Chapter 42

"Mukali, big brother!"

Diona ran to Mukali with a pitiful look, as if she was about to burst into tears.

"Diona?"

Mukali was startled and grabbed her shoulders.

Just a moment ago, she was fine when she went for tea with the lord and the princess. Why is she acting like this now?

"Really... Princess is too much."

"...Princess?"

"Deliberately humiliating and tormenting me in front of Prince Tarkan..."

"How did she do it?"

"That's... Diona bit her lip. How could she say it?

She treated me... like a shithead.

Just thinking about it made her blood boil.

If Aristine were in front of her, she would want to slap her.

"It's hard to put into words..."

Diona looked up at Mukali with an even more pitiful expression.

Of course, she expected Mukali to be even more outraged and vent his anger at the princess.

But.

"Hmm... If there was real malice, wouldn't our lord have stopped it? He didn't, did he?"

Diona couldn't understand what Mukali was saying.

"Maybe it's a cultural misunderstanding."

Shouldn't he be raging and tearing the princess to pieces for her?

"Diona, you're not a broad-minded child. Try to understand."

Mukali patted Diona's shoulder with his iron-like hand.

Last night, Mukali was quite shocked.

'How could anyone treat their lord like that?'

To the knights of Silvanus, Aristine was their lord.

Yet, to say such unbelievable things.

This was so different from what Mukali expected.

'What's the point of tormenting that small, insignificant, and worthless princess?'

Mukali had no interest in tormenting victims.

"And now, she is no longer our lord's princess, right?"

"Big brother."

"A while ago, our lord told you to use the appropriate title, but you still call her 'Princess,' which doesn't seem right."

"That's... out of habit... I didn't do it on purpose. It was a mistake."

"Sure, Diona. It must feel awkward to call her that suddenly."

Mukali nodded, smiling as if he understood.

"But, you should call her more often. What will other royals think if they see you?"

Mukali knew that the marriage between Aristine and Tarkan was politically very important.

Diona bowed her head and bit her lip.

"Big brother..."

"Hmm?"

"No, it's nothing."

Diona looked up and smiled calmly at Mukali.

"As you said, I reacted too emotionally. Prince Tarkan is such a great person; of course, he would have protected me if Princess had treated me badly."

"Right."

Mukali nodded as if it were obvious.

"Then, it's best to drop the investigation of Princess, isn't it?"

"Hmm?"

"That... Princess was with another man..."

Diona looked troubled and trailed off.

Mukali's mouth opened.

Aristine was a pitiful victim.

As a righteous warrior, Mukali had to protect the victim.

Moreover, she was now officially the lord's wife.

As a loyal warrior, Mukali had to protect the princess.

'But...'

Mukali felt an inexplicable unease.

After all, the reason he met Aristine was for the infidelity investigation. If he stopped the investigation...

'Wouldn't he have no reason to meet the princess? Then, the sword story...'

This thought made his heart race.

'No, no. I haven't uncovered the truth yet.'

Even if she is a victim and a princess, she cannot escape Mukali's judgment.

Continuing the investigation was the right thing to do.

Besides, even if this marriage is politically important, he cannot let a woman who cheats on his lord go unpunished!

'Yes, I must uncover the truth!'

Mukali nodded, his nostrils flaring.

'...And that would clear the princess's name.'

Of course, this is only if Aristine is innocent.

There's nothing worse than baseless rumors and suspicions.

Mukali rubbed his left eye.

It's just that, he doesn't think Aristine is being wronged.

He's not like those people who easily sympathize with someone who looks small and weak!

He is a cold, ruthless, and merciless warrior of the plains!

"Stopping the investigation, what do you mean, Diona! This is a different matter!"

Mukali grabbed Diona's shoulder and said strongly.

"You misunderstood my meaning, Diona."

"Misunderstood?"

"I didn't mean that Princess is a good person and wouldn't have done it to you."

Mukali looked down at Diona's face carefully.

"I trust our lord."

He searched for the face of his comrade, which he could no longer see in her face.

"Our lord takes good care of his people. If something bad happened to you, he would have protected you."

Diona's face showed a faint smile.

'Yes, I am special to Prince Tarkan.'

Mukali, who has observed Tarkan for a long time, also said so, didn't he?

Tarkan is treating Aristine gently now, just because it's a marriage for peace.

If the princess is mistreated, it would cause a fuss.

"Yes, His Highness has always been kind to me."

"Of course. Our lord wouldn't neglect the sister of Chandra."

At these words, Diona's smile dried up like a riverbed in a drought.

Diona used Chandra to strengthen her position.

But when others saw her only as Chandra's sister, she felt angry.

Especially when it involved Tarkan.

'...Even without big brother, I am special to Prince Tarkan. How could you not know that?'

Her sea-colored eyes glinted with a sinister light as she glared at Mukali.

But Mukali, busy explaining his intentions—more like making excuses—didn't notice.

"Our lord didn't do anything, so it must have been a misunderstanding. It's not that Princess is a good person and wouldn't do it, absolutely not."

"I see."

Diona nodded, smiling as if she had never glared at him.

"Right!"

Mukali was satisfied that his intentions were understood.

"Diona, don't worry. I will uncover the truth clearly!"

"I wasn't really worried... I only wish for Prince Tarkan's happiness."

"Right, if Princess betrays our lord, she won't escape my sword. I won't be intimidated even if she is a princess!"

Mukali said bravely, tapping his scabbard.

Seeing this, Diona felt pleased.

'If this ignorant and simple-minded fool really stabs the princess, it would be for the best.'

Of course, the sword Mukali spoke of wasn't a real sword.

Mukali wasn't stupid, no matter how simple he seemed.

Hiding her disappointment, Diona gave Mukali a seductive look.

"Of course, Big brother Mukali is the most loyal warrior to Prince Tarkan."

"Right!"

Mukali puffed out his chest.

"I, Diona, who only wishes for Prince Tarkan's well-being, will only trust big brother."

"Right! Leave it to me!"

Diona watched the boastful Mukali, then turned around.

Her face turned cold as she faced away from him.

'Not just words, tell the other warriors that the princess is having an affair!'

Her teeth ground together.

'But, if he investigates infidelity, rumors will spread anyway.'

Diona smiled twistedly and looked at the tea room where Aristine was.

'Just wait. In the end, I will be the one standing next to Prince Tarkan, laughing.'

* * *

Cool water flowed over her face.

Aristine smiled, feeling refreshed.

Being able to wash herself comfortably with such clean water was exciting.

She had already bathed, so she was just doing a quick face wash to prepare well.

'...Is it really that simple?'

Currently, Aristine was washing her face herself, which felt simple, but there were palace attendants waiting nearby, ready to give her a massage.

Even when she said she was fine without it, they insisted.

'The second night is just as important as the first!'

'Prince Tarkan must be eagerly waiting for the night all day!'

'Prince Tarkan is currently taking a scented bath! A scented bath!'

'My, my, Prince Tarkan is so great! Oh, oh!'

'It would be good if Princess also took one.'

They subtly held out a bottle of scented oil.

Their faces, full of lingering regret, made her heart soften.

Honestly, who wouldn't enjoy a hot, fragrant bath?

But.

'Trying to dry my hair is a hassle.'

For someone who wanted to lie in bed quickly, this was a significant obstacle.

Moreover, Tarkan was just taking a bath because he wanted to.

'Not because he's looking forward to the night with me.'

She couldn't say this openly as a seemingly happy couple, so she said vaguely.

'It's fine. I don't need to use any scent.'

For some reason, the attendants' eyes and mouths opened wide.

'My, my, that's what you think!'

'Scent... Yes, that's right!'

'Prince Tarkan prefers the scent of Princess over this kind of oil.'

The most expensive oil, worth the same as a gold coin, became 'this kind of oil.'

'After all, the most exciting thing is the scent of a lover's skin.'

'Pheromones, they call it.'

'We thought we were serving you with all our hearts, but we fell short.'

'We are learning from this.'

It was impressive how they could interpret it this way.

Aristine opened her mouth to say it wasn't that, but soon closed it.

It was too much trouble.

And it wasn't particularly bad if they misunderstood. It might even be better.

'Still, get a massage.'

'It's better to relax your body.'

'After all, there's a significant difference in your physiques... Oh, oh!'

'The bed is new! It's not as soft as the first one because we had to get it quickly, so be gentle for now.'

'My, my, can newlyweds really control themselves?'

'Yes, yes! If they could, the bed wouldn't have been damaged on the first night! Oh, oh!'

The people of Ailugo had such unique laughter.

The soft touch on her face and body felt good, so Aristine nodded.

A massage meant she didn't need to dry her hair.

Aristine, who had roughly wiped the water off with a soft cloth, was about to move to where the attendants were waiting.

But then.

"Hmm?"

The water in the jade bowl began to shake on its own.

Sensing something reflected in the water's surface, Aristine stopped and looked at the bowl.

Soon, something appeared in her imperial eye.

It was a man.

Someone she had seen before.

[Are you doing this useless nonsense again?!]

[You're a disgrace to our forge!]

Rugged men roughly grabbed the man's body.

[You're bringing down the reputation of our Catalaman forge!]

[Do you know how much the Dottan forge people look down on us?!]

[With a scoundrel like you in our forge, anyone can come in!]

The man's gentle face contrasted with his muscular body.

He resisted the men's rough hands.

As they struggled, his muscles, as hard as brass, repeatedly tensed and relaxed.

It was a fierce resistance, but the man couldn't overcome the numerical disadvantage.

[Grunt...!]

The man groaned as he was pressed to the ground.

His arms were twisted behind his back, and the men restrained him by pinning him down with their bodies.

[Why are you still here in our forge?]

[Master is too kind.]

[If you bring shame to the great Catalaman, you should know to leave.]

The men grabbed the man's hair and pulled his head up.

They spat on his pain-contorted face and laughed cruelly.

[Don't worry. If you don't have the courage to leave, we'll help you.]

[After all, we grew up together since we were young.]

[You don't need to be grateful.]

[This is a special send-off with something you made.]

The men fixed the man's right arm to the ground.

One of them pulled out a knife from his coat, its blade reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling silver light.

The man is done, and I need to earn money.