Ch#133
Episode 133
“Anything?”
Her cautious voice momentarily tore through his composure.
During his days as an Imperial Knight, this woman had ordered him around with a mere tilt of her chin. Hadn’t he felt the weight of exhaustion for the first time in his life just trying to keep up with her nonsensical demands, complaints, and inexplicable bouts of spite?
It displeased him to see a woman who had always made the most unreasonable demands with shameless confidence now hesitating over something as trivial as food.
He reached out and covered her hand, which was curled tight like a snail’s shell, and spoke firmly.
“Tell me whatever it is you want. I will find a way to get it for you, no matter what it takes.”
“Then… I want to eat apricots. Not dried ones, but fresh ones. And buy me candied violets and citrons too. I don’t like them soggy. I want them to be crunchy.”
She chirped as if she had been waiting to say it.
Watching her beg for snacks with eyes sparkling like a child’s made his stomach tickle, as if he had swallowed a handful of feathers.
This was a woman who used to frown as if filth were set before her even when presented with a feast. How many times had he suppressed the urge to force her mouth open and shove food inside?
Suddenly, he realized that he had wanted to see her eat her fill for a very long time.
At the time, he thought he was simply annoyed by her bratty pickiness, but in truth, he had been anxious for her.
“And what else?”
As he gently urged her while stroking her fever-warmed cheek, the flush coloring her face deepened.
Her moist eyes darted back and forth in hesitation before she spoke awkwardly.
“You know, that drink we had during the tour of the Eastern Region. The one made from fermented goat’s milk… I want that too.”
Compared to her previous requests, it was an incredibly modest wish.
He briefly frowned at her for making such a difficult task of asking for a humble drink that even commoners enjoyed, but then he swallowed hard as he remembered feeding it to her himself.
The memory of her small tongue clinging to him like sticky honey made his lower abdomen tighten like stone.
He took a deep breath and slowly stood up. If he lingered any longer, he felt he might force her into something she didn’t want.
“I can have that drink prepared immediately. I’ll tell the maid, so drink as much as you like.”
“You bring it to me yourself.”
Her hand, which had been drawn back defensively, suddenly clung to his sleeve.
Barkas, who had been about to turn away, paused and looked down at her.
Her voice dropped so low it was almost hard to hear.
“Not now. Later, this evening.”
For a moment, a sensation akin to vertigo washed over him.
He closed his eyes tightly and opened them again. Fortunately, his reply came out calm.
“I understand. I will bring it myself.”
The woman looking up at him with clear eyes nodded slowly and released her grip on his clothes.
“Good. Now, go.”
She then gave a haughty toss of her head.
Unable to resist the impulse surging through him, Barkas finally snatched the nape of her neck.
Her eyes, wide with surprise, softened in an instant. Looking into pupils as dark and viscous as a bottomless swamp, he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth.
The hot mucous membrane suctioned against him. The sensation, which he never grew tired of no matter how many times they did this, made his insides feel as if they were melting into liquid.
Gripping her small jaw, he repeatedly pushed his tongue in deep and pulled it out, mimicking the act of penetration.
He continued until he felt he might lose his mind, only pulling away when his body became unbearably hot.
In the bright light, her two eyes looked like high-purity minerals without a single impurity.
As he remained submerged in those strangely deep blue irises, the woman, gasping for breath, pushed against his shoulders.
“Go now. You said you were going to the Military Office in an hour.”
He turned his gaze toward the window. It didn’t feel like much time had passed, but he knew if he dawdled any longer, he would never be able to leave.
Swallowing a sigh, Barkas reluctantly stood up.
“Then get some rest.”
“…See you later.”
She murmured in a hoarse voice, leaning her face against her knees. He forced himself to turn away, his feet feeling heavy.
Before heading to the meeting room, he stopped by the kitchen and ordered them to prepare the food she wanted. While the fresh fruit would require contacting Southern merchants, long-lasting items like candied violets and citrons wouldn’t be difficult to find.
He mentally listed other foods she might like. Ideally, he wanted her to eat something nutritious like meat or vegetables, but for now, he was satisfied just by the fact that she was showing interest in eating.
After instructing the butler to summon a trader as soon as possible, he hurried out of the main castle.
Entering the building used by the mounted warriors, he found a functional space devoid of common decorations.
Lately, most of the warriors were stationed on the outskirts of the territory to subjugate monsters and raiders, so the interior was quiet and nearly empty.
He passed through the hall where various weapons were displayed and climbed the stairs.
Three well-built warriors were waiting in the meeting room. After offering them a formal greeting, Barkas got straight to the point.
In any case, the only measures they could take immediately were strengthening the defenses of the Northern border and secretly stockpiling weapons and provisions.
He drafted orders in code and gave the knights several instructions. Most were warnings to keep their mouths shut.
“Shouldn’t we also call up additional troops?”
A young knight who had been listening quietly to his instructions cautiously offered his opinion.
Barkas stroked his chin for a moment before nodding slowly.
“It would be wise to prepare without drawing too much attention. Send secret messengers to the lords of each region and tell them to ready their forces.”
A sudden premonition pricked the back of his neck, suggesting that even this might not be enough.
“And gather some capable scouts. We need to investigate the Balto border thoroughly.”
“…Do you truly believe Balto will start a war for independence?”
“Those people will bare their teeth whenever they get the chance.”
Barkas added as he scanned the map spread across the table.
“The best course is to prevent a war from happening, but there’s no harm in preparing for the worst.”
He picked up a quill, quickly marked the areas to be investigated, and moved on to the next agenda.
To determine how far the Heimdal family’s influence reached, he would have to mobilize his own family’s information network.
After that, he would have to carefully eliminate their subordinates. He couldn’t burn the whole house down just because it was infested with rats; however tedious it might be, he had to lay poison and set traps to gradually wipe them out.
“It would be best to bribe the guild leader of the White Silver Alliance in advance. Arrange a meeting soon.”
“That won’t be easy. The current guild leader is known to be from a noble family in Balto.”
“Even so, he is a merchant. To occupy the position of representative for a merchant guild with such powerful influence in the northeast, he must be a businessman to the core.”
Barkas said decisively, leaning back against his chair.
“If the man is such a fool that he rejects my offer, then we can simply replace the guild leader with someone from the East. I saw a few suitable candidates during my tour of the Eastern Region, so contact them simultaneously.”
At his bold statement, looks of surprise flickered across the advisors’ faces before vanishing.
The man who had raised the doubt nodded with a solemn expression.
“I understand perfectly.”
Barkas gave a few more instructions and stood up.
It was too early to say for sure, but the Heimdal family likely didn’t intend to start a war immediately. They, too, would probably want a sufficient preparation period. The general direction would likely be decided this winter.
He pressed down on his burning eyelids and left the meeting room.
By the time he finished several official duties and returned to the main castle, the sun had already dipped below the castle walls.
As always, it had been a breathless day, but today felt exceptionally long.
Stepping into the Great Hall, Barkas headed straight for the kitchen. As he was coming out with the drink he had prepared and several snacks for her, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
“Grand Duke.”
Barkas turned his head and narrowed his eyes at the sight of a neat face marked with clear tension. The family’s Healing Sorceress was looking up at him with a worried gaze.
“I have something urgent to tell you.”
