“What is it?”
The cautious voice stirred something deep inside him.
Back when he had served as an Imperial Guard knight, this woman had ordered him around with the slightest tilt of her chin. Hadn't he, for the first time in his life, learned what exhaustion felt like from indulging her endless unreasonable demands, childish sulking, and spiteful whims that served no discernible purpose?
He didn't like seeing the woman who had always made outrageous requests with shameless confidence hesitate over something as trivial as food.
Enclosing her hand, curled tightly like the shell of a snail, within his own, he spoke firmly.
“Please tell me anything you want. Whatever it is, I will obtain it, no matter what it takes.”
“Then... I want apricots too. Fresh ones, not dried. And candied violets and citron. I don't want them stale. I like them crisp.”
As though she had been waiting for him to ask, she chattered away.
Watching her beg for sweets with eyes sparkling like a child's made his stomach itch as though he had swallowed a handful of feathers.
She had always frowned at lavish feasts as though someone had placed garbage before her. How many times had he suppressed the urge to force open those stubbornly sealed lips and feed her against her will?
All at once, he realized that for a very long time, he had wanted to see her eat until she was full.
Back then, he had believed he was merely irritated by her ridiculous pickiness with food.
But in truth, he had simply been worried sick.
“And what else?”
As he gently urged her on while brushing his fingertips over her fever-warm cheeks, the blush staining her face deepened.
Her moist eyes wandered uncertainly before she awkwardly opened her mouth.
“You know... that drink we had during the eastern tour. The one made by fermenting goat's milk... I want that too.”
Compared to everything she had asked for before, it was an utterly insignificant request.
For a brief moment he frowned, dissatisfied that she was struggling to ask for something so humble that even commoners drank regularly. Then he remembered that he had personally fed her that drink before and quietly swallowed.
The memory of her tiny tongue wrapping around him like sticky honey flashed through his mind, and his lower abdomen hardened like stone.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly rose to his feet.
If he lingered any longer, he felt he might force something upon her that she did not want.
“That drink can be prepared immediately. I'll have a maid bring it. Please drink as much as you wish.”
“You bring it yourself.”
The hand that had been defensively curled against herself suddenly caught hold of the hem of his clothes.
Varkas, who had been about to turn away, stopped and looked down at her.
Her voice became so quiet it was almost impossible to hear.
“Not now... later, this evening.”
For an instant, a sensation akin to dizziness swept over him.
He slowly closed his eyes before opening them again. Fortunately, when he answered, his voice remained calm.
“Understood. I'll bring it to you myself.”
The woman gazing up at him with clear eyes slowly nodded before releasing the fabric she had been clutching.
“Good. Then you can go now.”
She gave an imperious tilt of her head.
Unable to resist the impulse sweeping through him, Varkas finally reached out and caught the back of her neck.
Her startled eyes widened, then softened in an instant.
Staring into pupils as deep and clinging as a bottomless swamp, he thrust his tongue deep into her mouth.
Her burning flesh clung to him.
No matter how many times he tasted her, the sensation never grew dull. It felt as though his insides were melting into something soft.
Gripping her small chin, he repeatedly pushed his tongue deep inside and withdrew it again, as though mimicking the act of penetration.
He continued until his mind nearly gave out, repeating the motion over and over, and only after his body had become unbearably hot did he finally manage to pull away.
The eyes that met his beneath the brilliant light resembled pure gemstones untouched by the slightest impurity.
As he remained lost within those strangely deep blue irises, the woman, breathing in short gasps, pushed against his shoulder.
“You should go now. You said you were going to the military office in one shichen.”
He turned his gaze toward the window.
It didn't feel as though much time had passed, yet if he lingered here any longer, he doubted he would ever be able to leave.
Swallowing a sigh, Varkas reluctantly stood.
“Then please get some rest.”
“...See you later.”
Resting her face against her knees, she murmured in a hoarse voice.
With great effort, he forced his unwilling feet to carry him away.
Before entering the meeting room, he stopped by the kitchen and instructed them to prepare the foods she had requested.
Fresh fruit would have to be ordered from merchants in the southern regions, but candied violets and citron, both suitable for long-term storage, would not be difficult to obtain.
He also considered what other foods she might enjoy.
Ideally, he wanted her to eat something nutritious like meat and vegetables, but for now, he was satisfied simply because she had finally shown an interest in eating.
After ordering the steward to summon a trading merchant as quickly as possible, he briskly left the main castle.
As he entered the building used by the mounted warriors, a practical interior devoid of even the most common decorative cabinet spread before him.
These days, most of the mounted warriors were stationed along the borders of the territory, exterminating monsters and raiders, leaving the building eerily quiet.
He walked past a hall lined with every imaginable weapon before climbing the stairs.
Inside the meeting room, three powerfully built warriors were already waiting.
After offering them brief formal greetings, Varkas immediately got to the point.
At present, there was little they could do besides strengthen the defenses along the northern frontier and secretly stockpile weapons and provisions.
While writing encrypted orders, he gave each knight several additional instructions.
Most of them concerned maintaining absolute secrecy.
“Shouldn't we also begin gathering additional troops?”
One of the younger knights, who had listened silently until now, cautiously voiced his opinion.
Varkas rubbed his chin for a moment before slowly nodding.
“It would be best to prepare without attracting attention. Send secret messengers to the lords throughout the region and instruct them to quietly ready their forces.”
Suddenly, a premonition stabbed at the back of his mind that even that might not be enough.
“And gather our most capable scouts. We should conduct a thorough survey of the Valto frontier.”
“...Do you truly believe Valto will launch a war for independence?”
“If that lot ever gets the opportunity, they'll bare their fangs without hesitation.”
Studying the map spread across the table, Varkas continued,
“Our best outcome is to prevent a war before it begins, but there's nothing wrong with preparing for the worst.”
Picking up his quill, he quickly marked the reconnaissance areas before moving on to the next topic.
If he wanted to determine how far House Heimdal's influence had spread, he would have to mobilize every branch of his family's intelligence network.
After that, they would have to carefully eliminate the family's hands and feet one by one.
You couldn't burn down an entire house simply because it was infested with rats.
As troublesome as it might be, they would have no choice but to lay poison and set traps until the vermin were gradually exterminated.
“It would be wise to buy off the guildmaster of the Silver Alliance in advance. Arrange a meeting with him soon.”
“That won't be easy. The current guildmaster is said to come from a noble family in Valto.”
“Even so, he's still a merchant. Anyone capable of becoming the head of a merchant alliance with such tremendous influence across the northeastern region must possess the instincts of a businessman down to his very bones.”
Leaning back against his chair, Varkas spoke with absolute certainty.
“If he's enough of a fool to reject my proposal, then we'll simply replace him with an easterner. I noticed several suitable candidates during our tour of the East. Contact them as well.”
The advisers briefly showed expressions of surprise at his uncompromising words before quickly regaining their composure.
The man who had raised the question nodded solemnly.
“I understand exactly what you mean.”
After issuing several more orders, Varkas rose from his seat.
It was still too early to reach any definite conclusions, but House Heimdal likely had no intention of starting a war immediately.
They, too, would probably want ample time to prepare.
By this winter, the general direction of events would likely become clear.
Pressing firmly against his burning eyelids, he left the meeting room.
By the time he had finished several official duties and returned to the main castle, the sun had already begun sinking beyond the fortress walls.
As always, it had been a day without a single moment to catch his breath.
Yet today had felt especially, unbearably long.
Stepping into the Great Hall, Varkas headed straight for the kitchen.
He collected the drink that had been prepared in advance along with several snacks for her before turning to leave.
At that moment, a familiar voice called from behind him.
“Your Grace.”
Turning around, Varkas narrowed his eyes at the neatly composed face that could not conceal its tension.
The family's healing mage looked up at him with worried eyes.
“There is something urgent I need to discuss with you.”
