Ch#217
217화
The man cast a look of deep concern and replied in a heavy, sunken tone.
“They say your aorta was ruptured. If you had been even a moment later, not even the priests would have been able to help.”
Even at the mention of having nearly lost his life, he felt no particular emotion.
As if checking the condition of a tool, Varkas lifted his arm and repeatedly flexed his knuckles, watching them open and close before asking in a calm voice.
“How is the war progressing?”
“We succeeded in reclaiming Amasec, but the mopping up of the rebel forces remains sluggish. It has been confirmed that the Valto independence forces, led by Bjorn Blodar Heimdall, have established a new base in Yotengar… but the terrain is so rugged that it is difficult for an army to enter. Currently, we are maintaining a standoff.”
He retraced the geography of the North in his mind.
Yotengar was a rugged mountain range that straddled the border between the North and the East.
With narrow, steep canyons intertwined like a maze, it was a natural fortress where it was nearly impossible for a large-scale force to march while maintaining formation. There could be no better place for a smaller force to attempt a long-term war against an army several times its size.
‘So they intend to drag this out.’
Varkas recalled those fierce red eyes that had glowed from within the steel helmet.
The man was reckless and headstrong, yet his sense for reading the flow of a situation was chillingly cold.
As soon as the Northern Noble Alliance turned its back, Bjorn Blodar Heimdall immediately recruited the people of Valto to rebuild his power. It occurred to him that it might have been that man who incited the uprisings breaking out all across Valto.
He must have calculated that if he could stall for another year or two, the Empire would slowly collapse from within.
Currently, the Roem Imperial Family had pressured lords from all regions to gather a massive force to suppress the Northern rebellion. If they demanded further support now, the dissatisfaction of the nobility would reach an irreversible level.
Eventually, at some point, the Imperial Family would have no choice but to offer a compromise.
‘He used his head well.’
Varkas let out a dry smirk and slowly pushed himself up. This time, Daren did not stop him. He merely watched with a look of exasperation.
Ignoring him, Varkas sat on the edge of the bed and exhaled a long breath before asking.
“Where are we?”
“Dolakan Castle.”
The answer came from the doorway.
Varkas turned his head toward the sound and narrowed his eyes as he recognized the second son of the Blestone family.
The man stepped into the room without asking permission and continued his explanation in a smooth tone.
“I suggested to the Shekan warriors that we bring Your Excellency here. The Imperial delegation and the High Priest of Osiria are staying at this castle, so I judged it would be beneficial for your treatment.”
“…I owe you one.”
When Varkas offered the formal greeting, a faint smile played on the man’s lips.
“It is not something I need thanks for. Had Your Excellency passed away, our plans would have come to naught as well.”
Daren furrowed his brow and watched the man with a wary gaze. It seemed the proposal made to him had not yet been revealed to others.
Varkas let out a cynical laugh.
“I suppose that is why you brought me here. Do you expect me to bring up that matter myself at the conference?”
“As you know, we are not in a position to dare bring up such a story. If Your Excellency steps forward personally, things will proceed much more smoothly.”
Varkas twisted his lips.
It seemed the Blestone family intended to set this marriage as a core prerequisite for signing the peace treaty.
“You seem quite impatient.”
“It has been nearly three years since the war began. As the entire North falls into ruin, how could I not be impatient?”
“If you wanted to protect Valto, you should not have plotted treason in the first place.”
“Everyone is bound to make mistakes.”
A bitter smile momentarily crossed the man’s face.
“Is what matters not the future to come, rather than the past that has gone? The Blestone family has decided to end this tedious war. We have even resolved to eliminate Bjorn Blodar Heimdall with our own hands if necessary.”
“…….”
“Surely Your Excellency wishes to end this war as soon as possible as well.”
Varkas did not respond. The man stared intently at his face for a moment, then let out a small sigh and took a step back.
“I do not expect Your Excellency to attend the conference right this moment. For now, please focus on your recovery.”
Placing a hand over his heart in a gesture of respect, the man soon left the room.
No sooner had the door rattled shut than Daren threw out a question.
“What on earth did that man propose?”
“He asked me to nominate the daughter of his house as the Crown Princess.”
Varkas spoke calmly as he picked up a water glass from the shelf to moisten his throat.
“It seems they need insurance that the Imperial Family won’t turn their backs on them even after the peace treaty is signed.”
Daren’s mouth hung open. He seemed appalled by the sheer brazenness of the Blestone family. However, being a man of extremely practical judgment, he soon seemed to calculate the benefits the proposal would bring.
“As of now, it is the most peaceful solution to end the civil war. It is also a way to soothe the animosity of the Northerners.”
Varkas let out a weary sigh.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince accepts it willingly, then yes.”
“He must accept it, of course.”
Suddenly, a look of stubbornness settled on Daren’s face.
“His Highness the Crown Prince bears a heavy responsibility for the fact that a popular uprising occurred in Valto. Since he sowed the seeds, it is only right that he reaps them himself.”
Varkas raised an eyebrow, reading the blatant antipathy in that voice.
Most of the Eastern nobles held a vague goodwill toward Gares, who shared the Shekan bloodline. However, it seemed the reckless path he had taken during the war had slowly eaten away at that goodwill.
Daren continued in a cold tone.
“The Grand Duke of the East cannot keep cleaning up after the Imperial Family forever. Once this marriage is finalized, Your Excellency should return to Kalmor.”
A hollow laugh escaped Varkas’s lips.
“Are you telling me to defy His Majesty the Emperor’s orders now?”
“Your Excellency nearly lost your life.”
Daren said in a somber tone, looking him over carefully.
“If His Majesty has a conscience, he will not be able to drive the Grand Duke to the battlefield any further than this.”
“…….”
“It is time for you to rest. Since you became the Grand Duke, you haven’t had a single moment to catch your breath.”
Varkas wore a rare expression of being at a loss for words. The man left the bedroom, telling him to think it over well.
A short while later, priests arrived to check on his condition. While they applied mysterious ointments to his wounds and wrapped them in fresh bandages, Varkas sat leaning back, watching the light of the setting sun.
When all the treatment was finally over, an old servant lit a small brazier and burned herbs with analgesic effects. It was an unnecessary measure, but he did not bother to stop him.
Inhaling the thick smoke, he thought about the dreams he had while unconscious. The image of her smiling brightly amidst a beautiful landscape was vividly revived. But that image soon shifted into a face glaring at him with eyes full of resentment.
A sudden curiosity arose.
How did she react to the news that I was injured?
“Go, and never come back.”
A bitter taste, like swallowed ash, lingered in his mouth.
Will you be disappointed when you see me return alive and well? Or…
His wandering thoughts came to a halt as if blocked by something.
Gazing at the sky turning black with eyes clouded by the medicine, he soon leaned his head against the wall as if exhausted.
A bottomless, deep darkness was swallowing the night.
