NLS Ch2

Leotar, standing alone before the throne, paused in thought.

About this absurd situation where Ashin Judin could simply barge in, while even he had to wait to be granted a private audience.

It was an unprecedented discourtesy, but since the Emperor Vize didn’t say a word, Leotar was forced to remain silent. On the contrary, the Emperor chuckled, watching Ashin as if she were performing an adorable trick.

Only Vize and the two of them were in the audience chamber, but as always, the outside was teeming with people. The Golden Hall, where countless nobles gathered daily to chat and ministers debated pending issues. In front of all these people, the Emperor had allowed Ashin such a scene.

As though she read Leotar’s mind, Vize, propping up her chin, said,

“I apologize for Ashin’s rudeness on her behalf.”

“It’s nothing, Your Majesty.”

“That child is just overflowing with energy.”

Vize was deliberately showing him, no, the Empire, the imperial grace that Ashin enjoyed without even realizing it herself.

“Isn’t she adorable? I’ve never seen anyone cuter than my Ashin.”

“…”

A powerful monarch who brought an end to the long continental war. The pressure was clear: who would dare refuse the one she cherished most?

“She is a child I cherish like a sister. Respect her with all your heart and spend your life together.”

However, no matter how adorable that sorceress seemed to Vize, there was no place for Ashin Judin in his life. Leotar briefly considered whether there was a better answer than the one he had held onto throughout the sleepless night he spent rushing to the Imperial Palace.

But in the end-

“I refuse.”

It was an unacceptable refusal, but Vize wasn’t surprised.

“This is unusual. To see you so vehemently opposed. Why is that? What’s the problem?”

Vize gestured to Lira, the cat that was lingering by the door Ashin had exited.

“You, who never expressed your likes or dislikes, are so firmly opposed. Not ‘impossible’ or ‘I won’t do it,’ but ‘I refuse’? I’m actually curious about the reason.”

Vize, looking even more amused, stroked his chin and pondered.

“Isn’t Ashin a perfect match for your situation? Ashin won’t be cooperating with your father, and she certainly won’t be a hostage to hold you back. If necessary, she could even become your greatest asset, making her the type of ally you need most right now.”

“Why me?”

Vize narrowed one eye.

“Do you wish to provide Lord Judin with a political foundation?”

“Aren’t you the most dazzling?”

The Emperor’s index finger vaguely pointed at Leotar’s face.

“I only give the best to Ashin.”

“…”

“You’d better try to coax Ashin. She won’t move unless she feels like it.”

The Emperor’s cat jumped onto her lap. Vize stroked Lira’s forehead as it let out a clear “meow.”

“If you marry Ashin, I will grant your request. You asked me to turn a blind eye to everything that happens in Ailem for the next year. Very well, I’ll add two more years, giving you three.”

“That request has nothing to do with marriage.”

“No, it has everything to do with it.”

“…”

Leotar watched Vize stroking the cat for a long time. He tried to gauge Vize’s true intentions before answering honestly.

“Three years versus a lifetime.”

“You’re going to stake your life on those three years, aren’t you? It’s quite fair.”

Vize was certain. Leotar was planning to wage a succession war in Ailem and take the position of head of the family within a year. And Vize didn’t think for a moment that he would fail. It wasn’t just Vize’s opinion. How many people in this Empire would predict Leotar’s defeat?

Therefore, there was absolutely no harm in extending a hand to Leotar, who was experiencing minor difficulties.

From the start, it was puzzling why Ailem had betrayed Leotar. Well, it was a distinguished family that had ruled a region for a long time, so they must have had their own reasons. The Empire was a collection of feudal lords, and Vize wanted each feudal state to resolve its own problems quietly.

He didn’t want the disturbances to reach the Emperor’s ears. Since some kind of problem had occurred in Ailem and Leotar said he would resolve it quietly, Vize was actually pleased.

“It would be insufficient to ask you to choose one, but I’m giving you both, so aren’t I very generous?”

Leotar’s eyebrows twitched. Vize propped up her chin and grinned.

“Then you shouldn’t have let me see it.”

“What do you mean?”

“Perhaps it’s because I sit in a high place, but I see everything. Who is looking at whom, who is chasing after what, what they want to hide.”

Vize wore an inscrutable smile on the throne.

“There is no other way for you to gain time other than this marriage. I won’t give you even a single day. What will you do?”

As if agreeing with the Emperor’s words, Lira let out a short “meow.” Vize stroked Lira’s forehead as if it were commendable and gestured.

“So, think carefully and be gone.”

When Leotar left the audience chamber, there was an even larger crowd than before. He walked through the corridor, feeling disgusted by his situation as a spectacle. Through the window, he saw Ashin leaving the Imperial Palace. She was walking in a huff, and the ministers who were entering the palace were splitting into two to avoid her. It was an angry gait that anyone could see.

***

Ashin’s mansion was filled with gifts from the Emperor. Ashin plopped down on the rug, as dazzling as those in the Imperial Palace, and kicked off her shoes, flailing her feet in the air.

“Has Her Majesty suddenly gone mad? This is truly insane.”

A marriage alliance, of all things.

Of course, she had vaguely thought that it was something she would have to do someday, but not like this. More precisely, it shouldn’t be with Leotar Van Mur. Ashin clutched her disheveled hair and recalled her memories of him.

About ten days after the war ended.

The barracks were a celebration throughout the return journey. Ashin entered Leotar’s tent with a bottle of wine and two glasses. Leotar should have known she had entered, but he was still sitting at the conference table, looking at documents.

“Mur.”

At Ashin’s call, the man glanced up and nodded lightly. When she didn’t say anything, his brown eyes returned to the documents.

Ashin approached the head seat, filled the wine glasses, and offered one of the goblets, which exuded the sweet scent of fruit wine, to Leotar.

“Thank you.”

“I can’t believe you’ve been cooped up in this gloomy tent for days, just looking at documents in this festive atmosphere. Are you even human?”

Leotar only wet his lips and put down the glass. He didn’t seem to have any intention of drinking more or going outside. Wasn’t he an appalling human being? A human who wouldn’t leave his desk even though a war spanning decades had ended and celebrations and rewards were continuing day after day.

Ashin propped up her chin and watched him as she tilted her glass.

“You’re really fascinating.”

She tried to check the contents of the documents, but they were subtly obscured.

“What’s so serious? Can I help?”

As she tried to slightly lift the edge of the paper, his hand finally stopped. He calmly put down the quill and immediately looked directly at Ashin.

“What is your business?”

The tent was dyed red by the setting sun. Leotar’s eyes also looked reddish-brown. He roughly swept back his hair, which had grown long during the war, and a few strands of hair fell over his forehead. Neither he nor Ashin looked away. Throughout the war, they had made eye contact quite often and for a long time. And every time, Ashin was certain. This was definitely…

Ashin’s lips curved alluringly.

Even in this barracks alone, there were more than a few who sent her ardent glances. She had experienced it countless times since she grew up in the Imperial Palace. So, it wouldn’t be surprising if even the great Leotar had fallen for her charms.

“Mur, I know everything.”

“Know what?”

Ashin put down the goblet and stood up. She was slightly tipsy, but she was in her right mind. She stood, leaning on the edge of the desk, and looked down at Leotar, who was sitting upright.

An unreadable expression. But he didn’t avoid her gaze.

The sound of the orchestra that had joined the return journey and the sound of soldiers singing were heard faintly, like hearing sounds from outside while underwater. The timing was good. Their duties as commanders were over, and the post-war agreements were nearing completion.

Even the arguments they had while preparing for operations seemed like a thing of the past. So, it was time for them to become a little more intimate, but he kept working. Ashin, who didn’t have much patience to begin with, decided that she had to settle things today.

“I hope there are no misunderstandings. The reason I acted like I wanted to kill you at every headquarters strategy meeting was because of differences in our positions, not because I had any personal grievances.”

“There were no such misunderstandings.”

Good. The atmosphere was very good.

From the moment she first saw Leotar, Ashin had been waiting for this day. She had lived without giving any attention or even a glance to the opposite sex, but when she faced him, she realized. It was because a man of this caliber hadn’t caught her eye that she had no interest in the opposite sex.

A body so large that shadows would fall beside him, dark skin with prominent muscle structure and an overwhelming frame, a face that was unsuitably elegant for his massive size. He was even born into a prestigious family and had a consistently arrogant personality. There wasn’t a single thing she didn’t like.

Since it was the end of a long war, wouldn’t a reward for each other be okay? It was time to move away from work and take care of personal matters. Ashin was also aware that her appearance was attractive to everyone.

“Then, now…”

Ashin tucked the hair that had fallen down behind her ear. Her face and neck were flushed. She put strength into her arms that were resting on the desk and leaned forward. Slowly, she got closer, close enough that their noses almost touched.