Chapter 8
Pilter family residence.
Now I was enjoying tea surrounded by four ladies.
‘It was three weeks long.’
Tears slipped down my face every time I thought about how hard it was, but I was the final winner of the bet.
The requirement was for me to take a walk through the garden safely. So I had been crawling around that large garden by myself.
And today was the promised day.
When I went out to the front gate of the mansion, a carriage was already waiting for me. The Marquis had bought a new carriage.
That wasn’t enough, he made gifts for the ladies, and Ulysse even gave me motion sickness medicine.
They really were something else.
‘Why do you buy a carriage when you always scream that loud and disagree with me?’
Truth be told, I was going to ride a horse even if they were against it. And I thought they couldn’t rebuke me even if I fell down since I won the bet regardless.
‘But you’ve bought me a new carriage, gave me motion sickness medicine, gifts, even escort guards.’
Marquis and Ulysse soon shed tears and smiled as they wished me a safe trip.
Their expression went back and forth between crying and smiling, and I almost said, ‘Isn’t it you and the marquis who need treatment more than the injured soldiers in the north?’
Either way, I was confident that they couldn’t stop me, but then someone talked to me.
“I’m glad you’re coming, Lady Navian. I thought the Marquis would oppose it.”
Lady Julia Pilter, who sent me a letter, wiggled her finger with a bashful expression.
“Your complexion doesn’t look very good. I suppose I was being too greedy.”
In fact, I had a hard time coming here.It had been a hell of three weeks, and I almost died countless times just to walk.
However, it was due to my own greed to learn about Signus, so it wasn’t her fault.
“I pleaded with him to let me go. I wanted to meet with young ladies, too.”
I said politely, “Thank you for inviting me.”
“….”
The faces of the young ladies blushed. Actually, this situation was familiar to me. Even when I was a knight, these young ladies blushed like that when I blurted out something.
“Navian is like a knight,” at the cry of a young lady who sat next to me, a short haired girl rebuked her.
“Claire, it’s impolite to speak casually without permission.”
The girl named Claire had a sour look on her face.However, she crossed her arms as if denying having done that and said to me.
“You’ll give me permission, right?”
Her smiling face was warm and lovely enough to melt even the ice snow in the far north.
When I nodded my head, the short-haired woman sighed.
“I’m sorry, she’s not a bad child, but she lacks manners because she’s still young. I sincerely apologize on her behalf.”
“No, it’s alright.”
She smiled. Her name came to mind as I saw her refreshing smile.
‘Elizabeth Rombagram.’
She was the Marquis esteemed daughter whom I often saw at social parties in the Imperial Palace.
“Oh, have you heard the news?”
Julia whispered quietly, “His highness has raised his sword.”
“Who is it this time?”
“Some aristocrats and viscount families who govern the provinces.”
Elizabeth clicked her tongue and said, “I think I know who it is. I also heard that they had a suspicious gathering,”
Julia asked Elizabeth with a worried look, “No way, did they get in touch with the Ellin family, too?”
“Yes, I can confirm since my father helps with palace financial affairs.”
Claire asked Elizabeth as she watched quietly, “Then it’s treason, right?”
“Maybe.”
Treason was a very heavy sin. Not only would the name of that family vanish from history forever, if even one drop of blood was mixed in, they would also be chased until the end and completely annihilated.
“It must have been very dangerous. Too bad, I want to go to the capital’s night market,”
Elizabeth shouted with a terrified look at Claire’s words.
“Don’t even think of it!”
“Hic.”
Seeing the tearful Claire, I felt like I had to admit that Signus had really changed. Claire, who had been pouting her lips, asked me.
“That’s right, Navian was lying in bed the whole time, right? You don’t know what’s going on outside.”
“Then we’ll let you know,” Vivi whispered, leaned her upper body to the table.
“Actually, the empire is going crazy right now. The Crown Prince is a very famous tyrant.”
“Can you tell me in detail?” At my request, Vivi’s voice went lower.
“The person I’m currently seeing applied to be a knight, so I heard a lot of stories about His Highness from him.” Vivi tried hard to remember something.
“What did he say again? Did he say his eyes changed? He looks like someone obsessed with madness. Killing people if they offended him even a little bit,”
Then Julia responded, “If His Highness shows up, you must lie face down because if your eyes meet his, you’ll die.”
“No, from what I hear, just passing by in front of him will get you killed.” Listening to the conversation, I clenched my fist as hard as I could.
‘You damned bastard!’ A harsh curse word almost went up my throat, violently struggling to get out.
‘I saved your life, and you’ve become a crazy tyrant who kills people indiscriminately?’
If I heard it right, he was crazy about killing living beings which meant my sacrifice was useless.
Worthless death. That was me.
While I was engulfed in anger, Elizabeth quietly spoke to me.
“What’s certain is His Highness changed since he became the Crown Prince.”
“You mean from one year ago?”
“That’s right. Thanks to him, the capital became very dangerous. You should never go outside.”
I could only sigh at this frustrating situation.
‘I can’t just hold onto someone and ask them,’ a silence ensued and Julia murmured gloomily.
“I hope the empire will be peaceful soon,”
Vivi also put her hands on her face and said bluntly, “Right, too bad there are many fun things in the capital!”
Elizabeth smiled softly, “Don’t worry, this is a holy empire. Avita’s guardian deity will take care of him and he will get better soon.”
Claire, who was eating cookies next to her, opened her mouth.
“Who knows, I don’t think he’ll get better soon.”
Elizabeth asked, frowning.
“Did you hear something?”
Claire put her eyes down on the plate and said, “These days, His Highness calls women into the palace, ”
Claire continued, pulling out the chocolate stuck in the cookies. “Every day, every night, regardless of day or night, the woman changes.”
Puk-! The cookies broke.
***
Inside a spacious room in the innermost palace.
There was the man who was rumored to have a woman in and out his chamber. His outstanding appearance was revealed when the light shone around him. A long shadow formed below his eyes as he closed his lengthy eyelashes.
The black hair that was a symbol of Avita was roughly hanging down on his white neck. A wide chest was revealed between the clothes that were roughly worn.
There were two water drop shaped necklaces glistening under the light.
Signus, the ruler of Avita and the very person named tyrant who endangered the empire, was sitting on a chair and looking at a noble woman. Signus, who looked at the noble woman indifferently, opened his mouth.
“Take it off.”
“…..”
After a moment of hesitation, she put her hand behind her back.
Zigg-!
Her shoulders were exposed. Her eyes closed tightly at the cool air that touched her skin. Then, an order was heard.
“Turn around.”
The woman turned around. His indifferent golden eyes touched the woman shoulder-blade, then there was a silence in the room.
In the eyes of a noblewoman who turned her head slightly, Signus was seen waving his hands with an annoyed face. It was a gesture to get out. After blinking for a while, the noble woman quickly fixed her clothes.
“Then, may the peace be yours.”
A beautiful hand poured alcohol into a glass. Signus’s red lips opened without answering her greeting.
“Next.”
***
Leo, the knight of Dojino, spoke to a noble woman who was leaving the room with a puzzled expression.
“Please keep today’s occurrence a secret.”
“…Yes.” the noble woman answered, quickly leaving the palace. Then another woman entered the dark hallway.
“Please get in,”
The nervous woman disappeared into the room. Leo, who closed the door, stood upright in the hallway where the silence was hovering. Despite countless repetitions, he remained unwavering in front of the door.
Then someone spoke to Leo.
“Are you guarding?” It was Droop, the general of the third division of Dojino Knight.
“What brought you here?”
“I have something to report to His Highness.” Droop opened his mouth as if there was no rush.
“Let’s wait, she’ll come out soon anyway.”
Just as Droop said, the door opened and a woman came out with a puzzled expression.
“The way out is that way,” looking at the woman walking quickly to where Droop was pointing, Leo spoke disapprovingly.
“I have to tell her to stay silent.”
“Everyone knows. You’re the only one who doesn’t know.” Droop grinned as he knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, this is General Droop of Dojino third division.”
There was no answer, but Droop opened the door. It was equal to a permission if there was no word such as ‘get lost’. The eyes of the two knights who entered the room turned to the window.
The Crown Prince of Avita was sitting by a large window and pouring alcohol into a glass. The moonlight permeated the golden eyes and black hair.
‘Truly an amazing combination of colors.’
Leo and Droop, who were impressed by the picturesque scene, bowed politely.
“I have something to report.”
A beautiful finger picked up a glass of wine. When his attention turned to him, Droop opened his mouth.
“Monsters appeared in the forest of Yeronimo territory,”
Leo’s thick eyebrows frowned. It was rare for monsters from the border to reach where the civilians live.
“According to the temple, there was a strange wave on the border of the empire,” Droop said in a cautious voice.
“The territory guards took care of it quickly, but the monsters swarmed the place again. If you give permission, I’ll send reinforcement.”
Signus put the glass down.
“I’ll go.”
The tip of the red mouth that was wet with alcohol went up.