Chapter 69

"If His Excellency knew that you deliberately sent it and he didn't even touch it, Her Majesty would be disappointed."

The warriors, who had been whispering, suddenly turned their heads at the sudden loud scraping sound. It was the sound of Tarkan's chair scraping against the floor as he stood up. Tarkan said, "Bring it here."

"Excuse me?"

Tarkan's eyes narrowed at the hesitant response. This must not turn into a repeat of last time when the warriors ate everything.

‘Hiss…’ The warriors trembled. For some reason, His Excellency's expression suddenly turned severe. It was terrifying. It seemed as if he was asking for the flames of hell rather than chocolate fudge.

The warriors, unable to ask any more questions, trembled and brought the dessert tray. "Here it is, His Excellency."

When the lovely white lace box was opened, the thick and sticky chocolate fudge was revealed. It looked like it would melt your teeth just by looking at it.

Tarkan, frowning, picked up the silver fork. "You, are you really going to eat it?"

Jaclen swallowed hard and asked. Tarkan, without a word, picked up the chocolate fudge. Everyone held their breath as the sticky lump of chocolate disappeared into Tarkan's mouth. His Adam's apple moved.

'Really eating it?!' 'His Excellency eating sweets…!'

No one would believe it if they told the other warriors. Tarkan silently reached for the coffee cup on the tray. He intended to drink something to wash away the intense sweetness.

But Mucalli blocked the coffee cup. "Your Excellency, you shouldn't drink this..."

"Why not?"

Why should you tell me what to eat or not when my wife sent it for me? Tarkan's gaze turned sharp. Mucalli, licking his dry lips, carefully said, "This is a salted caramel latte..."

Obviously, caramel is much sweeter than chocolate. Tarkan's pupils dilated. "I'll take this back. Hey, bring some water."

Just as Mucalli was about to lift the tray to the attendant, a strong force grabbed his wrist. "Your Excellency?"

"Let it go."

The warriors gasped. "No, Your Excellency!"

"This is really sweet! The salt makes it even sweeter!"

"It's even worse than you can imagine!"

It looked like they were trying to stop someone from going to their death. Ignoring their protests, Tarkan picked up the coffee cup. As his lips approached the cup, the warriors and attendants closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight.

It was as if Tarkan was drinking a death sentence rather than a salted caramel latte. With a thud, Tarkan put the coffee cup back on the tray. The warriors and attendants peeked with one eye. The coffee cup was empty.

"Are you, are you okay, Your Excellency!"

"Quick, some water!"

"Here it is!"

The attendant quickly handed Tarkan a glass of water, which he drank in large gulps. Everyone was restless, circling around him. Tarkan's complexion was slightly pale. He hadn't changed his expression even when he cut off the breath of the great master Murzika at the age of ten.

Everyone looked at Tarkan with concern. Perhaps because he had eaten sweets, Tarkan seemed very uncomfortable. His cold golden eyes turned to Mucalli. "Mucalli."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Why did you bring this?"

"Excuse me?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Mucalli looked at Tarkan in confusion. "And how did you know this was a salted caramel latte?"

Tarkan wanted to confirm if Aristine had given Mucalli the dessert as well. He didn't know what he would do if he confirmed it.

"Did you receive one too?"

"No! No way!"

Mucalli jumped. "But why did you bring this instead of the attendants or the palace staff?"

Mucalli is a general, not someone who should be doing such menial tasks. The fact that he brought it himself—.

'Did you meet Aristine?'

Perhaps she asked him to deliver it while they met.

'I can't even meet her properly...!'

Tarkan's jaw tightened. Aristine was almost always in the forge, and he could only see her late at night. After Brody attacked Aristine, Tarkan volunteered to guard her when she went to the forge. This barely increased the time he could see her by a few minutes. Moreover, he had his own duties to attend to, making it difficult even then.

'Not that I particularly want to see Aristine or spend a lot of time with her.'

Still, as a couple, or business partners, they should see each other often for smooth operations. But Mucalli meeting Aristine separately was unexpected.

Under Tarkan's sharp gaze, Mucalli broke into a cold sweat. "I just met the palace staff."

"Why didn't they bring it themselves?"

"The maids and the palace staff have become close, and they thought I could do it too..."

We just chatted while walking down the corridor to Tarkan's office. "I offered to deliver it on my way. I learned about the chocolate fudge and the salted caramel latte then."

"Mucalli is telling the truth. We were on our way to see Your Excellency together."

With the additional testimony, Tarkan's gaze softened. The warriors, with awkward expressions, closed their mouths.

'Her Majesty sent more for the other warriors to eat, and we must keep it a secret!'

Otherwise, who knows what might happen. They all made a firm resolve and quietly left the office.

"Still, His Excellency really cares for Her Majesty."

"Of course, it's Her Majesty, not anyone else."

They had already realized this when Aristine visited the armory. When the warriors were chatting, Jaclen recounted the story of the tea time between the queen and Aristine. The warriors cheered when they heard that Aristine stood up to the queen, who was at the pinnacle of power, and even gave her a taste of her own medicine.

Of course, they clutched their sides when they heard about the couple's subsequent actions.

"I was surprised when His Excellency hid the fact that the wicked maid had plotted from Her Majesty."

As the guardian of Ailugo, Tarkan prioritized efficiency. But for the first time, he abandoned that efficiency. Just to let Aristine feel at ease in this place.

"I knew he cared for Her Majesty, but what's more surprising is..."

"That His Excellency had such delicate thoughts."

Tarkan and delicacy, what a mismatch. But...

"His Excellency has changed..."

"I never imagined he could be so delicate."

"It's all thanks to Her Majesty."

They all smiled fondly, thinking of Aristine. "Then I should eat the chocolate fudge Her Majesty gave 'me'!"

"Ah, the one given to 'me'?"

The grown men bickered, insisting they were the ones who received the chocolate fudge.

* * *

"Her Majesty sent chocolate fudge and a salted caramel latte to His Excellency Tarkan."

"Oh, my. His Excellency dislikes sweets."

At the palace staff's words, Diona covered her mouth, looking regretful. The palace staff telling Diona about the prince and princess were originally the ones who supported Diona to be the princess.

Of course, they thought it was a lost cause since Tarkan was already married. But they still followed Diona more than Aristine, the current mistress of the palace.

"Her Majesty doesn't even know the basics about Tarkan."

"Indeed, Diona should have married His Excellency..."

"No one knows Tarkan as well as Diona."

Diona feigned a difficult expression. "They are already married, so such talk... I hope their relationship remains strong for the sake of peace."

The palace staff sighed regretfully. They all knew about Diona's affection for Tarkan.

'To think of His Excellency's happiness and not her own...'

'What a pure and innocent affection.'

"Still, I'm worried that this incident might create a rift between His Excellency and Her Majesty."

Diona said with a worried look. "His Excellency might not have touched it because it didn't suit his taste, but Her Majesty might misunderstand."

It was the first time a wife had done something for her husband. If he ignored it, it would naturally hurt her feelings.

Tarkan wasn't the type to notice such things. Whether Aristine showed her hurt feelings or not, he would dismiss it as a trivial matter.

In the end, a gap would form, and it would widen until it became an irreparable crack.

'Perfect.'

Diona covered her mouth, smiling. 'Using those foolish maids was a good idea.'

When she told them what Tarkan disliked, they ran to Aristine, telling her what Tarkan liked.

'They are so transparent.'

In fact, Diona had been listening to the maids' conversation from the beginning. It was ridiculous how they thought they suited Tarkan better.

But upon reflection, it was a golden opportunity.

'Those foolish maids are surprisingly useful. I thought I would use them, but the results exceeded my expectations.'

"But there's no need to worry."

The palace staff's reaction was strange. "No need to worry?"

"Yes, His Excellency ate everything."

"What...?"

Diona couldn't understand what the palace staff were saying. "His Excellency ate the chocolate fudge and the salted caramel latte?"

"He didn't leave a single bit."

"Lies..."

Diona muttered, then realized her mistake. These palace staff were well-disposed towards her, pitying her, but that was all. They had no intention of helping her plot against anyone. They followed her because she pretended to be deep and considerate.

Diona forced a smile, maintaining her facade. "Of course, it would be great if it's true, but I can't believe it, knowing His Excellency's tastes."

"Yes, that's true."

"We were also surprised when we first heard it."

The palace staff laughed in agreement, but Diona found it hard to join in. She covered her face, pretending to be concerned.

'Could His Excellency have... the princess...'

She quickly dismissed the thought.

'No, that's impossible.'

'The heart does not change.'

Tarkan had clearly said that. Yes, no matter what, Tarkan's heart would not change.

Despite only seeing her once when they were young.

Despite not knowing who she was, where she was, or how she grew up.

'Even if I guard His Excellency...'

The ghost of his first love held onto Tarkan and wouldn't let go.

Certainly, Tarkan's attitude towards Aristine was different.

'But it's not because of love.'

Diona asserted.

'His Excellency wouldn't let go of his first love so easily.'

She knew this better than anyone.

In a miserable and tragic way.

The reason Tarkan showed interest in Aristine now was one.

The first night.

Diona's teeth ground together.

She had tried to ruin that night but failed. Tarkan and Aristine ended up in bed...

Diona closed her eyes, not wanting to think about the horrific scene.

Anyway, Tarkan's current special treatment of Aristine was purely due to physical desire.

She had read in a book that the first taste of pleasure could lead to obsession.

After reading that, Diona had planned to get Tarkan into bed, but it didn't work.

Tarkan was too difficult to break, considering his reputation and the surrounding eyes.

Eventually, Tarkan became engrossed in the pleasure provided by other women.

'I would be a much better match than that frail princess.'

She wanted to show him, but it would destroy the image she had carefully built.

'She would be branded as the adulteress who destroyed the century's couple.'

Still, she was anxious about leaving things as they were.

But then the Silvanus maids caught her eye.

'If he plays around with several women, he'll realize the princess is nothing special.'

Huh, Diona smiled seductively.

Of course, it would be painful to see Tarkan with other women.

But it was better than him thinking Aristine was special.

'It's okay.'

Diona muttered to herself.

In the end, what matters most is the final outcome.

Forget being a wife, I'll focus on making money.