Ch#91
Lucas snorted derisively, making no effort to hide his disdain.
“Since when did the men of the East care about things like peace?”
“It’s about time they started.”
A faint shadow of warning flickered across Tyrone’s face. The mounted warrior fixed Lucas with a piercing gaze from his narrow eyes before continuing solemnly.
“While His Grace has been confined to his sickbed, the solidarity of the East has weakened noticeably. Conversely, the Zram people have been steadily expanding their influence. If they decide to invade in earnest, the East will be turned into a sea of fire in an instant. This is no time to be squabbling over trivial matters.”
Lucas wiped the crooked smirk from his lips.
“Aren’t you exaggerating a bit much? The Zram are a nuisance, sure, but we possess the most powerful mounted army in the Empire. What can those savages driven to the fringes do, no matter how much they grow?”
“Even a mounted army is nothing more than a rabble without a strong leader.”
Tyrone exhaled a frustrated sigh.
“While the Grand Duke has been away from the front lines, lords across the East have been cultivating their own power. The warriors they command swear fealty to their own lords, not the Si’eikan family. If, by some chance, those lords unite and raise a banner of revolt, the East will fracture in a heartbeat.”
Confronted with this string of pessimistic outlooks, Lucas’s expression hardened.
He was aware that some vassals were showing signs of unrest. However, he had never considered the situation to be as dire as Tyrone described.
Lucas countered in a stiff tone.
“If the vassals plot treason, the Imperial Palace won’t just stand by. The Si’eikan family are vassals of the Emperor. Defying the Grand Ducal House is no different from rebelling against the Roem Empire.”
“You don’t understand what I’m saying.”
Tyrone clicked his tongue roughly.
“I’m saying we must ensure a rebellion doesn’t happen in the first place. By the time the Imperial Palace has to intervene, the East will already be a shambles. We must establish discipline before it reaches that point.”
Lucas fell silent, unable to find a retort. Tyrone, watching him with a stern gaze, drove the point home.
“The inauguration of the new Grand Duke will be the catalyst to unite the East once more. You, too, must cooperate as a member of the Si’eikan family.”
“……In the end, you’re just telling me to sit quietly and follow my brother’s lead.”
“Is that not an inevitable fate, having been born the second son?”
Tyrone threw the pointed remark.
Lucas glared at him in silence before snapping his reins, shaking off the annoying nag.
He was only fifteen years old. He didn’t want to worry about the complex politics of the East or his duties as a second son just yet.
He spurred his horse forward ostentatiously.
As he shot across the plains, a vast grazing land spread out beneath the sun sinking toward the west.
Stopping his horse at the crest of a hill, Lucas surveyed the hundreds of horses grazing peacefully before turning his mount toward a large encampment situated nearby.
As he approached a large tent that appeared to be the assembly hall, a burly man dressed in a flamboyant coat ran out to greet him.
“Welcome! I’ve been waiting with bated breath for your arrival!”
He was a vassal of the Si’eikan family whom Lucas knew well. Lucas leaped down from his saddle and called out energetically to the man.
“Kun Badela! It’s been a long time.”
“Long time indeed, Young Master Lucas. You’ve grown quite tall in the meantime.”
“And you’ve put on even more weight since I last saw you.”
The man let out a boisterous laugh and roughly ruffled Lucas’s hair.
“That wicked tongue of yours is the same as ever.”
The man, a relaxed smile playing across his heavily bearded face, suddenly glanced around.
“By the way, where are the others? I heard the newly inaugurated Grand Duke would be arriving with the mounted warriors…….”
“They’ll be here soon.”
Lucas muttered indifferently, pointing toward the hill.
“He was nagging so much, I just rode on ahead.”
No sooner had he spoken than hundreds of cavalrymen appeared over the ridge.
Kun Badela immediately barked orders to the servants to prepare for the guests’ arrival. Lucas also headed toward the hill to fulfill his duties.
Just then, Varkas stepped out from the traveling carriage that had arrived in front of the assembly hall.
Lucas, who had been running over to attend to him, suddenly froze. The Second Princess was cradled in his brother’s arms.
Varkas, supporting the woman—who looked completely exhausted and limp—effortlessly with one arm, scanned the surroundings and asked.
“Where are we staying?”
Kun Badela, who had been staring blankly at the two of them, hurried over and bowed his head.
“G-Greetings, Your Grace. I am Kun Badela, the manager of Your Grace’s horses.”
Stammering with a face full of tension, the man turned and added.
“Please follow me. I will guide you to the quarters where you both will be staying.”
Varkas, pressing the woman’s weakly drooping head against his shoulder, followed the man. After a moment’s hesitation, Lucas followed behind them.
The man led them to a large tent located in the center of the camp. Inside the conical tent, covered with pitch-treated cloth, were a large bed and luxurious furniture.
After surveying the interior, Varkas laid the woman down on the wide bed and gave Lucas an order.
“Go and call an attendant. Among Her Highness’s maids, there should be a quarter dwarf.”
“……I believed my task was to attend to you, brother.”
Varkas, lowering the canopy over the bed, let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
“And did I not just give you an instruction?”
“The task you’ve assigned is a trivial errand better suited for servants. My job is to manage your horses or weapons…….”
“Your job is to follow my instructions without complaint.”
Varkas stood up and strode toward him. Lucas reflexively took a step back.
Gripping Lucas’s shoulder with one hand, Varkas brushed back his messy hair and continued slowly.
“Lucas, from now on, you will learn how to obey me. It is a virtue you should have learned from the moment you first sat on a horse.”
Lucas went stiff, like a mouse before a snake. Varkas, looking into his face with a chilling gaze, added calmly.
“From now on, if you talk back to me, you will face the corresponding consequences. Do you understand?”
Gulping hard, Lucas nodded slowly. Varkas then gave a sharp nod of his chin.
“Then go and bring the maid at once.”
Lucas bolted out of the tent immediately.
It seemed this tour was destined to be anything but a pleasant outing.
He trudged along, messily ruffling his hair in frustration.
The throbbing pain that had been stinging her knees crawled up to her hips.
Tossing and turning on the thick sheets, Thalia forced her heavy eyelids open.
A strange ceiling, flickering with firelight, filled her vision.
Blinking, Thalia slowly pushed herself up. Then, she suddenly realized she was wearing only a thin linen dress and gasped in shock.
She hurriedly felt her legs and found the bandages that had been wrapped that morning. It seemed only her outer garments had been removed. Just as she let out a small sigh of relief, she heard the faint sound of water nearby.
Thalia whipped her head around and froze upon discovering Varkas, stripped to the waist, washing his face.
He scooped up water in his palms and ran them over his neck. Streams of clear water flowed slowly down the taut curves of his lean muscles. Thalia, staring blankly at the sight, managed to squeeze out her voice.
“W-What are you doing?”
Rubbing his face with wet hands, Varkas turned toward her. His pale, damp physique filled her retinas.
Thalia’s face turned bright red as she hurriedly pulled the blanket up to her chest.
“Wh-Why are you naked?! You pervert!”
Varkas looked down at her silently and let out a heavy sigh.
“I can hardly wash with my clothes on, can I?”
“I-I mean, why are you washing here……!”
Thalia let out a shrill cry, but her breath caught in the next moment. Varkas had leaned over the bed and covered her mouth with one hand.
“Keep your voice down.”
