TFM 90

Chapter 90

***

Talia turned to look at him, her face set.

“What does that mean?”

“It means we’ll be living together from now on.”

He replied calmly.

“While on our rounds, there may be times when I have to ride a horse, but I intend to use the carriage with you whenever possible.”

She swallowed hard.

“Then, as for lodging…………… ….”

“We’ll share accommodations as well.”

Her heart sank. She couldn’t tell if it was due to fear or the feelings that had tormented her for so many years.

Twisting the jade ornament wrapped around her wrist, Talia blurted out anxiously.

“Do we really have to do that?”

Varkas didn’t respond. Talia immediately began to lash out aggressively.

“You know full well what people will say if we get married. With the whole world already aware of the truth behind our marriage, wouldn’t it look even more ridiculous if we pretended to be a happy couple?”

“There’s no need for us to appear to be on good terms.”

Varkas exhaled deeply.

“It’s enough if we just appear to be on good enough terms to have a marital relationship.”

Talia, who had been looking bewildered, suddenly widened her eyes in shock.

Was her understanding of a “marital relationship” actually correct?

As she stared blankly at his ascetic face, devoid of even a trace of human desire, he calmly continued.

“Regardless of the circumstances, we are now husband and wife, and Your Highness surely knows what obligations come with being a married noble. As long as we appear to be a normal married couple, it will benefit both you and my standing.”

Talia’s face flushed bright red. It seemed that the “marital relationship” he was referring to was indeed what she had thought it was.

A foolish remark slipped out from between her trembling lips.

“So what you’re saying is that we have to… look like we’re sleeping together?”

A faint crease formed at the corner of his eye. It was a strange expression, somewhere between a smile and a frown.

“To put it bluntly.”

Talia bit her lip hard and slowly scanned him from head to toe.

Beneath the glossy, thin silk, his lean, muscular physique was clearly visible.

Broad shoulders, a chest woven seamlessly from delicate muscles, a trimmed waist, and legs as long and firm as a horse’s…………….

Feeling her breath catch suddenly, she hurriedly lowered her gaze. Her own scrawny legs were faintly visible beneath the hem of her thin skirt.

Her stomach churned. It was a scar that even her mother had frowned at as if it were repulsive. Even the nanny who had raised her since infancy could not hide her distaste whenever she bathed her.

The mere thought of exposing such a hideous thing to him made her break out in a cold sweat.

She clutched at the hem of her dress and let out a sharp cry.

“I hate this. Just let them all talk as they please. People are bound to gossip anyway. That’s what their mouths are for. Why should I have to put on such a ridiculous charade just to keep an eye on those underlings………”

“Talia.”

A large hand covered her stiff wrist. Talia flinched and looked up at him.

Varkas, who had firmly grasped her cold, stiff hand, spoke resolutely.

“I’m not asking you to put on a show.”

“….”

“We just need to make it look like we’re spending time together in public.”

Varkas’s words sounded more like a request than an order. That fact stifled the words of refusal that had gathered in her throat.

Talia studied his face, which bore traces of faint fatigue, through eyes that twitched slightly. Judging by the Grand Duke of Shiokan’s attitude, Varkas’s position might also be unstable. While she had been holed up in her bedroom, he must have driven himself relentlessly to solidify his standing.

Suddenly, her mouth went dry. If Ayla had been here, she would have rolled up her sleeves for Varkas. Displaying her natural leadership and dignity, she would have helped Varkas solidify his position.

He wouldn’t have had to make such a request. The two of them would have spent a normal wedding night and naturally continued their marital relationship.

Talia bit her lower lip. Self-flagellating thoughts followed one after another. How had Varkas treated Ayla? Since he had been so generous even toward her, who had growled at him like an enemy, he would have been no less—and likely even more—so toward Ayla.

Just as he tried to touch her whenever he had the chance, he must have touched Ayla’s body without hesitation. She pictured Varkas caressing her cheeks or ears, or wrapping his arm around her waist. In her imagination, the two of them did even worse things without hesitation. The more she thought about it, the more her heart burned as if it were on fire.

Talia roughly pulled her hand away from his grasp. Then, turning her gaze out the window, she struggled to suppress her boiling emotions.

“Do as you please.”

A heavy silence settled over them. She wanted to check his expression, but for some reason, she was afraid.

Talia rested her elbows on the windowsill and pretended to watch the cavalry.

Soon, accompanied by the booming sound of a horn, the carriage began to move forward.

Talia peered out the window. As the carriage passed through the city gates, a vast plain spread out before her. A fierce gale swept across the plains, stretching to the horizon.

Gazing at the grasslands turning a shade of ochre, Talia stole a glance at him.

Varkas was also gazing out at the fields. The blinding white sunlight cast a dazzling glare across his face.

A strange feeling tightened her chest.

On this unfamiliar yet beautiful land, she would have to spend time with him.

Would she be able to defend the castle walls she had barely managed to build?

***

Lucas swung the reins without hesitation.

It had been nearly a week since he’d last ridden. Turgan, neglected for days and now wild with energy, charged across the prairie, snorting fiercely.

He could feel the stallion’s taut muscles rippling beneath his thighs.

He stood up in his stirrups and let out a loud cheer. The dry wind lashed harshly against his body. It was terrifyingly refreshing.

“Don’t break ranks!”

Tyron, who had kept close to his side, shouted. Lucas turned to look at him with a displeased expression.

“What’s the big deal about this?”

“I barely managed to get permission for you to come along under the pretense of teaching you how to conduct yourself as a retainer to His Highness! If you act so recklessly, what am I supposed to do?”

Lucas clicked his tongue harshly and pulled on the reins. Just as he managed to calm the excited, bucking horse, Tyron also slowed down and closed the distance between them.

“As I said before, you’ll be serving as His Highness’s squire for a while. Don’t stray too far from the carriage.”

“You don’t understand. I’m doing this all for my brother’s sake.”

Lucas said sarcastically.

“I bet my brother would hate it even more if I were hanging around. And that woman would feel the same way.”

He spat out the words in a barbed tone, then gazed at the carriage slowly making its way across the hill in the distance.

The spot on his face where she’d struck him still itched. His cheek, which had been red and swollen for a while, didn’t subside until two days had passed.

He puckered his lips.

“You saw what that woman did to me that day, didn’t you?”

“I also saw you press your nose against her neck, young master.”

He flinched and blushed.

“When you put it like that, I really do sound like a pervert! I just smelled something strange and took a whiff, that’s all!”

“… No matter how you put it, you sound like a pervert.”

Tyron shook his head.

“As His Highness the Grand Duke said, you both need to learn proper etiquette as nobles. You’ve been living far too freely all this time, using the excuse that the former Grand Duke is on his deathbed.”

Lucas glared at him with a look of distaste. His anger flared at the remark, which subtly sided with Varkas.

“You’ve completely fallen for my brother.”

Tyron didn’t exactly deny it. It seemed he had already accepted Varkas as his ruler.

This wasn’t just true of Tyron. The stuffy old elders expressed concern over Varkas’s radical actions, but the fiery young warriors offered enthusiastic support. They were all starved for strong leadership.

To be honest, Lucas, too, was half-enchanted by the overwhelming military might Varkas had displayed. But he didn’t want to admit it so readily.

“Fine. I’ll admit I was a bit rude. But that woman was no pushover either! Why should only we be punished?”

“She is of royal blood, after all.”

Tyron said in a dismissive tone.

“What’s more, she is now the Grand Duchess. So, you’d better watch your words from now on. Did you hear what Lord Daren said earlier?”

He made a gesture with his fingertips, as if slicing his throat.

“She’s the kind of woman who can hurl venomous insults without batting an eye, even in the presence of the Grand Duke of Shiokan. Do you think she wouldn’t use her sharp tongue to strip the very bones from a young master like you? So, for the sake of peace in the East, please don’t go provoking her for no reason.”

***

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