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Chapter 15
“It’s fine.”
Last night, Shabiyan had tried to help the Duke. He had summoned courage to offer help in taking off his armor. But the Duke’s answer had been cold.
“You disgust me.”
Shabiyan turned away in the opposite direction. His view was blocked by an opaque cloth.
A screen had been set up in front of Shabiyan’s bed. Beyond it, only the faint outlines of the barracks could be seen.
If he tilted his head, he could catch glimpses of the barracks, but even then, the Duke’s bed and desk were hidden.
‘Maybe it was set up so I wouldn’t feel uncomfortable…’
It didn’t feel like the Duke wanted to be hidden—more like he didn’t want me to see him. Was it unpleasant for me to see him?
‘I like the Duke… he’s the best person I’ve ever seen.’
As upset Shabiyan curled himself tighter, suddenly—
“Ugh! Damn it!”
Someone stormed into the barracks, cursing loudly.
Shabiyan shot up, like a cat on high alert.
‘That ugly guy!’
He knew this man well. He came early in the morning to fetch water!
That man only stammered and served properly when the Duke was around; when the Duke was gone, he spat into the water.
“If he’s a Duke, fine! But why treat me like this? Should I just defect to Bahart?”
Several knights accompanied the man, but they only faked helping out, trembling nervously. They were very different from the disciplined knights serving the Duke.
“You all took my money but don’t help me at all?”
“…The Duke commanded that you should not be helped, Your Excellency.”
At that moment, someone tapped at the entrance of the barracks.
“Your Excellency, it’s time to fetch water for dinner.”
A Berwen knight appeared, cloaked in black. Immediately, the men and knights in the barracks lost their nerve.
“Ah, alright!”
The cursing man pretended to move the water, but the moment the Berwen knight disappeared, he resumed cursing.
“Damn it! Does changing one bucket of water change your face?”
“….”
“Thinking about it, your face isn’t good either. Isn’t the Duke way uglier than me?”
The Duke ugly?
Shabiyan couldn’t argue. He still hadn’t seen the Duke’s face.
“Ugly! Right?”
The knights hesitated, then nodded reluctantly.
“…Yes. Your Excellency is much… uh…”
The one who cleared his throat whispered hurriedly, “…handsome, of course.”
Shabiyan was shocked. Worse than that greasy, slick man?
‘No, no, why am I thinking about this? I don’t like the Duke just because of his face.’
No. What he liked about the Duke was his ease and kindness. Stern but delicate, thoughtful to the core.
“Right? Hahaha!”
The man laughed, then spat into the water bucket.
‘That guy!’
Shabiyan clenched his white fists.
Fetching water for the knights? That was normal. But this man, acting as the Duke’s servant, was terrible.
‘If I were the Duke’s servant, I’d never do that!’
I would polish the armor, iron the cloak, even put flowers in the water for fragrance.
“Then let’s go.”
Even though the man served with the knights, it seemed like he was only playing the role of a servant.
Shabiyan found it odd but wondered if this was typical in Hailen. He clenched his fists tighter.
‘I am a prince too…’
Even as a prince, if a count could act as a servant, could I too serve in this way?
Still depressed, Shabiyan rose energetically from his seat.
“Ahh.”
His leg still hurt a little, but it was much better. Limping slightly, he approached the water.
‘What if the Duke uses this water?’
The Duke washed outside in the morning, so he didn’t use the fetched water, but perhaps at lunch or dinner he might.
‘…It’s heavy.’
Shabiyan dragged the heavy bucket out of the barracks.
The knights standing at a distance ignored him, looking away.
‘Different from Kelien.’
Shabiyan had been able to escape the Bahart camp because Kelien’s knights had left him alone. In that harsh atmosphere, no one would have imagined he could flee.
Here, it was free. No matter where he went or what he did, the knights let him be. It felt more like protection than supervision.
“Ugh.”
Still, this was something he could do.
As he lifted the bucket, his arms shook. He wanted to pour it out right in front of the barracks. He planned to dump it in the stream nearby to avoid mud on the Duke’s shoes.
After several rests and starts, he finally reached the stream.
‘Ah, there it is!’
Shabiyan saw something and reached out.
‘It’s the cabin!’
The cabin where he had been with the Duke.
The barracks were built nearby. Shabiyan’s cheeks turned red as he saw it.
‘Don’t… think about it!’
He tried desperately not to recall that moment.
“Don’t overdo it yet.”
The Duke’s voice.
Shabiyan, squatting by the stream, shook his head and looked up. Beside him lay the empty bucket meant for Detto.
“I’ll take you there.”
It required so much effort.
Shabiyan nodded with big, scared eyes. He grabbed the empty bucket and followed closely behind.
“I-I’ll ride.”
Shabiyan stroked the horse’s back. The horse lowered itself on its own. Amazing every time.
“Ride, then.”
Shabiyan climbed carefully and looked down at me. The roles seemed reversed.
“Yes.”
I mounted quickly and guided the horse.
The road we had taken last night looked different in the daylight. The sun and wind swaying the grass made me feel relaxed.
‘Why am I so sleepy?’
Whenever I was near Shabiyan, I felt this. I normally slept poorly, yet I was drowsy.
Unable to fight it, I loosened the reins and let the horse walk freely.
“Duke.”
Shabiyan grabbed my waist.
“W-would you consider changing your servant?”
Servant? Oh, Detto? Count of Hessen?
“…Yes.”
He was being punished. And besides, he wasn’t my servant—too much trouble to explain. Too lazy, too tired.
Shabiyan babbled on, talking about his thoroughness in cleaning boots and armor, fetching water, helping take off armor once his leg healed.
“Your Excellency!”
Bathing in gentle sunlight, nearly dozing, we reached the barracks when a knight approached, looking urgent.
“What is it?”
I straightened, suddenly alert.
“The Bahart Crown Prince has proposed an unofficial negotiation. They hope to meet as soon as possible.”
Shabiyan clutched my cloak tightly. That must mean Kelien was scary.
“Understood. We’ll prepare immediately.”
I patted his hands to reassure him. Even I had been surprised by Kelien’s presence, so how frightening must it be for timid Shabiyan?
“D-Duke.”
After dismounting, I held Shabiyan and entered the barracks.
As I laid him on the bed, his arms wrapped around my neck.
“Don’t… don’t leave me…”
He looked up at me, desperate. His hands slid over the armor where there was nothing to grasp.
“Yes. I won’t leave.”
He must really fear Kelien. I smiled and lightly patted his head. My helmet probably hid it.
“Inform the Crown Prince that I’ve arrived.”
By the time I finished reviewing the final agreement, it was night. I wanted to end this negotiation quickly, so I barged into Kelien’s barracks.
“The Emperor commanded you be treated with courtesy.”
The knight who had vanished returned.
“Also, prepare proper etiquette before entering.”
Proper etiquette? I remembered the last time I was scolded for not removing my helmet.
Still, I didn’t want to cause trouble in enemy territory, so I removed my helmet.
“Are you here?”
I stopped suddenly at the doorway. I admitted I had barged in, but—
“The wine’s more flavorful now.”
Kelien’s crimson robe was open at the front. In the dim light, he slowly poured wine, as if I were an appetizer.
“Would you like a drink?”
“No, thanks.”
Kelien poured wine anyway, tilting the bottle with a playful smirk.
“As I informed you, the 8th Prince is with me.”
“Hmm. My subordinates all failed, I see. Seems like your work.”
“Apologies. I mistook the 8th Prince for a slave hunter’s target.”
“Slave, huh… not entirely wrong.”
Kelien rose, revealing a large scar on his chest.
“Let me see it.”
He took the rolled-up documents from my hand, whispering playfully by my ear.
“I’ll review them carefully.”
This time, Kelien’s eyes were dark. Last time, he had been all over the place. Maybe he trained somewhere.
“Yes. Please do.”
His words were polite, but I told him to skim and sign quickly. Kelien propped one foot on the bed and began skimming.
“Clause 2 is too unfavorable for us.”
I thought he was skimming, but—
“Not just 2, but 3, 5, 7, 8. Is Hailen full of thieves?”
He saw through it all.
How did he know? The clauses he mentioned were carefully worded to be ambiguous.
“But…”
He nudged the wine glass on the bed.
“If you drink this, we’ll overlook Clause 2.”
Kelien gestured toward the wine. His sharp profile stood out in the dim light.
“What will our stern Duke do? A sip of wine could change the compensation.”
He raised the glass, eyes fixed on me.
A sip could even break the black magic. My one true weakness.
