Chapter 26
From the first moment they met, Raid had been favorable toward Ninia. They had only exchanged a few words, but it was clear he was a different breed from the Marquis and Miernelle.
When Ninia didn’t turn her gaze away, Raid didn’t look away either. The strange exchange that followed for a moment was cut short before Ninia could discover anything.
“It seems His Excellency will be a little late.”
Marquis Villian said, looking at the empty seat at the head of the table. The table was already set with cutlery and glasses for the number of people present.
The banquet would begin when the host arrived. However, the lord of the castle was still absent.
Marquis Villian subtly revealed his displeasure. At that, Miernelle, who was next to him, spoke with charming coquetry.
“I can wait as long as it takes.”
Miernelle chattered on with trivial stories, as if to keep the Marquis from getting bored. Nevertheless, time continued to pass, and eventually, even Miernelle’s mouth closed of its own accord.
Silence fell over the banquet hall. Ninia also hadn’t expected his absence to be this long.
“I’m worried he might not be able to come because of a problem. I should send someone to find out, just in case.”
“No.”
Just as Ninia finished speaking, a short refusal rang out from the entrance of the banquet hall. Everyone’s gaze turned in the direction of the voice.
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Tarahan was walking inside. The wind that blew in from the entrance brushed past him and swirled around the banquet hall.
The wind carried the faint smell of leather, leaves, and dust. As if to prove this, Tarahan was wearing light leather armor and a black cloak.
By any measure, it was not an outfit suitable for a banquet. There was a collective silence even as Tarahan passed the seats of the Marquis and Miernelle. The first person to break out of it was Ninia.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yes.”
Tarahan replied obediently as he sat down in his chair. It was Ninia who looked surprised by this. She had expected to be ignored, but the conversation flowed naturally.
Was it because of the watchful eyes? She hid her churning stomach and called a servant.
“Bring out the food.”
“Yes, Your Highness the Consort.”
With the master’s arrival, the waiting servants became busy. Starting with the aperitif, light dishes came out one by one, filling the empty plates.
Now that everyone was present, the atmosphere, devoid of even ordinary greetings, was no different from before. In fact, it seemed even more tense.
‘Marquis Villian never misses a thing, so this probably isn’t his first meeting with him either.’
The Empress had contributed greatly to obstructing Tarahan’s peerage, and it was always Marquis Villian who acted as the Empress’s hands. Thus, the relationship between the two was unspeakably bad.
The only one unfazed by the continuing silence was Tarahan. It was when he dipped his silver spoon into his soup. The Marquis, who had been watching Tarahan all along, offered a greeting.
“Welcome, Your Excellency. It seems you’ve returned from a busy schedule. How rude of me to have been seated first; it’s as if I’ve become the master of this castle.”
“If you could, it would be good to try.”
At his words, the Marquis’s eyebrows twitched slightly. Though it seemed like a normal reply with a joking tone, it was a remark that bruised Marquis Villian’s pride.
It was before Tarahan had commanded the battles. What had hastened the war’s defeat was none other than Marquis Villian’s judgment.
The Emperor had been reluctant to send troops to the Danteore territory, which was national land but no different from abandoned land.
But Marquis Villian, with the Empress’s backing, had strongly insisted that the likes of the Gilfurth Empire were no match for the soldiers of the Piechen Empire, who were protected by the goddess.
It was a statement meant to praise the Empire while securing his own merits. In the end, the Emperor granted Marquis Villian the initial military control.
The troops and dispatched priests gathered thusly froze to death in the winter land without properly swinging their swords, half of them, and the other half had their throats slit by Gilfurth’s forces.
Tarahan coolly continued his meal, leaving the momentarily speechless Marquis, and Ninia also picked up her spoon as if imitating him. It was as she was bringing the soup to her mouth and observing her surroundings.
“I am Miernelle Villian, Your Excellency.”
A fresh voice, like a chirping bird, tickled everyone’s ears. The addressed Tarahan raised his head and looked at Miernelle.
Miernelle smiled brightly, as if delighted to have met his gaze, but Tarahan’s reaction was truly a sight to behold.
“Did I need a concubine to inspect my territory? She even carries the Marquis’s surname.”
Tarahan asked, looking at Marquis Villian. Miernelle, whose greeting had been instantly ignored, just blinked her eyes.
As if to rectify the situation, the Marquis opened his mouth, which wouldn’t easily part.
“Haha. It seems you’ve misunderstood as I have no daughter. She is not a concubine, but my niece. She came along with me this time. Miernelle, greet him again.”
“Yees. I have heard much of the heroic tales about Your Excellency. I am delighted to meet the war hero of Piechen in person.”
Miernelle showed no sign of being upset. Tarahan’s gaze, which had been on the Marquis, moved back to Miernelle. He propped up his chin with one hand and smiled as if he found the topic quite interesting.
“Heroic tales. Those were established not by me, but by my wife.”
Feeling like she was about to be sick, Ninia had to put down her spoon. Tarahan was watching her.
His red eyes were blatant, as if caressing Ninia’s skin. Instead of revealing her expression, Ninia slowly curled her fingers, which were resting on her lap. The skin beneath felt itchy with heat. She held her breath for a moment, trying to preserve her patience.
‘Wife, he said.’
Ninia repeated the unfamiliar and distant word to herself. Hearing it mentioned directly from his lips made her mind go blank.
It was when she couldn’t say anything. Miernelle intercepted Tarahan’s gaze.
“I am interested in Your Excellency, not the Saintess. Women are naturally fond of stories about strong men, you see. I’m sure the Saintess is the same way.”
Ninia’s head also moved then. The moment their eyes met, Ninia realized the reason for the animosity directed at her.
“Ah, that’s right. It’s not Saintess, but Your Highness the Consort. I’m sorry.”
And also why a beautiful and young noble lady would personally make the journey all the way to the far north.
“It’s alright.”
Ninia, who had answered carelessly, looked at him again. But Tarahan was not looking at her. Their gazes missed each other, and an indifferent tone flowed from his lips.
“Well, what the Marquis’s niece thinks is none of my business.”
Tarahan uttered that single sentence and went back to his meal.
The distinguished guests from the capital were scheduled to stay in the Danteore territory for about a month. The curtain was rising on an ominous summer.
🌻🌻🌻
Unlike the day he first welcomed his guests, Tarahan often stayed in the castle.
In a move different from what was expected—that he would completely ignore the distinguished guests—he even dined with the central nobles a few more times.
Excluding his outings, his routine was similar every day. At dawn, he would be at the training grounds and the stables, and after holding a meeting, he would hole himself up in his office and not come out.
Other adjutants and knights, including Jerome, frequented his office, and sometimes nobles from Danteore or unidentified individuals were forcibly invited.
There was no way of knowing what went on inside, but most people who went in pale and terrified seemed to crawl out by half.
The reason Ninia came to know these facts was by no means due to a kind gesture from Tarahan.
In the garden that welcomed summer, the grasses that served as a lawn had grown. Ninia, who was looking at nameless wildflowers, lifted her head at a sound coming from afar.
“Your Excellency, how do you handle such a large horse so well? It was so unruly with the stable hands… It was fascinating how it seems to listen only to you.”
The bird-like chattering voice reached the shade of the trees. On the opposite side from Ninia, who was hidden by the trees, she could see Miernelle walking with Tarahan.
The reason Ninia knew Tarahan’s schedule was largely because of Miernelle.
Whenever Tarahan was in the castle, Miernelle would somehow follow him around. When Tarahan was out of sight, she would pester the servants and eventually find out where he was.
Miernelle was also present when Tarahan inspected the territory with the central nobles.
The territory was vast, and the inspection took place over several days. Miernelle, upon returning to the castle after finishing the tour, would always ask Ninia for teatime.
‘As Your Highness the Consort must know, the weather was so nice, it was quite pretty. His Excellency rides a horse so wonderfully. I’m glad I learned how to ride. At least I could follow along.’
Miernelle would blossom with stories without even touching her tea. Ninia could only wait silently for her words to end and offer a few replies.
It was a very one-sided conversation. One side held a sword, while the other might be in the role of taking the thrusting blade head-on.
