5. Negotiations Fail When You Don’t Understand The Other Party (part 2)
This fraud! Walking two steps apart from Nell, Marcella finally realized Arthur had deceived her again.
Larger than expected? It was enormous. Though they’d walked quite far, no palace wall appeared. They’d been walking in one direction this whole time.
‘I have work piling up that I really must attend to. If I delay any longer, it’ll be dangerously backed up, so please enjoy your walk together.’
She should have realized when he said that. Come to think of it, Arthur hadn’t entered that blizzard-filled treasury either.
Marcella harbored complaints about Arthur as she moved her legs diligently.
“Your Majesty.”
When Marcella called out, wondering how much farther they’d continue walking, Nell turned around.
He faced her completely, standing before her and looking down.
“Why are you sweating so much?”
“Why aren’t you sweating at all when it’s this hot, Your Majesty?”
They’d definitely walked the same path, yet in this heat, only Marcella was dripping with sweat.
When Marcella looked at him with aggrieved eyes, Nell tilted his head.
“I don’t sweat easily.”
“How nice for you.”
It was almost like boasting in front of someone sweating profusely. Marcella’s petty feelings slipped out.
Then a cool sensation touched her forehead. It was the back of Nell’s hand.
When Marcella flinched and pulled away, Nell didn’t approach further and lowered his hand again.
“Are you hot?”
“Thank you for asking. Yes, I’m hot.”
Thanks to someone! Marcella pressed down her aggrieved feelings as she spoke.
Then Nell briefly rolled his eyes thoughtfully before blinking and looking at Marcella.
“I heard ponds are cool.”
After that single comment, he turned around and started walking ahead again.
Marcella secretly sighed.
She didn’t usually dislike walking. She enjoyed the twenty-minute hike to the mountain where she gathered mushrooms, even climbing that mountain.
But that was when she wasn’t with an uncomfortable person—the emperor.
“Marcella?”
Noticing she wasn’t following, Nell turned and called to her.
Marcella breathed through her shoulders and followed him. She hoped wherever this pond was would be cool, or at least have some shade.
Despite her expectations after walking so far…
“The water is boiling.”
The pond water was boiling. Was today hot enough to make pond water boil? No, even in midsummer, that shouldn’t be possible.
Marcella glared at the pond. She could sense a mass of power at the pond’s bottom that was causing the water to boil. Moreover, that mass of power felt familiar.
“Is it cool?”
Nell asked Marcella. Already hot and sweaty, with the additional heat from the boiling pond water, Marcella was so hot she wanted to close her eyes and collapse. She was so hot that the words just came out.
Nell watched Marcella quietly, then stepped into the boiling pond water.
“Your Majesty!”
Seeing him enter the boiling water while still wearing shoes, Marcella was startled. As Nell was about to put his other foot in the water, he stopped.
The water suddenly began bubbling violently with large air pockets.
“Your Majesty!”
Marcella grabbed Nell’s arm, but he wasn’t easily pulled away.
“What are you doing! Putting your foot in boiling water!”
“I’m cooling it down.”
“Pardon?”
Marcella, who’d thought it fortunate that Arthur wasn’t with them on this walk, suddenly wished he were here.
She couldn’t understand what Nell was saying at all.
“What are you cooling down?”
“The water.”
Nell looked at Marcella, then turned his head. The violently boiling pond water gradually subsided and became calm.
When Marcella released Nell’s arm, he put his hand in the pond.
“I don’t know.”
Nell withdrew his foot from the pond and blew air toward it. The dripping water dried instantly.
“…I’m the one who wants to say I don’t know.”
“Should I cool it down more?”
Nell tilted his head.
Marcella stared blankly at the water that was no longer boiling.
She could tell from the movement of magical power that Nell had used magic. But she couldn’t understand why he was doing this.
Marcella hesitated, then crouched down.
She wasn’t eager to put her hand in water that had just been boiling. She thought this was a strange way to torment someone.
Marcella gathered courage, reached out, and frowned as she barely dipped her fingertips into the pond.
The pond water was cold enough to make her body shiver.
“Is it still hot?”
Nell, who had submerged his hand up to the wrist in the pond, asked.
Marcella blinked as she watched Nell with his hand in the pond.
Anyone could feel how cold it was. Yet Nell acted as if he genuinely didn’t know. For it to be a joke, there was no such indication on his face.
“No. It’s cold.”
“Is it?”
Only then did he withdraw his hand and look at Marcella. She seemed displeased about something.
“Your Majesty, do you have no sensation in your hands?”
“That’s right.”
Though it was a sarcastic remark, Nell agreed so readily that Marcella, who’d made the comment, was the one surprised.
“Why do you look so shocked?”
“Because you’re teasing me, Your Majesty.”
“I’ve never teased you.”
“When I asked if you had no sensation in your hands, you said yes.”
“Yes.”
Nell agreed again.
Marcella parted her lips slightly and frowned. Were they having a proper conversation? Were they talking about different things?
She’d never felt they communicated well anyway, but today their conversation seemed particularly disconnected.
“Do you really mean you have no sensation in your hands?”
“You’re quite surprised by many things and quite suspicious too.”
Suspicious! That’s because he was saying impossible things. Anyone would react that way.
Marcella felt wronged, but Nell looked down at his palm with a calm expression.
“Let me correct that. It’s not completely absent.”
“Doesn’t that mean you do have sensation?”
How could a person have no sensation? When Marcella looked exasperated, Nell looked at her with wide eyes.
Being so close, Marcella could tell the difference that wouldn’t be noticeable unless one was very near.
“…Yes, I do have sensation.”
What was he trying to say?
When Marcella blinked rapidly, Nell briefly closed his eyes and put both feet into the pond.
“It’s cold.”
He stated the obvious. As if that obvious statement was amusing, Nell looked back at Marcella with a slight smile.
“Arthur Digory, what ridiculous scheme are you plotting now?”
“Plotting? From Duke Digory’s words, it sounds like I’m some master conspirator.”
Arthur smiled and retorted to the old man who’d come to his office and was glaring at him as if ready to kill, despite Arthur being busy enough to die.
“Don’t think you can brush this off so easily.”
“Then how can I get you to let it go? As you can see, I’m busy and can’t entertain lengthy conversations, so if there’s a quick method, please tell me.”
“Arthur Digory.”
Hearing Duke Digory’s voice, Arthur thought: It’s been a while since father got properly angry.
“Do you know why I’ve tolerated you swearing loyalty to that emotionless monster and doing all sorts of things?”
“Monster? Duke Digory, you shouldn’t make such bold statements in the palace.”
“Because that monster is a ‘Hairi.'”
Despite Arthur’s warning, Duke Digory called Nell a monster again.
“Yes, well. I know very well how loyal Duke Digory is to ‘Hairi,’ so you don’t need to tell me.”
When Arthur chuckled and began signing documents while quickly scanning through the backlog with his quill, Duke Digory slammed the desk. Arthur’s neat handwriting went askew.
“Arthur Digory!”
“Why are you doing this, Duke Digory? You, who hate sloppy handwriting more than anyone.”
“I’m talking about your shameful behavior—bearing the Digory name yet kneeling not to Hairi, but to Morris!”
Arthur kept his quill in hand and smiled brightly at his bloodshot father.
“Your pathetic display, clinging to Marcella Morris’s skirts and begging—did you think I wouldn’t know!”
“How could that be? Given that I’ve failed to eliminate your spy mice despite setting traps and chasing them away, I gave up on keeping palace affairs secret from you. Just how many spy mice do you have?”
“Because you keep acting pathetic!”
“You keep calling it pathetic, but I don’t quite understand, Duke Digory.”
Arthur lightly tickled his chin with the quill’s feather, squinting at his father.
“What behavior of mine was so pathetic? I didn’t kneel to Lady Marcella, at least.”
“Do you call that an excuse?”
“Of course not.”
Arthur laughed loudly. He rang a silver bell beside him several times and set it back on the table.
“I just haven’t knelt yet.”
“Arthur Digory!”
“Duke, Lady Marcella is the woman our beloved Hairi Emperor wants as his empress. She will become that eventually. What’s wrong with me kneeling to such a person?”
A knock came from outside the door, and Arthur answered for them to enter.
“Don’t you know that woman rejected the monster’s proposal? That you did such pathetic things trying to hold onto a woman who hates it and tries to run away!”
“I’m glad you know I’m desperate. Ah, please help Duke Digory return, as he’s leaving. He was so angry I thought he might collapse soon.”
When Arthur smiled and spoke to the servant, Duke Digory slammed the desk again.
“If you keep losing your temper like this, you won’t live to see your precious daughter’s wedding.”
“Arthur Digory, I’m warning you. Whatever behavior you exhibit in the future bearing the Digory name.”
“You know my behavior is exemplary.”
Arthur smiled brightly and nodded to the servant, who tried to support Duke Digory.
Duke Digory struck the servant’s hand with his cane and strode out angrily.
“Tsk, such a bad temper.”
Arthur, who’d been smiling, completely changed his expression and clicked his tongue. He was already busy enough without wasting time unnecessarily.
“So how is His Majesty doing? Has the walk ended?”
“He’s said to be in the pond.”
“I see… the pond?”
Ever since Phoenix, unable to control his emotions, had entered the pond after catching fire, that pond had been boiling day and night.
There was no other pond, so he couldn’t have gone elsewhere. If they’d left the palace, that would have been reported first.
“Lady Marcella is with him, correct?”
When the servant nodded, Arthur smiled brightly. Well, he’s enjoying himself without any worry.
Arthur felt pleased that his plan seemed to be proceeding perfectly.
When Lady Marcella had stepped on him while trying to leave, he’d wondered what to do, but this could be called quite successful.
Arthur had seen off the two people in front of the underground treasury, thinking his plan was perfect.
But His Majesty had thoroughly ruined that carefully prepared table, which Arthur had even helped cool down by blowing on it.
“Your Majesty, didn’t you consider even slightly, just a tiny bit, why I did that?”
“I brought Marcella with me as you intended.”
“Why do you think I recommended a fur cloak to Your Majesty in summer, in midsummer!”
“…”
“Did you think I was worried you might be cold, even though you don’t feel cold standing in the middle of the northern wall?”
Absolutely not! Arthur stamped his feet in indignation. Thinking about how to convey this anger in a way he’d understand made his head ache and chest feel stuffy.
“Wasn’t it the same reason as what you usually say—not to wear rags in front of people?”
“Of course I had you wear it to give to Lady Marcella when she got cold! Before she collapsed from freezing!”
When Arthur shouted, Nell’s brow furrowed.
“You knew Marcella couldn’t endure that place and would collapse.”
“Oh, Your Majesty, please! Who doesn’t know that? Are you saying you didn’t know? Haven’t you seen soldiers shivering in the cold on the northern wall? How could Lady Marcella in a thin summer dress not be cold there? How!”
“The underground treasury isn’t the northern wall.”
“It’s the same bone-chilling cold! Your Majesty has resistance, so whether you wear a fur cloak or not, however much the blizzard rages, you’re fine. But why would I put a fur cloak with warming magic on Your Majesty, who has resistance!”
Arthur felt like going into the mountains to scream.
Nell opened his mouth and slowly rolled his eyes from right to left.
“That contradicts telling me to dress well in front of Marcella.”
“What’s contradictory! What! I dressed you well under the fur cloak! I even subtly undid buttons so you’d look good whenever you took off the cloak!”
But this person…!
Arthur felt his heart would break and pounded the floor with his fist.
“I wondered why Marcella’s body is so weak…”
“The lady is perfectly normally healthy. She just doesn’t have resistance like Your Majesty, nor a body blessed with every protection and favor.”
Arthur boy, isn’t your tongue getting sharper? You seem to lack proper fear.
Tamarin licked his lips while looking at Arthur. Arthur flinched, then snorted.
“Since things turned out this way, I’ll keep Lady Marcella in the palace for protection.”
You’re wicked, Arthur. Causing the illness then providing the cure. But do you think she’ll stay just because you tell her to?
Tamarin approached Nell’s feet, yawning and mocking Arthur.
Arthur had to acknowledge his point. Marcella Morris wouldn’t just quietly stay here. But…
“I’ll force her to stay.”
That’s why you’re hated, fatherless Arthur.
“Yes. I’m Arthur without blood, tears, or father. Do you think I’d be afraid of being hated now?”
Tamarin looked at the defiant Arthur and snorted, bumping his head against Nell’s leg.
Do you understand why she’s acting like that?
“Arthur seems quite taken with Marcella.”
…What do I expect from you?
Tamarin shook his head and threw up his hands.
“I’ll have Lady Marcella recover from her cold on her own.”
How cruel. There are so many healing mages idle in the palace, yet you’ll make her recover naturally?
“You were the one who said healing arts aren’t a cure-all magic, Tamarin.”
Tamarin stood up and approached Arthur, then bit his head hard when Nell wasn’t looking.
Arthur yelped, but Nell was lost in other thoughts and didn’t see it.
“Your Majesty!”
After Arthur called Nell about ten times, he finally looked up. Arthur’s head was bloody from Tamarin’s bite.
“Tamarin.”
- That bastard was being insufferable.
When Nell raised his hand and pulled through the air, Tamarin transformed into a cub the size of a palm. Still, Tamarin showed no remorse and growled at Arthur.
“Tamarin.”
- He’s not dead, is he!
Tamarin defiantly claimed he hadn’t bitten hard enough to kill.
Arthur took out an emergency healing stone and applied it to his head.
- If you have a healing stone, use it on that girl instead.
When Tamarin jeered, Arthur glared at him.
Green light emanated from the healing stone and the bleeding began to stop.
Arthur wiped the blood with a handkerchief, saw how soaked it became, and rang the bell above the fireplace.
“Tamarin, I’m warning you—if you bite the lady like this…”
- Shut up. Don’t lecture me. I won’t bite that girl like this.
“Then why do you bite me? Don’t you see the blood?”
- You’re insufferable.
When Tamarin opened his mouth wide, Nell placed him on his knee and petted him. The growling, angry Tamarin began purring.
“Arthur, what are you expecting from Marcella by keeping her here?”
Swindler, liar, Arthur Digory without blood, tears, or father.
Lying to manipulate situations to his will came so easily to him. But he had to admit—he couldn’t lie when his master, to whom he’d devoted everything, looked directly at him and asked such questions.
