Chapter 14

Since he was already speaking, Jikalen decided to pour out his grievances.

"You threatened me, no, you said, 'If you waste my time one more time, I'll use you as firewood.'"

So, ever since then, he didn't mention the 'h' of the princess or the 'o' of Aristine.

"But if you ask why I didn't report it..."

It was unjust, unjust, and even more unjust.

Jikalen's eyes shimmered with moisture.

However, the tears of the large, muscular man with his well-defined biceps and triceps did not move anyone present.

"...In the future, don't leave out any information about her when you report to me."

Tarkan concluded the topic with a single, decisive word.

"Excuse me?"

Jikalen wasn't the only one surprised.

Everyone present revealed their confusion and looked at Tarkan.

It was unlike Tarkan to want to hear all the information about a specific person.

He always wanted only the most important and concise information.

'Could it be that His Lordship is attracted to the new bride...?'

No one could have predicted such a thing.

"Because she is the most important key to ending the war with the empire. There's no harm in knowing the information."

Most of the warriors were convinced by this.

Of course. How could His Lordship so easily change his mind?

But Jikalen's frustration only grew.

'No, if you knew, why did you get so angry every time I tried to report it? Why now...!'

But as the subordinate, he could only swallow his anger.

The meeting continued for a long time.

When they were about to conclude the discussion and disperse,

"...And."

Tarkan, who opened his mouth, unusually paused.

The ears of the warriors, including Jikalen, perked up.

'What is he going to say?'

The last time Tarkan paused was when he was talking about an operation that would inevitably result in the sacrifice of a warrior.

But it was also the optimal strategy to win with minimal casualties.

The warriors swallowed hard.

Negotiations for a ceasefire with the Silvanus Empire were ongoing.

But their real enemies were always on the plains.

More vicious and tenacious than the imperial scoundrels.

They all braced themselves for a fierce battle.

"...Find a patissier who makes good scones. It doesn't matter if they belong to another palace."

"Yes, my lord!"

The warriors, who initially responded that they would follow the order, soon raised their heads in confusion.

"...Is there anything else to report? The meeting is concluded for today."

Without saying another word, Tarkan left the hall as if avoiding his seat.

'Ha, it's impossible for His Lordship to avoid his seat.'

'He must have some urgent business.'

'He always hates wasting time.'

Each of them made excuses for Tarkan and tried to understand.

It was truly a touching display of loyalty.

"But why scones? Does His Lordship like scones?"

"Does someone like him have preferences for bread? He only cares about the calories and how long it can sustain someone in an emergency."

"Scones are high in calories... Is he developing new combat rations? But why scones? There are higher-calorie options."

"How can we understand His Lordship's high intentions?"

That's right. They really didn't understand Tarkan's intentions.

* * *

The sunlight gently and softly tapped at her eyelids. Aristine slowly opened her eyes.

'Wow, the blanket is so cozy.'

This was her first thought after waking up.

When she raised her hand and pressed down on the blanket, it sank deeply.

'So soft!'

Aristine unknowingly pressed down on the bulge beside her.

Plop, plop, plop! She repeated it.

Her face was expressionless as usual, but her cheeks were slightly flushed.

'...It's fun.'

She had no memory after lying down on the bed last night.

She must have fallen asleep like she had fainted.

It was understandable.

During the journey from Silvanus to Ailugo, Aristine hadn't had a proper rest.

Moreover, yesterday was filled with unprecedented events in her life.

She had done well, but it was inevitable that her mental strength was drained.

But it had been a long time since she had taken a bath, changed into clean clothes, and lain on a stable bed.

'And it's so soft! The pillow is soft too!'

Puff, puff, puff! Pabababang!

Aristine enjoyed the sensation of pressing the pillow as she got up.

Then she froze.

"...Tarkan?"

She met Tarkan's eyes, who was sitting at a table a little away from the bed.

'I should have noticed when the sunlight came in.'

This wasn't the place where she had been confined.

The bed was surrounded by curtains to block out the sunlight.

The fact that sunlight was shining meant someone had pulled back the curtains.

'Usually, a maid would do it to wake me up.'

"Good morning... or is it afternoon?"

Tarkan greeted her with a lazy voice, warmed by the afternoon sun.

He gestured to the indented pillow and asked,

"Is it fun?"

"Well, it's just... it's so soft."

Aristine evaded the question, uncharacteristically.

Even for her, being caught in that moment was a bit embarrassing.

She quickly changed the subject.

"Why are you here?"

"Does a husband need a reason to be in his wife's bedroom?"

A crooked smile appeared on Tarkan's face.

It was a suggestive statement, but Aristine wasn't affected.

She returned a similar smile and replied,

"We're not married yet."

It was the same thing she had said yesterday.

"Does that mean you're okay with me coming in after we're married?"

Aristine, still sitting on the bed, stared at Tarkan without answering.

Tarkan raised an eyebrow.

"No, I just thought you were quite relaxed."

Being called "relaxed" was a first for Tarkan.

"Exactly when did you come in? You could have just woken me up instead of waiting... Don't you have any schedule?"

Tarkan's face turned red with veins popping out at Aristine's words.

Of course, he had intended to wake her up. Why wouldn't he?

The first time Tarkan visited Aristine's room, he waited outside the bedroom.

It was the first time he had ever waited for someone, be it a woman or anyone else, who was sleeping.

After finishing his morning training and the advisory meeting, and changing into clean clothes, Tarkan came to Aristine's room, feeling a bit surprised.

Could someone still be sleeping?

But then he remembered that she had just completed a long journey.

Although it was just a carriage ride, it must have been tiring for the petite Aristine.

Leaving her to sleep, Tarkan went to the training ground to inspect the troops.

Aristine's deep sleep made the warriors suffer a hellish morning.

'By now, she should be awake. If she's human, that is.'

But when Tarkan returned, Aristine was still sound asleep.

"The maids tried to wake her, but Princess Aristine wouldn't wake up."

The maid serving Aristine said this.

Tarkan sensed something strange in the atmosphere among the maids.

He had never paid attention to the affairs of the palace staff before.

But now it bothered him.

He remembered the maids giggling at Aristine, who was being pointed at, before he carried her in his arms.

Tarkan's eyes narrowed.

Despite seeing blood yesterday, he felt a cruel urge.

What should he do?

While pondering, his thoughts turned to Aristine, who was still asleep.

"Of course, I don't want to die."

The way she said it in a light tone.

The maids couldn't have already done something to her.

If he killed Aristine now, it would immediately start a war.

Silvanus, which had not yet recovered its strength, wouldn't want that.

Despite this, Tarkan anxiously opened the bedroom door.

"Ta, Tarkan Your Highness!"

The maids screamed like birds.

They stared wide-eyed, disbelieving that Tarkan had dared to intrude into the lady's bedroom.

'Such a barbaric act...'

No matter how close they were, this was clearly rude.

'Even if he looks good, he's still a barbarian from Ailugo...'

Their thoughts were cut off by Tarkan's next action.

Swish!

Tarkan roughly pulled back the curtains of the bed where Aristine was sleeping, without any hesitation.

"Ta, Ta, Ta... C, Call the guards!"

"No, how can you bring guards into the bedroom!"

The maids were in a panic.

They were not confused out of concern for Aristine.

The shock of what was happening before their eyes was overwhelming, regardless of their respect for the princess.

If they were truly loyal maids, they would have thrown themselves to stop Tarkan.

While the maids were flustered, Tarkan looked at Aristine, who was lying on the wide bed like a corpse.

His eyes narrowed slightly.

In the next moment, Tarkan lifted her into his arms.

The white blanket wrapped around Aristine's body floated like a fish's tail in the air.

Her limp body sprawled in Tarkan's arms.

"Oh my..."

The maids gasped at the sight.

Aristine was still asleep.

Tarkan looked at her with a stern face.

'Her complexion isn't bad...'

Sigh, sigh, sigh.

At that moment, a small breath escaped from her slightly open lips.

Tarkan resisted the urge to throw Aristine away.

He used his utmost patience to lay her back on the bed.

It was more like dropping her than laying her down.

Despite the rough movement, Aristine only smacked her lips and didn't wake up.

'Is she really human...?'

Tarkan muttered to himself.

The maids were silent, seemingly giving up on Tarkan's presence in the bedroom.

Taking advantage of this, Tarkan sat down in the bedroom and ordered them,

"Tea."

The maids looked at Tarkan as if he were a ruffian but silently brought the tea.

For some reason, three of them carried the tray together.

"Here, Your Highness."

"I don't know your preferences yet, so I didn't add sugar. Teach me your preferences, Your Highness."

"Do you need cream?"

The three of them took turns annoying him.

Tarkan frowned.

"Can't you bring tea by yourself?"

The maids blushed and shuffled away.

Tarkan planned to leave after just one cup of tea due to the sudden fatigue.

He had never felt tired even after three days without sleep.

What an extraordinary woman.

As he was chuckling to himself, a soft plop was heard.

Finally, the sleeping princess in the bedroom woke up.

Aristine, with her head bowed, looked at Tarkan, who had been silent for a long time, with a puzzled expression.

'Why is he like that? Is he embarrassed?'

Then a thought crossed her mind.

To be so embarrassed about not waking her up. She had seen this in a sleep mirror.

A man who couldn't wake up a woman sleeping so angelically and just watched her.

When the woman woke up and asked why he didn't wake her, he acted like this.

Aristine smiled brightly, understanding the answer.

A pure, clear smile.

"Oh, I get it. You couldn't wake me up because I was sleeping so angelically? You're embarrassed."

"......"

Tarkan said nothing.

He couldn't say anything.

Instead, his tightly clenched, trembling hand spoke for him.

If he applied a little more force, the porcelain teacup would shatter.

"But um..."

Aristine hesitated.

She was anxious. Tarkan wanted to cover her mouth right then and there.

But Aristine was faster.

"Stealthily pulling back the bed curtains and savoring tea while admiring the sleeping person's appearance..."

Her purple eyes took on a strange hue as they scanned Tarkan up and down.

"Well, everyone has their own tastes, but..."

Pervert.

The same look she gave when she said that.

"I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from doing that to me."

The back of her neck tingled. Tarkan felt he needed a stronger cup of tea.

Forget being a husband, I'll just make money.