TFM 111

Chapter 111

***

"Are you comparing me to some foal right now?"

When she finally decided to get angry and let the sharpness show in her voice, Varkas let out a faint sigh.

"Stop nitpicking and just finish this."

This time, he brought over a bowl filled with apricots. Talia glared at the bowl as if it were her enemy, then turned her head away.

Varkas, who had been quietly watching her, pulled a chair up next to the bed and sat down. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he picked up a small fruit and began peeling its soft skin with a knife.

Talia, who was staring at him in disbelief as he nonchalantly performed a task typically reserved for maids, raised her voice.

“Stop it. Who asked you to wait on me? Leave a high-maintenance woman like me alone and just do your own work......!”

Talia, who was ranting, suddenly grimaced at the soft flesh that had slipped into her mouth.

The man, who had effectively silenced her, wiped his juice-soaked fingers on a napkin and retorted with a smirk.

“If Your Highness doesn’t skip meals, I’ll be able to focus on my own work.”

Talia rolled her eyes, still holding a piece of apricot in her mouth.

She wanted to snap back, “What business is it of yours whether I skip a meal or not?” but to do so, she first had to swallow what was in her mouth.

Eventually, she crushed the soft flesh between her teeth. A refreshing aroma filled her mouth along with fruit juice so sweet it made her tongue tingle. It wasn’t as unpleasant as she’d expected.

“Would you like some more?”

The man, who had been watching her eat intently, picked up another piece of fruit.

After a moment’s hesitation, Talia nodded coyly.

Varkas immediately began peeling the apricot. The way he carefully trimmed the flesh with a small knife made him look like an artisan working on a piece of fine craftsmanship. At that unfamiliar sight, her irritation quickly faded.

Talia glanced at him again, as if observing an unknown creature.

Perhaps feeling guilty about having forced her to take the medicine, Varkas began tending to her meal with a somewhat obsessive intensity. At first, he merely checked to make sure she wasn’t skipping meals, but at some point, he went so far as to feed her directly. It seemed he had realized the seriousness of the situation upon seeing how little she was actually eating.

“Here, please eat.”

He said this as he brought a neatly peeled piece of apricot to her lips.

Talia opened her mouth, feigning resignation. Along with the sweet flesh, a firm finger touched the tip of her tongue.

As she blushed and tried to jerk her head back, Varkas wrapped his hand around the nape of her neck and gently covered her mouth with his other hand. He must have thought she was about to spit it out.

Talia narrowed her eyes in disbelief.

Did this man think she was a child throwing a tantrum over a meal?

“Just eat this much. I won’t force you any further.”

Varkas said coaxingly. Talia, who had been glaring at him through narrowed eyes, mechanically moved her jaw.

Only after she had swallowed the mushy food did his hand let go.

“Would you like to go for a short walk today?”

Varkas, who had even tidied up the fruit bowl, suddenly made the suggestion.

Talia, who was moistening her mouth with lukewarm water, turned to look at him with surprised eyes.

“Is it okay for me to go out?”

“The healer said fresh air and sunlight would help with your recovery.”

Varkas brought over a coat and draped it over her shoulders.

Talia furrowed her brow.

“I didn’t say I was going yet.”

“Don’t you want to?”

He tilted his head in confusion.

Talia, who had been pouting, pretended to give in and swung her legs off the bed. But before her feet even touched the floor, her body was lifted into the air.

Her momentary surprise at his matter-of-fact embrace quickly faded, and she soon relaxed her shoulders. She no longer had the energy to keep sulking.

“Aren’t you cold?”

Varkas, who had led her out of the building in an instant, asked as he pulled the hood over her head.

Talia shook her head. Although the cool air of early autumn lingered in the garden, the sunlight was still warm.

He walked along the narrow path, crunching through the grass beneath his feet. A few black thrushes, pecking at flower seeds in the brown, withered flowerbeds, fluttered up into the air.

Talia, who had been staring blankly at the scene, turned her gaze to his face. The pale sunlight was turning his light blond hair silvery. She recalled the first time Varkas had set foot in her palace.

Back then, she could never have imagined this man taking care of her like this.

But looking back, Varkas had always been generous to the weak.

He had gently cradled a dying bird and taken in a foal that had been wasting away, refusing human touch.

And that wasn’t all. He had taken it upon himself to act as guardian to Gareth and Ayla, who had lost their mother at a young age, and even took a woman who had once been his enemy as his wife, unable to turn a blind eye to her broken state.

Had he not been abused by the priests, he might have turned out to be quite a soft-hearted man.

As she lost in such thoughts, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

It didn’t take long to realize why. In one corner of the withering flower bed, an autumn rose was in bloom. Talia looked up at him, seeming surprised.

“Do you like flowers, too?”

“I neither like them nor dislike them.”

Varkas replied dryly.

Then why...

She was about to ask that, but closed her mouth. She belatedly realized he had stopped specifically to show it to her.

She blurted out impulsively.

“Pick that one for me.”

He immediately reached for the rose stem. She could see the sharp thorns piercing his fingers. But Varkas didn’t bat an eye.

With an expressionless face, Varkas plucked the rose and scraped the thorns off with his fingertips. Once the stem was finally smooth, he held it out to her. Seeing him like that, a strange emotion welled up inside her.

He was the same man who had silently shown patience even toward Gareth, who treated him so carelessly. He had been loyal to the Emperor and had served as an impeccable fiancé to Ayla.

And now, he was fulfilling his duties as her husband without a word of complaint.

Did this man intend to live his life that way—simply conforming to the expectations and demands of those around him?

For the first time, she found herself questioning his life.

“Are you… going to do everything I ask of you?”

“If it’s something I can do.”

Varkas, who had been looking puzzled, replied nonchalantly.

Talia stared at him, at a loss for words, then lowered her gaze to a pale-colored rose.

To him, it was an object devoid of any meaning. Just a worthless flower, handed over merely to fulfill a request. But she, she would love this flower until the moment she died.

In that instant, she could clearly see the true nature of the emotion she felt.

It was resignation.

She would never, in her entire life, be able to reclaim this long-standing love from him.

Nor would this man ever be afflicted by the feverish madness that had once swept her away. Yet he would do everything in his power as her husband.

Perhaps that was enough.

“If you don’t like it, I’ll pick something else for you.”

Varkas, who had been studying her face, offered. He seemed to have noticed the shadow cast across her face.

Talia shook her head.

“This will do.”

As she carefully cradled the large, yellow rose, he resumed walking.

She could see faint clouds gathering on the horizon. As the sunlight gradually faded, he turned toward the castle.

Just then, a booming voice rang out from behind them.

“Your Excellency!”

Talia turned her head and, upon seeing Daren rushing urgently across the garden, her expression darkened. Just seeing the grave look on his face was enough to make her suspect that ominous news was on the way.

Just as she had expected, the man, who had come running at full speed, spoke in a somber tone.

“It seems we must return to Raedgo Castle immediately.”

A look of sorrow was etched in the man’s eyes. After taking a moment to catch his breath, he continued in a heavy tone.

“A telegram has arrived stating that His Excellency…no, your father is in critical condition.”