Queen of Revenge - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 28
The layered armor felt far stiffer than what she was accustomed to, yet it offered superior stability.
Lucian carefully lowered her into the comfortable chair.
Bara returned, balancing a bucket brimming with water on both hands and atop her head.
The Frontier Military Base lacked proper facilities to heat water or plumbing connected to a bathtub. The only method was to heat stones in fire and submerge them in water.
While Bara rummaged through the stones by the fireplace, Lucian brought a basin filled with water.
“It will take time to fill the bathtub with water.”
Kneeling before Iolet, he removed her shoes and socks.
When her feet—flushed red from the cold—were exposed, Iolet’s body tensed.
Throughout the journey, her toes had felt as though they might fall off from the numbness, yet he had somehow noticed.
Warm water enveloped the spaces between her toes. The hand that poured water up to her ankles was reverent and gentle.
A languid sigh escaped between Iolet’s lips. Simultaneously, an odd sensation stirred within her.
‘Benedix never did anything like this.’
Not only Benedix—aside from her mother, no one had ever cared for Iolet in such a manner.
“You would make a fine elder brother to a sister, my lord.”
“There is quite an age difference between us. I cannot speak for Aeily’s thoughts. Is the temperature acceptable?”
“Yes….”
In his hands, her feet appeared remarkably small.
“You’re being kind today. I thought you were thoroughly angry with me.”
“…You know as well as I do that it is not something I can simply overlook. I speak of what occurred this afternoon.”
He seemed to have taken to heart the sexual harassment she had endured from the soldiers.
Iolet draped herself across the chair and let out a soft laugh.
“I am pitiful indeed, my lord. That is why I did not report it to Mother.”
This upright man would never simply let her treacherous intentions pass unexamined. The fact that he refused to leave her side was proof of that.
During the week-long journey to this place, Iolet had never once seen Lucian step away. Even before dawn, when she opened the door, his voice would return asking what she needed.
“The Commander’s and soldiers’ disrespect toward the Princess is a separate matter.”
“There is no need to speak unnecessarily to the Commander. The same applies to the soldiers. There must be a reason the military’s morale has deteriorated so.”
“Is that why you intend to go yourself?”
“The increase in casualties is alarming. Two per month two years ago, four last year, eight this year—that means sixteen next year, and thirty-two the year after. Does that not strike you as strange?”
“It is certainly concerning, but had there been anything suspicious, the Commander would not have overlooked it.”
Lefebvre—that Commander is the most suspicious of all.”
Regardless of casualty numbers, whenever Guerrilla Operations are dispatched, someone always dies among them.
“If someone is guaranteed to die, how can this place be safe? It is a contradiction.”
How could this be unrelated to the Border Guard’s morale?
If one’s life hangs on a coin flip, there is no reason to devote oneself to training or to hone oneself sharply.
So they sit about drinking like men who have abandoned the world.
Yet the Commander-in-Chief showed no inclination to address this.
“Something is certainly happening in the Unregistered Territory. If the Commander will not cooperate, I have no choice but to see it with my own eyes.”
Lucian’s eyes wavered. He had not anticipated that Iolet would concern herself so deeply with the Command Tower’s safety.
“…It will be dangerous.”
“When wasn’t it?”
I habitually adjusted the necklace at my throat.
In truth, I had another compelling reason to set foot on that land myself.
Among the numerous authorities I sought, the right to diplomatic negotiation was essential—just as this location for the leap was chosen—all because of that unknown territory beyond the border.
I kicked my feet and slipped free from Lucian’s grasp.
“We’ve reached our destination. Return and rest comfortably today, Lucian.”
“Danger lurks here as well. If the fireplace dies during the night, freezing to death is trivial, and moreover, this place swarms with soldiers.”
His blunt warning irritated me slightly.
And who is the most dangerous person to me right now? What right does he have to worry about me?
My tone became sharp.
“I’m not criticizing you. It just seems like you’re pushing yourself too hard.”
“I am merely fulfilling my duty as I should. You need not concern yourself.”
Lucian’s response was no different from the past ten days, not by a hair’s breadth.
My duty, he called it.
I gazed into empty space, weighing something for a moment.
‘Catherine must have received orders to assassinate me.’
Catherine had a tendency to act emotionally at critical moments. That’s why I deliberately provoked her before departing.
I was certain that if I stirred her deep-rooted inferiority complex, she would resort to extreme measures.
‘She must have even threatened this man by implicating the House Perein. I thought she would sever her ties with Catherine once it came to that, but perhaps not yet?’
If this continued without his knowledge, it would become problematic. I was now in a position no different from offering my neck beneath Lucian’s blade.
Then, Lucian suddenly spoke.
“If an investigation into the Commander reveals misconduct, will you use that as grounds to demand command of the Border Guard from His Majesty?”
“Depending on circumstances, but military authority would be welcome.”
“Then that would become the first step of the plan Your Highness harbors.”
The firelight from the blazing fireplace illuminated the man’s cheek.
Whether from the flickering light and shadow or the downward angle of his gaze, his sharp features seemed stained with worry and anguish.
“I understand, if not completely, at least to some extent, why Your Highness holds such intentions.”
Fixing his eyes on my calf, Lucian admitted painfully.
“All treatment directed toward Your Highness is unreasonable. There is room for improvement, but frankly, it seems there is none. I can no longer deny even that.”
“And?”
“I will do better.”
Lucian raised his head. Our gazes met in the empty space between us.
“I will stand closest to you and protect you so that no one dares to slight or threaten Your Highness.”
I barely exhaled.
His green eyes, speaking of unconditional protection, were as deep and steadfast as ancient trees.
“If you wish, I can help you seek asylum not in Kalande, but in Leviana or the Alpail Kingdom. Go and live freely as you desire. I will not stop you.”
“….”
“Only, you must not turn your blade against Elovis.”
“…Because you are not my knight, but Elder Sister’s knight?”
“No. Because I am Elovis’s knight.”
Lucian smiled faintly.
“While it is true that the Crown Princess is currently my superior, the one I ultimately serve is His Majesty the King. I can never raise my hand against his kingdom.”
This appeared to be the persuasion method Lucian had chosen.
Laying bare his sincerity without reservation to appeal to her.
A straightforward, principled approach befitting Lucian Perein.
Even knowing this, I found myself melting helplessly before him.
How on earth could one persuade such a man? Only by breaking him completely and utterly….
It took me considerable time to recover my usual composed voice.
“I appreciate your effort, but even if you care for me as tenderly as an elder sister, my resolve will not waver, Lucian.”
“….”
“Besides, I feel as though I’m being watched, which I dislike. Commander Winterbark is gone anyway, so there’s no one left to discuss treason with. Let’s end this and you should go.”
Ah, it worked.
The moment I saw the crack spreading across Lucian’s face, I was certain.
The thick wall Lucian Perein had constructed crumbled, and his unguarded expression—his true feelings—were laid bare.
The grip of Lucian’s hand, which had been gently caressing my foot, tightened with force.
His voice dropped even lower than before.
“So your plan remains unchanged even now?”
I did not bother to answer.
My silence made Lucian grow anxious, and he bit his lip.
“There is still a chance.”
“What chance?”
“A chance to undo everything. This is the final opportunity I can offer you, and my last request.”
He would report the Princess’s suspicion of treason to no one and quietly let her go. That was the maximum compromise Lucian had found.
Even with that alone, he would suffer pangs of conscience for the rest of his life, and House Perein would lose the Crown Princess’s trust.
Yet despite all this, Lucian was willing to bear it all.
“So that I might not—.”
Harm you.
Won’t you reconsider?

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