summer, was now slowly bending and drying up in preparation for the season that was about to end. Whether it was because it had little moisture or because it was thin, the branch was lightly broken by Erdene’s hand.
“How many people have to fold their wings simply because they are women, and how women who are braver and more courageous than most men have to live quietly and quietly as wives and mothers... It’s hard for those born as men to understand this.”
Arkan tried to respond but closed his mouth.
It was not that he had nothing to say, but he felt it was inappropriate. And it was a wise decision...
Even later, whenever Arkan saw the crape myrtle, he thought of Erdene standing there, holding the branch with her fingertips and slowly turning it, and he thought he had made the right decision to keep his mouth shut.
Erdene, who had been fiddling with the branch between her fingers, dropped it onto the still-green grass and said,
“I don’t know what kind of plan the Princess is preparing or what she’s thinking, but if it’s the right way, I’ll help. Even if Your Majesty doesn’t like it.”
In an instant, Arkan remembered something from a few months ago. It was when the messengers of Kensilom and Etonhorn had come.
He had seen the bird fall from the window of Erdene’s residence, the Queen’s palace, and then fly up into the air.
And he remembered Erdene’s shawl, tattered and torn as if it were yesterday.
At that time, Erdene consistently answered, ‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’
Arkan said,
“This bird?”
Erdene, who was lightly scratching the beak of Glucker, who was flustered and whining, glanced at Arkan.
“This bird?”
“That time, when the messengers from Kensilom and Etonhorn came. Isn’t this the bird that I saw fall from your room? Don’t tell me it wasn’t. I remember seeing something tied to its ankle back then.”
Quick-witted. Erdene clicked her tongue inwardly and handed Glicker over to Belen, who had been standing there in bewilderment, and said,
“Is there anyone in the palace who knows how to take care of a falcon?”
Glucker hesitated for a moment and then lightly moved to Belen’s arm.
Fortunately, Belen was safe from the sharp talons of the falcon, even though he was wearing light armor.
“I can do it, Your Majesty.”
“Then give the child some food and water. There is a perch for the child in my room, so bring it there.”
“Understood.”
Belen disappeared with his archers, a falcon perched on one arm. But Erdene was left with one large mountain.
She had not expected to be caught like this, but now that Arkan had seen Glucker in front of him, she had no more excuses to keep threatening him.
Why at this particular time? Erdene thought.
Why at this particular time.
“How is it?”
Arkan tilted his head.
“Is the work of the Queen’s palace going well, or... Is there anything inconvenient about living with her?”
“No, of course. With how well Sophia does her job, you should feel sorry that she is not a bureaucrat.”
Arkan made a strange expression at her words.
He also knew very well that Sophia Fiddlers was exceptionally intelligent and wise.
It wasn’t just because the Marquis Fiddlers kept repeating it to him, but because he could actually infer it from their short conversation.
“Actually, I’ve never thought about that.”
As Arkan bowed his head and muttered deeply, Erdene let go of her clasped hands and turned to look at him.
“Having Sophia as a bureaucrat? Or a woman becoming a bureaucrat?”
“Both. They fall over when they walk backward like that.”
“It’s okay. Well, female officials are rare even in the Empire. But they’re not completely non-existent. I don’t know about now.”
Among the female officials of the Empire, many supported Erdene, even if they weren’t military officers.
Tenek and Atelgadis couldn’t just leave them alone.
No matter how talented or great they were, they would have just thrown them away like crumpled pieces of paper. It was obvious.
Arkan said.
“The inland kingdoms don’t have a law that allows women to be officials. It’s the same even when it comes to the issue of succession to a family. They usually adopt a child, and don’t pass down titles and families to their daughters.”
“The duchy seems to be the same. I think Your Majesty said before that the duchy’s perception of women is better than Vetor’s, but after hearing Princess Limepale’s story, it seems to be the same.”
“That’s... Yes. I didn’t know. However, I thought that was because I heard that the nobles of the duchy also gave succession to women.”
Erdene nodded.
“It could be so if it were a normal noble family succession. However, Grand Duke Joelvy chose a stubborn son instead of a smart daughter...”
“I’ve only heard rumors about the little Duchess. I haven’t actually met her, so it would be difficult for us to say anything.”
Arkan spoke cautiously, but Erdene didn’t answer. When he glanced at her face, she didn’t seem to agree.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“I heard it. Well, Your Majesty wasn’t wrong. But in my opinion...”
Erdene turned her head and frowned. Her expression looked bitter.
“I think it’s because Your Majesty isn’t a woman and doesn’t have any male brothers who are bad friends that you can say such things.”
“What does that have to do with this story?”
“It does. Very much.”
Erdene softly replied and reached out and broke off a thin branch of the crape myrtle.
The crape myrtle, whose flowers had withered after summer, was now slowly bending and drying up in preparation for the season that was about to end. Whether it was because it had little moisture or because it was thin, the branch was lightly broken by Erdene’s hand.
“How many people have to fold their wings simply because they are women, and how women who are braver and more courageous than most men have to live quietly and quietly as wives and mothers... It’s hard for those born as men to understand this.”
Arkan tried to respond but closed his mouth.
It was not that he had nothing to say, but he felt it was inappropriate. And it was a wise decision...
Even later, whenever Arkan saw the crape myrtle, he thought of Erdene standing there, holding the branch with her fingertips and slowly turning it, and he thought he had made the right decision to keep his mouth shut.
Erdene, who had been fiddling with the branch between her fingers, dropped it onto the still-green grass and said,
“I don’t know what kind of plan the Princess is preparing or what she’s thinking, but if it’s the right way, I’ll help. Even if Your Majesty doesn’t like it.”
Arkan coughed, feeling a sting.
“I’m not dissatisfied, I’m worried about you.”
“I’m dissatisfied with that as well.”
Erdene blew a breath at a fly sitting on a small leaf. The startled bug quickly ran away.
“But don’t worry. There will be no conflict between Grand Duke Joelvy and Your Majesty. Of course, the friendly alliance between the duchy and Vetor will remain. In the long run, helping Princess Limepale will also help Vetor. I’ve never met the little Duke in person, but from what I’ve heard, there seem to be many people who want to put him in the position of the next Grand Duke and control politics. They are desperate to get Princess Limepale married off quickly. Isn’t that obvious?”
“It’s in the same context as what you said earlier.”
“Yes. It’s the nature of women to confine courageous and brave women to the title of wife and mother, making them silent and obedient. People say that’s the nature of women. When you get married, you take care of your own family... But is that really true? I’ve thought that was ridiculous since I was little. Having a companion, giving birth to offspring, and being devoted to them is the same for all animals, not just humans. Only humans pass the buck by wrapping it up as ‘woman’s nature’ or ‘maternal love.’ That’s why I couldn’t be happier that I was the next Emperor. Because it guaranteed my... future. Beyond just a simple position.”
Arkan stared at Erdene.
He knew that his gaze was asking many questions, but Erdene didn’t answer.
She didn’t want to answer. She answered...
Because I don’t want to hate you. Erdene thought. There was no way she wouldn’t feel resentful.
No matter how much Arkan cherished her, no matter how much he teased her, she couldn’t get back what she had lost.
For Erdene, who had always lived intuitively and directly, even that was a huge effort.
For Erdene, who had never once yielded her natural rights to anyone, the fact that she had come to like Erdene as a human being was a miracle in itself.
So she didn’t want to dig into it for no reason.
She didn’t want to ask him questions. They would just be going around in the same place and giving and receiving the same wounds anyway.
Erdene, who had been silent, spoke in a voice close to a whisper.
“Yes, I understand what you said.”
Erdene smiled faintly. That was the moment.
“Your Majesty!”
Sabtone clanked as he stepped on the ground, and Belen’s urgent voice was heard.
At the same time, an arrow shot into the sky with a ping.
Erdene reflexively raised her head and saw a single arrow shot quickly, narrowly missing the tail feathers of a large bird of prey with outstretched wings. Her eyes widened in an instant.
“Don’t shoot!”
Belen, who was about to order the archer to shoot another arrow, stopped.
Glucker, who whistled sharply, circled the same spot and quickly descended upon Erdene.
“Erdene!”
Arkan jumped in to block her.
The falcon flapped its wings and stopped in confusion, then turned to Erdene in bewilderment, crying.
“It’s okay, Arkan.”
Erdene gently pushed his shoulder and held out her arm. Erdene furrowed one eyebrow and smiled as Glucker carefully landed on her forearm and tightened his claws.
“What’s going on?”
Arkan asked in a bewildered voice.
Although he had not yet grasped the situation, his eyes did not miss the paper with the letter tied to the ankle of an unknown falcon.
A carrier pigeon, Arkan thought.
It was a falcon that was incomparably large and ferocious, but it was clearly trained for that purpose.
Using a falcon, the person with whom Erdene would exchange letters...
“I’m not dissatisfied, I’m worried about you.”
“I’m dissatisfied with that as well.”
Erdene blew a breath at a fly sitting on a small leaf. The startled bug quickly ran away.
“But don’t worry. There will be no conflict between Grand Duke Joelvy and Your Majesty. Of course, the friendly alliance between the duchy and Vetor will remain. In the long run, helping Princess Limepale will also help Vetor. I’ve never met the little Duke in person, but from what I’ve heard, there seem to be many people who want to put him in the position of the next Grand Duke and control politics. They are desperate to get Princess Limepale married off quickly. Isn’t that obvious?”
“It’s in the same context as what you said earlier.”
“Yes. It’s the nature of women to confine courageous and brave women to the title of wife and mother, making them silent and obedient. People say that’s the nature of women. When you get married, you take care of your own family... But is that really true? I’ve thought that was ridiculous since I was little. Having a companion, giving birth to offspring, and being devoted to them is the same for all animals, not just humans. Only humans pass the buck by wrapping it up as ‘woman’s nature’ or ‘maternal love.’ That’s why I couldn’t be happier that I was the next Emperor. Because it guaranteed my... future. Beyond just a simple position.”
Arkan stared at Erdene.
He knew that his gaze was asking many questions, but Erdene didn’t answer.
She didn’t want to answer. She answered...
Because I don’t want to hate you. Erdene thought. There was no way she wouldn’t feel resentful.
No matter how much Arkan cherished her, no matter how much he teased her, she couldn’t get back what she had lost.
For Erdene, who had always lived intuitively and directly, even that was a huge effort.
For Erdene, who had never once yielded her natural rights to anyone, the fact that she had come to like Erdene as a human being was a miracle in itself.
So she didn’t want to dig into it for no reason.
She didn’t want to ask him questions. They would just be going around in the same place and giving and receiving the same wounds anyway.
Erdene, who had been silent, spoke in a voice close to a whisper.
“Yes, I understand what you said.”
Erdene smiled faintly. That was the moment.
“Your Majesty!”
Sabtone clanked as he stepped on the ground, and Belen’s urgent voice was heard.
At the same time, an arrow shot into the sky with a ping.
Erdene reflexively raised her head and saw a single arrow shot quickly, narrowly missing the tail feathers of a large bird of prey with outstretched wings. Her eyes widened in an instant.
“Don’t shoot!”
Belen, who was about to order the archer to shoot another arrow, stopped.
Glucker, who whistled sharply, circled the same spot and quickly descended upon Erdene.
“Erdene!”
Arkan jumped in to block her.
The falcon flapped its wings and stopped in confusion, then turned to Erdene in bewilderment, crying.
“It’s okay, Arkan.”
Erdene gently pushed his shoulder and held out her arm. Erdene furrowed one eyebrow and smiled as Glucker carefully landed on her forearm and tightened his claws.
“What’s going on?”
Arkan asked in a bewildered voice.
Although he had not yet grasped the situation, his eyes did not miss the paper with the letter tied to the ankle of an unknown falcon.
A carrier pigeon, Arkan thought.
It was a falcon that was incomparably large and ferocious, but it was clearly trained for that purpose.
Using a falcon, the person with whom Erdene would exchange letters...
In an instant, Arkan remembered something from a few months ago. It was when the messengers of Kensilom and Etonhorn had come.
He had seen the bird fall from the window of Erdene’s residence, the Queen’s palace, and then fly up into the air.
And he remembered Erdene’s shawl, tattered and torn as if it were yesterday.
At that time, Erdene consistently answered, ‘I don’t know what you are talking about.’
Arkan said,
“This bird?”
Erdene, who was lightly scratching the beak of Glucker, who was flustered and whining, glanced at Arkan.
“This bird?”
“That time, when the messengers from Kensilom and Etonhorn came. Isn’t this the bird that I saw fall from your room? Don’t tell me it wasn’t. I remember seeing something tied to its ankle back then.”
Quick-witted. Erdene clicked her tongue inwardly and handed Glicker over to Belen, who had been standing there in bewilderment, and said,
“Is there anyone in the palace who knows how to take care of a falcon?”
Glucker hesitated for a moment and then lightly moved to Belen’s arm.
Fortunately, Belen was safe from the sharp talons of the falcon, even though he was wearing light armor.
“I can do it, Your Majesty.”
“Then give the child some food and water. There is a perch for the child in my room, so bring it there.”
“Understood.”
Belen disappeared with his archers, a falcon perched on one arm. But Erdene was left with one large mountain.
She had not expected to be caught like this, but now that Arkan had seen Glucker in front of him, she had no more excuses to keep threatening him.
Why at this particular time? Erdene thought.
Why at this particular time.
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