TCCIO 49

Chapter 49 – The Best Choice

The sun’s heat warmed not only the palace gardens but also the Queen’s reception room on the second floor of the royal castle. To cool the air, every window in the reception room had been opened, letting the breeze flow in. Between the softly fluttering curtains, strands of Delia’s golden hair danced in the wind.

Although one might expect her to seek shade, Delia remained glued to the window, unwilling to move away. Keeping her gaze fixed outside, she asked her lady-in-waiting, Anes:

“Anes, please bring me a glass of cool water.”

Delia was surveying the royal gardens spread out below. Her blue eyes, shimmering under the sunlight, moved busily as if searching for something. The delicate white hand clutching the edge of the ornate curtain tightened unconsciously.

“Imperial troops filling the whole of Iorenti Castle…”

In the gardens, work was in full swing to build waterways for the fountain. The same Imperial soldiers who had once come with swords and guns to seize Iorenti were now busy digging the earth. The blazing sun seemed unbearable, for one by one they discarded their jackets. Sweat ran over their well-built muscles, catching the light and glistening. The heat they exuded seemed to fill and warm the entire castle.

“Just a short while ago, we were pointing weapons at each other.”

“I still can’t believe it either.”

Anes answered as she prepared the water, responding to Delia’s murmured thoughts.

“When the Imperial army stormed the castle that first day, I thought we were all going to die.”

Remembering the terror of that time, Anes gripped the water jug tightly. The stream of water that poured from it trembled as if reflecting her fear.

“And now, for such a peaceful day to arrive…”

“I never imagined it either.”

Back when she had thrust a blade forward to assassinate the enemy’s supreme commander, she never could have imagined this day would come — the day she would need to claim him as hers. Even when she had swallowed lily-of-the-valley to escape him, she never thought this day would come — the day she could have him. Her blue eyes blinked repeatedly as if to confirm this unbelievable reality, gazing out at the Imperial troops filling Iorenti Castle.

“It’s all thanks to you, Your Highness.”

“Thanks to me? What is?”

“You personally managed to seal the marriage alliance in dramatic fashion.”

Anes chattered as she handed Delia the glass of water.

“If you hadn’t stepped forward, we might have disappeared without a trace, like Royeni and Kirens.”

“It’s not settled yet. We still need the council’s approval.”

At that point, Delia turned her head toward the door of the reception room.

“And we need Mother’s permission too.”

“But why is Her Majesty the Queen so opposed to the Commander? His Majesty the King already gave his consent.”

“Because he was our enemy until just recently. It won’t be easy for her to accept.”

“Still, a marriage alliance is probably our best option right now.”

Was it truly the best choice? Whenever uncertainty crept in, she asked herself that question — but always came to the same answer: even if she could go back, she would choose the same path.

“Even Boswell, who seemed like an eternal ally, betrayed us. What’s the big deal about taking the enemy’s hand?”

“Mother’s family is from Boswell. Aligning with the Empire would mean turning our backs on them — that makes it even harder for her.”

“It’s all so complicated.”

“And she’s badly misunderstanding the Commander.”

Delia recalled her mother’s shocked expression on that first day and sighed quietly.

“Until that misunderstanding clears, I’ll just have to reassure her.”

“In any case, I just hope you marry soon so this war will end.”

Listening to Anes’s voice, Delia took a sip of water. The cool liquid slid down her throat, calming her anxious heart. Just being able to protect Iorenti and bring the war to an end was enough to make this a good decision.

“But why do you think the Commander suddenly changed his mind? He came in like he was going to kill us, and now it’s a marriage alliance?”

“Who knows.”

“I think it’s obvious — he’s fallen in love with you, Princess.”

Love? Delia’s fingers, touching the curtain, tingled for some reason, and she clenched them slightly.

“Why do you think that?”

She asked casually, but a small hint of excitement crept into her tone.

“In Royeni and Kirens, they killed everyone in the castle. But here, they spared us.”

“You’re calling sparing us love?”

“And he’s been trying to impress the Queen — helping with garden repairs and all.”

Thinking of Aaron, Delia smiled faintly. That overbearing man was always unfailingly polite before her mother. As if to declare, I’m no brutish Imperial soldier — I’m a gentleman who knows propriety.

Seeing Delia’s smile, Anes couldn’t hold back her curiosity.

“Are you all right with it, Your Highness?”

“With what?”

“Marrying the Imperial Commander.”

“I must. For Iorenti.”

“I mean not as a Princess, but as a woman. Are you all right with it?”

“As a woman…”

Delia repeated the words, still looking out the window. Where was he?

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“What’s there to be afraid of?”

“Do you know why they call him the Commander with the Devil’s Smile? Because the smile he wears when killing is too beautiful.”

“Is that so?”

Her tone was indifferent, but her eyes were instinctively searching for something.

“They say no lady in the Empire could get close to him — he smiles elegantly and crushes them with words.”

Ah. Found him.

Delia’s blue eyes sparkled brightly — the moment she spotted what she’d been searching for. Anes’s chatter seemed to drift away to some far-off place. The lines of countless Imperial soldiers digging in the garden blurred. Only he seemed to exist, bathed in light.

Was he giving orders to his subordinates about the canal work? Each time Aaron moved, his silver hair caught the sunlight and scattered it across the air.

He was dazzlingly beautiful. How could she not choose him?

The feelings she had long suppressed and ignored spilled out uncontrollably. Delia, smiling faintly, handed her cup back to Anes.

“Once you get to know him, he’s not so frightening.”

“When would you have had the chance to get to know him, Your Highness? You’ve hardly had any chance to meet — you’ve been with the Queen all this time.”

“The other time…”

Delia almost spoke but stopped. Her capture during a reconnaissance trip to Mount Tarens had been kept secret under her father’s orders. Officially, she had gone outside the capital for rest due to poor health. She couldn’t reveal that she’d spent that time with the Commander.

Unable to tell the truth, she settled for a vague answer.

“You can tell from how he treats Mother. He’s gentlemanly.”

“Ah, that’s true. Then those rumors must be false. A man that refined would never scare and make ladies cry.”

Anes nodded, satisfied.

She glanced at the birdcage beside Delia.

“By the way, Princess, how long are we keeping that bird?”

Delia looked over at the cage by the window — the bird left behind by May Carlo, who had vanished after leaving strange words. Its eyes were sharp, much like its master.

“Can’t we just release it?”

“Hmm…”

Delia frowned slightly.

“It’s so fierce no one wants to feed it — it pecks at anyone who tries.”

“Still, I can’t just let it go.”

She remembered May Carlo’s words:

If you ever need my help, release the bird.

If May’s master was anyone, it would be Aaron, the Imperial Commander. But what help could she possibly need from one of his subordinates?

“Keep looking after it until I can hand it back to its owner.”

She would ask the Commander to summon May Carlo. Before returning the bird, she would press him for an explanation of those strange words.

As Delia’s thoughts returned to the garden, she noticed — oh? — he was gone. In the short time they’d been talking about the bird, that shining silver hair had disappeared.

“Is it that time already?”

Murmuring to herself, she quickly picked up a thick etiquette book. Holding the book in one hand and lifting her dress with the other, she walked lightly toward the Queen, who was embroidering. On the embroidery hoop, a butterfly was emerging in threads of many colors.

Delia glanced at her mother’s work, then sat demurely across from her, etiquette book open and ears pricked.

After a short while, the familiar sounds arrived: steady footsteps beyond the door, voices speaking to the attendant at the door, orders being given to a subordinate.

Then — knock, knock.

The door, carved with delicate ivy-leaf patterns, opened slightly, and the attendant announced cautiously:

“Your Majesty, Commander Aaron Bergen is here. What shall I do?”

The Queen’s hands froze. Was it that time already? She looked up at her daughter, now sitting primly with an etiquette book in her lap, as if she had known the Commander would come.

The Queen sighed deeply.

“Show him in.”

The moment the words left her lips, Aaron stepped forward as if he had been waiting. His precise, measured steps somehow carried a hint of haste.

“I greet the beautiful Queen of Iorenti.”

He approached, bowed slightly, and brushed his lips over the back of her hand. Then he turned toward Delia.

She had surely heard every word of his greeting — but her eyes remained fixed on the book, deliberately ignoring him.

“Ahem.”

Clearing his throat to draw her attention, Aaron spoke:

“I greet the Princess of Iorenti.”

Only then did Delia raise her head. Her face bore a refined, dignified smile, as if declaring, I am the graceful Princess of Iorenti.

Aaron, looking at her polite smile, let out a small, amused breath.

This infuriating Princess…