#129. A wicked proposal
When Asherad reached out his hand, Ian held it tightly. It didn't have the same warmth as Derek's, but strangely enough, he felt reassured when he held the hand.
Ian still wanted to see Derek, but once he realized that he didn't hate him, he was able to see the man he called 'father' properly.
Unlike back then, when he had a beard and looked shabby, this man was beautiful. Was it because of his delicate features? The man somehow looked even more fragile than his mother.
Why does he feel that way? Ian thought about a 'feeling' he couldn't understand, even though he was taller and bigger than Derek.
That was when.
“Ian.”
A weak woman's voice was heard. It was his mother's voice. Ian raised his head and saw his mother. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes looked like those of a dying patient. Ian suddenly came to his senses.
"Mom?"
Ian remembered that he had run away from his mother. Asherad, with that dark face, strode towards Olivia.
“Who is it?”
Ian flinched at those words, knowing that his mother had been searching frantically for him.
"Who is this."
On the other hand, Olivia had the same feeling of foreboding when she was in the palace of Peneus. She felt that if she answered that suppressed voice, the human would be caught and killed. It was an inertia of thought that she could not forget even after trying to forget it for six years.
Olivia looked past Asherad and at Ian without saying anything.
“Where the hell were you? I found you.”
Ian was relieved by those words. He was worried that he would get in trouble with that person. That's how scared Asherad's voice was of Ian. However, Ian only knew how scary it was, and was oblivious like a child.
“Mom told me not to even think about seeing Dad again.”
Olivia flinched. As she watched Asherad's expression, she tried to cover Ian's mouth, but Ian shouted.
“Even if this guy is my real dad, my dad is Derek.”
Derek?! Olivia opened her lips and shivered. Surely something couldn't happen to Derek? She knew Derek was safe with Count Locania, but the sudden feeling of being transported back to the past made her panic.
It is unknown whether Asherad knew that she was with Derek. However, her son, who speaks of another man as his 'real father', is the Asherad that Olivia knows, and never... never... never...
He won't leave him alone. As she was thinking about how to handle this situation, Asherad said.
“I don’t think much of it if you meet someone else.”
Asherad approached Olivia and spoke very quietly, brushing her tangled hair.
“I don’t care what you did with that guy.”
“...”
“But know this. This guy and you are saved by me, and you are under my protection. That’s all that matters.”
“...”
“If you want to run away, run away. From my protection.”
Olivia looked at Asherad with a helpless gaze. After all, it was she who had crawled into his arms. She couldn't really argue.
Olivia was helpless. She didn't really try to resist. If she had been captured by Asherad, she would have tried to run away, but her existence was too helpless in the face of war.
So she didn't get angry.
All she felt was a familiar sense of resignation. Olivia felt puzzled rather than relieved as she checked to see if Asherad's words were true.
Did Asherad really cut off his attachment to her? Was that why Derek's existence didn't matter? If so, then it was fortunate... In any case, Olivia answered quietly.
“I don’t really plan on running away.”
Olivia was tired, so she took Ian with her and went into the room. Asherad watched her back.
"Derek."
Asherad muttered the name. For a moment, his green eyes seemed to boil with wild emotion.
“Asherad!”
Asherad frowned at the voice he heard. Behind him, the king of Pindus, Tygun, was walking.
“Asherad, if you’ve eaten, you should have a cup of tea.”
"Yes."
Asherad smiled broadly and answered politely. The King smiled in satisfaction at his politeness. This man was not in a position to speak comfortably to Asherad. However, they had a common enemy, the Kingdom of Thalassa. Asherad thought that he had to say goodbye to Daphne in the Kingdom of Thalassa and first restore his position.
Then shall we go back to Peneus? Asherad shook his head. What came to his mind was a formal alliance with the Kingdom of Pindus, which had taken over the saltpeter production here.
Asherad was finally able to meet the King. The King of Pindus was not as stupid as the dead Prince, but he liked to brag and was weak to remonstrance. That was what Asherad was best at. Asherad allowed the King of a single kingdom to use his name. He also politely called him “Tygan” and deliberately lowered himself. When he acted like a tongue in his mouth, he acted as if he would do anything.
In this way, Asherad brought Leon and those who remained under him to the side of the King of Pindus. And now. This is what happened.
His plan was a success. If he could strike the capital of the Kingdom of Thalassa, he would have a chance of victory. But then Daphne appeared.
“Asherad. Let’s have some tea quickly.”
"Yes."
“Why is it difficult?”
"No."
The King looked at him with a sinister smile.
“I saw your wife and son walking earlier. I guess you weren’t going together.”
“...”
“It seems like you don’t get along very well.”
As he slowly looked between them, Asherad suppressed his disgust and said.
“Because we were apart for a long time.”
“Oh, but you seem to be in good shape?”
Asherad's eyes lit up. They were cold, as if giving a final warning, but the King had no such clue.
“Why, wasn’t it hot last night too? I asked the knights and they said it was really hot that night...”
“...”
“Did you feel bad? I checked on you because I thought you might be lying just to get a woman like that.”
“...”
Asherad rose from his seat.
“Master Tygan.”
"Huh?"
“I have been patient, thinking that you would have some merit in your words, Master Tygan, but I can no longer listen.”
“What, what?!”
“You are being so rude and insulting to the leader of a foreign country that I cannot even open my eyes and speak of it. Are you saying that you sent a knight to spy on me while I was sleeping with my wife?”
When Asherad coldly pointed out what he had done, he said, “Ouch.” The King of Pindus was like this. If he kept quiet, even a little, he would treat him like a subordinate and cross the line. He had to get angry at him anyway. The fool should know that bowing down is only for a short time.
Asherad left without even looking back. The King of Pindus gnashed his teeth at the sight of his arrogant back.
It was nice when he finally figured out his topic and kept talking from below, but then he would suddenly jump out like that.
“I know, they’re all going to kill us anyway!”
Olivia was shocked by the sound. Killing everyone? Really? Olivia didn't know about the war.
“If you stay here, I’ll go to other cities and ask for support. I’ll kill you all!”
The school teacher with the most open head spoke. Olivia closed her eyes. That was... that was right. If it weren't for Asherad, Olivia would have been shivering in there too.
At this moment, she had no power to let them escape. But... But she wanted to save these people. She didn’t want to see others die helplessly.
She nodded and stood up. Those who were so frightened didn't even seem to have the energy to criticize Olivia.
At that moment, she saw the King of Pindus walking towards her. When Olivia tried to greet him, he said generously.
“Oh, you are the Empress. There is no need for you to bow down to me like that.”
It was a comment on etiquette. When Olivia grabbed the hem of his skirt and bowed again, he whistled.
“What is going on here? Doesn’t the Empress know that it is dangerous to be in a place with these prisoners?”
“When you leave, do you plan to kill everyone?”
The sudden question drew everyone's attention. The women looked at the King's face with eager expressions. King Pindus burst into laughter at Olivia's question.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
For a moment, a chill ran down jer spine. Looking at the smiling King, Olivia said.
“Let them go.”
“...”
“I wish you would let them go.”
“What if the surviving women go to other big cities and make our presence known?”
Ah. So this is how Asherad and the King of Pindus came here. She understood why the army was smaller than she thought, but they were able to come here. Olivia let out a low breath.
“I won’t let you do that. Please.”
“Oh, right.”
Anyway, the other armies of Pindus and Peneus are fighting in the saltpeter production area of the Kingdom of Thalassa. Their eyes will be turned towards that area.
All the large armies would have been headed that way, and there was only a small garrison here. Even all of them were conscripted, so there were few young and strong men in this city. Most of them were women who had never been out of the forest, so releasing them was not really a big problem.
No, but things are going too easily. The King smiled sinisterly.
“Yes, then. Let me make a suggestion.”
“...”
“How about you warm my bed?”
Olivia opened her eyes wide and looked at the King's face. What kind of ugly... proposal is this?
When Asherad reached out his hand, Ian held it tightly. It didn't have the same warmth as Derek's, but strangely enough, he felt reassured when he held the hand.
Ian still wanted to see Derek, but once he realized that he didn't hate him, he was able to see the man he called 'father' properly.
Unlike back then, when he had a beard and looked shabby, this man was beautiful. Was it because of his delicate features? The man somehow looked even more fragile than his mother.
Why does he feel that way? Ian thought about a 'feeling' he couldn't understand, even though he was taller and bigger than Derek.
That was when.
“Ian.”
A weak woman's voice was heard. It was his mother's voice. Ian raised his head and saw his mother. Her hair was disheveled, and her eyes looked like those of a dying patient. Ian suddenly came to his senses.
"Mom?"
Ian remembered that he had run away from his mother. Asherad, with that dark face, strode towards Olivia.
“Who is it?”
Ian flinched at those words, knowing that his mother had been searching frantically for him.
"Who is this."
On the other hand, Olivia had the same feeling of foreboding when she was in the palace of Peneus. She felt that if she answered that suppressed voice, the human would be caught and killed. It was an inertia of thought that she could not forget even after trying to forget it for six years.
Olivia looked past Asherad and at Ian without saying anything.
“Where the hell were you? I found you.”
Ian was relieved by those words. He was worried that he would get in trouble with that person. That's how scared Asherad's voice was of Ian. However, Ian only knew how scary it was, and was oblivious like a child.
“Mom told me not to even think about seeing Dad again.”
Olivia flinched. As she watched Asherad's expression, she tried to cover Ian's mouth, but Ian shouted.
“Even if this guy is my real dad, my dad is Derek.”
Derek?! Olivia opened her lips and shivered. Surely something couldn't happen to Derek? She knew Derek was safe with Count Locania, but the sudden feeling of being transported back to the past made her panic.
It is unknown whether Asherad knew that she was with Derek. However, her son, who speaks of another man as his 'real father', is the Asherad that Olivia knows, and never... never... never...
He won't leave him alone. As she was thinking about how to handle this situation, Asherad said.
“I don’t think much of it if you meet someone else.”
Asherad approached Olivia and spoke very quietly, brushing her tangled hair.
“I don’t care what you did with that guy.”
“...”
“But know this. This guy and you are saved by me, and you are under my protection. That’s all that matters.”
“...”
“If you want to run away, run away. From my protection.”
Olivia looked at Asherad with a helpless gaze. After all, it was she who had crawled into his arms. She couldn't really argue.
Olivia was helpless. She didn't really try to resist. If she had been captured by Asherad, she would have tried to run away, but her existence was too helpless in the face of war.
So she didn't get angry.
All she felt was a familiar sense of resignation. Olivia felt puzzled rather than relieved as she checked to see if Asherad's words were true.
Did Asherad really cut off his attachment to her? Was that why Derek's existence didn't matter? If so, then it was fortunate... In any case, Olivia answered quietly.
“I don’t really plan on running away.”
Olivia was tired, so she took Ian with her and went into the room. Asherad watched her back.
"Derek."
Asherad muttered the name. For a moment, his green eyes seemed to boil with wild emotion.
“Asherad!”
Asherad frowned at the voice he heard. Behind him, the king of Pindus, Tygun, was walking.
“Asherad, if you’ve eaten, you should have a cup of tea.”
"Yes."
Asherad smiled broadly and answered politely. The King smiled in satisfaction at his politeness. This man was not in a position to speak comfortably to Asherad. However, they had a common enemy, the Kingdom of Thalassa. Asherad thought that he had to say goodbye to Daphne in the Kingdom of Thalassa and first restore his position.
Then shall we go back to Peneus? Asherad shook his head. What came to his mind was a formal alliance with the Kingdom of Pindus, which had taken over the saltpeter production here.
Asherad was finally able to meet the King. The King of Pindus was not as stupid as the dead Prince, but he liked to brag and was weak to remonstrance. That was what Asherad was best at. Asherad allowed the King of a single kingdom to use his name. He also politely called him “Tygan” and deliberately lowered himself. When he acted like a tongue in his mouth, he acted as if he would do anything.
In this way, Asherad brought Leon and those who remained under him to the side of the King of Pindus. And now. This is what happened.
His plan was a success. If he could strike the capital of the Kingdom of Thalassa, he would have a chance of victory. But then Daphne appeared.
“Asherad. Let’s have some tea quickly.”
"Yes."
“Why is it difficult?”
"No."
The King looked at him with a sinister smile.
“I saw your wife and son walking earlier. I guess you weren’t going together.”
“...”
“It seems like you don’t get along very well.”
As he slowly looked between them, Asherad suppressed his disgust and said.
“Because we were apart for a long time.”
“Oh, but you seem to be in good shape?”
Asherad's eyes lit up. They were cold, as if giving a final warning, but the King had no such clue.
“Why, wasn’t it hot last night too? I asked the knights and they said it was really hot that night...”
“...”
“Did you feel bad? I checked on you because I thought you might be lying just to get a woman like that.”
“...”
Asherad rose from his seat.
“Master Tygan.”
"Huh?"
“I have been patient, thinking that you would have some merit in your words, Master Tygan, but I can no longer listen.”
“What, what?!”
“You are being so rude and insulting to the leader of a foreign country that I cannot even open my eyes and speak of it. Are you saying that you sent a knight to spy on me while I was sleeping with my wife?”
When Asherad coldly pointed out what he had done, he said, “Ouch.” The King of Pindus was like this. If he kept quiet, even a little, he would treat him like a subordinate and cross the line. He had to get angry at him anyway. The fool should know that bowing down is only for a short time.
Asherad left without even looking back. The King of Pindus gnashed his teeth at the sight of his arrogant back.
It was nice when he finally figured out his topic and kept talking from below, but then he would suddenly jump out like that.
He has to put a stop to that cheeky brat's head. Then the King smiled as if a good idea had occurred to him.
Olivia went to the women who were being held captive. They spat on her, but it was an insult that could be expected. Olivia brought them clean water and clothes to wear.
Only the knights protecting Olivia seemed bewildered.
“Here, put on your clothes.”
“...Hey, get out! You filthy thing! You, you! Us!”
“You ugly traitor!”
The women were blaming her, their bloodshot eyes on her. It was only natural. After all, she was the one who had caused all this, and sadly, she was the easiest target for them to vent their anger on. Olivia had been through so much of that that she could keep her cool.
“Drink water and survive. You shouldn’t get sick.”
“What the hell are you talking about!”
“...”
***
Olivia went to the women who were being held captive. They spat on her, but it was an insult that could be expected. Olivia brought them clean water and clothes to wear.
Only the knights protecting Olivia seemed bewildered.
“Here, put on your clothes.”
“...Hey, get out! You filthy thing! You, you! Us!”
“You ugly traitor!”
The women were blaming her, their bloodshot eyes on her. It was only natural. After all, she was the one who had caused all this, and sadly, she was the easiest target for them to vent their anger on. Olivia had been through so much of that that she could keep her cool.
“Drink water and survive. You shouldn’t get sick.”
“What the hell are you talking about!”
“...”
“I know, they’re all going to kill us anyway!”
Olivia was shocked by the sound. Killing everyone? Really? Olivia didn't know about the war.
“If you stay here, I’ll go to other cities and ask for support. I’ll kill you all!”
The school teacher with the most open head spoke. Olivia closed her eyes. That was... that was right. If it weren't for Asherad, Olivia would have been shivering in there too.
At this moment, she had no power to let them escape. But... But she wanted to save these people. She didn’t want to see others die helplessly.
She nodded and stood up. Those who were so frightened didn't even seem to have the energy to criticize Olivia.
At that moment, she saw the King of Pindus walking towards her. When Olivia tried to greet him, he said generously.
“Oh, you are the Empress. There is no need for you to bow down to me like that.”
It was a comment on etiquette. When Olivia grabbed the hem of his skirt and bowed again, he whistled.
“What is going on here? Doesn’t the Empress know that it is dangerous to be in a place with these prisoners?”
“When you leave, do you plan to kill everyone?”
The sudden question drew everyone's attention. The women looked at the King's face with eager expressions. King Pindus burst into laughter at Olivia's question.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
For a moment, a chill ran down jer spine. Looking at the smiling King, Olivia said.
“Let them go.”
“...”
“I wish you would let them go.”
“What if the surviving women go to other big cities and make our presence known?”
Ah. So this is how Asherad and the King of Pindus came here. She understood why the army was smaller than she thought, but they were able to come here. Olivia let out a low breath.
“I won’t let you do that. Please.”
“Oh, right.”
Anyway, the other armies of Pindus and Peneus are fighting in the saltpeter production area of the Kingdom of Thalassa. Their eyes will be turned towards that area.
All the large armies would have been headed that way, and there was only a small garrison here. Even all of them were conscripted, so there were few young and strong men in this city. Most of them were women who had never been out of the forest, so releasing them was not really a big problem.
No, but things are going too easily. The King smiled sinisterly.
“Yes, then. Let me make a suggestion.”
“...”
“How about you warm my bed?”
Olivia opened her eyes wide and looked at the King's face. What kind of ugly... proposal is this?
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