Limepale almost turned her head away in surprise because she didn’t think he would look back.
If she had, it would have been a rather shameful memory in Limepale’s life, but her stubborn courage that she had honed her whole life stopped her movements at the last moment.
The next moment, Limepale was startled when she realized that he had called her ‘Eorshin’ instead of ‘Rishi’, but fortunately, no one cared. After all, she hadn’t been there long and hadn’t made a fuss, and since the maids of the palace were always with Eorshin, no one else had any idea what his name was.
Eorshin approached her with a slightly surprised expression. She could see his legs striding beneath the hem of his long dress.
Be confident, Limepale. Make him yours.
If you want what you want, you have to move yourself.
“Follow me. I have something to take care of separately.”
Limepale said. Eorshin followed her into the toilette room at the back of the bedroom.
The clothes she had brought were already taken out, so there was no one there.
“What is it, Princess? If you have something to say.”
“Before I return to the duchy, I must make one promise to you. No matter who your heart is, no matter who you love, I am the one you must serve now.”
Eorshin’s eyes blinked slowly. Limepale deliberately blurred her focus, not wanting to look at him directly. As his face shook, it was difficult to look into his mind as she usually did.
Eorshin, who had been silent for a moment, answered.
“Go ahead, Princess.”
“Until I take my place as the next Grand Duke, you will continue to be my close guard. No matter what the answer from Empress Roelica is, you must do so. Since I bowed my head to Her Majesty the Queen of Vetor for you, you should repay my debt in return. That’s only logical. Isn’t it?”
In fact, if it was for him, she would have been willing to say sorry to anyone but Erdene.
Last night, as she walked toward the Queen’s palace, Limepale was absorbed in that thought, and she thought anew about how much she wanted Eorshin.
Even so, the reason she kept talking about the word “calculation” was because she knew that it would be useless if she really clung to it.
You owe me, it would have been better to make that clear.
“I understand, my lady.”
“Do you really know? If you just answer carelessly to get over it, I won’t let you off easy. You know how persistent I am once I make up my mind, don’t you?”
At that moment, Eorshin smiled unexpectedly.
Pulling his lips up to make his bruised cheeks plump, it was perhaps the softest and most natural smile Limepale had ever seen.
“Of course. No one knows that better than I do. I understand what you said, my lady. Since you have worked hard for me, I will do my best until you achieve your goal.”
It’s not enough to just try your best. Limepale thought.
Give me your heart. Give me your affection. Love me...
“Good. I don’t know what kind of guy my father has brought back, but this one time, this tedious thing will end. It won’t happen again. Because then, I won’t be my father’s beloved daughter, but the Archduke’s successor.”
The Princess’s eyes had suddenly become bright and lively.
She thought about the things she had to do as soon as she returned to the duchy. She had thought about them over and over again. It was just that the time had come to act.
It wouldn’t be difficult. Now that she was determined, nothing would be difficult.
Hirschstein’s golden castle became noisy and tumultuous day by day, but no one was enjoying the commotion.
“Your Majesty, the factional strife is getting more serious day by day.”
As the prime minister reported in a cautious tone, Tenek sat slanted on the throne, smoking a long pipe.
The smoke created a hazy atmosphere, but Tenek never got too drunk on cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs.
“Then mix the factions. Let the ones who fought each other sit next to each other. That’s what my old teacher used to do. He put the ones I didn’t like next to me. After all, they were all chosen by Atelgadis, so why fight?”
“The prime minister has indeed replaced many officials, but since they are all bloodshot for their own interests and their interests are constantly changing, the atmosphere of the meeting is getting more and more hostile, and only meaningless arguments are being exchanged. I think Your Majesty should...”
There was a bang! The prime minister flinched and lowered his gaze slightly.
“Once, what?”
“...I think it would be best if Your Majesty steps forward and seeks reconciliation between the two parties.”
“What does Atelgadis do?”
“The Grand Chancellor has been away from his post a lot recently...”
“You live off the royal allowance, but you’ve lost your mind.”
However, there was no sign of a true reprimand for Atelgadis in Tenek’s tone.
The embarrassed Chancellor was fidgeting and searching for something to say.
Tenek carelessly pushed aside his nearly finished cigarette and jumped up from his throne.
“If we leave this partisan strife alone, it will resolve itself. After all, as time passes, we will all come together and find a goal to pursue.”
“What did Your Majesty intend...”
A sneer appeared on Tenek’s pale face.
Since he was young, he was weak and always pushed by Erdene. No matter how hard he tried, he could not develop the physical strength or skills to become a military officer. From the moment he realized that he would never be able to overtake the throne, he locked himself in his room.
And he read and reread countless books there.
Sometimes wise, sometimes wicked, these books soaked Tenek’s crumpled pride in black water. Either way.
“Answer me. Who are you?”
The chancellor, with a bewildered expression, lowered his gaze and answered.
“Sibyl of the Hirschsten Empire.”
“Yes. Then what about those outside?”
“They are the subjects and people of the empire.”
“Yes! We are the people of the empire. Although it is barren, most of the northern territory is ours, and those in various places are the people of the empire. But do we need to be satisfied with the food that the inland rascals send us here and there as if they were good deeds?”
This time, the chancellor was speechless and stared blankly at Tenek. He was not indifferent.
However, his two sons, out of admiration for Erdene, applied to the Knights Templar and passed the exam, but both died in battle and their bodies were never found.
For that reason, wasn’t the prime minister secretly relieved when Tenek ascended to the throne? However, what Tenek was talking about now was completely incoherent.
“Your Majesty, when you were negotiating with the inland... didn’t you clearly state this when you were negotiating with King Vetor? The empire would not invade any of the allies in the inland, and as long as peace was maintained, neither side would shed any more blood.”
“Promises are made to break them.”
“Your Majesty!”
The prime minister, who raised his voice without realizing it, felt goosebumps when he saw Tenek’s emotionless eyes.
Those eyes, what should I say? They didn’t feel human.
Should I say they were like two marbles stuck out of nowhere on a wide wall? Maybe it was because of his businesslike and cold attitude and tone.
Tenek said,
“Then you are saying that I, the Emperor of the empire, this me, and all of us will have to live in poverty, depending on the grain they send us, for eternity.”
“No, Your Majesty. That is not what I mean.”
“Or what?”
Tenek, who had come up close to the vizier’s nose, raised his pale face and glared at him. He looked just like Erdene, but if you looked closely, he seemed even more fragile than her.
Nevertheless, the vizier was afraid. In fact, Tenek was more afraid than Erdene.
“The food they send us will be distributed as usual until this year, but from next year, half will be used to cover military expenses.”
“Half? Your Majesty! Then the people will have no way to live!”
Tenek snorted and clicked his tongue.
“It’s a joke from lazy people. If you don’t want to starve to death, just do what you’ve been doing. Become a military officer and get noticed by a noble.”
If she had, it would have been a rather shameful memory in Limepale’s life, but her stubborn courage that she had honed her whole life stopped her movements at the last moment.
The next moment, Limepale was startled when she realized that he had called her ‘Eorshin’ instead of ‘Rishi’, but fortunately, no one cared. After all, she hadn’t been there long and hadn’t made a fuss, and since the maids of the palace were always with Eorshin, no one else had any idea what his name was.
Eorshin approached her with a slightly surprised expression. She could see his legs striding beneath the hem of his long dress.
Be confident, Limepale. Make him yours.
If you want what you want, you have to move yourself.
“Follow me. I have something to take care of separately.”
Limepale said. Eorshin followed her into the toilette room at the back of the bedroom.
The clothes she had brought were already taken out, so there was no one there.
“What is it, Princess? If you have something to say.”
“Before I return to the duchy, I must make one promise to you. No matter who your heart is, no matter who you love, I am the one you must serve now.”
Eorshin’s eyes blinked slowly. Limepale deliberately blurred her focus, not wanting to look at him directly. As his face shook, it was difficult to look into his mind as she usually did.
Eorshin, who had been silent for a moment, answered.
“Go ahead, Princess.”
“Until I take my place as the next Grand Duke, you will continue to be my close guard. No matter what the answer from Empress Roelica is, you must do so. Since I bowed my head to Her Majesty the Queen of Vetor for you, you should repay my debt in return. That’s only logical. Isn’t it?”
In fact, if it was for him, she would have been willing to say sorry to anyone but Erdene.
Last night, as she walked toward the Queen’s palace, Limepale was absorbed in that thought, and she thought anew about how much she wanted Eorshin.
Even so, the reason she kept talking about the word “calculation” was because she knew that it would be useless if she really clung to it.
You owe me, it would have been better to make that clear.
“I understand, my lady.”
“Do you really know? If you just answer carelessly to get over it, I won’t let you off easy. You know how persistent I am once I make up my mind, don’t you?”
At that moment, Eorshin smiled unexpectedly.
Pulling his lips up to make his bruised cheeks plump, it was perhaps the softest and most natural smile Limepale had ever seen.
“Of course. No one knows that better than I do. I understand what you said, my lady. Since you have worked hard for me, I will do my best until you achieve your goal.”
It’s not enough to just try your best. Limepale thought.
Give me your heart. Give me your affection. Love me...
“Good. I don’t know what kind of guy my father has brought back, but this one time, this tedious thing will end. It won’t happen again. Because then, I won’t be my father’s beloved daughter, but the Archduke’s successor.”
The Princess’s eyes had suddenly become bright and lively.
She thought about the things she had to do as soon as she returned to the duchy. She had thought about them over and over again. It was just that the time had come to act.
It wouldn’t be difficult. Now that she was determined, nothing would be difficult.
***
Hirschstein’s golden castle became noisy and tumultuous day by day, but no one was enjoying the commotion.
“Your Majesty, the factional strife is getting more serious day by day.”
As the prime minister reported in a cautious tone, Tenek sat slanted on the throne, smoking a long pipe.
The smoke created a hazy atmosphere, but Tenek never got too drunk on cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs.
“Then mix the factions. Let the ones who fought each other sit next to each other. That’s what my old teacher used to do. He put the ones I didn’t like next to me. After all, they were all chosen by Atelgadis, so why fight?”
“The prime minister has indeed replaced many officials, but since they are all bloodshot for their own interests and their interests are constantly changing, the atmosphere of the meeting is getting more and more hostile, and only meaningless arguments are being exchanged. I think Your Majesty should...”
There was a bang! The prime minister flinched and lowered his gaze slightly.
“Once, what?”
“...I think it would be best if Your Majesty steps forward and seeks reconciliation between the two parties.”
“What does Atelgadis do?”
“The Grand Chancellor has been away from his post a lot recently...”
“You live off the royal allowance, but you’ve lost your mind.”
However, there was no sign of a true reprimand for Atelgadis in Tenek’s tone.
The embarrassed Chancellor was fidgeting and searching for something to say.
Tenek carelessly pushed aside his nearly finished cigarette and jumped up from his throne.
“If we leave this partisan strife alone, it will resolve itself. After all, as time passes, we will all come together and find a goal to pursue.”
“What did Your Majesty intend...”
A sneer appeared on Tenek’s pale face.
Since he was young, he was weak and always pushed by Erdene. No matter how hard he tried, he could not develop the physical strength or skills to become a military officer. From the moment he realized that he would never be able to overtake the throne, he locked himself in his room.
And he read and reread countless books there.
Sometimes wise, sometimes wicked, these books soaked Tenek’s crumpled pride in black water. Either way.
“Answer me. Who are you?”
The chancellor, with a bewildered expression, lowered his gaze and answered.
“Sibyl of the Hirschsten Empire.”
“Yes. Then what about those outside?”
“They are the subjects and people of the empire.”
“Yes! We are the people of the empire. Although it is barren, most of the northern territory is ours, and those in various places are the people of the empire. But do we need to be satisfied with the food that the inland rascals send us here and there as if they were good deeds?”
This time, the chancellor was speechless and stared blankly at Tenek. He was not indifferent.
However, his two sons, out of admiration for Erdene, applied to the Knights Templar and passed the exam, but both died in battle and their bodies were never found.
For that reason, wasn’t the prime minister secretly relieved when Tenek ascended to the throne? However, what Tenek was talking about now was completely incoherent.
“Your Majesty, when you were negotiating with the inland... didn’t you clearly state this when you were negotiating with King Vetor? The empire would not invade any of the allies in the inland, and as long as peace was maintained, neither side would shed any more blood.”
“Promises are made to break them.”
“Your Majesty!”
The prime minister, who raised his voice without realizing it, felt goosebumps when he saw Tenek’s emotionless eyes.
Those eyes, what should I say? They didn’t feel human.
Should I say they were like two marbles stuck out of nowhere on a wide wall? Maybe it was because of his businesslike and cold attitude and tone.
Tenek said,
“Then you are saying that I, the Emperor of the empire, this me, and all of us will have to live in poverty, depending on the grain they send us, for eternity.”
“No, Your Majesty. That is not what I mean.”
“Or what?”
Tenek, who had come up close to the vizier’s nose, raised his pale face and glared at him. He looked just like Erdene, but if you looked closely, he seemed even more fragile than her.
Nevertheless, the vizier was afraid. In fact, Tenek was more afraid than Erdene.
“The food they send us will be distributed as usual until this year, but from next year, half will be used to cover military expenses.”
“Half? Your Majesty! Then the people will have no way to live!”
Tenek snorted and clicked his tongue.
“It’s a joke from lazy people. If you don’t want to starve to death, just do what you’ve been doing. Become a military officer and get noticed by a noble.”
Some poor people who had a hard time making ends meet volunteered to be soldiers to take care of their families or to save themselves.
Those people died easily in the war and were quickly forgotten.
By the time it was all over, they were treated as nothing more than a bunch of corpses lying around.
The only one who cared was Erdene.
Tenek leisurely circled the prime minister and pressured him.
He didn’t say a word or do anything, but it wasn’t hard to control him psychologically.
“Go and tell Thelma, Vice-Captain Merton, and if there’s anyone, sneak this news to Aimen.”
“What do you mean...?”
“That way, they’ll be so excited that they won’t even know where their tails are.”
Those people died easily in the war and were quickly forgotten.
By the time it was all over, they were treated as nothing more than a bunch of corpses lying around.
The only one who cared was Erdene.
Tenek leisurely circled the prime minister and pressured him.
He didn’t say a word or do anything, but it wasn’t hard to control him psychologically.
“Go and tell Thelma, Vice-Captain Merton, and if there’s anyone, sneak this news to Aimen.”
“What do you mean...?”
“That way, they’ll be so excited that they won’t even know where their tails are.”
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