Translator: Nox

Chapter 14

14

“Aren’t you going to go speak to him?”

As if frustrated by seeing her only watching from a distance, the maids standing beside her urged her on. They all seemed desperate to get a closer look at Barkas. Among them were those whose eyes held a burning desire that went beyond simple admiration.

Aila turned a blind eye to their presumptuous feelings. It was a composure she could afford because she knew Barkas wouldn’t spare a single glance for another woman.

‘Of course, he’s never sent a single passionate look my way either…’

A bitter smile played on her lips.

In the first place, Barkas lacked the ability to feel such emotions.

He had entered the Imperial Palace at a young age and received an education bordering on brainwashing from fanatical fundamentalist priests to become a loyal subject of the empire. In the process, he had lost almost all of his emotions.

Her mother, upon learning how harsh the discipline the son of Duke Siyeokan was receiving from the priests, had struggled desperately to protect him. However, the young boy had already lost not only joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure but even most of the basic desires a human should possess.

Aila’s expression clouded as she recalled the first time she met him. How terrifying that boy had been at first, with eyes as hollow as an insect’s discarded shell.

Barkas had looked like a doll made of hardened wax. He was so silent that it was extremely rare for him to say more than two words a day, and he would neither eat nor sleep unless someone beside him gave the order. It seemed that because all his desires had been strictly controlled for so long, he had become unable to feel even the urge for food or sleep.

Compared to those days, the current Barkas looked much more human.

‘Perhaps, he will continue to get better in the future…’

She sent a hopeful gaze toward her fiancé. She had vowed countless times not to expect too much, but she could find no way to stop her heart from fluttering every time she saw him.

The beautiful boy who had consistently stayed by her poor mother’s side… Now that he had grown into the most perfect man in the entire Roem Empire, how could she not long for him?

Though she knew that countless women who held him in their hearts had suffered the pain of bitter heartbreak, Aila believed she was in a much more advantageous position than them.

Even if it was a marriage established to strengthen a political alliance, she would soon be his wife and would one day bear his heir.

If she patiently poured out her affection over the long years they would spend together, wouldn’t his frozen heart melt eventually?

Embracing that hope, Aila carefully approached his side. Perhaps sensing a presence, Barkas, who had been standing with his back to the light, turned his head toward her.

In that instant, Aila felt a chill run down her spine. It was a cold face that seemed to mock all her dreams and hopes.

The man, who had been sending her a numb gaze, straightened his head again and spoke in a flat voice.

“Is there something the matter?”

Steadying her unsettled heart, she consciously wore a bright smile on her lips.

“I came out because I was curious if the preparations for the journey were going well.”

“They are almost finished.”

He replied in a dry tone, lightly stroking the horse’s thick neck.

“I’m worried because the preparation period has become longer than expected. The journey will be difficult as the days have grown hotter.”

“It can’t be helped. The schedule was disrupted because Gares was being stubborn.”

Aila spoke cautiously and then glanced at her fiancé’s reaction. Thinking of her brother’s thoughtless behavior, she felt so ashamed she couldn’t lift her head.

Not content with forcing his way into the trip, Gares acted like a man determined to pack up the entire Crown Prince’s palace and take it with him. He insisted on bringing dozens of servants to wait on him, as well as jesters to relieve boredom during the journey, a personal chef, and even a tailor.

She was once again impressed by the patience of Barkas, who had silently accepted all those demands and tantrums without once raising his voice.

She wore a guilty expression.

“I only feel sorry for causing you so much trouble.”

“It is not something for Your Highness to apologize for. It was something that had to be dealt with sooner or later anyway.”

He added indifferently, handing the reins to a stable hand.

“Compared to what I was prepared for, he is actually behaving quite civilly. Considering he is seeing off his precious sister, this much grumbling is fairly reasonable.”

Aila’s face clouded. At his words, the anxiety she had tried so hard to ignore reared its head.

Looking up at the magnificent, white-shining fortress, Aila clutched her skirt tightly. Her heart felt like it was tearing apart at the thought of leaving her brother alone in this Imperial Palace filled with sad memories.

Furthermore, didn’t a wicked devil live here, eyeing Gares’s position? Would her brother, with his fiery temperament, be able to stand against that cunning woman on his own?

“If it wouldn’t be a burden to you, I would like to visit the Imperial Palace periodically even after we are married. Would that be alright?”

Barkas, who had been examining another horse, turned his eyes toward her. Seeing a faint wrinkle form on his straight brow, Aila realized she had made a childish request and her cheeks flushed red.

As the Grand Duchess, managing the vast territories of the East and leading hundreds of vassals was no easy task. Once married, she had to prioritize the affairs of the Siyeokan family above all else.

However, Barkas, who had been looking at her with thoughtful eyes, nodded as if it were no big deal.

“As long as the long journey is not too much of a strain for Your Highness, it does not matter if you come and go freely at any time. Wasn’t this marriage established in the first place to lend strength to the Crown Prince?”

Aila’s expression dimmed. For him, it might be a purely strategic marriage, but for her, it wasn’t. For a moment she felt hurt, but Aila forced herself to look pleased.

“Thank you for understanding.”

Barkas gave a slight nod and began to examine the horse’s molars again.

Aila swallowed a sigh and placed her hand on her fiancé’s forearm, forcing him to look at her.

“I know you’re busy, but could you spare a moment for me? There’s something I want to give you before we leave on the journey.”

The man looked at her with a questioning gaze, then soon turned his body. He then instructed the squire standing nearby to move all the inspected horses into the stable and escorted her to a relatively secluded spot.

Thanks to the maids tactfully stepping back, Aila was able to enjoy a walk with him alone.

She placed her hand on his solid forearm and moved her steps along the well-kept path. As they entered the large flower garden, a soft breeze gently tickled their faces.

The garden of the Main Palace was blooming beautifully. In the flowerbeds painstakingly tended by the servants, brightly colored summer flowers were unfurling their buds, and the perfectly maintained shrubs were thick with emerald leaves.

Aila took it all in with a sorrowful expression. This scenery always used to leave scratches on her heart. But as time passed, the Imperial Palace, filled with traces of Senevia, had now become a part of daily life, and her mother’s garden was gradually fading from memory. That fact was harder to bear than anything else.

“What is it that you wanted to give me?”

Aila, who had been lost in remorse, turned and looked up at Barkas.

As a child, he used to spend quite a bit of time in the garden Bernadette had tended. Aila knew that he had healed his devastated heart even just a little bit there.

Suddenly, she became curious. Did this man miss her mother’s garden too?

After staring up at his expressionless face, where not even a hint of emotion could be found, Aila soon let out a sigh of resignation and took a handkerchief out from inside her coat.

“I embroidered the crest of the Siyeokan family.”

The man’s gaze fell upon the neatly folded cloth. Suddenly, her mouth went dry.

Aila began to chatter in an exaggerated tone as if to shake off her nervousness.

“It’s a tradition to gift a handmade handkerchief to one’s fiancé before going on a journey. Of course, it’s a journey we’re taking together, but…”

“It is a gracious gift.”

The man interrupted her rambling and took the handkerchief. A faint smile touched his dry lips.

Aila felt her heart swell. It was somewhat damaging to her pride that she was in a position where her heart fluttered at his every move, but more than that, she was happy that Barkas, who was stingy with expressing emotion, had smiled for her.

“I will cherish it.”

He said, tying the handkerchief to the hilt of his sword. She smiled shyly.

Just then, hurried footsteps were heard from not far away.