Chapter : 8
《— — –.》
Gus’s low voice pulled Aspara out of her trance.
“Ah…!”
As she reluctantly opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was a snowfield where patches of black earth were exposed. Covering it entirely was a vast field of purple flowers.
The scent of vegetation drifted through the air—not overpowering, but sharp enough to clearly tickle her nose.
The purple flowers had petals as thick as a child’s little finger. Unlike the delicate blossoms of the south that fluttered gently in the breeze, these northern flowers had thick stems covered in coarse hairs.
They were rough-looking flowers, yet blooming across the snowy plain in such abundance, they formed a truly magnificent sight.
Neigh!
At the horse’s cry, the warm four-legged beast finally came to a halt.
Keeping one hand on the saddle, Gus gathered his long legs beneath him and lightly jumped to the ground. He then knelt on one knee in the snow, offering himself as a step for his wife.
Just as before, he made no move to offer her his hand.
《— – —.》
“Thank you. However…”
Aspara stretched her hand out directly in front of the man’s face.
“When helping a lady dismount, you’re supposed to hold her hand. Surely you weren’t planning to simply stick out your knee again after putting me on such a tall horse?”
The lord hesitantly extended his hand halfway before the little lady seized it as though snatching it away.
Aspara hopped down as lightly as a squirrel climbing down an old tree.
“So then… what kind of flower is this?”
That morning was an unusually leisurely one for Gus.
Well, to be precise, he had plenty of work to do. Most of that work, however, consisted of waiting.
It was one of those days when all he could do was wait for the people who had gone outside the castle to return and make their reports. Such days were hardly uncommon here.
Only the servant Ugly remained in the office, and even he merely reported that there was little for him to do today.
Ugly had always been exceptionally loyal to Gus.
However, ever since that night beneath the moon when the sentimental lord had confided his true feelings to him, he had become noticeably more affectionate.
《Ugly.》
《Yes, my lord.》
After finishing his report, the servant heard Gus speak.
《It may be a little late to say this… but I caused quite a bit of trouble last time.》
《A man who is to become our ruler shouldn’t apologize over something like that. Besides, you’ve been under a great deal of stress lately, haven’t you?》
《Thank you for understanding.》
《Please don’t worry. I haven’t told a single soul that my lord ran through the corridors half-naked under the moonlight.》
《…Thank you.》
Unlike his master, whose heartache had only worsened recently, Ugly’s complexion had been positively glowing these past few days.
《You seem to be in good spirits lately.》
《Is it that obvious?》
Smiling broadly, the servant blushed.
《Actually… I’ve recently started seeing someone.》
《You?》
Gus blinked in surprise.
Romance.
He had always assumed Ugly was the sort of fellow who knew nothing of the happiness that came from a serious relationship.
Setting aside the state of his own marriage, he felt genuinely happy for his subordinate.
《That’s wonderful news. If the opportunity comes, why don’t you introduce the two of us someday?》
《Well… even if you’re my dear friend, you’re still my lord and future king. I think she’d find that rather intimidating.》
Never in his life had Gus expected such an easygoing fellow to refuse him outright.
Still, after hearing the explanation that followed, he could only nod in agreement.
《That’s true.》
《You know… after experiencing romance myself, I’ve realized it’s truly wonderful. Which is why…》
Ugly grinned once more.
《I think my lord ought to experience this wonderful thing called romance as well.》
《There are things you may say to a man who already has a beloved… and things you may not.》
《Exactly—with that beloved of yours.》
He wore the mischievous smile he always had whenever he was plotting something amusing.
Gus felt uneasy.
The two of them had been lord and retainer, comrades-in-arms, and close friends for many years.
Still, if he were being honest, this subordinate—whose personality was the complete opposite of his own—could sometimes…
No, quite often in private…
Be rather exhausting.
《You’ve exchanged marriage vows, but you haven’t held the wedding ceremony yet. If you think about it, isn’t now exactly the time for courting? Her Ladyship seems to enjoy horseback riding, so why not take her out somewhere? After today, you’ll rarely have another day this free.》
“There, there.”
With his usual cheeky grin, the servant physically pushed his lord out of the office.
“M-My, wait… suddenly… but…”
Muttering weak protests, Gus allowed himself to be shoved out by Ugly’s hands.
Though, in truth…
Both of them knew perfectly well.
The warlord known as the King of the Barbarians, Gus, possessed a body far too massive to be forcibly moved by a single servant.
《I believe the future queen is in her room. That slow-witted knight shouldn’t be with her, so hurry over and either carry her to the stables or drag her there. I’ll be on my way. After all, nothing is less impressive than a man who brings someone else along to ask a lady out on a date.》
“Drag her…?”
Before Gus could even finish speaking, Ugly disappeared down the corridor with his usual cheerful smile.
He was undoubtedly an excellent servant.
Yet there were still many things about him that Gus simply couldn’t understand.
It embarrassed him that his dislike for his wife’s knight had been so obvious.
And besides…
How was he supposed to go on a date when they couldn’t even speak the same language?
The knight isn’t here… Does that mean a man and woman meeting alone in broad daylight isn’t… somewhat… improper for an honorable man…?
Even while thinking such thoughts, the lord’s feet never stopped carrying him toward his wife’s room.
Ugly hurried down the corridor in the opposite direction from Gus.
If he wanted to separate that adorably foolish knight beforehand, he had to arrive before his lord.
Still, there was more than enough time to enjoy himself.
His lord would undoubtedly stand in front of the lady’s door hesitating for quite some time.
Since my lord will probably miss afternoon tea today, I suppose it won’t hurt if I steal a few sweets for myself.
It wasn’t only Gus who both respected and failed to understand his longtime friend.
Ugly, too, often found his lord impossible to understand.
Why should anyone feel guilty for falling in love simply because fate placed someone in their hands, regardless of the other’s intentions?
If a cute little bird accidentally flew into your hands and couldn’t escape, all you had to do was cherish it and enjoy its company.
His steps toward the stammering knight were remarkably light.
After getting off the horse, Aspara bent down and examined the flower field closely.
Its unusual fragrance tickled her nose.
How can flowers like this bloom in such a cold place… where there aren’t even any insects…?
Looking closer, she noticed the stamens stood tall and pointed.
Rather than relying on insects for pollination, they seemed designed to reproduce solely through the strong, freezing winds.
Are flowers like these common in this region?
She thought back to the northern castle she had secretly been calling “Fang Castle.”
Perhaps…
Its name wasn’t inspired by some terrifying beast’s jaws after all.
Perhaps it was modeled after these flowers instead.
Lord Gus of Pistil Castle…
The image was so utterly mismatched that she couldn’t help smiling to herself.
《— — —. – —…….》
Gus picked the most vividly colored flower, then snapped one of its petals cleanly in half.
He held it out in front of Aspara’s face.
The inside of the thick purple petal was as pure and white as fresh snow.
The distinctive fragrance drifting from the broken cross-section was surprisingly pleasant.
With the bride leaning over the flowers, her face hidden among the blossoms, the much taller Gus couldn’t see her expression very well.
Trying not to make it obvious, he darted his eyes around, secretly studying his wife’s complexion.
《— —. –?》
Ever since their wedding night, Gus had been desperately trying to earn points with his new bride.
So when Aspara herself expressed a desire to see his homeland, he had been overjoyed.
Compared to the sunny southern coast, this northern land was undeniably underdeveloped.
Even so…
He loved his homeland.
He believed that if the southern princess saw this sea of flowers, she might come to love this place a little as well.
But once again…
Gus’s heart slowly sank.
His flower-like bride wasn’t smiling at all.
Instead, she stared blankly at the broken petal with her brows tightly furrowed.
Aspara inhaled the scent drifting from the broken petal once more.
It was familiar.
Very familiar.
“What do your people use this flower for?”
《— –, ―?》
Damn this twisted northern language.
Today it sounded even more irritating than usual.
I should have brought Jack.
Of all days, why had he disappeared this morning?
Aspara tucked the flower into her arms.
“Thank you for showing me this. I’ve gained something quite unexpected today.”
She smiled politely.
“Now then, my husband must be very busy. Let us return.”
She walked over to the horse, which had just begun peacefully grazing on the moss beside the flower field.
She felt a little sorry for the poor animal, which had only just started resting after carrying them all this way.
But more than anything…
She wanted to return to the castle before the short northern day came to an end.
“Do you still have other business here? My errand is finished.”
《— — — – —?》
“I think I’ll head back now.”
《— – ―.》
“Would that be alright?”
《…— –, return?》
“Yes.”
《— – ―.》
“Return.”
Re-turn.
Using the basic northern vocabulary she had picked up over the past few days from living with the maids, Aspara slowly pronounced each syllable.
Gus looked at his bride.
Frustrated that he couldn’t understand her, she struggled to climb back onto the horse by herself.
After several unsuccessful attempts, she finally gave up and looked back at him.
Gus thought to himself—
Among the already small-framed people of the south, his bride was particularly tiny.
Without his help…
There was no way she could ever make it back to the castle on her own.
From her perspective, the snow-covered wilderness was simply too vast…
Too empty.
