Chapter 11

||T/N:

I was a little upset because many readers had misunderstood my notice about changing HUMMING'S name to Hemming. I only showed examples of what MTLs did to their names and many thought that I was changing all of the characters' names even though I hadn't explicitly stated that. People still misunderstood even despite the fact that I left a note stating that I was only changing Humming's name and not the others. Apologies if this all sounds petty, but being misunderstood is slightly frustrating.6

•Italics for thoughts (+apostrophes for the first one) and sound effects.

•Multiple "-" represents flashbacks and memories (unless dependant on time signatures like "* * *").

Enjoy reading!||

. . .

Simon's golden eyes sank calmly, his cool gaze showing little emotion.

He mumbled in an unamused tone, "Now you're making accusations."

He took off his monocle and put it in the inner pocket of his shirt.

As if not wanting to be close to her, Simon climbed up the stairs and glanced down at Luina.

"I don't know why I have to hear such words of accusation from the Royal Princess Luina. What do you and I have to do with each other anyway?"2 Luina felt bitter. Feeling the trembling of her eyes, she straightened her back, trying to regain composure. She reasoned with herself that this was all an illusion.3

She hadn't thought that any man could possibly resist her charms. ||*1||10

Thinking to herself, wasn't he the same? Didn't Simon Terroan also create the fireworks for her?8

"No, we've, uh, met before. During the last battle in Oceania. You saved my life, didn't you?"1

"Oh, did I? I had no clue."2

Simon smiled, his eyes creasing. He appeared as if he had never heard of such a situation before.3

His smile was warped and distorted, leaving a particular unwelcoming sense of feeling.

"But what does that have anything to do with me?"

"That doesn't matter! I have to marry you! Don't you think this offer would be good for you too?" ||*2||12

"Who thinks that?"

"I do, but I'm sure you think so as well."7

This woman, Simon thought, appeared to have a streak of arrogance, her head seemingly full of nothing but stupidity and ignorance.8

She would raise her chin haughtily and answer with a sense of depravity.

In just 10 minutes after their meeting, Simon looked at this woman who had drained any sort of good-naturedness he had left and thought of her as being despicable. The difference between this woman and Kalia is like the dirt beneath my feet and the broad sky above.' ||*3||15

Even if he were to be an enemy soldier, Kalia would've hand-fed him water if he was dying before her eyes.

He felt as if it was a complete waste of time dealing with this woman.3

Simon absolutely hated the idea of wasting his time on such unpleasant, troublesome things.

This all seemed like an insult compared to when he woke up a while ago in the best mood in the world.3

"I'm sorry to be rude, but I don't really feel the need to talk to you anymore. Since you've come in vain, I won't respond. I'll be going then."

Simon turned around and began walking away, leaving behind the Princess whose lips were trembling in humiliation.

Luina shouted at him as he lazily yawned, leisurely making his way up the stairs.

"Duke of Terroan! Aren't you curious about why I came here to propose marriage to you?"

"Totally."

Luina's face glowed red at Simon's firm, dismissive reply.

"Ha!"

Looking at Luina's furious face, Simon smiled incontinently.

As he shrugged and tried to climb the steps of the stairs, he asked Luina as if belatedly remembering something, "Ah, come to think of it, I have a question."

"Huh! Whatever it is, I've already lost my interest to even answer."

Luina whipped her head away from him, her arms crossed and face scrunched up as if seemingly saying, "Now look at that!" It was as if she didn't care about Simon or whatever he had to say.1

"You said you saw Kalia this morning. Did she see you, too?" he asked.

"Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just asking this out of curiosity, of course."

Simon's expression began to alleviate, his eyes glistened as it filled with warmth. This, along with his softening voice made the Princess's face distorted.

"But just in case . . . did you say anything pointless to her just as you did to me a while ago ?"1

Like a man crying out a confession of love, he said, in a worn-out voice, "Princess Luina, please answer."

". . . It's so weird that I can't even believe it. You have about as much interest in me as a speck of dust. Is asking whether or not Kalia saw me all you can do?"

Her voice lowered, uncovering her pent-up anger.

"Oh my . . . Have you noticed? She's the only thing I care about in this world." Simon responded with a voice and expression of remorse. "How shameful this must be."10

Unexpectedly, his smile was slightly soft and gentle. This caused Luina's eyes to waver.

But that didn't mean her anger and humiliation had dissipated.

Biting her lips firmly, she took back the book that she had brought to her arms before lifting her chin up high, desperately trying to recover her pride that had sunken below the ground into its depths.

She said with the most profound voice Simon had heard so far, "Ha! If you're so curious, go ask her yourself seeing as you two seem to have a special relationship . . ." Luina shot coldly, bending her knee before releasing it. "I'll leave you by yourself, then."

She then slammed the door shut and left.

* * *

In front of the Crown Prince's Office

Before opening the massive door, Simon stood in front of it, frowning and rubbing his chin.

'The Princess left, but the next day, I received a ridiculous letter from Kalia. I was so upset that I didn't get to ask her.'

No matter how tactless nor how clueless she was to anything outside war, in the end, 'that' was Kalia's fault.

Sending a letter of apology to the man you spent the night with!

Even as Simon was deep in thought, his anger seemed to have burst from within. His eyes flared up and he gritted his teeth in agitation.

This was the first time he had been so enraged by Kalia during the last 10 years he had known her. Sorry? She was sorry? Sorry? Just like that? It seemed to mean—what happened between the two of them—that . . .

'It's like saying you did something you shouldn't have done. Kalia . . .'3

It's as if you'd done something to be sorry about.

Bitterly, he chewed the inner side of his lips, then rubbed the frown off of his lips.

"Sigh."

He sighed when recalling those words from the letter.

He was at a loss on how to open the eyes of that dense woman.

I have to admit.

Last time, I was stupid. Stupid, brainless, conceited, and intimidated.1

Even at the academy, Simon was busy denying that he had any sort of feelings for her.2

I kept missing Kalia, thinking of her, dreaming of her. Even when I had my first dream about her, I thought some curse had been cast on me.5

I can't believe I've come to love a woman who was as fierce as a lion . . . . ! ||*4||

Now that I think about it, I think I had loved her from the moment I first saw her.

'But five years to realise it, one year to deny it, and . . . another year to admit it, seven years for me. It's irritating.'

After admitting his love for Kalia to himself, he only became more worried and increasingly conscious. It was as if he had had a sudden discovery, unearthing a wound within him that he had never known was there before.

I love Kalia.

'I like Kalia . . . No, I already love her this much, don't I?'

It was a surprise yet at the same time a very interesting self-discovery.

Simon had tried so hard to tell Kalia how much he loved her.

If it weren't for that fucking cold war that broke out!

'Another seven years!'

Because of Kalia, who had always deployed in the forefront, Simon also volunteered to be in the forefront alongside her, resulting in him returning as a war hero.

It was just, just really, really him solely wanting to protect Kalia . . .

As the salt dispute within the island nations of Matahari began, the Oceanian sea was troubled by pirates. This lasted until the Empire had intervened, causing the war to take place.2

For seven years, the war broke out ceaselessly, making it difficult for him to settle things. If he dismissed any sign of danger, he would have returned drenched in blood.

Under such circumstances, a confession of love would have been a luxury.1

Whenever Kalia bled or wounded, Simon was preoccupied with the idea of ending that damn war as soon as possible. Kalia was much, much more important to him than the safety of the Empire.

The war ended after seven years with minimal bloodshed, as the monstrous warrior Commander-in-Chief Kalia and the overwhelmingly talented silver-haired mage were determined to end it as soon as possible, engaging in the battle with much fervor and resolve.

Because of that, it could be said that the warriors were able to go into a supposed-to-be-100-year war that ended in only seven years, thanks to two individuals.

". . . And what do you do, say 'I'm sorry' to the guy you've already crossed the last line with . . ." Simon mumbled cynically beneath his breath. Upon hearing his voice, the guard stationed near the door took a quick glance at him. ||*5||2

Whether or not the guards were there, it didn't matter. Simon stared at the tightly shut door and persistently held onto the lingering discomfort he felt.1

I think Luina had said something to Kalia, but . . . what did she say?

Last time I asked her if she had met the Royal Princess, she had a strange expression, but she didn't seem to show much irritation.

For a while, I was relieved by Kalia's words that I would just say hello.

—————————————————————————

'Simon, I think I've gone too far. I'll apologize again for that day . . .'

—————————————————————————

. . . He couldn't ask her in detail because before Kalia could even finish her words, he had his eyes turned upside down in anger and he had to wrap the fireball he had cast out of spite.

It was Simon who was taught to be rational and cold towards everything. However, when it came to Kalia, his reasoning seemed to be thrown out the window.

All his tension was focused on her, it was so easy for him to get excited and infuriated around her.

'I'm going to need to fix this agonizing personality. Reduce the amount of teasing on Kalia. No, but is that what I want? Ah, I'm really in trouble . . . Would I rather get bored?'

He somehow felt like he had to cut down a little of his silly thoughts when thinking about Kalia.

If he tried and did it, wouldn't that burning interest in her diminish a little?

Simon, who had his forehead creased, wrinkles between his eyebrows, shook his head and opened the door to the Crown Prince's office.

His cousin, who he'd thought would stay up late, was sitting on the terrace railing. The man was sitting on the railing drinking whiskey.

With the strange atmosphere, Simon asked with a momentary frown, "What's going on?"

Louismond's gaze flickered over the capital below. The lights from the houses shimmering like stars of a clear night sky.

Turning his head, he looked back at Simon silently, before waving his hand in invitation.

'What's wrong with him?'

"Come on, let's have a drink."

"What is it, Your Highness? What are you doing all of a sudden?" Louismond shrugged without answering.

His eyes looked rather disturbed. Simon stood by the man without a word, before taking a deep breath and asking sharply, "Did you have any weird conversations with Kalia?"6