Ch#170
“What is that supposed to mean?”
When he countered in a frigid tone, Gares, who had been huffing with a flushed face, flinched and took a step back.
Watching him with a look of pure exhaustion, Barkas added ruthlessly.
“I am fulfilling my duty as a loyal subject of the Empire. Wherever my heart lies, it is not for Your Highness to interfere.”
The Crown Prince’s sun-bronzed face turned a dark, murky shade.
Glaring at him with eyes full of betrayal, the man spoke through gritted teeth.
“You swore to our mother. To me and Aila…!”
“And is that not why I am here now?”
Barkas cut him off with a hint of annoyance.
“If I had not dissuaded her, the First Princess would have been Duke Heimdal’s hostage by now. If I hadn’t grasped the movements of the North in advance and choked off their funding, we wouldn’t have been able to isolate the rebels as easily as we have. And now, I am attempting to end this war swiftly to prevent any misfortune from befalling Your Highness.”
Pausing for a moment, Barkas stared intently at his cousin’s face, which was crimson with humiliation.
“What more must I do for Your Highness to be satisfied?”
“Ha! You talk as if you’re so noble, but in the end, you abandoned Aila and chose that bastard girl. Even now, you care more about that woman than supporting me! How can I trust your loyalty…!”
“Your Highness.”
The low, heavy tone silenced Gares’s wild outburst.
Barkas stepped toward the Crown Prince, grabbing his massive, armored shoulder with one hand and pressing down firmly.
“We made a deal. Did we not? You also gave your final consent to my marriage.”
The veins in the Crown Prince’s neck and cheeks bulged. Barkas pressed down even harder on the man twisting to escape his grip and whispered coldly into his ear.
“So why do you keep dragging this out?”
In an instant, the Crown Prince’s face turned ashen. He looked like a hunting dog whose master had just turned and bitten his throat.
Barkas exhaled a long breath and loosened the strength in his fingers.
“I am sincere when I say that ending the war now is the best path for the Empire. So please, set aside your emotions and judge the situation calmly.”
After giving his shoulder a light pat, Barkas stepped out of the tent, the thick scent of damp earth hitting his nose.
Looking up at the blackened sky for a moment, Barkas walked slowly across the military camp through the rain, which had begun to subside.
Between the uniformly pitched military tents, the harsh and desolate landscape of the Kairas Valley was faintly visible.
Having established a base in Beldis, which connected the East and the North, he had moved a portion of his elite troops to the northwest in preparation for future developments.
The new garrison was a strategic point from which they could march straight into Amasek, the heart of Balto, in case of an emergency. It was also a location where they could reach Dolakan Castle—the likely site for the peace talks—within four days. He intended to remain camped here until he received the Emperor’s decision to either march north to Amasek or move toward Dolakan Castle.
Fortunately, the talks had been decided, so he planned to head south at daybreak to oversee the signing of the peace treaty.
Since the Emperor would send a separate representative, his presence wasn’t strictly necessary, but it was better to be close by in case of any variables.
He raked his hand through his hair, soaked by the drizzling rain, and gazed at the narrow canyon where the mist swirled.
If the peace treaty were successfully signed, the Heimdal family would be ousted by their own kin, and the rebellion would be perfectly suppressed.
If that happened, he would be able to return home soon.
‘Though she won’t welcome it…’
Exhaling a bitter sigh, Barkas sat on a crude fence and took out a canteen tied to his belt to moisten his throat.
Just then, a dark shadow approached through the rain, leading a horse.
Recognizing the face, Barkas narrowed his eyes. Tairon El Drakan, who had been stationed at Beldis, was riding across the camp, splattering mud.
“Your Grace.”
The man stopped before him and bowed politely.
Barkas frowned, scanning his appearance, which looked as though he had traveled in a great hurry.
“What is it?”
“Word has come from Kalmor. I hurried here thinking I should deliver it to Your Grace as soon as possible, but…”
The man slid a hand into his tunic, trailing off as he surveyed the surroundings.
Following his gaze, Barkas spotted the Crown Prince’s personal guard lined up outside the camp and let out a low sigh.
“He only came to complain because he learned I suggested the peace talks to His Majesty. Don’t mind them and report.”
“Ah, so that’s how it turned out.”
The man looked relieved, as if he, too, were weary of the conflict.
Instead of informing him that even if a peace treaty were signed, they would have to remain in the borderlands for a while to keep pressure on the North, Barkas held out a hand toward the lancer.
After a momentary look of confusion, the man remembered his purpose and pulled a letter from his tunic.
“Your Grace has been away from the castle for quite a long time. It seems several problems have arisen in the meantime.”
Taking the bundle of crumpled parchment, Barkas stood and moved under a nearby tent canopy. The warriors who had been warming themselves by a small fire nearby hurriedly cleared the way.
He sat at a table scattered with cards, dice, and cups, and unfolded the letter.
The ink was slightly blurred where the rain had seeped in, but it was readable enough. Most of the letter consisted of reports on various legal disputes in Kalmor and unresolved issues regarding raids by the wild tribes.
Scanning the text with a dry gaze, Barkas’s eyes narrowed as he reached the end of the letter.
Watching his reaction closely, the lancer added tentatively.
“It seems there was quite a commotion within the territory because of the monster Her Grace the Grand Duchess is raising. They seem to hope Your Grace will return soon to mediate.”
Barkas’s eyes slid to the very end of the report, and he promptly crumpled the parchment. A sensation like fire ignited from his temple to his brow.
As he covered his forehead with his fingertips to rub away the feeling, a trumpet blast echoed from a distance.
Turning his head, Barkas narrowed his eyes at the sight of Gares storming across the camp.
The Crown Prince, whose fury had clearly not subsided, cast a fiery glare toward him before approaching his personal guard. He then vaulted onto his golden horse and led his knights on a march toward the north.
Since he would have been ordered to camp at Amasek until the results of the peace talks were out, he likely wouldn’t storm the meeting and ruin everything.
Tapping his temple with his fingertips, Barkas soon stood up.
“Fetch Beyroff. We are striking camp immediately and moving to the East.”
“Right now, sir?”
The knight looked bewildered.
Barkas began walking toward his tent, explaining in a calm tone.
“The talks will take place in the southern region of Balto. There is no need for us to stay camped in this area.”
“Then what do you intend to do with the cavalry stationed at Beldis?”
“I’ll leave the command to Daren and you for the time being.”
Barkas, who had crossed the camp in an instant, replied as he pulled back the flap of his tent.
The lancer following him immediately looked dejected. It seemed he, too, had hoped to return to Kalmor with him.
Barkas gave a light pat to the shoulder of his subordinate, who had been away from home for a long time.
“The civil war will be over soon. Just endure until then.”
“Does Your Grace intend to remain in Kalmor for good?”
Barkas frowned at the unexpected question.
Certainly, if these talks concluded smoothly, there would be no need for him to head out to the front again.
Was it not an unprecedented move for a lord of the East to wander the battlefields for two years?
He couldn’t leave the management of the territory in the hands of his vassals forever. Though it was a bit early, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to end his life in the garrison now.
The problem was how she would react to his return.
“Well…”
Staring at the flickering candle with pensive eyes, Barkas picked up his armor and spoke.
“What I’ll do next… I think I’ll have to go there to find out.”
