CH 41

It Wasn’t a Coincidence

Rubinia Cassner did a good job. She was a woman who worked hard to achieve in becoming the crown princess.

「It’s like a historian’s record. It was forbidden. This is the most information I can find out. Give it back to me in a week.」

Rubinia sent several books with a letter. It was more like papers weaved together than a book, and it was exactly what Kyrie wanted. Nathaniel picked them up and murmured, flipping through the pages.

[Good thing I didn’t kill her.]

“…….”

Kyrie sat silently on the sofa and began to flip over the sacho. Nathaniel seemed a little hesitant when he saw her and opened his mouth.

(T/N: Sacho can be a historical record, like a compilation of historical events… it could also be a plant called ‘sedge’. For more info, look at the end of this chp)

[Are you going to read it?]

“No? We have to share the information anyway.”

There seemed to be a small ripple in the blue eyes. He soon turned his head.

[Do as you wish.]

「December 12, 387.

Weather, winter.

Vallabriga Orwenbridge replaced the King of Winter, who was wounded in the previous war. The soldiers hid in the camp in fear.」

「December 15, 387.

Weather, winter. 

Vallabriga Orewinbridge and the King of Winter argued.

‘Let me win more clearly!’

said Vallabriga.

‘Won’t you regret it?’

The King of Winter whispered.」

「December 31, 387.

Weather, winter. 

It snowed too much. The enemy died out in the snow.」

「January 1, 388.

Weather, winter. 

It snowed. The enemy died out in the snow.」

「January 3, 388.

Weather, winter. 

The enemy died out in the snow.」

「January 15, 388.

Weather, winter. 

The King of Winter was strange. More and more soldiers followed him.」

「March 9th, 388.

Weather, winter.  

I overheard them near the barracks of Vallabriga.

‘It should snow more. I think I should show off my divine nature. Winter has passed and spring has come, with the same feeling.’

Said Vallabriga.

‘This is enough, Val.’

Said Lore Leschaux.

‘Not enough.’

Said Vallabriga.」

「April 11, 388.

Weather, winter. 

I overheard them again near the barracks of Vallabriga. The King of Winter was not present to destroy the rest of the apocalypse.

People love Nathaniel so much. He’s crazy.’

‘Maybe it’s us who drove him crazy.’

‘You’re too soft. He’s not even human. It’s weird. Why is he helping us? Maybe he’s got a plan?’

At night, the King of Winter came back. He melted my hands when he saw me moving the pen with my frozen hands. And he went into the barracks before I even lowered my head. He needs neither gratitude nor admiration.」

「June 1, 388.

Weather, winter. 

The snow doesn’t melt.

Vallabriga founded Trevereum, built the capital and named it Sel Arellano. The King of Winter was given the title ‘Legendary Lord’, and Lore Leschaux the title ‘Patriotic Lord’.

Some of the soldiers went missing the next day after they were chatting about what role Vallabriga played in the war.」

「June 3, 388.

Weather, winter. 

Vallabriga didn’t come out of the lab. When he invited me to the lab, I thought he was trying to kill me.

Vallabriga was studying dangerous magic.

‘I’m going to beat that unidentified man. You will be the witness.’

Said Vallabriga.」

「June 6, 388

Weather, winter. 

I went to see the Legendary Lord. He was always in a high, deserted and quiet place that was close to the sky

‘Vallabriga Orewinbridge wants to kill you.’

I said. 

The Legendary Lord smiled.

For the first time, I wondered about his existence. Who is he? No, what is it?」

「September 19, 388.

Weather, winter. 

This record should not be seen by the emperor. I decided to overlap the pages and record them in the meantime.

With the army and magic that Vallabriga had prepared in advance, he went to the Legendary Lord. The Patriotic Lord was touring the province. The heads of the seven families who made the founding of the country were together. I couldn’t follow.」

「September 20th, 388.

Weather, the snow began to melt. 

I overheard the talk between Vallabriga and Lore Leschaux.

‘He didn’t die! He’s not dead!’

‘Val. He helped us.’

‘How can I trust such a madman!’

‘Val!’

‘Let’s hide it. We’re hiding it. Since he fell asleep in the ice, let’s bury him in the snow. Yeah, Hercula is good. There are few people there…….’

‘Val, please stop.’

‘You’re an accomplice, too.’」

「October 1st, 388.

Weather, the snow melted. It was late fall. 

I overheard Vallabriga’s conversation again. Whether he liked the sacho I was using these days, he often kept me around.

‘I feel so refreshed now that the non-human has disappeared.’

‘Val’

‘I’ve banned it. Anyone who goes near where he sleeps will be destroyed. I hope everyone forgets about him. Exists only in the records.

The Patriotic Lord did not answer. Vallabriga was excited like a child.

‘He is a legend, so I’ll give him some land. He won’t get it anyway. Haha, Leschaux, thank you, my childhood friend! It’s all thanks to you!」

「December 2, 388.

Weather, it snowed. Snow came. 

Vallabriga was out of his mind. Every winter day, the emperor seemed to have a nightmare where he woke up again and came to revenge on him.

He cried out.

‘It was Buchanan’s fault that he didn’t die and fell asleep….. We have to kill him…..’

The Duke of Buchanan was demoted to Count. He seemed to have been unable to throw it out due to the reputation of the seven-great family. I decided to entrust myself to Buchanan. Vallabriga’s madness went too far.」

By the time she read all the records, it was already night. Kyrie carefully covered the book. She sat absent-mindedly and whispered quietly.

“It wasn’t a coincidence that I woke you up.”

***

A few thin-ice-like days passed.

The Legendary Lord, Nathaniel, still did not come out of the Buchanan mansion. He seemed to only meet Princess Julia sometimes when she visited.

The Patriotic Lord, Lore Leschaux, had increased his participation in external activities. He’d never danced at the ball before, but for Kyrie alone, he monopolized her to the extent that it could be described as ‘a must’. 

At one point in the ball, Kyrie asked quietly, holding firm hands together.

“Do we need to do this?”

〔There is.〕

Leschaux was still afraid of something. Kyrie calmly received all kinds of admiration. It was something that the beautiful men and women dancing together whispered to each other only when the Legendary Lord was absent. 

From the prince’s fiancée, to his ex-fiancée, before becoming the Legendary Lord’s woman. In addition, the Patriotic Lord’s respect.

Seeing people enthusiastic about these dramatic stories, Kyrie Buchanan wanted to say. 

She’s just Kyrie Buchanan, then and now.

It was the same day as usual after the ball ended. Cesar obstinately waited until late for Kyrie to seat her in his study.

(P/R: Cesar deliberately/stubbornly waited for Kyrie to come back and brought her to be seated in his study.)

“Kyrie. Marry one of them.”

“You’re telling me the obvious that you don’t go beyond my expectations, Father.”

Kyrie responded to Cesar’s words as if he had waited. The two pairs of purple eyes were at odds in the air.

“I have no intention of keeping up with your sarcasm. The Legendary Lord is good, the Patriotic Lord is good. Get married.”

Cesar’s violet-colored eyes were glistening as if he had discovered a fortune.

‘Do my eyes look that disgusting, as well?’

Kyrie blinked with discomfort.

“I understand the Legendary Lord, but why did the Patriotic Lord appear?”

(P/R: she understands why Cesar mentioned Nathaniel, but she doesn’t understand why Leschaux is mentioned.)

“Don’t be stupid. I didn’t raise you foolishly. Isn’t it better to have a good relationship with the Patriotic Lord than with the Legendary Lord? We need a restraint against the Legendary Lord.”

“Ahhhh.”

The people around did not know that the Patriotic Lord cannot stop the Legendary Lord. 

That’s why there was a sound that said ‘either side is good’. In fact, the Patriotic Lord was worried about what the Legendary Lord would do.

At that time, Cesar’s hand unexpectedly stretched out and tried to grab Kyrie’s hand. Kyrie was startled and pulled her hand out, and Cesar coughed as if he was embarrassed and repositioned.

“You’re all grown up, and it was difficult to raise you without a mother. If you understand my situation, help me. In the past, it would be best to marry the Legendary Lord and have the Patriotic Lord as a lover.”

“Ha. You must have already come with a senile disease.  What about our Buchanan?”

“Kyrie. The royal family decided to promote us to Duke. If you do well.”

“Congratulations. Have you finally achieved your dreams? Whatever the conditions are, I have no intention of listening.”

“Kyrie!”

Cesar caught Kyrie arising from her seat, he yelled angrily.

“More and more emerging nobles are hitting and coming up!  You have to revive this family!”

“I’ve heard clearly about your attitude as a ‘father’ that family revival is more important than his daughter’s happiness.”

“Where do you think you can go without Buchanan’s name and carry your head like you do now?!”

Kyrie raised her chin softly at Cesar’s voice.

“If it weren’t for Buchanan, I’d carry my head around. Everybody’s doing that. There aren’t only seven families in the world, right?”

“Are you saying it’s okay to fall down to the level of those chiddles?!”

(P/R: Chiddle is a degrading or mocking term like a slang about a child, kiddo, dude, etc. Basically, Cesar is saying that he doesn’t want to be on the same level as those childish aristocrats as he thinks very highly of himself.)

“What are those chiddles? Can you tell me what is so special about Vallabriga, except that he helped Orewinbridge when he founded the country?”

“Don’t be ridiculous! I’ve only invested the finest in you. You’re used to the luxurious things surrounding you. Do you think you can withstand that level of demotion?”

“First, I have 120 billion dollar in land. Second, I’m telling you since you don’t know, but not everything was of the highest quality.”

“What?”

“The most important thing is the lowest level.  So I think it won’t be a problem.”

Kyrie finished talking and stared at Cesar. When Cesar, who belatedly understood the meaning, began to throw his books, she quickly escaped from the study.

(T/N: it means the most important thing in a child’s life is morality/ethics and teaching them about life and giving them love but Cesar never gave those things in ‘high’ quality so that’s what it means. Tbh this sentence is very confusing but ig my note will make some sense)

A black shoe nose was seen in front of her, who held her dizzy head and closed the door.

“……?”

Kyrie slowly raised her head. Along the rising gaze, she saw long legs, a black suit, a black cane and a purplish-blue jewel on a tie, then Nathaniel’s face smiling gracefully like a moon standing at the peak of the night sky.

A sense of déjà vu came late.

Kyrie hurriedly covered her face with a sleeve. Just like before. There was silence back then, and the sound of Cesar throwing things broke the silence, and she ran away…….

‘This time?’

Kyrie turned her head. It was the same as then and now that she did not want to be ashamed.

Nathaniel was different, he did not stand silently as before. He reached out his hand with a faint smile.

Kyrie carefully looked up at Nathaniel. Blue eyes were staring low, but in fact, they didn’t seem to be looking anywhere. Light smile, cold and beautiful eyes.

Kyrie’s heart became cold and hot at the same time. Conscious of Kyrie’s gaze, Nathaniel slowly made eye contact with her.

[Kyrie]

Nathaniel lowly called her name. Kyrie slowly lowered her arm that covered her face.

‘I must have an ugly face.’

Contrary to Kyrie’s worries, he did not withdraw his hand. Rather, he whispered with a soft voice one more time.

[Come here.]

His voice would magically impulse the heart. Kyrie carefully held the hand.

The two, holding hands, started walking down the hall. Even the air felt loose. The study, where Cesar was shouting, seemed to have already become a very distant landscape. Kyrie and Nathaniel walked out of the mansion and into the garden. It wasn’t cold outside. Kyrie opened her mouth as she looked at the dry bush.

“Nathaniel”

Instead of answering, he put strength into the hands they held together.

“….They’re after you everywhere. Especially the Emperor who probably wants you and Julia to get married.”

[I see.]

“Just in case, are you….. going to do that?”

Nathaniel stopped walking. He looked down at Kyrie with a vague smile like a face reflected in a damp, old bronze mirror.

[There isn’t.]

“I suppose so.”

Kyrie smiled dryly, turning her eyes around meaninglessly. She looked around Nathaniel’s lips, which were static, like a crescent moon, with her eyes, and then looked up.

“Orewinbridge wants a restraint. Even if it’s superficial. So, once you pretend to be loyal to the royal family, you might not care anymore.”

Kyrie’s confidence diminished moment by moment as she spoke.

Was that really so? Besides, it sounded too insignificant to talk about marriage or anything while talking about political circumstances to such a transcendent being. Her gaze went down again. Kyrie waited a little nervously for his response.

[So?]

The voice she heard was gentle. She attempted with weak courage.

“What if it was me, not Princess Julia?”

Nathaniel suddenly started walking again.

“…….”

Half embarrassed, Kyrie pressed something that was about to burst inside her tightly and looked at his side profile.

Blue eyes were not looking at her. He looked so empty that her heart felt suffocated. Kyrie’s mind became dizzy as the weight of the years he had endured with a strong spirit was seen. He was distant. Even though she was holding his hand, he felt very far away, as if he were in the past.

Just like the noble figure she once saw, Nathaniel whispered.

[You die too early]

***

「I’d like to talk to you. Come to my palace. 

– Julia Orewinbridge」

Kyrie received Julia’s letter and headed to the Sel. Julia, who was now used to it, suddenly opened her mouth as soon as she sat down.

“Are you having fun?”

It was an abrupt question that sounded rather rude. But Kyrie smiled ready.

“What kind of fun are you talking about?”

Julia glanced at her and turned her head.

“The Legend. “

“It’s not a very interesting position.”

“Ha, huhu. Really? You sound full.”

It sounded like sarcasm, but there was no cynicism on Julia’s face. She laid on a long sofa covered in golden velvet and bobbed her legs.

“You’re going to marry the Legend someday, aren’t you?”

“No.”

“No? That’s funny.”

Kyrie smiled at Julia’s bare-faced-like words. It was Julia Orewinbridge’s way to confuse her opponents by saying aggressive words in a non-aggressive manner. 

A part of whom Rubinia Cassner was influenced by.

Recalling Rubinia, Kyrie lowered her gaze to the floor to avoid revealing her emotions.

‘Miss Rubinia is not fundamentally evil. She is just full of ambition…’

Kyrie also wondered why she encouraged Rubinia that way. But she decided to bury Rubinia’s work. She did not want to create work to have a fight with someone.

Of course, Kyrie could have pressured Orewinbridge in the name of the Legendary Lord and the Patriotic Lord, as Leschaux had said. However, that wasn’t the way Kyrie wanted to be supported, and she didn’t want Nathaniel to be treated as a fearful being by people.

‘I can do it well. If it’s the role of the middle man, I’ve already done it as the prince’s fiancée.’

Kyrie put her hands together and bowed her head.

“No matter what attitude he shows me, my loyalty to Orewinbridge will not change, Your Highness the Princess.”

“That’s not enough for me.”

She made an indifferent expression as she bit the fruit brought by a naked male servant.

“But you’re really good at not being held accountable, you know.”

“I’m flattered.”

“I hope you understand my situation. That’s what my brother looks like, and my mother nags me excessively.

“If you stand on top of others, you’ll have many hardships that the culprit cannot understand.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Julia stood up from her seat, stretching with a smile. The hem of the light clothes that matched the Princess’ Palace in spring weather shook. Leaning against the pillar, she gazed at the magic garden where butterflies were flying.

A moment of silence. Julia then spoke cheerfully and coolly.

“This is what you’re saying. Externally, the royal family cooperates with the Legendary Lord, I court him, and then I take the pressure out of Buchanan, and instead you obey me from behind.”

“That’s correct.”

Julia was silent for a while and then opened her mouth.

“What do you think I would have thought after hearing that?”

“How dare I understand how you feel.”

“It’s an order. Go ahead.”

Julia looked at Kyrie, turning her arms in a circular motion. It was a cold look. But Kyrie knew a colder look than that. She calmly accepted Julia’s gaze.

“You need a guarantee that I will be loyal to the princess.”

“That’s right.”

“In any way you want?’

“That’s the problem. What on earth can you prove your loyalty? The talk would have been faster if you were a man of money or power, but you’re not like that.”

Kyrie was silent, and Julia picked up a pipe from her servant. Smoke of cigarettes as long as silence rose. The princess gazed at Kyrie with smoke between her dark red lips.

“Are you sure you’re enough to influence the Legendary Lord?”

Kyrie inhaled unobtrusively. She chose to answer honestly after a short consideration.

“It could have an impact but we don’t know how it’s going to come back.”

“If you say you were just teased at a ball, I think you’re being loved…….”

Julia mumbled. 

After a moment, she strode over and sat cross-legged across from Kyrie.

“Okay. From now on, you will come to me immediately when I call you.”

“I will.”

“On the outside, I will protect you and Buchanan, and I will ask my mother to raise Buchanan to be a Duke. Instead, I’d like you to behave as I want in the back. But of course, for my sake.”

“Of course, Your Highness the Princess.”

“And all of this, it’s a secret to the Legend, right? You don’t want to see someone you care about being treated like a servant.”

“Yes.”

“Sounds fun.”

Julia’s eyes, which shone like those of a beast, quickly regained their full glare. She smiled refreshingly, wondering if she liked the solution to the problem.

“It’s a big deal because you’re too weak. If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to live like that between the Legendary Lord and the Patriotic Lord. Or are they weaker than I thought?”

Julia’s question wasn’t the kind of answer she sought, so Kyrie swallowed the answer as she looked at a flock of butterflies flying in the garden.

(P/R: Kyrie didn’t answer Julia’s question because either Julia wasn’t seeking an answer when she asked the question, or the answer to the question was not one Julia would like.)

Would a very large and strong being do the hard work of picking and killing only one of those butterflies? It wouldn’t. If Leschaux was right, the entire capital, including those she cared about, could be in danger the moment someone touched her.

So she needed support from behind. A person who will protect her on behalf of the Legendary Lord, a fear out of her reach. Julia would be able to play that role.

‘Unless she’s greedy herself.’

Kyrie looked into Julia’s eyes that were glistening in green and bowed her head.

***

TL/rant: more about sacho- During the reign of a king, professional historiographers maintained extensive records on national affairs and the activities of the state. They collected documents and wrote daily accounts that included state affairs as well as diplomatic affairs, the economy, religion, meteorological phenomena, the arts, and daily life, among other things. These daily accounts became the Sacho (“Draft History”). Great care was taken to ensure the neutrality of the historiographers, who were also officials with legal guarantees of independence. Nobody was allowed to read the Sacho, not even the king, and any historiographer(Sagwan) who disclosed its contents or changed the content could be punished with beheading.

Leschaux.                                         Nathaniel

Fanart by Ingra

Kyrie Buchanan

Fan art by- 꽃 아이#4647