Admiral Winston Clare, sitting alone on the sofa in his room, frowned at the news that Diana and Noah had safely arrived at Medea.
The letter in his hand was also crumpled in the same way. It was sent by Princess Erita, as if urging him to do so.
He expected Frogen to deal with them, but they were so cleverly planned that they seemed to have evaded their attack. Now that they've gone to Queen Medea's embrace, Frogen is probably powerless to intervene.
This is a nation so deeply entrenched in its national bonds that it would even go to war for a single Medea. The anecdote famously goes back to the time when it sent warships and fighter jets to the country that had imprisoned and killed the archaeologist Medea and his family, turning them into a colony.
“I will take the entire country hostage in return for taking Medea’s descendants hostage and causing their deaths.”
This is the content of Queen Grace II's declaration of war, which was deeply enraged at the time. The Queen, usually known for her benevolence and generosity, also possessed a terrifyingly ruthless side, like the two sides of the moon.
Moreover, Diana's appearance alone made her close to a pure-blooded Medea, and she had ample reason to be protected by the kingdom.
"So that's what you were planning? What was that offer to keep quiet about? Was it just a bluff?"
Given that Medea hasn't had any major issues yet, it seems he hasn't taken any action. He simply couldn't fathom the mad Duke's thoughts.
There is only one reason why he abandoned everything, risked death with the stigma of a traitor, and took Diana.
Revealing her identity to the Queen. If that happens, all of his plans will be ruined. Deep worry crept across the admiral's forehead as he pressed his hand to his temple.
He remembered something from long ago.
"You betrayed me? You lied to me, and even did something like that! That wasn't for me!"
Her young voice was vivid as if it were yesterday.
He couldn't help it. At the time, he acted with sincerity, but the reaction he got back was human contempt. The fragments of the resurrected image, along with various emotions, surged in like a tidal wave, then quickly receded.
He'd have to spend the rest of his life repaying poor Celine. He used his daughter to rationalize and drown out the guilt that was rising in his mind.
Tempshire Palace, the Queen's office.
Queen Grace II was drinking bergamot-scented tea and talking with Baroness Zelda Mason.
She smiled kindly at the Baroness standing before her, but there was something cold about that smile. The earrings in her ears sparkled and swayed gently with her graceful movements.
“Zelda, the child the Count rescued, is Admiral Belford’s daughter.”
Baroness Mason thought for a moment about who the Count was, then nodded, remembering that Noah had been given the honorary title of Medea.
"Are you referring to the woman the Duke rescued? Yes, she is. But judging by her different surname, I think she's been excommunicated."
“Did Admiral Claire marry Medea and have a child?”
"Because they were an enemy nation, our knowledge was limited, but the admiral's wife is said to have died long ago. The woman named Diana is likely the daughter of his second wife. There's no information about her, and she's presumed deceased. Judging by her appearance, it was clear that her maternal lineage was Medea."
The Queen's pale, almost pale face was stained with displeasure at the Baroness's report. Unable to hide the expression of disgust and contempt, she bit her lower lip and suppressed her emotions. She elegantly set down her teacup, maintaining her dignity.
"We naturally have a duty to protect our people, but why did Noah do that? He's not the type to help others without reason."
Baroness Mason, who had been standing with her hands clasped together, looked at the tips of her shoes for a moment, then smiled brightly.
“Could it be love? He saw her by chance and fell in love at first sight.”
Coincidence? Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by accident. The Queen, who didn't like that comment, furrowed her brow slightly.
Soon, she forced herself to suppress the unpleasant memories and straighten her expression. It was strange that Noah Rotsilt could fall in love with such a simple person. It was strange from the start, when they made a fuss about getting married.
He was a strange man whose inner thoughts were unknown since he was young.
The Queen's green eyes turned to the Baroness.
"Zelda. You know why I lent my power to Frogen."
“To bring down Belford, divide it, and rule it.”
The Baroness answered the Queen's sudden question with a formal, measured response, examining her intentions. The Queen smiled nonchalantly, concealing her burning anger. On the surface, it was like that. In reality, it was a personal grudge.
"Yes, I wonder when Diana will come to see me. His partner, huh? I guess it's a sister's heart that makes me curious."
“I will tell her to come and see Your Majesty as soon as possible.”
As Baroness Mason politely withdrew, the Queen rested her chin on her hand and gazed at the flower-scented water in her cup. A strange thoughtfulness lingered in her cool gaze.
Long ago, when Medea and Belford were allies.
Winston Clare, a promising young Belford student, then a naval captain, stopped by Medea and happened to meet Queen Grace in her Princess days. A chance encounter could be the fate of the century, or a tragically entangled relationship.
Born the third son of a Marquis, he was an ambitious young man, and born into royalty, she was a powerful young woman. Their meeting was the beginning of a very unpleasant relationship.
Lenny, dressed in a maid's outfit, came to the room and told me that Noah had returned from Tempshire Palace.
After a long time, I lazily got up from my comfortable bed, enjoying my homebody instincts while rolling around all day. Wrapping myself in a blanket, I headed down the stairs when I saw Noah entering the front door.
Noah, who had taken off his coat and handed it to the maid, looked up at me standing on the stairs. An inexplicable silence settled over us as we exchanged glances. I smiled awkwardly at him, but for some reason, he didn't smile back at me.
“Did you have a good trip?”
“Yeah. I’m back.”
His expressionless face was chilled to a crispness. His subdued voice was chilled, as if a cold wind had passed through it.
A man with a firm grip on me scurried past me and clattered up the stairs. I reflected on what I'd done so wrong, but my only fault was that I refused to sleep with him again. I followed him into his room, my heart aching slightly, as if I'd been bitten by a gnat.
“Noah. Did something bad happen?”
Noah turned to me and loosened his tie. He had the same expression as before, his chin raised.
“It’s not a good thing...”
He stared off into space, mulling over my words, before finally letting out a low laugh. At first, it sounded like a languid sneer.
Suddenly, Noah came up to me, leaned over, and looked down at me.
One corner of his mouth is raised crookedly, making him look dangerously different from his usual appearance. It's an expression I often saw in the beginning.
He unbuttoned his collar, one by one, holding the loose tie in his hand. His long fingers didn't stop there, but slowly moved down the third and fourth buttons.
I jumped back, startled by the constant tapping sound and the gap in his shirt collar gradually widening. The sight before me was utterly disconcerting.
I closed my eyes tightly, as if I were witnessing the revelation of a forbidden secret I shouldn't have known. A calm, gentle voice filled my ears.
“Are you going to stay? I’m just changing clothes.”
“Yes, I’ll go out.”
I covered my eyes and backed away, intending to get out before his shirt came off and exposed more of his torso. But, as expected, I tripped on the threshold.
With a single, short scream, like a winter migratory bird, my body lost its balance. Fortunately, before me was a robust, former military man with quick reactions and excellent athleticism.
He quickly grabbed my hand, preventing the back of my head from cracking, and slowly met my eyes. The usual response was to wrap his arms around me or hold my waist in a tango position, asking, "Are you okay?"
He just held my hand with one hand, his expressionless face blank. I was leaning forward, clinging to his hand as if I was holding on.
Even though I was too weak to find my own balance, he didn't pull me up or raise me any further. Noah's ash-blue eyes suddenly narrowed, and he smiled seductively.
I asked, putting strength into my toes and barely holding my head up.
“What are you doing?”
It was a pure question. I don't know what he meant. I tried to reach for the floor with one hand, but he pulled me up so hard that my hand was just waving in the air.
Meanwhile, the tie wrapped around his hand fell to the floor. Noah, seeing the obvious look of confusion on my face, tilted his head and smirked.
“Hey. Stop kidding.”
I dismissed the reaction with a blank stare, grabbing his hand with both of my own to pull myself up, but he suddenly released his grip. My back arched, and I stumbled backwards again.
“Ugh!”
“Did you do something wrong to me?”
Noah looked down at me with a smirk. It was a wicked smile, as if to say, "You shouldn't have done that to me."
Is this a manifestation of a crazy tendency to find joy in the suffering of others, rather than empathize with it? To exploit the aesthetics of falling, which creates a romantic and romantic situation, in this way?
“What am I?”
“You broke your promise.”
“No, no! Why are you like this!”
He showed his will to let go of my hand, even if it meant falling backwards, but his hand held on even tighter.
My back was bent even more precariously. If I get up, that man won't leave me alone. Noah tilted his head slightly at my resentful gaze.
“Hmm. The culprit who broke the promise is glaring at me.”
“Please help me up so I can apologize. My back hurts.”
I made a deliberately pitiful expression, and he slowly lifted me up, supporting my waist. He wrapped his arm around my waist and made a weary face. I tried to avoid his gaze, darting my eyes here and there, but he persistently followed me, meeting my gaze.
“I won’t do anything. I haven’t done anything yet.”
Isn't the problem that we didn't do anything in the first place? It's the worn-out, adult-like thought. We were in a healthy relationship, never even having a proper kiss. He kept nagging me.
“Yes? I’d like to sleep together.”
His hand gently stroked my back, sending a tingling sensation down my neck. He spoke and acted so bizarrely, yet he was so restrained when it mattered. It was unacceptable. I deflected the appropriate Confucian sentiment and dismissed him with a stern nod.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. We’re not even married.”
“We already slept together, right?”
“Other people won’t think healthy.”
"So what if we promised to get married? What does it matter what other people think?"
I kept my mouth shut, not confident I could win the verbal battle. After a brief pause, Noah finally pulled out his secret weapon. He looked at me with a pitiful expression, his eyes cast down in sorrow.
“You don’t like sleeping with me? I even use my arms as a pillow and pat your back.”
It's a uniquely pitiful cat-like expression that leaves the viewer vulnerable. Of course, it's just a beast pretending to be a cat. If he were a King and spoke with that expression and voice, demanding an end to the war, I might listen.
"No..."
The question, “Do you hate it?” and that expression were also my greatest weaknesses.
In the past, I had coldly abandoned him, and he thought I had left because I hated him. Therefore, I considered the word "dislike" a completely taboo word. It's annoying to the point of being annoying, but his ability to effectively exploit others' weaknesses is something to be admired.
“Are you scared of me?”
His eyes, as if whispering, stared straight at me. Feeling like I was about to be taken in, I nodded and tried to regain my composure.
"No."
“Don’t worry, I’m not thinking about anything else. I just like being with you.”
Your kind words touch me deeply. I really want to cry. Could you please let me think about something else?
"All right."
I nodded, pressing my head against my aching scalp. The man's lips curved in satisfaction, having achieved what he wanted.
Of course, I could take the initiative, but it wouldn't be easy. I don't dare to confront that elegant man, who feels like an unbreakable sanctuary.
“Well then, that’s it...”
For now, I planned to go back to my room and avoid him by making excuses, such as being sick or pretending to go to bed early. But I forgot that he was five steps ahead of me.
As I was trying to sneak out, Noah's hand came over mine, gripping the doorknob. He reached out with one hand to open the door, and it slammed shut with a loud bang.
I gulped, trapped in his arms. His turbid blue eyes, now fierce, were secretly slanted.
His warm breath brushed against my cheek. His lips brushed my ear, then he whispered softly, like a breath.
“I know you won’t be able to leave my room until morning.”
The voice overpowered me, holding me captive. I was helpless, and he was demanding.
The letter in his hand was also crumpled in the same way. It was sent by Princess Erita, as if urging him to do so.
He expected Frogen to deal with them, but they were so cleverly planned that they seemed to have evaded their attack. Now that they've gone to Queen Medea's embrace, Frogen is probably powerless to intervene.
This is a nation so deeply entrenched in its national bonds that it would even go to war for a single Medea. The anecdote famously goes back to the time when it sent warships and fighter jets to the country that had imprisoned and killed the archaeologist Medea and his family, turning them into a colony.
“I will take the entire country hostage in return for taking Medea’s descendants hostage and causing their deaths.”
This is the content of Queen Grace II's declaration of war, which was deeply enraged at the time. The Queen, usually known for her benevolence and generosity, also possessed a terrifyingly ruthless side, like the two sides of the moon.
Moreover, Diana's appearance alone made her close to a pure-blooded Medea, and she had ample reason to be protected by the kingdom.
"So that's what you were planning? What was that offer to keep quiet about? Was it just a bluff?"
Given that Medea hasn't had any major issues yet, it seems he hasn't taken any action. He simply couldn't fathom the mad Duke's thoughts.
There is only one reason why he abandoned everything, risked death with the stigma of a traitor, and took Diana.
Revealing her identity to the Queen. If that happens, all of his plans will be ruined. Deep worry crept across the admiral's forehead as he pressed his hand to his temple.
He remembered something from long ago.
"You betrayed me? You lied to me, and even did something like that! That wasn't for me!"
Her young voice was vivid as if it were yesterday.
He couldn't help it. At the time, he acted with sincerity, but the reaction he got back was human contempt. The fragments of the resurrected image, along with various emotions, surged in like a tidal wave, then quickly receded.
He'd have to spend the rest of his life repaying poor Celine. He used his daughter to rationalize and drown out the guilt that was rising in his mind.
***
Tempshire Palace, the Queen's office.
Queen Grace II was drinking bergamot-scented tea and talking with Baroness Zelda Mason.
She smiled kindly at the Baroness standing before her, but there was something cold about that smile. The earrings in her ears sparkled and swayed gently with her graceful movements.
“Zelda, the child the Count rescued, is Admiral Belford’s daughter.”
Baroness Mason thought for a moment about who the Count was, then nodded, remembering that Noah had been given the honorary title of Medea.
"Are you referring to the woman the Duke rescued? Yes, she is. But judging by her different surname, I think she's been excommunicated."
“Did Admiral Claire marry Medea and have a child?”
"Because they were an enemy nation, our knowledge was limited, but the admiral's wife is said to have died long ago. The woman named Diana is likely the daughter of his second wife. There's no information about her, and she's presumed deceased. Judging by her appearance, it was clear that her maternal lineage was Medea."
The Queen's pale, almost pale face was stained with displeasure at the Baroness's report. Unable to hide the expression of disgust and contempt, she bit her lower lip and suppressed her emotions. She elegantly set down her teacup, maintaining her dignity.
"We naturally have a duty to protect our people, but why did Noah do that? He's not the type to help others without reason."
Baroness Mason, who had been standing with her hands clasped together, looked at the tips of her shoes for a moment, then smiled brightly.
“Could it be love? He saw her by chance and fell in love at first sight.”
Coincidence? Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by accident. The Queen, who didn't like that comment, furrowed her brow slightly.
Soon, she forced herself to suppress the unpleasant memories and straighten her expression. It was strange that Noah Rotsilt could fall in love with such a simple person. It was strange from the start, when they made a fuss about getting married.
He was a strange man whose inner thoughts were unknown since he was young.
The Queen's green eyes turned to the Baroness.
"Zelda. You know why I lent my power to Frogen."
“To bring down Belford, divide it, and rule it.”
The Baroness answered the Queen's sudden question with a formal, measured response, examining her intentions. The Queen smiled nonchalantly, concealing her burning anger. On the surface, it was like that. In reality, it was a personal grudge.
"Yes, I wonder when Diana will come to see me. His partner, huh? I guess it's a sister's heart that makes me curious."
“I will tell her to come and see Your Majesty as soon as possible.”
As Baroness Mason politely withdrew, the Queen rested her chin on her hand and gazed at the flower-scented water in her cup. A strange thoughtfulness lingered in her cool gaze.
Long ago, when Medea and Belford were allies.
Winston Clare, a promising young Belford student, then a naval captain, stopped by Medea and happened to meet Queen Grace in her Princess days. A chance encounter could be the fate of the century, or a tragically entangled relationship.
Born the third son of a Marquis, he was an ambitious young man, and born into royalty, she was a powerful young woman. Their meeting was the beginning of a very unpleasant relationship.
***
Lenny, dressed in a maid's outfit, came to the room and told me that Noah had returned from Tempshire Palace.
After a long time, I lazily got up from my comfortable bed, enjoying my homebody instincts while rolling around all day. Wrapping myself in a blanket, I headed down the stairs when I saw Noah entering the front door.
Noah, who had taken off his coat and handed it to the maid, looked up at me standing on the stairs. An inexplicable silence settled over us as we exchanged glances. I smiled awkwardly at him, but for some reason, he didn't smile back at me.
“Did you have a good trip?”
“Yeah. I’m back.”
His expressionless face was chilled to a crispness. His subdued voice was chilled, as if a cold wind had passed through it.
A man with a firm grip on me scurried past me and clattered up the stairs. I reflected on what I'd done so wrong, but my only fault was that I refused to sleep with him again. I followed him into his room, my heart aching slightly, as if I'd been bitten by a gnat.
“Noah. Did something bad happen?”
Noah turned to me and loosened his tie. He had the same expression as before, his chin raised.
“It’s not a good thing...”
He stared off into space, mulling over my words, before finally letting out a low laugh. At first, it sounded like a languid sneer.
Suddenly, Noah came up to me, leaned over, and looked down at me.
One corner of his mouth is raised crookedly, making him look dangerously different from his usual appearance. It's an expression I often saw in the beginning.
He unbuttoned his collar, one by one, holding the loose tie in his hand. His long fingers didn't stop there, but slowly moved down the third and fourth buttons.
I jumped back, startled by the constant tapping sound and the gap in his shirt collar gradually widening. The sight before me was utterly disconcerting.
I closed my eyes tightly, as if I were witnessing the revelation of a forbidden secret I shouldn't have known. A calm, gentle voice filled my ears.
“Are you going to stay? I’m just changing clothes.”
“Yes, I’ll go out.”
I covered my eyes and backed away, intending to get out before his shirt came off and exposed more of his torso. But, as expected, I tripped on the threshold.
With a single, short scream, like a winter migratory bird, my body lost its balance. Fortunately, before me was a robust, former military man with quick reactions and excellent athleticism.
He quickly grabbed my hand, preventing the back of my head from cracking, and slowly met my eyes. The usual response was to wrap his arms around me or hold my waist in a tango position, asking, "Are you okay?"
He just held my hand with one hand, his expressionless face blank. I was leaning forward, clinging to his hand as if I was holding on.
Even though I was too weak to find my own balance, he didn't pull me up or raise me any further. Noah's ash-blue eyes suddenly narrowed, and he smiled seductively.
I asked, putting strength into my toes and barely holding my head up.
“What are you doing?”
It was a pure question. I don't know what he meant. I tried to reach for the floor with one hand, but he pulled me up so hard that my hand was just waving in the air.
Meanwhile, the tie wrapped around his hand fell to the floor. Noah, seeing the obvious look of confusion on my face, tilted his head and smirked.
“Hey. Stop kidding.”
I dismissed the reaction with a blank stare, grabbing his hand with both of my own to pull myself up, but he suddenly released his grip. My back arched, and I stumbled backwards again.
“Ugh!”
“Did you do something wrong to me?”
Noah looked down at me with a smirk. It was a wicked smile, as if to say, "You shouldn't have done that to me."
Is this a manifestation of a crazy tendency to find joy in the suffering of others, rather than empathize with it? To exploit the aesthetics of falling, which creates a romantic and romantic situation, in this way?
“What am I?”
“You broke your promise.”
“No, no! Why are you like this!”
He showed his will to let go of my hand, even if it meant falling backwards, but his hand held on even tighter.
My back was bent even more precariously. If I get up, that man won't leave me alone. Noah tilted his head slightly at my resentful gaze.
“Hmm. The culprit who broke the promise is glaring at me.”
“Please help me up so I can apologize. My back hurts.”
I made a deliberately pitiful expression, and he slowly lifted me up, supporting my waist. He wrapped his arm around my waist and made a weary face. I tried to avoid his gaze, darting my eyes here and there, but he persistently followed me, meeting my gaze.
“I won’t do anything. I haven’t done anything yet.”
Isn't the problem that we didn't do anything in the first place? It's the worn-out, adult-like thought. We were in a healthy relationship, never even having a proper kiss. He kept nagging me.
“Yes? I’d like to sleep together.”
His hand gently stroked my back, sending a tingling sensation down my neck. He spoke and acted so bizarrely, yet he was so restrained when it mattered. It was unacceptable. I deflected the appropriate Confucian sentiment and dismissed him with a stern nod.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t. We’re not even married.”
“We already slept together, right?”
“Other people won’t think healthy.”
"So what if we promised to get married? What does it matter what other people think?"
I kept my mouth shut, not confident I could win the verbal battle. After a brief pause, Noah finally pulled out his secret weapon. He looked at me with a pitiful expression, his eyes cast down in sorrow.
“You don’t like sleeping with me? I even use my arms as a pillow and pat your back.”
It's a uniquely pitiful cat-like expression that leaves the viewer vulnerable. Of course, it's just a beast pretending to be a cat. If he were a King and spoke with that expression and voice, demanding an end to the war, I might listen.
"No..."
The question, “Do you hate it?” and that expression were also my greatest weaknesses.
In the past, I had coldly abandoned him, and he thought I had left because I hated him. Therefore, I considered the word "dislike" a completely taboo word. It's annoying to the point of being annoying, but his ability to effectively exploit others' weaknesses is something to be admired.
“Are you scared of me?”
His eyes, as if whispering, stared straight at me. Feeling like I was about to be taken in, I nodded and tried to regain my composure.
"No."
“Don’t worry, I’m not thinking about anything else. I just like being with you.”
Your kind words touch me deeply. I really want to cry. Could you please let me think about something else?
"All right."
I nodded, pressing my head against my aching scalp. The man's lips curved in satisfaction, having achieved what he wanted.
Of course, I could take the initiative, but it wouldn't be easy. I don't dare to confront that elegant man, who feels like an unbreakable sanctuary.
“Well then, that’s it...”
For now, I planned to go back to my room and avoid him by making excuses, such as being sick or pretending to go to bed early. But I forgot that he was five steps ahead of me.
As I was trying to sneak out, Noah's hand came over mine, gripping the doorknob. He reached out with one hand to open the door, and it slammed shut with a loud bang.
I gulped, trapped in his arms. His turbid blue eyes, now fierce, were secretly slanted.
His warm breath brushed against my cheek. His lips brushed my ear, then he whispered softly, like a breath.
“I know you won’t be able to leave my room until morning.”
The voice overpowered me, holding me captive. I was helpless, and he was demanding.
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