BVS CH 31

Chapter 31

Martin’s eyes burned cold and sharp.
He looked like he wanted to kill—but behind that, there was a sadness he couldn’t hide.

King Leonard smacked his lips, trying to shake off the discomfort Martin’s stare gave him.
Beside him, the queen’s fan waved faster and faster.

“How long has it been since you last came to see me?”

“…”

Martin stayed silent.
The king clicked his tongue, but it didn’t seem like he had expected an answer anyway.

On Leonard’s face was a mix of deep worry and stubborn spite.
The worry was for his own death that was drawing near—and for his son’s future.

Oscar.

The spite, though, was clearly aimed at Martin, who never went along with his will.

At the king’s hand signal, the queen stopped fanning.
A silent battle of nerves began between Martin and the king.

“Since you came here on your own, I’ll assume you’re ready to answer my question.”

“If you’re talking about Prince Oscar.”

At Martin’s firm voice, the king’s eyes narrowed, sharp as a blade.
He seemed to think Martin’s choice of words—prince—held some hidden meaning.
The king wanted to catch him in some trick, but Martin had none.

Today, Martin was here only to protect his family, the Clouds.

“I heard it from my wife. I agree with her.”

The king, who had been glaring, suddenly burst into laughter.
A phlegmy, rattling laugh shook the audience hall.

Martin’s face only grew harder.

“You’ve improved a lot since I last saw you. But you can’t fool my eyes. Do you mean to lie to me?”

Bang!
The king slammed the armrest of his throne, making the queen gasp in distress.

“Your Majesty…”

“I don’t see why you think it’s a lie.”

“You’ve always shown it! There’s something about the look in your eyes. Something that makes me feel sick!”

Leonard swallowed, his heavy body sinking back as the throne creaked under the weight.

Clearly, the hatred between these two went back a long time.

‘They’ve been tied together since way before this.’

For a moment, Martin’s eyes even showed a flash of killing intent.
Maybe the one he truly resented wasn’t Sir Stewart after all… but King Leonard himself.

“At least prove your words. If they’re true, you must have a reason.”

A faint, bitter smile flickered on Martin’s lips.
Then he said, with more strength than ever:

“Death always comes without warning. Just like it did for my parents.”

“—!”

The king’s eyes shook violently. His heavy arms trembled as they tried to hold up his body.

And it wasn’t only him trembling.

Martin’s fists were clenched so tightly his nails dug into his own palms.
He was forcing himself not to let his voice shake.

“Prince Oscar could end up like me. Nothing guarantees he won’t.”

Ah… so this wasn’t just about protecting his family.
Martin was drawing from his own childhood—reminding the king how he had lost his parents and fought to stand alone.

The king frowned, his anger and fear tangled together.

“Are you cursing my son?!”

“You heard wrong, Your Majesty.”

Martin clenched his fists harder, his nails piercing skin.

“I meant he needs proper education. So that he doesn’t end up like me.”

That hit the king right where his worries lay.
He pressed his forehead, breathing raggedly.

What he feared most was that his son would be crushed under the burden of the throne after his death.

The king broke into a harsh coughing fit—then spat up blood.

Thick red drops slipped through his fingers.

“…You may go. We’ll continue this another time.”

He ended the audience abruptly.

I thought I should go to him, help somehow… but I couldn’t move recklessly.
Even if everyone knew his death was near, he would never want to show himself so weak.

But what held my eyes most… was Martin.

He stood frozen in place, unable to move as he watched the king struggle.

‘Is he… afraid?’

(Flashback to earlier conversation)

[“The pressure was overwhelming, you know? Even as an adult it was crushing. If I had come here as a child, I’d have been flattened instantly.”]

That’s what I had once told Martin about how intimidating the palace was.

At the time, his red eyes had shown confusion.

[“…You do know what I mean by flattened, right?”]
[“…Yes. I understand.”]

Back then, I hadn’t imagined Martin really did understand.

But today, seeing him tremble before the king, I realized—he had felt that same crushing weight since childhood.

Behind us, the great doors opened. Bright light poured in.

And then—

Oscar?!

Prince Oscar stepped inside, golden hair shining like a halo.
Unlike before, he now looked every bit the “male lead.”

The king quickly wiped the blood from his hands, while the queen stared anxiously at her son.
Thankfully, Oscar seemed not to notice.

“My son… Oscar. Why are you here?”

Oscar strode forward.

“Talking about my future without me present—I don’t think that’s right, Father.”

The king smiled faintly at his son’s boldness.

And then… collapsed.

Thick drops of blood fell to the floor.

“Are you okay?”

I finally asked once we were back in the carriage.
I hadn’t dared speak inside the palace, but now I couldn’t hold back.

Martin’s face had regained a little color, though his expression was heavy.

The image of young Martin weighed on my heart.
He had carried so much alone, ever since he was a child.

“…That man won’t die so easily,” he muttered.

He was talking about King Leonard.
Almost as if saying: If he were going to die easily, he would’ve been gone already.

“Wait. You misunderstood.”

I scratched my cheek, awkward.

“I wasn’t asking about the king. I was asking about you. Are you okay?”

Martin stared at me, wide-eyed.
He hadn’t expected me to worry about him.

After a long silence, he asked quietly:

“…Did you see it?”

He must’ve meant the way he trembled in front of the king.

But I had seen more than that—
His clenched fists, his nails digging into his palms, the sadness hidden under his anger.
And in all of it… the shadow of young Martin.

I nodded softly.

He sighed, running a hand through his black hair, giving a bitter smile.

“I thought I hid it well. But I can’t fool you, Wife. Did it show that much?”

“Honestly? I think everyone else was fooled. Only I saw it.”

I grinned playfully, but his smile remained bitter.
He had been forced to face a side of himself he hated—the vulnerable side.

But to me, he wasn’t weak at all.

“Do you know something?”

“…What?”

“You’re strong. Strong enough already.”

Just showing up, facing the king, and speaking his mind—that alone was strength.

Martin’s hands still trembled faintly, remembering the moment.
I reached out and held his hand.

“I’ll help you. Whatever I can do.”

He looked shaken, his red eyes unsteady.
But then he pressed his lips together, as if making a decision.

“…Just a little longer.”

“…?”

“Can I stay like this a little longer?”

Before I knew it, he was the one gripping my hand tightly.
His hands were rough, but warm.

“…Just for a little while.”

My face burned. I quickly looked out the window so he wouldn’t notice.

“Anyway—thank you. For supporting me in front of the king. About Prince Oscar’s education.”

After the king collapsed, we had been rushed out by Sir Stewart.
But before leaving, we managed to set a lunch appointment with Oscar himself.
A big event—especially since the prince would be coming to the Cloud estate in person.

It could even be the spark for Oscar and Erica’s story.

“…”

Martin didn’t answer. He just kept looking out the window.
But I had a feeling I knew what he was thinking.

Perhaps about his parents. Perhaps about the weight he had carried alone since childhood.

Looking at his broad shoulders, my chest ached.

He really did grow up strong.

Proud and tender at once, I tried to lighten the mood.

“When we get back, let’s eat something delicious. Your favorite.”

“…I’d like to prepare what you like instead. Would that be alright?”

The air warmed between us.

“Then how about we decide with rock–paper–scissors?”

Martin didn’t answer—but he didn’t let go of my hand either.
His grip said he had no intention of ever letting go.