Ch#89
Varkas turned around without a word.
Practically dragged out of the room by him, Thalia scanned her surroundings with anxious eyes. A wave of worry hit her belatedly—fear that someone might take issue with the disastrous succession ceremony.
However, most of the vassals looked relieved, as if a great burden had been lifted from their shoulders.
“This should finally restore discipline to the East.”
A man who had caught up to them spoke. His face was familiar; she recalled seeing him on the day of Varkas’s duel.
Dressed impeccably in high-quality formal wear, the man gave her a slight bow before shifting his gaze back to Varkas.
“Do you plan to begin the provincial tour immediately today?”
“If there are no particular issues.”
Varkas replied in a blunt tone, then looked down at Thalia.
“Can you depart right away?”
“…Go where?”
“It is one of the primary procedures of succession. A ceremonial event to introduce the new ruler’s face to the people and inspect the local conditions while touring the Eastern regions,” the man interjected to explain. Thalia looked up at him with a bewildered expression.
“Do I have to go too?”
“Normally, it is standard for the Grand Duchess to accompany him, but…”
He trailed off ambiguously, glancing at Varkas. Varkas, who had been walking quietly down the hallway, suddenly came to a halt.
Thalia flinched as she felt a hand touch her cheek. Lifting her chin, Varkas spoke in a calm tone.
“Your Highness must go as well.”
Thalia’s eyes widened. This was the first time since she had injured her leg that he had forced anything upon her in this manner.
“Did you not tell me not to try and hide you?”
He added stiffly, sending her a chilling look.
“I intend to do exactly as you said. From now on, there will be no one in this land who does not know that you are the Grand Duchess of Shearkan.”
Her mouth fell open in shock. She had thought it would end with showing her face to the vassals; she never dreamed she would be making an appearance before the entire population of the East.
Thalia swallowed hard.
“I—I can’t leave right this second. I have to pack, and my Nanny and my healer need to…”
“I have already informed Your Highness’s attendants. They should have all travel preparations finished by now.”
He cut her off, blocking any path of retreat.
Thalia’s eyes darted around. But before she could find a new excuse, Varkas bent down and swept her up into his arms. Thalia swallowed a scream and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Ignoring her flustered state, Varkas strode down the stairs and across the grand hall, barking orders to the vassals.
“Have the Lance Knight Order stand by. We head for the Norden Plains.”
He then passed through the arched gates where sunlight poured in. Thalia squinted against the glare. As her eyes adjusted to the sun, she saw the courtyard filled with attendants.
Thalia stiffened under their gazes, which felt as though they were looking at some strange creature.
Suddenly, she remembered the monstrous bird she had seen at the Imperial Palace. The memory of the onlookers’ fascinated eyes as they peered at the caged monster flickered in her mind.
As a wave of nausea intensified, Thalia buried her face in his shoulder.
“Tell them all not to look at me. It feels disgusting.”
“…I am not sure they would even listen to my command,” Varkas replied dryly. Thalia glared at him as if he were being absurd.
“You’re the Grand Duke now. Tell them you’ll execute anyone who defies your orders. Or tell them you’ll skewer them with a spear like before.”
A faint, mocking smile touched his lips.
“Do you wish for me to massacre the entire Eastern population?”
Thalia furrowed her brow. Was this man actually joking with her?
As she scrutinized his inscrutable, expressionless face as if trying to dissect it, Varkas added calmly.
“If I executed everyone who looked at you, the Khan people would soon be extinct.”
“Don’t be stupid. I meant you should just threaten them.”
“Easterners do not make idle threats. If we speak it aloud, we must follow through.”
Thalia fell into a slight daze. She couldn’t believe she was having such a nonsensical conversation with Varkas. She hadn’t even burned any sleep-inducing herbs, yet a corner of her mind felt foggy.
Moistening her dry lips, she muttered irritably.
“That’s a very long way of telling me to just deal with it.”
“I am glad you understood.”
His lips twisted into a cynical curve as he turned her head to face forward. Thalia hunched her shoulders. A smooth, low voice brushed against her ear.
“Lift your head.”
Adjusting his hold so her head was higher than his, Varkas whispered in a low voice.
“Didn’t you say that even if you hide yourself, I must not hide you?”
Just then, a gust of wind swept past them. Thalia lifted her head as if drawn by something.
The cool air, carrying the scent of dry grass, billowed through their clothes. The unpleasant sensation crawling over her skin gradually subsided. Thalia blinked slowly.
The thin silk wrapped softly around her skin. After staring up at the bright sky for a moment, Thalia lowered her gaze back to the clearing.
The people were still staring at her without blinking. However, Thalia was able to discover something different in their gaze.
For instance, an emotion that could be called ‘awe.’ A strange shiver ran down her spine. They were gazing at her as if she were Senebier. Realizing this, Thalia looked back at Varkas.
Was it because this man was by her side? She couldn’t believe no one noticed that she was broken.
“Greetings, Your Grace.”
As Varkas crossed the wide courtyard and reached the castle gates, one of the knights standing in neat rows stepped forward and paid his respects. It was a mounted warrior named Tyrone.
Stopping in front of a large traveling carriage, Varkas replied indifferently.
“I am still only the deputy.”
“You already hold all the actual power, do you not?”
The man crossed his arms and let out a playful laugh.
“Everyone is ecstatic at the appearance of a powerful young leader. Don’t go throwing cold water on the mood.”
Varkas ignored him as if he wasn’t worth responding to and opened the carriage door.
Thalia narrowed her eyes as she looked around the comfortably furnished interior. She felt she finally understood why he hadn’t shown his face for a week. To secure the loyalty of the vassals, pressure the Grand Duke to push through the succession, and simultaneously perfect the travel preparations, he must have been incredibly busy.
He stepped into the carriage and set her down on the wide seat. Just as he was about to pull the door shut, the warrior waiting outside grabbed the handle.
“I have one suggestion I would like to make. Please allow young Master Lucas to accompany us on this journey.”
“Did you not hear that I placed the boy under house arrest?”
The man let out a small sigh.
“I know. But Master Lucas is Your Grace’s younger brother. In a few years, he is meant to be your aide. Rather than keeping him at a desk like a ten-year-old, wouldn’t it be better to let him learn through firsthand experience?”
A slight frown appeared between Varkas’s brows. He stared at the man’s tanned face with a thoughtful expression before letting out a breath like a sigh.
“Fine. Attach him as my squire.”
The man stepped back with a satisfied face. Varkas immediately closed the door and sat down on the seat opposite her.
Thalia glanced at him awkwardly. Whenever there was a need to travel, Varkas always rode Torque. When he showed no sign of getting out of the carriage even after some time had passed, Thalia spoke up cautiously.
“Aren’t you riding your horse?”
Varkas, who was unfastening the heavy ornaments around his wrists, cast her a chilly glance.
“Do you wish for me to get out?”
“Who said that? I was just curious.”
At his sharper-than-usual demeanor, Thalia lowered her eyes and grumbled quietly.
Given what she had done, she couldn’t act as defiant as usual. She pressed herself against the carriage wall and pretended to look out the window for no reason.
He leaned back against the seat and ran a hand through his messy hair.
“As Your Highness can guess, there are all sorts of rumors circulating about our marriage. To silence the controversy, we need to appear as a normal couple for the time being.”
