Chapter 40
“Hestia.”
“Are you hurt, Lusenbik?”
“No. I’m fine.”
Even though he didn’t have anything particular to tell me, I felt grateful that he called me and came to see me.
“You were amazing. I was watching from above, and the color of the magic circle kept changing.”
“Yes. I didn’t expect it to reach that level either. If I had wielded my full power, it probably wouldn’t have been difficult to kill a hundred people at once.”
“Really? Then that’s truly incredible.”
“Exactly.”
Still, since the war wasn’t being fought with just a few thousand people, Lusenbik would need more soldiers if he wanted to carry it out—but he didn’t have anyone like that yet.
Even so, Lusenbik seemed to think that he could start by going to Pelmon and carrying out a surprise attack to shake the Sedpol officials.
What had started as a casual conversation stretched on as we walked through the guild’s garden, and he shared his thoughts.
It seemed he believed that if he carried out surprise attacks and gradually achieved small victories, other Pelmon citizens would rise up to help him, taking advantage of the cracks he created.
“But what if the oppression gets worse because of that?”
That was a real possibility, and Lusenbik seemed worried about it too.
“That’s certainly true.”
While he spoke, Jermin spotted us and ran over.
“Lusenbik-nim.”
He no longer called Lusenbik “Your Highness” but “Lusenbik-nim,” and Lusenbik turned to face him.
“There’s a place where quite a few Pelmon people are imprisoned. The fortress is so strong we never even thought of rescuing them. But after seeing your swordsmanship, Lusenbik-nim, I thought that if I went with you, we might have a chance. What do you think?”
Lusenbik looked at me, and I nodded.
Since we couldn’t leave for Pelmon immediately, it seemed better to secure as many people as possible here to help him in the meantime.
“I think it’s a good idea, Lusenbik. That way, it’ll completely integrate with your strength, which will be even better.”
Lusenbik nodded and looked at Jermin.
“Where exactly is it? Explain in detail.”
Jermin said that more than ten Pelmon prisoners were held there and that the lord ran an illegal fighting arena.
“According to Sedpol law, that’s forbidden, but the lord does it for profit. And I’m sure you know about the fighting slaves.”
“So they make the Pelmon people fight.”
“Yes. I heard that people like watching Pelmon fight each other, so sometimes they even disguise Sedpol people as Pelmon to fight.”
Watching Lusenbik struggle to suppress his anger, I considered stepping aside for a moment.
But Lusenbik sent Jermin off first.
“Let’s continue this conversation tomorrow morning.”
“Yes, Lusenbik-nim.”
“Gather more information on that.”
He handed Jermin some money.
“Understood, Lusenbik-nim.”
Jermin bowed and left.
I wanted to ask if he was okay, but I knew the answer—he probably wasn’t.
Still, Lusenbik soon calmed himself.
Then he approached me.
“Hestia. Walking around leisurely like this is surprisingly difficult.”
“It is. But I don’t mind. I like it when you tell me about your worries.”
“I feel like I’m just piling burdens on you.”
“Right now, I’m glad I can help. Things might change someday, right? Then I’ll probably be someone who’s lost my country, and you’ll have to take me in.”
Lusenbik looked at me.
Had I spoken too casually about losing my country? But he nodded in agreement.
“Then I’ll endure with that time in mind. I hope that time comes soon. So I can repay everything I owe you, Hestia, as soon as possible.”
“That will happen. By the way, were you on good terms with the nobles there? It’s not like here, right? I’ve always wondered about that.”
“Some helped Duke Meidern overthrow the monarchy. They’re probably still living comfortably in Pelmon. The Sedpol administrators rule, but their power is limited, so they likely co-opt local nobles, offering them wealth and authority to exploit them.”
I nodded, thinking such people exist everywhere.
“That worries me too. I wouldn’t know who to trust. But at least there are some people I can rely on, so that’s a relief.”
A smile appeared on his face as he looked at me, and I felt an unexpected surge of emotion.
Seeing someone who had endured so much pain regain the strength to smile—and knowing that I had contributed, even a little, to that strength—was overwhelming.
“Stay with me, Hestia. When you’re with me, I feel like I can do it. I hesitated because it might be too sudden, but I wanted to say it. Hestia.”
My heart started racing wildly.
“Hestia. When I go to Pelmon, asking you to come isn’t just about helping rebuild Pelmon. To others, yes, but to you… I want you to stay by my side, to watch me, and to be with me. When I sit in the most dignified position, I want you beside me, Hestia.”
“…Lusenbik.”
I looked at him, trying to make sure I had understood correctly.
“This might be too hasty, but I wanted to say it. Hestia, I like you as much as you rely on me. A lot. I know it’s sudden.”
His face gradually reddened as he spoke, yet I realized he was speaking for me, not for himself.
I was someone with countless disqualifications.
A former queen of this country.
Just that fact alone might make many Pelmon citizens argue that he couldn’t take me as his wife.
Under such circumstances, I had assumed I could never be his partner. But Lusenbik spoke first, as if he knew I would think that way.
My feelings for Lusenbik had grown stronger over time, but I had always assumed there would be limits to what was allowed for me.
For now, I was lucky to be by his side, sharing good moments, but I thought one day he would return to his place and meet someone suitable there.
But that wasn’t the case.
He was saying he wouldn’t go there alone.
Seeing him say I would go with him, I smiled.
I tried to smile, but tears suddenly streamed down.
Tears fell without my realizing it, leaving me flustered.
“Ah…”
I quickly wiped them away.
Yet the more I tried, the more they fell.
Lusenbik took out his handkerchief.
He approached and was about to hand it to me, but when I tried to take it, he wiped my tears himself.
I didn’t even know why I reacted that way.
Without realizing it, so much sadness and grief inside me had been accumulating, and suddenly, triggered by him, it burst out like a dam breaking.
“Hestia.”
“Lusenbik. I’m sorry. I don’t know why I’m like this. This isn’t something I should be crying over.”
I worried he would be embarrassed because of me.
“Lusenbik. I’m really sorry.”
“You don’t have to apologize. It’s natural for you to feel this way. If it weren’t for you, no one could have endured this long. You’re incredible, Hestia. But it would’ve been better if you hadn’t gone through those things. Just like it would’ve been better if the things that happened to me or Beatrice hadn’t happened.”
Every word from Lusenbik warmed and comforted me.
I even felt that no one else could possibly understand what I had gone through.
My tears didn’t stop until his handkerchief was completely soaked.
He gently wiped my tears with his fingers, smiling softly.
“I worried that speaking suddenly might startle you. I actually told Beatrice, and she said it might not be a good idea to tell you now. Your heart doesn’t seem ready yet, and if I approached recklessly, you might retreat, so I worried a lot.”
“Then why did you do it?”
I asked with a smile, and his grin grew even brighter.
