Chapter 40
“You seem to think like your father. If that’s the case, I believe we have something to discuss.”
“…!”
“There was a condition in the pact that involved lending the Barbarians’ technology. In return, I promised to provide you with a place to stay. Of course, due to certain events, you may not have been able to gather your people and reach the north.”
“Then…!”
“If you agree, the pact will be honored.”
Felix’s emotionless voice echoed quietly through the underground prison.
At the sound, the Barbarian soldiers in the other cells approached the bars, holding their breath to listen.
“…Thank you for giving us this opportunity.”
Skadi knelt and lowered her head.
Clang!
A sharp dagger was thrown right in front of her.
“This dagger will become your father’s final memento.”
Felix turned and was about to ascend the stairs.
“…The reason you’re sparing us… isn’t solely because of the pact, is it?”
Skadi’s quiet voice stopped his steps. Her eyes blazed as she looked at him.
“You know well. In a way, our goals are the same.”
With that, Felix moved on.
“…Thank you.”
Her voice trembled.
“Th-thank you.”
“Thank you.”
Starting with Skadi, the Barbarian soldiers echoed their gratitude. They now understood who their true enemy was.
Leaving behind their thanks, the two of them exited the underground prison.
“Honestly… I’m still bewildered by all this.”
Suspicion filled his mind at the unexpected turn of events.
“Some were injured in the battle, but thankfully no one died. And now that we share a common enemy in Lloyd, we need each other as well.”
“Yes… I never imagined the Crown Prince would go so far as to slander Your Majesty.”
“I was too complacent. I forgot he was such a greedy child.”
“Your Majesty…”
Andrew spoke regretfully.
“That’s enough. I need to get my wits about me now.”
“Yes, I’ll stay alert as well. By the way, where do you intend to settle them?”
Andrew tried to predict possible locations as he asked Felix’s opinion.
“The capital near the castle is already inhabited, so it would be difficult to settle them there. I think placing them in a northern village near the Snow Mountain would be best. They are free-spirited, so they’ll adapt on their own.”
“The north? A village? Isn’t that an area where landslides historically made it difficult to live?”
Andrew frowned.
“Where in the harsh north is anywhere comfortable or pleasant?”
Acknowledging the point quickly, Andrew sheepishly accepted it.
“Ah… right, that makes sense.”
“We’ll support them until they establish themselves, but afterward, they’ll need to thrive on their own.”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
“Then you can discuss the details with them later.”
“Yes!”
Andrew responded while continuing to follow Felix.
“Not going?”
Felix stopped and gazed at Andrew with slightly narrowed eyes.
“Huh?”
“I need to finish talking with them.”
“Now?”
‘Ugh.’ Andrew’s face contorted as he emerged from the last underground staircase.
“Yes, now!”
“…Understood.”
Andrew slouched and descended the stairs again.
“Ugh, we go all the way up and then have to go down again? This is getting annoying…”
Felix caught Andrew’s muttering by his ear.
“You… what did you say?”
“N-nothing, sir.”
Startled by Felix’s voice, Andrew hurriedly went back down.
“…Huh?”
Hearing the disappearing footsteps, Felix’s gaze flickered slightly.
Walking down the corridor, Felix brushed back the bangs that had fallen over his forehead, recalling her holding the child tightly while shedding big tears.
‘I should have left earlier.’
When the army had reached the village near Hae-ran, rain was falling only over the castle. He immediately summoned Lucas.
“Where is the woman disguised as the merchant leader?”
He had been worried because he hadn’t seen her during the battle.
Lucas promised to investigate and left. Soon after, news arrived that Skadi and a few of her companions had fought off some knights and escaped.
Felix, feeling more anxious, drove his horse swiftly toward the castle while pushing back the enemies.
‘If it hadn’t rained…’
The thought alone made his vision darken.
He headed straight to Jeremy’s room at the far end of the second-floor corridor.
Through the slightly open door, he saw a woman sitting beside the bed, gently removing hair stuck to the child’s forehead.
Elia, in a flowing white chemise dress, smiled softly as she carefully stroked Jeremy’s plump pink cheeks.
The child only furrowed his brow slightly, showing no sign of waking.
Knock knock.
He knocked over the already ajar door.
“Yuri! Come see Jeremy… he’s asleep…”
Elia, whispering to prevent Jeremy from waking, blinked in surprise when she saw who was at the door.
“Sorry, you’re not Yuri.”
Felix’s voice made her lift her head happily for a moment, then she froze and hurriedly adjusted her dress, her face instantly flushing red.
“…F-Felix.”
Her lips trembled faintly. Felix, clearly unimpressed, crossed his arms.
‘Tsk…’
He clicked his tongue internally. A husband less enthusiastic than a maid—was it because he arrived too late?
“I suppose I’m the most suitable person here, but apparently not?”
He stepped into the room. Elia shrank back each time he approached and finally lowered her head, her long soft blonde hair hiding half her face.
“…No! You came to see Jeremy. Then I’ll leave now.”
Felix grabbed her thin wrist as she tried to rise hastily.
“…?”
Startled, Elia looked up and met Felix’s gaze. Her face was redder than mid-summer roses.
“I came to tell you something.”
“T-Tell me.”
Again, Elia shyly avoided his gaze but nodded.
“Why avoid my eyes? Do you have some complaint?”
“A complaint…? N-no, it’s not that, I’m just… embarrassed!”
Elia suddenly pushed him away and shouted.
Felix then noticed her exposed chest.
“Mm. What’s embarrassing?”
He cleared his throat with a teasing air. Elia buried her face in her hands, shaking her head vigorously.
Her pale neck came into view, making him twitch his lips involuntarily.
‘Crazy. Yes, definitely crazy.’
Her sky-like eyes peeked at him from between her fingers.
“…I don’t want to say it.”
Watching her small body shrink further, a deep smile appeared on Felix’s lips.
As he slowly approached, her warmth and a subtle herbal scent reached him.
“Fel…Fel…?”
“….”
Her panicked voice reached him. He held the small body close in silence.
“…I said I have something to tell you. It’s nothing serious, but I admit—if it weren’t for your ability, this could have ended very badly. I owe you a great deal this time.”
Her tensed body gradually relaxed at his words.
“Truly, I’m so sorry. And Jeremy… for what you did…”
The servants passing by lowered their heads in gratitude, remembering how Elia had acted to protect them.
Andrew, regretting that he hadn’t protected them earlier, frowned.
“…It’s alright, Andrew. Really, it’s fine.”
Elia repeatedly reassured him, telling him she appreciated his concern.
Jeremy, sitting nearby reading, suddenly lifted his head.
“Ugh, enough already!”
“Huh?”
“Always saying the same thing!”
Covering his ears with both hands, Jeremy groaned at Andrew’s repeated apologies.
“Je-Jeremy…”
“My lord…”
Elia and Andrew’s surprised voices echoed in the room.
“My lord! This is too much! I was desperately trying to stop outsiders from entering in the northern downpour! I feel wronged!”
“Hmm? So you blocked them?”
“W-Well… of course, Your Majesty came and handled it…”
Elia smiled at Andrew and Jeremy’s bickering.
Several days had passed since the incident. Elia had taken a brief pause to calm her mind.
A letter arrived from Skadi, apologizing and explaining the Barbarians’ future plans.
Since Felix had already decided to settle the Barbarians in the north, the letter’s contents were unsurprising.
It also mentioned that if a meeting were permitted in the future, further apologies would be offered.
‘Skadi…’
Recalling past events, Elia shook her head.
Even if it was all a misunderstanding, she could not easily forgive someone who had harmed Jeremy.
“Andrew, is there nothing else to do? Shall I make some tasks?”
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.
