I Don’t Need A Husband - Chapter 54
Chapter 54
“Go to Duchy Hillenton.”
“Understood.”
“Be sure to bring an answer.”
“I will keep that in mind. Your Majesty.”
“You must not forget to come and go without anyone knowing.”
“I will keep that in mind again.”
As the wizard chosen as the messenger bowed his head, Isilis waved her hand.
Seeing the wizard cautiously back away behind her, she was satisfied. It was because the decision not to leave right now meant he was thinking about the attention around him. His meticulous behavior made her feel a little more at ease.
‘…I’ll know when I get a reply.’
The journey to the capital of Hillenton was long. It was not a path to be taken in haste, so Berthas moved his army slowly. He was going to wait until Hector’s call and then attack while the child was sleeping in his arms.
“She is very gentle.”
“Is it?”
“It can’t even compare. My child cries every day…”
“Do you have children?”
“It must be about ten years old now. I’ve never seen it properly because I’ve been to and from the battlefield.”
“I will give you a vacation when this job is over.”
“You have to give me a long time.”
“Of course.”
The officer’s face was full of longing as he smiled at the child. As if nothing had happened, the officer spoke again.
“I think the Princess is clever.”
“Hmm?”
“In some ways, this place may be unfamiliar to her, but it seems like she was adapting well.”
Berthas felt as if he had been beaten in the head with those words. It was. It was a place full of people she had never seen before though the child didn’t cry unless she was hungry, so he couldn’t pay attention to that detail.
When the officer who had been talking to him left the barracks, saying that he would bring food for the child, another officer, Dahan, who had been hesitant behind him, opened his mouth.
“Excuse me…”
“What is it?”
“Have you contacted the child’s mother?”
“I forgot.”
He made a plan for the advance and forgot about it because he was with the child outside of that time. How afraid Isilis must be losing the child. He was happy to spend time with the child that he had forgotten about that for a while.
When he remembered her, Berthas felt aghast. He hurriedly scribbled the contents on a piece of paper and sealed it with a seal.
“Sir Dahan.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
“Deliver this letter.”
“To whom…”
“Empress of the Larchen Empire. To Isilis Larchen.”
It was amusing to see Dahan’s face looking at him in shock.
“Your… Your Excellency, I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?”
“What did you hear?”
“That… Isili…no, the Empress of the Larchen Empire…”
“That’s right.”
“…You are crazy.”
“Crazy?”
“It’s for the child’s mother.”
“I just wrote it.”
“Then…”
“This child is the Imperial Family of Larchen and the Imperial Family of Hillenton. She is the only heir of Larchen.”
Berthas smiled at the aide, who stared at him with his mouth wide open.
“You’re the only one who knows this, so go quietly.”
“Quietly…?”
Dahan, who read the danger in Berthas’ eyes, stiffened in tension.
“Yes. Very quietly.”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t, your life will be in danger.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“And find out why did this child come here? What happened to the Larchen Imperial Family?”
“…Somehow, it sounds like you’re telling me to die.”
Berthas laughed at Dahan’s joke. Although he spoke weakly, the only person who could properly carry out his order was Dahan, other than Hector.
“I wish you no luck.”
“Thank you.”
After accepting the letter from Berthas, Sir Dahan left and looked at the child again. It must have been tiring just to go on the move, though seeing the child who didn’t pay attention, Berthas felt like shedding tears.
A precious child…
The only heir to Isilis and him, and the imperial family of both countries. To think that such a child would sleep without a proper room.
‘I’m not qualified as a father.’
When this thought came to mind, Berthas made up his mind. He would give the child everything he could. He was determined to let her have not only the throne of Hillenton but also that of Larchen.
“I need to get rid of the name of the Empire called Hillenton.”
He thought of absorbing and unifying Hillenton into Larchen since the child was from the Imperial Family of Larchen. It was clear that his lieutenants would react if they knew what he was thinking, but he was confident.
It was already impossible for Hillenton to survive on its own. Monsters were overflowing on the widened border, and barbarians were aiming for Hillenton.
That wasn’t the only one.
While the Khalifa Empire also maintained a friendly relationship with Hillenton, they would risk their lives to invade if there was an excuse. When they entered the empire, they could kill the current Emperor and Crown Prince, then convince the nobles.
He was planning to return to Larchen immediately after putting the child on the throne. The longer they stayed in Larchen, the longer the nobles would gradually move to Larchen, and if that happened, it would be easier to convince the people of the empire who were friendly to Larchen.
The imperial people who were plundered and exploited by the nobles already had no loyalty to Hillenton.
For them, changing the ruler was like changing the person collecting taxes. The situation was different with Larchen, who was full of loyalty to their empress. Hillenton’s imperial people were exhausted.
It was Berthas who let the current situation continue.
It was him
“What are you doing here?”
“Usman Khalifa.”
Usman appeared in front of Isilis, who was drinking tea in the garden.
“I’m free.”
Seeing the attendants withdraw, he changed his attitude.
‘He never changes.’
It was also a matter of pride to speak casually at the Empress, but also a self-indulgent attitude. Still, the reason why she didn’t hate that appearance was because she had known him since she was a child. Was it because she couldn’t get rid of him, who approached her in a friendly way?
“I can’t believe you’re free to take a break.”
“Isilis.”
“….”
Watching her silently put the tea in her mouth, Usman gestured to the attendant. An attendant set down a chair and a teacup in front of him. The lady-in-waiting came and poured him a cup of tea, and it smelled of acacia.
“The tea smells good.”
Isilis’ gaze turned to his face. She couldn’t escape Usman’s stare at her face. It was a strange feeling.
“Do you enjoy tea?”
“Tea is precious in the desert.”
“I guess.”
“I’m going to drink a lot while I’m here.”
“I’ll take care of it when you go back.”
“That remains to be seen.”
His hair swayed in the wind as he spoke with a grin. As his odd golden eye shone, the blue eyes next to it also shook.
It was like looking at a jewel.
‘Berthas’ eyes were like obsidian.’
Looking at Usman’s eyes, she thought of Berthas. Berthas’ eyes were always shining towards her, as were Usman’s. Many days have passed since the messenger was sent, and she was surprised that there was still no news.
‘They should have arrived by now…’
It’d been a month since the messenger left… why was there no contact yet?
‘Is he busy?’
No matter how busy Berthas was, he wasn’t one to not be in touch with her, so she decided to wait a little longer.
In the meanwhile, Usman whispered to her, staring blankly at her, who was lost in thoughts and saying nothing.
“Has the child not been found yet?”
“…That’s right.”
“Hasn’t it been almost three weeks?”
“Yes.”
Disturbed by his words, Isilis turned her head away. That was the reason she was out in the garden. Even though she came out to soothe her anxious mind at the thought of a child, it was rather counterproductive.
“I will help you find the child.”
“…Why?”
“If you and I get married, she will be my child, I will help you.”
“Usman Khalifa.”
“So don’t be depressed.”
“…What?”
“You’re sitting like a spring flower in a bright garden, but your expression looks so dark. When you were young, you were a confident person no matter what you did. What made you change like this?”
‘I have changed…?’’
Isilis suddenly came to her senses at Usman’s words.
It was too difficult. The stress of losing the child kept her from sleeping well at night. She regretted it over and over again. Why did she remove the barrier? Why did she let the child who was always with her go back alone?
Why did she do that that day?
As the thought deepened again, Isilis shook her head.
It was already too late. After losing her child, all she thought about was that… regrets and more regrets.
As she continued to lament, her complexion grew darker, and eventually, the attendant came to use herbs to help her sleep. Even if she took the herb, nothing much changed. After the child was gone, she couldn’t control her exhausted feelings. She became strangely weak.
“I don’t know.”
“It’s unlike you, Isilis.”
It was annoying for him even to say that. Shaking her hand, she was about to open her mouth, telling him to go, but her outstretched hand was caught.
As she flinched, startled by the cool hands, Usman spoke to Isilis.
“Isilis, it doesn’t suit you looking so depressed like this.”
He whispered as he lightly placed his lips on the back of her hand. Looking at his face, she kept thinking of Berthas.
‘…His hands were warm.’
The hand that felt different from Usman’s cold hand—hot and intense—and it was a warm hand that wrapped around her. Again and again, Isilis, as if trying to shake off her thoughts, freed her hand from his hold, closing her eyes tightly.
“What is like me?”
She was working so hard. It was difficult to keep in check the nobles who tried to suppress the stronger imperial power, and when they settled down, she was tormented by them to give birth to an heir.
Every time the monsters that occasionally appeared on the border touched the barrier, she had to feel her magic draining away, and when that wasn’t enough, she went directly to the battlefield, but Isilis thought it was an imperial duty.
…Still, what was left of her now? She lost her child and her loyal subject. There was nothing left.
Usman grabbed Isilis, who was about to disappear. He whispered as he took her hand again.
“Isilis.”
Even though he called her name, she wasn’t here. Uneasy about it, he spoke to her again.
“Look at me.”
The gaze that had been wandering in the air returned to him, but as her gaze did not contain him, Usman strengthened his hand.
Stunned by the strong power, Isilis’ gaze became clearer.
Only then did he marvel at the way her eyes framed his face. His face in those ultramarine blue eyes. Those eyes looked straight at him. Those eyes, as beautiful as the dark night sky, twinkled as if studded with stars and shone towards him.
“Look at me.”
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