Chapter 39
“Your Majesty! She’s the same age as Gladdy, no, With. Do you think I could have seen her as a woman?”
And that was years ago, anyway.
Medo insisted she had been nothing more than the little daughter of the family he served. Baberi, however, refused to accept that.
“So it’s true that you’re her first love.”
Baberi tightened her grip on his arm. Medo let out a scream.
Fortunately, before Medo could die in her hand, the situation was resolved. Lavender had shifted her attention to With.
“Sir, what’s your name? Do you like tea, by any chance?”
Lavender seemed genuinely interested in him. She even suggested sharing tea and handed him a handkerchief she had embroidered herself.
In Tyris, only family members or someone one intended to marry would give a personally embroidered handkerchief.
“He’ll probably come asking for permission to marry soon.”
Baberi’s anticipation was high. But Medo interrupted.
“Your Majesty, in Anapol, handkerchiefs don’t hold much significance.”
Of course, they were given as a friendly gesture. But it was meant lightly and often given to friends or mentors as well.
“So thinking that a single handkerchief could lead to marriage is far too hasty.”
Medo explained this, but Baberi ignored her words.
Baberi’s worry was what would happen if Baslui refused to give his daughter.
“With, remember this: you must swear to Baslui that you will make his daughter absolutely happy.”
When Baberi insisted, With frowned.
“I have no intention of marrying.”
“But you said you wanted to marry for love.”
He seems to be in a relationship now; doesn’t that naturally lead to marriage next?
Baberi couldn’t understand his claim of having no interest.
With glared at Baberi with clear dislike.
“I’m not interested right now.”
He had been getting beaten up by a woman all the time. Would he really develop feelings for her?
If any feelings were to arise, it wouldn’t be love—it would be resentment, or even hatred.
“The woman I knew was softer and gentler, more like Miss Sharon. But…”
With trailed off, staring at Baberi. When he locked eyes with Medo, who was glaring, he quickly turned away.
He didn’t want to get scolded again for being rude to the king.
“Anyway, I don’t like that woman.”
“Why? What’s wrong with her?”
She was pretty, tall, cheerful, and cute. Baberi pressed With to explain what he didn’t like about Lavender.
“She smells of perfume.”
He hated women who had that kind of overpowering scent and turned his head away sharply.
“It smells much better than your sweat. What are you talking about?”
“I dislike what I dislike.”
Baberi thought at first that he was just pretending to dislike it because he didn’t want to be teased.
Even after this, Lavender continued to show interest in With.
“You said before you don’t like tea. Do you perhaps like sweets?”
With coldly refused.
“No, I don’t.”
Baberi, who had been observing them, was startled by how icy his tone was.
“What then do you like?”
Perhaps exhausted by the twenty questions, Lavender asked directly. With frowned.
“No matter what I like, I will never share it with you.”
What a jerk.
Baberi, hiding behind a pillar, nearly jumped out in surprise.
“How can someone act like that when the king is encouraging love and marriage so actively?”
Who taught him such arrogance?! Baberi whispered indignantly. Kur, who stood behind her, answered.
“Who else could it be? Your Majesty.”
Kur was certain it couldn’t be anyone other than Baberi. Baberi denied it vehemently.
“I never back down if someone asks me to eat something, except for boiled beans!”
“Your Majesty, it must be nice to take pride in a poor attitude.”
Baberi, who had been slightly hunched while hiding, straightened. She was about to retort to Kur’s teasing remark.
Kur shushed her before she could speak. Finally, Lavender spoke, looking flustered.
“Uh… um, have I made you uncomfortable somehow?”
Baberi screamed inside: Say no! Apologize and tell her you didn’t mean that!
But With, unaware of Baberi’s silent plea, responded coldly:
“Yes.”
Lavender, pale, decided not to trouble him further and withdrew.
“It’s over.”
Kur, who had been observing, summarized the situation.
Baberi had hoped for another citizen couple to emerge in Baberania, but that dream collapsed, and she punched the pillar in frustration.
A few days later, Lavender invited Baberi to lunch, four days after the incident with With.
“…….”
It wasn’t without reason. Lavender remained silent, only eating her food.
Was she really just wanting to have a meal together? Just as Baberi was starting to wonder, Lavender spoke.
“My father will return tomorrow.”
Her expression darkened, clearly not looking forward to his return.
They continued eating in silence until Lavender finally spoke with difficulty.
“What do you think of me, Your Majesty?”
Baberi tilted her head as she was about to put a boiled potato in her mouth.
“What do you mean?”
“As a woman… do I seem unattractive to men?”
I’m not a man; how could I know that?
Baberi chewed her potato while looking at Lavender. She seemed to be genuinely troubled.
“They say men don’t like women who fall in love easily. Is that true?”
Most of Martu’s men had a harsh temperament. Lavender disliked that.
That was why Medo, who was comparatively kind, became her first love. But his kindness was not romantic—it was simply the polite behavior of a servant toward someone younger.
Lavender had only realized this recently.
“The people I liked always made me feel uncomfortable.”
It wasn’t just Medo. Her history was full of rejection and disappearing men.
Baberi swallowed her potato.
“Is it because you are the daughter of a lord?”
Those exiled from Martu had been treated this way.
“‘Baslui dislikes his daughter meeting men.’”
When asked if it was because of his extreme love for his daughter, she said no.
“‘He fears she will conspire with a man to overthrow him.’”
Perhaps that was why Medo had been exiled as well. They speculated.
“Is it because my status burdens the men I meet?”
She had been born this way and couldn’t change it. What could she do? Lavender sighed deeply.
“It’s not that…”
Baberi noticed Lavender had misunderstood her. She chose not to correct her and took another bite of meat.
“Will I ever be able to marry?”
“Who knows.”
At the indifferent response, Lavender’s hand holding the knife paused. She sighed and put down the knife.
‘Treat her kindly and warmly. Don’t just respond coldly as usual.’
Baberi recalled what Mark had insisted she remember before coming.
“You can do it.”
Baberi encouraged her with a warm smile, but Lavender’s expression didn’t brighten, showing she still lacked confidence.
“Do you want to get married?”
“…Yes.”
“Better than With.”
Mentioning With made Lavender frown further.
“How many children would you want?”
“I think… about five.”
“Five…?”
Not three or four, but five? Baberi blinked repeatedly in disbelief.
“But if things continue like this, that dream seems difficult.”
Lavender sadly poked at her meat with her fork. Suddenly, Baberi jumped up, startling her.
“You are the most charming woman I’ve ever seen!”
Baberi’s excited voice repeated, praising her. Lavender’s eyes widened in surprise.
“To have such wonderful thoughts… I’m moved.”
Baberi clapped her hands, eyes shining. Lavender didn’t know how to respond, looking awkward.
“If you want to marry Sir With, I’ll wholeheartedly approve.”
“No… Sir With…”
Don’t you dislike me? Lavender swallowed her words. Baberi shook her head, deciding to give up.
Has she really lost interest in With?
Baberi wanted to scold the young man who had lost such a woman.
“There are plenty of better men in Baberania than With.”
Baberi laughed and encouraged other men. Lavender was a talent not to be missed.
Lavender couldn’t adjust to Baberi’s sudden change in attitude.
“Am I really attractive?”
When she asked with doubt in her eyes, Baberi leaned forward on the table toward her.
“You’re tall, beautiful, and express what you like so openly. That’s very charming.”
If I were a man, I would have courted her first.
Hearing Baberi, Lavender let out a small smile.
“Do you have any brothers?”
“No.”
Baberi struck her chest in regret.
“If I had a younger brother, I would have married him to you without a doubt.”
“This is only the second time I’ve heard that.”
Lavender’s cheeks flushed, and she brightened.
Having successfully lifted her spirits, Baberi received a handkerchief embroidered by Lavender herself before sunset that day.
“Servant, have you ever received something like this?”
Baberi proudly showed Kur the handkerchief, embroidered with red petals.
“Probably not. You haven’t received anything like this, being such a nasty dragon.”
Kur seemed oblivious, staring out the window.
“Too bad. If I were a man, I’d have married Lavender immediately.”
In fact, Kur, who had heard everything, snorted.
“Yeah, right.”
“Why not? Lavender is cute.”
Kur, Mark, and others—all were serious and secretive, hiding their thoughts.
“She’s honest about her feelings. Very refreshing.”
Kur looked serious, seemingly lost in thought, and didn’t respond.
The next day, Baberi was extremely bored.
Having nothing to do was the same in Rondar or Martu. But waiting eagerly for someone was different.
That difference made Baberi uneasy.
“Waiting doesn’t suit me, I guess.”
She wanted to whip Baslui, asking why he was so late.
“I wonder if something exciting will snap me out of this boredom…”
Baberi lay on the sofa, watching Kur dust the windowsill.
At that moment, someone knocked urgently on the door.
“Your Majesty.”
It was Mark. Baberi told him to come in, and he rushed inside. Baberi smirked at his urgent expression.
“Why so rushed? Do you need the bathroom?”
“The army of Dran has crossed Pony Gorge,” Mark reported.
Baberi ignored his teasing. This was no time for jokes.
“And the Lancaster army?”
Mark shook his head grimly at Baberi’s question.
Baberi, lying sideways on the sofa, jumped up. Crossing Pony Gorge meant Rondar would be reached quickly.
