WMT | Chapter 17

“Have you always handled things this way?”

When asked if he just let things slide, Theodore rubbed his lips.

“Yes. I didn’t come here to say this today, but… it will be rare in the future. They must have realized by now that it’s hard to kill me even with this much effort.”

He hesitated, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Besides, Your Highness will help me, won’t you?”

Wiss was puzzled by his words.

‘Of course, I’ll help you because it would be troublesome if you died in this country.’

“Yes, I suppose I will…”

“Then it should be fine, right? …I can’t promise it won’t be dangerous in the future. My brother is very focused and doesn’t change his mind easily once he’s decided on something.”

‘What’s supposed to be fine?’

Wasn’t he saying that the King of Palatine was obsessive and pouring that obsession into trying to kill his brother?

Wiss felt his plan to incite a civil war in Palatine by provoking the duke was crumbling in real-time.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“…Yes? Yes.”

Of course, Wiss was fine with it.

The marriage was pursued to avoid paying reparations, so the original purpose was achieved.

Wasn’t it that guy who wasn’t okay?

‘Is this guy’s head alright?’

He seemed like a person who lacked the instinct for self-preservation. He didn’t even have the intention to stop someone who wanted to harm him.

Wiss realized he was dealing with an astonishingly naive person.

“You’re quite lenient with your enemies, Your Grace.”

“Haha. Not really.”

How is that not the case?

That must be why he left the punishment of the ringleaders to King Jeremiah. Because he lacked a sense of revenge.

With that personality, it’s amazing he became a war hero.

“While interrogating your former lover… I thought you might resent me if something happened to him.”

As he said this, Theodore clenched and unclenched his fist.

Even through the gloves, it was clear that the knight’s strong fist was tensed. If a person’s neck were caught in that grip, it would break without a scream.

“I’m glad I found your guard lingering around the tower.”

Theodore smiled brightly.

“……”

What would he have done if he hadn’t seen the guard?

── .✦

Wiss returned to his room feeling uneasy. Eating well was as important as exercising to build muscle.

Chicken breast and boiled eggs prepared by the chef were on the table. The guard gagged.

“Your Highness, how long do we have to eat this?”

“Until you can beat me.”

“You never said that!”

Wiss gave the rebellious guard more chicken breast. Then he bit into his share of the eggs.

‘I can’t believe I’m doing this again.’

A slave could never match the stamina of well-fed and well-trained knights. But he couldn’t exactly tell the pursuing knights, This is unfair, let’s take a break.

Wiss had forcibly built up his body, thanks to a former knight joining his escape procession.

That old knight was a wanderer who had lost his master. He was also the swordsmanship teacher of both Wiss and the adjutant who betrayed him.

Wiss thought he understood the source of his unease with Theodore.

‘They resemble each other.’

Wiss’s adjutant’s name was also Theo. It wasn’t strange since Theodore likely inherited the name from an ancestor.

What bothered him was that their personalities were similar too.

Wiss’s adjutant was a knight with a surprisingly complete character, considering he was a former slave. He was gentle and always lenient, even when it cost him, but despite his strong morals, he could be strangely ruthless at times.

‘He’s a descendant.’

Wiss sorted out his bitter feelings.

“By the way, Your Highness. How’s the kingdom-saving going?”

“What.”

“That guy’s vibe is no joke. Oh, the way he looked at me earlier. I didn’t even know why at first.”

“What are you talking about?”

“No, when you were beating me earlier. He looked at me like this.”

The guard pursed his lips and made a scary face.

It didn’t resemble him at all.

“If I were having a good time with you, I wouldn’t be so upset! I thought I was going to die of fear!”

“So you hid behind your master?”

The guard realized his mistake and started to explain.

“No, it’s not like he would harm you, Your Highness… I wouldn’t use you as a shield, would I? Haha. Ow!”

Wiss kicked the guard’s shin and crossed his arms.

‘No matter how you look at it, that’s what it is.’

Even the guard could see that guy was treating Wiss like his wife.

The guard rubbed his shin and spoke with a hint of injustice.

“No, I’m saying your plan execution was excellent, and it seems like he’s fallen for you, so why hit me?”

Wiss chuckled.

“I know.”

The fact that the result was being treated like an Omega wife was a bit unsettling, but what did it matter?

He had avoided a future buried under reparations.

What was bothering him, though…

“Because we’re the only family we have.”

‘No.’

Wiss shook his head to chase away the thought. It was like a mouse worrying about a cat.

Anyway, that guy had become enemies with his brother. He was probably the only one who thought of them as family, but wouldn’t it be good if he became the King of Palatine and no longer faced threats to his life?

If he took in concubines and had children, he’d have a real family too.

Suddenly, Wiss looked at the door.

“What’s wrong?”

“Go check outside.”

“…There’s nothing there.”

The guard returned.

Wiss’s senses didn’t pick up anything either.

Was it just his imagination? It felt like there was a presence.

Wissmia’s body was sensitive despite its inferior performance. There was a reason it was so thin.

“Eat, and let’s run in the training ground tonight.”

“Again? …Sounds great.”

The room was filled with the sound of chewing.

── .✦

Theodore’s adjutant, Jessen, was filled with a sense of foreboding. The cause was his superior.

Theodore, known to the world as Duke Akazel, was an excellent knight—a symbol of chivalry, devoted to the weak, just, and loyal.

That reputation wasn’t far from reality. What the world didn’t know was that Duke Akazel was more emotional than anyone imagined.

The knights under the duke were well united. They had a common enemy.

That enemy was the King of Palatine.

Knights who joined under the duke quickly pledged their loyalty wholeheartedly. It was hard not to respect a superior who was fair, didn’t give unreasonable orders, and was the kingdom’s greatest knight.

However, Duke Akazel, who was fair and excellent, didn’t give his brother, who tried to kill him, the punishment he deserved.

The knights under him couldn’t understand.

No master punishes a knight who obeys without complaint, even when given dog-like orders.

Yet Theodore had given the kingdom to the King of Palatine. He had won the conquest war and elevated Palatine’s name.

Was this the reward?

‘I can’t stand it any longer. What is the duke thinking?’

It wouldn’t be strange if the knights’ dissatisfaction erupted.

Did Jessen understand?

‘How could you understand the duke’s mind? Just shut up and train.‘ That was the only way to keep them quiet.

Jessen had served Theodore for quite some time. He knew that the King of Palatine’s threats had never physically harmed Theodore, but that was only on the outside.

‘He’s going to drink again.’

Jessen clicked his tongue inwardly.

But Theodore wasn’t as downhearted as usual.

He had been in an oddly good state lately.

What was different?

And why had he suddenly taken an interest in desserts? Why was he curious about Prince Wissmia’s movements?

It was when he entered the office.

“…Your Grace?”

“You’re just in time. What do you think?”

“What do you mean?”

The duke smiled. In fact, Jessen had noticed something strange too.

“He seems to like flowers. Do you think it will please him?”

On the stark office desk lay a bouquet of flowers. It was so lavishly arranged that it was larger than a person’s head.

The bouquet of colorful roses was adorned with threads woven with small pearls. They wrapped around the bouquet, forming a massive knot.

Instead of thinking it was beautiful, the first thought was, How much did that cost?

“It’s very… beautiful.”

Jessen barely held back from saying, It looks expensive.

“Is that so? That’s a relief. I’m not used to these things.”

“Are you giving it to Prince Wissmia?”

“Yes.”

Theodore picked up the bouquet and smiled. Few knights mentioned Duke Akazel’s appearance among his many virtues, but in truth, the knights in the duke’s camp took pride in having such a handsome and dashing master.

“Wouldn’t it be better not to? It could lead to misunderstandings…”

“What misunderstanding?”

“Usually, such bouquets are used for confessions or proposals, aren’t they?”

Jessen didn’t have a good impression of Prince Wissmia.

Wasn’t the ringleader of the attack that prince’s lover?

Even during the interrogation, that guy kept saying it was all done to get the prince back. Considering how the prince ran to his captured lover, they seemed like a fitting pair.

“That’s because I ordered it for a proposal.”

“…I must have misheard?”