“It’s my first time greeting you. I am Lena Rubel from the South.”
At the cold-watering voice, people looked at Lena with amazing eyes. It’s self-introduction by intervening in a fun moment.
The pouring gaze on her wasn’t good, but Lena stood face to face with Lynn regardless. Then she bent lightly, with her hand on her chest.
“I got a lot of help from you earlier. Thank you very much.”
Everyone was speechless when the Southern agent bowed her head.
Lynn was surprised too, and noticed Duke Arles. Not surprisingly, the Southern Duke was glaring.
‘What are you doing right now…’
Perplexed, Lynn realized when he saw Lena’s smile. That Lena was trying to create an opportunity for herself.
“….I didn’t ask you to greet me.”
Lynn noticed Lena’s intention and muttered coldly. Then, he looked back at the knights as if his anger had cooled down.
“Stop it and go back.”
Lynn had to fight ugly with the Prince of the North, but thanks to Lena, the way to step back naturally opened.
As Lynn walked away, Ruvid burst into a rage and tried to catch him.
“Where are you going?!”
“Sir Ruvid.”
But this time again, Lena stopped Ruvid.
Ruvid stopped talking at the unfamiliar title and stared at Lena.
“Sir Ruvid?”
“Keep your dignity. Even if you don’t have dignity.”5
“How dare you…”
“Or shall we dance again?”
“What?”
“There’s a place to do it here.”
Lena winked at the crack as she said so. She meant to throw him over there, just like she threw him in the champagne lake yesterday.
Lena’s provocation caused an ice-like smile on Ruvid’s face.
“Well, I still have business with you.”
Ruvid, who recalled the humiliation of the previous day, clenched his teeth.
“I was annoyed by a dog snooping around…”
“It depends on who raised the dog.”
Then, another uninvited guest stepped in. It was Klavis.
“It’s useful in many ways if you train well, but it’s not that easy,” said Klavis, stroking Ruvid’s head.
In the sudden treatment of a child, Ruvid struck Klavis’ hand with an annoyed face. Then, when he vented his irritation, Klavis grabbed his chin and whispered, “Prince Ruvid, you’ve got to stop and go. You’re busy, aren’t you?”
Ruvid turned his head and found the back of the Northern Duke. Iura was leaving Duham Palace and his brother alone.
When Ruvid saw it, he panicked for a moment and soon clenched his teeth. Then, he glared at Lena again.
“You, I won’t let you go.”
Then Ruvid turned away. As he strode away, Klavis whispered with a smile, “Isn’t he cute? He’s been trained steadily, but he doesn’t know what he’s doing.”
Klavis looked back at Lena, saying so. Then, he approached her and greeted her privately.
“Hi, Dame Lena. Long time no see.”
The voice was full of affection.
“Did you miss me?”
Klavis lowered his voice so that Duke Arles couldn’t hear him, but no matter who saw them, they still looked suspiciously close.
Lena gave no answer. Klavis smiled awkwardly and just bitten himself. When Lena tried to turned around, Klavis grabbed her arm.
Lena hesitated with the sudden contact and then calmly said, “Let me go.”
“Can you shake it?”
“I’m afraid I will get hurt.”
Klavis’ smile deepened when Lena finally answered.
It was already a close distance, but he took a step closer to Lena. Like a man attracted by fascination, like a man who lead to temptation.
He said mournfully, as if he had forgotten that there were a lot of eyes saw them right now.
“I miss you so much.”4
“Why?”
“Because you are special.”
“It’s difficult, I’ve seen your face a few times, and you pretend to be this friendly.”
“If you say so, I really want to be close.”
Lena laughed at the series of courtships.
“Sorry, what should I do?”
Then she suddenly erased her laugh and whispered.
“I’m not interested in you.”
Lena stared at him, and then turned around.
Klavis, who had been kicked out, bit his lips. It wasn’t shame or anger, it was to put up with joy.
🍃🍃🍃
It was night when Lena returned to her residence.
She might be tired of the schedule that started early in the morning, but Lena didn’t get tired and changed her clothes first. Then, she thought about whether to wear a shawl in front of the mirror.
Yuni, who was watching the scene, shook the candy bottle and muttered, “You’re very sincere.”
“Please pretend you didn’t see it. I’ll watch Yuni eats candy this time too.”
In response to the lady’s reply, Yuni closed the candy bottle.
“But, wouldn’t it be difficult if someone see you and Sir Lynn meet?”
“Difficult? Me?”
“No, Sir Lynn.”
This time, Lena stopped. She thought for a moment, then put down her bright ivory shawl and chose a dark turquoise shawl.
When Yuni grinned at the scene, Lena changed the topic.
“Is there no poison in the candy?”
“It’s a little suspicious. I’ve been feeling a prick in my cheeks and my throat is stinging…. is this poison?” (she’s so relaxed,gosh)
“…Stop eating candy and drink water. Also brush your teeth thoroughly.”
Yuni answered with ‘yes’ and let go of the candy bottle she was holding. Then, she spoke in a casual tone.
“The person I met is the butler, right?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“It was a little surprising. I thought he’d send a maid or a young man.”
“Because they can’t increase the number of people who know the secret.”
Lena’s calm explanation made Yuni pout her lips, wondering about something.
“I’m sure we’ll see each other often in the future. What should we talk about when we see each other?”
“Tell him everything you want.”
“Everything?”
When Yuni asked back, Lena thought for a moment. Then she smiled and corrected herself.
“Except that I go for a walk every night.”
After that, Lena jumped off the balcony, as she did every night.
🍃🍃🍃
Lena, who came down to the garden, thought for a moment.
What would happen if Lena Rubel was caught meeting Lignan Eitner in the garden in midnight?
To begin with, nothing would happen to Lena.
There’s a possibility that Duke Arles might give her a lecture, the nobles might be whispering, and the North might be on the offensive, but that didn’t matter to Lena.
So it’s like nothing happened.
But what about Lynn?
A Duke of colonial prisoners with many flaws, many enemies, and even many things to protect. Would it be safe for him to meet her?
That’s unlikely. Nevertheless, what kind of person was he she decided to meet?
Lena swallowed a smile and walked across the dark garden.
And in the dense forest, under the faint moonlight, she found him without fail.
“You’re here again today.”
“You too.”
As Lena stopped and spoke, Lynn, who was waiting for her first, responded in a calm voice.
They met again. They didn’t decide the time and place because they couldn’t make an appointment, but at night they naturally found each other.
In addition, it felt somewhat different today.
It was a little more special than usual, either because they had to pretend not to know each other during the day, or because of the unexpected help they received from each other.
They couldn’t define what this feels like yet, but the two were just relieved to see each other again.1
When Lynn only looked at her and didn’t say anything, Lena started to talk again.
“Thank you for saving me earlier.”
“I want to say that too.”
“Then say it, Sir Lynn.”
Lynn burst into laughter when Lena urged him to say thank you. Then, he panicked alone.
He laughed too easily. Like a fool.
Lynn hurriedly erased his smile and said in a polite voice.
“When I saw the uniform, I realized it. You’re the southern agent.”
“I was also surprised to see Sir Lynn was acting like a son of a bit*h.”
“Son of a bit*h….”
“Oh, was it motherfu*ker?”
“That’s what it is anyway.”
“That’s right. We’re both puppies anyway, and puppies are cute.”
“… You’re doing it on purpose, aren’t you?”
Lena laughed as innocent as a lie when Lynn doubted her intentions.
Lynn, who was looking at her face, turned his head to avoid laughing. But it failed. In the end, he burst into laughter and shook his head as if he couldn’t handle it.
Soon, the two began to walk slowly.
Silence mingled well with the garden of the moonlit lake. But they’re still awkward because they felt each other’s silence, and Lynn, who became awkward, opened his mouth.
“Doesn’t it hurt?”
“Hurt?”
“Your neck.”
Lena was wondering what he was talking about and belatedly touched her neck.
The day was so long that she forgot that the Empress had put a sword on her neck. She traced the shallow wound and recalled the Empress’ cold eyes.
“The Empress was far stranger than I thought.”
“It’s not good to be close to her.”
Lynn’s voice was so cold when he said so. So Lena pretended to be surprised.
“Do the Dukes also speak ill of the Empress?”
“I’ve done more, and I’m not going to do less.”
“But you’re still fine.”
“I’m accredited.”
The East was famous for listening to the Empress. It was because, in order to survive among pure blood Dukes, they had to be favoured by the Empress.
And Lynn was more despised for it. A traitor who was trampled on his homeland but was loyal to the Empress for his own safety. Some people criticized this attitude more than his native origin.
With those few words, Lena felt the contradiction that Lynn had in his arms. But she spoke lightly, pretended not to know.
“Then you must work hard to conquer the tomb.”
“That’s right.”
“Is Sir Lynn going in person?”
Lynn was troubled for a moment by Lena’s question.
Could he share about this with a Southern agent? If the situation was good, they’re competitors, and if it’s bad, they’re enemies.
After a moment of thought, Lynn soon nodded.
“Dukes are running on their feet.”
“Then again this time?”
Lynn nodded again. Then, he asked back.
“What about you? Are you going in instead of Duke of the South?”
“Yes, I was called for such condition from the beginning.”
“Are you okay?”
“Are you worried about me now?”
Lena’s smile became strange at Lynn’s question, so he hurriedly added.
“I don’t doubt your skills. It’s just…”
“Just?”
“Because the knights look unstable.”
Lynn said that and noticed for a moment.
He had nothing to speak about the southern knights in front of an agent of the South. However, contrary to his concerns, Lena admitted readily admitted.
“Oh, it was a bit harsh today, right?”
Today, when the gate opened at Duham Palace, the southern knights revealed their bottoms. (like their lowest competence among other knights)
They weren’t even on the vanguard like the North, but there’re quite a few injured. Flustered, knocked out, hurt, and then injured. Everyone just didn’t say anything, and she only saw the ferocity.
“I heard the southern knights had a lot of experience.”
“I know. Where have they all gone…?”
The South was a battlefield just half a year ago, and inevitably there were many skilled knights. All those who were alive were warriors with thick bones.
But for some reason, all the knights she saw earlier were immature. They’re too young, and crucially, there was no face Lena knew. It meant that they weren’t the ones who kept the final front.
‘I was wondering what was going on when you told me to stay in the middle.’
Lena smiled bitterly as she recalled what Duke Arles said in the morning.
She was wondering why the strong old man was doing this because he told her not to lag behind. However, the level of the knights made it understandable. They were useless that they couldn’t even be used in the middle.
‘Well, if you have a mercenary on your behalf, you can’t be safe with the knights.’
And the southern Duke, which was taken off the hook, was quite repugnant, but Lena soon generously forgave him.
“But it’s okay.”
“It would be totally different to fight on the ground.”
“Would it be like that?”
With Lena’s ease, Lynn narrowed his eyes.
The place they would conquer was the home of the dead. Everything was in a tomb, veiled, that no one but the Empress had ever been to.
No matter how prepared she was, it’s such a relaxed attitude ahead of an unexplored land.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Lynn’s voice, asking back, was full of doubts. It wasn’t a pathetic voice for Lena’s complacency, but a voice that was curious about her inner thoughts.
Lena, who smelled it, smiled brightly.
“Well, it’s really alright.”
Lena saved her answer by saying so. No matter how pretty Lynn was, she thought it’s a little early to tell him this.
The gate to the tomb opened today. The Dukes and knights balked at the fact that the gate was open in the middle of the Imperial Palace, and that they had to occupy that strange place.
So Lena was a little bit in trouble.
Everyone was scared and worried, but was it unusual when she saw the red sky and the black ground and thought it’s nice to see them?
There was no particular reason why Lena was so relaxed.
She’d already been there.
There, the tomb was the same place where Lena spent her childhood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Comments:
한 설영(jina****)
I’ve been thinking about it, but I think it’s Klavis’ idea.
윈드미어(ange****)
Noㅋㅎㅋㅎㅋㅎㅋㅋㅎㅋ
It’s so funny that the title continues from the last episodeㅋㅎㅋㅎㅋㅎㅋㅋㅎㅋ
‘Go to Hell’ ‘I’ve Already Been There’
마나카 라라(laal****)
It continues like Bedette says, Let’s do the title of chapter 18(?)
‘The Dead’ ‘Go to Hell’ ‘I’ve already been there’
So Lena’s dead???!!
It was the same place as her hometown!!!
Klavis is so beautiful!!!!!
Lena’s father, who agree to send him there, he’s crazy!!!