Princess Limepale smiled sadly and lowered her head.
“That’s not true, Your Majesty. Because I have to return to the duchy soon, and after I leave, it will be difficult to complain to Your Majesty like this or... ask you a favor.”
Erdene slightly adjusted her posture, surprised by the Princess’s words.
“Returning to the duchy? So suddenly?”
“A letter arrived today. I think my father... sent it as soon as he heard that Your Majesty had woken up. And although he didn’t say anything specifically, I can guess why he’s calling me in so urgently.”
“What’s the reason?”
The Princess took a deep breath slowly.
“My marriage. I... think he's finally going to settle the issue that I’ve been putting off.”
The marriage issue. Erdene laughed inwardly without realizing it.
It was because she thought that everyone was having a hard time because of the marriage issue.
Perhaps because of this, Erdene felt a strange sense of kinship and pity for Princess Limepale.
The word ‘request’ that she spoke in a flowing manner bothered her.
The thought that she had not come here simply to confirm the existence of Gliker and to complain about Eorshin’s ridiculous stubbornness flashed through her mind.
“If you have something to say to me, then say it.”
At Erdene’s words, Limepale’s face darkened a little more.
She was holding back some humiliation. She was trying hard not to show her anger or resentment, but Erdene could clearly see her emotions in her eyes.
After remaining silent for a long time, the Princess finally spoke.
“I shamelessly ask you a favor, Your Majesty. Could you please tell the Empress of the Empire about Eorshin? Even a short word would be fine. Eorshin only wants that.”
Erdene blinked with a thoughtful expression.
“Would it be of any use if I did that?”
Limepale smiled weakly.
“At least he won’t do something like avoiding my eyes and going to the empire tonight. Eorshin is not the kind of man who would just return to the duchy and stay by my side. I know that well. He is too... stuck in the past. At least when it comes to that woman named Roelica, he doesn’t listen to anyone. Up until now, he's just given up everything like a dead person because there was no opportunity, but now that he knows there’s a way to reach her, he won’t be able to stop.”
“The Princess said to tell Empress Roelica to keep him...”
Erdene, whose words trailed off, stared at Limepale.
“Isn’t that contradictory? What if Roelica responds? What if she still can’t forget him and wants to meet him again? Then, he will leave anyway, so what the princess wants is for Eorshin to not leave your side, right?”
“Your Majesty is right. But if even by one chance... she decides to give up the position of Empress of the empire and choose Eorshin, then that’s fine. I will give up Eorshin. I think you have the priority.”
"Priority.”
Erdene let out a short laugh. However, the Princess’s words made sense. It occurred to her that her attempt to take the successor’s position from her younger brother might be in the same context as the ‘priority’ she had just mentioned.
‘He’s a pain in the ass. But he shouldn’t go to the empire to find Roelica. There’s no good to be gained by causing a fuss right now... Besides, Roelica has a child, whether she likes it or not. If you mess with her, it could cause a huge storm without a solution.’
Erdene continued her thoughts carefully as if she were touching something very sensitive. She tried to get rid of the habit of making quick and intuitive judgments like she did on the battlefield, and thought about the consequences of her judgment two or three times.
'First, I have to make him docile and keep him by the Princess's side. It seems like he's the only person the Princess can trust in the duchy, and if her close guard suddenly disappears, it won't be good for the Princess's plans. Then, the current small Duke will become the Grand Duke... I don't know how much of a loser he is, but if the rumor spreads beyond the border, he must be a big deal. So in the long run, it's better to help Limepale become the next Grand Duke no matter what. After all, this will be a debt to her.'
Erdene made a decision. She doesn't support her actions because she completely trusts the human side of Princess Limepale.
It would be useful to add a debt of gratitude to her at some point.
She couldn't say she knew everything about the Princess, but she could at least guess that she wasn't the type of person to throw away basic trust like an old pair of shoes.
Erdene nodded.
“Yes. I will do that. However, I will get a promise from Eorshin. In exchange for letting Empress Roelica know that he is alive, Eorshin will return to the duchy quietly and assist the Princess. May I get that promise?”
Two emotions simultaneously crossed Princess Limepale’s face.
The fear that Empress Roelica would come to the duchy immediately if she heard the news of Eorshin and the relief that she would not lose him now.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you very much.”
“I think it will not be too late to thank me after you take the position of the next Archduke.”
“I will definitely do so.”
Erdene patted the armrest and stood up.
“Then shall I go?”
“Your Majesty will go herself? If you call Eorshin over here...”
“No, I will go. His Majesty will be here soon, and if he sees you being violent, he’ll definitely scold you.”
Meanwhile, Arkan was riding nonstop and meeting Deputy Ingrid, who had arrived at the palace.
“What are you talking about!”
Ingrid, who had arrived at the palace in the middle of the night after not eating or drinking properly all day, had no time to come to his senses before he heard Arkan’s scolding.
However, since he had expected this, he straightened his posture, forcing his eyelids that were about to close.
“It’s good that you found out that there was someone who was moving Kensilom’s smugglers, but you’re going there yourself. Does that make sense? What are we going to do with just the two of them...?”
Plat interjected with a stuffy expression.
Arkan rubbed his furrowed brow and looked at Ingrid.
“How many smugglers were there?”
“There seemed to be about ten of them.”
“They were trying to distribute fake pearls.”
Ingrid nodded.
“Yes. And as I said, it seems like you have a craftsman for counterfeiting.”
“You’re really coming out. Is this a plan to slowly eat up Vetor? I can’t sleep because I wonder what you’re preparing after the fake pearls.”
Arkan let out a long sigh as he sarcastically spoke.
“They’ve already crossed Kensilom’s border, so there’s nothing we can do. You should return to the barracks and participate in training. I’ll take care of those two.”
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?”
Arkan shook his head at Ingrid with a bitter smile.
“Even if I'm not okay, it should be okay. Isn’t it? The King created this position to take on such responsibilities. I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t lose your comrades.”
Ingrid lowered his head with a mixture of emotion and embarrassed guilt.
Arkan let him go, leaning back and groaning.
“Plat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Would you mind bringing me something to kick?”
Plat, who had been pondering for a moment, replied calmly.
“If you ask Her Majesty, I think she’ll find it for you. I heard that there’s a lot of furniture waiting to be disposed of in the warehouse around Her Majesty’s residence.”
And Erdene will kick it.
Arkan rubbed his head, which was starting to hurt, and laughed softly. He couldn’t help but laugh when he thought of Erdene kicking away old chairs and tables in such a difficult situation.
‘This is serious.’
He meekly acknowledged his condition and stood up.
“I’ll have to keep an eye on Kensilom. Report to me any news about Kensilom’s activities, no matter how trivial. Especially about the bald head.”
“Understood.”
Now you’re calling him bald. Plat thought.
He swallowed down the fact that the couple was becoming more and more alike.
It was a new wisdom brought about by past experience, sacrificing an old wrist on Arkan’s orders.
When Arkan arrived at the Queen’s palace, Erdene had just returned from Limepale’s residence.
Arkan raised his eyebrows as if he found it strange, to see Erdene with flushed cheeks and a strangely energetic look.
“Did you run around in the middle of the night? Why is your face so red? And you’re breathing hard.”
Then Arkan blinked once and immediately touched Erdene’s forehead.
“Are you sick?”
Erdene, who had been staring at Arkan, who had become anxious, laughed and pushed his hand away.
“It doesn’t hurt. Since I fell once, you’re treating me like some kind of rag doll.”
“That’s not true, Your Majesty. Because I have to return to the duchy soon, and after I leave, it will be difficult to complain to Your Majesty like this or... ask you a favor.”
Erdene slightly adjusted her posture, surprised by the Princess’s words.
“Returning to the duchy? So suddenly?”
“A letter arrived today. I think my father... sent it as soon as he heard that Your Majesty had woken up. And although he didn’t say anything specifically, I can guess why he’s calling me in so urgently.”
“What’s the reason?”
The Princess took a deep breath slowly.
“My marriage. I... think he's finally going to settle the issue that I’ve been putting off.”
The marriage issue. Erdene laughed inwardly without realizing it.
It was because she thought that everyone was having a hard time because of the marriage issue.
Perhaps because of this, Erdene felt a strange sense of kinship and pity for Princess Limepale.
The word ‘request’ that she spoke in a flowing manner bothered her.
The thought that she had not come here simply to confirm the existence of Gliker and to complain about Eorshin’s ridiculous stubbornness flashed through her mind.
“If you have something to say to me, then say it.”
At Erdene’s words, Limepale’s face darkened a little more.
She was holding back some humiliation. She was trying hard not to show her anger or resentment, but Erdene could clearly see her emotions in her eyes.
After remaining silent for a long time, the Princess finally spoke.
“I shamelessly ask you a favor, Your Majesty. Could you please tell the Empress of the Empire about Eorshin? Even a short word would be fine. Eorshin only wants that.”
Erdene blinked with a thoughtful expression.
“Would it be of any use if I did that?”
Limepale smiled weakly.
“At least he won’t do something like avoiding my eyes and going to the empire tonight. Eorshin is not the kind of man who would just return to the duchy and stay by my side. I know that well. He is too... stuck in the past. At least when it comes to that woman named Roelica, he doesn’t listen to anyone. Up until now, he's just given up everything like a dead person because there was no opportunity, but now that he knows there’s a way to reach her, he won’t be able to stop.”
“The Princess said to tell Empress Roelica to keep him...”
Erdene, whose words trailed off, stared at Limepale.
“Isn’t that contradictory? What if Roelica responds? What if she still can’t forget him and wants to meet him again? Then, he will leave anyway, so what the princess wants is for Eorshin to not leave your side, right?”
“Your Majesty is right. But if even by one chance... she decides to give up the position of Empress of the empire and choose Eorshin, then that’s fine. I will give up Eorshin. I think you have the priority.”
"Priority.”
Erdene let out a short laugh. However, the Princess’s words made sense. It occurred to her that her attempt to take the successor’s position from her younger brother might be in the same context as the ‘priority’ she had just mentioned.
‘He’s a pain in the ass. But he shouldn’t go to the empire to find Roelica. There’s no good to be gained by causing a fuss right now... Besides, Roelica has a child, whether she likes it or not. If you mess with her, it could cause a huge storm without a solution.’
Erdene continued her thoughts carefully as if she were touching something very sensitive. She tried to get rid of the habit of making quick and intuitive judgments like she did on the battlefield, and thought about the consequences of her judgment two or three times.
'First, I have to make him docile and keep him by the Princess's side. It seems like he's the only person the Princess can trust in the duchy, and if her close guard suddenly disappears, it won't be good for the Princess's plans. Then, the current small Duke will become the Grand Duke... I don't know how much of a loser he is, but if the rumor spreads beyond the border, he must be a big deal. So in the long run, it's better to help Limepale become the next Grand Duke no matter what. After all, this will be a debt to her.'
Erdene made a decision. She doesn't support her actions because she completely trusts the human side of Princess Limepale.
It would be useful to add a debt of gratitude to her at some point.
She couldn't say she knew everything about the Princess, but she could at least guess that she wasn't the type of person to throw away basic trust like an old pair of shoes.
Erdene nodded.
“Yes. I will do that. However, I will get a promise from Eorshin. In exchange for letting Empress Roelica know that he is alive, Eorshin will return to the duchy quietly and assist the Princess. May I get that promise?”
Two emotions simultaneously crossed Princess Limepale’s face.
The fear that Empress Roelica would come to the duchy immediately if she heard the news of Eorshin and the relief that she would not lose him now.
“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you very much.”
“I think it will not be too late to thank me after you take the position of the next Archduke.”
“I will definitely do so.”
Erdene patted the armrest and stood up.
“Then shall I go?”
“Your Majesty will go herself? If you call Eorshin over here...”
“No, I will go. His Majesty will be here soon, and if he sees you being violent, he’ll definitely scold you.”
***
Meanwhile, Arkan was riding nonstop and meeting Deputy Ingrid, who had arrived at the palace.
“What are you talking about!”
Ingrid, who had arrived at the palace in the middle of the night after not eating or drinking properly all day, had no time to come to his senses before he heard Arkan’s scolding.
However, since he had expected this, he straightened his posture, forcing his eyelids that were about to close.
“It’s good that you found out that there was someone who was moving Kensilom’s smugglers, but you’re going there yourself. Does that make sense? What are we going to do with just the two of them...?”
Plat interjected with a stuffy expression.
Arkan rubbed his furrowed brow and looked at Ingrid.
“How many smugglers were there?”
“There seemed to be about ten of them.”
“They were trying to distribute fake pearls.”
Ingrid nodded.
“Yes. And as I said, it seems like you have a craftsman for counterfeiting.”
“You’re really coming out. Is this a plan to slowly eat up Vetor? I can’t sleep because I wonder what you’re preparing after the fake pearls.”
Arkan let out a long sigh as he sarcastically spoke.
“They’ve already crossed Kensilom’s border, so there’s nothing we can do. You should return to the barracks and participate in training. I’ll take care of those two.”
“Are you okay, Your Majesty?”
Arkan shook his head at Ingrid with a bitter smile.
“Even if I'm not okay, it should be okay. Isn’t it? The King created this position to take on such responsibilities. I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t lose your comrades.”
Ingrid lowered his head with a mixture of emotion and embarrassed guilt.
Arkan let him go, leaning back and groaning.
“Plat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Would you mind bringing me something to kick?”
Plat, who had been pondering for a moment, replied calmly.
“If you ask Her Majesty, I think she’ll find it for you. I heard that there’s a lot of furniture waiting to be disposed of in the warehouse around Her Majesty’s residence.”
And Erdene will kick it.
Arkan rubbed his head, which was starting to hurt, and laughed softly. He couldn’t help but laugh when he thought of Erdene kicking away old chairs and tables in such a difficult situation.
‘This is serious.’
He meekly acknowledged his condition and stood up.
“I’ll have to keep an eye on Kensilom. Report to me any news about Kensilom’s activities, no matter how trivial. Especially about the bald head.”
“Understood.”
Now you’re calling him bald. Plat thought.
He swallowed down the fact that the couple was becoming more and more alike.
It was a new wisdom brought about by past experience, sacrificing an old wrist on Arkan’s orders.
When Arkan arrived at the Queen’s palace, Erdene had just returned from Limepale’s residence.
Arkan raised his eyebrows as if he found it strange, to see Erdene with flushed cheeks and a strangely energetic look.
“Did you run around in the middle of the night? Why is your face so red? And you’re breathing hard.”
Then Arkan blinked once and immediately touched Erdene’s forehead.
“Are you sick?”
Erdene, who had been staring at Arkan, who had become anxious, laughed and pushed his hand away.
“It doesn’t hurt. Since I fell once, you’re treating me like some kind of rag doll.”
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