I didn’t know turning twenty would feel like this.
Just as my heart felt a pang, a rustling sound came from behind me.
It seemed Blayden was stirring in his sleep.
I thought he slept like a statue, but he was human after all.
Leni curled her lips up and down, then returned to her thoughts.
Blayden Lehert remembered his situation when he became a prisoner.
That’s why he was so angry.
It must have hurt him, and he probably felt exposed.
Is it a good thing?
Since he believes compassion is an insult, perhaps he won’t try to subjugate me, even if I’m a slave.
Maybe he’ll consider me because of the suffering he endured in his childhood.
That might be the kindness he bestows.
I need to delve into Blayden Lehert’s past.
The time he’s been through might foreshadow the time that’s coming for me.
He was facing her.
Strictly speaking, he wasn’t “seeing.”
He had his defenseless chest towards her, but his eyes were closed.
To be watched even while sleeping, that’s too much.
Leni remained still, her lips tightly pressed together so no breath would escape.
How much time had passed?
Her hunched shoulders felt stiff and numb, but she hesitated to turn over.
If Blayden happened to be awake, he would think she was avoiding him.
If you want, I can face you too.
I’m not afraid of you.
As she glared at Blayden’s closed eyes and firmed her resolve, a deep voice pierced her ears.
“Looks like you’ve found quite a spectacle.”
Leni, not wanting to show her surprise, retorted, “Because I don’t have eyes in my back. It’s safer to keep those you don’t trust in front of you.”
I don’t trust you.
She wondered how Blayden would react if she revealed her true feelings.
“People tend to trust others only as much as they give trust.”
Does that mean, ‘I don’t trust you either?’
Let me prod him one more time.
“Do you dislike me?”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because my father is His Highness’s friend.”
Leni paused for a moment, then added, “And His Highness is the Wolf’s enemy.”
“So what?”
A nonchalant question came back.
She had intentionally tried to hurt him, but Blayden showed no agitation.
Leni’s thoughts stalled at his lack of reaction, showing neither sadness nor despair.
“Excuse me?”
“Ekilium or Kiavech, when they die, they all bleed red into the ground. Taking sides based on blood is foolish.”
Then what do you use to divide people?
She couldn’t ask that so directly.
She didn’t want to act like a clumsy soldier in front of a seasoned commander.
Her clumsy attack failed to faze him.
Realizing it was time to retreat, Leni mumbled, “I brought up something unnecessary. The more I talk, the more I seem to lose.”
“You realized that quickly.”
Silence descended after his dry remark.
Blayden’s lips closed like those of a dead man.
Scanning his strong features, submerged in darkness, Leni suddenly realized something. Blayden Lehert was the last face she saw before closing her eyes.
And he was the first face she saw when she woke up in the morning.
Her heart fluttered at the new thought.
Just as she felt like she was on a ship swaying in rough waters, Blayden asked in a low voice,
“When will you realize that enduring sleepless nights only harms you?”
His whisper was so low and gentle that she might have mistaken it for an attempt to comfort her.
Comfort me, how preposterous!
Hmph! Leni snorted and turned over to the other side.
Please, let me not meet this person in my dreams.
The moment she closed her eyes, Blayden’s face, perversely, popped into her mind.
A man with distinct, rugged features stared at her.
Damn it!
How dare he invade my dreams.
Shoo, go away.
Leni only moved her lips, grumbling.
Behind her, Blayden’s eyes opened.
His blue eyes, absorbing the darkness, gazed at Leni’s small, rounded shoulders for a long time.
***
Kallian instructed his attendants to set up a banquet on the balcony of the royal consort’s annex. It was a clear and bright night, with stars twinkling.
The table was laden with meat and fruit, and large and small candles flickered around it.
“Try this.”
Kallian picked up a piece of fig stewed in red wine and brought it to Bia’s mouth, who was seated next to him.
Bia, blushing, hesitated for a long time before shyly opening her lips.
“How is it?”
“It’s… soft, sweet, and a little bitter.”
“I brought it from Berden. Berden has developed maritime trade, so it has many rare foods and spices. They say figs spoil quickly, so they stew them in wine, and this was special wine that only goes to the royal palace.”
“Yes.”
Bia humbly bowed her head and savored the fruit, which she was tasting for the first time.
As the soft, chewy pulp was crushed, a captivating aroma filled her mouth.
“I’ll have them add more honey. I think it would be even sweeter.”
Kallian continued to talk about the foods he had tasted in Berden.
He listed not only fruits but also edible flowers and herbs, explaining different cooking methods from each region with a very serious demeanor.
She had heard that popular spoils of war were silver dishes, carpets, jewels, and weapons.
But the prince, who was known for being cold and strict, was engrossed in talking about snacks, his eyes sparkling like a child’s.
He had this side too.
Bia’s heart ached thinking that he might have been like this originally and changed because of the war.
As the lingering scent of figs and wine faded, her gaze rested on Kallian’s face.
Kallian, who had stopped talking, frowned.
“Why are you smiling?”
Only then did Bia realize she was smiling.
“Ah, yes. It’s just… that His Highness likes sweet foods…”
Kallian moved closer to her, sitting beside her as she hesitated, unable to continue.
“What about liking sweet things?”
Oh no.
“Cute” would be disrespectful. Bia refined her thoughts.
“It’s unexpected.”
“Really?”
Kallian tilted his head and grinned.
His finely shaped lips formed an arc.
But the smile, seen after a long time, quickly faded, and his voice deepened.
“It was the same when I came to Kiavech during the Solar War. Akilium is too cold for plants to grow well. There were many fruits and vegetables I’d never seen before. Even common fruits like apples back then…”
His forlorn muttering dissipated into a sigh.
Bia held her breath and observed Kallian’s expression.
His distant gaze rested on a red apple on the table. Kallian, who had been silent for a long time with his lips pressed into a straight line, suddenly gulped down his wine.
As Kallian set down his goblet, Bia cautiously spoke.
“Your Highness, you like apple pie, don’t you?”
It was something a maid who had prepared the banquet had whispered to her, saying she’d heard it from the head chef.
“Yes.”
Though he nodded, Kallian seemed uncomfortable.
It took him a moment to shift his gaze from the apple he was glaring at, his jaw tense, to her.
“Legion wagons carrying spoils of war are coming from Berden. When the silk and jewels for you arrive, have them make clothes and accessories.”
At the sudden change of topic, Bia shook her head.
“Your Highness, I don’t need any more clothes or accessories. I already have more than enough.”
“You need them. And you’ll need even more in the future.”
Kallian offered a gentle smile and scanned Bia’s face and neckline.
She was a woman as noble as a goddess, even without expensive jewels.
Before your beauty, the moonlight pales.
You are my wife.
Soon you will be the queen of this kingdom.
If Akilium becomes an empire, I will make you empress.
So you must be more splendid and dignified than anyone.
“Your Highness, the people have starved from the long war. If you would turn your attention to caring for them…”
As Bia spoke, footsteps were heard from within the chambers.
“Your Highness! Urgent news!”
A page rushed in, hastily paid his respects to Kallian, and whispered.
Kallian’s face hardened chillingly.
“The mercenaries are also gathering in the barracks, having heard the rumors.”
At the page’s additional words, Kallian slammed the table and stood up.
Bia, who remained seated at the table Kallian had left, called for a maid.
“Gretchen, find out what happened.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
A moment later, Gretchen returned with the news.
“The legion’s wagons carrying spoils from Berden were robbed.”
“What?”
“They say they encountered a band of robbers in Narpen Forest, near the border with Eblan, Your Highness.”
How could such a thing happen?
Bia clenched and unclenched her hands.
Recalling Kallian, who had been excited about the spoils, made her uneasy.
She had heard Kallian was a strict commander.
Would he execute someone to take responsibility for this incident?
It felt as though the bloodshed would continue even after the war ended.
“Who would have done such a thing? Did Berden pretend to surrender while plotting something behind our backs?”
“Well…”
Gretchen looked around, then approached Bia, covering her mouth with one hand and whispering.
“Your Highness, actually, there’s been a disturbing rumor circulating in the market recently.”
“What kind of rumor?”
“They say there’s a secret society.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s said that the small kingdoms of Ruette made a secret pact, taking advantage of the escalated war with Berden. There are also rumors of battles to reclaim territory lost to Akilium… and that assassins targeting His Majesty and His Highness will infiltrate the palace.”
Bia’s heart pounded.