Chapter 91
***
Lucas snorted defiantly.
“Since when have the Easterners ever cared about peace?”
“It’s about time they did.”
A faint look of warning flashed across Tyron’s face. The mounted warrior, whose narrow eyes seemed to pierce right through him, continued in a serious tone.
“While His Excellency has been bedridden, the unity of the East has noticeably weakened. Meanwhile, the Zram have steadily increased their strength. If they decide to invade in earnest, the East will be reduced to ashes in an instant. This is no time to squabble over trivial matters.”
Lucas wiped the sardonic smile from his lips.
“Aren’t you exaggerating a bit? The Zramites are a nuisance, sure, but we possess the most formidable cavalry in the Empire. A bunch of savages pushed to the fringes can’t possibly grow strong.”
“Even that cavalry is nothing but a rabble without a strong leader.”
Tyron let out a sigh of exasperation.
“While His Highness has been withdrawn from the front lines, the lords across the East have each been building their own power bases. The warriors under their command swear allegiance to their own lords, not to the Shiokan family. If, by any chance, the lords were to unite and rise in rebellion, the East would be torn apart in an instant.”
Faced with this string of pessimistic remarks, Lucas’s lips tightened.
He was well aware that some of his vassals were showing signs of unrest. But he had never once considered the situation to be as dire as Tyron suggested.
Lucas retorted in a firm tone.
“If the vassals were plotting treason, the Imperial Palace wouldn’t stand idly by. The Shiokan family is a vassal of the Emperor, after all. Defying the Grand Duke’s House is tantamount to rebelling against the Roem Empire itself.”
“You don’t understand what I’m saying.”
Tyron clicked his tongue sharply.
“What I’m saying is that we must prevent a rebellion from occurring in the first place. If things escalate to the point where the Imperial Palace has to intervene, the Eastern Provinces will already be in chaos. We must restore discipline before it comes to that.”
Lucas found no words to counter and fell silent. Tyron, who had been watching him with a stern gaze, drove home his point decisively.
“The new Grand Duke’s inauguration will serve as an opportunity to reunite the East. As a member of the Shiokan family, you must cooperate as well.”
“…….So, in the end, you’re telling me to just obediently follow my older brother’s will.”
“Since you were born the second son, isn’t that inevitable?”
Tyron delivered the stinging remark.
Lucas, who had been silently glaring at him, lashed out with his reins to shake off the annoying nag.
He was still only fifteen years old. He had no desire to worry about the complex political situation in the East or the duties of a second son just yet.
He spurred his horse on, as if to make a point.
As he raced across the prairie like an arrow, vast pastures spread out beneath the sun, which was sinking toward the west.
Halting his horse at the top of a hill, Lucas surveyed the hundreds of horses grazing leisurely before turning his horse toward a large encampment nearby.
As he approached a large tent that appeared to be a gathering hall, a burly man clad in a colorful cloak ran out to greet him.
“Welcome! We’ve been waiting for you with bated breath!”
It was a retainer of the Shiokan family, whom he knew well. Lucas leaped down from the saddle and called out to the man with enthusiasm.
“Kun Badera! Long time no see.”
“It’s been a while, Young Master Lucas. You’ve grown quite a bit since I last saw you.”
“You’ve put on some weight since I last saw you.”
The man laughed heartily and ruffled his hair roughly.
“That nasty habit of yours hasn’t changed a bit.”
The man, who had been wearing a relaxed smile on his bushy-bearded face, suddenly looked around.
“By the way, where is everyone else? I heard that His Highness the newly appointed Grand Duke was supposed to arrive with the mounted warriors…”
“They’ll be here soon.”
Lucas pointed toward the hilltop and muttered indifferently.
“They were nagging me so much, I just went ahead and came on my own.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than hundreds of cavalrymen appeared over the ridge.
Kun Badera immediately ordered his servants to prepare to welcome the guests. Lucas, too, made his way up the hill to fulfill his duties.
Just then, Varkas stepped down from the traveling carriage that had arrived in front of the assembly hall.
Lucas, who had been rushing over to attend to him, suddenly stopped in his tracks. The Second Princess was nestled in his brother’s arms.
Varkas, who was effortlessly supporting the woman—who seemed completely exhausted and limp—with one arm, looked around carefully and asked.
“Where should we stay?”
Kun Badera, who had been staring blankly at the two of them, hurried over and bowed his head.
“P-pleased to meet you, Your Highness. I am Kun Badera, the steward of your stables.”
The man, his face tense as he stammered, turned and added,
“Please follow me. I will show you to your quarters.”
Varkas, who had pressed the woman’s limp head down onto his shoulder, followed the man. After a moment’s hesitation, Lucas followed as well.
The man led them to a large tent situated in the center of the camp. Inside the conical tent, covered with pitch-coated canvas, stood a large bed and luxurious furnishings.
After taking a careful look around, Varkas laid the woman down on the wide bed and gave an order to Lucas.
“You go and fetch an attendant. There should be a quarter-dwarf among Her Highness’s maids.”
“…………I thought my duty was to attend to you, Brother.”
Varkas, who had been lowering the canopy over the bed, let out a dry laugh as if he found the situation absurd.
“So, didn’t I just give you an order?”
“The tasks you assign me are the kind of menial errands servants would do. My job is to manage your weapons and armor……….”
“Your job is to follow my orders without question.”
Varkas rose from his seat and strode toward him. Lucas instinctively took a step back.
Grasping his shoulder with one hand, Varkas brushed his tousled hair aside and continued slowly.
“Lucas, from now on, you will learn how to obey me. It’s a virtue you should have learned the moment you first started riding a horse.”
Lucas stiffened like a mouse before a snake. Staring at his face with a cold gaze, Varkas calmly added,
“From now on, if you question my orders, you will face the appropriate consequences. Do you understand?”
Lucas swallowed hard and slowly nodded. Varkas immediately gave a nod of his chin.
“Then go on and fetch the maid.”
Lucas immediately dashed out of the barracks.
It seemed this patrol was not going to be a pleasant outing after all.
He ran his fingers through his hair and trudged off.
***
The pain that had been gnawing at her knees crept up to her hips.
Talia, who had been tossing and turning on the thick sheets, struggled to lift her heavy eyelids.
A strange ceiling, flickering with light, filled her field of vision.
Blinking, Talia slowly sat up. Then, suddenly, she realized she was wearing nothing but a thin linen dress and gasped in shock.
She hurriedly felt along her leg and found the bandage she had wrapped around it that morning. Fortunately, it seemed only her outer garment had been removed. Just as she let out a small sigh of relief, the faint sound of water reached her ears from nearby.
Talia whipped her head around and froze upon seeing Varkas, shirtless, washing his face.
He cupped his hands to scoop up water and ran it down the back of his neck. A clear stream of water slowly trickled down his taut, rippling muscles. Staring blankly at the scene, Talia managed to squeeze out a voice.
“W-what are you doing right now?”
Varkas, who had been rubbing his face with his wet hands, turned his head toward her. His pale, water-soaked body filled her vision.
Talia’s face flushed bright red as she hurriedly pulled the blanket up to her chest.
“W-why are you naked like this! You pervert!”
Varkas, who had been silently looking down at her, let out a heavy sigh.
“I can’t exactly wash while I’m fully clothed, can I?”
“B-but why are you washing here, then…!”
Talia, who had just let out a shrill cry, held her breath the next moment. Varkas, leaning over the bed, had covered her mouth with one hand.
“Keep your voice down.”
***
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