Suddenly, it felt like the air inside the tent was freezing, like a blizzard raging on an icy mountain. I could see the murderous aura hanging over Lucas like the breath of the grim reaper. I had to stop this. I moved to step outside, but Lucas stopped me.
“I already dealt with the emblem issue, so I don’t know why he’s still so mad. Anyway, those shoes are a terrible fit, and your hair’s a mess. Let’s get you fixed up. I’ll call Anna, so you just sit down and wait.”
“Wait, but…!” He noticed the blisters on my heels? That’s so sweet… Wait, that’s not the point! Even Lucas, who is always clueless when it comes to reading the room, has to sense this terrible atmosphere right now. So why does he sound so casual?!
I didn’t know the full story, so maybe it wasn’t my place to say anything. But reacting to a kid’s comment with that kind of intensity seemed totally excessive. I shook my head emphatically when he gripped my arm, silently pleading with him.
He looked startled for a moment, but then his eyes softened into a gentle smile.
“Your heels are all red. There’s no way those shoes will last the rest of the day. Don’t worry. I’ll walk you to the blacksmith shop later. Just wait here for now.”
He fixed my clothing with one smooth motion and kneeled to help me out of my shoes. Meanwhile, mini Cece was screaming and kicking her legs like a schoolgirl.
He told me we’d buy shoes here, and then we’d go to the blacksmith.
So he’s not even mad anymore… He’ll stop Finn and Anna for me. Oh, this man. This perfect, deadly, terrifying man! I fall in love with him over and over again every single time!
I slowly sat down, my heart fluttering, and nodded.
“I’ll be looking forward to whatever shoes you choose for me, Lukie.” I timed my comment right as the curtain swished aside, and he groaned under his breath, just as I expected.
“Ugh, why’d you have to go and make this even harder…”
He gave me a defeated little smile and then, as casually as if he were dusting himself off, dispelled Finn’s oppressive mana away with a single flick of his hand.
“Finn, Anna. Sheath your swords and bring me every pair of shoes they’ve got,” he ordered.
How is it that Lucas can never read the room but still manages to save the day? And why is that such a turn-on?! What am I supposed to do with this man?
How in the world does a tree that size even grow out of bare rock?
The mescat tree was massive, unfazed by the scorching sun as it towered over the coliseum for which it had become a symbol. From my own vantage point in the VIP box carved into the cliffs above the arena, I watched as Lucas dispatched an opponent with a bored flick of the wrist.
The clang, clang of hammers and chisels nearby rang out through the air, joined by the gentle trickling of a nearby man-made stream. The steady rhythm nearly lulled me into spacing out. But I had to keep my attention on the woman in front of me. A breeze rushed by and caressed my cheek, cooling the sweat I hadn’t realized was covering me. Just then, the woman before me dropped into a fretful bow so deep that her forehead looked like it might touch the plush carpeting underfoot.
“I sincerely apologize for all the trouble I’ve caused to Prince Lucas and Princess Cecilia! Please forgive me!”
The woman currently prostrating herself before me was none other than Princess Yana Salkishan, the owner of the shop we’d visited earlier on.
She rattled off a list of incidents that occurred during Lucas’s previous stay in Majaar, and before long, I felt a headache coming on.
Just like Prince Akeem had mentioned, Prince Islan had tried to bring Lucas the Hero over to his side by sending one of his most beautiful harem girls, Yana herself, to visit his room…repeatedly.
“I knew she’d try to sneak in, so I made sure I was really filthy and drenched in blood from my latest monster kill. I scared the hell out of her when I showed her its freshly severed head. I did a few other things…and she screamed and fainted,” Lucas had casually told me one night.
But somehow, the full story turned out to be even worse than his version had painted it. A few other things, huh? You abridged the hell out of that story, Lucas!
Talking hadn’t been enough to deter her, so maybe he did have to take harsher measures to scare her off, but still…dislocating her shoulder just to prove a point? That was totally unbecoming of a knight. Insane, actually!
Not only that, he hid it from me because he didn’t want me to hate him.
Princess Yana and Prince Islan’s plan hadn’t simply been vulgar; it had been an affront to Bern itself. If it had wrecked Leon and Shireen’s engagement, it could’ve destabilized our kingdom and violated the agreement between our kingdoms.
So yes, Lucas had been justified in putting them in their place and asserting the balance of power. And if that meant hiding the dirty details to preserve the peace his actions had achieved, then so be it. It wasn’t ideal, but I could let it slide.
I stared at her hair, which was rich brown with streaks of rare gold. The person Lucas had hurt was the daughter of the Aram tribe chieftain, whose people made a living out of slaying monsters. If the Aram tribe turned against us because of this, it would spell disaster for any Bern mercenaries crossing their lands.
And yet he had hidden that fact from me, hadn’t apologized, and continued indulging in royal treatment. Don’t think I’ll let you get away with forgetting your promise to handle things the proper way, Lucas!
This was going to require a conversation…but first, priorities.
I clenched my hands tightly in my lap, keeping my voice gentle as I spoke.
“Please raise your head, Princess Yana. If Prince Lucas has already resolved the matter, then you have no reason to apologize.”
This is between me and Lucas. All you have to do is reflect on what you did to him.
And as expected, she looked up with tearful eyes and immediately goaded me the way only aristocrats could.
“But I still tried to threaten your position, even knowing how painful and humiliating that must’ve been for you…”
Even as she apologized, she alluded to the broken engagement incident, and on top of that, she said outright that she tried to steal someone else’s husband knowing full well what that would do to me.
Basically, from her perspective, I wasn’t fit to be Lucas’s wife. Not after nearly having my fiancé stolen by Mia and Lady Viviana. I wasn’t on her level. Still, that pride of hers wasn’t arrogance. It was hard won from years of experience.
The autonomous region governed by the Aram tribe bordered both the desert and the monster-infested boundary forest. It was one of the harshest lands in all of Majaar. And even though she was in line to become the Aram chief, Yana had decided to join Islan’s harem, seduce him, and in doing so, secure his support for her people.
Because really, she was the only one clever and daring enough to win over someone like Prince Islan, or even Prince Akeem, for that matter. Both men who saw women as nothing more than political pawns.
Yet even in a harem notorious for its backstabbing and power struggles, she’d managed to stay in Islan’s good graces for years. That took serious skill and serious sacrifice.
To be honest, I preferred her personality to Viviana’s smug little superiority complex. I might even say I respected her. Actually, I kind of wanted her to teach me how to be that good at the art of seduction.
Okay, time to win her over and give a certain husband of mine a taste of poetic justice while I’m at it.
“Princess Yana, do you want to leave the harem?” I asked.
“Huh?”
That must’ve caught her totally off-guard, because her polite mask slipped for a second. Her brows knit tightly over, eyes alight with suspicion. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Ha ha, don’t be so surprised. You said you understood how painful my position was, didn’t you? Then isn’t it only fair that I try to understand yours as well?”
I gave her a thin, composed smile. She winced a little. Why does she look so scared?
“Are you doing this on purpose?” she asked.
“I’m not sure what you mean. I simply asked if you want to cut ties with Prince Islan, given your circumstances and the cards I happen to be holding. As you know, I am Bern’s second princess. Diplomatic matters are my responsibility. I could speak directly with Crown Prince Leon and Princess Shireen on your behalf. And I may be able to help with the Salkishan family’s concerns.”