Chapter 15
#15
The fierce expression changed to a relaxed one in an instant. Zen, who had been gaping, let out a dry cough.
"Goodness! I've never eaten dragon bones before!"
"Well... that's right. There's only one dragon in the neighboring country. This must be a fake from a con artist at the market."
"This is totally...! It's no joke. The smell of dried lizard and bat mixed together is amazing!"
Seeing him so excited and blurting out whatever he wanted, it seemed impossible to communicate any further.
Saliva was pooling between his glistening teeth, as if it would drip down any moment. His tail wagged so fast it was impossible to follow with the eye, hitting Zen's thigh with a thud.
"...Um...."
Zen paid no attention, staring only at the bone.
Lucy, rolling her eyes and pondering what to do, slowly lifted the bone into the air. His yellow eyes followed the bone's movement, darting through the air.
The panting and the noise of his tail created a rhythm. Lucy moved the bone back and forth, lost in thought.
...What does it feel like to take your first step?
Every beginning is accompanied by joy. But as with everyone, the more you repeat the same thing, the more indifferent you become, and soon the step is reduced to a tool for movement.
As time goes by, emotions are worn away. Instead of becoming indifferent to the world, the increase in playfulness may be the desperate struggle of the elderly to revive their dead emotions.
But I'm not old.
She denied it, but couldn't stop the corners of her lips from rising. Lucy desperately tried to choose the latter at the crossroads of playfulness and reason.
Nevertheless, instinct kept leading her to playfulness.
The Lykan panting in front of her looked like a puppy she had raised as a child, not an instructor. The way his eyes darted around following the movement of the bone was really....
If I throw it like this, will he follow the bone, or not?
Unlike her serious expression, the thoughts consuming her brain were trivial.
It would be perfect if I shouted, 'Fetch!' It was just as she was wondering where to throw the bone she was shaking from side to side.
"I apologize for the wait. It's almost dinner, where shall we eat...."
Walter, who had opened the door and entered, stopped abruptly when he saw the two of them.
Lucy, with wide eyes, looked back and forth between Walter, the bone, and Zen, then quickly shoved the bone into Zen's mouth.
"Oh, you're here now."
She wiped her saliva-covered hand and greeted him as if nothing had happened. Zen seemed too busy chewing on the bone to notice Walter's appearance.
Walter, blinking and watching the two of them, understood the situation and nodded lightly before stepping forward again. Zen, belatedly discovering him, stood at attention in an awkward posture, unable to spit out or swallow the bone.
"I was wondering where you'd gone, but you were already here. Did you come for the approval?"
"Yeth, Thir."
"It's only been half a month, so it must still be difficult. Go back to your quarters and rest. I'll sign the documents and send them with Huis."
Zen stood with his feet together and saluted sharply.
Walter gestured for him to leave, and Zen, hesitating, shuffled his feet a couple of times before moving away hesitantly.
As Zen tried to pass Lucy, he suddenly grabbed her arm and brought his snout close to her ear. With a crunching sound, he pushed the bone into the corner of his mouth and whispered in a voice barely audible.
"That stone you had."
"Stone... the pebble that was in my pocket earlier?"
"Yeah. This is a secret that only those in the know know."
Lucy's eyes widened at the solemn atmosphere. Zen continued his whisper as quickly as possible.
"If you don't have any use for it, give it to the Grand General. You'll see something interesting."
She thought he was going to tell her some grand secret, but all that came out was nonsense.
However, looking at Zen's expression, he didn't seem to have any intention of teasing or playing a prank on Lucy. With the sound of teeth and bone fighting a desperate battle, Zen left the room with a laugh.
Walter, staring at the place where Zen had disappeared, let out a breath that might or might not have been a sigh, and approached Lucy.
"If my adjutant has committed any rudeness, I apologize on his behalf. As Your Majesty knows, Lykans who have just passed the full moon have difficulty with even basic living."
"No, if anyone was rude, it was me. Don't worry about it. More importantly, that... that title of Your Majesty."
"Yes."
"It's fine in public places, but let's not use it when we're alone."
Walter, who had been maintaining a porcelain doll-like expression, twitched his eyebrows and widened his eyes. That expression seemed to be the most dramatic expression of surprise.
"That's impossible. There's a clear chain of command. How could I commit such insubordination?"
"No, it's just... uncomfortable. It's fine to show off in front of the lords, but I don't want to do that even in front of the Grand General."
"Titles are closer to morality than etiquette. Please take back your words."
Lucy rubbed her forehead with a tired feeling.
For vanity and pretense to transform into elegance, time is needed for the vanity to be internalized. But Lucy had repeatedly gone back and forth between heaven and earth, and as a result, she became a wishy-washy human being who was neither noble nor commoner.
It's funny when you think about it.
Just a few days ago, a woman who was chopping firewood in Pomnos is now posing as a king in front of the great lords of Parnassus.
Well, when I think about my past life, which was a mess of being a concubine's daughter, then a princess, then the crown princess of the empire, then a traitor, then a death row inmate, this seems like nothing.
The only thing I realized while going through various situations was that humans are all the same. Everyone gets old in the same way, but it was tiring to divide into superior and subordinate relationships even in private.
Lucy, pondering how to persuade Walter, lowered her voice with a secretive look.
"Grand General. Be honest. Was I a bit annoying earlier?"
Walter, who had been moving his lips, couldn't bring himself to lie, and cast a troubled look, unable to do anything with his open mouth. Lucy nodded as if it was okay, and he opened his mouth with a sigh of relief.
"I thought it was fine... but I won't deny that you took a somewhat provocative stance."
"I'm going to continue to be rude in that area for the time being, but I want to be comfortable in private. So, comfortably, please, comfortably."
"But."
"By the way, when are we eating dinner? I'm hungry after taking a bath."
Walter, startled, realized that he had come for that reason and led the way to the dining hall. Walter, who didn't even realize he had been drawn into her pace, recited the menu with a serious expression to Lucy, who asked what was for dinner.
Conversations without much content came and went through the deserted corridors.
Walter, who was continuing to guide her through the headquarters along with the news that the royal palace was sealed off and they would have to stay at the headquarters for the time being, suddenly closed his mouth and showed a troubled expression.
"Your Majesty's handling of the lords today was excellent."
His expression was rather lukewarm for someone who was praising her. Before Lucy could say thank you, Walter cut her off.
"The way you overwhelmed the lords with your elegant speech is certainly admirable. However, Duke Kill is a man of strong pride. I am concerned about what repercussions his provocation will cause."
"Grand General, what do you think Duke Kill will do?"
I thought the answer would come out right away, but Walter pressed his lower lip with his thumb and kept a short silence.
"Your Majesty."
"I told you not to say Your Majesty. I'll call you Lucy, so please call me Lucy too."
"...Lucy, what do you think of the future prospects?"
"Well... since I hurt his pride so much, there's no way we'll join hands. There will be many empty seats in the conference room tomorrow."
Walter's eyes narrowed at the candid answer.
"As you know, he was the most trusted elder among the lords. He is also an excellent politician who knows how to look after both the inside and the outside. It won't be easy to deal with him."
"Do you think I can't win?"
It was too rude a question to ask a general who had never lost before. But Walter only tilted his head and stared at the air with ambiguous eyes.
"Even if there is no chance of winning, it is the commander's role to create a winning game. You don't have to worry about that, but I think it would be more reasonable to appease him than to confront him."
"You're worried because there's no one to unite the lords."
"That's right."
"Hmm...."
Lucy twisted her moderately dry hair and tied it up with an old ribbon from her pocket. Unlike Walter, who had a worried expression, Lucy was calm.
"We have time, so don't worry too much and let's see the lords' reactions at tomorrow's meeting and then think about it. More than that now!"
"Yes."
"Shall we eat first?"
At the earnest plea, Walter realized that he was making a very serious mistake and hurriedly began to quicken his pace.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
The sound of clacking heels shattered the silence of the corridor.
Mule sandals studded with jewels were in stark contrast to the plain dress. Marquis Rutherford, who always preferred loose clothing, had no choice but to dress formally today, as the situation demanded.
The commotion of yesterday was gone, and the headquarters was as desolate as could be. It was because all the nobles had locked their mouths with solemn faces.
I know they're nervous, but is there any need to be so quiet, she thought.
"Everyone looks unhappy. We should act bravely, especially at times like this."
Duke Whitten dismissed his attendant and spoke.
His neat and elegant attire was the same as ever, but the way he was smiling with his brows furrowed showed that he was also nervous.
But he's not the kind of person who would talk to Rutherford, who is as silent as a statue, just to relieve his tension.
The gaze that seemed to be probing his mind was proof of that. Rutherford also hid the searching gaze with a soft smile.
"Everyone is careful with their words after yesterday's incident. I have no idea what the atmosphere of today's meeting will be like."
"Whether we choose Duke Kill or that woman, it's certain that blood will be shed, so I'm worried. Which side are you going to take, Duke Rutherford?"
At the direct question, Rutherford raised one corner of his mouth and gave an ambiguous smile.
