Chapter 20

Mukali's face hardened.

His rugged features turned stiff, exuding an overwhelming presence.

"So, you're saying that just before the marriage to our lord, you're investigating another man because you like him?"

"Surely not, I don't think so. I don't want to think badly of the princess. She is to marry Prince Tarkan..."

Diona bowed her head and smiled painfully.

"Diona."

At Mukali's call, Diona forced a smile and said,

"All I wish for is Prince Tarkan's happiness. I hope he meets a wonderful person and lives a beautiful life."

Mukali's rough hand, calloused from hard work, gently stroked Diona's shoulder.

He could almost see how much this deep-hearted child was suffering, and it pained him.

'His Highness is truly heartless. To marry a princess like Silvanus...’

Of course, the marriage to the princess was by royal decree and primarily for peace.

He knew that Tarkan had accepted the marriage despite not wanting it.

"The princess hasn't even been in Ailugo for long."

"That's true."

"Before she even adapts to Ailugo, she only meets a few people... Where could she have seen a man to act like this?"

At Diona's words, Mukali's mouth tightened into a straight line.

He had been worried about the princess having ulterior motives, but he never thought she would be so thoughtlessly infatuated with men.

"Even if she is that kind of person, she should have enough self-restraint, given that she is about to get married..."

Mukali nodded at Diona's muttered words.

"If she continues to show interest in men so easily, similar incidents will surely happen in her future married life..."

Diona closed her eyes tightly, as if she didn't want to think about it.

Seeing her like that, Mukali also recalled the image of Aristine, who would attract all kinds of men after marriage.

His jaw tightened.

"No, that can't be. Chasing after men like that..."

Diona shook her head, as if defending Aristine.

However, in her heart, Aristine was being continuously degraded.

From 'investigating men' to 'chasing after men like a dog.'

"If that's the case, Prince Tarkan would be so pitiful. His Highness..."

Diona looked up at Mukali with a mournful expression, as if she had no such intentions.

Mukali's face, loyal to Tarkan, also turned mournful.

Just thinking about his lord suffering in a bad marriage made his heart ache.

"A person with dignity wouldn't do that. I believe the princess is a dignified person. I truly believe that."

Diona's sea-colored eyes showed that she genuinely wanted to believe Aristine was a dignified person.

However, her intentions were clear.

And as she intended, Mukali, simple and full of loyalty and compassion for Diona, frowned.

'The princess, lacking in dignity...! What is she better than Diona?'

It was pitiful how Diona tried to think well of the princess.

"Diona, I know you're a good person and want to think well of the princess."

Mukali stood up from his seat.

"But what is wrong must be rooted out from the beginning."

"Oh, brother!"

Startled, Diona stood up and grabbed Mukali's arm.

"Maybe I said something unnecessary. I was just thinking to myself, and I got too comfortable with you, brother..."

"That's not it, Diona."

"Because of me, you're causing a big fuss before the wedding... It's my fault. Please forget it."

"Diona, why is this your fault? The one who did wrong is the princess."

"Mukali, brother..."

Diona's sea-colored eyes trembled with worry.

"I enjoyed the sandwich. Your skills have improved."

Mukali patted Diona's shoulder and turned around.

Watching his retreating back, Diona's face gradually changed.

Her anxious eyes turned to a sense of satisfaction, and her downturned lips curved upward.

She chuckled and hummed a tune as she picked up the picnic basket.

It was worth waiting for Mukali to be alone and then meeting him.

Knowing his simple and loyal nature, she was sure he would act as she wanted.

As she turned to leave, someone was standing there.

"Oh, Durante, brother."

Diona was startled but forced a smile.

'Did he hear? Surely not...'

Durante, always calm and composed, was a bit difficult for Diona to deal with.

She examined his expression, but it was no different from usual.

"Diona, what's going on here?"

"I brought sandwiches for you to have a snack while you rest. But everyone left, and I only met Mukali, brother."

Diona shook the empty picnic basket.

"Mukali was lucky."

At this, Diona chuckled.

"Mukali, brother said the same thing. If I knew I would meet Durante, brother, I would have left some."

"I'm the unlucky one."

Since he said the same thing as Mukali, Diona laughed again.

"Next time, I'll definitely leave some for Durante, brother. But why are you here..."

The atmosphere seemed fine, but she wondered if he had been there all along.

"I came back to get the map."

So, he hadn't been there all along.

Though she couldn't be completely at ease, from Durante's reaction, it seemed he hadn't heard their earlier conversation.

It was a relief, but Diona's face fell.

"Is it the plain battle?"

"Yes, because of the war with Silvanus, we didn't handle the plain's monsters well. There's still time before winter, so it's fine."

Durante picked up the plain map and looked back at her.

"After the lord's wedding and when the situation stabilizes, we will head to the plain."

"Please be safe."

At this, Durante quietly looked down at Diona.

Diona realized what he was thinking.

He must be remembering her brother, who died in the plain battle.

The moment everyone became weak around her. Diona spoke quietly.

"What do you think of the princess, Durante, brother?"

"Hmm."

Durante walked past her and went outside.

"My thoughts don't matter. I am just the lord's sword."

Outside, the afternoon sun was brilliant.

Looking at the scattered light, Durante recalled the princess's eyes he had seen once.

Her face was so dirty and unrecognizable, but her eyes shone as if they were alive.

"I will cut down everything that stands in the lord's way."

Did this mean he would eliminate the princess if she hindered Tarkan?

Or—

Durante's gaze turned to Diona.

Diona swallowed hard.

Durante's face, devoid of emotion, looked inorganic.

This was why he made her uncomfortable.

Diona forced a smile.

"I think the same. I will not forgive anyone who hinders Prince Tarkan."

More precisely, anyone who hinders Prince Tarkan and me.

"Yes, Diona. Your brother was a very loyal warrior. I have high hopes for you, his sister."

It was unclear whether it was a warning or an encouragement.

When Diona tried to read his intentions from his expression, he was already moving away.

* * *

"Guest?"

At Aristine's question, Rosaline nodded.

"Yes, General Mukali."

It was a name she had never heard before.

"Who is he?"

"Don't you know General Mukali?"

"That vicious monster has tormented our Silvanus so much!"

"Oh, really. You don't even care about your own country? Are you going to bury your bones in Ailugo now?"

Seeing the maids take turns to speak, she thought they were quite healthy and full of energy.

Before Aristine could react, Rosaline started scolding the maids.

With the background noise of barking dogs and wild dogs, Aristine fell into thought.

'A skilled warrior. Hmm, probably one of Tarkan's subordinates.'

She didn't know why he wanted to see her, but it was a pleasant surprise.

'Tea time!'

She looked forward to today's tea.

"Please lead the general inside."

"Lead, lead him in?"

"Don't do that, just send him away."

"Right, that monster should be chased away at the door!"

The maids spoke in shock, their faces slightly frightened.

"Really meet him?"

Rosaline hesitated and asked quietly.

"Yes. He came to see me."

"General Mukali is a barbarian among barbarians."

At this, Aristine chuckled.

"That sounds promising."

I seem to get along well with barbarians.

Muttering this to herself, Aristine stood up from the sofa and walked to the tea table.

The maids, who had been watching her, nudged each other.

Since no one wanted to go, Rosaline eventually led Mukali in.

"Hello, princess."

Soon, a man so large he seemed to fill the doorframe entered the room.

Ailugo people were generally large, but Mukali seemed to be among the largest.

He looked at the maids, whose faces were filled with fear and disdain, and then strode up to Aristine.

'She's definitely short.'

She knew she was short from a distance, but up close, it was even more apparent.

Her shadow was completely overshadowed by his.

'Princess, my ass. She looks like a newborn Thumbelina.'

A snort escaped her.

Looking down at her like this must be very intimidating for the princess.

Knowing this, he didn't move.

She could almost see Thumbelina turning pale and screaming.

Sure enough, the princess's brow was twisted as she looked up at him.

'She's about to scream.'

Just as he thought this, the princess's lips opened.

"Welcome."

But the words that came out were completely different from what he expected.

"Standing like that will hurt your neck, so you should sit."

Aristine's relaxed invitation made Mukali sit without realizing it.

Only when he felt the softness under his buttocks did he realize he was sitting face-to-face with Aristine.

'What? Was the scowl just because his neck hurt?'

Before his confusion could clear, Aristine ordered the maids.

"Here, bring tea and snacks for Sir Mukali."

'She's offering me snacks?'

Mukali was taken aback by this unexpected situation.

Offering snacks was a sign of hospitality.

It also meant he was welcome to stay as long as he wanted.

He never expected such treatment from an uninvited guest.

Especially not from himself—

".............."

Mukali looked at the maids.

The maids, who had been waiting for this, hurriedly left the room.

As they left, they glanced at Mukali with a mix of curiosity and disgust.

Specifically, at his left face.

Every time he received such looks, his long-healed scar throbbed.

Mukali looked at the princess with a stiff expression.

This was the normal reaction.

The princess, being from Silvanus, would be no different.

Whatever her intentions, she would soon reveal her true colors.

The longer he faced his own face, the harder it would be to hide her emotions.

"You came at a good time."

Aristine spoke to him.

Though her face showed no smile, her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

It was impossible to fake such a genuine expression.

The princess seemed to genuinely welcome him.

This wasn't entirely wrong.

Aristine, who was bored, genuinely welcomed the natural tea time that his visit created.

"I heard you're investigating a man."

"Yes, that's right."

Aristine's face showed no hesitation in confirming this.

Shouldn't she be embarrassed about investigating and chasing after other men?

Especially since he was a subordinate of the man she was to marry.

Mukali explained, wondering if Aristine didn't know.

"I am Mukali, a general under Prince Tarkan."

Mukali had been deliberately using informal language.

While not a major breach of Ailugo etiquette, it would be considered an insult by someone from Silvanus.

"Oh, so you are one of Tarkan's people."

Aristine nodded.

It was a simple acknowledgment of his introduction.

"Then why are you investigating?"

Of course, he had brought it up to criticize her for stalking other men and to stop the marriage.

To expose her for who she was and what she was doing.

He had come to berate her for how she could do such things.

But the words wouldn't come out.

The situation was unfolding very differently from what he had expected.

"Are you, perhaps, trying to help?"

"Excuse me?"

"Thank you!"

Aristine's lips curved slightly.

It was a small movement, not quite a smile, and one she wasn't even aware of.

But Mukali couldn't look away from this subtle change.

He could feel it.

Aristine was genuinely pleased.

This Thumbelina, despite being so small, wasn't afraid of him at all.

Even Diona had stiffened when she first saw him.

He should have shouted at her, asking why he should help her stalk other men.

But.

"Yes... thank you!"

Mukali nodded involuntarily and then shook his head to clear his mind.

"Thank you?"

Aristine tilted her head.

Mukali's rugged face turned red.

'Forget the marriage, I just want to make some money.'