Episode 80: How a Mercenary and Her Husband Survive a Shipwreck (3)

But Valentin was used to that kind of reaction. No matter how many praise-filled teachers his mother hired, she never once gave him a kind word.

Sometimes if her hand accidentally brushed him, she would jump at the strange warmth of his skin.

So he sometimes wondered—on the day I was born, did she ever hold me? Did she ever try to hug me?

“I’ll hire more swordmasters. You have plenty of time, stop sneaking off to meet that true heir.”

“Mother…”

For Valentin that meant giving up sleep. He had dozed in history class and been scolded. Since they could not punish a prince with a cane, she had poured ice water over him instead.

But once she made up her mind, she ignored his pleas.

A few days later, Valentin’s mother had even more reason to be furious. Elba, who had power far beyond a mere mistress, had replaced the old teachers and sent a new swordmaster.

“Madam, please calm yourself….”

Valentin’s mother hated being called “madam.” The palace servants always feared calling her that. Anyone who dared use that title risked a slap.

“Calm? Do I look calm!? Why is she doing things she’s never done before!?”

She imagined all sorts of schemes: perhaps the other woman planned to steal her son, or to take advantage of some opening to remove him. Her face filled with wild fantasies.

“Why bring Marquis Kablen Negal all of a sudden!?”

A war hero, genius of swordsmanship. Hearing the name Kablen left Valentin’s mother speechless. Elba’s power and the influence of a mere mistress were worlds apart.

“What kind of man is the Negal marquis?”

Even though she had scolded him, Valentin sneaked back into the warehouse to spend time with Bertonin. Their meeting had been delayed for days, so the joy of finally seeing each other was doubled.

“My brother trained with the Negal marquis for a long time. He should know him well, right?”

Bertonin’s face darkened at that question.

“Brother?”

“Yes, he’s a strong man.”

The answer didn’t satisfy Valentin. He felt he had asked something he shouldn’t.

“Do you want to say more?”

“No, no. It’s nothing.”

“Your answer makes me worry.”

“What to worry about? Isn’t it good that the Negal marquis is your swordmaster?”

“It is. He’s strong and seems kind. He even gives me time to rest sometimes. That’s why I came to see you now.”

“…That’s enough. Don’t worry about it.”

At twelve, pride and fear of mother and servants kept Bertonin from saying what he felt. He wanted to be a strong brother, so he said nothing more.

He ended the conversation with a shrug.

“By the way, there’s a hole here.”

To change the subject, Bertonin found a small hole in the warehouse wall. The boys quickly crowded around it.

“Really.”

“Maybe an arm can fit.”

Bertonin stuck an arm through. The hole was low, so he had to kneel and dirty his clothes. It only let a child’s elbow pass.

“If your hand fits, you could reach further. Or maybe our arms are the same length.”

“Ha, I’ll be bigger.”

“Eat more and then say that.”

Bertonin tapped his brother’s soft forehead and smiled. Valentin’s face got dusty. It looked cute, and Bertonin’s mouth twitched.

“If it’s this size, you can see who stands outside.”

Valentin peered through with big eyes. Angle was limited, but faces could be seen.

Watching his innocent trick, Bertonin hesitated.

“Valentin, I don’t think I can come here for a while.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Mother said she’ll give me lessons herself. I don’t know what kind.”

Dust rose from the warehouse with his sigh. Valentin’s smile fell.

“Don’t worry. I’ll find time soon. So even if you miss your brother, don’t cry.”

“I won’t cry!”

Bertonin denied it fiercely and made his brother laugh again.

He held back the warning “be careful” at his throat. He did not want to frighten Valentin with needless words. If he had said it, maybe things would have turned out differently.

Later, Valentin erased all the affection he once stored for Bertonin from his memory and soul.

“Valentin, today you have lessons with Kablen, right?”

Nearly three seasons had passed since those lessons began. At first she had treated Kablen like a wild beast. Now whenever class came, Regina always stayed close to Valentin.

Kablen’s easy manners and strong presence could move a woman’s heart. Especially a woman who had grown lonely from being ignored by the emperor. He softened Valentin’s mother too.

“Yes, he should arrive soon.”

Valentin liked Kablen. He was mature and handsome and had a calming effect on the boy’s mother. For Valentin, who suffered emotional violence at home, Kablen was almost a savior.

This year, with Kablen’s presence, might be better than last.

“Oh my, were you waiting for me?”

Kablen, wandering outside the palace, smiled broadly.

“Teacher, how is the mark on his cheek?”

The day before, during sparring, Valentin had left a small mark on Kablen’s cheek. A ten-year-old had nicked a war hero.

“…I’m fine.”

There was a slight pause, but Kablen smiled. Valentin, fooled by the smile, thought he truly was okay.

“Would you like a cup of tea, both of you?”

Kablen offered a box of tea. Valentin’s mother welcomed the chat and ordered servants to prepare tea.

The servants knew they had to keep the mood light, so they hurried to set out the tea service.

The tea had a strange scent. It smelled oddly fishy, but she swallowed it with effort, forcing herself to be happy.

“Will the marquis not drink?”

“No, the tea doesn’t sit well with me. But I brought a fine variety. How is it?”

“Good, good.”

She forced a smile and took another big sip.

“As for the prince—”

“Ah!”

Valentin dropped his cup before he could sip. The servants rushed and wiped his shoes. Fortunately the white pants were not stained.

He flinched at his mother’s scolding. But she only sighed lightly.

“Hm… perhaps we should bring more tea leaves.”

When Kablen rose, she grabbed his sleeve sharply. Seeing his hand and pale fingers, Kablen raised an eyebrow in clear disgust.

“Will you speak with me, Kablen? I have a private matter.”

Valentin didn’t know then that his mother had forced a priest at the temple to give a false prophecy. He couldn’t imagine the necklace of lies that trapped him.

All he was, at ten, was a child left alone and curious about the tea in his mother’s cup.

He looked around. People had stepped away to clean the broken cup.

‘I’m curious. Just one small sip.’

Valentin tasted the tea. The awful flavor made him shove a cookie in his mouth.

Soon he realized something had dissolved into that tea.

“Why won’t this child obey me?”

Elba, who rarely came to the palace, appeared and tilted her head at Valentin. She seemed curious and slightly uneasy.

Kablen stepped forward to explain.

“Forgive me. He didn’t drink it. We tried to give it to him later, but he refused.”

Valentin realized they were talking about the tea Kablen had brought the other day.

Because of its terrible taste, he had kept refusing, saying he wasn’t thirsty. He accepted Kablen’s insistence as concern and felt guilty each time he refused.

It was foolish.

“Oh, I’m surprised. Only one person didn’t respond to it.”

Elba looked at Valentin with clear eyes and thought of someone. She didn’t seem to miss them; her feeling was not longing.

“A woman who abandoned me and ran off with a lowly mercenary.”