Ch#106
106
It seemed she didn’t even have the energy left to be difficult.
‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have brought her after all.’
Looking down at her haggard face with worried eyes, Varkas stepped out of the carriage.
The bright sunlight poured down over their heads like a torrential rain. As if the glare was too much, a faint frown appeared between her pale brows.
He cast a shadow over her eyes with the hem of his coat and immediately passed through the castle gates. Hundreds of pairs of eyes filled with curiosity darted toward them. Suddenly, tension stiffened his spine.
He was used to being the center of attention, as he always lived surrounded by countless gazes. Nevertheless, he could not easily remain calm under the eyes peeking at the woman held in his arms.
“The Grand Duchess appears to be unwell.”
The Captain of the Guard, who had followed to guide him, glanced at her and murmured sympathetically. His eyes remained fixed on her disheveled hair and ivory cheeks. Varkas spoke rather coldly.
“I would appreciate it if you would lead me to the bedroom first.”
“Of course, we must show consideration. Come this way. Lord Temuran gave strict orders to serve the Grand Duke with the utmost care.”
The man, quickly tearing his eyes away from her, began to lead the way.
Following him up the stairs revealed a silent hall and dark corridors reminiscent of a monastery.
“You may use this room.”
The man said as he threw open a door framed in iron, having crossed a space that appeared to be a drawing room. Varkas entered the room and carefully took in the neat interior decor.
It was a simple but not shabby bedroom. Judging it sufficient for a stay of a few days, he laid her down on the bed.
In the meantime, Thalia had fallen back asleep.
Was the effect of the stabilizer the healer gave her still lingering? As he watched the woman who seemed unable to regain consciousness, he saw the Captain of the Guard lingering by the door.
He threw a sharp question.
“What is it?”
“My apologies, but Lord Temuran has requested to see Your Grace immediately. Could you come to the audience chamber right now?”
Varkas furrowed his brows.
It was customary to advise a guest who had traveled a long way to rest. This meant that the man named Temuran was either a boor who knew no manners or had business so urgent that etiquette could not be observed.
After sending a searching gaze for a moment, Varkas gave a slight nod.
“Fine. I’ll go at once.”
The man, who had been stiff with a tense face, brightened as if relieved.
After instructing a subordinate waiting in the hallway to call for a healer, Varkas followed the man without delay.
Before long, they arrived at a classic space brightly lit with fires.
He walked across a carpet with intricate patterns and approached a heavy solid wood table. An elderly man seated on the opposite side stood up abruptly to greet him.
“Thank you for coming, Grand Duke.”
As if the talk of illness was not a lie, the old knight had a sallow complexion.
Varkas, observing him closely, silently took a seat. The old man, sitting back down across from him, spoke urgently.
“Please, forgive my rudeness. As you can see, my health is poor, and I am in a situation where I might collapse at any moment. My desire to see you while my mind is still somewhat clear led me to hasten Your Grace’s steps, a point for which I cannot apologize enough—”
“Enough with the filler. Tell me why you called for me.”
Varkas cut through the long-winded speech with a single stroke.
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead while gauging his reaction, the old knight finally spoke with difficulty.
“Actually… there is one thing I wish to ask, which is why I requested this meeting.”
When the man held out a hand toward the attendant standing behind him, a young man who had been standing as silent as a shadow handed over a parchment document.
The old knight spread it out and continued in a tense voice.
“Not long ago, I received word that the Heimdal family is summoning the warriors of the North. Is it true that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is behind this?”
Taking the parchment document, Varkas began to read through it carefully.
It seemed to be information passed on by someone among the merchants traveling between the North and the East.
The document, transcribed so the author could not be identified, recorded the movements of the Northern nobles and testimonies that many knights belonging to the Imperial family had been sighted in Amasek.
As he tapped the wooden table while reading the final part of the report, the old knight continued anxiously.
“Recently, it’s been said that marriage talks have begun between the First Princess and the heir of the Heimdal family. I wonder if Your Grace is also aware of these facts…”
“Exactly what is it you want to know?”
Varkas asked point-blank, taking his eyes off the parchment.
Moistening his lips with a tense face, the old knight finally brought out the main point.
“I want to hear Your Grace’s exact position. Whose side are we on?”
Instead of answering, Varkas merely stared at the man’s face.
Unable to endure that brief silence, the old knight poured out his words hurriedly.
“Rumors are spreading that due to Your Grace’s marriage, the East may turn neutral or lean toward the Empress’s side. And His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has recently begun to establish close ties with the North. Some worry that the Empire may be fracturing.”
Varkas let out a short, mocking laugh.
It had only been a few months since his broken engagement and marriage had taken place. Everyone had been moving busily in the meantime.
Leaning back against the chair, Varkas picked up the parchment and held it over the candle on the table. The yellowed document shriveled in an instant, emitting black smoke.
After watching it for a moment, he turned his eyes back to the old knight and spoke firmly.
“Nothing has changed. The East supports Gares Roem Guirta.”
“Then why did the Crown Prince go to the North…”
“He is trying to restore his sister’s dignity, which was dragged through the dirt by a disloyal subject, by any means necessary. How many families in this Empire could possibly compare to the Si’eikan family?”
Despite his assurance, the doubt lingering on the knight’s face did not disappear.
Varkas let out a sigh tinged with fatigue.
“I understand that being in a position to manage a region adjacent to the North brings about various anxieties, but you seem excessively sensitive. It is merely a rumor at best.”
“Are you saying Your Grace still stands on the side of the Crown Prince?”
“Yes. There will be no conflict between the Si’eikan family and the Crown Prince.”
Only then did a look of relief appear on the old knight’s face.
“Thank you for answering so readily. It seems I can finally escape my worries thanks to Your Grace’s consideration.”
“I am glad it was of help.”
Handing over a formal reply, Varkas rose from his seat with disciplined movements.
The old knight stood up after him. Varkas restrained him with a light gesture and strode out of the audience chamber.
Dusk was already settling in the hallway. Moving along the deep shadows, he quickly organized his thoughts.
Gares’s hasty actions were not particularly surprising. Given his suspicious nature, he wouldn’t have been at ease even with Varkas’s own assurances. His reaching out to the North to build an independent power base was a move within the expected range. However, the fact that rumors were spreading so quickly was cause for vigilance.
‘…It seems the Empress’s influence has begun to reach as far as the East.’
Otherwise, news of the Crown Prince’s movements could not have spread in such a short time. That woman had not given up on her plan to drive a wedge between him and Gares.
Varkas rubbed his chin and turned his eyes toward the window.
As if rain were coming, gray clouds hung in the sky, and twilight was settling over the weed-choked flowerbeds and paths.
Indifferently scanning the bleak landscape, Varkas suddenly came to a halt.
The woman he had personally laid on the bed was wandering the garden alone, without even an attendant.
