‘It must be difficult.’
Bernard silently repeated Siorn’s words. Of course. He would feel depressed even if the dog he had been raising had disappeared. So there was no way he wouldn’t be sad that the person he had a good relationship with had left him.
‘Still, there must be something.’
Looking at himself, even he thought his current condition was strange. Unbeknownst to him, he was sensitive and gloomy. He clenched his fists hard.
When Herietta told him that she was leaving for Brimdel soon, he was saddened by the fact. Moreover, he felt a little depressed that it was a farewell without a promise.
They had a slightly special relationship stemming from a misunderstanding. They were also able to share fun puns without hesitation in their boring daily lives in this relationship.
But that’s all. Their relationship was nothing more nor nothing less than that.
That is why Bernard did not stop Herrieta to the end. He didn’t want her to leave, but he didn’t force her anyway.
As time passed, most wounds were bound to heal. So he believed that he too would heal from this. He believed so vaguely that over time, this bitterness would blunt and he would gradually adapt to life without her by himside.
Like Herietta told him that day.
‘But yet, it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.’
Bernard frowned.
‘Rather than adapting, I feel her vacancy getting bigger and bigger.’
He ran his hand around his torso. Like something invisible was pressing against his chest. It was too heavy to dismiss it as nothing. At the same time it was a little vague to call it pain.
Bernard was breathing slowly when he heard footsteps coming from the distance. It sounded like half-running perhaps, something was urgent.
Bernard and Siorn looked in the direction of the sound. They looked at the sound of footsteps getting closer and closer, seeing if the runner was coming at them.
Before long, a knight wearing Velicia’s garbs appeared in front of the two of them. Perhaps knowing that they were here, the knight didn’t seem surprised at all when he saw them. The knight politely saluted.
“What is going on?”
“Forgive me. I have something I need to tell you urgently.”
To Siorn’s question, the knight asked for a formal understanding.
“His Majesty wants to see the Crown Prince.”
“His Majesty?”
“Yes. He asked you to come as soon as possible.”
The knight’s words left Siorn in bewilderment. If the king had said that, something big must have happened. In addition, the knight standing in front of him also pretended to be calm, but his eyes were somewhat uneasy.
“Has His Majesty said anything else?”
“He told me to deliver this letter.”
The knight took out the letter from his chest and handed it to Siorn.
It was a letter made of thick parchment. It was the same material used to send news over long distances. Siorn, who looked down at the letter with a doubtful face, accepted it without saying a word.
Before long, Siorn opened the rolled up letter. Then he slowly began to read the text written on the letter.
“…….”
As his eyes moved down the letter, his face, which had been as calm as the surface of a lake, became more and more distorted. His calm and rational eyes darkened, and his breathing quickened.
‘Things went very wrong.’
Bernard, who had been standing by Siorn and watching his reaction, immediately noticed.
“Brother?”
“…….”
“Brother, what is it?”
“Bernard.”
After reading the letter, Siorn raised his head and looked at Bernard. His face hardened like a stone. Eyes full of worry and fear. His thick eyelashes quivered faintly.
“Kustan…….”
His hands were also shaking. The letter that was held in his hand was crumpled.
“They say that Kustan crossed the border and attacked Velicia.”
“!”
Bernard’s eyes widened at the news Siorn had given him. His expression hardened in an instant.
“It looks like they attacked a village on the outskirts a few nights ago. Apparently, they moved as stealthily as possible, taking advantage of the dark. But they moved so quickly that when the situation was grasped and reinforcements sent, the situation had already ended.”
Bernard didn’t say anything, just staring at Siorn. To think that Kustan is attacking Velicia. He had said it as a joke, but he never imagined it would actually happen.
‘Nonsense.’
Bernard’s throat moved. No matter how aggressive Kustan is, they were not a very outstanding country when looking at the economic conditions and the development of civilization. To think that such a Kustan would attack two countries in a row.
Even Velicia, which was considered to have risen to the ranks of the empire, was not spared. Was this something fathomable by common sense?
‘They won’t do that unless they’re crazy.’
Bernard exhaled heavily.
A properly sane mind would know how dangerous and foolish it was to wage a war with Velicia like this at this point. In this position, no matter how lucky they were, they would lose far more than they gained.
There’s no way they wouldn’t know that.
Yet, why.
“I must see His Majesty.”
Siorn, who could no longer remain still, declared.
“Guide me to His Majesty.”
“I will, Your Highness.”
Perhaps the knight had waited for Siorn’s order, he answered immediately. Just like that, the two were hurrying to leave.
“Brother!”
Bernard, who had been standing there blankly, suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly grabbed Siorn. Because of the great news, something that he couldn’t grasp right away came to my mind belatedly.
“Brother, the village on the outskirts that was said to have been attacked…… ?”
Bernard couldn’t finish the question, and his words went blurry. A place where Brimdel and Velicia’s territory face each other. The boundary line between them.
‘No way…….’
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