Chapter 2: To Open One's Eyes
As usual, Kuhn donned the knights' uniform and went to go meet Dian. The location, however, was different. This time, they met in a small palace. As soon as he saw Dian, Kuhn thought about Sienna. Even though they were half-siblings, they weren't alike at all.
Kuhn felt uncomfortable whenever he remembered how he had escaped Sienna. Every time the wound on his left hand twitched, it came to mind.
"Have you run into any trouble?"
"What trouble?"
It looked like Dian really didn't know. Kuhn was relieved but felt a bit disappointed.
"Nothing. Just wondering."
"Fine, don't tell me. We met yesterday, so what could have happened since then?"
"Where are we?"
"I spent some time here when I first entered the Imperial Palace. It's empty now."
"Why did you call for me?"
"Do I need a reason to call you? Aren't we friends?"
The ladies-in-waiting set the tea on the table and withdrew. Kuhn didn't touch the tea that was placed in front of him and continued to stare at Dian.
"Dian, I'm a busy man. I don't have time for chitchat."
Kuhn's eyes looked cold on his blank face. Dian felt a bit intimidated but didn't want to let it show in front of Kuhn, so he became even more lighthearted and shrugged his shoulders.
"You're not even letting me joke around. I finished talking with Duke Grosi."
"Good work catching that giant snake."
For a moment, Kuhn's face showed relief before it disappeared. He had been worried because the negotiations were taking longer than expected.
"I'm sure he also weighed the pros and cons and decided he had nothing to lose. It also means someone from his family would become the Red King."
Dian had suggested to Duke Grosi that they should form an alliance through marriage. They had agreed to have Dian take Duke Grosi's granddaughter as his wife.
They had been discussing this for a long time. The duke had dragged it out by not giving Dian a definite answer. This was because those associated with Dian would be investigated.
One wouldn't call off a marriage just because the man had a couple of lovers he was enjoying, but no one would want to marry their granddaughter off to a promiscuous man, even if it was a contract marriage. If it came to a clean image, Dian had no issues. This wasn't because he hid his indiscretions well. He really didn't have any dirt on his character. He was a man who only dreamed of the future. Therefore, he made sure to take care of himself.
"Have you seen her yet?"
"Who?"
"The duke's granddaughter."
"Nope. It doesn't matter. Even if she was the ugliest woman on earth, I'd still marry her in the end. I mean, I'm sure she's not ugly since she is a descendant of the duke."
The six ducal families, who were at the top of the aristocracy, were all related through marriage to the Imperial family. While they did not carry the main trait of the Imperial family, two-colored hair, they still had an impressive physique and beauty.
"...Are you sure about that?"
Dian face stiffened.
"Why? Is there something you've heard?"
"No. I mean, are sure about getting married like that?"
Dian looked at Kuhn with confusion. Suddenly, he burst into laughter.
"Kuhn Raad, are you crazy? Why are you being so sentimental? It's so unlike you. For people like us, marriage is a contract and a business."
"Don't lump me in with you. I'm going to pick my own woman."
"Do you think that's realistic?"
Dian was dumbfounded. Did this guy eat something funny? However, Kuhn was serious.
"It's my right, and it's kind of a tradition in my family."
"...Seriously?"
"You marry for love..."
"Aaaaahh!"
Dian shrieked.
"Shut up. Stop talking. I can't believe those words are coming out of your mouth. It's giving me chills."
Dian's gestures were exaggerated as he pretended to scratch his body all over.
"Anyways, I just wanted to let you know what's been going on. The engagement announcement will be going out soon."
"Aren't you rushing things?"
"Duke Grosi wanted it that way."
"That's strange. He was dragging his feet earlier, so why now?"
"Probably because of the Red King. There's gossip that she's diligently picking candidates for the Blue King."
"By 'Blue King', you're talking about..."
"Princess Sienna's husband."
Kuhn's hand that was holding the teacup flinched.
"Duke Grosi doesn't have anyone to offer as a candidate. I guess that worked out for me. Or else he would never have been able to make a decision between me and Sienna."
"Isn't it a bit early? Princess Sienna is still young."
"It isn't unheard of to become engaged before the coming-of-age ceremony. Princess Sienna doesn't seem to care much about finding a husband, so that's why the Red King is in even more of a hurry. Before the Princess takes an interest, the Red King is trying to find a son-in-law that will obey her orders like a dog."
"..."
Princess Sienna's marriage.
The arrogant princess that looked down on the world was going to become the wife of one man? He couldn't even picture it. That woman was like a sharp sword. She was fierce and strong. If you handled her incorrectly, your hand would bleed.
Kuhn suddenly recalled her golden eyes as she tried to strike him with her sword. He then proceeded to drink the remainder of his cooled tea in one shot. For some reason, his throat was burning.
Chapter 2: To Open One's Eyes
As usual, Kuhn donned the knights' uniform and went to go meet Dian. The location, however, was different. This time, they met in a small palace. As soon as he saw Dian, Kuhn thought about Sienna. Even though they were half-siblings, they weren't alike at all.
Kuhn felt uncomfortable whenever he remembered how he had escaped Sienna. Every time the wound on his left hand twitched, it came to mind.
"Have you run into any trouble?"
"What trouble?"
It looked like Dian really didn't know. Kuhn was relieved but felt a bit disappointed.
"Nothing. Just wondering."
"Fine, don't tell me. We met yesterday, so what could have happened since then?"
"Where are we?"
"I spent some time here when I first entered the Imperial Palace. It's empty now."
"Why did you call for me?"
"Do I need a reason to call you? Aren't we friends?"
The ladies-in-waiting set the tea on the table and withdrew. Kuhn didn't touch the tea that was placed in front of him and continued to stare at Dian.
"Dian, I'm a busy man. I don't have time for chitchat."
Kuhn's eyes looked cold on his blank face. Dian felt a bit intimidated but didn't want to let it show in front of Kuhn, so he became even more lighthearted and shrugged his shoulders.
"You're not even letting me joke around. I finished talking with Duke Grosi."
"Good work catching that giant snake."
For a moment, Kuhn's face showed relief before it disappeared. He had been worried because the negotiations were taking longer than expected.
"I'm sure he also weighed the pros and cons and decided he had nothing to lose. It also means someone from his family would become the Red King."
Dian had suggested to Duke Grosi that they should form an alliance through marriage. They had agreed to have Dian take Duke Grosi's granddaughter as his wife.
They had been discussing this for a long time. The duke had dragged it out by not giving Dian a definite answer. This was because those associated with Dian would be investigated.
One wouldn't call off a marriage just because the man had a couple of lovers he was enjoying, but no one would want to marry their granddaughter off to a promiscuous man, even if it was a contract marriage. If it came to a clean image, Dian had no issues. This wasn't because he hid his indiscretions well. He really didn't have any dirt on his character. He was a man who only dreamed of the future. Therefore, he made sure to take care of himself.
"Have you seen her yet?"
"Who?"
"The duke's granddaughter."
"Nope. It doesn't matter. Even if she was the ugliest woman on earth, I'd still marry her in the end. I mean, I'm sure she's not ugly since she is a descendant of the duke."
The six ducal families, who were at the top of the aristocracy, were all related through marriage to the Imperial family. While they did not carry the main trait of the Imperial family, two-colored hair, they still had an impressive physique and beauty.
"...Are you sure about that?"
Dian face stiffened.
"Why? Is there something you've heard?"
"No. I mean, are sure about getting married like that?"
Dian looked at Kuhn with confusion. Suddenly, he burst into laughter.
"Kuhn Raad, are you crazy? Why are you being so sentimental? It's so unlike you. For people like us, marriage is a contract and a business."
"Don't lump me in with you. I'm going to pick my own woman."
"Do you think that's realistic?"
Dian was dumbfounded. Did this guy eat something funny? However, Kuhn was serious.
"It's my right, and it's kind of a tradition in my family."
"...Seriously?"
"You marry for love..."
"Aaaaahh!"
Dian shrieked.
"Shut up. Stop talking. I can't believe those words are coming out of your mouth. It's giving me chills."
Dian's gestures were exaggerated as he pretended to scratch his body all over.
"Anyways, I just wanted to let you know what's been going on. The engagement announcement will be going out soon."
"Aren't you rushing things?"
"Duke Grosi wanted it that way."
"That's strange. He was dragging his feet earlier, so why now?"
"Probably because of the Red King. There's gossip that she's diligently picking candidates for the Blue King."
"By 'Blue King', you're talking about..."
"Princess Sienna's husband."
Kuhn's hand that was holding the teacup flinched.
"Duke Grosi doesn't have anyone to offer as a candidate. I guess that worked out for me. Or else he would never have been able to make a decision between me and Sienna."
"Isn't it a bit early? Princess Sienna is still young."
"It isn't unheard of to become engaged before the coming-of-age ceremony. Princess Sienna doesn't seem to care much about finding a husband, so that's why the Red King is in even more of a hurry. Before the Princess takes an interest, the Red King is trying to find a son-in-law that will obey her orders like a dog."
"..."
Princess Sienna's marriage.
The arrogant princess that looked down on the world was going to become the wife of one man? He couldn't even picture it. That woman was like a sharp sword. She was fierce and strong. If you handled her incorrectly, your hand would bleed.
Kuhn suddenly recalled her golden eyes as she tried to strike him with her sword. He then proceeded to drink the remainder of his cooled tea in one shot. For some reason, his throat was burning.
