Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Serves You Right
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"Kaiyer, it's Armis."
Late at night.
After finishing my contract with Chrisia and organizing tomorrow's tasks in my office, Armis's voice came from outside.
"Come in."
Armis, who had taken the leaping Rosiatte to her temple.
She came to find me after a long while.
Creak.
Armis opened the door and entered at my invitation.
"I'm sorry... for making you skip dinner because of me."
Armis's body was as fragile as a fairy who lived on dew alone.
"No, Armis. Just knowing your feelings fills me up every time."
Armis's demeanor had completely changed over the past few days.
How should I put it—her gaze toward me felt deeper and warmer.
Just looking at her led me to a world of peace.
"How is Princess Rosiatte?"
If it were me, I'd have already returned to the kingdom, but there was no word of her leaving yet.
"Kaiyer..."
"Yes, Armis."
Armis called me softly.
"Everyone is born and dies."
Armis suddenly spoke of life and death.
"Please don't hurt her. Embrace everything like the sun in the sky. Look back at the hearts of all those who gaze upon you with impartial minds, just once. This servant of the god, lacking in faith, prays every day that you become such a great hero..."
Armis's quiet, gentle words sank into my soul like a heavy boulder.
Her spell-like plea to care for everyone without discrimination.
"I'll try."
I had nothing else to say.
As a lord whose decisions controlled the lives of 500,000 Neruman territory folk, it was only natural to live with such an attitude.
Armis smiled at me, blooming like a lily.
"Rosiatte is in the temple. Go see her."
And then Armis's following words.
"Rosiatte came seeking comfort from you. She says she alone stood against the kingdom nobles when they pushed for war for your sake. But you're treating her so coldly..."
I could guess the rest without hearing it.
'The Habis Kingdom's court is in chaos, as they say.'
An aging king and powerful nobles in the Habis Kingdom.
Surrounded by enemies on all sides, much like Neruman, yet the nobles were still out of their minds.
'Sigh, she doesn't have to go through this because of me.'
I didn't wish for war, nor did I feel like apologizing or kneeling for my justified actions.
But I felt sorry for Rosiatte's heartfelt choice to face hardship for me.
I'm no hermit who cultivated for ten years on Mount Geryong—how could I fully understand people's hearts?
'That's why she told me not to treat her like that.'
Rosiatte, who had made the difficult journey here.
"I nearly misunderstood if not for you, Armis."
"That's why I like you, Kaiyer. If another's words hold truth, you listen with an open heart—this, I pray in the god's name, never changes."
Armis always boosted my spirits with positive words.
I wanted to hug her tight, but the mood wasn't right.
"If it's alright, keep tomorrow night free."
"Yes...."
A secret known only to us two.
Armis's face flushed softly.
The time when I could embrace that shy woman without reservation.
Only during our night flights.
"Alright then."
With Armis's warm encouragement, I headed toward Rosiatte, who might be hurt because of me.
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Late at night.
'Hah, a praying girl...'
The hangar serving as a temporary temple.
A woman bowed toward the golden cross in a round circle symbolizing the Goddess of Mercy.
Amid the softly burning candles, Rosiatte earnestly beseeched the divine.
Step, step.
I walked toward her.
Swish.
I knelt beside Rosiatte, who was on her knees.
A god, not human.
Neran, who held mercy for all living things—I could kneel before her anytime.
Tremble.
Rosiatte shuddered as I knelt beside her.
A brief, solemn silence lingered in the temple.
"My grandfather once said that everyone lives in their own hardships."
I began, gazing at the sacred object symbolizing Neran.
"As a child, I didn't understand. But as I grew, I came to realize it bit by bit. No matter how rich, they fear losing their wealth and can't sleep; the poor can't sleep fretting over tomorrow's hunger."
Rosiatte listened quietly to my words.
"Truth be told, I'm scared too. I started with nothing, but thinking of the abandoned Neruman people keeps me up many nights. Yet I endure with the belief that if my efforts can bring happiness to many, there's no greater worth in this world. Of course, being human, I often act for my own gain. But for those who truly believe in and follow me, I spare no risk. Though we didn't share a womb, those who ride the same fateful ship as I must be my responsibility."
I shared my convictions.
I spoke of why I crossed the Habis Kingdom border without fear for Armis, and of my own mindset.
"Please understand that I failed to grasp your heart, Princess Rosiatte."
I didn't seek forgiveness.
I had no reason to ask it from Rosiatte yet.
"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry for troubling you with this foolish girl's words."
Rosiatte called herself a girl and lowered her body.
She was remarkable in her own way.
Even as a princess of a crumbling kingdom, humbling herself to the ground was no easy feat.
"No. I'm the one sorry for not appreciating the heart that brought you here for my sake."
"Sob...."
'What the? Crying again.'
Whatever deep sorrow gripped her heart, she sobbed at my words of comfort.
"Everyone has it hard, you said... b-but it's too much for me."
Drip, drop.
Clear as dew,
Rosiatte let clear teardrops fall silently to the floor.
"What happened...?"
"As I once told you... the Habis Kingdom heads toward ruin."
Princess Rosiatte spoke negatively of the kingdom she might inherit.
"Father is old, the nobles are savage, and the people are exhausted. Enemies on all sides greedily eye our dwindling lands, eager to tear them apart daily."
'A place worse off than Neruman.'
If the princess said so, it was already done for.
"Loyal retainers are gone, and nobles blinded by power and money choke the kingdom and royal family. Those desperate to sell me off to other empires and kingdoms... it's terrifying. Without my aged father and mother, I'd have become a priestess serving the gods long ago."
The more I heard, the more chaotic the Habis Kingdom sounded.
I listened silently to her words.
"Please help. I know it's unreasonable to ask like this, but you're the only one in the world who smiles at me so warmly without hesitation. Please... help me, help the Habis Kingdom. Sob sob...."
'Gah!'
Not just for one person, but a plea to save a kingdom from Rosiatte.
As she said, it was absurd.
Neruman alone was overwhelming, and now to protect a failing kingdom too?
'I'm no Superman.'
My chest tightened at Rosiatte's request.
I looked up at Neran's sacred object, emanating a faint holy glow in silence.
'What power am I to use to help? Is this your will too?'
If it were Neruman, my strong leadership could drive us forward, but Habis—with entrenched nobles calling the shots—was different.
Meddling clumsily would invite a massive bloodbath.
"Hoo...."
A sigh escaped me unwittingly.
I'd come to offer light comfort, but her heartbreaking confession tugged at my heart.
"...I've made a difficult request, haven't I?"
Rosiatte bit her lip, suppressing her sadness.
"I'll help."
".....!!"
'Can't eat it anyway—might as well go for the pudding!'