Chapter 339
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 339
Chapter Title: What Are You Doing Here?
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At least that was a relief.
When Rimon shook his head and refused, the slaves no longer tried to push those outrageous outfits on him.
They just looked terribly disappointed.
So Rimon ended up racking his brains even more.
The reason the slaves were making such a fuss was obvious: they truly believed Hasneti favored him.
Well, with the warehouse overflowing from all the gifts, it was understandable they'd think that.
The problem was why Hasneti was doing this.
'What's her goal?'
'She's thrown me in the palace and hasn't shown her face once, so it's probably not genuine affection.'
'Could she be trying to tie my feet naturally by making me the prime suspect?'
Slaves followed him everywhere as a matter of course, and rumors of the extravagant gift barrage had spread far and wide, drawing eyes wherever he went.
If he recklessly went searching for the seven-colored bird in this situation, he might attract unnecessary suspicion.
If Hasneti's aim was to keep eyes on Rimon, it was working perfectly.
'But strangely, there's no actual surveillance...'
Was this a trap?
Or did she have some other purpose?
Rimon had no choice but to agonize over it.
But he couldn't just waste time here after coming all this way.
'No helping it.'
In the end, after much deliberation, Rimon reached a decision.
And his first action was to meet one person.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yeah, we haven't properly greeted each other since that first day."
"Mm, sorry about that. I should've come to pay my respects sooner, but I've been so busy lately that the greeting got delayed."
The girl in loose military garb scratched her head.
Nadia had truly been swamped with postwar cleanup.
To the point where she could ignore even the nominal side consort's summons.
Still, she'd come at Rimon's call out of curiosity.
She wanted to properly talk with the man Hasneti had not only welcomed as a side consort—someone she'd never even glanced at other men for—but had also halted a war over.
Of course, the biggest reason was the massive gift offensive happening lately.
'How much money is all that...?'
Intricate gold necklaces.
Gold bracelets studded with all sorts of gems.
And even custom-ordered high-end loincloths and gold belts.
He wasn't even wearing much.
As the Red Dragon Clan's financial overseer, watching Rimon decked out in all that sparkling pure gold made Nadia's stomach ache a bit.
Click.
"I heard you like sweets, so I prepared the refreshments accordingly."
"I've had to use my head a lot lately..."
Even so, Nadia was impressed.
Having slaves serve refreshments without lifting a finger could come off as arrogant.
But Rimon made it seem refined.
Like a pureblood noble who'd commanded slaves for decades.
'Definitely noble through and through...'
Moreover, he wore those expensive accessories so naturally, the golden glow accentuating his soft brown skin.
Even Nadia briefly thought, 'Doesn't look like a waste of money.'
Of course, she startled herself with the crazy thought and shoved it away.
'...Or maybe he's just naturally concubine material.'
For a moment, she shuddered, sensing a glimpse of the charm(?) that had made Hasneti take this boy as a side consort.
Nadia snapped back to reality with a cough.
"Ahem. Is everything to your satisfaction?"
"No."
"If there's anything... Wait, it's not?"
She'd expected full satisfaction, given the top-tier treatment per Hasneti's orders.
Stunned by the immediate affirmative without hesitation, Nadia shot sharp glares at the slaves.
If he felt discomfort, it was their fault.
They deserved whipping and demotion to slave soldiers on the spot.
The slaves paled, knowing this.
Rimon said innocently,
"Because of the Pharaoh."
"Pardon?"
"Even if it's just nominal, I'm a side consort now, but I haven't seen her face since arriving."
"Ah... So that's what you meant by uncomfortable."
"Something like that."
The slaves sighed in relief as her gaze softened.
Nadia replied awkwardly,
"Well, Her Highness is very busy right now. It's not that she's indifferent to you, Lord Rimor."
"I know. If she were truly indifferent, she wouldn't send gifts every day."
"Yes, exactly..."
'Though that doesn't mean she's all that interested either.'
Watching Rimon flash his gold bracelet ostentatiously, Nadia muttered inwardly.
She handled all the work, so Hasneti had plenty of time despite that.
Yet she only sent gifts and got reports via slaves, never visiting personally.
That suggested her interest in Rimon wasn't that great.
"So I was thinking of giving the Pharaoh a gift myself."
"Aren't we sending sculptures one by one every day?"
"Those are tribute. Gifts are different."
"Are they...?"
"It's like the difference between birthday money and a present that hits just right."
"I quite like money myself."
"..."
As if to say what gift could beat money.
Rimon fell silent watching Nadia blink innocently, then glanced up and down.
Then brazenly continued as if he hadn't heard.
"Anyway, on that note, I have a question. Does the Pharaoh like birds?"
"How did you know?"
"I overheard the Summon Lord say so by chance."
"That horny fly?"
"...That's a pretty intense take on the Summon Lord."
"Ah, sorry. I picked up Her Highness's bad habit."
Nadia looked embarrassed.
Hasneti saw the persistent Summon Lord as little more than a fly.
Which made it all the more surprising she'd welcomed this boy so readily.
"Anyway, I was thinking of sculpting a bird for the Pharaoh."
"That's a great idea."
"But I can't sculpt well without a model."
"Pardon? I heard the first bird sculpture for Her Highness was done without a model."
"...I mean I could make an even better one with a model. Since it's a gift, better make it as good as possible, right?"
"Mm, fair point."
"So, it'd be great if there were birds to model after. Is there a place in the palace with birds gathered, or somewhere to observe them?"
"Well..."
Nadia's eyes darted.
Hasneti loved birds, so one section of the palace was dedicated to them.
The issue was it was off-limits to outsiders, as she frequented it...
'But as the princess's side consort, he's not exactly an outsider?'
"Since you put it that way, Lord Rimor, I'll guide you to a good spot."
"Thanks."
"It's for Her Highness too."
Hasneti was quite looking forward to Rimon's sculptures anyway.
Helping as a retainer was only natural, she thought with an awkward smile, then asked,
"So, when would be good? Tell me, and I'll arrange for next time I have free—"
"Right now."
"...Pardon?"
"I've got plenty of time these days."
"..."
In the end, Nadia had to guide Rimon without touching the refreshments.
Her work was already backed up, but she couldn't say no to something for the princess.
Thanks to that, Rimon marveled at the "aviary."
"An entire garden as an aviary? Impressive."
"Her Highness doesn't want the birds cooped up. It's made so they can live as freely as possible."
Flowers and trees, of course.
Even cliffs with waterfalls and springs.
It was no exaggeration to say a whole little mountain was inside.
Proudly explaining the massive net covering the vast space, Nadia soon drooped her shoulders.
"But the maintenance costs are huge."
"Freedom always comes at a price."
After patting her shoulder once reassuringly,
Rimon smiled brightly.
"Alright, lead the way. Preferably prioritizing rare birds."
"...Yes, of course."
Watching him comfort her while still pushing the task, Nadia thought to herself,
This boy might actually suit our princess surprisingly well.
In his subtle ruthlessness.
Anyway, work was work, so Nadia diligently guided him.
"For a model, how about the frostfinches in the cave under that cliff? They have beautiful snow-like feathers."
"Those die if it gets a bit warm. Better something hardier."
"For hardy, the firehawks over there are tough. Legendary raptors from a long-lost continent."
"They're too plain for a model."
"Then how about the stately eagles? Several breeds up on that cliff."
"Eagles aren't bad, but too common."
"...So what kind of bird do you want?"
"Hmm. Tough and vital, cool and flashy to look at, and rare if possible?"
"..."
Nadia reconsidered.
Not just ruthless, but subtly picky and capricious too—just like the princess.
She'd be the one dying twice over serving her, though.
But what could she do?
She'd volunteered to guide.
With a sigh, Nadia turned.
"If you're that picky, no choice... I'll show you our secret weapon."
"Secret bird?"
"Yes. It's so feral and untrainable I hesitated, but it's rare and pretty cute."
"Hmm, sounds intriguing."
As if waiting for those words.
Nadia led the smiling Rimon to a small hut in the garden corner.
She pulled out a tiny cage and unveiled it by removing the cloth.
Rimon fell silent.
"So, what do you think?"
Peep?
Looking triumphant this time,
Rimon couldn't respond to Nadia's proud question.
Peep! Tweet! Chirp chirp peep!
The moment the cloth was off, it glared, then hopped around excitedly at the sight of him.
Seeing the all-too-familiar bluebird—with a single white feather sticking up from its head—Rimon muttered like a groan,
"Blue, what are you doing here...?"
In the end, Rimon chose the molting bluebird as his model.
Finding the seven-colored bird was important, but first he needed to figure out why Yuna Kyung was here.
After half-forcing Nadia to leave since no more guiding was needed,
The gist Yuna Kyung explained via smartphone tapping left Rimon dumbfounded.
"So, basically, a shipping mishap?"
Tweet!
It was supposed to go through Egypt's Leviathan branch to the Kilimanjaro Autonomous Government.
But due to a last-minute destination change, what was meant as a gift for Rimon ended up with Hasneti.
Watching Yuna Kyung earnestly poke at her phone to explain, Rimon made a strange face.
'Doesn't seem like an accident.'
Anyone else, maybe.
But Li Chingwei making that mistake?
Something felt off, so he tilted his head and asked suspiciously,
"Yuna, you don't have some grudge with our princess, do you?"
...Peep?
She flinched for a split second,
then rolled her eyes and shook her head.
There was a slight catch, but it was old news, and they'd settled it amid missile barrages that singed her feathers.
"Hmm, good if not... But be careful just in case."
Peep?
"The Black Dragon Clan isn't as grudge-obsessed as the Green Dragon Clan, but they have the longest grudges."
...
If she'd earned even a small grudge from Li Chingwei, she wouldn't face open revenge, but she'd get tangled in all sorts of "accidents."
Yuna Kyung's pupils shook as Rimon scratched his cheek and advised her.
"Well, anyway, this works out perfectly."
Unaware or not of her turmoil,
Rimon grinned.
The attention was already a hassle, but with Yuna Kyung here, the search would be much easier.
'When she said no extra clan dispatch with that meaningful smile...'
Yuna Kyung couldn't exactly count as Black Dragon Clan.
Chuckling at Li Chingwei's cunning ploy of sending "extra aid" via loophole, Rimon addressed her.
Or tried to.
'Hm? That presence...?'
Grab!
If someone hadn't suddenly yanked him with a firm grip.
Even sensing it with his superhuman Sword Master instincts, Rimon had to feign surprise.
It wasn't mere disguise.
His captor's action was that unexpected.
"Who are you?"
Sharply arched brows.
Eyes blazing blood-red.
The vivid footprints left behind.
Using Seven Thunder Shadow Style to dash like lightning and seize Rimon's slender wrist.
Hasneti, her usually cold face twisted demon-like, bellowed in a voice hot with fury,
"I asked who permitted you to enter here!"