Chapter 14 :

Chapter 14

“Are you not going to speak to him?”

Perhaps finding it frustrating that she was only watching from afar, the maids standing beside her urged her on.

They all seemed desperate to see Varkas up close.

Among them, some were looking at him with gazes that went beyond simple admiration and into longing.

Ayla pretended not to notice their presumptuous feelings and turned a blind eye.

It was the composure she could afford because she knew Varkas would not even glance at another woman.

Of course, he has never once looked at me with a heated gaze either...

She let out a bitter smile.

To begin with, Varkas lacked the ability to feel such emotions.

He had entered the imperial palace at a young age and received an education from fanatical fundamentalist priests that was almost brainwashing, all to make him a loyal subject of the Empire.

And in that process, he had lost almost all of his emotions.

When her mother learned just how harshly the son of Grand Duke Siarkan was being disciplined by the priests, she had struggled desperately to protect him.

But the young boy had already lost not only joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, but even most of the basic desires a human being should possess.

Ayla’s expression darkened as she recalled the first time she met him.

How frightening the boy had been at first, with eyes as empty as the shell of an insect.

Varkas had looked like a doll made of hardened wax.

He was so silent that it was extremely rare for him to say more than two words a day, and unless someone instructed him from beside him, he neither ate nor slept.

Because all his desires had been thoroughly controlled for so long, he seemed to have become unable to feel not only appetite but even the desire to sleep.

Compared to that time, the current Varkas looked far more human.

Perhaps he will grow better and better from now on...

She sent her fiancé a hopeful gaze.

She had vowed countless times not to expect too much, but whenever she saw him, there was no way to stop a corner of her heart from stirring.

The beautiful boy who had faithfully stayed by her poor mother’s side...

Now that he had grown into the most perfect man in the entire Roem Empire, how could she not long for him?

She knew that countless women who had held him in their hearts had suffered the bitter pain of heartbreak, but Ayla thought she was in a far more advantageous position than they were.

Although it was a marriage arranged to strengthen a political alliance, she would soon become his wife, and someday she would bear his heir.

If she patiently poured affection on him during the long years they would spend together from now on, would his frozen heart not melt someday?

Holding that wish close, Ayla carefully approached his side.

Perhaps sensing someone’s presence, Varkas, who had been standing with his back to the light, turned his head toward her.

For an instant, Ayla felt her spine freeze.

It was a cold face that seemed to mock all her dreams and hopes.

The man, who had sent her an emotionless gaze, turned his head forward again and spoke in a flat voice.

“What is the matter?”

She steadied her shaken heart and consciously put a bright smile on her lips.

“I came out because I was curious whether the preparations for the journey were going well.”

“They are almost finished.”

He lightly stroked the horse’s sturdy neck and replied in an indifferent tone.

“I am concerned that the preparation period has become longer than expected. Since the weather has grown hot, it will be a difficult journey.”

“It cannot be helped. The schedule was disrupted because Gareth insisted on having his way.”

Ayla spoke carefully and watched her fiancé’s expression.

When she thought of her younger brother’s immature behavior, her face burned so much she could hardly raise her head.

As if joining the journey on his own whim were not enough, Gareth had acted as though he meant to pack up the entire Crown Prince’s Palace and take it with him.

He had insisted on bringing dozens of servants to attend him, as well as clowns to relieve his boredom during the journey, his personal chef, and even a tailor.

Ayla had once again been amazed by Varkas’s patience, as he had silently accepted all those unreasonable demands and complaints without raising his voice even once.

She wore an apologetic expression.

“I am only sorry that I have caused you so much trouble.”

“It is not something Your Highness should apologize for. It was something that had to be done someday anyway.”

He handed the bit over to the stableman and added indifferently,

“Compared to what I had prepared myself for, he is behaving rather mildly. Since he is sending away his precious sister, this degree of spite is acceptable.”

Ayla’s expression darkened.

His words made the worries she had been trying hard to ignore raise their heads.

Looking up at the magnificent castle glowing pure white, Ayla tightly gripped the hem of her clothes.

When she thought of leaving her younger brother alone in this imperial palace filled with sad memories, her heart felt as though it were being torn apart.

Moreover, did an evil demon not live here, one who coveted Gareth’s place?

Could her hot-tempered younger brother face that cunning woman on his own?

“If it is not a burden to you, I would like to visit the imperial palace regularly even after we are married. Would that be all right?”

Varkas, who had been examining another horse, turned his eyes toward her.

When Ayla saw a faint crease form between his straight brows, she realized she had made a childish request and blushed.

As Grand Duchess, managing the vast territory of the East and commanding hundreds of vassals would not be an easy task.

Once she was married, she would have to prioritize the affairs of House Siarkan above everything else.

But Varkas, who had been looking at her with thoughtful eyes, nodded as though it were not a significant matter.

“As long as the long journey does not overtax Your Highness, you may come and go freely whenever you wish. Was this marriage not arranged in the first place to lend strength to His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”

Ayla’s expression darkened.

To him, it might be a purely political marriage, but to her, it was not.

For a moment, she felt disappointed, but Ayla tried hard to act pleased.

“Thank you for understanding.”

Varkas merely gave a light nod and began examining the horse’s molars again.

Ayla swallowed a sigh and placed her hand on her fiancé’s forearm, forcing him to look at her.

“I know you are busy, but could you spare just a little time for me? There is something I want to give you before we leave on the journey.”

The man, who had been looking at her with a puzzled gaze, soon turned his body around.

Then he instructed the squire standing beside him to move all the horses he had finished inspecting into the stable, and escorted her to a relatively quiet place.

Thanks to the maids tactfully stepping back, Ayla was able to enjoy a walk alone with him.

She placed her hand on his firm forearm and walked along the well-maintained path.

When they entered the wide flower garden, a gentle breeze softly tickled their faces.

The garden of the main palace was blooming beautifully.

In the flower beds carefully tended by the servants, bright summer flowers were opening their buds, and emerald leaves were growing thickly on the perfectly maintained shrubs.

Ayla looked at all of it with a sorrowful expression.

This scenery always left scratches on her heart.

But as time passed, the imperial palace, now filled with Senevier’s traces, had become part of daily life, and her mother’s garden was gradually fading in her memory.

That fact was the hardest of all to endure.

“What was it that you wanted to give me?”

Ayla, who had been sunk in regret, turned and looked up at Varkas.

When he was young, he had spent quite a lot of time in the garden Bernadette had tended.

Ayla knew that his devastated heart had been healed there, if only a little.

Suddenly, she became curious.

Did this man also miss her mother’s garden?

Ayla looked up intently at his expressionless face, where not the slightest emotion could be found, then soon let out a sigh of resignation and took a handkerchief from inside her coat.

“I embroidered the crest of House Siarkan.”

The man’s gaze settled on the neatly folded cloth.

Her mouth suddenly went dry.

As though trying to drive away her nervousness, Ayla began speaking in an exaggerated tone.

“It is tradition to give one’s fiancé a handmade handkerchief before setting out on a journey, is it not? Of course, this is a journey we are taking together, but...”

“It is an undeserved gift.”

The man cut off her rambling words and accepted the handkerchief.

A faint smile lingered at his dry lips.

Ayla felt her heart swell.

It hurt her pride somewhat that she was in a position where his every move made her so anxious, but more than that, she was happy that Varkas, who was stingy with emotional expression, had smiled at her.

“I will cherish it.”

He said this as he tied the handkerchief to the hilt of his sword.

She smiled shyly.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from not far away.