For the heart - Chapter 50

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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 50

 

‘The Naked Emperor fled to the forest.’

 

Nina and Casian’s eyes met.

 

Nina felt her breath becoming short and pressed her hand firmly against her chest.

 

“When he sobered up, he couldn’t remember any of it. I was the only one who heard those words.”

 

Tark began thoroughly searching every forest, starting with the one closest to the Imperial Palace. He would never let those who pursued me return alive.

 

It was a time when he searched through every forest in Arsed.

 

And that’s how he came to the Blanche Duchy.

 

“Have you found any clues that the Former Emperor is truly alive?”

 

“Looking back, how many times has it turned out not to be His Majesty the Emperor? Every clue I’ve followed so far has been wrong. Still, I won’t let anything slip by and will see it through to the end.”

 

“Master… I’ll prepare lodgings wherever you wish. I’ll also assign you guards.”

 

Tark burst into laughter at Nina’s words.

 

It was the first cheerful laugh she had heard from him, who had been heavily subdued until now.

 

“The Cold Sword Nina Arsed didn’t even notice me approaching from behind earlier.”

 

“That was—”

 

“I am the First Sword Tark Dagnir. Even without sight, I’m no different than before. I haven’t been blind for very long, so I needed time to adapt while in hiding, which is why I stayed here temporarily. Meeting Your Highness like this was very fortunate.”

 

“Still…”

 

At Nina’s earnest voice, Tark patted Nina’s hand that was grasping his.

 

“I’ll probably have to leave this place in a hurry anyway.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Hmm… You said you were attacked by ambushers?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Tark’s face became serious again as he stroked his roughly grown beard.

 

“This is Blanche Duchy territory. Duke Blanche promised military and geographical cooperation to Arsed under the conditions he proposed.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“But if the returning Arsed Knight Commander was attacked here, that would be a treaty violation. Especially if it was done by Duke Blanche’s knights.”

 

It was a fact she had momentarily forgotten.

 

Tark thought the ambushers had targeted Nina, but they hadn’t been after Nina.

 

It was definitely Casian.

 

Both Nina and Casian realized this fact, but they couldn’t immediately identify who was behind it.

 

“Probably, whoever targeted Your Highness will soon be revealed.”

 

Tark’s gaze moved to the window.

 

“Duke Blanche will move personally. He’s someone who thoroughly investigates anything that happens in his territory. Even when he let the Arsed Knights pass through, they would have been receiving reports on all their movements.”

 

Only then did Nina understand. The reason the knights had never once been obstructed while passing through Blanche Duchy territory.

 

It wasn’t hospitality, but surveillance.

 

Dawn was breaking hazily outside the window.

 

Noticing that Nina and Casian were looking out the window, Tark finished his remaining tea.

 

“The fog is thick in the early morning. Let’s go toward the village together after the sun rises high. Rest your eyes for a bit before then.”

 

* * *

 

It felt like she had slept soundly.

 

Nina opened her eyes to the warm sunlight and groggily sat up.

 

Following the familiar smell of potage flowing to her nose, she went outside to find Casian and Tark chatting quietly around a gently boiling pot.

 

Before she could even step foot outside the door, both men’s heads turned toward Nina.

 

“Did you sleep well, Your Highness?”

 

“Did you sleep well too, Master? What about Casian?”

 

For some reason, both men just smiled silently without saying anything.

 

As Nina approached, Casian ladled plenty of potage into a bowl and handed it to her.

 

“Please eat. We already ate.”

 

“Ah, you didn’t wake me…”

 

“The fog still needs some time to clear. It would have been fine for you to sleep more.”

 

Nina sat in the chair and ate the potage Casian had given her. It tasted so much better than expected that her eyes widened.

 

At that sight, Casian and Tark burst into laughter simultaneously.

 

Like people who immediately understood what Nina was thinking.

 

“Is it very delicious?”

 

“Mm…”

 

Since it was true, she answered honestly.

 

“Our Princess has been unable to lie since she was young. It would show on her face immediately, which broke my heart more than once or twice.”

 

“…Me?”

 

“You never once said you were struggling despite having a troubled face. You clearly looked like you wanted to cry but didn’t. There was a time when I first wanted to kill Princess Lillien.”

 

At Tark’s words, Nina looked at him.

 

He had wanted to kill the young Princess Lillien.

 

“Your Highness probably won’t remember. It was around when you were seven years old, just after entering the knight training academy.”

 

There wasn’t anything particularly intense enough to be memorable.

 

“How hard must it have been for a seven-year-old girl to train in a knighthood full of grown men? The members were equally uncomfortable. They had to spar with you, but since you were a princess, they couldn’t treat you carelessly. Even so, everyone felt sorry for Your Highness. The younger knights especially treated you warmly, thinking of their own younger siblings.”

 

That was right. Nina remembered that when she first entered the training knighthood, the trainee knights had been quite kind and favorable toward her.

 

Though it was only for a few days.

 

“It was the day when one of the Trainee Knights gave Your Highness a handful of candy… When Your Highness received it, you smiled brightly for the first time like a child your age. You were so lovely and adorable. The Trainee Knights who had only undergone harsh training all burst into laughter together at that smile.”

 

But unfortunately, Lillien saw that scene.

 

Lillien rushed into the Training Grounds and struck down with her hand all the candy that had been piled up in Nina’s hands, scattering it all over the floor.

 

And she trampled on it mercilessly with her small, pretty shoes.

 

The Trainee Knight who had given Nina the candy was stripped of his trainee qualification, and after that, no one showed Nina any kindness.

 

They wouldn’t even make eye contact.

 

Only training that was lonelier and more desolate than before continued.

 

“She’s probably still the same, isn’t she? That wicked temperament.”

 

Nina nodded with a faint smile.

 

Beyond being the same, now she wanted to make her into a murderer.

 

But she didn’t want to tell Tark such stories right now.

 

Perhaps after returning, she might stand trial for murder. If that happened, the news would reach Tark as well.

 

With a grunt, Tark got up, unable to hide his age as he supported himself on his knees.

 

Then he shouldered a heavy bag he had prepared in advance and thrust his twin swords behind his back.

 

“Now let’s slowly head down. I’ll guide the way.”

 

“Master, we’ll take the lead.”

 

Nina stopped Tark who was trying to go ahead. Then he met Nina’s eyes and smiled brightly.

 

Just like before, his bright green eyes were so clear that it was hard to believe he was a blind person.

 

“I can see well. Your Highness, who has grown so tall. You’ve become a proper young lady now.”

 

“Master…?”

 

How could he suddenly see?

 

Only then did Nina quickly turn her head to look at Casian.

 

He had his arms crossed in front of his chest and just shrugged his shoulders.

 

“I thought even a Healer couldn’t fix eyes that had been lost for so long. You really have an amazing dedicated Healer, Your Highness. It seems I can see more clearly than before.”

 

Nina bit her lower lip.

 

They were the two who had fallen from the Cliff after the arrow attack.

 

He must have used up all his healing power to heal his own body and then heal her as well.

 

She hadn’t been able to ask if he could heal Master’s eyes…

 

Nina couldn’t say thank you to Casian and only moved her lips.

 

To such Nina, Casian bowed his head and whispered softly.

 

“If you’re grateful, you can just give me permission.”

 

Ah. She had completely forgotten. She suddenly remembered what he was asking permission for.

 

Healing through a kiss.

 

Suddenly her cheeks felt hot.

 

Nina pushed Casian away and walked ahead past Tark.

 

Her voice came out grumpy for no reason.

 

“Hurry up.”

 

Casian’s low laughter from behind was tickling.

 

Just as they had come out of the house and hadn’t even taken ten steps, all three of their steps stopped at the same time.

 

A group coming up toward them.

 

They were wearing knight uniforms with snowflakes drawn on them, signifying the Blanche Ducal House.

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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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