Chapter 78
***
Sponsored by Curufin. Thank you ❤️ (9/ 10)
***
Such a glaringly ferocious thing.
A black cloth was covering the object held in Netira's hand.
When she peeled it away, it revealed an iron cage. Inside was a golden-tailed sparrow. The emperor's courtier took it and brought it before Hashad.
Hashad opened the cage and took the bird out.
He patted the bird on the head and asked,
"Did you get what you wanted?"
"Thanks to you, Your Majesty."
"I'm glad you found it useful."
Netira didn't turn away immediately, but looked at Hashad, who still had his eyes on the messenger bird, and then spoke.
"Your promise to me......."
"Ah, yes."
Hashad gestured to the servant, who handed what he was holding to Netira.
It was the Emperor's edict.
Netira unfolded it with trepidation.
It stated that Kayan Bayate and the Black Wolf were separate entities, and that the head of the Bayate family was Netira Bayate, the legitimate daughter of Odant Bayate, the first head of the family.
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
"Kayan's a fool. Now that he's stabbed in the back by one of his own. He must be completely bewitched by that woman."
Whether it was intentional or not, Hashad's mention of Ihedia turned Netira's stomach.
Netira gripped the edict tighter, trying to contain her anger.
Though she had gotten her own revenge on Kayan in exchange for official approval of Bayate's Household status, Netira still felt as if her heart would burst at the mere thought of Ihedia.
‘Kayan, you started this.’
On the day she saw Kayan for the last time, Netira realized that he would never be hers.
So without hesitation, she went to see Hashad.
Hashad had seen his chance to take down the undefeated Kayan, and he wasn't about to let his hand be tied.
As expected, he welcomed Netira and granted her a small request.
It was as easy as lending a bird to her, after all.
He was a terrible man, rumored to have a hobby of brutally murdering women every night, but Netira had no choice if she wanted to avenge this grudge against Kayan and Ihedia.
Netira was at the point where she was about to lose her mind.
Before, she had been angered by the thought of the Emperor harboring animosity toward Kayan and refusing to leave the Black Wolf alone, but not anymore.
Her own goals were no different than the Emperor's.
Rather than let Ihedia take Kayan from her, she would destroy him so thoroughly that no one else would ever have him.
Netira bowed and walked away from the Emperor.
‘What a pathetic wench you are, to betray Kayan in the name of jealousy.’
Hashad laughed out loud as he watched her go.
'Kayan will protect Bayate and Nethira out of loyalty to Odant, but now he has no reason to do so.’
Once the Black Wolf was destroyed, the name Bayate would disappear without a trace.
It was as clear as day how long a family could survive without a solid foundation when a wench took over.
Of course, he was pleased that Netira had come to the palace on her own initiative to announce her alliance.
It was a deal that he had nothing to lose and everything to gain: a decree that would destroy the existence of Bayate.
Later, when he would accuse Kayan and the Black Wolf of treason, Netira's presence would prove invaluable to his cause.
To have the daughter of Odant, who was like family to Kayan, side with the Emperor would have been a great stain on his honor.
If it became known that Kayan had sacrificed the Black Wolf to try to take the throne and had sought to dethrone Raquil’s son, the rightful heir, even those who had hailed him as a hero would turn against him.
At the same time, Hashad was once again strangely curious about the Elmir slave who had become Kayan's fatal weakness.
Well, he would have to see for himself sooner or later.
***
The morning of Kayan's departure for the western country of Shardi arrived.
In truth, he should have left already, but he had put it off until today, when he had spent a dreamlike time with Ihedia.
"Should I not go?"
Kayan said, snuggling into Ihedia's arms under the covers.
He knew it was ridiculous, but he secretly hoped she would make a fuss telling him not to go.
"For the sake of the many who follow the great black wolf warrior, Kayan Bayate, I hope you can clearly distinguish between public and private matters."
Each time, Ihedia mimicked the lines of the masquerade, leaving Kayan speechless.
Instead of venting his frustration, Kayan began to tickle Ihedia all over with his hot tongue.
Her cold body was covered with the heat of Kayan's touch until she was covered in sweat.
His thick tongue attacked all her delicate parts.
Ihedia tried to push him away, but Kayan would not bend to her will, not even in bed.
They had made love all night and should have been exhausted, but instead, Kayan felt like he could hardly contain his overflowing energy.
If only Ihedia had half his stamina, she thought, she'd have nothing to wish for.
Ihedia smiled, accepting his advances as Kayan struggled to control his desire.
It was a long time later, after he had finally slipped out of bed and spent a little more time with her in the greenhouse, that he was ready to leave.
Around his neck glittered the Hrenium necklace Ihedia had given him.
“Until I come back, don’t go anywhere and stay here. Don’t let anyone in.”
"Do you know how many times you've said that now?"
Ihedia laughed and said it as if it were no big deal, but Kayan felt uneasy all the same.
Perhaps it was because the sun's blessing on his heart was nearing its end.
Somehow, Kayan was afraid that when he got back he would find her gone again.
Now Ihedia seemed to have given up on leaving Anut, and unlike before, there was no hesitation in her eyes.
Still, he couldn't explain why he kept feeling that way.
Kayan kissed Ihedia deeply before mounting his horse.
It happened so suddenly that there was no time to stop him.
Ihedia's face instantly turned red.
Behind them stood Doa and the warriors, who were not pleased with the sight.
"Master Kayan, even warriors who go into bloody battles wouldn't do such a thing with their wives."
Doa narrowed his eyes in disbelief and shouted.
Ihedia, who seemed to recognize the warning, quickly patted Kayan on the back.
"Be careful."
Kayan paused for a moment as he swung his heavy feet off the ground and mounted his horse.
Then he turned back to Ihedia and kissed her forehead.
Doa, beside him, let out a gasp at his superior's unexpectedly sappy behavior.
After such an affectionate farewell, Kayan finally mounted his horse.
As he rode away, Kayan kept looking back to check on Ihedia.
She stood there for a long time, until he was completely out of sight.
It was only after he was gone that she was able to wipe the faint smile from her face.
In recent days, the two had grown so close that they were living almost like a married couple.
It was all Ihedia's plan, but the more Kayan showered her with unconditional affection, the more her heart wavered.
Every time her resolve began to falter, whether for misfortune or good fortune, it was Netira's messenger bird that shook her awake.
A few times afterward, Netira sent notes with her heartfelt feelings for Kayan, and Ihedia hid it so tightly that no one would see it.
If Kayan were to see it and be even slightly shaken, she feared for her own safety.
Ihedia's feet moved quickly toward the greenhouse.
She asked Sawana for her usual cup of tea and sat down at the table.
'Can we talk about it when Kayan comes back?'
Once Kayan was free of his obsession and suspicion of her, she might be able to ask him to let her visit Elmir for a while.
In Bayate, she had been able to move purposefully, away from Netira's prying eyes, but here, where she couldn't go anywhere without Kayan's permission, and where she had a maid at her service, it was hard to find an excuse.
She lived an undeservedly pampered life, but her freedom was limited.
He was not sure if Kayan would let her travel all the way to Elmir, but as their relationship grew stronger, he'd find it hard to refuse her request.
Once in Elmir, she would have to seek help from the Marquis and Marquise Lloyd to find another way.
Just then, Sawana entered the greenhouse with her favorite tea.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Ihedia said with a slight smile.
She sipped the tea in a smooth motion.
Watching it, Sawana let the words slip out of her mouth.
"The tea you drink, Lady Ihedia, seems to have a unique flavor. I've never heard of Elmir people enjoying this kind of tea before."
Ihedia met Sawana's eyes and smiled a little more.
"It's not a common tea flavor, so it's understandable that you would feel that way. It's only enjoyed by the Elmir royal family."
Warm steam was rising from the tea.
Ihedia's eyes darkened slightly as she watched it.
***
Support me @ https://ko-fi.com/doraaaaaaa
Write a comment