CH 33

A Blue Gaze

“We were right.”

[As expected.]

Nathaniel, who was playing chess in the parlor, laughed. Kyrie handed MaryAnne a marten wool hat and cloak and sat across from him.

“That was a lot of greed. Your Highness.”

[Did Orwrenbridge fall for it?]

”Who do you think I am?”

[Kyrie Buchanan, who is not very smart.]

“Then, I hope you can change that perception now. My behavior so far has been helpful. You shouldn’t doubt the person who said, ‘yes’ to the sudden words of ‘engagement to the crown prince’. ”

[That’s a very sophisticated way of saying you’re hopelessly obedient.]

These words didn’t sound sincere, but they didn’t really seem to be reproachful. Nathaniel muttered, [Well, that’s clever]

“The Emperor seems to want to seal you again.”

[That’s understandable.]

Nathaniel moved the bishop in slow motion.

The Legendary Lord’s return was a loss for the royal family, except for one justification. 

That justification was the fact that the progenitors who had helped found Trevereum had returned. This could be considered an auspicious sign, and the people’s faith in the royal family grew stronger as a result.

However, there was nothing to be gained because they had to return the land they thought belonged to the state. 

Kyrie was not sure, but she believed it must have hurt quite a bit. In addition, Nathaniel was not even cooperative with the royal family.

“Do you intend to cooperate with the royal propaganda?”

[No.]

“Are you certain there are no wizards in this country that can seal you right now?”

[For now.] 

Nathaniel put his finger on a pawn and nodded his head. Kyrie moved a white pawn quickly.

“For now means it’s still possible.”

[There is a laboratory that belonged to Vallabriga hidden in Sel.]

“You were a sorcerer, weren’t you?”

[Yes.]

“Then was it magic that put you to sleep?”

[Orewenbridge wasn’t such a half-hearted person. He must have tried to kill me.]

“Then why did you fall asleep instead of dying?”

[Well.]

Nathaniel moved his pawn. Kyrie tapped the chessboard with her fingernails, then moved her pawn again.

“It’s strange. You told me you were immortal.”

Kyrie looked at Nathaniel.

“What are you hiding?”

Nathaniel smiled and moved a knight. She already knew by now that he only laughed like that when he didn’t want to talk. So Kyrie steered the conversation into a more productive direction.

“Where is the laboratory? Why don’t you just go and destroy it?”

[You have a very destructive tendency.]

“Oh my. Did you notice? I have no choice but to show my destructive side.”

[That’s how you stop it.]

For a while, only the sound of chess pieces being placed on the board rang out in the room. After taking her turn, Kyrie turned and looked out the window. These days, only intermittent and mild snow had fallen for winter.

‘Was he feeling better?’

Kyrie thought it would be nice if that was the case. As she turned her head with a small smile, she noticed that Nathaniel was looking her way. The snow seemed to freeze the blue lake, but it didn’t feel as cold as before.

[Kyrie.]

“Yes.”

[The Emperor will pressure you from now on.]

Nathaniel tapped near his neck with the cane, then lowered his eyes.

[As you intended.]

“I think so. I think it’s better to have a target that’s more effective.”

[More effective?]

“Something that’s important or precious to you. To the others, that should be what I appeared to be.”

Nathaniel remained silent. He leaned his body deep into the chair, tilted his head back, and he fiddled with his hair which ended up tickling his forehead.

[In that sense, it could be considered as a good choice.]

“Huh?”

Kyrie asked, wondering what he meant

But Nathaniel simply smiled and didn’t answer.

* * * 

Kyrie selected a random invitation piled up on a silver tray and expressed her willingness to participate. It didn’t matter where it was. The entire capital will be watching her every move anyway.

“I will often participate in the salon. If you stay like this, I don’t think the gates of the mansion will hold up to the weight of those who are curious about you.”

[I’m putting pressure on Orwenbridge.]

“I don’t want to do that. I hate being tired.”

She said that and glanced at Nathaniel.

“When it comes to tiredness, you and Sir Leschaux make me the most tired. What are you thinking?”

[I don’t need land.]

“Then you can give it to anyone.”

[That’s why I gave it to anyone.]

Nathaniel pointed to Kyrie with the back of a book he was reading. Kyrie frowned with her mouth open.

“I just want to live quietly doing my job, Nathaniel.”

[Unwise Miss Kyrie Buchanan. Peace cannot be achieved without power. The lives of the weak are always noisy.]

It wasn’t wrong, but it was a cruel statement to hear from the person who created the fuss. Kyrie shook her head and asked for the last time.

“So you’re not going to the salon?”

[I’m not going.]

“I thought you would like it.”

Nathaniel laughed. Kyrie shrugged her shoulders.

“There are people you like. Elegant.”

[You say such abominable things in such a sophisticated manner.] 

“I’m just kidding. Rather than that, I thought you were good at dancing, so I thought you’d be used to it or like it.”

[I’m just smarter than humans.]

“Oh my God, you said that without blinking.”

Nathaniel, who was about to read all the books in the mansion, finally raised his head. He covered the book with a rather bland look.

[It seems our Kyrie Buchanan has something to say to me.]

“Did I get caught?”

Kyrie fiddled with the back of the sofa and smiled awkwardly.

Until now, she’d always been next to Nathaniel. But when she’d suddenly declined, she was full of worries. She was worried that someone would oppose Nathaniel, so he would remove their head and put it on display and worried that that person would be her father. (T/N: ”suddenly declined”- she got her engagement broken with the crown prince so it’s like she fell from a high position)

‘I certainly hate my father, and I want to live like others, but I don’t want to see him die in front of me.’

Kyrie had a confused expression. She had a hard time explaining these feelings to Nathaniel. Would he even understand it after she explained it?

“I beg of you. I’ll be back as soon as I can, so if you want to bother someone, make sure to do it after I get back.”

[I’ll think about it.]

“You always give such mean answers.”

[Is that why you’re nervous?]

“The problem is that it is not surprising.”

[‘Because I don’t look like that kind of person?’]

“That’s correct.”

Nathaniel blinked his deep, watery eyes silently and opened the book in his hands calmly.

[Go ahead.]

“Yes, yes. I will go quickly without disturbing you.”

Kyrie turned around. Nathaniel then glanced at Kyrie’s thin back which was covered in a spotted fur cloak. 

A blue gaze followed the trail of the hem of the dress as it disappeared through the door, but Kyrie didn’t notice.