Chapter 26
26
Maria looked at the scarf Solskjaer had around his neck. To think he would actually wear the scarf Ero had painstakingly knitted. Surely, that was proof that Solskjaer had some feelings for Ero, even if just a little.
"Tell me. Tell me why you're intervening."
Gunther asked Solskjaer again with a puzzled look. He wondered what connection Solskjaer had with Ero, who was in prison, and why he had bothered to come all the way here.
"She's my woman."
Solskjaer looked at Gunther and said firmly, as if he had made up his mind. Maria, who was standing beside him, covered her mouth with both hands. It was such a surprising thing that she almost screamed.
"What are you talking about? Who's your woman?"
Gunther asked back in a bewildered tone, even though he had heard correctly.
"Ero, who's locked up in prison. She's my woman."
This time, Gunther turned pale. He could only chatter his lips, unable to say anything, repeatedly mulling over what Solskjaer had said to him.
"Solskjaer, did you perhaps know? That Ero is a man."
Solskjaer implicitly acknowledged Gunther's question by not answering. Then Gunther ran his hand through his hair and burst into laughter.
"So, I'm the only idiot who didn't know?"
"Since the King has many things to worry about, his attention didn't reach Ero."
To be exact, he was so preoccupied with Maria that he was indifferent to others. In this situation, Gunther had a question. Solskjaer was a man who liked women more than anyone else, so why would he like a cross-dressing man? Solskjaer wasn't as promiscuous as other men. He didn't deliberately go to brothels, but he never refused to enjoy himself with women.
Had his sexual preference changed in the meantime? He had known Solskjaer for a long time, but he had never enjoyed homosexuality. No matter how he thought about it, it didn't make sense and was unbelievable.
"Solskjaer, if you intend to save Ero, stop here."
Gunther rebuked Solskjaer in a stern voice. But Maria found the answer in the scarf Solskjaer was wearing.
'He really likes Ero.'
Gunther was so shocked that he even dropped the sword he was holding, shaking his head and turning away. Then Solskjaer grabbed Gunther's foot.
"She was the first woman to knit me a scarf. And it was exactly the same as the one my mother knitted for me when I was young."
At his words, Gunther stopped climbing the stairs and turned back. Soon his gaze stopped at Solskjaer's neck. To think that the unsightly thing he had been wearing around his neck recently was knitted by Ero.
"You might ask if I like her just because of a scarf, but it was a great inspiration to me."
Ero had awakened the memories of his mother, who had passed away and could no longer be seen. He was stunned for a long time after receiving the gift, wondering how it could be exactly the same as the one his mother had knitted. He had been living so fiercely that even his mother's face was fading, but Ero had brought out those old memories. Ero would often come to his quarters, blushing, and give him dried fruit snacks. But he had never eaten such snacks when he was young. In those days, it was hard to even get a meal a day. But he liked that Ero was taking care of the little things he hadn't been able to enjoy back then. It was so heartwarming that he almost cried.
"Doesn't everyone have their own reason for liking someone?"
At those words, Gunther looked at Maria. 'Their own reason,' there certainly was. He was proof of that. He had loved and desired her for 10 years and finally got her in his hands. But in this case, he couldn't make a decision right away. His head was complicated, and he needed to think about it.
'Still, I didn't know you liked men.'
Gunther turned back and went up the stairs. Soon Maria quickly grabbed the sword and followed Gunther. Solskjaer and Ero needed time alone. Solskjaer was left alone in front of the prison where Ero was locked up.
"Open the door."
"Yes."
At his command, the guards opened the prison door. Ero was sitting on the stone floor in her chemise and barefoot. Solskjaer took off the cloak he was wearing and covered her body with it.
"Lieutenant."
"Ero, I like you too."
"Yes? Me?"
Ero doubted her ears for a moment. No, this must be pity. She was going to be killed by Gunther or exiled to the mines, so he was trying to help her. How could he like someone like her? It was true that she liked Solskjaer, but he wouldn't.
"I'm serious."
"!?"
"Why? I'm a woman at heart, but a man in body..."
"Whatever you are, I just like you for who you are."
Soon Ero's gaze stopped at Solskjaer's scarf. She was surprised once again. She had knitted it with care for him, but she never expected him to actually wear it around his neck.
"Be my woman."
"Yes? Are you serious? Is that okay?"
"From now on, I'll protect you."
Ero burst into tears at Solskjaer's confession.
* * *
Gunther couldn't escape the confusion even after coming to his office. Was there something he didn't know about Solskjaer? He had grown up like a brother and thought he knew him inside and out, but how could he not have noticed that he was a homosexual?
'Solskjaer doesn't enjoy homosexuality.'
That was a clear fact. But just denying it, Solskjaer's words kept lingering in his heart. That there is a reason for liking someone. He had experienced it himself. But to insist that someone else's feelings were wrong was something that only selfish people would do. It was an emotion that the Great King of a country should be even more wary of.
Gunther covered his head with both hands and bowed his head. He would have to think deeply about it. Then a soft hand was felt on his skin.
"!"
When Gunther raised his head, Maria was smiling brightly at him.
"Are you satisfied?"
She had a look on her face that said she was happy that the justification for killing Ero was gone, and that things had turned out as she wanted. Seeing that expression, Gunther felt a little annoyed with Maria for some reason.
Then Maria grabbed Gunther's hands and took him to the window. It was to convey her true feelings to him. If she was as earnest as last time, she believed that her feelings would definitely be conveyed. The two people held hands in front of the window. Her eyes were different from yesterday, when they were full of rebellion.
"Eueueo... Chigueeo. Naeue wai gueun eu ige haoeeue."
"Ha! That's funny."
Gunther's heart was pounding wildly. It was really amazing. Maria was making nonsense sounds, but he understood everything.
"Ero is a friend and you want to be in the palace together?"
Maria's eyes widened at his accurate interpretation. She shook her head violently with a bright smile. Then she grabbed his hand again and said.
"Meoideun... Da ha... Haoeune."
"You're saying you'll do anything, so please grant my wish?"
The moment Gunther understood Maria's words and spoke them out loud, goosebumps ran all over his body. Maria couldn't be more grateful that Gunther understood her. She was so happy that she hugged him without realizing it. But Gunther gently pushed Maria's forehead with his finger.
"!?"
"Maria, have you forgotten?"
'What did I forget?'
"I told you before that when you ask for something, you have to be very earnest and pay the appropriate price, right?"
'Earnestly?'
Maria kissed Gunther's face repeatedly. But Gunther pulled his face back and said.
"You're not old enough to be solved with kisses, are you?"
'Are you saying we should have sex?'
It wasn't like she couldn't do it. She wasn't a child and she wasn't inexperienced. It's just that she wasn't ready yet. But it was something she would have to do someday to gain Gunther's favor. She couldn't avoid what a virile man wanted every time. Maria took a deep breath as if she had made a big decision and tried to take off her clothes.
"No, no. Do you think I'm a beast that gets horny at any time?"
'Isn't that right? I think it is.'
Maria looked at Gunther with a puzzled look. But somehow, she felt like he wanted something else. Soon Gunther took off his top as if to show off.
'That's right. He wants to do it now. But why is he saying no?'
In the end, what he wanted was sex. But very unexpected words popped out of Gunther's mouth.
"A firm oath is needed."
'Oath?'
"An oath that you are my woman. I need proof that will never disappear."
He only said things that made no sense, and then showed Maria his back. On Gunther's broad back was a Red Dragon that looked like it was about to ascend to heaven. She had seen this before, so it wasn't new. At that moment, for a fleeting moment, a strange sight flashed in Maria's eyes. A picture of herself drawing a dragon on a man's back with a pen. Nancy was next to her, and the man had tanned skin like Gunther. But the memory didn't last long. It scattered in an instant like steam rising from a teacup.
"Engrave it on your back like me. Proof that you are my woman."
"!?"
"Can you do it? If you do, Ero can be by your side."
Gunther keenly watched Maria's expression. He was curious to see what kind of reaction she would have, and he desperately wanted her to listen to him.
"I need time to think..."
Before Gunther could finish speaking, Maria nodded. The longer her decision was delayed, the longer Ero would have to be imprisoned. Besides, it wasn't like she couldn't do it. She was prepared to die, so what was a picture like this?
'I'm not trying to be your woman. I need the power you have.'
If her relationship with him was fate, she would accept it. A solid bond was possible even without love.
'The man who wants me has power and wealth.'
So there was no reason to refuse. She had to make Gunther her ally for her own safety and the revenge she would have to take in the future.
'But don't expect anything. I'll never love you.'
Maria smiled at Gunther more brightly than ever.