Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: I've Already Been There
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“First time greeting you. I’m Lena Rubel of the South.”
At the voice that doused them like cold water, people stared at Lena in stunned disbelief. Butting in during the height of the excitement to introduce herself? The gazes pouring her way weren’t kind, but Lena paid them no mind and stood before Lin.
She placed a hand over her chest and bowed lightly.
“I received great help from you earlier. Thank you truly.”
Everyone fell silent as the Proxy of the South Duke bowed her head in thanks. Lin, too, looked startled and glanced at the Southern Duke. Sure enough, the Southern Duke’s eyes were bulging.
‘What the hell is she doing...?’
Lin, flustered, caught sight of Lena’s smile and realized it. She was creating an opening for him.
“...I didn’t come here for your thanks.”
Lin caught on to her intent and muttered coldly. Then, as if his interest had waned, he turned to the knights.
“We’re heading back.”
He’d been on the verge of an ugly scuffle with the Northern Prince, but thanks to Lena, he now had a natural exit. As Lin took it, Rubid exploded in anger and tried to grab him.
“Where do you think you’re going, you arrogant...!”
“Rubid.”
But Lena blocked Rubid once more. Rubid halted at the unfamiliar address and glared at her.
“Rubid...?”
“Maintain some dignity. If not dignity, then at least manners.”
“How dare a cheeky little...”
“Shall we dance again?”
“What?”
“There’s just the right spot here for it.”
Lena nodded toward the rift. Like the champagne lake she’d dumped him into yesterday, she meant to toss him in there. At her provocation, an icy smile bloomed on Rubid’s face.
“True. I still have business with you.”
Rubid ground his teeth, recalling yesterday’s humiliation.
“I was already pissed off with these mutts sniffing around...”
“Dogs are what you make of them.”
Another uninvited guest interjected then. Clavis.
“With proper training, they can be useful in all sorts of ways. But that’s no easy task.”
Clavis said, patting Rubid’s head. Treated like a child out of nowhere, Rubid scowled and swatted his hand away. As he opened his mouth to snap, Clavis grabbed his chin, turning it, and whispered.
“Rubid, time to go. Big brother’s busy, right?”
Rubid’s head turned, and he belatedly spotted the Southern Duke’s retreating back. Iura was leaving Do-um Palace, ignoring his younger brother. Seeing this, Rubid faltered briefly before grinding his teeth. Then he glared at Lena again.
“You’re not getting off easy.”
With that parting shot, Rubid spun on his heel. As he stormed off, Clavis chuckled and whispered.
“Isn’t he just adorable? Trained so well, yet oblivious to his place.”
Clavis turned to Lena as he said it. Then he drew close and greeted her intimately.
“Hello, Miss Lena. Long time no see.”
His voice brimmed with affection.
“Didn’t you miss me?”
Clavis lowered his voice so the Southern Duke wouldn’t hear, pressing close in a way anyone would find suspicious. Lena gave no reply. She only smiled awkwardly and politely drew back. As she turned to leave, Clavis grabbed her arm. Lena paused at the touch, then said calmly.
“Let go.”
“You could shake me off.”
“I might hurt you.”
At her first real response, Clavis’s smile deepened. Already near, he took another step closer. Like one drawn in fascination, or one luring with temptation. Forgetting the many eyes around, he said earnestly.
“I missed you so much.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re special.”
“This is awkward. Acting so familiar after seeing my face a few times.”
“That just makes me want to get closer.”
At his persistent advances, Lena smiled with a sigh.
“What am I to do? I’m sorry.”
Then she wiped the smile away and whispered.
“I have zero interest in you.”
Lena glared piercingly and turned away. Clavis, brushed off, bit his lip. Not from shame or anger, but to suppress his thrill.
***
It was night when Lena returned to her quarters. Despite the grueling schedule from early morning, she showed no fatigue and changed clothes first.
Then she pondered before the mirror whether to wear a shawl. Watching her, Uni rattled her candy and chattered.
“Such devotion.”
“Pretend you didn’t see. I’ll pretend not to see you eating candy at this hour.”
At her lady’s retort, Uni closed the candy jar first.
“But isn’t it trouble if someone sees you meeting Lin?”
“Trouble? For me?”
“No, for Lin.”
This time, Lena paused. She thought for a moment, set down the bright ivory shawl, and chose a dark teal one instead. Uni smirked at the sight, so Lena changed the subject.
“No poison in that candy?”
“Suspicious. My cheek’s been itchy and my throat prickly since earlier... Could it be poison?”
“...Spit out the candy and drink water. Brush your teeth thoroughly too.”
Uni nodded and finally released the candy jar she’d been clutching. Then, casually, she said.
“The person I met was the butler, right?”
“Yes, probably.”
“Unexpected. I thought it’d be a maid or someone young.”
“Can’t increase the number who know the secret.”
At Lena’s matter-of-fact explanation, Uni pouted as if to say, fair enough.
“We’ll run into each other often now. What should I talk about?”
“Tell him everything you’re curious about.”
“Everything?”
Uni echoed, and Lena pondered briefly before smiling softly and amending.
“Everything except that I go for walks every night.”
With that, Lena leaped from the balcony as she did every night.
. . .
Lena paused in the garden below, thinking. What if it were discovered that Lena Rubel was meeting Rig-nan Aiterner in the midnight garden? In short, nothing would happen to Lena. The Southern Duke might scold her, nobles might whisper, the North might launch attacks—but none of that mattered to her. So it was as good as nothing happening.
But for Lin? The duke with a past as a colonial prisoner, stained with many flaws and much to protect. Was meeting me truly safe for you? Unlikely.
Yet you chose this meeting anyway. What kind of person are you?
Lena swallowed a laugh and crossed the dark garden. In the dense woods, under faint moonlight, she found him as always.
“You came out again today.”
“You too.”
Lena stopped and spoke; Lin, who’d arrived first and waited, replied in a calm voice.
They’d met again. No promises, no set time or place, yet as night fell, they naturally sought each other. And today felt different from usual. Perhaps because they’d had to pretend not to know each other during the day, or due to the unexpected help they’d given one another—it felt a bit more special. Unable to define the feeling yet, they simply felt relief at meeting again.
Lin only gazed silently, so Lena spoke first.
“Thanks for saving me earlier.”
“That’s my line.”
“Then say it, Lin.”
Urged to give thanks, Lin burst into laughter. Then he flustered alone. He’d laughed too easily. Foolishly. Lin quickly schooled his expression and spoke in his usual calm tone.
“Seeing the uniform made it real. That you’re the South’s proxy.”
“I was shocked too. Seeing you act like a bastard.”
“Bastard...”
“Oh, son of a bitch?”
“Same difference.”
“Right. They’re both puppies, and puppies are cute.”
“...You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
Suspecting intent, Lena smiled innocently, like a lie. Lin stared at her face, turning away to avoid smiling back. But he failed. He let out a hollow laugh and shook his head helplessly. Soon, they began walking slowly. Silence suited the lakeside garden under the moonlight. But still awkward, feeling each other quietly, Lin spoke up, embarrassed.
“Your wounds okay?”
“Wounds?”
“Your neck.”
Lena wondered, then belatedly touched her nape. The day had been so long she’d forgotten the emperor holding a blade to her throat. Fingering the shallow cut, she recalled the emperor’s cold eyes.
“His Imperial Majesty is far stranger than I thought.”
“Not someone worth getting close to.”
Lin’s voice was icy as he said it. So Lena feigned surprise.
“Even Duke Lowland badmouths His Majesty?”
“I’d say more, not less.”
“And you’re still alive.”
“I’m in favor, to some extent.”
The East was famed for obeying the emperor. To survive among pureblood dukes, one needed the emperor’s grace. And that was why Lin was more despised. A traitor loyal to the emperor who crushed his homeland, for self-preservation. Some condemned that attitude more than his origins. In those few words, Lena sensed the contradiction Lin embraced. Pretending ignorance, she continued lightly.
“Then you’ll work hard on this tomb conquest too.”
“Of course.”
“Will you go yourself, Lin?”
At her question, Lin hesitated briefly. Was it okay to chat so casually with the South’s proxy? A rival at best, enemy at worst. After a moment’s thought, he nodded.
“You called me the duke who runs on foot. Remember?”
“So as always this time?”
Lin nodded again. Then asked back.
“And you? Going in the Southern Duke’s stead?”
“Yes. That’s the condition I was summoned under.”
“You okay with that?”
“You’re worried about me now?”
Lena’s smile turned odd at his question, so Lin hurried to explain.
“Not doubting your skill. Just...”
“Just?”
“The knights seem unstable.”
Lin watched her reaction. Criticizing Southern Knights to their proxy could be seen as provocation. But contrary to worry, Lena readily admitted.
“Ah, they were pretty bad today, huh?”
Today at Do-um Palace, when the path opened, the Southern Knights had shown their worst. Not even at the vanguard like the North, yet with many injuries. Floundering, falling, hurt. Everyone saw their pathetic state, even if unspoken.
“I heard Southern Knights are experienced.”
“Yeah. Wonder where they’ve all gone...”
The South had been a warzone just half a year ago, inevitably full of seasoned knights. Any survivors were battle-hardened veterans. But oddly, those knights seemed green. Too young, and crucially, not a face Lena recognized. Meaning they weren’t from the final front lines.
‘Told me they’d be middling at best, and here they are.’
Lena recalled the Southern Duke’s morning words and smiled bitterly. She’d wondered why that tough old man said not to lag behind. Now, seeing the knights’ level, it made sense. They weren’t middling—they were useless rabble.
‘Well, hiring a mercenary as proxy means the knights won’t be intact either.’
Irritating how the Southern Duke played innocent after that, but Lena forgave generously.
“But it’s fine.”
“It’s nothing like ground combat.”
“We’ll manage somehow.”
At Lena’s nonchalance, Lin narrowed his eyes. Ahead lay the wraiths’ lair. A tomb veiled in mystery, uncharted by any but the emperor. Facing such peril with insufficient prep, yet so relaxed?
“Really fine?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Lin’s repeated question brimmed with doubt. Not scorn for her carelessness, but curiosity about her confidence. Sensing it, Lena laughed.
“Because it really is.”
Lena held back further explanation. Even for pretty Lin, it was too soon for that.
The path to the tomb had opened today. Dukes and knights hesitated at it appearing in the palace heart and the need to claim that eerie place. Thus, Lena felt a bit troubled. Everyone scared and worried, while she looked at the red sky and black earth and felt glad—was that abnormal?
Lena’s composure had a simple reason. She’d already been there.
That place, the tomb, was like the home where she’d spent her childhood.