Ch#99
The castle lord, who had been studying his expression with a stiff face, let out an awkward laugh and scratched the back of his head.
“I’ve been acting like an old fool. My apologies if I’ve offended you.”
Varkas, watching him with frigid eyes, strode across the courtyard.
In front of the castle gates, the cavalry stood in formation, having already finished their preparations for departure.
Scanning their ranks, Varkas spotted Thalia walking along the dirt path and came to a halt.
Her pale tawny hair, neatly braided, shimmered like pure gold in the autumn sunlight.
Closely observing her pale face, which was etched with fatigue, Varkas handed his horse over to a squire and stepped up behind her. At that moment, the woman, who had been grasping the door handle to board the carriage, glared at him warily.
“Wha—what is it…?”
Varkas, who had intended to help her into the carriage, slowly withdrew his hand.
His wife looked exactly like prey standing before its natural enemy. As he met those frightened blue eyes, a faint tremor rippled deep within his gut—in some part of him he couldn’t quite name.
He studied her face silently with narrowed eyes before taking a step back.
Seeing the tension drain from her body as if she were finally relieved, a bitter taste filled his mouth.
Ignoring the strange reaction his body was having, he spoke calmly.
“I intend to travel on horseback starting today. I will station separate guards by the carriage, so please call for me if anything happens.”
A faint look of relief flickered across her face. As if to hide it, she lowered her long, thick lashes and replied bluntly.
“Do as you wish.”
Then, she pushed herself into the carriage as if fleeing.
Standing by the door and watching her in silence, Varkas let out a small sigh and turned away. It seemed all the effort he had put into getting her used to his touch had gone to waste.
Thinking back on his impatient behavior last night, her reaction wasn’t even that strange.
‘…It would be best not to touch her for the time being.’
She was a woman as sensitive and fearful as a young wild mare.
To lower her guard, it would be wise not to approach her recklessly for a while.
Feeling the bitterness in his mouth deepen, he swung himself up into the saddle.
“Once again, thank you for accepting the invitation, Your Grace.”
The castle lord, who had been waiting a short distance away, approached him again. Varkas turned his horse’s head toward the front of the long line of cavalry and gave a slight nod.
“I will resolve the issue with the looters as quickly as possible.”
“Thank you. Then, I shall see you in Kalmore soon.”
The man shouted in a booming voice.
Varkas immediately spurred his horse forward.
As they passed through the castle gates, the mounted warriors followed in formation. A heavy scent of wine clung to them, suggesting they had enjoyed themselves quite rowdily the night before.
Varkas scanned the faces of the cavalrymen and spoke dryly to Tyrone, who was riding right beside him.
“Bring Lucas to the front. Until we return to Kalmore, I will personally oversee his training.”
The man sent him a worried look.
Was he concerned that he might harm the green brat?
Varkas let out a faint, mocking laugh and added coldly.
“Do I have to say it twice?”
“…I will bring him at once.”
The man turned his horse and moved toward the rear of the formation.
A short while later, Lucas rode up with a grim face.
Varkas looked his younger brother up and down with dry eyes and gave a slight tilt of his chin.
“From now on, you will take the role of scout. Move to the lead.”
A clear sign of tension appeared on the youthful face that still bore the soft fuzz of adolescence. It seemed he sensed the trials that were about to befall him.
Varkas gestured with his head again.
“What are you doing? Get to the front.”
After a moment’s hesitation, the boy whipped his reins and moved to the lead.
Varkas added harshly toward his stiffly frozen back.
“From this point on, I will not permit you to leave the formation at will or move out of my sight. Should you fail to fulfill your role, you must also take responsibility for it.”
“Your Grace, the Young Master is still lacking in experience…”
“Tyrone El Drakan.”
The man, who had stepped in presumptuously, immediately shut his mouth.
Varkas delivered his first and final warning.
“Interrupt me one more time, and you will pay the price.”
A chilling silence fell over the cavalry. It seemed they realized his warning was directed at everyone present.
Sweeping the cavalry with a sharp gaze, Varkas turned his eyes back toward Lucas.
“Now, move out.”
Lucas, who had been stealing glances at him over his shoulder, spurred his horse. Varkas followed immediately behind his brother.
They planned to make a large loop through the northeastern region and head south.
After traveling to the border of the former Alex Kingdom, they would turn west to inspect the southeastern region. Finally, after touring the northwestern area and arriving in Kalmore, the tour of the territory would be complete.
At the longest, it would take about fifteen days.
It was plenty of time to discipline his thoughtless younger brother.
Varkas followed closely behind Lucas, keeping a careful watch on their surroundings. He intended not to interfere with his brother’s scouting unless there was a major danger.
Fortunately, Lucas found the way skillfully without deviating significantly from the designated route.
However, lacking experience in leading a group, he would often thoughtlessly enter remote paths without considering those following him.
Eventually, having to backtrack the way they had come, Lucas became visibly dejected.
“Make sure you familiarize yourself with the map properly. Tomorrow, we must reach the area near Brinack.”
Arriving at the campsite only as the sun was nearly set, Varkas spoke sternly to his brother.
“If the journey is delayed, it is entirely your responsibility. Keep your wits about you and do your part.”
“…Why is that my responsibility?”
Varkas, who had dismounted and was leading his horse to the water, paused and looked back at his brother.
Lucas was glaring at him with a rebellious look in his eyes.
“The fact that the schedule was delayed is because of Brother’s childish venting over what happened yesterday!”
Rough intakes of breath could be heard from all around.
Tension also clouded Lucas’s face. However, perhaps thinking that Varkas wouldn’t actually do anything to him, he held his bronze neck stiffly with strength.
Varkas let out a long sigh and slowly approached his brother.
Lucas committed the folly of tilting his chin high and glaring fiercely with both eyes.
Hah. Letting out a dry laugh, Varkas reached out and brushed back the disheveled dark brown curls. As if startled by the sudden touch, Lucas’s shoulders flinched and froze. Varkas gripped the back of his brother’s head just like that and brought his face close to the boy’s pale, terrified features.
“If I had intended to vent my anger over yesterday’s events, I would have stood you in the sparring ring instead of going through this tedious trouble.”
The color drained completely from the wheat-tanned face. To that easygoing face that had never known responsibility in its life, Varkas added softly.
“Be grateful for the fact that you are not yet an adult and that you are my brother, Lucas. Otherwise, instead of putting you at the front of my path, I would have put you in the same place as Alec Gutban.”
“…….”
“If you understand what I’m saying, you should offer a polite apology to your brother.”
“…I’m sorry, Brother.”
“Good. I forgive your insolence.”
He continued smoothly.
“Soon, you will also have to apologize for wagging your tongue so recklessly at my wife. For now, I am only leaving you alone because she says she doesn’t even want to see your face.”
Lucas bit his lip.
Varkas stared down at the face flushed red with humiliation for a moment before letting go with a dismissive flick of his hand.
“Now, go do your job.”
