Chapter 10

Yenikarina’s knowledge of the king’s injury was also the reason he appeared to favor her.

Once she’d uncovered the king’s injury, she’d started begging him for all the food he had difficulty handling, including prin-pran jellies. Whenever she did this, Nephter would seem to surrender his food as though he couldn’t resist her charms.

However, his ultimate goal was to hide his injury from the public eye.

Of course, the king could decline certain foods because of his appetite, and none would doubt the king’s change in preferences.

But if he did it constantly? Well, all sorts of gossip and rumors were bound to follow.

Not only that, but prin-pran jelly was a traditional dessert of the Ilugoans, so it frequently appeared as a teatime snack or for dessert. This forced the king to make sure every move he made was measured and calculated.

When Nephter’s injury had begun to worsen, Ilugo and Silvanus were still in the midst of war. He couldn’t let anyone know about his wrist when spies could be lurking at every corner.

He probably didn’t want to break the balance of power between those who were competing for the throne either.

Though he never mentioned it outright, the king favored Tarcan. The only reason the prince of commoner’s blood managed to compete for the throne against Hamir and his supporters, who were under the queen’s protection, was because the king’s preference was evident.

Hamir’s faction couldn’t make any bold moves only because the king was still healthy and alive.

Though the wrist injury was a minor matter and not a threat to the king’s life, the rumors could always tip the balance in Hamir’s favor.

Yenikarina used the secret to her advantage for her blood brother, Hamir.

However, she hadn’t told anyone about it—neither her mother, the queen, nor her beloved brother.

Instead, she feigned ignorance, put on her adorable facade whenever in front of the king, and ate everything Nephter couldn’t by wheedling him for his food.

Yenikarina was already the most beloved princess in Ilugo. Ignorant of the true circumstances, everyone had assumed the princess had melted the king’s heart and claimed the seat of the most beloved daughter of the ruler of the plains. And this served to help Hamir.

As a result, Princess Yenikarina had bought the king’s goodwill, bolstered Hamir’s political position, and created a better public image of herself.

Those were smart moves. I almost want to applaud her.

Aristine smiled at Yenikarina, who returned her beam, but it was far stiffer than her initial smile had been.

You shouldn’t have lowered your guard and assumed everything was in the palm of your hand.

Nephter, who had eaten all seven jellies meant for the table, sipped his tea, then said, “I know I arranged this marriage, but I’m happy with my decision.”

Though he spoke nearly under his breath, the ears of all those in the room perked, including the maids.

“You gave me quite an interesting teatime, so I should reward you.”

His satisfied eyes settled on Aristine.

“Do you want anything, Ari?”

The king used her nickname as though he was addressing his own daughter.

Everyone was surprised, but none as much as Aristine. Her dawn-colored eyes sparkled so enchantingly it looked as though streaks of sunlight ran through them.

Yenikarina gritted her teeth as she watched Aristine’s expression change.

Why?! Why is this happening?!

She had only asked her father to accept Aristine’s request for an audience because she had been certain she could humiliate the Silvanian princess. She thought it’d be a very easy task not only because of the rumors but because she had witnessed Aristine’s poor state herself.

In fact, three more royals had been sent to help under her mother’s orders. They should have lavished her with praise while pulling Aristine down with their criticisms. Their objective had been to bring Tarcan’s reputation down in the process.

Yet, in the end, they were the ones who had lost the king’s favor, and here, Aristine had earned it.

Aristine finally answered the king’s question, “Your Majesty, did you think I did this for a reward?”

Nephter raised a brow at her disappointed tone.

“Are you going to refuse one then?”

“Of course not,” Aristine replied confidently. “You guessed correctly. There is something I want.”

Nephter’s eyes grew wide at the confidence in her answer.

No one ever spoke to him like this. Not the queen, whom he had spent his life with since becoming crown prince; his favorite concubine; his daughters and sons; or his trusted servants and warriors.

To be frank, what sort of person would dare to imply they had only been kind to the king for a favor in return? It was a daring statement, but that also piqued his interest.

While not everyone would admit they wanted something from him, it was always obvious in everyone’s actions and words.

“Tell me.”

The reward would only be in exchange for the entertainment she had given him during his teatime. If Aristine asked for something extravagant, she would only reveal what a senseless person she was. But Nephter trusted she wouldn’t do such a thing.

“I want to wash away the stigma of Ilugo being a land of savages,” Aristine said.

This was far beyond his expectations.

Like a small pebble thrown into a pond, Aristine’s words created large ripples, spreading larger and larger until they broke like great waves against a lakeshore.

No one had expected this. Today, Aristine had surprised all those around, but this was her most shocking action of all.

See, I told you!

Aristine enjoyed seeing the perplexity in Tarcan’s gaze as he stared at her.

I’ll prove my competence at the negotiation table.

It was the first step Aristine was taking into the world.

I’m the type of person whose contract you would sign without reading.

Aristine smiled slightly at Tarcan, meeting his eyes. Her face held the full afternoon sunlight.

Dear Customer—Or Rather, Husband.

Tarcan looked down at the top of Aristine’s head as she walked ahead of him.

She’s completely different from when we first got here.

During the tea, Aristine had kept checking in with him throughout the conversation, practically talking to him with nothing but her eyes. He could still imagine her eyes seeming to ask him, See, I did well, right? I’m talented, right? Don’t you feel like becoming my business partner now?

But as soon as she left the tearoom, she hardly so much as spared a glance in his direction. She still hadn’t looked back at him even when they were in front of Tarcan’s palace.

I know what she wants.

She was waiting for him to make the first move. She wanted Tarcan to ask for help first since he had concluded she wouldn’t be of any use to him.

A smirk rose on Tarcan’s face. Usually, he would have never folded. It simply wasn’t part of his personality. He was the type to always figure out problems on his own without any help.

“Wait.”

But Tarcan stopped Aristine first.

“We need to talk,” he said.

Aristine’s eyes hinted at a latent smile after she observed Tarcan for a few seconds.

“I’m a very busy person,” she replied.

This was her signal for him to beg. Tarcan could barely hold back his laughter.

“Just a few minutes,” he said.

“Hmm?”

“Spare me one minute, then.”

The purple eyes fixed on him rolled to the side.

“Maybe a few seconds—even though I’m busy.”

“How very gracious.”

So the two now sat around another tea table. It was the third tea she was having in a row, but Aristine wasn’t tired of it at all.

During her first break for tea, she had downed her drink in anger only once it was cold, and she had been too preoccupied with feeding the king to enjoy the second. So she looked forward to the third.

“I’ll admit it,” Tarcan said as the maids prepared tea.

“Admit what?”

“That you might be of some help to me.”

“Oh my.” Aristine smiled. She brought her hand to her mouth as though it was the most surprising news of the century, which almost made Tarcan smile as well.

“Seeing my half siblings make fools of themselves was very entertaining. That’s most certainly something you can provide.”

He wasn’t willing to let Aristine hear what she wanted, which nearly made him smirk again.

“And what else?”

“Hmm, I don’t know.”

Aristine mouth froze as Tarcan feigned ignorance.

“Didn’t you see what I’m capable of? His Majesty wanted to reward me—you did hear that part, didn’t you?”

“What use do I have for that?” Tarcan countered.

“For keeping peace among your faction while you’re absent? Don’t they become agitated whenever you need to go monster hunting?”

“I can handle that when I come back.”

“I can also block the other royals from bullying your subordinates.”

“That’s something they should handle on their own.”

“I can prevent the nobles from pushing their agendas while you’re gone.”

“As I said, I can take care of them upon returning.”

They fell silent.

Aristine showed no emotions on her face, but her gaze betrayed that she was annoyed. He was certain she was internally cursing him. And, for some unknown reason, he found that amusing.

“That’s what you call a waste of time,” Aristine said. “So the first thing you do upon coming back to the palace is clean up after the messes that have been made by other people? I’m telling you that I can prevent that.”

Tarcan looked at her silently.

The sunlight was starting to turn orange as the day yielded to evening, and the wind carried the heavy scent of the garden to them.

Aristine stopped complaining and raised her head. She realized she’d been talking too much.

“Why did you want to talk to me if you didn’t find me useful?”

Tarcan had to stop and think to answer her snide question.

“Like you said, we are going to be married, so I think we should get to know each other.”

“Aha! You want to know why I arrived here looking like a beggar.”

Aristine nodded to herself and crossed her legs. This wasn’t quite what he’d had in mind, but he nodded as well because Aristine wasn’t entirely wrong.

Hmm.

Aristine looked down at the table as she took another sip of tea. Her long lashes cast a deep and smooth shadow over her eyes.

Her gaze instinctively landed on some raspberry compote and a scone, which tempted her on the table. She wanted to eat it, but there was only one. Aristine went back to her tea.

Should I tell this man about my situation?

The answer came to her immediately:

No.

While she hadn’t interacted with many due to her confinement, she knew she couldn’t trust someone she had just met. She had seen many examples of how human relationships could change with the Emperor’s Eye.

How much does he know about me?

Aristine assumed Tarcan had to know how she had been treated in the palace since the emperor of Silvanus made no efforts to hide his abuse of Aristine.

Of course, he couldn’t let the public know what terrible acts took place behind the palace walls, so he had announced that Aristine kept to her room due to an illness.

However, most of the nobles and servants who visited the palace knew the truth, so it was an open secret.

All the other royals seemed to know, so Tarcan should too.

She was still measuring how much she could explain to him when Tarcan started to speak again.

“I thought you’d cry,” he said.

“Hmm?”

“When you first arrived here, the other royals were...”

Tarcan stopped. He turned his head and muttered under his breath, “Anyway...”

Never in his life had he been the type of man to comfort another. He had never even attempted to offer help to someone at a loss, but here he was, trying to comfort her. Tarcan found this new side of himself foreign and awkward.

He couldn’t help himself upon seeing how forlorn she’d looked when she turned down her gaze.

In the silence that followed, Aristine peered at Tarcan with bewilderment. Cry? Why would she cry over that?

Tarcan frowned at her confusion.

“As a princess of Silvanus, I assumed you weren’t used to being mocked like that.”

“But I am used to it.”

She had expected to face at least one comment on her appearance, considering what a terrible state she had arrived in.

Aristine glanced at Tarcan, then slathered the raspberry compote on the scone. Tarcan didn’t say a word. He didn’t seem to care. In fact, he looked distracted. Gaining some confidence, Aristine sliced the scone and added some clotted cream. Then she shoved a piece in her mouth.

It’s delicious!

She’d never had such a delicious pastry. Or perhaps she had when she was little, but she couldn’t remember.

She almost felt she would ascend when she took a sip of tea with it. Aristine was so happy that she doubted her own emotions.

Should I offer a piece to Tarcan too?

But the scone was so small. There were only three bites left. Honestly, she wanted all of it.

She glanced at Tarcan’s face, only to see it had creased into a frown. Understandable. There had only been one, and frankly speaking, Tarcan had technically provided it.

It’s my fault for eating it without asking.

Yet here she was, wondering whether she should offer some to him! Aristine reflected on herself and was just about to speak again.

“You’re used to it?”

His voice came out as a low growl that rumbled along the ground.