TFM 102

Chapter 102

***

His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were simply heading out for an evening stroll.

Talia raised an eyebrow.

“A skirmish?”

Varkas, who was handing a leather pouch filled with gold coins to a man who appeared to be an administrator, looked down at her. As if sensing her irritation, a faint sigh escaped from between his tightly pursed lips.

“We’ve received reports that raiders have set up camp in this area. Since their base isn’t very large, we should be able to return by sunrise.”

Do you really have to go too?

Just as Talia was about to blurt that out, she noticed the dozens of pairs of eyes watching her and clamped her mouth shut.

Her stomach churned with anxiety, but she didn’t want this utterly indifferent man to see how frantic she really was.

She brushed away the hand resting on her shoulder and snapped coldly.

“It’s none of my business when you come back. I want to rest, so just take me to my quarters.”

Across from them, the village head, who had been watching their exchange, let out a gasp.

But Varkas himself showed no reaction whatsoever. He turned back to the old man and asked,

“Where are the quarters?”

“Ah… please follow me this way.”

The man hurriedly took the lead.

As they followed him, a modest-sized stone building came into view.

Once inside, the old man stammered out an explanation.

“This building was originally used as official quarters, but upon hearing that Your Excellency was scheduled to visit, we had it completely cleared out. Here, you may use this room.”

He carefully pushed open the large door at the far end.

Talia surveyed the dimly lit bedroom with a disinterested gaze.

Contrary to its shabby exterior, the interior was quite cozily furnished. It seemed to have been deliberately decorated to welcome guests.

The village head, gauging her reaction, added cautiously.

“If there is anything lacking, please let me know immediately. I will have it corrected right away.”

“No, this is fine. You may leave now.”

Talia, who had been examining the bed covered in thick sheets, said this with her chin held high in an air of arrogance.

The old man, glancing at Varkas, promptly took his leave.

Talia took off her flowing robe, tossed it carelessly aside, and flopped down onto the bed. Varkas, who had been silently watching her, approached her side.

Talia deliberately ignored his presence and turned her body away. She felt that if she looked at his face, she would end up snapping at him for no reason.

She tugged at the blanket and snapped,

“I’m just going to sleep tonight, so tell the nanny I don’t need dinner.”

“Talia.”

Feeling a deep shadow fall over her head, Talia flinched and looked up. Varkas was leaning over her, his hand resting beside her pillow.

The glow of the sunset streaming through the window bathed one side of his face in red. As she stared, mesmerized by his enigmatic features, a cool finger touched her forehead.

“Please don’t skip a meal, even if you’re tired.”

“What business is it of yours whether I starve or not?”

Talia turned her head away and roughly shook off his hand.

“You should go kill those raiders already.”

A faint furrow appeared between his brows. He seemed completely oblivious to why she was upset.

Talia pulled the blanket up over her head.

Soon, she heard the sound of him rising from the bed. A sudden wave of anxiety surged as his footsteps faded into the distance.

He was a man who could effortlessly kill a giant twice his size. She had even seen him chain a wyvern and bring it down. A band of raiders would be nothing to him.

But nothing in this world was absolute.

She jumped to her feet and grabbed the hem of his cloak.

He paused and turned to look at her. She muttered in a voice so soft it was barely audible.

“Take… care of yourself.”

His eyes widened slightly.

Seeing him react that way to such a trivial remark made her heart skip a beat.

She added brusquely, as if to brush it off.

“If something happens to you, my position will be in jeopardy. So, just take care of yourself.”

A subtle expression—part smile, part frown—flashed across his face and vanished.

Talia hid herself under the covers again. Soon after, heavy footsteps could be heard.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon.”

Varkas, who had leaned over the bed again, gently stroked her hair.

Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected touch.

For some reason, that gentle touch made her heart flutter even more than a passionate kiss.

A moment later, he left the room.

Talia raised her head ever so slightly, like a snail peeking out of its shell.

As she approached the window, she saw hundreds of soldiers standing at the ready in front of the mansion.

Before long, Varkas joined them. Talia watched for a long time as he led the army toward the outskirts of the village.

Even after his figure had disappeared over the hill, she couldn’t bring herself to leave the window, when a familiar voice sounded from outside the door.

“Your Highness, I’ve come to apply your ointment.”

“………………Come in.”

No sooner had she given her permission than the Taren family’s healer stepped inside.

Talia hobbled over and sat down on a chair placed in front of the fireplace. The woman knelt before her, carefully lifting the hem of her robe, and asked,

“How are you feeling?”

“Same as always, I suppose.”

She unwrapped the bandages, which had been expertly rolled up, and examined the damaged skin closely.

“It seems the skin has finally started to break down. It would be best to leave the bandages off tonight.”

Talia glared at her with a sharp look.

“No. Wrap them back on properly.”

“His Highness is away today, isn’t he? There’s no need to go out of your way to hide the scar……………”

“Do you think I’m doing this because of Varkas!”

Talia raised her voice in a burst of anger. The healer’s face froze in shock.

Staring at that tense face, Talia muttered in a subdued voice.

“It’s because I don’t want to see it. So wrap it up properly.”

The healer let out a short sigh and, as if resigned to her fate, took out a new bandage. She then carefully spread a sticky ointment over the scar and wrapped the bandage as loosely as possible.

“Do you think the medicine made by the sorcerer from the East is effective?”

The woman, who had been wiping the ointment off her hands with a towel, suddenly asked.

Talia replied indifferently.

“It doesn’t seem completely ineffective. The medicine is so potent that it makes my stomach hurt a little, but after I take it, I feel fine the next day.”

“Do you know what herbs are in it?”

“I was only told it’s a mixture of various herbs that restore vitality.”

Talia looked down at the healer with a suspicious gaze.

“Why are you prying so much? Are you worried I might have been poisoned or something?”

“………………I was instructed by Her Majesty the Empress to keep a close watch on Your Highness’s health.”

The healer began cautiously.

“And, aren’t there many people here who don’t take kindly to Your Highness’s presence? It can’t hurt to be careful.”

Talia, who had been glaring at her with a stern expression, retorted coldly.

“If they were going to poison me, they would have put it in my food or drink. Why would they mix it into my medicine when it would be obvious right away?”

The woman fell silent, her expression pensive.

Was there something that didn’t quite add up?

Talia, who had been looking uneasy, added as if doing her a favor.

“If you’re that suspicious, I’ll leave a little of the medicine behind. Take it with you and check it out.”

***

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