For the heart - Chapter 4

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 4

Nina became aware of this scar when she was around thirteen years old.

Tila, who immediately recognized what that mark was, made a “hmm” sound and walked toward the wardrobe.

It was to take out the nightgown Nina would wear after her bath.

“It might have been there since you were born, Your Highness. I came as your wet nurse a month after you were born.”

“It was there from then?”

“Of course. At first I was surprised that such a large wound existed on your precious body, but fortunately it healed well. I thought it was because you had received an oracle.”

“I see…”

Nina slowly nodded without taking her eyes off that wound.

‘The princess with a burning heart shall become the emperor of the Arsed Empire, and the princess with an empty place where her heart should be shall sacrifice her body for the empire.’

That was the oracle she and Lillien had received.

According to that oracle, she had been sacrificing her body for Arsed until now.

“There’s no person without a heart.”

Though he knew she was a princess of Arsed, he apparently didn’t know the contents of the oracle she had received.

That’s why he said such a thing.

In fact, she had thought that he too might have died, having disappeared from her sight within ten steps.

Perhaps he had just lasted a little longer than other Healers.

But to think he had been living perfectly fine until now.

And in better health than anyone else at that.

Moreover, if he was a prince of Montregger, he was definitely not an Arsed person, so she couldn’t understand how he possessed a Healer’s abilities.

But there was another point that bothered her unpleasantly.

‘Why on earth… did he heal me?’

Nina suddenly sat up in the water.

As water dripped from her dazzling naked body with a splash, Tila quickly approached with a towel.

Thoughts about Casian kept chaining together endlessly, and there was no helping it.

‘I have no choice but to ask directly.’

* * *

“Why the training grounds at this hour of night?”

“My body feels a bit stiff. I’ll just loosen up at the training grounds for an hour and come back.”

“I heard a large magical beast was captured alive and brought to Maryeonso this morning. I’d prefer if you didn’t go to the training grounds…”

Despite Tila’s dissuasion, Nina left the Satellite Palace.

Though she wasn’t treated properly as a princess, if she said she was going to meet the prince of Montregger who had been suddenly brought as a hostage, Tila would cause an uproar, so she used training as an excuse.

But now that she had come out, the night was too deep.

‘He might be asleep.’

And as she had worried when making excuses to Tila, it would also be troublesome if others found out that she had gone to find the prince at this hour of night.

“Hah…”

He would stay in the Western Palace for the time being. All diplomatic missions and invited dignitaries visiting Arsed stayed in the Western Palace.

Standing at the crossroads between the training grounds and the Western Palace, Nina eventually turned toward the training grounds.

Nothing was better than physical activity for clearing a complicated mind.

‘There’s no rush. There’s some time before the next expedition, so there will be opportunities to meet…’

Nina, who had been walking toward the training grounds, suddenly stopped. A large human silhouette stood in the darkness in the distance.

To think there was someone at the training grounds on this dark night.

Though it was a very familiar place to her, no one staying in the Imperial Palace would think to come here at this hour.

Because right next to the training grounds was ‘Maryeonso,’ a research facility where the sorcerer Desmorak captured and studied magical beasts.

It might be fine during the day, but it was certainly a place full of eeriness and gloom at night.

Nina, who had been frowning, soon took another step forward.

Then that large silhouette slowly revealed itself and approached.

“Prince Casian.”

“Could it be that Your Highness also cannot sleep? Perhaps because the bed is unfamiliar, I couldn’t fall asleep at all and was taking a walk.”

“In this dark place?”

“I have quite good night vision.”

She had just deliberately turned away, yet to encounter Casian here.

His face, as he approached close to her, looked unbelievably clear under the faint moonlight.

His thick, well-arranged eyebrows, prominent nose bridge, and sharp jawline seemed both bold and refined.

It might have been because of his skin that looked smooth without a single blemish.

Nina glanced around briefly, though she was certain no one would be there, then asked.

“That day you healed me at the border region, did you know I was a princess of Arsed?”

“Rather than knowing, it would be more accurate to say I came to know.”

Casian’s voice was low and gentle.

“At first I thought you were just a young knight, but from your voice and your body that was too slender, revealed through your torn clothes, I realized you were a woman. I didn’t know if Arsed had female knights, but I had heard the story that the immortal princess was a war weapon called the Cold Blade.”

“…”

“Of course, I wasn’t certain based on that alone, and when the healing was almost finished, I saw a sword that had fallen nearby and knew. I thought only the Cold Blade could wield such a large and extraordinary sword.”

In any case, it meant he had known.

Nina frowned again and asked.

“But why did you heal me? You must have known that Montregger would likely be the final target of Arsed’s wars.”

“I told you, didn’t I? I was certain only after the healing was finished. And since Your Highness has an immortal body, even if not me, you would recover when another Healer arrived.”

It meant that even if she was an existence who would point a sword at his country, there was no way to kill her anyway.

Meeting Nina’s eyes, he lifted the corners of his mouth and smiled softly.

“Someday we’ll inevitably face each other as bitter enemies, so I helped you and showed you my face. There’s nothing good about deepening bad blood.”

Cassian smiled smoothly with that handsome face of his.

But Nina didn’t believe his words.

Noticing that Nina’s gaze was filled with distrust as she looked at him, Cassian let out a low laugh.

“I’m lucky. Actually, I came here on a whim. I heard that Your Highness frequently visits this place.”

“What?”

“Your Highness, how about forming an alliance with me?”

The proposal from the man who stepped closer with that same smiling face was utterly bewildering.

“What do you—”

“Montregger has fallen to Arsed, and before long, even its name will disappear.”

Nina didn’t respond.

All the countries conquered so far had their royal families demoted to common nobility once the royal seal was stamped on the surrender document, their national names erased and replaced with new territorial designations.

But Montregger was different.

Though the conquest process had been unusual, allowing them to maintain their imperial status was because their population and territory were larger than any other nation.

Taking time to gradually erase the imperial house and national name was a wise method to prevent the nobles and citizens of Montregger, who had lost their country so futilely, from rising in rebellion.

That’s when it happened.

“Screeeech—!”

Nina’s head snapped up at the brief sound that came from the Maryeonso behind the training grounds.

‘No. That can’t be.’

As the blue pupils in Nina’s widened eyes shook violently, Cassian also turned his head.

“Is that a demon beast’s cry? I heard that Arsed’s sorcerers research demon beasts to use as war weapons, so it was true.”

Nina clenched her fists at the cry she had just heard.

She gripped them so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, struggling not to show her agitation.

Even so, she felt a chill pierce down her spine.

Cassian stepped closer to Nina in this state.

“If you help me, I’ll become your dedicated Healer for the remaining wars.”

“…?!”

“I’m a Healer who absolutely won’t die even after healing Your Highness.”

Nina’s eyes widened.

That day, she knew better than anyone how tremendous the amount of healing power he had poured into her was.

She had also confirmed with her own eyes that Cassian was still alive and well after healing her.

But that couldn’t be guaranteed a second time.

He must have heard rumors about her first thing after coming to Arsed, and after hearing her warning, he was saying he’d become her dedicated Healer and travel the battlefields together.

To Nina, whose expression clearly showed she didn’t believe his words about being a ‘Healer who absolutely won’t die,’ Cassian boldly pressed on without backing down.

“What I want is to be a ‘Consort’ of the Arsed Imperial House.”

“…What?”

Consort.

It meant the spouse of an Empress.

To Nina, whose bewildered expression was evident, Cassian said:

“Please help me marry Princess Lillien, who will become Arsed’s Emperor.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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