Meanwhile, that night someone entered Tasel’s tent. It was an informant sent by them to the Nobles of the area they were marching through. The agent verbalised his report.
“How are their reactions over there?”
“I think they are reconsidering something. Not long ago, they seemed to co-operate with our side for certain, but I don’t know what sort of condition was put forward by the Rebel Army as they resolutely avoided to give a definite answer.”
Tasel became silent at the words of the informant, but unlike him, the faces of Mikhail and Zeke were being eroded with anger.
“Damn it….”
“Your Highness, I have a very bad feeling about this. It’s the third time the Rebel Army has distorted our carefully cultivated amicable relationship with others; with the same method.”
“You are right. I am aware of it. Don’t you think that the Rebel Army seems to know exactly which parties we approach for co-operation?”
Tasel ascertained from the report this time that their plans were being leaked out.
“When do you think the decisive battle will take place?”
“I feel that it won’t be long. It seems that the Rebel Army is also waiting for the right timing.”
“Then we still have time,” he muttered. “I got it. You worked hard.”
After the informant left, Mikhail could only wait for Tasel to speak out. But even before a minute passed, he began to throw a fit.
“It’s certain that His Majesty is behind all this! Despite his inability to provide us with any help, I really…!”
Mikhail continued to make a fuss, but Tasel and Zeke kept quiet as they fell into deep thought.
“If… if His Highness is killed at this moment, then the Rebel Army will head straight to the Karina Palace. Then why did His Majesty want to stop suppressing the Rebel Army….”
“The only thing I am certain is, that the Rebel’s side and His Majesty’s side, both are hesitating over something. In the meantime, we also need to come up with some plan.”
“Huu… I know. But what I am really curious about is whether His Majesty intended for such a situation or whether he thought I was stupid. It would be better if His Majesty is taking me for a fool. If by any chance all of these are intended by His Majesty, then we are completely caught in his trap. We must thoroughly analyse the situation and prepare ourselves discreetly.”
Both Zeke and Mikhail’s eyes changed as they looked at Tasel. They felt that it won’t be too long before Tasel makes his decision.
“The borderline nobility already pledged their loyalty towards Your Highness. They are only waiting for Your Highness’s orders.”
“.…I understand. Once I confirm my queen mother’s safety, let’s proceed. No news from Karina Palace?”
“Not yet. The palace is under tight security.”
“I understand. Inform me as soon as there is any news. Then let’s wind up here.”
In the now-empty tent, Tasel gritted his teeth. So His Majesty wanted to disgrace him and his queen mother till the end.
Alterion brought Elena, a royalty of Tartanian, a newly conquered land by him, as his third queen. Alterion lost his highly favoured General in the war of conquest with Tartanian. As if taking revenge for the General’s death, Elena didn’t get any affection or at least any warmth from Alterion.
On their first night together, Elena was completely frightened. A memory she doesn’t even want to think about, surfaced. It was said that after that night whenever Alterion visited Elena’s bed-chamber, her cries could be heard even from the outside.
After Tasel was born, Alterion married another queen. Tasel and his mother were completely forgotten after that. Even they didn’t show up in front of the public as a part of the royal family.
Elena thought such a condition was not bad, rather she felt better about it. But they were without any option to attend the party hosted by his Majesty. When Tasel saw his mother dressed plainly, standing at a side all alone, anger roared up in him unwittingly. But whenever Tasel got angry, Elena would plead with her son to just live like this, silently, without entering others eyes.
The royal family of Tartanian got out alive with the price of forsaking their Princess. Still, they couldn’t even provide Elena with any support. Of course, Alterion didn’t leave any room for that. But it was mainly because of themselves, who would lie flat down on their stomach whenever they came across His Majesty.
The Tartanian royalty also came to the party, groomed more fancily than Elena. They didn’t show their perfunctory manners towards her. Because of it, Tasel didn’t have an expectation from his mother’s family, not even any goodwill.
The more he thought, the more he felt his chest tightening because of his pent up anger. Tasel stood up from his seat all of a sudden. He took a towel and hung it on his shoulder and went towards the pond in the hillside. He felt that the cold water could calm him down.
Though the garrison was immersed in the night, the moonlight lit up the surroundings.
With a complex face Tasel went through the hilly roads and before long, he reached the pond. He took off his clothes and put them on a rock nearby. He steadily went into the cold pond and walked to the middle.
The pond was a bit shallow as the water only reached till the pit of his stomach. Tasel held his breath and went into the water. He felt the cold water washing his hot chest and head. He certainly felt a little better.
“Pooh-!”
Tasel came above the water, but only his head. He stood like that, silently, feeling the energy around the hill.
The bright moon, the sound of water dripping, the chirping of beetles – they were always the same, without having any concern about him or his mother. Tasel felt despondent thinking of his lone struggle, doing his utmost to survive.
At that time, he felt like hearing someone nearing the pond. Tasel swam silently towards the rock which held his clothes. Though he speculated that it might be a soldier coming to fish, in truth, these days he felt it won’t be any strange even if he was assassinated. So he hid the body behind the rock and covered up his presence.
“Ha… As expected there was a pond.”
Tasel suspected his ears. It was very cold, so he had difficulty hearing clearly. But it was a woman’s voice for sure. Soon after, with a putong, he heard someone jumping into the water.
The owner of the voice seemed to be washing up in the pond.
‘Oh! shoot…… Hiding like this made the situation worse.’
Even if Tasel had no other intentions, if a naked man was to suddenly appear before a woman, then the other party would for sure, get startled.
‘Can’t help it. I have to wait until the lady leaves after washing.’
Thinking so Tasel quietly hid behind the rock. The pond water that felt refreshing a moment ago began to feel chilly.
His body was cold, still, he had to hide in the chilly pond water, unable to go out. Tasel felt his current state laughable. Suddenly he realized that he no longer could sense the presence of the woman.
‘Did she leave?’
Tasel raised his ears but the moment he was about to slowly and silently step out of the rock, someone suddenly came up from under the water and held a sharp piece of iron against his neck. It all happened in a flash.
Even a highly trained person like him couldn’t notice all these.
“I couldn’t distinguish that it was His Highness. I apologize for my mistake.”
When Tasel raised and looked towards the source of the voice, there stood Kasia in an upright posture wearing a thin, wet shirt.
“………”
“………”
Kasia thought that it must be the first time for Tasel to be in such a flustering situation. Though it was fortunate that Kasia was not naked, he was as nude as a newborn baby. He felt the cold air hitting his lower body.
He dropped the case when Kasia attacked Mikhail last time, but this time he couldn’t. Kasia turned her head because whatever was the situation she couldn’t keep looking at the naked body of the prince of a country. There was wet hair stuck onto her neck from which water was dripping drop by drop. Her skin dripping wet with the cold water shined beautifully in the moonlight.
She felt dizzy and embarrassed. She couldn’t come up with any topics. Maybe his tightly closed lips were caging swear words, thought Kasia. Her shirt which stuck to her body after getting wet beautifully showed off the well-hidden curvatures of her body. Even in such a situation, he felt flustered and embarrassed to even take a look beneath her clavicle.
“Ahem…. I would appreciate it if you won’t misunderstand. I came here before you.”
“I apologize for not recognizing you sooner, Your Highness.”
“…No need. In fact, I am more curious about how you found me?”
“When I went into the water, I felt it.”
“You felt it? I didn’t make any movement, I even hid my presence…. then? You, really…..”
“Though I know it a disrespectful remark, it would be better for both of us to not come any closer.”
Tasel unwittingly went towards Kasia but hastily took a step back and stopped the approach. Only then did Tasel come to his right mind. Even if he felt her interesting, in their current state, it would be a bit difficult to hold up a conversation.
“I will be leaving first. I sincerely apologize for not realizing your presence and disturbing you.”
Kasia deviated her line of vision from Tasel breaking the awkward situation. She bid her farewell and went out of the pond. The moment he realized Kasia was wearing her dress, Tasel hastily turned his head and turned his body towards the big stone where his dress and towel were kept.
His feet were slightly numb by the cold. As he was wiping his body, the presence of the other party disappeared. His eyes travelled towards the direction she disappeared for a moment. He once again turned back and slightly smiled as he wore his shirt.
‘However, I think it is really strange. Still, what Mikhail said was right. She really is quite amazing.’
For the first time, Tasel felt curiosity towards her rather than suspicion.
Earlier, if she wanted to, it would have been easy for her to take his life. But she realized his identity and backed off by herself. If she was an assassin after his life, then for certain, she wouldn’t have wasted such an opportunity, where there was no one present around. If she was not an assassin, she gained her skills after the Mana explosion.
Tasel mended his view on Kasia but felt that she must be carefully observed for the time being.
Next day, Tasel assigned his aide to keep an eye on Kasia for a few days and ordered him to report in detail about her daily routine. By the aide’s report, Kasia’s previous routine was very simple and too pitiful for words.
“All the while I watched Dame Kasia, her daily routine was always the same. She wakes up before the morning alarm and starts her morning exercise. She has her morning breakfast with Knight Krone. After that, she takes part in cleaning the barrack and shares some small talks with others over tea. Then she trains with her unit members in the drill hall or exercises alone. When it is time for lunch, she eats with Krone and takes a small rest. In the afternoon she goes into the small mountain at the rear and doesn’t come back till dinner. When I inquired about it with Knight Krone, he said that she trains there, all alone. Again, she has her food with Knight Krone and talks about her parents whom she doesn’t even remember. After that, she retires for bed. Other than her excessive training compared to others, her daily routine is very simple, nothing special.”
Hearing his aide’s report on Kasia he fell into deep thought and slowly rubbed his chin.
Her daily routine really was a simple one, but it didn’t mean that it was not special. Because a female knight doing such arduous training, that too voluntarily, in the whole nation, won’t exist other than her. Such a special female knight had never existed before.
Tasel realized that soon it would be the time for Kasia to go up the mountain at the rear and instructed his aide.
“Today, when Dame Kasia will leaves for the mountain, inform me at once.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”