《When The Mad Emperor Suddenly Becomes Sweet》 Chapter 1 It was glorious weather for taking a walk. Under the cloudless blue sky, a gentle breeze blew, and Freya stood in the garden, admiring the fresh mixture of cherry tomatoes that she¡¯d planted with her own hands. This was what the joy of harvesting must feel like, and she felt proud of her achievement. ¡°Lucas! Come and look at this. Don¡¯t they look so delicious?¡± She squealed in delight. Picking one of the well-grown cherry tomatoes from the bush, she smiled at Lucas, who stood staring blankly. He looked at her for a long time, with an indecipherable look in his blue eyes, before finally brushing his bangs to the side of his face and replying, ¡°Yeah. It looks delicious.¡± Freya blushed for no apparent reason in response to his answer, which left an odd afterglow on her face. He looks especially handsome today, she thought. He was a man who shone brightly, even when standing in an underwhelming garden. The solid muscles that bulged underneath his broad shoulders could easily be seen under his thin shirt, which clung to his body whenever the wind blew. And, the exquisite combination of his sparkling blond hair and blue eyes could only be a blessing from God. What a handsome husband. Lucas¡¯s thigh muscles tightened over his long legs as he strode casually toward Freya. Feeling shy for staring at him for so long, she reached out to him and asked, ¡°Would you like to try a tomato?¡± Lucas stood in front of her, looking her up and down, and then he grabbed Freya¡¯s waist and slowly bent her backward; they were so close that they could feel each other¡¯s breath on their skin. Feeling nervous for no reason, Freya gulped down saliva as Lucas slowly bent his head down and whispered, ¡°What I am curious about is not that tomato, Freya.¡± ¡°Then what are you curious about?¡± She asked, almost faltering with her words. The look in Lucas¡¯s eyes became more intense as he stared longingly into her. ¡°Wh-wh-why are you looking at me like that?¡± she stuttered. ¡°How am I looking at you?¡± Lucas joked as he held her around the waist tightly. ¡°Uh,¡± she uttered, not knowing how to answer him. He looked like a predator living in the mountains that had finally found its prey, but Freya couldn¡¯t say that to his face. While she was hesitating to speak, Lucas looked her directly in the eyes and whispered, ¡°I want to plant a kiss on you right now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re c-c-crazy!¡± she stuttered. No matter how rare it was to see people in this neighborhood, hunters and merchants passed by often, and Freya didn¡¯t want to display affection in front of others. Bewildered, when she hurriedly covered her mouth with her sleeve, he puckered up his lips, ¡°It¡¯ll be fine if no one sees us, right? So let¡¯s go inside right now.¡± ¡°But we just got here. We¡¯re supposed to take a walk.¡± Freya, who had already been pestered by him last night, was feeling a bit tired. You don¡¯t only want a kiss! As she held back what she wanted to say, Lucas¡¯s eyes opened wider. ¡°Maybe we can take a walk later.¡± And just like that, he gripped her wrist and dragged her down the cobbled pathway to the house. ¡°Lucas, slow down!¡± Lucas pushed the door open so forcefully that it sounded as if it would break in half! He let out a heavy sigh after moving Freya in front of the now-closed door as he murmured, ¡°Freya, I want to kiss you.¡± ¡°Lucas. It is because of you that I can¡¯t live my life!¡± Freya, who couldn¡¯t control her racing heart, reached out and touched his cheeks. Lucas¡¯s hands held her body tightly in the silence, and when she grabbed his neck, he placed his lips onto hers. And a strong desire that could no longer be contained seeped out through their parted lips. ¡°Oh, Freya. It feels so good.¡± His impatient desire echoed in their tangled breathing. ¡°Lucas. Ah!¡± Today he was more persistent than usual, giving her no room to breathe, he placed his lips on hers again, and his tongue tapped Freya¡¯s lips through the slow kiss. ¡°Open your mouth, Freya,¡± he whispered hungrily. ¡°But, what about our walk?¡± ¡°Now,¡± he said, ignoring her question. ¡°Lucas!¡± While calling his name, his soft red tongue slipped into her mouth. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Freya couldn¡¯t think straight as she felt her body tingle all over. When she reached out to push his chest, Lucas dug into her mouth deeper with his tongue. The passionate kiss made her vision blurry, and her whole body began to tremble. But, this tremor was most certainly not due to fear. The desperate kiss showed her just how much Lucas loved her. How long had it been since the last time that they kissed like this? Freya twisted her body as hard as she could. I¡¯ll choke to death if he kisses me more. But Lucas, drunk on her lips, didn¡¯t budge. After gently playing with her mounds for a long time, he finally released his lips from hers and coughed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to breathe while kissing?¡± Looking at Freya, who was catching her breath, Lucas¡¯s eyes became more and more fierce. When he tried to kiss her again, she yelled out, ¡°No! My legs hurt.¡± Since they¡¯d been kissing while still standing up since they entered the room, her legs were sore, and her back, which had been rubbing against the door, was tingling. Perhaps Lucas had finally come to his senses as he pulled Freya up, straightening her back, and then managed to give her some space by backing away. What a relief! Freya¡¯s breathing was so quick that the front of her dress looked like it may burst at any moment, and her voluptuous mounds were bulging over the top of it. She thought that it had ended, but Lucas suddenly lifted her off the ground. Freya, now helpless in his tight grasp, swung her legs like a child throwing a tantrum. Carefully seating her on the bed, he wiped the shiny corners of his mouth with his sleeve, ¡°We can continue now, right?¡± Chapter 2 (Rated 18) ¡°Why are you talking like that?¡± asked Freya. ¡°Freya, I¡¯m still not finished.¡± ¡°Not finished with what?¡± She retreated to lean against the wall, avoiding Lucas, who was staring only at her lips. Sitting on top of the bed with his knees bent, Lucas slowly undid his shirt. As soon as he pulled it off, his solid chest was exposed, revealing a perfect balance of well-toned muscles. Freya, her throat bone dry now, could barely manage, ¡°Why are you taking your clothes off?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too hot in here,¡± he said jokingly, and Freya¡¯s eyebrows shot up at the ridiculous reply. Reading her mood, Lucas fanned himself with his hand again. ¡°What is it with me today? I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on.¡± Lucas nimbly lowered his eyes, and his gorgeous eyelashes fluttered. ¡°I was wondering the same thing,¡± Freya replied, staring at him as he scratched his neck with his big hand and slowly rubbed his chest. The area around his neck, which he¡¯d touched, turned reddish, and thick drops of sweat trickled down to his collarbone. This is crazy. I can¡¯t take my eyes off of him! Although it was obvious that she would fall for his seduction eventually, Freya felt like a butterfly caught in a spider¡¯s web because she couldn¡¯t turn her gaze away from his gorgeous eyes and attractive body. ¡°Freya. What¡¯s that look in your eyes?¡± He asked quietly. ¡°What look?¡± Freya hesitated for a moment, weighing up what she still had to do today. If she was going to go back tomorrow, she had to pack her things and go to bed early, to be well-rested for the carriage trip. She didn¡¯t want to hide her feelings from him now, and after her lips had quivered for a while, a suffocating voice leaked out through them, ¡°My Lucas is so handsome. I miss you even though I¡¯m looking at you now.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t say a word at her candid confession. Perhaps embarrassed, his neck and face had reddened. ¡°You¡¯re really¡­¡± Unable to speak further, Lucas leaned over and approached her, his muscles under his broad shoulders flexing as he moved. ¡°Freya, I am trying to hold myself back,¡± his voice lowered, and he paused at Freya¡¯s lips, looking deeply into her eyes. ¡°Hold yourself back from what?¡± Lucas Morciani was never one to hold himself back from showing affection. When Freya grumbled, his hot breath touched her ear, ¡°You want to know how long I¡¯ve been enduring? Since this morning, when I saw you open your eyes, and then when you drank your tea. Then again, when we did the dishes together and also when we were pulling weeds out together. And then finally, when I touched you earlier. I held myself back the whole time.¡± ¡°Stop! Stop it!¡± ¡°In other words, I have endured it all day, holding myself back from you. Now, do you know what you have to give me?¡± Lucas, saying these strange things with such insidious eyes, was very unusual. ¡°What am I supposed to give you?¡± ¡°A reward for my all-day efforts.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you like this before. You¡¯re behaving like an animal!¡± Lucas had no physical reaction to her words and only blinked leisurely, ¡°Freya, then I want to do as an animal does.¡± With her back against the ice-cold wall, Freya shook like a deer that was trapped. ¡°There is still so much to do today since we have to leave tomorrow.¡± Freya¡¯s words sounded like gibberish to him as she turned a blind eye to the obvious desire burning in his eyes. It hadn¡¯t been just once or twice that she¡¯d fallen for his pretty face and couldn¡¯t focus on what she needed to do. Lucas, however, didn¡¯t look like he wanted to hear what she had to say, ¡°This is all we have to do.¡± His large hands lifted her dress, and despite only having her legs exposed, Freya couldn¡¯t control her excitement. Lucas moved quickly, and in one swift movement, she was left with only her lingerie on, with her chest completely exposed. She wasn¡¯t even completely naked, but somehow, feeling bashful, she then covered her chest with her arms. ¡°Don¡¯t cover yourself. You¡¯re so beautiful,¡± Lucas muttered with a hoarse voice as he speedily removed his pants. Admiring his sexy naked body, Freya groaned. At this point, she was nervous, and seeing him kneeling on the bed was overly suggestive. Clear liquid dripped from the head of his manhood, which was now hard from excitement, looking as if it would burst at any moment. Freya¡¯s chest felt like it was about to explode as she looked at his inviting erection, feeling weak with desire. ¡°Come here, Freya.¡± His tone was like black magic. Freya, fascinated by his blue eyes shining even in the dark, made her way toward him. ¡°You¡¯re so kind, Freya.¡± His fingers slid gently through her hair, and then he undid her lingerie. Soon after that, Lucas put his arms around her waist and lifted her onto his lap. ¡°Oh!¡± Something slippery came out of her body and made a sloshing sound as soon as she plopped down onto his lap. Biting her bottom lip, she began to move back and forth as she wanted the excitement to spread a little more. ¡°Lucas,¡± she whispered lustfully. ¡°Yeah.¡± His eyes were bloodshot, but the way he pretended to be calm and open his mouth was so cheeky. It was he who¡¯d kissed her so passionately and undressed her. You don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that you¡¯re trying to make me say that I want to? But love naturally included being deceived at least once, and so she decided to say the words that he wanted to hear, ¡°Lucas, make love to me right now.¡± ¡°Freya. You really might regret it.¡± His teasing voice filled Freya¡¯s ears. Lying on the bed, still hugging him, she rubbed his rock-hard muscles and muttered, ¡°I think I¡¯ll regret it if you don¡¯t make love to me today.¡± ¡°Oh? Really?¡± Lucas, who now held her hands tightly above her head, kissed her neck and shoulders gently with his soft wet lips. Freya could no longer relax as his lips traveled down to her bre*sts, and she moaned loudly, ¡°Oh, that makes me feel good.¡± Chapter 3 (Rated 18) Her excited and seductive tone was driving Lucas wild as he moved his hand to Freya¡¯s flat lower abdomen before sliding it between her silky smooth thighs and gently caressing her cl*toris. Suddenly, he let out a loud moan, ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore, Freya!¡± In an instant, his rock-hard er*ction, which had been raging from a while ago, penetrated her flesh. ¡°Aah!¡± She gasped. Lucas¡¯s p*nis filled her soft, wet insides as he slowly moved in and out of her. Freya couldn¡¯t open her eyes because of the intense pleasure as his red-hot love pierced her body. Without him even kissing her, she couldn¡¯t control her breathing, and she begged him as he started to gyrate his waist, ¡°Lucas! slowly!¡± Violently grunting, he grabbed her chin and lifted her face, ¡°Open your eyes and look at me.¡± Obliging him, she opened her eyes, seeing Lucas¡¯s blue eyes focused on her through her hazy vision. I am receiving his love. The sweat drops falling from Lucas¡¯s forehead landed on her cheeks. As he gradually thrust in and out more vigorously, an uncontrollable pleasure fell over Freya; nothing on the planet turned her on more than this. ¡°I love you, Freya.¡± After moaning and groaning so loudly during their lovemaking, her voice had become hoarse, but she managed to mumble, ¡°Me too.¡± As they both reached the peak of their orgasms, the two held each other¡¯s hands so tightly that their knuckles went white as they shook from the indescribable sensations coursing through their bodies. *** In a remote village up north, a woman crouched in a small field, her long brown hair blowing in the wind as she attempted to break through some gravel and the solid ground beneath it. Such earth was unsuitable for cultivation, and the pickax couldn¡¯t pierce it. With all her strength, she brought the pickax down, but only a cloud of dust came up. ¡°Is it possible to plant crops here?¡± She muttered in irritation. She had bought this land with all the money that she didn¡¯t have to waste, and Freya felt like screaming as she recalled what the weasel-like broker, who had confidently recommended this place, had said, ¡°This is the perfect home and field for you!¡± I should go and find him and give him a beating! Freya¡¯s eyes glistened from anger, but she knew that it would be best to avoid starting a commotion. It would be a pointless exercise, which would be a hassle and a waste of her time. ¡°No time to complain,¡± she said, calming herself down. She was going to do this right and gradually work the land. Standing up and stretching her muscles after a long day of work, Freya wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead as the sun beamed down on her emerald-green eyes. Off in the distance, she saw a mountain range and was satisfied that her new home was quite far from the Imperial Palace. As Freya stood in the cool breeze of the afternoon, admiring her new surroundings, the memory of someone¡¯s face popped into her mind. But it quickly faded when she heard the bells installed on the fence ringing. ¡°What¡¯s that? The wind?¡± This part of the road was frequented more by animals than people, so she expected it to be a massive black bear or some other wild animal. Freya crept behind the house with the pickax by her side and bravely shouted, ¡°Who is it?¡± As she rounded the corner of the house, she saw that it was a person, not an animal, that had broken the fence. Someone was leaning against the smashed fencing, sprawled over it like hung laundry. As she approached the unidentified person, the saliva in her mouth dried up. That¡¯s a big man! No matter how much Freya trained to keep herself fit, she had a slim chance of winning against a man of that size. The man was covered in dirt, yet his thick blonde hair was glistening under the sunlight, and seeing this made Freya¡¯s heart race. ¡°Hey, you here. Are you all right?¡± She called out as she cautiously approached him, but he didn¡¯t respond because of his injuries. I don¡¯t think he can hurt me, considering the condition he¡¯s in. Scanning the surroundings, she didn¡¯t see any witnesses. ¡°I should take care of this fast.¡± Setting the pickaxe on the ground, Freya lowered the man from the fence. The moment she checked his face, she let out a scream and reflexively covered her hands over her mouth, ¡°Lucas!¡± How in the world did he end up here like this? She had two choices: either turn a blind eye to him or help him. Sighing heavily, Freya looked around in all directions and then made up her mind to move him inside the house. She raced to the shed, returning soon after, with a thick leather harness, and then pulled him on it so that she could drag him to the house. Sweat dripped down her back as she struggled to move forward with him. ¡°He¡¯s too heavy!¡± Finally, after an agonizing hour of pulling him across the hard ground, she crossed the threshold of the front door and laid Lucas down on a soft blanket near the old wood stove. The fence needed mending, and she quickly went back outside to attend to it. After that, she cleared Lucas¡¯s tracks by following the path he had taken. Even while taking care of the situation, her thoughts were consumed by the man she had left alone in her house, and she shook her head in disbelief. Dusk fell as she returned to the house feeling exhausted, and Freya let out another long sigh as she stood with her back against the closed door. Was wanting to start a quiet new life too much to ask? ¡°Of all people, why me?¡± She asked as she looked up at the high ceiling. Her big eyes reflected bright red as she looked at the pool of blood around Lucas¡¯s limp body, and she jumped at the sight of him lying in such a poor condition. Covering her eyes with her hands to block out the ghastly sight of him, she frowned at the pain from the thorns in her fingertips. ¡°This cannot be happening to me.¡± The blanket that she had placed below Lucas was soaked with his blood, and she quickly brought him another one. While she was covering him, she whispered, ¡°Let me look at your wounds.¡± But to do that, she had to take off his clothes. She was used to seeing naked bodies of men on the battlefield, but for some reason, her fingertips trembled slightly. Perhaps it was because it was only the two of them in this space. As she shook her head, her face was full of determination, ¡°Lucas is only a patient now.¡± She opened the first-aid kit that she¡¯d fetched from the shelf in the kitchen and tried to check his wounds, but then, with his eyes still closed, he moaned, startling her. Chapter 4 ¡°Lucas! You¡¯re conscious?¡± As soon as Freya said his name, Lucas, who was struggling with his hands, began to tear off the shirt he was wearing, and she said firmly, ¡°Hold still! Do that, and your wounds might get infected.¡± But perhaps he didn¡¯t hear her because he tore open his blood-stained shirt with his dirty hands, regardless, revealing his firm muscles. ¡°Why did you suddenly do that?¡± Freya asked as she quickly turned her head away, her cheeks bright red from embarrassment. Though they weren¡¯t exposed, she already knew about the scars on Lucas¡¯s back and sides. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on with him? Freya was in a confused emotional state. She was unsure if it was good to see him again or if it was painful. Then his big hands started to wiggle. ¡°F-F-Frey¡­,¡± he stuttered. It was unclear, but Freya could tell who he was calling. She wondered why he was calling out her name in the condition that he was in, considering that he was in the process of dying. But she couldn¡¯t turn a blind eye to his trembling hands, and she reached out her hands, which shook too, and grabbed his, holding them tightly; they were so cold that she almost shed a tear. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure I heal you, and then you go back,¡± she whispered as she left the room. Standing alone in the kitchen, she crushed some herbs to make a paste, and her hands flinched from the thorns stuck in her fingers. When she returned to the lounge, she applied the paste to Lucas¡¯s wounds, and upon inspecting his sides and chest, the cuts were more severe than she¡¯d realized. How did you end up like this, Lucas? But it was pointless to ask him such a question because he had enemies all around him, wherever he went. After placing bandages on his wounds, Freya pulled a blanket, made from animal fur, over his chest. I never expected that we would reunite like this. Once Freya had finished attending to Lucas, a rush of fatigue hit her, and she drowsily crept up into a cot. Her carelessly trimmed brown hair fell behind her back, and her indifferent green eyes rested on Lucas. But this wasn¡¯t her first night with him, so she couldn¡¯t understand why she was so uneasy. He is strong, so he¡¯ll recover in no time. Freya tossed and turned, but she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. This trivial inconvenience soon reminded her of something in the past that she thought she¡¯d forgotten about children lying on tiny beds that filled a room, and one of those children had been her. Until the age of seven, Freya hadn¡¯t understood the situation that she was in, and she questioned why there had been so many family members in the big old house. And why did the children, including her, have to go out to work every morning? As she laid in the pitch-dark, her mind drifted back to her childhood. ¡°Freya. Get ready.¡± When Aunt Sophia had shouted, Freya had jumped up, removed her old pajamas, and had then changed into a one-piece outfit. When she¡¯d gone downstairs, wearing clothes that were much larger than her pajamas, dozens of children had been walking towards the long dining table. Freya¡¯s lips were always blue because there was no heating in the shared bedroom, nor the dining room. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going on?¡± Freya had asked the older child sitting next to her. But as per usual, there had been no reply. In the familiar situation, Freya had babbled, without a look of embarrassment, ¡°I hope it¡¯s full of potatoes.¡± But sadly, all that had been in her bowl was soup, and it hadn¡¯t even filled the bowl. With no need for a spoon, Freya had gulped it down, and a smile had spread across her face as soon as the lukewarm soup entered her empty stomach. Then she stared at the empty bowl in front of her, still feeling hungry, and her eyes had lingered there. Suddenly, she had looked right into Aunt Sophia¡¯s eyes, and she¡¯d quickly bowed her head down. Sophia had loathed the gluttonous child. Freya had always been particularly sneaky, so she¡¯d had to be more careful. ¡°Let¡¯s do the best we can today.¡± Aunt Sophia had encouraged the children to work by shaking a long rod in the air. Her shouts had scared the nervous children, and she¡¯d then pointed out a few of them while walking around, ¡°Lilly. I see you¡¯ve gotten quite big.¡± The child¡¯s dress had gotten so small that her ankles were close together. It had looked like a bizarre smile was forming on Sophia¡¯s face, and she had then spoken in an oddly kind voice, ¡°Lilly, you don¡¯t have to go out from today.¡± ¡°Wow. It must be nice. I guess Lilly is adopted now,¡± Freya had said innocently. ¡°Her father might take her to the capital,¡± one of the children had whispered. Any child pointed out by Sophia didn¡¯t have to work again, and every child there dreamed of that day. I wonder what it feels like to sleep late and play games all day long, she recalled thinking. No matter how much Freya had tried to squeeze that image out of her head, it was hard not to imagine it. But then, Sophia¡¯s rod would fly mercilessly across her back, arms, and face, reminding her where she was. ¡°Freya. From today, you take Lotty and go.¡± ¡°Yes, madam.¡± Freya had nodded like a good girl. The four-year-old Lotty had usually followed her around, but she was a troublesome child who had cried and complained often. ¡°Hey! Hurry up.¡± ¡°But, Freya. My legs hurt.¡± Lotty had walked for a little while and had then sat down on the street, her belly bulging from hunger. Her hand-sized breakfast had already digested, and her body had shivered from the cold. But they still had a long way to go, and they¡¯d be in trouble if they didn¡¯t complete their work. She had always annoyed Freya, who¡¯d then sat down and softly scolded Lotty as she¡¯d fiddled with the soil. ¡°I¡¯ll carry you on my back for only a little while,¡± she¡¯d said, and Lotty had sprung up and had wobbled as she¡¯d tried to jump on her back. As soon as the scrawny seven-year-old girl had felt Lotty¡¯s weight on her back, her legs had started to wobble. ¡°Piggyback is good,¡± Lotty had said gleefully. As they¡¯d gone on their way, Lotty had felt around Freya¡¯s cheek and had whispered something that had made Freya¡¯s face turn red with anger; the child had been annoying. Chapter 5 Freya hated everything about Lotty¡¯s happy-sounding voice and how she was always excited about everything. ¡°Freya. I am heavy, right?¡± She asked shyly. She probably felt sorry for asking Freya to give her a piggyback ride, and she squirmed her body to try to get down from Freya¡¯s back. When she did that, Freya reached out and patted her on the shoulder, ¡°Hey, it¡¯s too much trouble, so just stay.¡± Gasping for air, Freya carried Lotty until they reached an alley where the busy street began. After wiping the sweat from her forehead, she took out a small bowl from her bag and set it down. It was the best spot she¡¯d found in two years. ¡°Wow, it¡¯s warm,¡± Freya exclaimed. When the sun started to rise, one could feel its warmth until around 3 p.m. But it was worth the discomfort as crowds of people walked up and down the bustling road, so the profits there weren¡¯t too bad. Freya poked at Lotty¡¯s tummy when a pretty woman, holding a well-dressed baby boy, walked past them. ¡°Cry, now!¡± ¡°Freya. Why are you hitting me? It hurts,¡± Lotty, with her bulging belly, started crying at Freya¡¯s sudden gesture. ¡°Please help me. My sister is very sick.¡± Freya blinked her green eyes and wondered how many people would stop walking, but they all passed by. Lotty, who soon stopped crying, stood up and stared pitifully at a pedestrian and boldly asked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you give me money?¡± Freya watched in amazement as this was Lotty¡¯s first time working the streets. She jumped up and shook her head as she watched Lotty twirling on one foot, looking like she didn¡¯t know the ins and outs of how the world worked. ¡°Hey, Freya. Why don¡¯t we have jackets?¡± She asked with a sad look on her face. It wasn¡¯t even winter yet, and there was already a cold wind blowing. With her shoulders shivering, Lotty compared their clothes to those of the people who walked by. Aunt Sophia had said that they had to look as shabby as possible to earn a lot of money. However, from Freya¡¯s perspective, this was far from deliberately staged poverty. ¡°That¡¯s because we are poor,¡± she replied, and she thought about how it sometimes felt cozier outside than it did inside her home. ¡°Then the other kids work like us too?¡± ¡°Um, well,¡± Freya blurted her words as she looked at a girl in a navy coat wearing a white hat and lace socks, holding her mother¡¯s hand tightly. Perhaps that was not so. It had been a few years since Freya had started begging in the area, and she had seen countless children her age passing by, laughing and eating candy. No matter how many of them she saw, they never seemed to be working as her. They always had smiles on their shiny faces, and their neat hair didn¡¯t look like it had any fleas. Lotty, lying on her back, began to whine, ¡°Hey, Freya. I am hungry.¡± ¡°Hey! Why are you so clumsy? Look at your belly.¡± At Freya¡¯s verbal attack, Lotty looked down in tears as she rubbed her belly. Freya had shouted coldly at her, and anyone looking would be able to tell what Lotty was feeling right now. ¡°Help me! Please!¡± Freya screeched in a high-pitched voice in an attempt to get someone¡¯s attention, and some people looked back, frowning at the poor kids. ¡°That¡¯s how they punish orphans,¡± a passer-by said. ¡°They do look to be violent, but don¡¯t you feel sorry for them?¡± Her friend asked. Two middle-aged women were talking as they walked by, gripping their pretty parasols. Freya felt a little embarrassed when she heard the words ¡°orphan¡± and ¡°punish.¡± And she also wondered what the lady meant when she said that they looked to be violent. Freya frowned deeply, as she hated the people who talked bad about her while passing by and then didn¡¯t give her any money. Lotty, who was drawing butterflies on the sidewalk, looked up curiously, ¡°Freya. What is an orphan?¡± ¡°Me and you, kids with no mom and dad.¡± ¡°Is that bad?¡± As soon as Lotty made a disappointed face, Freya scolded her, ¡°Who cares? If we go back with no money, Aunt Sophia will hit us.¡± Listening to Freya¡¯s blunt remarks, Lotty scratched a blister on her head and muttered helplessly, ¡°Hitting is okay. I want dinner.¡± You are an idiot! It was clear that she had never had a proper scolding because she was so young. Recalling Aunt Sophia¡¯s strong hand, Freya had a fearful look on her face now, ¡°Cry loud if you want to eat dinner. Very loudly!¡± But Lotty closed her mouth tightly, ignoring her, and continued drawing on the concrete. Perhaps their luck had run out because today, they hadn¡¯t even earned half of what she usually did. The walk back home felt much longer than usual. Sophia sat at the entrance, checking the money bowls that the returning children all had their money in, and only the ones who had the required amount of money were allowed to eat dinner. ¡°You¡¯re okay to go to the dining room,¡± Sophia said to the girl in front of them. After standing in line, Freya and Lotty¡¯s turn finally came, and Freya¡¯s mouth was so dry that she could barely swallow. She knew it was impossible to deceive Sophia¡¯s fierce eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you two are trying to steal my money,¡± Sophia raised her voice, shaking the money bowl mercilessly. Freya, blanched with fear, could barely speak, ¡°No, madam. We had bad luck today.¡± ¡°Luck?¡± Sophia threw the bowl at the child¡¯s face and stood up. The cold, hard metal clanked against her cheek and forehead. With her eyes closed, she shuddered as she recalled the hell that was about to unfold. ¡°Kid. Now is not the time to talk about luck.¡± Sophia squinted, swinging the long rod in her hand threateningly. Chapter 6 Terrified, Lotty began to cry, and Sophia told a man to drag her away, ¡°I have to teach this useless brat a lesson.¡± There was a sound of something whisking through the air, and soon the rod came flying down onto Freya¡¯s back. Crashing to the ground, she bit her bottom lip hard. Sophia reacted even more harshly when the child cried, and the ensuing beating made it feel like her back was on fire. ¡°Auntie. It was all my fault,¡± Freya sobbed. Watching her thick tears falling to the ground, she could barely open her mouth. Freya still couldn¡¯t get used to the pain, even though she¡¯d experienced many whippings before. ¡°You know what will happen if you try to steal my money. I will feed you to the crows!¡± Sophia was huffing and puffing when someone came and said, ¡°Miss Sophia. The owner is here.¡± Freya was relieved to hear that he had returned, and she smiled to herself. Throwing the rod away quickly, Sophia hurried to meet him, leaving Freya alone. ¡°You see? I have the worst luck,¡± Freya sobbed while using her hands to push herself up. Her back felt so hot that she couldn¡¯t straighten it properly, but she was glad that it was only a short beating. A few days ago, one kid, who couldn¡¯t endure the pain, had died. Was it Serena? Her name had faded from Freya¡¯s memory, but she would never forget the image of her lying dead, with her eyes wide open. Freya¡¯s condition had worsened by the next day, but she couldn¡¯t get any medical treatment. All night she had been drenched in a cold sweat, but all she could do was lie in bed. She knew that she couldn¡¯t show off any signs of being in pain because hurt kids got thrown away. Things didn¡¯t end well for the children who didn¡¯t receive meals nor treatment, and she didn¡¯t want that to happen to her, so she forced herself to get down to the dining room. When she sat down, she received a bowl of porridge, and for some reason, there were bread crumbs sprinkled on top of it. A faint smile formed on her face, then the children all rose from their seats and said in unison, ¡°Good morning Mr. Shiloh.¡± The tall man with a slightly bent posture appeared in the dining room with Sophia right by his side. ¡°Everyone sit down and eat,¡± he said kindly. After he spoke, all of the children lifted their spoons and began eating the porridge. The man, who wore a shiny suit and a gold watch, that did not suit the shabby dining room, drank only a glass of wine, perhaps because the meal was not to his liking. ¡°Mr. Shiloh. How was your visit to the capital?¡± Sophia asked. ¡°Sophia, I¡¯m not in the mood for small talk. I¡¯ve had a headache since this morning.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sophia shut her mouth, pretending to enjoy the soup in front of the man while some children secretly giggled at her. ¡°By the way, last night, I saw Lilly go to her room,¡± Mr. Shiloh commented. As soon as the orphans heard this, they voiced their guesses, one by one. ¡°Did she secretly get a gift or something?¡± One of the children asked. ¡°If she did, then she gets to go to the capital with him!¡± Another child whispered. ¡°I am jealous of her.¡± When a child reached a certain age, they went there. Perhaps they got to meet their new family since they were never seen again by the orphans. Even though Freya was never hurt when she saw kids disappear, she often got lost in complicated thoughts about their fate. Freya couldn¡¯t take a break from work because she was sick, so she walked at a slow pace because her body ached, and her clothes rubbing against her wounds made her groan. ¡°Hey, Freya. Are you all right?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m fine,¡± Freya said bluntly, turning a blind eye to Lotty¡¯s worried face. Today they had to earn a lot of money, no matter what. If they didn¡¯t, there was no way of telling how bad Sophia would beat her. Tears welled up in her pretty green eyes as she sat down on the cold ground, and a foul smell came from the pus of her wounds that stuck to her clothes. ¡°Help me!¡± Lotty, who was watching Freya grumble, reached out her hand to a person walking by. But she kept hesitating to speak, most likely because it was her first time trying to beg properly. ¡°Hey, if you can¡¯t do it, rather draw on the sidewalk or something. I¡¯ll do it.¡± Freya reached out to try to pull Lotty toward her, but Lotty opened her mouth again, ¡°Please help me. If we don¡¯t get money, my friend gets hit.¡± A gentleman walked over and threw a silver coin in the bowl, looking amazed that such a small child could speak so clearly. Lotty¡¯s eyes widened when she picked it up, ¡°Hey, Freya. Look at this. I got it!¡± ¡°Good job.¡± Unlike Freya, Lotty had some talents, like pretending to cry or pretending to be hurt, and various other ways of begging. Thanks to that, the two kids could earn a lot more money than they did yesterday. Suddenly, a loud growl emanated from Lotty¡¯s belly. Ignoring it, Freya carefully stood up as her wounds were getting worse, and tears formed in her eyes again because it hurt even if she stood still. There was only one thing on her mind. I want to eat some porridge or bread or some snack until my belly is full! It had been more than half a day since they¡¯d eaten a small bowl of porridge. Freya¡¯s vision was blurry, and a horrid smell came from her mouth. When she looked at her coin pouch that was full of coins, greed slowly blossomed. But then she remembered Sophia¡¯s eyes, and she was able to cast aside her need for the money. ¡°Lotty. Let¡¯s go.¡± They walked down the street after putting their pouches in their pockets, and when they reached a bakery, the savory and sweet smell was overpowering. Freya¡¯s empty stomach grumbled as drool oozed down her chin. She tried to ignore it and decided to pass it by, but it looked like Lotty was running toward the bakery, and she yelled, ¡°Lotty! Don¡¯t!¡± She limped after her friend and saw that Lotty was stuck by the front window, with her white nose mashed against the glass, looking like she was lost, in a daydream. Chapter 7 ¡°Freya, what do you call that round thing with the cream in it?¡± Lotty asked. Freya was no longer angry and got excited when she saw the delicious bread. ¡°That¡¯s probably a cake.¡± On her birthday, Sophia usually brought a cake, lit the candles, and made the other children sing happy birthday to her. She hardly ever gave such precious things to the children to eat, so it was a real treat for them, and they¡¯d all be happy at that moment. While cleaning, Freya used to lick the cream under the candles and remembered how it melted as soon as it touched her tongue because that was how sweet and soft it had been. Freya looked ecstatic as she basked in the memory of that time, and her mouth watered. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Damn kids! Why don¡¯t you go away?¡± A fat lady working in the bakery came out with a whisk and swung it in front of them. Then she looked pitifully at Lotty and sucked her teeth, ¡°Now they¡¯re even taking advantage of children.¡± The snickering lady disappeared behind the counter for a moment before handing Lotty a large, glossy piece of bread. ¡°This was leftover from earlier, but it¡¯s still good enough to eat.¡± She held out the bread, but Freya and Lotty, whose faces twisted in confusion, didn¡¯t reach out. ¡°We can¡¯t take it. We don¡¯t have any money,¡± Freya said quietly. ¡°It¡¯s okay. I wasn¡¯t able to sell it. I¡¯ll take care of you whenever you come by,¡± the plump lady said as she sighed. Freya was in shock at the display of kindness from the lady, and she stood frozen as she held the delicious-looking bread, unable to say thank you. When the bakery door was closed, she was able to speak again, ¡°What now?¡± The two kids nodded as soon as their gazes met one another. They knew that they weren¡¯t supposed to take it, but the freshly baked smell of the bread tingled their noses, and it was reason enough for them to break the rules. ¡°Lotty, let¡¯s go over there.¡± The two hurried into a dark alley to hide, and Freya¡¯s heart was beating so hard that she forgot the pain from the beating she¡¯d received earlier. ¡°Take this.¡± Gasping for air, she handed the entire bread loaf that she¡¯d taken out from under her arm to Lotty. Safely out of sight in the dimly lit alley, Lotty gleefully hopped around holding the long bread loaf and wiped her nose with one hand. ¡°Freya, we can eat together,¡± she said as she handed the bread back to Freya. After receiving it once again, Freya broke it in half and gave one half to Lotty. Her eyes didn¡¯t move from her half of the sweet-smelling bread. Holding the bread, with her eyes wide open, Lotty whispered, ¡°Freya, mine is bigger than yours.¡± ¡°Please eat it. I am not that hungry.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The two children shoved the bread into their salivating mouths without saying another word. The bread from the bakery¡¯s owner was opposite to the dry, moldy bread they usually ate at the orphanage. They got a rush from the soft, sweet taste and the crispy feeling as they bit into it, and although their stomachs were full, their hearts were fuller. Freya and Lotty looked at each other as they ate and smiled broadly for the first time today. ¡°That was delicious,¡± Freya said, sounding satisfied. ¡°Freya, today feels like my birthday!¡± She said as she grinned from ear to ear. Freya wasn¡¯t one to get too excited about her birthday, and she just nodded when Lotty spoke so joyfully. ¡°That¡¯s a good thought.¡± Freya and Lotty would remember the happiness and excitement they¡¯d felt this day, forever. After wiping the crumbs and cream off their lips, they returned to the streets. With no regard to who started it, a song with unclear notes flowed out of their mouths. By the end of the day, they¡¯d made a lot of money, and so they were confident that nothing terrible would happen later in the afternoon. But as soon as they returned home, Sophia glared at them with an icy look on her face. ¡°Freya. Lotty. Stand up straight,¡± she instructed as she snatched their money bowls away and then immediately slapped Freya across the cheek. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Freya shrieked as she rubbed her burning cheek. She had never confronted Sophia before, but today she felt awful and frustrated. Not only was she still injured, but she had worked as hard as she could to make money for her. ¡°Disgusting little brat. Is this how you repay me for raising you with grace?¡± ¡°Auntie, I messed up,¡± Lotty apologized as she knelt on the ground, grabbing onto Sophia¡¯s ankles. They didn¡¯t know the reason for Sophia¡¯s attack, but they knew that it was best to pray at times like this, and Lotty started to cry as she was terrified. After swiftly kicking the young girl, Sophia said coldly, ¡°You¡¯re going to cry on me? You have betrayed me.¡± An older boy sat in the corner laughing as he watched Freya and Lotty, and Freya knew now that they had been spied on. ¡°But the bakery owner gave that to us for free. It¡¯s the truth,¡± Freya raised her voice to justify her actions. ¡°I don¡¯t remember raising a child who makes excuses!¡± Soon, there was a flash of fire on Freya¡¯s other cheek. When she placed both hands on her red cheeks and looked at Sophia defiantly, a dreary voice flowed from her, ¡°Did you know? I¡¯ve never liked you from the beginning.¡± Her words made Freya cry with resentment. Did I do something that bad, Auntie? She bowed her head in a subservient manner as she said, ¡°Auntie. I messed up.¡± Sophia continued the beating despite their pleading, and Lotty passed out from getting hit one too many times. Freya could only cry while looking at Lotty, who was lying motionless on the floor. After a few whips from Sophia¡¯s rod, she couldn¡¯t feel her butt anymore. ¡°Look at you, you little b*tch. You never cry,¡± Sophia said, sounding irate as she stopped to catch her breath. Perhaps that was because the beatings were so frequent, and she knew that she was powerless to stop them. Freya tried her best not to faint as her two hands gripped the brick wall behind her. She will hit me with more force if I cry. So all she could do was endure it, and before long, she became a tough girl. Chapter 8 At the age of ten years old, Freya had become noticeably quiet. In the morning, she went out to beg for money, and then she returned home to do chores. She hid as best as she could to avoid catching Sophia¡¯s attention, and that had proved to be effective because these days, the beatings had reduced drastically. There¡¯s nothing to wish for, even in a life like this. Once, on a cold winter¡¯s day, Freya had run into Shiloh in the long hallway which led to the front door. He only came to visit about once or twice a month, and as soon as his blurry eyes had focused on her, she¡¯d felt her insides twist. ¡°Hey, what is your name again?¡± He¡¯d slurred. Freya had kept wanting to step back as Shiloh had approached her, and she¡¯d smelled the strong odor of alcohol on him. ¡°I am Freya,¡± she¡¯d replied meekly. ¡°Right. Such a lovely name.¡± Shiloh had taken a close look at Freya¡¯s neckline and calves, which were beginning to develop into those of a young lady. When his gaze had reached her green eyes that resembled bushes in a forest, he¡¯d looked into her face even longer. ¡°I think you¡¯ll become a fine specimen.¡± Shiloh¡¯s eyes had been abnormally shiny, which had scared her. Today, Freya had returned home from begging, holding a baby on her back. Sophia had said to her earlier, ¡°Because you look about seven at the most, if you carry your baby on your back, you will be very popular.¡± Freya never agreed with what she said, but she couldn¡¯t deny it. The baby, who had been crying quite a bit at first, had soon become exhausted and had fallen asleep on Freya¡¯s back. She recalled that Shiloh had also asked, ¡°How did you end up thrown in a place like this?¡± There was a time when Freya had believed that she lived in a house with a large family. But now she knew that she was an orphan, and every person here was nothing but a stranger. Sophia had told her that she wasn¡¯t in a position to sympathize with her when she¡¯d hit her every time she got angry. And Freya felt that she was in the same situation as this baby as she was just another abandoned child. Freya had no idea who her parents were and when her actual birthday was. But there was one piece of paper left with Freya¡¯s name on it that showed that she existed. The only other traces left by her parents were her face and the rose-shaped scar on her forearm. ¡°What was the point in giving me a name if they were going to abandon me?¡± She said while shaking a tin can, feeling bitter. Freya took the baby to the room where the infants gathered and then quickly went outside. After carrying the baby around all day, her back was wet with sweat and stained with urine and poop. If she didn¡¯t wash her only outfit, she would have to wear smelly clothes tomorrow. The smell is bearable, but I¡¯m worried about skin disease. When she remembered that she hadn¡¯t taken off her dirty and damp shoes, her hands became busy. And then, after drawing water from the well, she hurriedly scanned her surroundings before removing her clothing. Her skinny body showed when she took off her raggedy dress, and she mumbled, ¡°It¡¯s pretty cold here.¡± Shaking, she brushed the back of the dress and poured water on it. ¡°Ugh, I have to wear it again.¡± The drenched clothing clung to her skin when she put it back on, and no matter how much she tried to stop shivering, she couldn¡¯t stop her teeth from chattering. Freya knew that she would be caught by Sophia if she walked around in dripping wet clothing. ¡°Why is this expensive carpet in a shabby orphanage?¡± Freya jumped up and down as she was freezing and tried to think of something positive and joyful to say, ¡°This is a ballroom.¡± After imagining the well as a prince, she held the rags in both hands as she greeted him coolly. However, as she had never actually seen a ballroom, her mental vision could only go so far. Occasionally, when Sophia was drunk, she had told her stories of the past, and that¡¯s all she¡¯d heard of ballrooms. She wondered if women in beautiful dresses and accessories showed off their beauty at balls. ¡°I can never be that.¡± The vision quickly ended, and Freya¡¯s head soon drooped down. Harsh wind grazing Freya¡¯s cheeks indicated the beginning of winter. ¡°I have to get back quickly and wipe down the picture frames.¡± She was walking with her two hands hugging her shoulders when she suddenly heard a strange noise. It sounded like a groan from an injured person. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± When she approached closer, she discovered a boy lying down, unable to cross the back door of the orphanage. His clothes were in tatters and covered in blood, perhaps due to a beating from Sophia¡¯s rod. The boy¡¯s blond hair was glistening, and there was a faint fragrance despite his grave condition. Seeing him struggle like that, I¡¯m sure he¡¯s not dead yet. Freya whimpered as she turned his body over. ¡°Oh my!¡± She swore to the goddess, Diana, that this was her first time seeing someone so beautiful; his little face looked perfect with his eyes closed. ¡°White and beautiful like a fresh cake.¡± Freya turned the boy back over and thought for a moment about what to do. She didn¡¯t want to take on the hassle of this situation. What if she beats me for doing unnecessary work? Just the mere thought of Sophia¡¯s rod was horrible enough to make her toes curl. ¡°But I don¡¯t want to watch such a beautiful child die.¡± Several children who had lived in the orphanage had already died from their injuries which had been unpleasant experiences. Freya thought about it momentarily and then decided to run to Sophia to tell her that she had discovered someone outside. The mean Sophia said something unexpected when she saw the boy¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯ll have to take him back. It¡¯s my calling to take care of a child who¡¯s suffering and lonely.¡± Freya didn¡¯t even take her words seriously. What a load of crap! Freya had never been looked after by her properly, so why would she care for this strange boy? ¡°He¡¯ll be okay, right?¡± Freya watched from afar as the boy got carried away. She was concerned that she had done something wrong, but she shook her head and muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve got my skin to worry about.¡± Why should she worry about someone else? Everything concerning life and death was up to goddess Diana. Returning to work with a rag in her hand, she focused on wiping the dust between the stairs and the picture frames hanging on the wall. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 9 Time felt like stale water in a puddle, and it seemed like it was flowing nowhere. A year later, many changes had taken place in the orphanage where Freya lived. The imperial court had ordered that everything making the streets dirty was to be gotten rid of. Therefore, a wandering merchant with a whining child was a direct blow to the royal order. Sophia became frantic when she heard the news. ¡°What in the hell are we going to do? We barely have enough to eat.¡± The orphanage was a relief organization that cared for children who had lost their parents, but when they investigated, corruption was prevalent. And only a small amount of the subsidies received from the empire were allocated to buy food for the orphans. And the only heated rooms were those that belonged to Sophia and the owner. The rest of the subsidies went into the owner¡¯s pocket, and Shiloh stole all of the profits that he had earned from the pickpocketers and the begging that he had forced the children to do. The order from the imperial court made the children anxious because they had suddenly stopped going out to work. And Lotty, who wouldn¡¯t stop walking circles around Freya, asked, ¡°Freya, it feels weird not working.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Freya started to reply but decided that she couldn¡¯t give Lotty the comfort she wanted since the two were not family. I¡¯m just waiting for the day that we part ways. However, Freya found it hard to completely ignore her since she followed her around everywhere. Accidentally, Freya dropped a piece of doughnut she had kept in her pocket, and Lotty asked excitedly, ¡°Hey. Is that for me?¡± The doughnut had been left in the kitchen by Sophia earlier, and Freya had thought of Lotty. She knew she was a sucker for food, but she hadn¡¯t given it to her as yet. When Lotty picked up the half-eaten doughnut with a bright look on her face, Freya replied bluntly, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I guess it was already there.¡± Later in the day, Freya wandered around the orphanage looking for a place to knit quietly. The small orphanage building was full of children who didn¡¯t go out to work anymore, which bothered her whenever she walked around. Because there was a rumor that the orphanage¡¯s attic was haunted she settled on going there. ¡°No one will find me there.¡± She brushed her hand along the chipped wall as she climbed the old creaky stairs. ¡°Look at all the dust!¡± The creaking noise sounded foreboding, but it didn¡¯t deter her from continuing upwards. When she reached the top of the staircase, she barely managed to squeeze through the wooden door leading to the attic. As she entered the room, the inside was dimmer than she¡¯d thought, so her vision became slightly impaired. ¡°How am I supposed to knit in the dark?¡± With the children unable to beg for money, Sophia gave them side jobs that they could do with their hands, like knitting. Everyone except for the young ones had to meet a quota, and the ones who couldn¡¯t fulfill it, wouldn¡¯t be given anything to eat. Although there was a tiny window, she couldn¡¯t see what was in front of her because there was a thick layer of dust covering it, and the sunlight couldn¡¯t reach the inside. Freya felt around on the floor, trying to find a place to sit down, and as she tried to adjust her eyes to the darkness, a small light flickered from across the room. ¡°A ghost?¡± But Freya didn¡¯t care. What she feared were living people, not the dead ones. Then, a tiny voice spoke from the same side as the flickering light, ¡°I am not a ghost.¡± Looking closely, she was able to glimpse hair the color of a yellow forsythia flower. Oh, I guess it¡¯s that boy I saved. She had been so busy at the orphanage that she had forgotten about him. Freya felt sorry for no apparent reason, so she said gently, ¡°Sorry for bothering you while you¡¯re alone. I will only do this, and then I¡¯ll leave.¡± She didn¡¯t know if the boy could see her, but she lifted her ball of yarn to show him. ¡°You can stay.¡± His depressing voice was full of loneliness, and it was clear that he had fully adjusted to his life in the orphanage. It was hard to see anything good about him if he acted like that, and Sophia hated children who behaved unpleasantly or were overly friendly. Freya didn¡¯t feel good when she thought about the scars on the beautiful child¡¯s face, but it had nothing to do with her. Freya had to take care of herself first and then started to knit in the dark. If she didn¡¯t make the required amount of knitwear, she would have to go to bed hungry. Therefore, this was an important task, but knitting was very boring and difficult to do, which irritated her to no end. Sophia had said that the items made at the orphanage were popular with the ladies. One day, Freya had overheard a woman saying that the item was made by some poor kid. This woman, who was willing to pay a high price for sympathizing with orphans, was praised for her generosity. Freya felt strange when she thought that the little woolen hat that she¡¯d made was talked about like that, and the words ¡®poor child¡¯ stuck in her mind. People felt free to say that she was miserable and poor, and Freya didn¡¯t like that side of them. They¡¯re so annoying! Silently watching her hand movements, the boy sat still, and she wondered why he was acting like he didn¡¯t exist. Freya didn¡¯t like a nuisance, like Lotty, but she also didn¡¯t like someone that was too quiet. ¡°What are you doing over there?¡± Freya couldn¡¯t stand the silence and was the first to speak. She was curious about him, and she guessed it was just the thought of not being able to see the boy who had such marvelous good looks. There was another long silence between the boy¡¯s coughing and him answering, probably because his body was weak. ¡°I am helping Aunt Sophia with her work,¡± he replied shyly. Chapter 10 ¡°Wow! That¡¯s cool!¡± It was much better than having to go out and steal or beg for money. But when Freya lifted her spiteful face, she realized that it wasn¡¯t anything to be jealous over. ¡°Are you feeling alright?¡± She felt a little awkward after asking. No one in this place would ask that nor be curious about that. Those who showed signs of pain often suffered and died, and the only time a physician came around was when Sophia was sick. ¡°I am fine now,¡± he said quietly. Then the conversation ended for a long time. Freya thought that going out to beg for money was better than having to knit. She couldn¡¯t adapt to being stuck in the orphanage all day making hats, and it felt as if her fingers were going to get paralyzed. When she was nearly done making the first hat, sunlight could be seen faintly through the window. ¡°How long will you be here?¡± The boy asked. If she wanted to eat, she had to rush. Freya gathered her things and replied, ¡°I probably can¡¯t eat if I am late.¡± Then, she heard an unusual sound from the opposite side of the attic. The light from the small window shone on the boy, and the side view of him lying on top of the dust was very difficult to look at. ¡°Aren¡¯t you hurt badly?¡± She asked, looking shocked. The boy had said that he was fine, but he didn¡¯t look like it. ¡°You worry too much,¡± he replied meekly. Struggling to turn a blind eye to the boy, Freya hurled an old cloak over his body and hurried down the stairs, which creaked loudly, sounding like they¡¯d break soon. State policy had brought many changes to the orphanage, and Sophia tried begging the children to avoid surveillance, but the results were not good. ¡°I don¡¯t know those kids!¡± She yelled. She would be fined if she claimed to know the ones who¡¯d gotten caught begging, so she pretended not to know them. The kids were temporarily knitting hats and clothes to sell, but they didn¡¯t bring in a lot of money. Eventually, this caused disorder in running the orphanage, and as a result, Shiloh, who lived in the capital, often came to visit. ¡°Oh, please! Mr. Shiloh. Please don¡¯t kick me out.¡± She¡¯d often plead. He always shouted at Sophia when he arrived, and she was always crying. Despite her efforts, the situation at the orphanage worsened day by day. Eventually, Sophia sent the maid on her way, and Freya was instructed to fill her position. Freya was not at all happy with the situation in which she had to knit, and serve, at the same time, but she had no other choice. Sophia had never said anything good to her since she was very young, and besides that, she beat her badly and starved her often. Now, she found herself in a position where she had to help Sophia get dressed up! Freya was furious and secretly gritted her teeth as she ground asbestos powder. ¡°Put a lot of honey in the powder so that it mixes well.¡± There was a lot of irritation in Sophia¡¯s voice. Although Sophia ran the orphanage, it was Shiloh¡¯s property, and Sophia knew she would soon lose her position if she didn¡¯t make a noticeable change somehow. Perhaps Shiloh had hit her last night as she now had a black bruise between her eye and cheekbone. ¡°You have to cover up this bruise for me, Freya.¡± Freya became nervous as Sophia began to nibble on her long nails, but she knew that a beating would ensue if she didn¡¯t comply. At times like this, Sophia was so sensitive that she didn¡¯t let the slightest mistake go unnoticed, so Freya applied the powder carefully. But Freya¡¯s hands still shook when painting Sophia¡¯s lips with a mixture of honey and dye. Then, unexpectedly, she noticed a boy reflecting in the mirror, who was sitting in the corner of the bedroom, and she recognized him as the boy that she¡¯d saved. He was writing something while reading a thick stack of papers. So-called helping Aunt Sophia with her work. Freya quickly reminded herself that there was nothing to envy. The boy seemed to spend most of the day like that. He didn¡¯t get along with anyone and never talked. When she¡¯d first saw the boy, Freya recalled a cat that lived in a warehouse near the orphanage whose yellow fur shone brightly under the sunlight. At first, the cat never came close to Freya, but she slowly befriended it by giving it bones or fish pieces that she¡¯d pick up on the road. The cute cat would then approach her coyly, eat the scraps, and disappear. ¡°Come over here.¡± When Sophia opened her mouth, the boy feebly crawled over, and she threw a few sheets of paper at him. ¡°Take care of all these by the time I get back.¡± She treated the boy not as a human but as an animal. He had to eat from the floor, and he curled his body up when he slept. I feel bad for some reason, Freya thought. It was clear that he would¡¯ve died if Freya hadn¡¯t discovered him, but living in Sophia¡¯s bedroom didn¡¯t look like a pleasant experience either. Whenever Sophia suddenly had to leave for work, the boy crawled back to his corner. His face had become so pale due to the lack of sunlight as a result. Although she questioned whether or not it was her responsibility to take care of him, she couldn¡¯t take it any longer, and so she called out to him, ¡°Hey. Come here.¡± The boy didn¡¯t show any reaction when Freya opened her mouth. She wanted to take him out of this room that was filled with Sophia¡¯s aroma and lingering snarky remarks. When she put a little more force into her voice, he lifted his head from the stack of papers. ¡°Okay,¡± he replied. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the attic.¡± The boy stood straight up, almost knocking the side table over, perhaps excited to hear the word ¡®attic,¡¯ and followed Freya out of the bedroom. Quickly scanning their surroundings when they walked out onto the lawn, they secretly headed to the attic. After climbing the creaking, old staircase, they entered the musky room and found a comfortable place to settle down. Shortly after Freya sat down, she pulled out a cookie, wrapped in paper, which she¡¯d received a few days before from Sophia, who had been in a surprisingly good mood. As soon as she opened the paper stained with cookie grease, a sweet smell wafted under their noses, and Freya broke it in half, kindly handing the one half to the boy. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 11 ¡°Eat this,¡± Freya instructed. But the boy looked at her skeptically and didn¡¯t reach out. She completely understood his behavior because the people in this place always had a hidden agenda behind their good deeds. She never thought that she would somehow become one of those people. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do that,¡± Freya said and then decided to get it off her chest, ¡°I am the one who saved you so you can eat this cookie.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure if it was a good idea, nor how it would turn out. But as soon as she held out the cookie, the timid boy approached her and sat down, reaching his hand up quickly and grabbing it from her. ¡°Oh, so you are my savior,¡± he said as he bit into the tasty cookie. His tone seemed a little different from earlier, but Freya thought it was all in her head. ¡°If you say so. I don¡¯t know what a savior is.¡± The boy, whom Freya thought wouldn¡¯t talk much, appeared to be opening up to her, and he asked, ¡°Your name is Freya?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. What is your name?¡± ¡°I¡¯m¡­ Call me Luke.¡± Freya thought that the name suited him well; he looked like someone she¡¯d seen in the orphanage before, and the two children slowly bonded from the day that they learned each other¡¯s names. ¡°This is how you write your name.¡± At some point in his life, Luke had learned how to write and, whenever he had free time, he taught Freya too. ¡°How do you write your name, Luke?¡± She asked. ¡°I will show you later on.¡± Through him, Freya heard stories about the outside world when he told her about his previous life. And Luke said that the Morciana Empire had an elderly king and two princes. ¡°Then the Crown Prince becomes the next king?¡± Freya tilted her head and asked. Luke gripped his fist, making a bizarre face as he replied, ¡°That¡¯s how it¡¯s supposed to go, but I still don¡¯t know for sure.¡± ¡°Hmm, I see.¡± Freya couldn¡¯t care less whether the first prince or second prince would wear the crown. She was only interested in Luke, who sat in front of her, reminding her of a white, delicious cake. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know. You will be prettier than those two princes, Luke.¡± Luke¡¯s eyes sparkled when she said that. Freya didn¡¯t quite know the meaning of beautiful but, to her, Luke was what she would call beautiful. It then occurred to her that Sophia couldn¡¯t bear beating a child like him. But now, it seemed like he didn¡¯t like her compliment. With a frown on his handsome face, he said more seriously, ¡°Calling a man pretty isn¡¯t a compliment.¡± ¡°You? A man?¡± For the first time in a long time, Freya grabbed her stomach and rolled on the floor, laughing out loud. Luke looked like he was only eight years old. On top of that, he was so cute and lovely that she couldn¡¯t see any manliness in him, and she giggled, ¡°Luke. I will soon be thirteen.¡± He made a confused face and let out a long sigh. He seemed to have something to say, and he bowed his head, ¡°Freya, I have a story.¡± The way he did that was so funny that Freya had to make fun of him, ¡°Okay. You¡¯re originally one hundred years old. Let¡¯s pretend that you¡¯re under a spell. How about that?¡± ¡°Hey! How did you know that?¡± After he lifted his head with an even more serious look on his face, Freya burst out laughing, more amused than a moment ago. ¡°What? Luke, do you honestly believe in that? You¡¯re so cute.¡± Freya thought of Luke as a child, like Lotty, even though she could read Luke¡¯s handwriting. His angry appearance now made him look like a cat with its fur standing on end. The child she had handed a small piece of bread to had blond hair like Luke¡¯s, which had reminded her of the yellow cat that appeared when it heard Freya¡¯s footsteps. ¡°You¡¯re soft.¡± Imagining a cat in front of her, she reached out to pet his head. You are strange, Luke. He was full of elegance, even in the shabby clothes he rolled around the orphanage wearing. His blond hair and big, prominent eyes, which could be seen even in the pits of darkness, set the tone for the surroundings. Looking into his mysterious eyes, Freya nodded silently. ¡°Freya, what is that look in your eyes?¡± ¡°You look just like a cat,¡± she said as she covered her mouth with her hand to hide a smile. ¡°Are you saying that I look like a lovely cat?¡± He had a soft voice, but he wasn¡¯t offended. Freya lowered her hand and apologized. ¡°Sorry. That was rude.¡± ¡°Coming from you, it¡¯s okay. It makes me feel purified.¡± ¡°Purified?¡± It was too difficult of a word, so when Freya tilted her head questioningly, Luke smiled gently in the dim light. At some point, children in the orphanage started to disappear, one or two at a time. It was disturbing to see the growing number of empty seats each time Freya ate breakfast, and she wondered where on earth they had all gone. What is going on in this place? Now that she thought about it, it had been a few days since the last time she¡¯d seen Lotty. Freya felt a lot of weight on her mind when she thought of the annoying kid, who used to hover around her constantly, disappearing. She wasn¡¯t really in a position to ask Sophia about it, but eventually, she mustered up as much courage as she could and asked, ¡°Auntie, do you know where Lotty is?¡± Sophia whacked the back of Freya¡¯s hand with a fan as she was placing a pearl necklace around the woman¡¯s neck. ¡°How would I know that?¡± Freya sagged her shoulders and slowly finished adorning Sophia with jewelry. At the end of the day, there was nothing that she could do. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 12 ¡°You brats, go stand by that wall after you get done with breakfast,¡± Sophia instructed. After eating their measly breakfast, the remaining kids at the orphanage lined up in a row against the high brick wall. Sophia studied the skinny, malnourished children as she walked past them one by one. She ran her hands across their bony faces and hips and grabbed at their bare chests. It was a shameful act, but no one said a word. ¡°How can I use you when you¡¯re all skin and bones?¡± Sophia frowned when it was Freya¡¯s turn. The girl had crafty hands, so she helped Sophia with her jewelry, but the woman had never liked her from the beginning. Her mysterious eyes made her look like a grown woman, and that alone annoyed Sophia, and she said out of the blue, ¡°You still haven¡¯t had your period?¡± ¡°What?¡± Freya didn¡¯t know what else to say because she didn¡¯t know what that was. Sophia brushed past her with an evil look on her face and then ordered a man to take a few of the kids away. I think something awful is going to happen. Freya would bet all she had that this was not a good thing. She trembled as she watched a girl, who was a little bit taller than her, leave the orphanage. The long table in the dining room where all the children had filled would now be empty. If I stay here like this, I¡¯ll be sent to the capital too. Freya was afraid of the outside world because this was the only place she¡¯d been in since she was born. And most of the people she came across while begging in the streets were not that friendly. But she most certainly didn¡¯t like Sophia or Shiloh because they weren¡¯t kind either. Later, when all the children left, the heavy door closed in the dining hall, and Freya was left alone with her thoughts. She sat between the orphanage restaurant and the closed door to the long, cold hallway, pondering her fate. It was only thanks to Luke¡¯s presence that she was able to endure such a hard day. He was thin in size but still had a decent physique, so Freya didn¡¯t feel nervous around him. If Lotty was like a younger sister she needed to take care of, Luke felt like a friend who comforted her. In the dimly lit attic, the two kids sat face to face playing a game and having fun. ¡°So I am the father, and you be the mother,¡± Freya said as she giggled. ¡°But doesn¡¯t a man have to be the father?¡± Luke frowned as he was dissatisfied with Freya¡¯s selection of roles. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who¡¯s the father. We¡¯re doing it together.¡± ¡°Together?¡± ¡°Yes. So let¡¯s get the mud together and make a cake.¡± Freya made a lump out of some mud and made candles out of short branches that she¡¯d collected in the garden. Luke blushed for some reason as he watched Freya¡¯s hands work with the mud. ¡°Luke, have you ever seen a cake?¡± ¡°Is that¡­¡± Luke stopped speaking because he was unsure of what a real cake looked like. When he made a confused face, Freya said, ¡°There is sugar snow on top of a cake.¡± She then sprinkled fine sand gently over the mud, and in no time, the homemade cake was complete. ¡°Luke, will I ever get to eat a cake on my birthday again?¡± ¡°When is your birthday?¡± ¡°Oh, when is it? In February, I believe!¡± She tried to remember when she and Lotty had been given the delicious bread from the bakery. ¡°On what day?¡± ¡°Hmm, when will be a good day? How about the thirteenth, since I am thirteen years old?¡± ¡°Alright. For your next birthday, there will be a cake stacked so high you won¡¯t be able to finish it!¡± Freya loved hearing Luke¡¯s childlike imagination, but it also worried her. How could he live in this heartless world with no sense of reality? ¡°Luke, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take care of you when I become super strong.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± His eyes widened in shock at her sudden resolution. Chewing her fingernails, Freya murmured to herself, ¡°We¡¯ll probably end up in the capital soon, too.¡± Freya had been feeling anxious lately when she thought about what she was going to do in the capital and if she could stay with Luke forever. Nothing was certain anymore, and this scared her. ¡°Freya, what do you want for your birthday?¡± Luke sometimes asked random questions, but it allowed her the freedom to dream of another world. ¡°There is nothing I want,¡± she replied. Luke blinked his green eyes and smiled, ¡°Would you choose to have a room full of gold or me?¡± Freya had the vision in her head of Luke standing in a room full of shiny gold coins and jewelry. She loved gold things, but Luke¡¯s fine blond hair caught her eye more. ¡°I will choose you. I can earn a lot of gold later on.¡± Luke blushed at her answer, and then he reached out and gently touched Freya¡¯s cheek. ¡°Freya, you¡¯re really¡­¡± She smiled at Luke¡¯s deep breathing and his inability to finish his sentence. No doubt he was probably embarrassed, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile at how cute he was. ¡°Think of me as your sister, Luke.¡± In her heart, she knew that she would do anything for him. The place where Luke was now was quite far away from the capital. Heading up to the attic, he took off the mask he was wearing and yawned, ¡°I¡¯m so tired.¡± Freya couldn¡¯t find the usual pure energy in his face as he crouched down, and his eyes were full of darkness as he stared at the dusty window. I¡¯d be better off losing my memory. It was painful to have to hide in this state. What am I doing trying to save myself? His original end goal had been the capital, not this place. Things had gone wrong with his plans, and he¡¯d ended up in the orphanage, which was far from what he had thought an institution to protect underprivileged children was meant to be. It was more like an orphanage for child abuse. And it was also a place where all kinds of irregularities and corruption were prevalent; it seemed as if devils were everywhere. Chapter 13 As Luke raised his hand and swept back his bangs, he remembered that someone was sitting across from him. After coming to this place, his daily routine included a series of pain. Trapped in a mental state of depression and feeling lethargic, he didn¡¯t want to think about anything. He no longer had an appetite nor the will to carry on; his only wish was for time to speed up. His frame of mind bothered him constantly. But there was one girl in this place that talked to him and kindly shared food with him. It was Freya, and he did appreciate her presence. She was also the person who¡¯d discovered him passed out on the ground, and she¡¯d shown feelings toward Luke from the beginning. He felt a little sympathy for her, yet a little distance, but he still found her intriguing. She kept reaching out to him, even when he¡¯d hidden in the shadows, pretending to be dead. I am at this low point, but is it all right? Unbelievably, Freya seemed to perceive him as someone she was supposed to protect. Her warm eyes showed no ill will, and she was the only person in the entire world who looked at Lucas like that. He wasn¡¯t exactly sure what these feelings were now, but he liked Freya. Luke rubbed his hands over his face, recalling their conversation the other day. It was rare to find someone who preferred him over gold. Freya¡¯s plain face may not have been exquisite, but his already adult heart was beating at a different pace than hers, and he knew that she was the only girl for him. Because she was the one who had held his hand when he was on the brink of falling off a proverbial cliff, he would never let her hand go, no matter what. ¡°What are you doing here, Lucas?¡± Freya asked while she knitted. He got a fright as she interrupted his deep thoughts, and he shyly spoke, hiding all his grim expression, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± ¡°What? You know you look like a wet dog waiting for his owner.¡± ¡°Now I¡¯m a dog?¡± Freya faintly laughed at his words, and Luke liked seeing her face like that. There had been a commotion all day about the man who had come to buy furniture at the orphanage. The long table and chairs in the dining room, and a couple of beds, were carried out the front door. All that was left was the bare minimum in Sophia¡¯s room. ¡°You guys are lucky to buy such things at a bargain price,¡± Sophia had spat as she¡¯d received the money for the furniture, with a sour look on her face. The orphanage had felt empty and colder after the commotion. ¡°Luke. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anyone here today,¡± Freya said. None of the grumpy cooks were in the kitchen during the day. Because at times like this, Sophia would go out and party. Suddenly there was thunder and lightning, and soon heavy rain began to pelt down on the windows of the orphanage. Luke was surprised when Freya flinched, and he chuckled, ¡°You said you aren¡¯t afraid of ghosts, but you¡¯re afraid of rain and thunder?¡± Freya got defensive, even more so when Luke continued to smile and said bluntly, ¡°It¡¯s not the rain that scares me. I don¡¯t like the flashes and loud noises in the sky.¡± After some time of silence, the two grabbed candles and lit them in the attic. ¡°This place should be okay, right?¡± She asked somewhat fearfully. The tiny attic felt warmer than the room with no furniture, and the two of them sat close together, facing each other. ¡°The day that my parents abandoned me and left me here, someone told me that it had rained heavily. I think that¡¯s why I don¡¯t like rain.¡± As Luke reached out and grabbed Freya¡¯s hand, he whispered his secret to her, ¡°I¡¯ll be with you when it rains, forever.¡± Freya seemed to have fallen asleep, listening to Luke¡¯s pleasing voice. There might be some luck in her life after all that she hadn¡¯t known was there. Freya had taken charge of the cooking and cleaning, working around the orphanage all day long until her mouth dried up. But despite her efforts, Sophia was never satisfied, as per usual. I have to be as careful as I can at times like this. Freya, who had known Sophia for a long time, tried hard not to provoke her if she could. However, Sophia¡¯s nerves, which relied on alcohol all day, were sharp. She hit Freya as soon as she found something wrong with her meal or if the cleaning didn¡¯t get done to her standards. ¡°You brought this for me to eat!?¡± Sophia had shouted one day, turning the porridge with boiled potatoes upside down. Covered in hot porridge, Freya didn¡¯t bother to explain that those were the only ingredients. Even if she did try, she knew she would get hit with Sophia¡¯s rod even harder. Today Sophia had exploded in a fit of rage because Freya had combed her hair too hard. ¡°Can¡¯t you do anything right? Are you ignoring me?¡± Sophia grabbed the comb and then beat Freya recklessly. She had thought of Luke while covering her face from Sophia¡¯s attack because she didn¡¯t want him to see her like that. Sitting in the corner, he balled his fists like he was about to come and save her. Luke, don¡¯t look at me now. Luke¡¯s sensitive skin would never be able to endure such a beating. Freya thought about how people died from being beat like this. Her skin was starting to peel off, and at this point, she¡¯d had enough of being smacked around. ¡°Auntie, I messed up.¡± As she begged, Luke thrust his body forward. Freya signaled to him not to come as she pleaded, ¡°Auntie, I will do better.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do better from the start? What could I expect from a child with no foundation?¡± Sophia smacked Freya on the top of her head with the handle of a dust tray. The atmosphere was getting worse and worse, and Luke, who couldn¡¯t stand watching, blocked the front of Freya and shouted, ¡°Stop, please!¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 14 Sophia panicked for a moment at the sudden shouting and soon threw the dust tray in her hand. ¡°Now the both of you are coming after me?¡± Sophia glared at them with pure hatred in her eyes as she picked up a knife she used to open mail envelopes from the table. Freya struggled to get up from the floor when she saw the flashing blade, terrified that Sophia would stab Luke. Only the thought of protecting Luke in this desperate situation dominated her mind. ¡°I saved you, you beggar! How can you repay me like this?¡± She yelled as spit flew out her mouth. ¡°Auntie. Don¡¯t be like that.¡± Freya pleaded as she blocked Luke with her injured body. Tears ran down her cheeks and hit the carpet. With her back against the wall, Freya grabbed Luke¡¯s arm and pulled him towards her. ¡°Luke, apologize right now!¡± She begged for forgiveness as she thought something awful was about to happen. But despite her begging, Luke didn¡¯t move an inch. Freya didn¡¯t know what had gotten into him today. Her heart raced as the faces of those who had died by Sophia¡¯s hands flashed through her mind. Sophia¡¯s eyes were fixated on Luke as she was shocked by his unusual behavior. ¡°Today, I¡¯m going to show you what I¡¯ve got!¡± Sophia shouted as she threw the sharp knife as hard as she could toward his chest. ¡°No!¡± There was no time to think straight, and Freya instinctively pushed him out of the way. Then something hot grazed her forehead, and blood immediately started to trickle down her face. As soon as she grabbed her face, Sophia looked at her with shock. ¡°So why are you picking a fight with me? Ungrateful brats.¡± Sophia panicked when she saw the blood and bolted out of the room without looking back. ¡°Freya, why did you do that?¡± Luke wept as he hugged Freya¡¯s body gently, and she sank to the floor. Freya was relieved to see that his face didn¡¯t have a scratch on it, and she said in a purposely cheerful voice, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Luke. I am fine.¡± She wasn¡¯t concerned about the scar that would remain from the gash made by the knife; it wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference to her face. Despite her words, Luke muttered something in an unknown language. With her eyes closed in pain, Freya listened to his prayerful voice. Later on that evening after the assault, Luke came to the large bedroom, which had no furniture, to check on Freya. The room, where dozens of children previously slept together, was empty and cold without any furniture. He set down a cloth, white candles, and warm water, then whispered, ¡°Freya, all you have to do is show the doctor your cut.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Luke. The knife barely grazed me. It¡¯ll just leave a tiny scar.¡± ¡°Freya. Don¡¯t do that next time. Promise me.¡± But she knew that she¡¯d do the same thing next time. However, she swallowed the words she wanted to say and instead mumbled, ¡°I¡¯ll feel better after I sleep.¡± She was struggling to speak, and the wound on her forehead hurt. She didn¡¯t want to tell Luke that because she was afraid that he might cry, but she couldn¡¯t help frowning from the pain. Luke seeing her sad was something she wanted to avoid at all costs, so she tried her best to smile, albeit faked. Freya wanted to protect the first person she¡¯d ever opened her heart to, and her only wish was for him to brighten up her dark world. It didn¡¯t take long for the wound to heal, but there was a big scar because Freya didn¡¯t receive proper treatment. She didn¡¯t mind because it didn¡¯t hurt anymore. Lately, there was one thing on Freya¡¯s mind, and that was Luke¡¯s changed behavior. As she cleaned the make-up table with a rag in Sophia¡¯s bedroom, she called his name several times, but he didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Luke, is there some exciting bird outside or something else you may want to see ?¡± ¡°Did you call me?¡± Luke asked, finally looking up at her with a smile on his face. Although he was younger than her, Luke seemed to have adult energy around him, making Freya¡¯s face darken with suspicion. Most days, Luke enjoyed looking at the birds outside the window. But these days, he spent a lot more time ignoring them. ¡°Luke, do you want to go and play outside?¡± She asked. Seeing him looking down at the birds with no expression on his face made Freya feel nervous. She was afraid that Luke would disappear as fast as the birds flew away from the old tree near the window. Freya felt anxious that night, and she had no idea why, but eventually, she drifted off to sleep on the cold floor of the orphan¡¯s bedroom. However, in the middle of the night, she was startled awake by someone. ¡°Freya. Hey, Freya.¡± With her eyes wide open from the fright she got, she realized it was Luke shaking her. ¡°What is going on?¡± She asked, feeling dazed and confused. ¡°Something suddenly came up, so I have to go somewhere.¡± Initially, Freya thought that she was dreaming, and she asked, ¡°Go where? What do you need to do?¡± Luke reached out his hand and ran a finger over her scar, ¡°Listen to me. I¡¯ll come back for you soon.¡± Luke took off his necklace with the blue moon-shaped pendant and put it around Freya¡¯s neck. His eyes were darker than usual, and he seemed to have gotten taller. But Freya was half asleep, so it didn¡¯t sink in. ¡°Luke, it¡¯s dangerous outside,¡± she murmured. ¡°I know. So you have to stay here and tough it out.¡± That night would be her last memory of Luke. Days and weeks passed by slowly, but there was still no word from Luke. It was as if he¡¯d vanished into thin air. Sophia¡¯s anger raged like a wildfire as her resentment grew, and she demanded that someone find him immediately. She also cursed Luke as a freeloader who never returned her kindness. Freya was heartbroken as she wondered whether he¡¯d risen to the sky or if he¡¯d gone underground? What happened to you, Luke? If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 15 Freya waited in hope for Ruth¡¯s return, but he never came back, and her heart was heavy. Every time the wind shook a window, she¡¯d jump up and open it right away to check if it was him knocking. Just looking at the pigeon sitting by the window made her eyes well-up with tears. We were supposed to be together. On rainy nights, Freya¡¯s body curled up and shivered in fear. She felt deep loneliness in the dreary, almost empty, massive stone building. Her patience was wearing thin because Sophia was annoyed with everything she did, and her constant bad temper made life miserable. Ultimately, Sophia, who¡¯d failed at her business, gave up on running the orphanage. Some time ago, even Shiloh had stopped visiting, which was worrying. Freya lived in a state of permanent stress because she didn¡¯t know what the future held, and she was also concerned about Ruth returning to this empty shell of a home. She didn¡¯t trust others, but Ruth¡¯s promise had been unforgettable; he¡¯d told her to wait for him here. But perhaps it was a good thing that he didn¡¯t return, and she just hoped that he was doing fine somewhere else. The orphanage had never been a good match for young, weak Ruth anyway. As she laid on her bed, alone in the darkroom, shadows fell over her eyes, and she turned her back on a bird flying away from the window. She knew that she had to let go of the memories of their time together, and she cried herself to sleep; Ruth must¡¯ve lost his way. It was overcast the morning that Freya left the orphanage, and she stood outside on the ground, which was damp from the rain the previous evening. She stared up at the orphanage building, with mixed feelings, as she¡¯d never left for an extended period before. It was a large, grey old building with a gloomy atmosphere, and although her memories were of hunger and bitter-cold nights, she still felt lonely when she thought of leaving for good. ¡°Hey, Freya!¡± She remembered Lotty¡¯s voice that used to get on her nerves. And also, how in such a short time, Ruth¡¯s angelic face had grown into that of an adult. But it was time to bid farewell to the old stone house and all the memories of her unpleasant childhood. As she headed towards the street, she never once looked back. ¡°Hello,¡± Freya said meekly, and she climbed into the carriage, looking frightened. The ever-changing landscape outside the window was unfamiliar, and she felt afraid during the entire journey. ¡°Why do you look so stunned?¡± As soon as she got in the carriage, Sophia, suffering from severe motion sickness, had nagged Freya while she looked out of the window with a blank expression on her face. ¡°Sorry,¡± Freya replied softly, not wanting to talk to anyone. Freya¡¯s original living space had been composed of single stories, so when they entered the capital, the three-story-high buildings intimidated her. I think my neck will break if I look up too high. Freya was curious about who had constructed such buildings. And she also wondered why there were so many people in the capital. The idea of having to start a new life in such a confusing place scared her, and she wondered what the future held. The carriage came to a stop in a dark neighborhood, not far from a brightly lit, busy area. Standing in front of a building with red lights, Freya trembled at the gloomy atmosphere unique to the alley. Unexpectedly a fat rat crawled over her feet, and she shuddered. ¡°What are you doing just standing there? Get your bags and get a move on,¡± Sophia said coldly. The smell of an unknown dark perfume lingered as she entered the building, dragging a bag that was bigger than her body. As she inhaled some more, she smelled old cigarette butts and stale sweat. What in the world is this place? What surprised Freya were the familiar faces inside the building. The women, who cleaned the floor, or sat in the small room applying heavy makeup, were from the same orphanage as Freya. She had heard about people leaving for the capital, so she was glad to meet them here. Freya soon drew attention from them, but they were not close enough friends to greet each other. ¡°Freya!¡± Someone called her name, and she turned around to see Lotty, her eyes wide with shock, standing with a duster in her hand. Freya was relieved to see that the child that had disappeared had been in the capital this whole time. She hesitated for a moment before Sophia¡¯s scolding fell on her. ¡°Why are you dragging your feet!?¡± Sophia shouted. Freya had to pass through the corridor without saying a short hello to Lotty before entering a small room with her large bag. ¡°Auntie, should I take care of your bags?¡± ¡°No, leave them. I won¡¯t be in this place for long.¡± Freya thought that perhaps something wasn¡¯t to Sophia¡¯s liking, but she shrugged her shoulders as she looked around at the bright wallpaper and the comfortable-looking bed. Freya liked this new place that was much more luxurious than the bare bedroom at the orphanage. So she couldn¡¯t understand Sophia¡¯s reaction. ¡°Who am I to stay in such a place? Yuck!¡± Sophia said, sounding disgusted, and she soon got ready to leave. Left alone in the room, Freya discovered a small window, but she wasn¡¯t quite tall enough to look out of it, so she dragged her bag over and stood on top of it. Then, she grabbed the window crank and turned it with all her might, but perhaps it hadn¡¯t been opened by anyone in a long time because it was tightly closed. After wrestling with the handle for some time, it finally opened, making a loud creaking sound, and bits of rust fell onto the windowsill. Feeling excited, she stuck her head outside, but there was another similar-sized building across the tiny alleyway, and she was disappointed by the view. ¡°Will I end up cleaning and running errands in this place too?¡± Shifting her eyes from the filth that littered the ground, Freya raised her head from the alley, where the sunlight barely entered, to the walls of the other dull buildings. ¡°So, there are pigeons here, too,¡± she said dismally, as she noticed the white bird droppings on the sides of some of the walls. It made her think of Ruth, a boy who yearned to see birds flying freely in the sky. ¡°I guess it¡¯s a good thing we didn¡¯t come here together.¡± Freya missed him, but in a way, she was also relieved that she couldn¡¯t see him. But that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t worried about him. Although Freya didn¡¯t know him that well, the boy had numerous skills, and he¡¯d taught her a lot. She hadn¡¯t known that when candles didn¡¯t catch light under fire, she had to dig out the wick with a knife, or when receiving bread, she had to tear off a small piece and store it as emergency food. ¡°Freya,¡± Ruth had said so tenderly. She remembered his smiling face looking at her, and she felt a pang in her chest. Meeting Ruth had felt like a dream at times, and she habitually reached up to touch the necklace around her neck that he¡¯d given her. The moon-shape, symbolizing Diana, was in her grasp, and soon the feeling of uneasiness faded away. Chapter 16 The new place Freya had moved to was most certainly not an orphanage because the residents had the luxury of taking naps during the day. She found it peculiar that they didn¡¯t eat breakfast together every morning, although they lived together, which meant that they didn¡¯t interact much with one another. Freya soon became curious about the people in the house. She wondered what they did here, and her curiosity grew each day. She observed that some people did chores around the house, but no one knitted, and nobody was out on the streets begging. Freya knew that the bread she was eating didn¡¯t just come out of thin air, and she was curious about where the money came from. What in the world do these people do for a living? To add to her suspicions, she hadn¡¯t done any work since arriving here, which was even more bizarre. The moment she started questioning things, Shiloh appeared in front of her. He took off his long coat and handed one of the girls his wooden cane. The hair on his head had gotten a little thinner since the last time she¡¯d seen him, but he was still wearing expensive-looking clothing. ¡°Mr. Vale. You¡¯ve arrived,¡± Freya said sheepishly. She had a hunch that Shiloh wanted to break out of his businessman look and become a nobleman. And he had once said that he could buy a nobleman¡¯s position if he wanted to. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time,¡± he said matter-of-factly. ¡°Hello, sir.¡± Freya pinched her short dress nervously and bowed her head awkwardly. She was not happy to meet with the orphanage director. ¡°Alright, young girl. What was your name again?¡± The man¡¯s glossy eyes scanned Freya¡¯s wrists before studying her waist, chest, and neck. The feeling was quite uncomfortable, naturally making her body tremble, and she was so nervous that she couldn¡¯t make a sound. Her lips quivered for a while, and she barely managed to stutter her name, ¡°I am F-F-Freya.¡± ¡°What kind of greeting is that to your father? Come over here.¡± Freya had never referred to Shiloh as ¡°father¡± when everyone else in the orphanage had called him that. It was awkward at first, and later on, she hadn¡¯t felt like doing it. The man, whose eyes resembled a corrupt businessman, scanned Freya¡¯s entire frightened body. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten so big. Good.¡± Shiloh stood up and reached out to stroke her neck, chin, and shoulders. Then, his hand fell and patted her tiny waist. Freya felt repulsed by Shiloh¡¯s touching and held her breath for as long as she could. She thought to herself that she¡¯d prefer a beating from Sophia than standing there any longer. ¡°How old are you this year?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fifteen now.¡± ¡°That is just perfect!¡± She hadn¡¯t a clue what he meant by that. It may have been a compliment, but she wanted to cover her ears because she felt uncomfortable listening to the sound of his voice. Freya trembled, gasping for breath now. The man was so gross that she felt like vomiting when she looked at him. ¡°Relax, young girl.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Freya thought she might indeed vomit if he continued feeling her up. ¡°Alright, Freya. The time has come to return the favor.¡± She nodded fiercely, ready to diligently do what she had to. Whether it be cleaning or laundry, she would get it done. ¡°I can do it well, sir.¡± She would have to live on the streets if he kicked her out, and terror grew inside her as soon as she imagined herself living a worse life than this. When she balled her fists tightly, Shiloh nodded and continued, ¡°You seem to have an understanding already.¡± He smiled, insincerely, as he stroked his long beard with his hand. ¡°Freya, you¡¯ll become a real woman here. And I¡¯ll give you some nice clothes.¡± A real woman? Freya thought about the people she sometimes saw in the streets: women who wore tight, short dresses and the men who smiled coyly at them. The ladies wore white gloves, and their hair was decorated with colorful accessories that matched their dresses. No way I¡¯ll become a woman like that. Freya couldn¡¯t believe Shiloh¡¯s absurd comment. She had never once even wished for new clothes, and she was confused by the strange way he was talking to her. Her experience was in cleaning, cooking, doing dishes, and helping Sophia get dressed up. She wanted to be assigned something she knew she could do well. ¡°Let¡¯s take a look. Hmm.¡± Shiloh slowly scanned Freya¡¯s body as if he were looking at products on a shelf. And then, out of nowhere, he shouted when he lifted Freya¡¯s bangs, ¡°Damn it! What is this?¡± The scar on Freya¡¯s forehead was still visible, and Shiloh became enraged. He kicked the table and then threw a chair across the room. ¡°That b*tch can¡¯t even manage a product properly. What was all that money talk then?¡± It sounded like he was talking about Sophia. Freya balled her fists even tighter, waiting for her turn to get cursed at when Shiloh screamed once again after lifting her bangs. Freya waited anxiously for his fist to connect with her face, and she clenched her teeth in fear. Angered, Shiloh looked at her forehead once again and yelled, ¡°Why in the hell is that scratch there?¡± ¡°Sorry. I forgot about it, sir.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know how much this damage will cost me. You will never know!¡± Shiloh, who had been running wild with anger, sank to the floor and dragged Freya¡¯s body down. Her body collapsed as she tried to understand his words. Someone save me! If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 17 No one dared to help Freya as she shivered and stared with pleading eyes at the people walking by. They all pretended not to notice what was going on, which made her feel invisible. ¡°Damn it!¡± Shiloh shouted as he pressed his forehead against her bony shoulder. She felt sick from the clamminess of his hand grabbing her delicate arm. ¡°Freya, who would buy something damaged?¡± He demanded to know. Freya felt weak from fear. She didn¡¯t know what to say because she¡¯d never bought anything before. But this didn¡¯t seem like the answer he would want, and after a few seconds of hesitating, she finally stuttered, ¡°N-n-no one, sir.¡± ¡°I never run a lousy business,¡± he said, sounding highly frustrated. Freya didn¡¯t have a clue what he was talking about, but she nodded her head in agreement. This situation was truly bizarre and became more so when Shiloh added, ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t beat you.¡± Naturally, she expected that Shiloh was about to beat her badly with his rod. But he didn¡¯t, which made her feel even more nervous. ¡°It would have been better if he hit me,¡± Freya mumbled as she curled up on the bed and sighed heavily, unable to fall asleep due to her mind that was full of unanswered questions. Instead of being punished, she had to stay on this bed, which was even more uncomfortable. ¡°I haven¡¯t even been here that long, but it feels like I¡¯ve been here for years.¡± Her mind and body were exhausted, perhaps due to the unfamiliarity of this new place. Although begging had put a lot of strain on her body, she felt more comfortable doing that because that was what she knew. Freya was tossing and turning on the big bed when she heard the sound of the door opening. Afraid of it being Shiloh, she shut her eyes tightly and pretended to be asleep. ¡°Freya, are you asleep?¡± It was Lotty¡¯s voice. She approached carefully, taking a seat at the small table near the bed Freya was on. Freya wanted to greet her, but her back was to the door because she felt somewhat awkward. ¡°Freya, you have to listen carefully to what I say.¡± Her voice was very secretive, unlike her annoying voice in the past. The story she told next came as a shock! ¡°Do you know that this place is a prostitution house?¡± Freya¡¯s eyes widened in surprise as Lotty added, ¡°When night falls on this alley, red lights get turned on, and drunk men start making their way down here. Do you remember Lilly? She works here, too.¡± Freya was able to recall the face she had seen on her first day here. Lilly had worn thick make-up, so she¡¯d looked much different, but she¡¯d still recognized her. ¡°I know for certain that Lilly¡¯s job is not good,¡± Lotty said, sounding sad. Although she didn¡¯t know much about prostitution, she stumbled over her words when she recalled the sobbing women of the night after they¡¯d given their bodies to strange men. Freya thought about Shiloh¡¯s hand on her skin and the devilish look in his eyes as he¡¯d felt her waist. Then, as Lotty continued, Freya¡¯s eyes opened wider. ¡°Freya, that¡¯s why you have to get out of this place,¡± Lotty recalled Shiloh and the other men talking about how a girl who hadn¡¯t had her period was more precious than gold. ¡°It¡¯s a shame she has that scar, but her eyes are sexy.¡± Shiloh had said as he¡¯d rubbed the bulge in his pants. Quick-witted Lotty had noticed that he had been intending to do something nasty to Freya and had decided to warn her right away. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Freya asked fearfully. Unable to remain in bed any longer, she sat up and turned to look at Lotty, who had tears rolling down her cheeks. But before they could greet each other properly in this reunion, Lotty urgently said, ¡°There are so many customers in the capital who prefer young girls as opposed to boys. That¡¯s why you have to run away right now!¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Freya asked, still confused. Lotty handed over a bundle to Freya, urging her to get up quickly, ¡°It¡¯s quite busy now because there are so many customers, so no one will know if you go out the back door. Usually, a guy is guarding it, but he is getting drunk with Shiloh now.¡± Freya caught wind of Lotty¡¯s desperate explanation, ¡°So if I stay here, bad things will happen to me?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right,¡± Lotty said, nodding as her eyes grew as wide as saucers. ¡°And what about you, Lotty?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, Freya.¡± Freya had a hard time seeing Lotty putting on a brave face, and she remembered how she used to follow her around when they were younger. Freya had always pretended that Lotty was such a nuisance. But when all was said and done, she didn¡¯t dislike the kid. Lotty might have been the only family she¡¯d had in that place. Freya¡¯s face was bright red from anger after hearing all of this, and she struggled to open her mouth to speak, ¡°It¡¯s not okay for you to stay here either, knowing these things, Lotty.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t have to do anything weird.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I am talking about.¡± Looking at Freya¡¯s frustrated face, Lotty pretended to be brave, sticking out her chest as she said confidently, ¡°Even so, I¡¯m quite recognized here.¡± Freya knew Lotty was very talented and adaptable, but it wouldn¡¯t feel right if she left without her. Freya was also feeling lonely since she¡¯d left the place where they¡¯d grown up. But Freya knew that it was time to say goodbye to the past. A past where she was always hungry because she couldn¡¯t eat properly and filthy dirty because she couldn¡¯t shower. It was better to beg for money in bug-infested clothes than to stay here, so it was a better idea to leave, as Lotty said. ¡°We used to work together. So,¡± the words ¡°let¡¯s leave together¡± were on the tip of Freya¡¯s tongue, but she was unaccustomed to saying something like this, and her face felt tingly for no reason. Seeing her friend¡¯s hesitant face, Lotty flashed a grin, ¡°Freya, thank you for asking me to go with you. But I am sluggish, so I¡¯ll only get in your way.¡± Chapter 18 Lotty was about to pay back what she owed Freya from her childhood days. Those who couldn¡¯t endure the harsh beatings and starvation at the orphanage had tried many times to escape to the alley. But no one had succeeded, and it was common for young girls to be brought back semi-conscious or completely knocked out cold. She didn¡¯t want to see her friend in that condition. Abandoned in front of the orphanage, Lotty had learned to crawl, walk, and speak there. She had grown up with so many people, but none of them had shown affection toward her. Therefore she had often cried to get attention which had been the reason why so many people had disliked being around her. Nobody had wanted her, and regardless of how young she was, she couldn¡¯t help but feel the chill of rejection that seemed to have penetrated her heart. The only person who had treated Lotty humanely in that unforgiving orphanage was Freya. She recalled Freya¡¯s words which were always blunt, ¡°Hey, hurry up and get on my back. If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll leave you here.¡± But she always knew that Freya would eventually come back for her. When she¡¯d said her legs hurt, Freya gave her a piggyback ride, and when she¡¯d cried because she was hungry, Freya found a festering apple rolling around the market for her to eat. Lotty was also thankful for the times that her friend gave her the large portion when she¡¯d found something to eat. Even though Freya didn¡¯t show much affection, it was still enough for Lotty to feel it. Freya, who was three years older than Lotty, had no family and was just like a sister. ¡°There¡¯s no time for this. Go, now,¡± Lotty insisted after grabbing a cloak from somewhere and putting it on Freya¡¯s head. She then took her hand and dragged her towards the door. ¡°Hey, Lotty. Stop!¡± ¡°Hush,¡± Lotty whispered. With no time to think things through, Freya and Lotty crept down the thickly carpeted stairs. Lotty looked around carefully before gesturing to Freya to continue. After opening the backdoor, she checked in all directions again before shoving Freya back as hard as she could. Lotty and Freya then faced each other with the door frame between them. When twelve-year-old Lotty waved her hand, an image of her as a child popped into Freya¡¯s mind. She flung her hands out, signaling Freya to go, but first said quietly, ¡°Freya, let¡¯s eat some cake some time.¡± Lotty¡¯s words filled her with tears, and she couldn¡¯t bring herself to reply. There was no promise of seeing each other again, and it was hard to imagine that the two would ever be so well-off that they could afford delicious cake. ¡°I¡¯ll come back for you soon, Lotty.¡± Freya winked at her and smiled, trying to overcome the guilt of not bringing her friend with her. She didn¡¯t know where to go or what to do, but she had to gather her strength. She never wanted to be someone who did a cowardly thing like leaving Lotty alone under these circumstances. Thank you for helping me like this, Lotty. Her parting words, which she couldn¡¯t say aloud, were engraved deeply in her heart. Freya held onto the bundle in her hand tightly and reluctantly turned her back. It was blurry in front of her because her eyes were burning from crying and were still wet with tears. Suddenly, there was a loud noise nearby, and Lotty shouted, ¡°Run Freya, run!¡± Freya didn¡¯t hesitate a moment longer and bolted away into the darkness of the nearest alley. After running frantically, leaving her friend behind, Freya stood in the dark, smelly alley, out of breath and in tears. ¡°I have to go back for Lotty.¡± But then she recalled the determined look in Lotty¡¯s eyes, and she knew it would be a waste of time to return for her. Lotty was in an awful situation, and she wanted to save her because she¡¯d gone out of her way to help her escape. But her friend didn¡¯t want to be rescued, and she couldn¡¯t understand why. Desperately searching for a way out of the scummy area, Freya tried to find the path that the carriage rode on when they¡¯d first arrived in the city, but the streets looked completely different from how they looked in the daytime. ¡°Where on earth is this place?¡± She scanned all the unfamiliar streets and felt sick to her stomach with fear because she was lost. And, she was the only female in this alley by the looks of things. Clutching the blue cloak tightly, Freya walked ahead while trying to stay calm. ¡°Venus, my love,¡± a drunken man slurred as he wobbled toward her from the opposite side of the alley. Freya quickly hid behind a foul-smelling dumpster, hoping that the darkness would conceal her, and bit her lip in suspense. The man was so drunk that he seemed to have forgotten that he¡¯d called out to her, and she watched as he stumbled over his own feet. She couldn¡¯t walk around all night like this and decided that she needed to find a room somewhere. However, she was clueless about where to go because it was her first time in this area. Freya wandered through the dark, misty streets, unsure of how far she¡¯d walked nor where she was heading. Finally, she saw a building with a dim light shining onto the pavement that looked somewhat safe. And, with her clumsy skills, she read the vertical letters, ¡°D, i, a, n, a.¡± The name seemed to glow over her saddened face. Lucas had told Freya about her and had said that the Morciani Empire was protected by the goddess Diana. He¡¯d also said, ¡°I¡¯ll be fine if I go there.¡± Remembering this, Freya gently knocked on the door, but there wasn¡¯t an answer, so she sneaked inside. What if someone chases me out? With her eyes wide open from tension, she stepped inside and immediately noticed the dark interior of the unfamiliar surroundings. The moonlight was shining through stained glass windows, and several paintings of the goddess were hanging on the walls. In one corner of the entrance hall, a candle flickering in the breeze, caused by the open door, but she didn¡¯t see any signs of people and sighed in relief, ¡°Thank goodness. I think I¡¯m alone.¡± Freya found a comfortable spot in another corner and sat down. Her tears, which she rarely shed, kept pouring out, making her sniffle. As her eyes kept closing, due to the fatigue, her hand habitually felt for the necklace around her neck, and she continually recited a name, ¡°Ruth. Ruth.¡± It was a night when the benevolent goddess, painted on the ceiling, seemed to cozy up Freya¡¯s tired body, and she felt surprisingly safe. Early in the morning, she crept out of the building and quickly blended into the crowd on the sidewalks. As she continued to walk on the opposite side of the street, she feared that Shiloh could be after her, so she sneaked behind a passing cart and hung it on the back of the carriage. After a while, Freya felt her tension ease and only then realized how hungry she was. So she jumped off the carriage and found a nearby alley where she sat down in a corner and finally unfolded the bundle Lotty had packed for her. In it were a few shiny coins, a small piece of bread, scissors, and one bruised green apple. Feeling overwhelmed when she thought about Lotty buying all of these things, she rubbed her cold nose with her hand and tried to cheer up. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 19 ¡°Lotty wrapped these things well,¡± Freya muttered as she sliced a big chunk of the festering apple and nibbled at the bread. She savored each mouthful because there was no way of knowing when she¡¯d be able to find something to eat again. ¡°But of all things, why did she put scissors in here?¡± Holding the shiny scissors in her hand, Freya suddenly thought of Sophia, and she recalled what she¡¯d said, ¡°Listen up. A woman¡¯s beauty comes from her long hair, white skin, neat teeth, and red lips.¡± It was spooky to remember her words so vividly, the same as it would be scary if Sophia, who drank in the daytime, became a member of a royal family! ¡°My skin doesn¡¯t turn pale no matter how much powder I put on,¡± Sophia had complained. ¡°Freya, look at you. I want to take a full bite of you.¡± Freya imagined Sophia sitting idly in front of the bedroom mirror, fusing over her looks and her hair for hours on end. She also recalled Shiloh, who had claimed to be her father, whispering sweet nothings to her as he swept her long hair over her shoulders. As soon as Freya thought of the two people, whom she hated most in this world, she felt like throwing up the bread she¡¯d just eaten. ¡°I don¡¯t need that kind of beauty,¡± she said bitterly. Parting her hair in the middle with her fingers, she placed the two sections over her shoulders. And without a second thought, she cut the thick hair. As the large clumps of hair fell to the floor, the wind started blowing in all directions and swept most of it away. After a few more snips with the silver scissors, the job was completed, and she walked over to a puddle nearby. The face reflecting at her looked more like a boy with a short haircut, and Freya was happy with the result. Once she¡¯d put her cloak back on and placed the scissors in the breast pocket, Freya decided to go for a walk. She had to figure out a way to survive because she had no desire to starve to death from lack of food. Do I have to beg again? Or steal? That was the only thing that came to mind right now. But soon, Freya shook her head. There was a high possibility that she would get beaten up in this unknown place if she attempted to do those things, and she mumbled, ¡°I hope I can find a job, like housecleaning or working as a maid or something.¡± Having begged on the streets for so long, she had learned that the people in this world were diverse. There were people high up in social ranking, whom she couldn¡¯t stare at, and those at the bottom of the totem pole, like herself. A housemaid seemed like a position around the middle. It would be awesome to walk next to a lady in well-tailored, neat clothing, carrying a fancy handbag. ¡°A lady like that would be the exact opposite of me, begging in rags.¡± Freya was already jealous of the non-existent lady, but she shook her head, snapping her out of the despair she felt, ¡°How can I become a maid?¡± Freya¡¯s identity was unclear to her, and all she knew how to do was beg. For the next two days, she walked the streets in deep despair, trying to figure out how to move forward and what the future would look like for someone like herself. The bread she had been saving fell to the muddy ground, adding to her woes. But luckily, the rain had prevented her from dying of thirst, although her stomach felt shriveled up like a raisin. In desperation, Freya stripped a piece of tree bark from a tree and tried to chew it, but it wasn¡¯t enough to satisfy her burning hunger. Soon, Freya began to feel dizzy, as if she were about to faint, and even taking one step felt like a challenge. ¡°What¡¯s that over there? Is it real?¡± Freya exclaimed. She¡¯d been walking for hours, and in the distance, it looked like there was a whole bunch of food spread out on the grass. Not believing what she saw, she waved her hands back and forth in front of her eyes. A large-framed man was leaning against a thick tree trunk. It seemed like he was taking an afternoon nap. The meat and bread in front of the man waved at Freya, and she wiped her eyes in disbelief. When she noticed that the straw hat covering his face was shaking, Freya was sure that the man was asleep, and she whispered, ¡°It¡¯s not a bad thing to take a little bit of food since there is plenty.¡± Under normal circumstances, she¡¯d never do such a thing, but she was so hungry that it wasn¡¯t possible to think straight. Chapter 20 Quietly tip-toeing, Freya approached the man. Perhaps he had been drinking all day as he reeked of alcohol, so she moved a bit closer to the food. As she bent down, it looked like she would succeed in snatching a small piece of bread. But then suddenly she heard a rustling sound and froze. Holding her breath, Freya slowly turned her head to see that it was the straw hat that had fallen to the ground, and she sighed in relief. Feeling more confident now, Freya tried to pick up the bread again but was stopped dead in her tracks when a small rock flew over her hand. ¡°Hey! What are you doing, you brat?¡± The man yelled in a deep voice. Freya felt fearful when she heard the man¡¯s rough voice. And when she moved frantically, the scissors fell out of her breast pocket, forcing her to freeze up. All she could do was stare at him. ¡°Do you have a guilty conscience?¡± He demanded to know. It was difficult to tell the age of the man, who¡¯d lifted his upper body away from the tree-stump. A messy beard covered half his face, and the visible skin had been tanned darkly by the sun. ¡°I apologize. I¡¯m just so hungry,¡± Freya cried out, quivering as she looked toward the ground. She assumed that the man¡¯s crude hand was going to slap her on her cheek or back. Waiting in anticipation, Freya trembled nervously, but the man gulped down some wine next to him instead. ¡°Seeing that you¡¯re all skin and bones, you must be starving,¡± the man said more calmly. Freya was terrified about the great thrashing to come and asked, ¡°Why are you not hitting me?¡± When she lifted her head to look at him, a big, horse-like smile spread across his bearded face, and he said, ¡°Only senseless human beings beat children. On top of that, if I beat you, you¡¯d die right away.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Freya was dumbfounded by what he said. The man was the most bizarre kind of person Freya had ever seen in her life. She was holding something she¡¯d stolen from him and was supposed to be punished by someone if she did something wrong. Hitting a child is a senseless act? Assaults had happened on any given day at the orphanage. There was no forgiveness, whether she earned too little money or made a simple mistake. Neither Sophia nor her men had shown any guilt at all about beating children. Feeling exhausted after having come this far, Freya felt dizziness coming on again and dropped down. The food glistened in front of her eyes, but she didn¡¯t have the strength to reach out. ¡°What is this? Did you pass out from hunger? If it¡¯s the food you want, I¡¯ll give you some since there¡¯s so much.¡± Instead of hitting her, the man said he¡¯d give her some of his food. Freya, who was not familiar with the goodwill of others, stared at the big man through eyes of confusion. What is this smell? The meat smells so good. With her eyes closed and relaxed, and the wind blowing, the delicious smell seemed to beat her insides. ¡°Do you want me to give it to you?¡± The man stood up and walked over to Freya. He then placed some meat and bread next to her knees. ¡°Eat. You¡¯ll soon be crow¡¯s food if you stay like that.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Casting her pride aside, Freya sat up and began to eat hastily. Her throat was so full of meat that she had to beat on her chest a few times to swallow the food, but that didn¡¯t deter her from eating more. ¡°Here, drink this here.¡± The man threw her a sack of wine, and Freya carefully took a sip of it. The bitterness was oddly sweet. ¡°I see that a little thing like you already knows a thing or two about life.¡± The man saw her savoring the wine and laughed again. But Freya wasn¡¯t laughing with him. Instead, it seemed as if the sky was spinning, and just like that, Freya¡¯s body collapsed onto the grass. In the dream, her dearest friends took turns being in danger. Freya wanted to save those trapped in the blazing castle, but she couldn¡¯t get to them, so all she could do was stomp her feet and shout, ¡°Ruth, Lotty. That¡¯s dangerous! Get out!¡± Startled awake by her yelling, Freya opened her eyes and saw that she was riding on a rattling cart. Having no idea whose cart it was nor why her body was sprawled across a haystack, Freya grabbed the two rails on either side and hoisted herself up to get a better look. Her head spun as soon as she lifted it, and she felt nauseous, ¡°Ugh.¡± ¡°Hey, it looks like the little brat is waking up.¡± The voice coming from the front of the cart was not unfamiliar to her. And Freya was sure that it was the man who¡¯d fed her the day before. She shook her head violently with both hands, but she couldn¡¯t remember a thing after drinking the wine yesterday. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 21 Having no recollection of what had transpired in the evening, Freya felt frightened. As she held onto the haystack, trying to keep her balance, she heard the man laughing as he slowly brought the horse to a standstill. His laugh sounded fake as if he found it ridiculous that Freya looked so confused. Although she felt dazed and confused, she managed to utter, ¡°Thank you.¡± Freya felt indebted to the man. After all, he was the reason why she¡¯d been able to eat and why she was able to ride on this cart. The man digging in his ears with his dirty finger uttered words like he was talking to himself. ¡°I have so much blood on my hands that I couldn¡¯t go into goddess Diana¡¯s arms. Helping you is like doing something good before I die, I guess. Oh well.¡± When they came to a stop, Freya stumbled off the cart and looked around. It was a place full of clutter. The man saw her bewildered face and continued, ¡°I¡¯m a soldier, and this place is near the battlefield. It probably won¡¯t be difficult to find work here.¡± ¡°Oh, okay.¡± The man seemed to know that the shabby-looking Freya had nowhere to go. Not knowing how to respond to his kind gesture, all she could do was pinch the hems of her raggedy clothes. The man, who had waited for a moment, soon turned around. ¡°We must part ways here.¡± Meanwhile, Freya thought about how ridiculous this situation was. Though bizarre, she imagined what it would be like to live while serving such a kind man. A useless thought, as expected. As the man walked away, he didn¡¯t turn around to look at Freya. I¡¯ve received enough of his grace. Children who didn¡¯t know the world had false expectations. But Freya still bowed to the man who had shown her some kindness, and she said quietly, ¡°I hope you receive Diana¡¯s blessing.¡± After saying her parting words to the man, who didn¡¯t hear them, Freya turned around slowly to look at her new surroundings. A strange land with a particular smell unfolded in front of her. She felt alone and vulnerable but gripped her fists tightly, thinking of what she had to do next. ¡°I can do this, even if I am alone,¡± she muttered, with a grim look on her face. As Freya continued walking, she couldn¡¯t help but think about the man¡¯s strange words. After a while, she came across a long line of signboards that looked like market stalls, and her shoulders shrank at the sight she¡¯d encountered for the first time. ¡°We sell clothes that are almost like new,¡± a lady called out. ¡°This is the sword that Tariq of Fasa used long ago,¡± a man said. The loud voices echoed through the narrow street, and pale-faced Freya fiddled with the money Lotty had given her, which she¡¯d forgotten was in her pocket. She then decided that it would be a good idea to buy a pair of pants. It would be hard to live as a woman in a place with an overwhelming amount of men. On top of that, Freya could already feel people staring at her hair and clothes. She fiddled with various items as she walked about in search of a stand with the kindest-looking owner. ¡°Looking for pants?¡± A chubby lady asked. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Freya still wasn¡¯t used to buying stuff, so her voice sounded awkward. After choosing a pair of plain dark pants, she thanked the lady and found an alley to change quickly. And when she walked back down the narrow street, she did feel more relaxed. Freya suddenly remembered the shabby face of the person who had shown her kindness, ¡°I should have asked for that soldier¡¯s name.¡± But she was here now, and there was no sense in having such regret. Feeling self-conscious, she walked hesitantly because her messy hair didn¡¯t go well with her new pants. There was nothing she could do about that now. Upon exploring the area further, Freya came across a battlefield barracks. A flag of unknown origin was fluttering in the wind, and cows and horses passed through the wide entrance gate. She felt afraid of the unfamiliar scene but told herself everything would be okay. Peeking through the gates, Freya saw some men brandishing weapons while others lifted their beer glasses. And some men were bleeding from injuries. As she stood quivering from the sight before her, Freya wondered if she could work in such an environment. Her eyes darted around the barracks and Freya saw someone asking for water. Immediately, a young child went to fetch some, and she saw a coin getting handed to the youngster. Freya nodded her head, ¡°I won¡¯t starve to death if I stay here.¡± It was all right for a new beginning. She could earn a few coins before sunset. But she had no clue what she was going to do when night fell. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 22 ¡°It¡¯s quite cold here in the north,¡± Freya said as she shivered. She¡¯d grown up in the south and wasn¡¯t used to this biting wind. Night-fall soon came, and people returned quickly to their places of comfort. Freya wondered if there was a place to stay for an errand person like her. But it seemed a bit too late to look for somewhere to go, and she scanned her surroundings. Everyone who met their eyes with her would soon return to their places, and she felt a hint of jealousy. I might die if I sleep outside. Freya looked up to the sky in despair and felt that it was extremely dark and low here. The stars shone bright, and she thought she could touch them if she stretched out her hands. And as she gazed at the heavens, a shooting star, with a long tail, shot across the night sky. Following its magical trail, her gaze suddenly fell on a familiar face. ¡°I recognize him,¡± Freya muttered to herself. The man who came out of a tent stretching was her benefactor and the only person she knew here. ¡°Excuse-¡± But Freya stopped herself before finishing her sentence. I can¡¯t be a burden to him again. So she went around the tent instead and casually sat down. The man was the strangest person she¡¯d met in her life, but he also gave her the most trustworthy vibe. ¡°I see a pillow is ready here,¡± Freya sarcastically said as she rested her head on a pile of firewood near the tent. She could already feel the cold of the ground where she¡¯d laid down. While lying alone in the darkness, sad thoughts started to creep into her mind, so she purposely said in a cheerful voice, ¡°It¡¯s okay. It¡¯s not any different from the orphanage anyway.¡± Freya tried her best to stay awake, but it was difficult to stop feeling fatigued after the day¡¯s events. As her eyes began to close, she was startled by the sound of someone¡¯s footsteps. ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you around before. Isn¡¯t it cold? Do you want to come to my tent and play?¡± Said a drunk man as he swerved and stumbled toward her. The stranger had no inhibitions in his drunken state, and he openly hit on Freya. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she replied, feeling shaken by his advances. ¡°Wow, even your voice is my type,¡± the man slurred. Freya frantically searched inside of her clothes, but she couldn¡¯t find her pair of scissors. Where did it go? She knew she wouldn¡¯t have the guts to swing the scissors, but Freya felt comforted knowing she had one. Not having it now made her feel vulnerable, and she feared that terrible things would happen to her. Freya had run away from Shiloh to escape this type of situation and felt frustrated that she was facing similar advances from a man here. ¡°I said come here!¡± The man approached Freya as if to hug her, and she covered her face with her hands. But nothing happened. She peeked through her hands and saw the drunk man, who was threatening her, rolling on the floor. Freya¡¯s surprised eyes looked up at her savior, and she remembered his face. ¡°Anton, get lost!¡± Archer shouted. ¡°Damn it, Archer!¡± The drunk immediately ran away, almost tripping over his feet as the owner of the tent, Archer, showed up. When the commotion died down, the man coughed a dry cough. Freya and Archer both had awkward expressions on their faces, as it hadn¡¯t even been half a day since saying goodbye to each other, and this was an unintended encounter. After scratching the back of his head, Archer looked down at Freya and asked, ¡°So, what are you doing here?¡± Freya hesitated as she was still reeling from the shock of seeing the drunk man. ¡°Oh, I, did you take my pair of scissors?¡± That was the only thing Freya could say while trembling like a leaf. Archer nodded and gestured to her to come in as he opened the flap of the tent, ¡°Ah, yes, I do have that. Come inside.¡± The inside of the tent wasn¡¯t that big, but it wasn¡¯t comparable to the outside. Freya¡¯s cheeks tingled at the warmth. After poking the little fire pit in the middle, Archer murmured, ¡°How did you end up near my tent?¡¯ ¡°Um, that is, um.¡± She was lost for words as she shivered in the doorway. The man then told her to come closer, ¡°Warm up first. You look frozen.¡± Freya immediately sat down near the fire pit and warmed her hands. The silence between the two of them lasted a long time and, it was only the crackling of the fire that she could hear. Then Archer spoke, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anywhere else to go?¡± He had never married and never raised a child because he was out on the battlefields, so he didn¡¯t know how to say things nicely. Hearing Archer¡¯s harsh words, she spoke hesitantly, ¡°No.¡± She didn¡¯t want someone¡¯s pity. But she was in a desperate situation, so she had to grab onto anything. ¡°So, would it be okay if I stay here for a while?¡± Her pleading voice trembled. Noticing Freya shaking like a leaf, Archer replied truthfully, ¡°I am somewhat responsible for bringing you here.¡± He¡¯d brought her to this place so she can make a living. But bad things were likely to happen to her because of her pretty face. On battlefields, women were scarce, so sometimes, they took in little boys. It was dangerous for youngsters, regardless of whether they were a girl or a boy. Archer¡¯s mouth felt bitter as he thought that. ¡°You can stay for now until we find somewhere else for you.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Freya replied, feeling a sense of relief. As awkward silence continued, Archer kept on dry coughing. He didn¡¯t know what to say in a situation like this. ¡°Sleep. Or else you won¡¯t grow.¡± Archer was lying down on the cot, and he threw a blanket to her. Freya made herself comfortable around the fire pit and wrapped herself with the thick blanket. It was the first time in her life that she¡¯d gone to sleep feeling comfortable, and she felt very thankful. And as she drifted off, listening to the crackling of the warm fire, she recited people¡¯s names who were very important to her. Ruth, Lotty. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 23 Thanks to Archer letting her stay, Freya had been able to avoid the icy-cold northern wind. She was adjusting to life around here with ease because she was quick-witted. By running soldier errands, she earned some money, and when there was time, she helped Archer. ¡°I heard the kid is Archer¡¯s cousin,¡± an old-timer had said. At first, many people played pranks on Freya because she was new to the area, but thanks to Archer, that soon dwindled. Meanwhile, it had been half a year since leaving the capital. ¡°Freya, bring something to wipe with!¡± Archer called out. ¡°Okay!¡± Freya shouted back. Archer¡¯s face was smeared with blood as he returned from a battle. Most days, Freya didn¡¯t quite feel like she was living in a barracks near a battlefield. But when she saw Archer covered in blood like this or saw a wounded soldier dying, she was reminded where she was. When Freya brought him a cloth, Archer wiped his eyes first. ¡°What an annoying war.¡± He immediately emptied the alcohol that was handed to him and put the cool glass against his head. Finally able to relax, he let out a long sigh, ¡°Freya, you¡¯d faint if you knew who was here.¡± ¡°Is it a one-eyed monster who eats children?¡± Freya joked as she sat in the corner, wiping the daggers. She purposely didn¡¯t pay any attention to the outside business. She was content as long as she could open her eyes in the morning and not starve. And saving money had become her main focus. ¡°How is a sixteen-year-old such a simpleton?¡± Archer clicked his tongue as he threw a blood-soaked cloth at her. ¡°Sir Lucius has returned from the expedition that was far away.¡± There was an emotion that couldn¡¯t be hidden in Archer¡¯s voice, and Freya mumbled as she continued to wipe the dagger. It was a name even she knew, ¡°That¡¯s completely insane, the Crown Prince?¡± Archer jumped in surprise at her words. He looked around the barracks and put a finger against his lips, ¡°Keep quiet. You must have multiple lives.¡± There seemed to be something even he was scared of, or perhaps he was showing respect. Freya had heard Archer¡¯s praise about Sir Lucius all the time while washing his combat boots. Archer had said that his will to drive and his leadership was incredible and that he was a prodigy at swordsmanship. But it wasn¡¯t only the kind things she¡¯d heard about Sir Lucius. As she ran errands, she¡¯d overheard all kinds of rumors. ¡°Lucius has crazy eyes that look bloodthirsty. Anyone freezes when they look at his eyes,¡± a soldier had whispered. But Freya wasn¡¯t curious about whether the rumor was true or not. When would a Crown Prince and she ever interact anyway? ¡°But why are you in a war here, Archer?¡± Freya asked out of curiosity. If Archer only wanted to make money, there were other battlefields. But yet they were stationed in the northern part of Morciani, which was cold, and it was hard to get resources. What was the point of pouring out blood in an underwhelming place like this? And she was concerned that the drunk Archer had hidden nationalism in him. ¡°That is, how should I say,¡± Archer hesitated as he was looking for a proper answer. Meanwhile, there was a loud trumpet sound, and the soldiers standing in a cluster split to make room for him. Then Archer fixed his clothing and became very nervous. ¡°It must be Sir Lucius.¡± Freya held back her laughter at Archer making such a fuss. What difference did it make to fix his clothing when his hair was a mess? Anyway, she was surprised that she could see Sir Lucius while she¡¯d just been talking about him. Freya had never thought in her wildest dreams that she¡¯d meet a member of the royal family, and she felt nervous because of Archer¡¯s reaction. Freya then saw that Sir Lucius had blonde hair, which didn¡¯t suit the black armor on his body. His hair shone in the sunlight, and there was red blood smeared on it which looked like a cherry blossom in bloom. ¡°Wow, why is he so big?¡± Freya muttered to herself. Lucius Morciani was very tall, and his shoulders were much broader than Archer¡¯s. The strong aura that his body was emitting could make one cower even from far away. Freya now knew that the rumors hadn¡¯t been false. Having heard these things about the prince, she found it strange that she couldn¡¯t take her eyes off him. Staring into the insensitive eyes felt scary but also weirdly familiar. And at that moment, out of nowhere, Freya was reminded of someone. Why does he remind me of Ruth? ¡°You, child! You¡¯re supposed to bow your head when you see a royal family member!¡± Someone shouted at her. Archer¡¯s rough hand pushed her neck down so hard that she squealed, ¡°Hey! That hurt.¡± But Freya¡¯s complaining soon quieted down. She saw the boots soaked in blood and the slimy red blood dripping from the sword, which was making the ground in front of her wet. ¡°Sir Lucius. Blessings from Diana!¡± Archer was polite by bringing god into this, which was unlike himself. Freya¡¯s mouth dried at such a surprising event. ¡°Raise your head,¡± The man¡¯s voice was low and cold. It felt like there was a cold aura from the armor in the middle of the warm day. ¡°L-L-Lucius,¡± Freya lifted her face while quivering and tried to copy Archer¡¯s greetings, but she couldn¡¯t. The moment she saw his face, her jaw dropped open. My god! He looks exactly like Ruth. It had been three years since she¡¯d last seen Ruth and thought she¡¯d forgotten him; Freya gasped reflexively. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 24 The instant that Freya saw His Highness¡¯s face, the memory of Ruth vividly flashed into her mind. She recalled the shining blonde hair and white skin, and the red lips that always called her looked the same as his. She knew it was rude, but Freya was unable to stop gawking at his face. The eyes of her friend were light green, like fresh spring grass. But the man standing in front of her had eyes that were dark blue like the ocean. It¡¯s not Ruth! Realizing that she stared at him for too long, she quickly lowered her head and looked at the ground. The man carefully watched Freya, who couldn¡¯t say the greeting correctly. There was nothing special about her. It looked like she was an errand person, which was common to see on the battlefield. The black hair, cut carelessly by someone, stuck out over her ears, and she had a messy face. But what sparked his curiosity was her gaze. The subtle eyes didn¡¯t contain fear or charm. It was happiness that stemmed from familiarity but had then turned to disappointment, and he was intrigued as to why she looked at him like that. Lucius approached to get a better look at the face of the suspicious lady. He was close enough to touch Freya¡¯s body, and it looked as if he was going to butt heads with her when he leaned in. Freya¡¯s body reacted first by the unexpected physical contact, and she immediately stepped backward, frowning deeply. He¡¯s insane, just like the rumors say! It seemed absurd to try to headbutt someone just because they didn¡¯t greet him properly. Tilting his head, Lucius observed Freya as her breathing quickened. Suddenly, she turned away from Lucius¡¯s overwhelming gaze, and something rolled down on her cheek. ¡°Why is there blood on my face?¡± It must¡¯ve dripped from the Crown Prince to her. Freya lifted her sleeve and started to wipe the blood away, feeling repulsed by the sticky liquid. ¡°Your Highness, you¡¯ve returned safely,¡± one of the men said, smiling up at the Crown Prince. ¡°I have indeed,¡± the prince replied. The Crown Prince¡¯s crowd went away as Freya was washing off the blood, and Archer was breathing hard beside her, ¡°I think I aged ten years because of you!¡± Freya felt that his words were unfair. She was raised in an orphanage and had come straight here, so how was she supposed to know that her behavior was rude? ¡°How am I supposed to know the manners of the royal family?¡± Freya hid her trembling legs as she yelled at him. Archer didn¡¯t confront her further as it seemed that he felt bad about doing so and instead instructed, ¡°Go bring me something to eat.¡± ¡°Okay, I will,¡± she replied without looking at him and then walked off. Freya lifted the wooden container and brushed her cheek with her fingertips. She automatically trembled as she remembered the dark blue eyes that had been staring at her. But it wasn¡¯t solely fear she felt, and she said quietly, ¡°I guess my heart beats faster if I see someone similar.¡± The Morciani Empire had always been protected by knights and wizards, since ancient times. And when an heir was born in the royal family, a fitting grand wizard and knight were assigned to him. Lucius Morciani was a boy who had blonde hair and blue eyes, characteristic of the royal family. The Emperor cared so much about Lucius, who was his firstborn and immediately named him an heir. And it would be written in history as a beautiful story. Since then, the Emperor had many relationships with different women, and finally, he had a sexual relationship with the maid of The Queen. At one point, they thought it would be a one-time thing, but their relationship grew closer to the point where the Emperor would not leave the embrace of the maid, Milady, and he pleaded every day with his wife, Marian, to divorce him. But Marian refused because she wanted to protect her child. Within a year, the maid gave birth to the son of the Emperor. ¡°Marian, are you going to make the child a bastard because of your selfishness?¡± The Emperor had angrily asked. In the empire, it was impossible to divorce without both people agreeing. The Emperor, who wanted to make his lover the new queen, became furious when he couldn¡¯t persuade Marian to leave him, and he¡¯d then given her an ultimatum. ¡°If you don¡¯t sign the divorce papers, I will deprive Lucius of being an heir.¡± The womanizing Emperor didn¡¯t hesitate to threaten Marian. But because Marian¡¯s family was powerful, he had to remove the threat. And so, the evil Emperor had Marian¡¯s family murdered. Therefore, Lucius and his mother had no one to lean on, and he¡¯d said, ¡°Now, I¡¯m the only one who can protect Lucius.¡± Many subjects in the palace had pledged their loyalty to the second prince already. At this point, if she kept holding on, it was clear that both she and the child would be in danger. Marian had finally agreed, ¡°Then prepare a document that guarantees Lucius as an heir. Leave the wizard and the knight as well.¡± She wanted to ensure that Lucius would be able to enjoy what was rightfully his. Once the Emperor and Marian signed the document, Milady had then become the new queen. And this was acknowledged by the people of the empire. The son of the maid, Hart, became an official prince too. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 25 Now, try to break loose.¡± Every morning, Archer grabbed Freya¡¯s waist or her arm. ¡°Why are you doing this every morning? How am I supposed to beat you, Archer?¡± But due to repeated training, after not being able to move in his grasp, she¡¯d now learned some skills such as kicking his shin, biting his wrist, or hitting his chin with her head. She succeeded in hitting Archer¡¯s chin with her elbow today as well. ¡°Ouch, why do I have to keep parenting?¡± Archer asked while rubbing his chin, sounding as if he were in pain. Freya put her hands on her hips and spoke. ¡°Archer, I know I¡¯m in your debt, but it¡¯s not parenting, you know?¡± Archer pretended not to hear as she pointed that out. At first, it had seemed like Archer was doing her a favor by taking her in, but after spending some time together, it wasn¡¯t only that. Freya had started doing all kinds of things after staying at his tent. First and foremost, she¡¯d begun cleaning because the blanket he¡¯d thrown to her the first night had smelled like rotten cheese. At the time, she¡¯d thought that even the orphanage wasn¡¯t that bad. Much to her disgust, Freya had then seen leftover chicken bones, hardened cheese, and rotten fruit all mixed up in his bed. She¡¯d found a brush to get rid of the old food and had then washed the filthy blanket, hanging it in the sun to dry. There was no way his skin disease would get better when he slept on a bed like this, and to top it off, he didn¡¯t even wash up properly. ¡°If I didn¡¯t tell you this, then these damn fleas might have eaten you up!¡± Freya exclaimed. ¡°Fine, fine. I¡¯ll admit that,¡± Archer replied. After Freya nagged for a while, she called Archer once she¡¯d gathered all the clothes and put them in the laundry basket. ¡°Since I brought it up, let¡¯s go to the riverbank together. I¡¯ll wash your back.¡± Archer pretended not to hear her and started cleaning his boots with his large body bent over. As he barely washed his face for three days, he was trying his best not to be dragged out of the tent by her. ¡°Come now, Archer,¡± Freya continued to nag. ¡°But I did that three days ago. The skin of my back will rip off at this rate!¡± Archer¡¯s complaining didn¡¯t do anything to dissuade her. In the end, Freya took him by the hand and had to drag him down to the riverbank. Showing defeat, he took off his shirt and protested, ¡°But I¡¯m clean.¡± Archer bowed down as Freya ordered him to put his hands on the muddy bank of the river, and he complained bitterly as she poured water over his back without hesitating. Since they were in the north, the water was as cold as ice at midday. Archer shook his back and made a huge fuss. ¡°It¡¯s freezing! I will die before I get fleas!¡± ¡°Archer, you know you¡¯re making a big fuss, right?¡± Freya rolled up her sleeves and started scrubbing his back. ¡°What am I, a horse? A cow? Isn¡¯t this the brush you use to clean the tent?¡± ¡°Archer, do you think getting clean will be achieved by washing once or twice?¡± After roughly scraping off the dead skin and pouring water over him several times, Archer¡¯s back was shining. ¡°I¡¯ve picked up a pain in the neck, I tell you.¡± Archer sat on a warm rock, feeling completely exhausted, and sighed heavily. Freya chuckled to herself as she looked at the defeated expression on the bear-sized man¡¯s face. Shaking her head, she roughly washed Archer¡¯s shirt and hit it with a bat to get rid of the dead skin. Her shoulders, wrist, and fingers tingled as she viciously swung the bat. ¡°Freya, I must be off first. I¡¯ll take the basket back with me.¡± Archer lifted the basket full of laundry that she¡¯d washed and disappeared up the hill. Finding a patch of grass, Freya sat down for a while and basked in the warmth of the sun. While she stared at the flowing river, she was startled by the sound of a twig snapping, and she called out, ¡°Archer?¡± She turned around as she spoke and gasped in surprise, ¡°Sir Lucius?¡± When Lucius returned to the barracks, a maid hurriedly helped him to remove the heavy armor. As he stood on the luxurious carpet, he saw the bloodstains on it. And Lucius put his hand on his forehead when he saw a red dot spreading across it. ¡°Isn¡¯t it funny that the smell of blood is this disgusting?¡± He swung the sword for survival but knew well that didn¡¯t justify what he¡¯d done. ¡°But mother, I will gladly become a fiend,¡± he¡¯d told her. Lucius had no intention of giving anything to Hart and Milady. When Lucius showed up in comfortable pants and a shirt, someone showed up and asked him, ¡°Sir Lucius, is it your headache again?¡± ¡°Damn it. Give me the medicine.¡± Lucius drank the green potion Herro brought and frowned as it seemed the medicine was very bitter. ¡°It¡¯s such a horrible taste that I want to kill the person who made it!¡± He said coldly while wiping his mouth. The servant beside him screamed and ran out of the tent. Herro sighed as he saw the servant running away, ¡°Your Highness, how many was that now?¡± ¡°Does that matter when I have such a killer headache?¡± Lucius responded in frustration because he¡¯d been suffering from severe headaches for several years. ¡°I wonder when it will get better.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something you should be saying.¡± Herro waved his hands when he heard Lucius¡¯s aggressive response. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just a shame that only I get to witness this.¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Lucius snapped. Herro shook his head as he looked at Lucius, who was never really warm to anyone. ¡°Anyway, why did you do that?¡± Herro hadn¡¯t seen it himself, but he knew about the situation as he¡¯d heard about it from the guard knight, Gemini, and he wondered what had gotten into the prince. On the battlefield, Lucius was deadly, but he wasn¡¯t usually like that to a commoner. He heard it was a small, weak-looking boy. ¡°Ah, those eyes,¡± Lucius said as he threw the vial across the floor. ¡°I see that you didn¡¯t like his eyes, of course.¡± Herro was reminded of Lucius, who had never complimented anyone before, and shook his head. Lucius didn¡¯t want to agree with Herro and didn¡¯t bother correcting him. Why did I do such a thing? He could vividly picture the trembling shoulders and the lips that had stuff on them. She¡¯d looked happy to see him, and he hadn¡¯t seen anyone look at him like that recently. What a useless thought. Lucius shook his head as he paced up and down the tent. He then decided to shift his focus to wiping out the enemy, ¡°Herro, call Gemini. We have to discuss the next tactic.¡± Herro often felt treated like a servant, and he whined, ¡°You do remember that I¡¯m a grand wizard, sire?¡± ¡°Shut up, Herro!¡± Lucius shouted aggressively. Herro bit his tongue for fear of reacting to his temper and barely bowed when he left the tent in a huff. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 26 When Sire Lucius appeared before Freya, he looked very different than he had earlier. The blood-stained look he had before was gone, and he wore a clean shirt with well-tailored black pants. A long cape draped over his shoulders, with a golden stripe down the side, which gave him an air of superiority. Freya had grabbed a wooden bat reflexively, and she held onto it tightly. As if this will change the first impression. Relaxing slightly, she greeted him awkwardly. She looked oddly intimidating, and Lucius asked, ¡°You¡¯re not going to hit me with that, right?¡± ¡°Of course not!¡± Freya quickly lowered her arm. She was unsure why he¡¯d come to the laundry area, and she didn¡¯t know if it was okay to keep working in front of His Highness or if she should stop. In the meantime, Lucius had made himself comfortable and was lying on a nearby flat rock, covering his eyes with his hand. Freya kept glancing at him, confused as to why he was resting here of all places. There must be somewhere else for him to pass the time. She swung her bat back and forth for a while, but her attention kept going back to him. Finally, she decided to continue washing the clothing as she felt more comfortable in his presence now. She just hoped that he¡¯d leave soon. Freya had heard several rumors about Lucius, and they all sounded bizarre. One of the rumors said that he licked the blood off his sword after he killed someone. Another one was about him sleeping on a pile of dead bodies. And, yet a third one said that if the reaper were scared of something, that would be Sire Lucius. Freya shook her head aggressively after remembering some of these rumors she¡¯d heard. The troubling thoughts soon dissipated as she rinsed the clothes a few times, squeezed them out, and then placed them into the woven basket. Archer said the food here sucked, but Freya didn¡¯t think that, and she thought excitedly that perhaps the porridge, for dinner, would be cooked in fat. At least there is no mold on the bread here, and there are some pieces of meat and vegetables in the porridge. If Archer grew up in an orphanage, he would never complain about the food here. He might even chew the bowl because he¡¯ll find the food so tasty. Freya started to hit the clothes harder as she giggled about her funny imagination. She could see the image of Archer carrying all the clothes up the hill. ¡°He is so strong. If I were to do that, I¡¯d have to go back and forth a few times.¡± While speaking to herself, Freya was suddenly touched deeply by an overwhelming sense of appreciation. She never would have imagined that such luck would have found her. Even though he complained to her all the time, Archer was a good man. Lotty then popped into her mind, and she wondered if the girl was okay. She could still remember the last time she¡¯d seen her and the smiling face that was suppressing tears. Freya held her fist up in the sky. I¡¯ll earn a lot of money and come for you. She had to work harder then. If she said no to small tasks, she wouldn¡¯t become rich. Freya raised the bat higher and then hit the clothing with all her might. Meanwhile, Lucius, who looked like he was lying down comfortably, felt confused. Why did I come here? It was rare that he felt curious about others, especially the opposite sex. Even though the person in front of him was wearing pants and had short hair, the shape of her body was not a man¡¯s. Lucius found this perplexing, as well as the strange feeling which led him here, even though he¡¯d wanted to rest. The intriguing lady might have something to do with the wizard that Milady hired. I must cut out whatever is suspicious. That was the reason why he¡¯d told someone to follow her around. Lucius cleared his throat loudly on purpose while his thick eyebrows wiggled. The lady who was joyfully swinging the bat as someone who got by, day to day, by running errands. He couldn¡¯t believe she was able to focus on such a lowly task while he was present. Lucius wasn¡¯t an ordinary man. He was the legal heir to the Morciani Empire, and his pride was hurt as she seemed to be paying him no attention. As Lucius touched his face with both hands, he wondered if it was unsightly because of being out on the battlefield for so long. The ladies feared him but also craved him at the same time. Lucius was sick of all the attention that he got when he matured. But he wasn¡¯t enjoying the feeling of being ignored either. Although Lucius moved around quite a bit, the lady didn¡¯t even turn around, so he decided to find another way to get her attention. Lucius impulsively removed his shirt off and started to walk toward Freya. After finally focussing on her work, Freya was swinging her laundry bat ferociously when she heard footsteps approaching on the grass. Since there was only her and His Highness, it had to be him. Immediately, a few unsettling thoughts popped into her mind about what prompted him to walk toward her. Was he perhaps going to slay her and then lick the blood off his sword? Freya held the bat tightly while trembling. She decided to hit the Crown Prince¡¯s head if he did anything funny. Freya had heard that it was a death sentence to hurt a member of the royal family. But she closed her eyes and blocked out the memory. That was something she would worry about afterward. But when nothing transpired after some time, Freya glanced to her side. And there was Sir Lucius, lowering his body with his shirt off. ¡°Your, Highness?¡± Freya said, feeling flustered. She was visibly shocked to see him half-naked. Lucius slowly opened his mouth and said, ¡°Hurry.¡± Freya was ready to beat the living daylights out of Sire Lucius if the rumor about him being crazy was true. It was rare to see someone who bent over with their naked back like this. Well, not rare, but rather unheard by her. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 27 Freya looked dumbfounded as she asked, ¡°Your Highness, do you want me to pour water over your back?¡± ¡°What else does it look like I¡¯m asking for?¡± Hearing the cold tone in his voice, Freya shrunk her shoulders. She had to remember that this was the Crown Prince of the empire, not Archer. ¡°Okay.¡± Freya put water in a small bucket and carefully started to pour it on him. Her hands shook as she poured it out, little by little, and she didn¡¯t even contemplate brushing his back. There was a possibility that if Freya wet his pants, he might want to kill her, using that as an excuse. She didn¡¯t know how she¡¯d gotten out of favor with him. Sighing to herself, she thought of the many ways there were to torture someone, and Freya cursed him silently. She then saw a large scar at the end of the water stream, which landed on the back of his neck. It was so thick and terrifying. And it looked as if a snake had curled up on top of his skin. Freya couldn¡¯t help but wonder why a scar like that was on someone considered so precious, and she could feel the pain because of the size of the markings. Freya may not know how to greet royals, but she knew a thing or two about being punished. She could almost feel the pain from the scar on her forehead, and her nose started to tingle. The pain was the same for everyone, and therefore, she could empathize. Freya suddenly came to her senses and tipped the remaining water out of the bucket. But she didn¡¯t see Lucius lifting his body. And Alas, the water she poured splashed into his face. ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Freya couldn¡¯t look at Lucius directly because he was completely soaked, and she was highly embarrassed. Earlier, Lucius had hidden behind a bulky tree and spied on Archer and Freya in the hopes that he would uncover their secret himself. He¡¯d squinted and tried his best to look for some odd behavior from the strange lady. But no matter how long he stared at her, he couldn¡¯t see anything out of the ordinary. There seemed to be nothing secretive about her, let alone any magic ability. Peeking out from behind the big tree, he¡¯d wondered what was going on when he heard the man complaining as he bent over. The lady then poured water over him. When the man screamed, the lady was laughing as if she¡¯d done something very amusing. Lucius wasn¡¯t sure why that scene had bothered him. And so he asked the same thing to be done to his back. However, no laughter ensued as he¡¯d expected. After shaking the water off his hair, Lucius asked, ¡°Is this payback for what I did earlier?¡± Freya shook her head from side to side and pleaded. ¡°I, I¡¯m sorry! Please let me live!¡± Still holding the empty bucket, her cheeks turned bright red. The sound of Freya¡¯s teeth chattering echoed through the surrounding forest, and Lucius smiled at Freya, who was trembling. ¡°You should look into a person¡¯s eyes when you¡¯re talking to them. Especially someone like me.¡± Freya lifted her head at his threatening words, and her mouth opened wide. She was petrified to say anything, but she was also mesmerized by Lucius¡¯s face. As a water droplet rolled down his cheek, Freya admired his beauty, which reminded her of a perfect sculpture. Her heartbeat as he gracefully brushed his hair back. She had not noticed how handsome he was before. The way he moved was so elegant, and she forgot all about the awful rumors. Lucius was opposite to Archer, looks-wise. And Freya found it difficult not to stare at his well-balanced muscles that went from his arms to his broad shoulders and then to his chest. Are you insane? You splashed water on the Crown Prince and keep gawking at his body. Right now, Freya was at his mercy, and she quickly lowered her head again to look at the green grass at her feet instead. Lucius cleared his throat after putting on his shirt and said, ¡°So we¡¯re tied since we attacked each other once already.¡± ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Lucius left after saying something that she couldn¡¯t comprehend. She was clueless about what he¡¯d meant about an attack and what he¡¯d been referring to when he¡¯d said that they¡¯d tied. Freya was at a loss for words and stood on the same spot for some time, holding the small bucket. She wondered if ghosts come out in the middle of the day, as it felt like she may be possessed. Managing to shake off the silly thoughts, Freya continued organizing the rest of the laundry. She shuddered as she thought of His Highness, ¡°He is stranger than the rumors have it.¡± Because of the Crown Prince¡¯s interruption, Freya¡¯s chores took longer than usual, and as she returned to the tent, exhausted, the sun was setting. ¡°Stupid royal people, they¡¯re no help in life.¡± She could barely lift the tent flap since she had no strength left. Suddenly, a small object flew above her forehead. ¡°Archer, why are you upset?¡± Freya lifted her hand quickly and caught a little handkerchief pocket. ¡°Why are you coming back so late!¡± Archer bellowed. ¡°What?¡± Freya was tired and became frustrated because Archer was angry. She wanted to yell at him, but then she stopped herself as she saw his wet eyes. What is a big bear-like man doing all curled up on the bed? Was he perhaps worried about me? Freya couldn¡¯t get used to such an unfamiliar feeling, and she said, ¡°It¡¯s because of the bath,¡± but she couldn¡¯t tell him that she¡¯d screwed up while trying to wash Sire Lucius¡¯s back, so she stopped trying to explain her late return. Freya was sure the loyal subordinate, Archer, would be angry if he found out. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 28 As Freya was trying to find an excuse, he yelled in a surprising tone, ¡°Did you perhaps wash there?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll die in this weather, Archer.¡± Freya became curious as to what he was thinking. Even though she was uneducated, Freya wasn¡¯t stupid enough to do a thing like take a bath where there were so many men walking around. Freya pushed out her chest, put her hands on her hips, and asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t perhaps worry about me, did you?¡± ¡°Do you think I am crazy? Why would you think that?¡± Archer jumped off the bed, and because of that, a bone on the bed fell to the floor. Freya felt relieved because Archer returned to his usual self. ¡°I was just asking.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t coming back, and it¡¯s so late. I was hungry, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I see. To maintain that large body, you¡¯ll have to keep on chewing like a cow,¡± Freya joked while preparing the meal. She sat by the fireplace and warmed the porridge as she cooked the skin of the meat. Even though he denied it, Archer¡¯s concern for her warmed her heart, and her eyes became moist. As Freya dried her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt, Archer took off his top, and she frowned at him while spinning the skewers, ¡°Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m cooking? You¡¯re making it dusty.¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Freya? My body, as you can see, is all muscles!¡± It looked like he was upset about being called a cow. What a simple man. There was no fat on his body at all. A deep scar crossed from his back to his chest, which seemed to tell a story of his past. The ugly scar no doubt carved a painful memory into him forever. Freya raised her voice as her mood sank, ¡°Archer! Wear your shirt, please. It feels like my eyes are burning.¡± ¡°Why, is it because I¡¯m so handsome?¡± Freya was astounded that Archer took that as a compliment. And his words didn¡¯t sound right after she¡¯d just seen someone else shirtless that she genuinely couldn¡¯t take her eyes off! Freya shook her head and spoke, ¡°Archer, be honest. Have you ever had a conversation with a lady other than me?¡± As Archer put on his shirt, he chuckled at such an odd question, ¡°What are you talking about, Freya? I¡¯m so popular!¡± ¡°What kind of conversations did you have then?¡± As Archer tried to remember, he first looked up at the roof of the tent and then replied, ¡°When I said I could drink a lot, she asked if I wanted more. Then she asked if I wanted more bread.¡± ¡°Right, of course,¡± Freya replied. Archer didn¡¯t know anything else but being a strong man. And Freya decided not to reveal the truth for his sake because she didn¡¯t want to hurt his feelings. Around the same time that Freya had met Crown Prince Lucius, her daily life had changed slightly. It felt like she was watched by somebody all the time. She could sense eyes on her whether she was walking around the barracks or hanging up the laundry to dry. And even when she did her morning stretching. The accompanying sensation she felt was uncomfortable. After cleaning up the breakfast dishes, Freya casually asked, ¡°Archer, what do I do if someone follows me around after falling for me?¡± Archer dropped the cloth he was cleaning his helmet with on the floor and looked up at her with his eyes wide open, ¡°Freya, did you smoke Hashish?¡± There were quite a few people who used Hashish around the barracks. Archer had told her that the herb could remove one¡¯s fear of battle. And also take away the pain after being injured. ¡°You told me not to do that. You said it was bad for my health.¡± Archer had told her that he¡¯d seen how being addicted to Hashish ruined lives, and Freya had no intention of throwing her life away like that because of a plant. And she intended on keeping the promise she¡¯d made to Lotty. ¡°Just so you know, your reaction hurt me a little.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Archer asked as his shoulders sagged. Freya glared at him while drying her hands on a dishcloth, ¡°You know what I mean. Someone could like me, you know.¡± Archer yelled in response, ¡°Did someone hit on you?¡± He had introduced Freya as his cousin, and his eye twitched in anger. There were a lot of vulgar men on the frontier, and Freya deserved a kind gentleman. Archer felt responsible after taking her in. He wanted to take good care of Freya and pair her up with someone kind. But Freya didn¡¯t know his intention and responded impertinently, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Is there a chance for someone to hit on me?¡± She¡¯d never felt that kind of feelings toward the opposite sex, and it wasn¡¯t like she wanted to date. Freya just felt envious of being in a place where everyone seemed to have family or a partner, unlike her. On some level, she yearned for the stability that other people had. Although there were many vulgar men in the barracks it didn¡¯t mean that love was out of the question. Periodically she saw couples interacting in the middle of the day while running her errands. One man had said to his partner, ¡°My love, I want to show you my burning heart by digging it out with a dagger.¡± After only coming of age recently, it was enough for Freya to find it interesting. ¡°What, you look like someone disappointed,¡± Archer said in a bit of a teasing tone. Freya aggressively spat back, ¡°I wasn¡¯t disappointed.¡± ¡°What did I say that made you so angry?!¡± Archer asked while caressing his beard. It was better to see her like this than to see her looking sad. While he gazed at her, he noticed how much better she looked, now that she had some meat on her bones, and Archer smiled to himself. ¡°Freya, clean all of that today in the tent.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to clean all of that?¡± She sighed as she looked at the basket full of small darts and daggers. ¡°Don¡¯t argue, just do it.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± Freya kept her complaints to herself as she walked to the fire pit to sweep the ashes into a small light-blue dustpan. Throughout the day, while she busied herself with chores, Freya often forgot that they were in a war zone. But whenever Archer cleaned his weapon, she was quickly reminded of the stark reality and her heartfelt discomfort. ¡°I¡¯m going to throw this away,¡± Freya mumbled as she walked out of the tent. ¡°Always be careful,¡± Archer reminded her. A refreshing smile spread across little Freya¡¯s face, unlike his concern. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 29 Lucius secretly received a message in the middle of the night. It was from his stepmother, the mother of his opposition, Prince Hart. Lighting a small lamp, Lucius read the note, ¡°There¡¯s something to talk about, just the two of us, so come to the north forest before dawn.¡± The letter was definitely in his stepmother¡¯s handwriting. Herro suggested not going, stating how this was an obvious trap, but Lucius ignored him. He also knew it was a trap, but Lucius wanted to prove a point. That he was not weak, and he would not avoid any thorns or any fire pits. ¡°Herro, I can¡¯t act the same as when I could barely save my life by pretending to be dead?¡± Lucius said as he got up to get dressed. As expected, the dark forest that he went to hid many assassins. ¡°It¡¯s not fun when you¡¯re so predictable, stepmother,¡± Lucius laughed loud as he killed them one by one. His stepmother and his younger brother had been attempting to kill Lucius almost every day while Lucius was fighting against the enemy on the frontier. It happened so often that it had become a joke. ¡°Looks like you want that crown,¡± Lucius shouted as he stabbed the stomach of a man who tried to slice his neck. A split second later, he cut off the arm of a man who was trying to sneak up behind him. Lucius scoffed at his stupid, weak old self while swinging his sword. The enemies were no match for Lucius. The hot blood of the assailants streamed down his arm and pooled on the ground. Lucius leaned against his long sword and breathed heavily after slaying all of them. The old Lucius wouldn¡¯t understand the situation around him. He¡¯d also been too young to comprehend his parent¡¯s divorce and being an heir to the throne. And Lucius was unfamiliar with the new stepmother after losing his own. But he also naively liked the fact that he had more family. ¡°How foolish I was,¡± Lucius murmured, his voice sounded icy as he put his sword away. ¡°I¡¯ll have to become the emperor for sure now.¡± Lucius walked through the thick forest littered with dead bodies and passed by an empty field as he headed toward his tent. The rainbow barracks would be visible once he reached the top of the hill. When Lucius looked up, he could see the outline of a lady on the hill, even though it was faint. It looked like the lady who dared to splash water on him and show pity after seeing the scar on his back. How dare she! Lucius stumbled around as his nerve went away. The smell of other people¡¯s blood was everywhere. I can¡¯t collapse here. As his consciousness faded, he heard someone calling him, ¡°Lucius, sire!¡± The lady groped his body with her trembling hand, searching for a wound. Such audacity! It had been a long time since he¡¯d felt a caring hand, and Lucius was surprised by the unintended situation. The lady ripped a piece of her clothing and tied it around his waist. If Herro saw this, he would have freaked out about him getting an infection. Lucius didn¡¯t understand why this wasn¡¯t bothering him because he would usually not allow such behavior. Perhaps he¡¯d used up all his strength overnight. Suddenly, a painful headache hit him, and Lucius collapsed on her shoulders. After emptying the ashes on the dirt road behind the tent, Freya leaned against a tree. The wind that blew shook her oversized clothes as she stared over the horizon. If Freya went down the hill, she would reach the border to the frontier. And if she went a little further, there would be an open field, and that was the battlefield. She still couldn¡¯t grasp the reality, even though she saw casualties all the time. ¡°I didn¡¯t think there was a bigger hell than the orphanage.¡± The brothel in the capital and the battlefield were the same. It was as if the world wouldn¡¯t allow a warm feeling for Freya, ¡°Although I think I¡¯m holding up pretty well.¡± Unlike Freya, the soldiers who fought in the battle had a grand justification, like the safety and prosperity of the Morciani Empire. ¡°I will meet up with Lotty and eat lots of cake, and if I can afford it, I wonder if I can get a cat.¡± She thought that this was a pretty good life goal. It felt like her mind cleared up a little after calming her racing heart down. ¡°What is that?¡± It oddly looked like soft fur waving to her from the bottom of the hill, but then a man could be seen. ¡°Lucius, sire?¡± Surprised at seeing him, Freya was going to hide behind the tree. She didn¡¯t feel comfortable meeting him after the last bizarre encounter. But when she looked closer, his white shirt, face, and both hands were red. It looked like he may be badly injured. At that precise moment, Lucius stumbled like he was going to fall. Without a moment to hesitate, Freya bolted down the hill and supported Lucius¡¯s body. But she wasn¡¯t sure if she was allowed to do such a thing to someone so high up, and she stammered. ¡°So, Your Highness, I,¡± But then she felt something hot on her hand, and Freya¡¯s voice grew louder, ¡°B-b-blood.¡± She detested the sight of blood and felt nauseous, but she couldn¡¯t leave the patient. So she wiped her bloody hand on her clothes and then hugged Lucius from behind, dragging him to a nearby tree. ¡°I will lay you here,¡± Freya said as she leaned his body against the tall pine tree. She noticed that the blood was still seeping from the shirt, ¡°I¡¯ll do this for now.¡± Freya ripped her pants and folded the material, which she then placed on the wound. She remembered taking care of a bleeding child in the orphanage like this, but that child hadn¡¯t woken up again. ¡°Anyway, why is there no one with him?¡± Freya wondered aloud. A guarding knight or a servant should¡¯ve followed, but no one came out of the forest. ¡°He might not make it at this rate.¡± As Lucius¡¯s face became paler, Freya decided to call a doctor. ¡°Your Highness, Your Highness. I¡¯ll quickly call someone over.¡± As Freya was about to leave, Lucius whispered, as his breathing had become shallow, ¡°Be quiet.¡± ¡°Sorry?¡± Was it her fault for not being able to ignore a collapsing person? Freya felt that she was being unfairly treated by him. But she couldn¡¯t nitpick as Lucius collapsed against her. His large hands wrapped around Freya¡¯s neck and waist, and Lucius¡¯s blonde hair hung over her shoulders. ¡°Your Highness?¡± Freya tried to push Lucius away, but he felt like a dead person, and he didn¡¯t budge. ¡°He didn¡¯t die, did he?¡± Fortunately, she could feel his irregular heartbeat against her skin. I think I¡¯m going to die from shock. It was the first time that Freya was this close to a person, let alone a man. Wake up, Freya. But through the disgusting smell of blood was a good scent. How odd. It seems like I¡¯ve smelled this before. As she was about to have a flashback, Freya heard the sound of a soldier in armor approaching, ¡°Your Highness! Your Highness!¡± Suddenly, the knight in heavy armor appeared in front of Freya and put a sword on her neck. The tip of the shiny silver blade looked like it was going to slice Freya¡¯s neck at any moment. She was shocked, unable to utter a word, and her breathing quickened. The knight yelled aggressively, ¡°What did you do to him!¡± Freya lifted her hands and declared innocence, ¡°Nothing! His Highness suddenly collapsed.¡± The knight looked at Freya¡¯s ripped pants and seemed to have a strange misunderstanding of the situation, ¡°What a sick man! How dare you try this while His Highness is hurt!¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 30 ¡°Sir, I find this unfair. I was only trying to help His Majesty.¡± Freya¡¯s voice squeaked when she spoke because it was an absurd accusation, and she struggled to find the words to respond. She then gently shook Lucius¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Your Majesty, get up and tell him it¡¯s not what it seems.¡± But this time, Lucius just fell to the side. Oh my god! As she watched his limp body falling on the ground, an image flashed in Freya¡¯s mind of being decapitated for harming a royal. The knight put a finger in front of Lucius¡¯s nose to see if he was breathing and then shouted at the top of his lungs, ¡°Bring a stretcher, quickly!¡± The knight looked distraught. ¡°Take His Majesty to the doctor and wizard, and take this person too.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± Freya¡¯s desperate scream echoed in the valley. She tried to resist, but her arms were bound, so it was futile. ¡°This is a misunderstanding!¡± She protested, but the knight was unwilling to hear her out. Freya, it will be okay. She tried to calm herself down while being dragged up the grassy hill, but her white face couldn¡¯t hide the fear. And when they reached the barracks, Freya was locked up in a dark tent. ¡°Make sure to guard the entrance,¡± the knight ordered and then left in a hurry. After being shoved into the tent by a soldier, he tied Freya¡¯s arms and legs to a metal chair. Freya shivered from the cold steel against her skin. It felt like the heavyweight of chains were pulling Freya¡¯s body into the ground, and her eyes were wide open as she looked around fearfully. Freya then glanced at the ground and saw something that looked like someone¡¯s hair and blood. She turned her head away quickly as she began to quiver and looked at the walls of the tent. But the inside of the tent gave her no comfort. Because the walls on the inside showcased frightening weapons, and Freya¡¯s fear intensified as she broke into a cold sweat. The clean clothing she¡¯d put on earlier that morning had blood all over them. And with bruises on her body and bloodstains on her face, Freya looked awful. She bit her lips without realizing it as her body trembled noticeably. And just before she fainted from the shock of the situation, Freya smelt an odd, fishy odor around her cute button nose. Still tied to the chair, Freya¡¯s body slumped over, and her semi-conscious mind replayed an old memory. She recalled getting a beating from Sophia and how the evil woman would chuck a bucket of cold water over her aching body to add to the misery. And Sophia¡¯s harsh-sounding voice rang in her ears, ¡°You think I¡¯ll be satisfied with this!¡± Sophia didn¡¯t get along with any orphans but especially disliked Freya. She scolded each one of Freya¡¯s actions and generally picked on her for no reason. Freya would cry to herself and wished to ask Sophia a thousand times why she wouldn¡¯t leave her alone. However, that question would only reach up to her neck, but the words never left her mouth, for she¡¯d been terrified of being punished even more harshly. Freya was sick of how submissive she had to be at the orphanage and was distraught that she had to live like that. Freya often daydreamed about what her parents had been like when she was little. And how different her life could¡¯ve been if they¡¯d chosen to keep her instead. But now, Freya held a deep resentment towards them for leaving her in a cruel place like that. And she would never understand how her mother could give birth to her and then abandon such a tiny baby, leaving it to fend for itself. Freya slowly blinked her eyes after letting out a groan filled with pain as she wondered how long she¡¯d been sitting in the cold chair. Finally, a knight strolled into the tent wearing full armor that made a clinking sound as he walked. At the knight¡¯s appearance, Freya put all her strength into lifting her head, ¡°I¡¯m wronged,¡± Freya pleaded innocently, but the man was only focused on taking off the helmet and wiping it down with a cloth he¡¯d picked up from the table. The man had sweat on his brow, which he brushed back into his dark-brown hair, and Freya immediately noticed his large dark eyes. As he stood in front of Freya, he bluntly said, ¡°You have to tell the truth here.¡± ¡°Yes, sir,¡± Freya said through gritted teeth. ¡°I don¡¯t forgive lies.¡± The knight¡¯s black eyes looked like they could burn a hole into Freya. ¡°But it¡¯s true. I was taking the ashes outside. And then I coincidentally ended up there.¡± ¡°So to reiterate, you met His Majesty coincidentally, and you know him?¡± There was disbelief in the knight¡¯s voice. Freya raised her voice as she found his words unfair, ¡°I wasn¡¯t hugging him. He collapsed into my arms.¡± The knight still looked at Freya suspiciously, ¡°You should pray that His Majesty wakes up soon.¡± ¡°But, sir.¡± There was nothing more she could say. Freya stopped shaking her legs and looked up at the roof of the tent. It wasn¡¯t the first time such a misunderstanding had happened, and she sighed heavily, feeling helpless. The day I was given bread was similar to today. She had told Aunt Sophia it had been an innocent situation, but yet she¡¯d almost been beaten to death by her. Her entire body slumped as she remembered her past. Soon, the whip, club, or skewer on the wall, will be used on me. Freya thought she¡¯d forgotten about such things since meeting Archer, but her body vividly remembered the fear and agony that a beating gave. If you cry, you get hit more. As she was trying to hold back her tears, Ruth¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in her mind, ¡°Freya, don¡¯t do this again. Promise!¡± She could picture Ruth¡¯s face looking at her while she bled on the chair. And during this trying time, Freya was able to draw strength from her friend¡¯s words, and she smiled slightly. It¡¯s okay if I have one more scar, Ruth. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 31 Freya remembered what Ruth had said sometimes. And each time she blinked her eyes, she was reminded in turn of Archer, who was cleaning his sword while drinking, and Lotty, who asked for a hug when she was afraid. And Ruth, who¡¯d stood smiling sweetly underneath the sunshine. How long had it been since they¡¯d locked her in the tent? Freya was about to give up the struggle as she closed her eyes when there was a sound outside. ¡°Excuse me, general.¡± The soldier came into the tent and said something to him, and the knight had a surprised look on his face. ¡°Untie him immediately.¡± The knight seemed bewildered. Freya seemed to realize that the knight finally realized this was all a misunderstanding. She wanted to swear at him, but she didn¡¯t have any strength to open her mouth. Freya was so nervous that her legs trembled, to the point that Freya couldn¡¯t stand up from the chair. She wiped the cold sweat off of her and then let out a long sigh. The knight wavered for a moment and didn¡¯t even look at Freya while he spoke, ¡°There seems to be a misunderstanding.¡± The man¡¯s apology was simple, but he didn¡¯t seem genuinely sorry. ¡°You think that one apology is going to solve this.¡± Freya was going to yell but swallowed the rest of her words. Even though she was angry, the person in front of her was a noble. ¡°We will compensate you for this later,¡± the knight mumbled as he untied her. Although her legs felt like jelly, Freya stood up and snapped at him, ¡°I¡¯ll be off.¡± The corners of her lips quivered in anger, and she wiped her numb hand across her lips. She didn¡¯t want to blame the person who was hurt, but she felt feelings of irritation, toward the Crown Prince, Lucius. This entire unpleasant situation had been caused by him alone. A soldier assisted Freya back to the tent she shared with Archer. When she entered, and he saw the state Freya was in, Archer got worked up, ¡°My goodness! What happened to you?¡± Freya¡¯s wrists and ankles were bloody from the cuffs, and her clothing had been torn in some places by someone. Looking perplexed, Archer lifted her and put her on the puffy blanket and then tenderly cleaned the wounds on her body. ¡°Where did you get hurt? your face is completely bloody.¡± Freya answered in a hoarse voice, ¡°It¡¯s not all my blood.¡± Archer breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve been looking for you?¡± Archer¡¯s heart had sunk when Freya went outside to empty the ashes from the fire-pit and hadn¡¯t returned. He¡¯d thought something might have happened before he¡¯d had time to find her a good match. It felt unfamiliar to have someone worry about her, and Freya whispered as she saw Archer¡¯s concerned-looking face, ¡°Sorry for making you worry, Archer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. As long as you¡¯re safe.¡± Freya didn¡¯t have any strength to explain everything, and she said, ¡°Archer, I¡¯m going to sleep for a while.¡± She hadn¡¯t eaten all day and had been nervous for the entire day, so she collapsed onto the cot feeling drained. Archer then put a blanket over her while clicking his tongue. He wondered what she¡¯d gone through to look so exhausted. Without hassling her for more details about what had transpired, Archer added more wood to the fire as his forehead wrinkled into a deep frown. The next day, Archer scratched his head as he watched Freya sleeping curled up like a caterpillar. ¡°Looks like the sun¡¯s going to rise from the opposite side.¡± She wasn¡¯t a lazy girl and never overslept, but it didn¡¯t look like she¡¯d wake up any time soon. So Archer left the tent quietly as he tried not to wake her up. When he returned shortly after, he woke Freya up with his loud voice, ¡°Freya, it¡¯s time to wake up.¡± ¡°What?¡± Freya poked her head out of the blanket on the rumpled bed and stretched slowly. As she yawned, she said, ¡°Archer, I want to rest a little more today.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll feel better if you get up.¡± Archer held two sparrow skewers in front of Freya as he told her to get up. She lazily opened her heavy eyes and sat up as Archer handed her the skewers. ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°Archer, I just opened my eyes.¡± Freya rubbed her eyes with her other hand as she observed the thing that had a rich aroma and asked, ¡°Archer, what is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a sparrow skewer I made myself.¡± ¡°Is today a special day?¡± Freya mumbled after taking a bite. It was amusing that Archer woke up so early, and to have him bring food was something unexpected. As she started to chew on the meat, the appetite she thought was gone returned, and she felt ravenous. The rich flavor of the meat¡¯s juice filled her mouth, and her stomach growled. Archer chuckled. ¡°Freya, are you going to eat the wood too?¡± Freya had a habit of eating fast. At Archer¡¯s remark, she sneakily removed some of the meat before it went down her throat. Freya knew that it would be easier to focus on a full stomach. She saw that Archer had ash on his cheeks, and Freya giggled as she imagined his big body roasting something so small. ¡°Archer, thank you.¡± ¡°I just caught them because I saw them. It wasn¡¯t especially for you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Neither Freya nor Archer had been in a caring relationship. And she felt something unfamiliar when she noticed that the big Archer looked uneasy. It was a feeling Freya hadn¡¯t felt before, and she likened it to what someone would feel, for an uncle or a big brother. It felt like he was family. But she knew that Archer would scoff at her for thinking such thoughts, so she busied herself with making the bed and smiled inside instead. It seemed like her fatigue went away once her hunger was satisfied. ¡°Anyway, tell me what happened yesterday,¡± Archer asked what he had been curious about since yesterday. ¡°So, I went to throw out the ashes,¡± Freya remembered yesterday as she wiped the grease off her mouth with the back of her hand, and her expression darkened. Seeing her expression change so quickly, Archer cut her off in frustration, ¡°His Majesty, Lucius, is looking for you. Is it something related to yesterday?¡± ¡°I have no idea, Archer.¡± Freya looked confused, and her mood plummeted after he spoke. Suddenly, she smelt the scent of His Majesty, whom she¡¯d hugged yesterday by accident. And then, she vividly remembered the tickling sensation of his soft blonde hair against her neck. Freya¡¯s eyes opened wide in surprise at the sudden memory. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 32 ¡°Oh no. This is bad. This is bad.¡± Freya unconsciously murmured to herself as she paced back and forth. King Lucius was nothing but bad news. ¡°What is it? Oh no. What did you do now, Freya?¡± For a split second Freya almost forgot that she was not alone. In front of her stood Archer, her nervousness must have rubbed off on him as his usually playful face was replaced with a grim expression. ¡°Hey! What do you mean now?¡± Freya glared at him. ¡°And for your kind information, what I did was save the life of His Majesty King Lucius-¡± Before Freya could finish her sentence Archer jumped up in excitement. ¡°Save His Majesty, King Lucius?! Freya, there is nothing nobler! I¡¯m so proud of you!¡± She wished she could share Archer¡¯s excitement, but truth be told, the more she thought about it the more she wondered if she should¡¯ve just turned the other away. ¡°Yeah, well now he has summoned me and I, well I look worse than I do at the orphanage.¡± she sighed as she looked down at her tattered clothes smeared with traces of mud and blood. ¡°Summoned you? Ooo.¡± Archer began, ¡°He is probably going to reward you! Maybe he will give you gold!¡± He continued excitedly. None of what Archer said helped loosen the knots that began forming in the pit of her stomach. In fact, his overly optimistic view on the whole situation was getting too much for Freya. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be on my way then.¡± She muttered. ¡°Huh? You¡¯re going already?¡± He looked her up and down. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you tidy up first?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll just go like this.¡± ¡°Oh okay. Yeah, that¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like you are going to meet the Emperor, right?¡± He narrowed his eyes at her. He was right of course, but in her current state of nerves, she was worried that if she didn¡¯t go right away, she would chicken out later. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be the right thing to do to go immediately when His Majesty calls?¡± she retorted. ¡°True. Don¡¯t want to keep the King waiting now do we?¡± he laughed as if he said the most hilarious thing in the world. ¡°Should I come with?¡± ¡°No, I think it¡¯s best if I go alone. It¡¯s not too far so don¡¯t worry.¡± Freya gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile before leaving. King Lucius¡¯ tent could be spotted from miles away. It was huge, the sides adorned with flags bearing the eagle crest; it indeed looked like a tent fit for a king. She was filled with dread as Freya gets closer. Her legs felt like lead as she forced herself to trudge on. She really did not want to go. While passing a puddle, she caught a glimpse of her reflection. A streak of mud was smeared against her cheek and her hair was stuck flat against the side of her head. The girl who was looking back at her looked dirty, tired, and a little scared. She hardly recognized herself. If Roti saw me now, would he recognize me? She wondered sadly. With some water from the puddle, she attempted to fix her hair the best she could but somehow ended up making it worse. After a couple more attempts, she gave up. ¡°Ugh, who cares if I look good. It¡¯s better to get this over with.¡± She grumbled as she stood up to leave. When Freya arrived at the tent, she was greeted by two soldiers pointing their spears at her. ¡°State your business.¡± One of them spoke. ¡°I¡¯m Freya, answering a call from His Majesty King Lucius.¡± She said with as much confidence as she could muster. The two soldiers exchanged a glance and lowered their spears. ¡°Go in.¡± As Freya hesitantly walked in, she was taken aback by just how grand the tent was. King Lucius¡¯ tent was much bigger than any Freya had seen and was sectioned into different rooms using curtains. King Lucius even has a bedroom, she thought rather begrudgingly. Directly in front of her, placed in the center of the room, was a huge mahogany table with a huge map and various other parchments on it. The floor was carpeted with a luxurious-looking orange-colored rug. It was hard to believe that Freya was inside a tent. As Freya tried to peek into the different rooms, a deep voice came from behind her, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°My goodness!¡± Freya jumped in fright. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to frighten you.¡± He said with an apologetic smile. Freya couldn¡¯t quite process what was happening, as in front of her stood one of the most attractive men she had ever laid her eyes on. This stranger had long dark hair that reached his shoulders and eyes so red it contrasted starkly against his gentle face. ¡°I¡¯m Herro. I serve King Lucius.¡± The mention of King Lucius snapped her back to reality. ¡°I¡¯m Freya.¡± ¡°And what business do you have with the King, Freya?¡± Herro asked, his gaze boring into her. ¡°He¡¯s away currently, I¡¯m afraid.¡± Freya unconsciously tugged at the bottom of her shirt as she began explaining what happened yesterday. ¡°My goodness! So, it was you. The brave person who saved His Majesty was you.¡± He smiled as they locked eyes. Freya felt her nerves slowly melting away. Herro was being unexpectedly kind to her and made her feel comfortable. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me being brave.¡± She looked away as Herro¡¯s gaze was too intense for her to match. Herro¡¯s gaze shifted from her face to her clothes. Freya became hyperaware of herself and briskly began rubbing the bloodstain on her clothes in a lame attempt to remove it. ¡°Sorry.¡± He looked away, ¡°Being by King Lucius¡¯ side- it¡¯s become an unintentional habit to study people.¡± He scratched his head as he flashed an apologetic grin. ¡°It¡¯s okay, really.¡± She returned a nervous smile. ¡°Freya, if you don¡¯t mind me asking, how old are you?¡± Freya was taken aback by the question. Why did Herro want to know her age? ¡°I¡¯m of an age now.¡± She said under her breath, slightly embarrassed and caught off guard by the question. ¡°Oh, then I¡¯m your big brother?¡± He grinned. Herro, her big brother? The idea was ridiculous. It wasn¡¯t like she was against having someone as kind as Herro be a bigger brother to him, but it was just that Herro and her were worlds apart. Herro belonged amongst the kings, the noblemen, and her? Well, she was just an orphan. ¡°But such honorifics are embarrassing so can you just call me Herro?¡± He smiled as if he sensed her uncertainty. Freya nodded, ¡°That sounds good.¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 33 ¡°So, when will His Majesty be back?¡± Freya asked to break the silence that was slowly creeping up. As accommodating and kind as Herro was, Freya did not want to be in the King¡¯s chamber for long. She wanted to leave as soon as possible. Herro seemed to just realize that they had been talking for a while and offered her a chair. ¡°You went through quite the ordeal yesterday, let¡¯s sit and talk.¡± He pulled another chair for himself and sat. Freya hesitated, ¡°But I have to go soon.¡± ¡°If King Lucius arrives and finds out I let you go then I¡¯ll be in trouble.¡± He leaned forward, his hair rushing forward and perfectly framing his face, ¡°Do you want me to get in trouble, Freya?¡± Herro joked as he looked up, his red eyes piercing through his hair. He might¡¯ve been joking but Freya didn¡¯t want to risk getting Herro in trouble. ¡°I¡¯ll wait then.¡± She chuckled nervously. ¡°Thank you. The king can be a bit scary.¡± Herro said, pretending to shiver at the thought. Without realizing it Freya laughed out loud, forgetting where she was. ¡°Well, I will make sure to stay until he comes then. Even if he takes all day.¡± Freya laughed. His playfulness seemed to disappear for a second, ¡°You seem like a good person. It¡¯s not easy serving King Lucius.¡± He smiled sadly. Freya could hear the tiredness in his voice and couldn¡¯t help but sympathize. She had only met King Lucius twice but both times were times she wished to forget. She didn¡¯t know what she could say to console Herro. After all, she didn¡¯t have to constantly be around the King like him so could she really know how he was feeling? ¡°Anyway, I don¡¯t know when King Lucius might come back? Are you okay just waiting here?¡± Herro broke her out of her train of thoughts. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not like I have anything to do anyway-¡± ¡°Ah, I got an idea!¡± Herro said excitedly, an unrecognizable glint in his eyes. ¡°Come with me. Hurry.¡± Before Freya knew what was happening, she was being dragged somewhere by Herro. Herro didn¡¯t look too physically strong, so Freya was surprised by just how firm his grip was on her arm. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°I have been working on a soap and I was looking for someone to try it on.¡± He grinned at her as they made their way to wherever he was taking her. Soap? Freya couldn¡¯t understand what Herro meant but before she could question him, they arrived at the bathhouse. ¡°Here we are.¡± As they entered numerous gasps and squealing could be heard. ¡°Sir Herro! Do you need a bath? I¡¯m here to serve you.¡± A lady ran up to them. Soon after, all the other ladies followed suit, and soon a small crowd formed around Freya and Herro. Freya was surprised at the scene in front of her but more so at how nonchalant Herro seemed about all of it. He was probably used to it. ¡°Can you prepare the bath for her? And some new clothes too, please.¡± He said to the first lady. The lady seemed taken aback but politely bowed her head and left to start preparing a bath. The others too rather dejectedly made their way back with some even shooting Freya a nasty look. It was only after they left that Freya could take in where she was at. She had never seen such a place before. There was a giant bath in the middle of the tent place with a huge firepit. The steam covered most of the room with the most amazing aromas wafting through the air. She was suddenly taken back to her and the other kids at the orphan had to wash their clothes with icy water. Look at the ridiculous amount of hot water here, she thought bitterly. Why did Herro bring her here? Was he implying that she did not look presentable enough for the King? ¡°There is no need for me to wash up. And I like my clothes just fine, I don¡¯t need any more from here.¡± The words came out more aggressive than expected. Herro calmly responded, ¡°I just think this would be a good idea because there is a disease going around and if you don¡¯t regularly wash up you will have a higher chance of getting infected.¡± ¡°A disease?¡± Freya¡¯s voice was small. She remembered a time when the flu broke out at the orphanage and since they didn¡¯t have money to get medicines or the proper treatment, they lost a lot of children. She did not want to have to go through that again. ¡°This soap has medicinal properties that will help prevent you from getting the disease.¡± He assured her. She couldn¡¯t risk catching the disease and if this soap helped then nothing bad could come from a bath, right? As Freya nodded, Herro signaled to the lady, and she came and led Freya towards the bath. ¡°Do I just step in?¡± She asked nervously as this was her first time getting into a hot bath. The lady who had no desire to serve Freya just rudely nodded her head. Freya felt uncomfortable but slowly took off her tattered clothes while trying to avoid the judging eyes of the bath lady. Freya entered the bath in nothing but her old underwear and a torn inner shirt. The bath was much deeper than she had expected. A thought suddenly came over Freya as she sat in the hot bath. It was something Sophia had said a while ago, ¡°Witches put troublesome children in boiling water and turn them to stew!¡± Freya could feel her heartbeat quicken. She wanted to get out of the bath now. ¡°Turn them to stew!¡± The phrase played in her head over and over again. It felt like someone had sucked the air out of the room as she struggled to breathe. Her panicked body seemed to have shut down as she could no longer move. Freya felt her body slowly starting to sink. ¡°Please help me! I need to get out, I can¡¯t move!¡± She called to the bath lady. ¡°Oh dear, I think I forgot something outside.¡± The lady murmured as she hurried out completely ignoring Freya¡¯s cry for help. Freya¡¯s heart sank as her body started sinking lower into the hot water. As if out of instinct she called to the first name that came to mind, ¡°Herro! Help!¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 34 Herro entered the portable bathroom to find two ladies conversing loudly with each other. At Herro¡¯s sudden appearance, the lady standing furthest from him quickly busied herself by making herself appear to be helping Freya with her bathing. Herro let out a dry cough and began to speak. ¡°Freya, is everything okay?¡± he asked. Freya started to feel a little anxious and stared at his shadow as she began to wonder what on earth was going on. Not wishing to show her confusion to Herro, she paused and then simply replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Herro continued and told her that he had a few things that he wanted to ask, and began explaining the ingredients of the soap. Freya was confused when she heard him talking about rose petals, oils, and other extracts. ¡°Do the aromas of the rose come through clearly?¡± he asked. Freya hesitated before answering with some uncertainty, ¡°Well, I can certainly notice that something is there,¡± she answered, reasoning to herself that that something was probably the rose that Herro was talking about. Herro extracted a small, paper notebook from his hip pocket and began to scribble down a few words. Then he looked up from his notes and fixed his eyes on Freya. He continued his questioning, and Freya became increasingly more nervous as he pressed the matter further. Finally, she exclaimed, ¡°My heart and my body feel as though they are melting!¡± Herro sighed deeply and replied, ¡°Oh, Freya. If we continue like this, you are likely to sink.¡± Freya could faintly hear Herro¡¯s voice, buzzing as if from afar, but she was unable to focus on it. She could feel the strength gradually leaving her body, starting from the tips of her toes and then moving up to her legs. She was getting weaker, and with fading hope, she cried out, ¡°I can¡¯t be like this.¡± But her body ignored her cries, becoming heavier like a dead weight and after a few seconds, she sank under the water. ¡°Herro, have you gone crazy?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t figure out why you¡¯re mad.¡± Lucius had received word of some unusual activity at the border, so he went outside to investigate. Upon his return, he saw Herro with a sinister smile on his face which sent a chill down his spine. It would later transpire that he was indeed correct to be alarmed. There was a body sprawled on the bed in the connecting room. Herro followed him and explained, all the while seeming to be attempting to stifle his laughter. ¡°This lady is your lifesaver. It is necessary for us to do this,¡± said Herro. Lucius was shocked, and began to ask, ¡°But why did you¡­?¡± Herro quickly interrupted, ¡°Her clothes were covered in blood. If you had witnessed it, you would have been deeply upset, Your Majesty.¡± Lucius could not see any humor in this situation, and snapped at Herro, ¡°Stop this nonsense. This is no time for tomfoolery and jokes.¡± ¡°But Your Majesty, is this not a very interesting situation? I have certainly not encountered events like this before,¡± said Herro. Lucius was getting more annoyed as he listened to Herro and raised his voice to say, ¡°Herro, I don¡¯t want you here now. I suggest you leave quickly, and not return for a long time.¡± Herro knew that he had to leave, but he could not resist one final comment to Lucius as he walked out of the room. ¡°Well, I suppose you want to have that annoying gaze all for yourself.¡± Then he was gone. Freya began to stir from her slumber, and the sounds of someone fighting started to enter her ears. She could feel a soft mattress and clean linen underneath her, and in her semi-awake state, she imagined herself to be floating on a cloud. An inner voice told her to keep her eyes closed, to maintain the illusion. As she inevitably started to slip away from sleep and into consciousness, the images of a hot water bath formed in her mind¡¯s eye. She knew that there was an element of danger in the hot water, but she also thought that it would be quite amusing if she were to dunk Archer in there. She smiled to herself and let out a sleepy laugh as she imagined Archer, in a wooden barrel of hot water, flailing his arms frantically. Sleep was quickly getting away from her and she was drawn into the reality of the room she was in, wondering who on earth was fighting like that. She felt some pangs of annoyance, as she wanted to sleep more but this loud man was yelling and preventing her from doing so. Who was this inconsiderate ruffian? As she came into her fully awakened state, she realized with a shock that the hot bath hadn¡¯t been a dream. She was now laying on a bed, wearing unfamiliar soft clothes, with a man staring at her. Her brain could not quickly process the situation that she was in, but the first thing that she perceived was the scent of this man filling her nostrils. ¡°Well, now that you are awake, I think you should probably get off my bed,¡± he said. Freya instantly recognized his voice, and the fact that he had said my bed confirmed that she was indeed in His Majesty¡¯s bed. She wondered how this situation had come to pass, and quickly tried to extract herself from the bed. Unfortunately, her legs were not back at full strength yet, and as she stood up, she stumbled and began to fall, instinctively reaching out to grab something to protect herself from falling. It was fortunate that Freya had managed to avoid a fall, but she suddenly realized that what she had grabbed to protect herself was actually a pair of shoulders belonging to Lucius himself. They were broad and solid, and Freya¡¯s heart skipped a beat as the aroma of Lucius again came into her nostrils. The sounds of Lucius¡¯ deep voice poured into her ears, as he said, ¡°Well, this is somewhat embarrassing.¡± An awkward silence followed, and then Freya gasped and replied, ¡°Forgive me, Your Majesty. It wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± She felt her face getting hotter as she blushed bright red, realizing that she was almost in his arms in a lovers¡¯ embrace. His shoulders felt like a hot surface beneath her hands, as if they would burn her if she clung to them for much longer. She quickly snapped out of her imagination and moved away from him, standing up straight and clearing her throat. Lucius let out a long breath and shook his head, while muttering, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that excuse plenty of times.¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 35 A million thoughts raced through Lucius¡¯ mind as he pondered the situation. Was this lady trying to catch his attention? He could see her blushing cheeks and green eyes that were cautiously guarding against him. She certainly had a good appearance, with her long hair flowing down against her shoulders. He felt a strange sensation in his stomach, a kind of nervous energy like a child waiting to perform an important task for an audience. The white chemise of his that she wore, which didn¡¯t even reach his knees, completely covered her ankles and left just some of her pale, slender feet exposed. The top front shoulder was loosened, revealing some of her bare, milky white skin. He found himself staring intently at her collarbone, almost transfixed by its contours. The spell was broken however when he heard Freya say, ¡°Perhaps these clothes were given to me by Herro. He destroyed my other garments because he said they were unclean.¡± Upon hearing this, Lucius¡¯ face suddenly contorted with rage. Herro again. Was there no end to this upstart¡¯s annoyances? Freya¡¯s eyes widened in fear at the sudden change in Lucius¡¯ demeanour. In an instant, he had gone from being a kind, royal dignitary to the very Grim Reaper himself. Lucius¡¯ voice thundered as he shouted out, ¡°Am I not more popular than Herro?¡± Freya regained her composure and replied, ¡°Today was the first time that I met him. We talked a little, as I learned that we both do the same kind of thing for work.¡± Lucius stared back at her, and echoed, ¡°The same thing?¡± Suspicion began to build in his mind, and he wondered what that same thing could possibly be that the Grand Wizard Herro and this delivery girl had in common. His mind cast itself back to his last encounter with the wizard. Did he like this girl? Lucius considered that it was highly unusual for Herro to like anybody, as he seemed to prefer staying in his tent all day and avoiding people. Yet he had helped this girl get cleaned up and dressed. These kinds of thoughts were quite unpleasant to him, and his facial expression became darker as she kept talking about Herro. ¡°He was kind¡­ nice to me¡­¡± Lucius grimaced and a look of aggression flashed across his face. Freya noticed this and perhaps this is why she asked, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing more to discuss, may I leave now? I¡¯m sure that Archer will be waiting for me to return.¡± Lucius quickly realized that she wanted to exit, and with that thought came a feeling of desperation. He didn¡¯t want her to leave; in fact, he found himself wanting to reach out and hold her again. Quickly searching in his mind for something, anything to say to prevent her from leaving, he blurted out, ¡°Umm what is your name?¡± Freya shuddered at this question and asked herself why he suddenly desired to know her name. Her lips dry, she wet them with her tongue and softly replied, ¡°It¡¯s Freya, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Freya,¡± repeated Lucius. ¡°I can imagine that you¡¯re quite popular among the men here.¡± Freya was startled by this, as she had never considered herself to be popular with men. She looked up and met eyes with Lucius, trying to distinguish whether it was affection or contempt for her that she saw in those dark eyes of his. Surely a big misunderstanding was currently taking place? ¡°Your Majesty,¡± she began, ¡°Archer is someone that I serve¡­¡± Lucius didn¡¯t allow her to finish her sentence and cut in fiercely, ¡°Stop! Do you imagine that I am curious about that?¡± Lucius was aware of Archer, and although he didn¡¯t know much about the man¡¯s background, he knew that he was indeed a courageous soldier. In his mind, he put the pieces together and understood that this lady was living in Archer¡¯s tent. That in itself was not unusual; in this era of chaos, it was quite common for knights and mercenaries to make bedfellows of delivery boys and ladies. However, he felt a strange contempt and anger at the thought of this thin, black-haired lady in front of him sharing a bed with a bearded man like this Archer fellow. ¡°So you were there then, in Archer¡¯s tent?¡± asked Lucius. Freya sighed as she considered what was unfolding before her. Lucius was acting very strangely; becoming angry, interrupting her when she spoke and now saying different things. She told herself that she had saved Lucius, and surely she was deserving of some reward for her heroic act. Her mind raced as she tried to find a way to put what she was thinking into clear words that Lucius would accept. Lucius maintained his cruel expression, but Freya kept telling herself that she should be rewarded for what she did. She had saved a collapsed royal, and now that same royal was treating her in a very unusual way that she could not understand. She admitted to herself that royals such as Lucius were not her kind of people, but she still felt deserving of something after what she had done for him. She imagined how pleased Archer would be if she came back with a grand reward; after all, weren¡¯t royals likely to make a big gesture in situations such as these to show their appreciation? Her train of thought was again interrupted by Lucius. She caught sight of his blonde hair as he spoke to her by name. ¡°Freya, what is going through your mind right now?¡± Freya felt her nerves rise again. He had called her by name, and the tone of his voice suggested that he knew exactly what was going through her mind. Was it possible that this royal had the power to know what people were thinking? Lucius continued, ¡°I am going to give you something special, as a token of my appreciation for saving me.¡± Freya¡¯s eyes lit up, and she excitedly stammered, ¡°S-s-something special?¡± It seemed to Lucius that Freya looked like a hungry predator who had finally tracked down some prey. This girl was interested only in his wealth and cared not about him at all. A dawning realization came over him that perhaps this was the thing that had been bothering him about her since they first spoke. She had no interest in knowing anything about him, in fact, he was probably viewed as a necessary burden for her to overcome to get what she wanted. This was a feeling that Lucius had never had before. Naturally, there were plenty of women around him, due to his position. He had had many chances to marry and father children, but his reluctance about women had always held him back. He now viewed the girl in front of him as somewhat suspicious. Turning his gaze away from the chest that was filled with riches, he felt his instincts begin to form a question in his mind: ¡°What is the best way to get rid of someone suspicious?¡± Chapter 36 Lucius brushed his blonde hair back from his face and pondered for a minute. A thought suddenly came to his mind, the idea that something suspicious should be closely observed. He looked at Freya and said, ¡°I will bestow upon you the honour of being my servant.¡± He silently congratulated himself, as he had been thinking about how to replace his previous servant who had recently disappeared from his service. Freya wasn¡¯t sure that she had heard him correctly, and after a pause, she simply said, ¡°Pardon?¡± Even though she was lacking in formal education, she was aware enough to know what a servant was. ¡°If I understand correctly,¡± she began, ¡°His Majesty would have me do the same job for him that I am currently doing for Archer?¡± A million thoughts seemed to flash through her mind. They had met with an unfortunate headbutt, she had washed his back and essentially saved him. All she wanted was to be rewarded fairly for her deeds, and yet here he was, suggesting that she serve him and be put through all manner of horrible things as a way of showing his gratitude? The thought of it made her feel sick to her stomach. She shivered as she considered his suggestion. Of course, she wanted to be rewarded with gold, but she also knew that something awful may happen if she remained and accepted his offer of serving him. ¡°Your Majesty, there really is nothing that I need. I acted as anyone would have done in that situation. You don¡¯t need to make me your servant as a reward,¡± she told him. Lucius quickly responded, ¡°What on earth do you mean? You know that I am the Crown Prince of the Morciani Empire. Of course, I must do something for you to repay my debt.¡± Freya stood frozen. She wondered why he was so insistent on making her his servant. Surely he could see that she didn¡¯t want this. As a response, she quietly murmured, ¡°Anyone would have acted as I did. Besides, I am already a servant to Archer.¡± Her words made Lucius angry, yet he tried to conceal the rage stirring in his stomach. Why was this simple lady refusing the chance of a lifetime, to serve someone as noble as him? He wondered if she was attempting to trick him, to appear as if she were not interested in the wealth and power that such a position could give her. With a smile on his face, he threw down the dagger that he was holding onto the table and said, ¡°Fine. You need more time to think about my offer. I am in no great rush for your answer.¡± Freya¡¯s heart sank as she realised that the reward that she wanted was becoming less likely. For her, it was out of the question that she could ever become his servant. She began to think of a way to extract herself from this situation, wanting only to return to Archer. Stammering with embarrassment, she mumbled, ¡°Th -Then, Your Majesty, I will take my leave. She took a step back and began to turn to face the door. Lucius replied firmly, calling her by name, ¡°Freya.¡± She turned back to face him and saw that his gaze was fixed firmly on her bare shoulder. Unsure of what to say, Freya simply replied, ¡°Yes?¡± He had noticed that his chemise, which Freya was still wearing, was too big for her and that it had completely exposed her shoulder. Feeling discomfort at the thought that people might see this, Lucius handed her his black cape while saying, ¡°Put this on before you go.¡± Freya stepped back, insisting, ¡°No. I¡¯m not cold, Your Majesty.¡± She looked at the garment and noticed a golden ornament attached to it. With a little more force, she repeated, ¡°No. I¡¯m really okay.¡± Lucius seemed not to hear her protest though, and he approached her and put the cape over her shoulders before she could say anything else. He was so close to her now that she could notice, strangely, that his eyelashes were particularly long. Lucius¡¯ tone became more forceful as he said, ¡°Wear it like this today.¡± Freya felt helpless as if she had no choice but to do as he asked. His eyes gave her the impression that he would punish her otherwise. With resignation, she said, ¡°Yes,¡± as she considered how it was possible to torture someone in so many different ways, including by words alone. Her beautiful face had not been enough to protect her from an uncomfortable heart. Once she was out, Freya felt as if something were possessing her. Her heart seemed ready to burst, so she pressed down on her chest and inhaled deeply. The fresh air was helping, and she soon began to regain some composure. She turned and saw the tent¡¯s flag billowing, encouraged by the gentle wind, and yet the symbol of the eagle on the flag made her feel nauseous. Her hair felt strange after Lucius had brushed it, and she wondered why he had done that. The clothes that he had given her were so ill-fitting that she felt slightly ridiculous wearing them, especially with the golden string knotted around her neck that made her look like a gift bag. Freya muttered to herself, ¡°What a tedious waste of time that was, and no real reward either!¡± She began collecting the laundry, aware that these clothes were not best suited to such a task, but she didn¡¯t have time to get changed into something more appropriate. She entered the workplace, still muttering and complaining to herself. It was then that she saw Archer, just back from his training for the day. He looked at her quizzically and asked, ¡°Freya, what are you wearing?¡± Freya knew why he was asking her this, but she was so tired and drained that she lacked the energy to explain in detail. Instead, she sighed, ¡°Please don¡¯t Archer. It¡¯s been a tough enough day already. Archer moved closer and inspected her face. ¡°No, I just didn¡¯t recognize you because you are so clean.¡± Freya sat down on the floor, feeling even more tired because of the clothes she was in. Archer continued, ¡°So tell me who owns these clothes? Actually, first, tell me about meeting His Majesty.¡± Chapter 37 Lucius sat at the table and pored over a map. His face was stern and serious, as he knew that he would have to destroy the group that was advancing fast toward the suburb. Hart¡¯s power would increase as long as Lucius remained, and in ordinary circumstances, the crown would have been his already. He scoffed and thought about his father; the man who essentially caused all of these problems. His father knew of the unreasonable things that had happened to the young Lucius, and what had he done about it? Precisely nothing, he had intentionally ignored those problems and thus allowed them to fester away and become life-threatening. Chapter 38 Herro shrugged his shoulders and began to speak carefully. ¡°The poison remains in your body, so you had better take care not to overwork yourself.¡± Feeling some annoyance, Lucius looked sharply at Herro and replied, ¡°Is that an appropriate thing for a grand wizard to say?¡± Herro simply replied back with a brief, ¡°My apologies.¡± With a sigh, Herro put the potion he had just made this morning on the table. Lucius took it without saying a word, causing Herro to put on a heavy expression that was highly out of character. He wondered to himself what would happen if a better wizard than he was to serve His Majesty. Herro was the same age as Lucius and had come from a family that had produced grand wizards for many generations before. Under normal circumstances, his path would have been an assignment to the heir of the empire after his debutant. And yet he had found himself on an unusual scheme in which he was assigned before coming to his age. He had had magical powers since he was born, but it had taken him a long time to learn how to correctly use them. It was not long after Herro was assigned to Lucius that his master¡¯s life became threatened, and Herro knew that he was not yet fully able to protect His Majesty by using his powers alone. So he had begun working on a magical potion that was yet to be completed. It had gone through several trials, with varying degrees of worrisome side effects. One of the trial potions had caused Lucius to become a weak young boy after drinking it, losing his strong normal figure. His blue eyes, the symbol of the royal family, had become light green. Herro had made a new trial potion, to counter the effects of the previous one, and His Majesty¡¯s hand had trembled nervously as he clutched the vial. Herro felt ashamed that his lack of skill had caused such a disaster. This new potion had, thankfully, brought Lucius¡¯ appearance back to match his real age. Unfortunately, it had resulted in other side effects, such as a high fever that lingered for almost four days. Herro reasoned to himself that there was always a problem or two that needed to be countered, but at least he was making progress. Lucius had never been particularly kind or sweet, but his face seemed to have become even colder than before, like a cold wind blowing in from the very peak of Mount Alphy. He had also suffered from frequent nightmares and had become much angrier in general, which Herro thought was because of the potions too. It seemed like many things had changed. Lucius had also suffered from memory loss while he was in hiding, so Herro didn¡¯t know much about his daily life anymore. Herro turned to look at Lucius and saw that he was wiping the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief. He waited for a second, and then carefully asked, ¡°Your Majesty, do you recall the Adelion family from the southern lands?¡± ¡°Count Vanderas?¡± asked Lucius. ¡°Do you mean the one who gained immense wealth from trading?¡± Herro continued, ¡°His second daughter, Selena, will personally attend the battlefield.¡± A dark expression came over Lucius¡¯ face, as he imagined a visit from that precious young count. He turned to Herro and asked, ¡°Did it start again?¡± Herro replied, ¡°Your majesty, I understand that you don¡¯t want to do this but I am afraid it is absolutely necessary.¡± Lucius was the direct heir to the throne and, despite being 20 years of age, was not even engaged to be married. His biggest rival Hart, who had his eyes firmly set on obtaining the throne, was already in talks regarding marriage with the daughter of a very powerful duke. Herro continued, ¡°The people will support you Your Majesty, and they will be on your side. However, almost all of the nobles have already pledged loyalty to Hart.¡± There was a short pause, and then Lucius asked, ¡°Herro, am I being too greedy?¡± Herro knew that Lucius had a hard will, but he often found moments like these quite tiring. If His Majesty were to just give up the throne, everything would soon be over. Herro tried to be reassuring and encouraging at the same time, as he replied, ¡°Your Majesty, please do not say that.¡± While Herro and Lucius had been talking, Gemini had been standing still, almost like a statue, in the corner of the room. He knelt down upon hearing the sound of armour, with a face so serious that Lucius started to feel bad. Lucius asked Gemini to stand up while thinking that even though it would be easier to just throw everything away and leave, he did not seem to have that option available. With a sigh, Lucius announced, ¡°Even though I feel alone, I know that I am really not.¡± After calming his heart, Lucius stood up and announced, ¡°Herro. I would like to Miss Adelion as late as possible.¡± Herro began to protest, but before he could utter a word Lucius stopped him with a raised hand and said, ¡°There is also something that I have not told you yet.¡± Herro looked curiously at Lucius and enquired what it was. Lucius continued, ¡°I was fortunate to have my life saved before by that young lady, but I did not give her any kind of reward.¡± Feeling relieved that it was nothing more serious, Herro replied, ¡°Well Your Majesty, Gemini and I can certainly take care of that.¡± But Lucius knew that he had to decline, and told Herro, ¡°No, I can¡¯t treat the one who saved my life in such a way.¡± Lucius gave an alluring smile that would have caused a woman to scream if she had seen it. Gemini and Herro glanced at each other, both thinking the same thing; that this was a very unusual expression for His Majesty to have on his face. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 39 Freya entered the tent carrying a dish of food, and Archer looked at her, laughed, and remarked, ¡°Freya, you look like a raccoon today!¡± Freya didn¡¯t see the funny side of what Archer had said, and complained to him, ¡°How can you be so cruel as to call a lady a raccoon?¡± Archer shot back quickly, ¡°Lady? You must be joking,¡± and continued to laugh as he bit into one of the sausages that Freya had brought him. The oil splashed his beard, making the rays of sunlight bounce off it as they entered the tent. ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep well,¡± said Freya, as she rubbed her eyes. She had lain awake last night, with so many thoughts swirling around her mind. Finally, she had been able to get a few precious hours of sleep when dawn came, although it was nowhere near enough. Her head felt numb, and her eyes seemed to be trying to pop out of her skull. She had not felt this tired in such a long time. Archer continued to grin and laugh, and remarked, ¡°Not sleeping well? What a joke!¡± Freya felt the anger rising in her and yelled, ¡°Really!? Archer!!¡± She grabbed a piece of firewood from the floor and moved towards him. Archer dropped his food and took a defensive stance. Despite Freya¡¯s efforts, there was no way she could beat the superior Archer. He grabbed her wrist and twisted, forcing her to drop the weapon. Still grinning, Archer remarked, ¡°There¡¯s no way you can beat me in a million years, you rat!¡± At that moment, a voice came from the entrance, ¡°Did I interrupt something?¡± Lucius stood at the tent¡¯s opening, his voice making Archer and Freya stop their in tracks and straighten up. Archer nervously coughed out, ¡°Greetings, Your Majesty,¡± and knelt down in front of him while pulling Freya down to do the same. Freya felt uncomfortable to see Lucius again so suddenly and was further worried by the stern look on his face. Lucius looked at Archer and asked him, ¡°Are you aware that the child beside you saved my life recently?¡± Archer was sweating and nodded as he replied, ¡°Yes, I know Your Majesty. What an honor it is.¡± Lucius continued, ¡°I was not able to reward her properly yesterday, but I intend to make amends for that now.¡± Archer shook his head, and said, ¡°There is no need Your Majesty. She simply did what was required of her. Such action does not warrant a reward.¡± Freya felt the anger rising up inside her. How could Archer say that? He knew that they needed all the help they could get, and here he was almost refusing a golden opportunity to finally improve their lives. As she glared at Archer, Lucius called to Herro, ¡°Please bring it over here.¡± Herro placed a small box on the table. It looked like the kind of box that may contain gold pieces. Freya wondered exactly what was inside and desperately wanted to open it there and then, but she knew she would have to contain herself. Herro announced, ¡°It is just a small token of gratitude from His Majesty, for saving his life.¡± Archer looked at Herro and then Lucius, and said, ¡°Your Majesty, I offer all of my thanks. Come Freya, we must thank His Majesty together for this kind gesture.¡± Freya started to speak, ¡°But I¡¯m not a knight, so how can I¡­.?¡± Archer caught Freya¡¯s eye and she could feel his glare, so she stopped speaking and slowly approached Lucius and knelt in front of him. She tried not to look at Lucius, but she was unable to keep herself from staring at him. Lucius looked down and quietly said, ¡°So, you¡¯re Freya.¡± When Freya looked up and fully took in the sight of Lucius standing before her, she saw a well-dressed, regal figure, looking down at her as if he had never seen her before. She heard Lucius ask her where she had come from, and her heart began to beat faster. An image of Shilo¡¯s face appeared in her mind, and she realized that she had not thought of him for a long time. She wondered if Lucius was still staring intently at her, but she was afraid to look up to confirm it. The thought suddenly came to her that if she had been captured by Shilo, all of this would have been pointless. Since Freya seemed unable to answer His Majesty¡¯s question, Archer reasoned that he had better fill in this silent pause. He began to say, ¡°She is from the Flanders region in the south Your Majesty. You may be aware of the fine cheese that is local to that area.¡± Freya heard Archer¡¯s reply and wondered why he had lied to His Majesty. She began to tremble slightly, wondering if there was a penalty for lying to royalty. She had never been anywhere near Flanders, and yet Archer was telling a barefaced lie to His Majesty. She bit her lips and tried to steady her nerves. It seemed that Lucius was unconcerned about Flanders, or indeed its cheeses, and he went on to say, ¡°Well, Freya of Flanders, I wanted to reward you with something special. You saved my life, and that is deserving of some recognition.¡± It was not noticeable to anybody in the tent, but Freya¡¯s heart felt as though it had sunk upon hearing those words. She started to imagine that Lucius¡¯ eyes were showing different colours. Could he really be about to say what she desperately wanted to hear? She managed to find the will to say, ¡°I¡¯m OK,¡± before Lucius could continue. Somewhere in her belly, she had a slight sense that danger may be approaching. Her sudden response caught Lucius by surprise and his face took a grim twist. With a sudden and serious tone, he asked, ¡°Are you refusing my favour?¡± Freya looked at his face and thought to herself that she certainly did want to refuse his favour. What good could come of it, based on the stern and almost cruel expression that was now on his face? She also knew though, that if she were to refuse and reveal her innermost thoughts, she could face a more serious problem. Lucius was, after all, a royal. As the thoughts raced through Freya¡¯s mind, Archer suddenly interrupted again. ¡°Your Majesty, please forgive Freya. She must be overcome with emotion at this amazing situation that she finds herself in. Please try to understand.¡± Archer seemed to be in awe of His Majesty, even though Freya continued to poke him in his side. Lucius finally revealed the reward that he was willing to grant Freya, ¡°I have decided to make Freya my servant.¡± Upon uttering these words, shock waves seemed to ripple around the room. Herro gasped in surprise, and Gemini grabbed his sword loudly in order to steady himself. Archer¡¯s face was blown up in an expression of shock, almost as if his eyes were about to pop out of their sockets. Only Freya¡¯s face was covered with despair, but this went entirely unnoticed by everyone in the tent. Archer dropped to his knees in front of Lucius and cried out, ¡°Your Majesty, it is an honour to the family.¡± Freya watched him and decided not to stop him, as he had had a completely different reaction than her. She knew that it would be far better for Lucius to see Archer¡¯s dramatic reaction than her look of disappointment. She wondered what was going through Archer¡¯s crazed head at that moment, and if he thought that she was somehow getting a noble title from this appointment. Gathering all of her strength and courage, she fixed her dried eyes on Lucius and looked directly into his eyes. She so desperately wanted to ask why he was doing this to her. If she had known on the day that saved him, that this would be the end result, she would have run away quickly and not cared whether he lived or died. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 40 Lucius had an expression on his face that looked like someone who had put a rat in a sewer and was casually watching it to see what would happen next. This was certainly not the expression of someone who was giving out a reward, from Freya¡¯s point of view. Herro quickly intervened and said, ¡°But Your Majesty, this is not a man.¡± This sudden intervention gave Freya a moment of relief, and she felt a surge of gratitude. It seemed that Herro was on her side, and might help her after all. If it were the case that only a man could be a servant of a royal, then Freya might be in luck. She smiled as she glanced at the box which she hoped contained gold coins. Perhaps her efforts would not have been in vain after all. Freya¡¯s thoughts were interrupted as Lucius asked, ¡°Is there such a rule recorded anywhere in the Morciani Empire?¡± Herro was hesitant and began, ¡°Your Majesty, there is no written rule as such¡­.¡± Before continuing he wondered why Lucius was being so stubborn. Surely he knew why this situation could not be considered to begin with? Of course, there were no particular rules preventing anyone from becoming a servant, as long as their identity was clear and they had the abilities to perform the servant¡¯s duties. But Herro knew that this lady could not possibly be a servant. How could she handle His Majesty¡¯s unusual mood swings and not run away? He wondered why His Majesty was so keen to have this questionable girl as his servant. As Herro wondered, Lucius turned to Archer and asked, ¡°Tell me Archer, is Freya weak? Is she able to run well and cope with errands? Does she know how to take care of armour, which is one of the most important duties of a servant?¡± Archer replied quickly, ¡°Your Majesty, you should not worry about this. Freya cleans and delivers my armour every day. I have been personally training her in endurance every day too, and now she is as quick as a swallow.¡± While the men were talking, Freya started to worry more. It looked as though she might really become a servant to the Crown Prince Lucius at this rate. She interrupted Archer and said, ¡°I only know how to run errands. I¡¯m not sure I can¡­.¡± A strange feeling came over Lucius as he listened to Freya. She seemed unwilling to take the generous offer that he had made, and he considered that most normal people would have been thanking him profusely by now. Yet this young girl seemed to be trying to find a way out of the situation. Lucius decided to play to her greed, to see what results would come about. He looked at Freya and said, ¡°I will give you five pieces of gold each month.¡± Freya¡¯s eyes lit up triumphantly at these words. Finally, His Majesty had said what she wanted to hear! She looked up at Lucius with glowing eyes and said, ¡°It¡¯s difficult to earn even one piece of gold a month doing errands.¡± Freya thought to herself that, despite all of the hardships she had endured, her life always seemed to lead somewhere unexpected. She did a quick calculation and realized that she could possibly get sixty pieces of gold per year as His Majesty¡¯s servant, and quickly remarked, ¡°I might not fit well at first, but I promise to do my best!¡± She was also hopeful that, if she did it for a year, she would be able to live comfortably with Loti. Of course, it wouldn¡¯t always be easy to deal with His Majesty, but she felt that the opportunity was too good to refuse. Her green eyes shone with hope. It was the first day of work and Freya was following Lucius to begin her new role. Despite walking freely behind him, she couldn¡¯t help but feel as if there were a leash attached to her neck and that Lucius was leading her like a dog. She walked slowly and was aware that she looked depressed, so she tried to keep positive thoughts in her mind and stop herself from focusing on that bright blonde hair in front of her. It wouldn¡¯t be that bad, she would be able to stay in Archer¡¯s tent at night and then take care of His Majesty during the daytime. Soon the gold pieces would begin to increase. Freya had decided that she needed to set some rules for herself if she were to be successful in this new role. Firstly, she would never look into his eyes. Nothing good ever came from meeting his eyes, and she knew that she had to be careful of his pretty and dangerous face, lest she got lost in it. The second rule was that she would only give him one answer per question. She needed to keep some distance from His Majesty and maintain their master and servant relationship. She knew that she often showed her weakness during their conversations by entering into long verbal exchanges. Now she was determined to be short, abrupt, and to-the-point. After all, she was there to work and not to make friends. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 41 As they arrived at His Majesty¡¯s tent, Lucius dismissed Herro and Gemini and turned to Freya to say, ¡°First, take off my cape.¡± Once the two of them were inside, Freya looked down as she stood in front of Lucius, trying to avoid looking at his face. She quickly realized that to take off his cape, she would have to look up at him. A pang of annoyance came over her as she realized that she would be breaking her first rule so quickly. The cape didn¡¯t contain any string that she could just untie by lightly pulling it; instead, it was held together by four golden buttons that she would have to undo individually with her fingers. Freya¡¯s hands trembled as she started to wrestle with the buttons, and she had to stand on her toes to reach the top one. Lucius remarked, ¡°It appears that we¡¯re going to spend the entire day taking off my cape.¡± With a slight tone of annoyance, Freya replied, ¡°My hands can¡¯t seem to reach.¡± But what did he expect? He knew that they had a big height difference, and yet he had asked her to do this. Freya smiled awkwardly and asked, ¡°So you want me to do this?¡± Lucius lowered his whole body so that their faces were almost touching. This was far too close, and Freya took a step back in surprise. Her legs touched the edge of a table, and suddenly Lucius¡¯ hands were on the table causing him to almost embrace her. Freya felt her breathing stutter; she had never known that taking off a cape could be so dangerous. Freya¡¯s mind was swirling, but she quickly regained control. Telling herself that this was only work, and thinking of the gold pieces, she straightened herself up and stretched out her hands. The hair on Lucius¡¯ forehead tickled her face and she felt the butterflies return to her stomach. Her heart began to beat faster, and she wished that he would back off a little. She was aware that her face was glowing and she tried to hide it from his view. Her hands still trembled, but she finally managed to loosen the top button and the cape fell onto the carpet. ¡°That took a long time,¡± murmured Lucius as he straightened his back and finally moved away from her. She noticed that her hands were wet, and realized that she had never felt such intensity when helping Archer remove his cape. Now that Lucius had moved away from her, Freya was able to take stock of her situation. She thought that she was probably so nervous because she knew that Lucius could behead her if he so wished. She bent down to retrieve that cape from the floor, and then Lucius pointed at the dark blue jacket. Freya felt as though she had been in the tent for a long time already, even though less than five minutes had passed since they arrived. She reached for the small golden button on the jacket, but Lucius quickly interjected and said, ¡°Did I say this?¡± Freya opened her mouth but, in her confusion, was unable to say anything. Lucius remarked, ¡°I supervise people around me very thoroughly. This is something you should know.¡± She didn¡¯t know what he was talking about, but she did not want to let him know that. So she focused on the new button that was proving difficult to get undone. Lucius continued, ¡°Trust is the most important trait. I have believed in this notion for the whole of my life.¡± Freya nodded affirmatively, but in her mind, she remembered her time at the orphanage. There had certainly been no trust, love, or hope there. Now she wondered why the Crown Prince, with his apparent bloodlust, would say such a thing. It did not match with the image of him charging into battle with his enemies. The jacket finally became undone, and Freya felt a small relief. She had only helped him take off his clothes, and already she was sweating, anxious, and more than a little exhausted. She wished that he would disappear to the bedroom, for then she would be able to breathe steadily a little and regain her composure. But it seemed like Lucius was not planning to go anywhere. Lucius¡¯ tight shirt clung to his body, accentuating the shape and tone of his muscles. In a similar way, his dark blue pants revealed his well-defined thighs. Freya couldn¡¯t help but think that she had never seen a man quite like this before, and her heart began to flutter. She noticed his sharp nose and the blonde hair on his head, waving like cotton in the wind. She wondered how he look so good and promising, while at the same time being so strange-mannered and angry. She had never met a man like this before and was only used to heavy-bearded like Archer in this environment. Pretty things made people weak, and Freya knew that the things that she liked especially were blonde hair and cats. Freya¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by Lucius asking, ¡°What is that weird look on your face?¡± This caused her to feel immediately embarrassed, so she looked down at the floor. With a shrug of his wide shoulders, Lucius walked toward the table and pulled the dagger out of the map that was spread on the table. This new servant was starting to bother him and he wasn¡¯t quite sure why as of yet. Had she been sent as a spy by Hart? Perhaps she was a magician who had come to cast spells on him and weaken him before Hart¡¯s attack. Her piercing green eyes stared at him, and he began to feel a heavy headache growing in his temples. He groaned quietly, causing a startled Freya to yell, ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Lucius knew that this was the after-effect of one of the magic potions, for he had experienced this feeling before. The sudden headache, nausea and blurred vision had visited him three or four times since he had last drunk the potion. Freya recognized the potential danger of the dagger in Lucius¡¯ hand and, taking a thick cloth from the table, extracted the dagger from Lucius and wrapped it up. She wondered how she had managed to be this unlucky on her first day at work, and told Lucius, ¡°Your Majesty, I will call for help.¡± Despite the sweat dripping from Lucius¡¯ head, he curtly replied, ¡°Help is not necessary.¡± He lurched toward her and, stumbling, fell towards her and put out his hands. Unfortunately, the first thing that he grabbed was Freya¡¯s neck, causing her to yell out in shock. What on earth was happening? His hands slipped from her neck and he fell to the floor, while Freya stared on in shock. What a shocking turn of events! Freya knew she couldn¡¯t just leave him on the floor, so she bent down and tried to lift his heavy frame from the ground. One hand covered his eyes, and his other clenched Freya¡¯s hand and he whispered agonizingly, ¡°To the bed¡­¡± Freya frowned, wondering why nobody was coming in to help. Surely that guard with the spear had heard the commotion and would be coming in soon to help His Majesty? She struggled to lift him, but after employing all of her strength, she finally hoisted him up on the bed. She was sweating all over and she thought to herself that His Majesty was not well at all. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 42 Lucius looked extremely unwell and fell into a deep slumber as soon as he lay down on the bed. As his breathing took on the rhythm of sleep, Freya collapsed on the floor beside the bed. She lifted her hand to massage the rope marks on her neck. The rope had certainly left a visible imprint on her neck, and she could see a slight trace on her wrist as well. She considered how hard it was to earn money as she massaged her arms and legs. Surely there was another way, without getting hurt while trying to support His Majesty? The realization that this was Lucius¡¯ private space suddenly dawned on her, making her get up quickly to leave. She saw the sun high up in the sky and sighed a sad sigh. It seemed like it had been a long time since a day had passed so slowly, and the nerves she felt that added to her fatigue were not helping. However, the sight of the messy room spurred her into action; she knew that she had to make the room tidy again before His Majesty woke up. So she rolled out the folded carpet so that it covered the floor, and began her simple cleaning tasks. When the table was cleared of cups and plates, she stood back and surveyed her work and felt pride in her cleaning skills. This was certainly one thing that she could do exceptionally well. She cast her mind back over the unfortunate events that had happened earlier and considered that it was unlikely that such bad luck would fall on her every day. The five gold coins that she had earned also helped a lot, and she smiled widely as she thought of how helpful that reward would be. Freya¡¯s thoughts were interrupted by Herro, who suddenly came into the tent calling her name. She put down the dagger that she was about to clean and asked Herro what was wrong. Herro took her hand and led her outside, and she followed him towards the barracks. As they got closer, he gave her an apple and instructed her to eat it. Herro asked, ¡°Is His Majesty resting now?¡± Freya began to answer that yes, he was, but Herro shushed her and, with a glance around the area as if to check that nobody was listening, continued to speak. ¡°Freya, I know things have been a little unusual today. But there are some things that I must tell you.¡± Freya indicated that she was listening and Herro continued. ¡°Do not tell anyone about His Majesty¡¯s condition. Also, do not allow anyone to enter the tent without permission from His Majesty. Aside from Gemini and myself, His Majesty¡¯s permission must be obtained for anyone to enter that tent.¡± Freya murmured that she understood, but she was thinking to herself that this job might not be as easy as she had initially thought. She told Herro that His Majesty had been acting a little strangely, but Herro just replied that it was probably due to tiredness as His Majesty hadn¡¯t slept for the past few days. She was about to react in shock, but Herro quickly disappeared and left Freya alone to return to the tent. When Freya arrived back at the tent, Lucius was awake and looking angrily at her and sharply asked, ¡°Where did you go?¡± Freya quickly replied, ¡°I had to use the bathroom,¡± as she remembered that no one was allowed to enter the tent. She didn¡¯t know why, but her words embarrassed her. She would never feel so uncomfortable saying something like that to Archer, but now for some unknown reason, she felt very unusual saying them to His Majesty. Lucius was moving around the tent, tutting and muttering about how untidy the tent was. Freya thought he was just nitpicking, as she knew how clean it was after her hard work. She felt confident so she lifted her head to look at him, and he put his feet out in front of her and instructed, ¡°Clean my shoes.¡± Freya nodded in acknowledgment and sat down and put his feet on a wooden stool. She inspected the two shoes closely, but she couldn¡¯t find a single speck of dust on them. She looked at him and said, ¡°But Your Majesty, these shoes are clean already.¡± Lucius glared at her and snapped, ¡°Just clean them.¡± Freya grabbed a cloth and began to clean the shoes as best she could. Lucius continued, ¡°As your job is to be beside me always, you should feel honored. Many would like to have such an opportunity.¡± Freya murmured in agreement, but she didn¡¯t feel proud or honored. Her main incentive was the money, and it was the thought of receiving that money that kept her going. Lucius then announced, ¡°I¡¯m going to look around the barracks now, so please prepare me to step outside.¡± Freya hurriedly grabbed the cape from the wall, put it on Lucius, and then closed it up. There was no such trouble as she had had the last time she dealt with that cape. Lucius seemed satisfied and quickly said, ¡°OK, let¡¯s go.¡± Freya was confused, and asked, ¡°Am I going with you?¡± Lucius responded by tutting disappointedly and saying, ¡°It¡¯s so annoying that I have to teach you so much.¡± Freya wondered to herself why he hadn¡¯t chosen someone who knew all this instead of her, but she knew she couldn¡¯t say anything and instead followed him out of the tent. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 43 A month had passed since Freya started to work as Lucius¡¯ servant. He had spent so much time nagging her and it seemed that he did not like her being still. Compared to Archer, or even Sophia, Lucius nagged her so much. But Sophia had often hit her, something Lucius had never done, so in that respect, she supposed that she was able to consider herself lucky. Still, she felt bored by the tediousness of everyday life. Lucius was leading his army to the forest today, and Freya stood around staring at the horses and supplies. She didn¡¯t have anything particular that she had been tasked with, and she had been told that she couldn¡¯t go anywhere. She thought to herself that Lucius was somewhat of a bully, and she wished that she were able to enjoy the nice sunshine with Archer, perhaps eating a chicken leg or two. Her sense of boredom was making her feel tired, so she bent down and picked up a branch to distract herself. She saw the white tights covering her legs, and wondered why she had been instructed to wear white. It didn¡¯t make much sense, as her job often required her to get dirty, yet Lucius had insisted that she be dressed in white. From the corner of her eye, she saw Gemini standing nearby and wondered why they had never exchanged many words apart from the standard common greetings. She resolved to try and talk with him now, and approached with a simple, ¡°Hello Sir.¡± Gemini acknowledged Freya¡¯s presence with a nod, so she continued, ¡°His Majesty went to check for enemies in the forest.¡± Gemini didn¡¯t seem to be in a talking mood and brusquely replied, ¡°I know. I¡¯m waiting for his request for backup.¡± Freya suddenly remembered something from the recent past, and with some courage, she asked Gemini, ¡°Sir, do you want to start repaying the debt that you owe me?¡± Gemini¡¯s calm expression cracked and he snapped, ¡°What on earth do you mean?¡± Freya smiled slyly and said, ¡°You know, that time you tortured me.¡± With a troubled expression, Gemini responded, ¡°I already apologized about that. And if you remember correctly, I didn¡¯t torture you in the true sense of the word.¡± Freya lifted her sleeve to reveal a faint red scar on her arm, and explained to Gemini, ¡°You know that my skin is as soft as a baby goat. But this spot where the rope was just would not heal. And when the rains come, my wrists ache in pain. And you are aware of the reason for this, aren¡¯t you?¡± Gemini sighed in resignation, and replied, ¡°OK. Just tell me how you would have me pay you back. What is it that you require?¡± Gemini¡¯s reaction made Freya realize that she now had an advantage over him and thought quickly but carefully about how she could best make use of this situation. With a smile, she announced, ¡°I would like to learn swordsmanship.¡± Gemini looked horrified at the suggestion, so Freya continued, ¡°It¡¯s purely for self-defense. I have no ambition to become a knight or anything like that.¡± She had been getting stronger through her recent training with Archer, and now she was ready to learn some professional skills. Skills that would protect her from people like Shilo if they ever touched her again. Gemini had a pained expression on his face as he explained, ¡°Swordsmanship isn¡¯t something that anybody can learn by picking up a sword and swinging it around.¡± He knew how long it took to develop the stamina required for those who wished to become knights, and he was also aware that it was almost unheard of for a woman to do such a thing. She may be dressed in masculine clothing, but she was still a woman and certainly did not have the credentials to match a man. Gemini simply couldn¡¯t understand why His Majesty had selected this woman to be so close to him when there were so many stronger men available. Freya and Gemini were standing in the field and watching a group of topless men practice fighting. While she was staring at them, Freya asked Gemini, ¡°So I have to do what those men over there are doing?¡± Gemini nodded in affirmation so Freya continued, ¡°And if I can do that, then you will teach me?¡± Gemini hesitated a little and then started, ¡°But¡­. but you are a¡­.¡± Before he could finish his statement, Freya rolled up her sleeves and tucked her shirt into her pants. Gemini wasn¡¯t sure where to direct his gaze at this point, but he reasoned to himself that he had to give her this chance because, after all, he had made a mistake with her in the past. He just hoped that she wouldn¡¯t get hurt. Freya seemed ready to fight at this point, so Gemini selected one of the men from the crowd to be her opponent. The man he selected was small and thin and did not attempt to hide his displeasure at being selected for such a task. He stared at Freya and rudely asked, ¡°Are you just playing with us here because you¡¯re a servant of His Majesty?¡± Freya didn¡¯t seem bothered by his aggressive tone, and confidently replied, ¡°I hope you can teach me well.¡± A crowd was forming around them as curious onlookers began to gather. Something like this was highly unusual, and a welcome break from the monotony of their daily existence. A referee had appeared and held a red flag and began to wave it in the direction of Freya and her opponent, who growled, ¡°I won¡¯t go easy on you because you¡¯re a girl.¡± The small, thin man charged at Freya and tried to grab her collar. He didn¡¯t see the point of making any kind of strategy as this was clearly a matter of course. This young girl would have no idea about fighting and he was going to make her look extremely foolish. He imagined the praise and attention that he would get from his fellow soldiers in the evening as they drank together and laughed about the events that were about to transpire. Unfortunately, he was so caught up in his thoughts that he hadn¡¯t bothered with any kind of guard. Freya, quick as lightning, had recognized this and moved her head from left to right to quickly avoid him. She had practiced this kind of maneuver with Archer previously, and he was much bigger than the man who was currently in front of her. She easily dodged his charge and he flew right past her. When he turned around to face her again, his face was red with anger and he exclaimed, ¡°You sneaky wench. Do you believe you can defeat me by simply moving out of my way?¡± With a loud yell, he launched himself at Freya again and this time she was too slow to avoid his charge. She flew through the air after his impact and landed in the corner, covered in dirt. Her opponent was laughing loudly, along with some of the crowd. Freya picked out Gemini¡¯s face and saw that he was watching, motionless, with no expression. Freya was shocked as she lay on the floor and tried to get her breath back. Surely she should have been able to dodge the skinny brute who had charged at her. He hadn¡¯t seemed faster than Archer, who she had practiced with many times, but now she felt embarrassment at having been put down in the corner by him. Her opponent approached her, still grinning widely, and said, ¡°If you give up now, I will stop.¡± Was his pride damaged at having to fight a lady? Freya resolved to continue, as she wanted to get the better of this man. She replied, ¡°If it¡¯s OK with you, I¡¯d like to continue.¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 44 Freya stood up and fixed her clothes, then resumed her fighting stance. The man jeered at her, ¡°If you really want to end up with broken bones, then let¡¯s go again.¡± The referee waved his flag, and he charged at her again. Freya quickly realized that he was using the exact same tactic that he had previously used. He couldn¡¯t even be bothered to change his attack, so Freya knew immediately what she had to do. She raised her hand, lowered her body, and began counting silently to herself. Archer had told her not to act too quickly in this kind of situation; the way to succeed was to wait until the opponent was at the right distance and then attack properly. As the man reached her, she stepped on his knees and grabbed his head with both hands. At the same time, she brought her knee up with sudden force so that it smashed against his chin sending him sprawling onto the floor crying, ¡°My chin, my chin¡­¡± The crowd had become silent and were staring in wonder at this small but monstrous girl. They murmured to each other, ¡°See how she broke Jimmy¡¯s chin with her knee. Where could such a girl have come from?¡± As the crowd continued staring at her, Freya went over to the man called Jimmy and offered her hand saying, ¡°Thanks for teaching me.¡± However, he brushed her hand away and buried his nose in the ground, deeply embarrassed and ashamed. With a shrug of her shoulders, Freya walked away and headed toward Gemini, who was watching in the crowd. She approached him boldly and said, ¡°So what do you think? Now, are you willing to teach me?¡± Gemini stood looking carefully at Freya. His face was somewhat distorted as he couldn¡¯t quite believe what he had seen. He had rarely felt much in the way of changing emotions, as he had been born into the Count Stern family as the second child. He had always been interested in combat; swords, archery, martial arts, and horseback riding were all hobbies that he had had for a long time. After he became the Crown Prince¡¯s guard, his sole focus had been protecting Lucius. And yet he had never seen a person move as quickly and skillfully as this woman, not even the multitude of knights that he had known over the years. He thought that he would have to reconsider his previously held belief that women were not as strong as men, after seeing Freya¡¯s recent performance. He sighed deeply as he pondered these matters, and was suddenly interrupted by Freya asking, ¡°Sir, why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Gemini was aware of the sharp energy around the woman in front of him, even though she was barely tall enough to reach his chest. Such quick movements from a small body didn¡¯t seem normal to him, and he considered that if she knew how to use a dagger effectively, she would be perfect for surprise attacks on the enemy. He looked at Freya and said, ¡°Ok, I will teach you in small steps whenever we have time.¡± Freya¡¯s face lit up into a smile and she quickly replied, ¡°Are you sure? You¡¯re not just saying that?¡± Gemini replied, ¡°The men of Stern always keep their promise.¡± The wind was blowing Gemini¡¯s hair around, and his face remained serious. Freya thought to herself that despite his lack of expression, he was still quite handsome due to his tall height. She was thinking that there were quite a few handsome men around here, but now she was focused on Gemini. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice from behind her. ¡°What are you two talking about? Why are you staring at each other like that?¡± Freya turned around and saw Lucius, sweaty and glaring, standing behind her and looking at them quizzically. She didn¡¯t think she had done anything wrong, and her eyes widened in defense as she felt that she was suddenly being criticized. Gemini stood up quickly and answered, ¡°There¡¯s no reason, Your Highness! We were just¡­.¡± But he was interrupted by Lucius who kept glaring at Freya and said, ¡°I thought I ordered you to stand there and not move?¡± Lucius was pulling his chainmail aggressively and Freya wondered what he expected from her. Was she supposed to just stand still like a statue for hours on end? She wanted to return his aggressive glare but she knew that was impossible. She lowered her head and looked at his clothes, noticing that his white pants were muddy and his shirt was loose at the front. She saw a red line between his neck and chin and wondered what it could be. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted as Lucius snapped, ¡°We¡¯re going back!¡± As Freya began to follow Lucius, Gemini also made it as if to follow them but Lucius stopped and coldly said, ¡°Gemini Stern. You will stay here and guard. Is that not one of your duties to me, as Grand Master?¡± Gemini looked embarrassed and replied, ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± Gemini knew that when His Majesty called him by his full name, it usually meant that he was not in a good mood. He didn¡¯t know what he had done wrong, but he knew from experience that it was best not to press the issue. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 45 Freya had arrived back at the tent and was cleaning a bloody arrow tip when a maid appeared behind her. The maid announced, ¡°His Majesty¡¯s bath water is ready.¡± Upon hearing this, Lucius put down his glass and stood up slowly. He had already taken his armor off and Freya put down the arrow tip and was about to start cleaning the bloody dagger. She wondered what he had done in the forest to have gotten this much blood on his equipment. Of course, there were always rumors, but when she looked at Lucius something didn¡¯t quite seem to add up. As she was rubbing hard at the bloodstains, Lucius asked her, ¡°Freya, what are you doing?¡± She was confused as surely it was perfectly obvious what she was doing? She looked up at him, and he said, ¡°Follow and attend me.¡± She was shocked at his words, as she had always thought that Lucius never had anyone attend him in the bath. There were rumors of how he didn¡¯t like to be touched, and yet now he was asking her to attend him. Freya just couldn¡¯t figure out what was a rumor and what was true in these times. They arrived in the bathing tent, and Freya immediately noticed that it was hot and damp from the steam of the water. Lucius was directed in by the maids, and then he dismissed everyone. Freya thought that was also her cue to leave, so she started to follow the maids out. However Lucius¡¯ voice stopped her in her tracks and he said, ¡°Freya, you stay there.¡± She felt embarrassed but she knew that she had to obey. Lucius¡¯ shirt was wet with sweat, and she could see the outline of his muscles through the shirt. She followed the line of his shirt down toward his long legs, and she wondered what he¡¯d eaten to become so tall. His blonde hair always reminded her of a small face from her past, but the small soft face of baby Ruth was now fading in her memory. There was something familiar in His Majesty¡¯s light green eyes, and she wondered what it was. However she was quickly brought back to the task at hand by Lucius asking, ¡°Freya, why aren¡¯t you taking off my clothes?¡± Freya murmured in acknowledgment and moved to begin the task at hand. The job of a servant certainly seemed more difficult than she had first imagined, and she had not expected it to include bathing duties. However the thought of five gold coins stayed strong in her mind, and she knew that whatever she had to do would ultimately be worth it. Lucius was not kind or comfortable in the way that Archer was, so she knew she couldn¡¯t talk back to him. Gritting her teeth and resolving to do her best, she untied his shirt so that he was completely naked from the waist up. The pants remained, but Freya was not sure that she could continue. Lucius pointed over to a chemise and said, ¡°Bring that to me.¡± Freya quickly obeyed and put it on Lucius, making sure that it came right down to cover his knees. Lucius then removed his pants by himself and slowly got into the hot tub. Freya felt relieved that he had taken the last step by himself, but she wished he had explained this before. She knew of his unusual personality, but this was her first time doing a bath attendant and she was trying her best. She gently said, ¡°Your Majesty, I do apologize but this is my first time on bathing duties. It would be much easier for me to do it well if you could tell me the order.¡± Lucius didn¡¯t bother to reply and simply pointed at his hair as an instruction for her to wash it. Freya opened the hair cleaner bottle and, after smelling it, poured some into her hand and began to wet his hair. It was so soft to her fingers, and she imagined that she was touching flowers in a garden. She began to rub the cleaner into his scalp, and he lay back with his arms on the side of the tub and his eyes closed. Freya wished that he would tell her what to do next, as she felt unsure of what she was supposed to be doing. She finished on his head and moved her hands down to rub his naked shoulders and collarbone, hoping that this was the right thing to do. The room was getting warmer, and Freya felt that she might fall asleep if the temperature maintained itself for much longer. As she looked at Lucius in the hot water, she was reminded of her own bath before and she felt like her nerves were slowly melting. She resolved to move around actively, so she went over to gather the rest of the flowers and put them in the tub. She was thinking about Ruth and wondered if she was growing up well. It had been around three years since they had last met which, by Freya¡¯s calculations, made Ruth almost ten years old now. Her mouth felt tingly as she thought of Ruth, so she looked at Lucius again and saw that his eyes were closed and he looked almost as if he were dreaming. She couldn¡¯t help thinking that he looked pretty with his eyes closed, and she smiled as she added more flowers to the water. Lucius¡¯ eyes suddenly snapped open and focused on her, and she saw him through the falling flowers that she was dropping into the water. He spoke sternly to her, ¡°Your blatant gaze is rather uncomfortable to me.¡± Freya looked shocked and replied, ¡°Pardon?¡± Lucius continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t you just lick your lips like I was a piece of meat that you wanted to devour?¡± It felt as though he were mocking her, and she wanted to explain that it was all a misunderstanding. She hadn¡¯t licked her lips at all, rather she had just smiled a little. As a matter of fact, even her smile hadn¡¯t been for him but had come from her thoughts about Ruth. However, she knew that she was not able to say this to him, so she replied, ¡°It seems like I was hungry.¡± She knew how pathetic this sounded and felt ashamed and embarrassed. *** The bath was over and Lucius now sat on a chair in his tent drinking tea. Freya was beside him, wondering why he hadn¡¯t dismissed her yet. It was long after the time that she was supposed to finish, and she kept glancing outside of the tent in the hope that he would realize and send her away. But Lucius looked at her and announced, ¡°I¡¯m reminded of something every time I look at you.¡± Lucius drank his tea and thought of a beast he had seen in a field, far away in a ruined land. He wasn¡¯t sure of the name of this particular beast, but Freya with her neck stuck out reminded him a lot of it. She answered quickly after just dismissing whatever he said. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 46 ¡°It¡¯s an honour.¡± She was responding to most of Lucius¡¯s words with this. At first, she felt a little sick, but now that she got used to it, she wasn¡¯t thinking much about it. ¡°Your Majesty, if you don¡¯t need me anymore then I¡¯ll dismiss-.¡± Lucius, quick-witted, was very displeased that she was dealing with him with no effort. That wasn¡¯t all. The weird emotion that he felt earlier in the day wasn¡¯t going away. As he saw the red skin on Freya¡¯s body, he felt displeased. Lucius hated when someone touched anything that was his. He spoke to Freya who was still looking for a chance to get out of here. ¡°There¡¯s something left for you to do.¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± Freya¡¯s face showed disappointment that she couldn¡¯t hide. Lucius faintly smiled at her distorted face. That moment, the tent opened and many servants appeared. Soon a dinner table that had so much food that its legs might break was prepared. ¡°What is happening?¡± Today was the first time she saw so much food prepared on this table. Lucius usually ate little so he only ate one meal, two at most. As all the preparation were finished, the servants left. The tent was full of the sweet smell of bread and the smell of pork roasting on the fire. Oh my god! Feels like my stomach is turning. Freya, who was just swallowing saliva while staring at the table, looked away. No matter how delicious the food was, she didn¡¯t want to eat with Lucius. Not like he¡¯d call a lowly person like me anyway. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯ll be off then.¡± ¡°Sit over there.¡± Lucius, who already sat at the middle of the table while holding a wine glass, ordered her. ¡°How could I sit at the same table as you-.¡± Freya was sweating as she didn¡¯t know what to do. Then Lucius put down his glass, frowned and spoke. ¡°If anyone heard, it would sound like I invited you. If you don¡¯t attend, then how would I eat meat like that?¡± Lucius¡¯ face looked very serious and Freya for a moment thought it was logical. But the meat was already cut and so was the bread. All he had to do was to use the tongs to put it on his plate. He can¡¯t do that so he¡¯s going to use me? ¡°Hurry¡­.¡± The chair was also beside Lucius so Freya went near him with an uncomfortable expression. ¡°Cut the meat very small.¡± ¡°Ok.¡± As Freya cut the meat like she was crushing it, Lucius ordered her to taste it. ¡°Me?¡± Freya was wondering what¡¯s gotten into Lucius who always bullied her and asked back loudly. Lucius, who was swerving his glass, talked lazily. ¡°There are so many people that want to kill me.¡± ¡°Ah¡­.¡± Of course. He wouldn¡¯t be someone who¡¯d just be kind to her. He doesn¡¯t know if this will kill me, but it¡¯ll save him. Freya looked up and remembered what Archer told her. The ghost of a well-fed person looks better. Freya frowned a little and put the meat into her mouth. ¡°Oh!¡± She was chewing the meat carefully and let out a huge exclamation. ¡°Why do you feel poison or something?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s just that it was very delicious.¡± It was something she¡¯s never tasted before. The meat I had before doesn¡¯t count as meat. Normally the meat she ate was tough and had a weird smell so she had to bite roughly into it. But this meat, its skin was crunchy and its inside was so soft that it melted the moment she put it in her mouth. Freya quickly put the other meat on the plate and gave it to him. ¡°It should be ok for you to eat.¡± Lucius ate the meat in a very small portion, and Freya started to test all the food on the table. Honestly, she could tell the poison by just poking the food with a fork, but she was willing to do the work properly. But as she tasted more and more, she felt thirsty. I want more. She kept eating food, but for some reason, she felt more hungry. Why is he only looking at the food and not eating it? Freya frowned as she saw that Lucius was barely eating the food she handed to him. Freya met his eyes as she was about to take a little portion of other food and taste it. ¡°¡­.Yikes!¡± ¡°What¡¯s that expression?¡± ¡°Nothing. I was just wondering why you weren¡¯t eating.¡± Freya wiped the saliva off her mouth and pretended as nothing happened. ¡°I thought I was hungry, but that wasn¡¯t the case. You can do whatever you want with the leftovers.¡± ¡°¡­. Pardon?¡± Freya¡¯s voice was so loud that the shadow of the soldier that was guarding the tent flinched. She was flabbergasted at the luck she was having as it wasn¡¯t even her birthday. ¡°But how can I eat these?¡± ¡°Then you should throw it all away.¡± ¡°No, no.¡± Freya waved her hands at his words. In this tent, his words are the law. It¡¯s not because I¡¯m tempted by the food or anything. I¡¯m his servant and following the Crown Prince¡¯s order. Also, throwing away food is committing a horrible sin. She opened her mouth with a very serious face. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take your order.¡± Freya put a big piece of pork on her plate. How greedy. She¡¯s attacking the expensive meat first. Lucius smiled while sipping on wine. He had trouble digesting as he was sensitive so he skipped dinner most of the time. ¡°But why did I have them prepared such a meal today?¡± Lucius secretly asked Freya, who wasn¡¯t even looking up from her plate. Yes, this is bait. It was so that he could hold Freya, who always wanted to leave at night. Chapter 47 Lucius kept Freya near him for the past month and observed her. At first, he doubted that she was a spy sent by his stepbrother. It was possible that she would collect information and send it to Hart. There were some that were like that. The people he picked as a servant put poison on his food, and put poison on his chemise. They tried to strangle him with a rope in his sleep and attacked him with a dagger. It was endless. Because of that Lucius slowly kept his distance from people, and in the end, he couldn¡¯t trust anyone. He was able to survive as he doubted everyone that wasn¡¯t Gemini or Herro. I doubted that she was a lady sent by Milady¡­ Milady, unlike Hart, tried to destroy Lucius¡¯s determination. She tried to persuade Lucius by sending an endless amount of young and pretty ladies. It seemed like she wanted to laugh at him who was all washed up because of love. But it¡¯s so weird. What was the connection between the lady who was eating meat while having grease on her cheeks and licking her ten fingers and Milady? No way she thought that I would fall for that right? It seemed certain that she wasn¡¯t sent by Hart nor Milady. Huh, why does her eating bother me? Freya didn¡¯t pay any attention to Lucius who was beside her and focused on the meat. Her cheeks were full of grease. She looks like a chipmunk. Lucius was worried that she might suffocate. ¡°Slow down. You¡¯re going to get heartburn.¡± ¡°It¡¯s ok. My digesting ability is no match.¡± As Lucius was looking at Freya, who waved her hand and ate meat again, his headaches a moment. Freya, eat slowly. You¡¯re going to get heartburn. In Lucius¡¯s head was a kind voice that didn¡¯t seem like his. What is this? When Lucius put his hand on his forehead, Freya stopped eating. ¡°Ah! Hold on a moment.¡± She wiped her greasy hands on the clothes and brought a small glass bottle. It was made by Herro and he asked her to feed it to Lucius if he was in pain. ¡°Here, drink it quickly.¡± Lucius took the bottle she gave and stared into Freya¡¯s eyes. The green eyes were emitting mystery under the lamp. She feels oddly familiar¡­. But between the noble Royal like him and Freya, there was almost no chance of them knowing each other. I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m thinking this. Am I going insane as Milady wanted him to? Lucius grabbed the medicine bottle and put on a bitter smile. ¡°You may leave now.¡± ¡°Yes, rest well.¡± Freya took the old cape on the wall and looked back at the food, then bowed before she left. As the tent opened, Lucius saw Freya¡¯s jagged hair wave in the wind. He covered his eyes with one arm and let out a long sigh. ¡°I was wondering why he was being so nice.¡± Freya stood outside the tent and sniffed her meat-smelling hands while looking gloomy. ¡°There¡¯s nothing worse than to give it and then take it away¡­¡± Freya mumbled the entire way back. When she arrived at Archer¡¯s tent, he was already asleep. ¡°As if he couldn¡¯t sleep because he was worried.¡± The tent was full of leftovers of the food Archer ate. Freya squatted down to clean it up a little and then found her spot. The moment she put the blanket on the ground and laid down she felt body-breaking pain. ¡°Whew. Feels like I¡¯ll die of exhaustion before I get my money.¡± As she was massaging her shoulder, she could see the shadow of the soldier patrolling. How did I even get here? She felt like she was going to get depressed by thinking so she thought of the moment she was eating meat. ¡°Anyways, it was great meat.¡± Then she remembered Lucius¡¯s face that was staring at her for a long time. The voice that was criticizing her eating fast sounded like something she heard before. ¡°Can¡¯t believe I¡¯m saying this gibberish after eating so much meat.¡± Freya shook her hands to erase Lucius¡¯s face and then closed her eyes. *** Freya pumped out her chest confidently after wearing the white shirt and black pants. The black pants were a little bit so she wrapped lace around her waist a few times, and it was a sign of sewing as it had many holes. The white short also was made from the one that was thrown away by someone so it didn¡¯t fit her well. ¡°But this is still much more comfortable!¡± As she threw away the white shirt that had no practical use, she was humming. The clothes before were just for the look and were uncomfortable. ¡°No way he would take off the clothes I¡¯m wearing.¡± The sight of Lucius¡¯s tent felt a little different than usual for some reason. ¡°Why is it so noisy?¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 48 Best novel online free at novelhall.com If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) You can read the novel fast updates at novelhall.com Chapter 49 ¡°I realized that after coming here.¡± What were they talking about? Freya thought with building confusion. It was obvious she was involved in their conversation but she wasn¡¯t aware how- and couldn¡¯t figure out the tense and weird atmosphere between the two men. While she wondered, she felt Lucius¡¯ rough hand on her arm. Within a second, she was on his lap and she landed with an oomph as her back hit his strong hard legs. She panicked as she attempted to move and push herself off of him but his hands held her in a tight cage. ¡°Keep quiet and assist me, Freya.¡± He whispered in her ear discreetly and Freya shivered involuntarily. This was unlike him, unlike his cold demeaning behavior. His Majesty himself was asking for her assistance? Freya could¡¯ve imagined the effort it took for him to ask for her help, especially. Suddenly, she became more aware of her surroundings and realized the guests were staring at her. Her face burned with shame and she covered it with her palm, hoping to hide. Count Adelion couldn¡¯t hide bewilderment as his face reddened. ¡°Oh my God!¡± He could not do this to him, especially after he and his precious Selena had come a long way to meet him. His doubt was certain on his face as he tried to form a sentence but struggled, squinting and mumbling. Your Majesty Lucius, what are you trying to do? He thought to himself as he clenched his hands under the table. The Count immediately changed his demeanor and bowed politely. His Majesty was acting strangely but that didn¡¯t mean he was going to change his mind. ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯ll see you again at dinner.¡± Count Adelion excused himself and took his surprised daughter, leaving the tent quickly. *** Freya felt like a ridiculous puppy sitting on the Prince¡¯s lap while he waited for the Count and his companions to leave. Lucius pet her gently and smiled at her with a tenderness that was unusual to Freya. She knew he was putting on an act and it made her sick to her stomach realizing he could fake his feelings to such an extent. What was wrong with him? Did the bread he ate have something bad in it? Unless he was insane, it was hard to understand his actions. The moment the Count disappeared, Lucius pushed her to her waist immediately- leaving Freya cold and dejected. Weren¡¯t you just asking for my help? You could be a little less rude. She thought irately as she rolled her eyes behind his back. He headed to the tent without a word, his long strides hard to compete with. He stood waiting in his tent for Freya, a bored expression on his face. ¡°Freya, I¡¯m tired.¡± He commented non-committal as he stood and watched her expectantly. Freya raised her eyebrows irritatedly, as she grumbled and reached to take off his clothes. Her mind was still on the moment they¡¯d shared in the tent, her emotions ranging from angry to confused. She cursed under her breath while she pulled at the fabric roughly. How could he be so indifferent? Did he not care about how she felt because of his crass actions? But then she remembered; of course, she was just a servant, and Lucius was¡­ well him. As she undid his collar, she imagined choking him with the golden rope. ¡°Can¡¯t you do it faster?¡± He grumbled. ¡°Hah!¡± Freya exclaimed to herself angrily. Of course, instead of apologizing, he¡¯d closed his eyes and ordered her to do it faster. But she held herself back. She couldn¡¯t risk angering him and getting herself rid of this position. She needed this to progress. She wanted to hurt him so badly, but she had to hold it in. She undid the sash above the shirt and the ribbon that was tightened around his neck. Why was he even tired? He was dressed, fed, and taken care of by others. Even now, she was undressing him! But she had to know of his motives. ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± She spoke quietly, convinced she¡¯d made a bad choice as soon as her mouth opened. ¡°What is it?¡± He demanded. Lucius opened his eyes from his pseudo slumber and stared at her deeply with his intense blue eyes. ¡°I- Why did you do.. that in the tent..before?¡± She stammered pathetically under his scrutinizing gaze. She was right to question him but it seemed that with every second he stared at her, she felt smaller and unimportant. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± Lucius¡¯ tired eyes blinked at her clearly. It felt like he couldn¡¯t understand why she¡¯d asked the question, that it was weird. ¡°You- grabbed me, and sat me on your thigh¡± she gulped as she remembered the feel of his thighs on her back. ¡°Why? Did that bother you?¡± he asked nonchalantly. Lucius looked like he couldn¡¯t understand, and Freya quickly answered. ¡°No! I..¡± She would look foolish if she let him think she was affected by him. As she answered, Lucius¡¯s eyes became narrow and the tip of his lips went up. ¡°Then there is no reason to mention it.¡± He lifted an eyebrow lazily. ¡°I mentioned it because Selena was looking,¡± she hissed back. ¡°Hm? Who¡¯s that?¡± Freya perked her head up as she was undoing the belt around his waist. How could he forget her? Selena was the most beautiful woman alive! Did he not care at all? After looking at Freya¡¯s questioning eyes, Lucius let out a weary sigh. ¡°I assume you meant Count Adelion¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Selena your fianc¨¦e?¡± ¡°Who said that?¡± he barked out suddenly, his lethargic demeanor quickly converted to a cold and demonic one. He glared at Freya¡¯s neck as he would wring it. Freya touched her neck consciously, wondering if this was how it felt like being hunted by a beast. ¡°Did Count Adelion tell you to say that?¡± He spat out distastefully, his voice rising. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Freya trembled as she looked at the man in front of her. He looked at her ominously, and she kept inching back on her footstool, almost at its edge. ¡°Your Majesty, what is going on?¡± At that moment, Herro and Gemini entered the tent and she lost her balance, her attention diverted. The foothold Freya was standing on flipped and there was a loud sound. Her body flew up for a moment, and she clenched her eyes out of fear. She was going to break a bone. With closed eyes, she reached out and patted for a wound but realized she didn¡¯t hurt. It didn¡¯t hurt? She opened her eyes slowly, her gaze flitting to the frozen faces of Herro and Gemini at the entrance of the tent. She looked up and saw Lucius¡¯ shining eye. For some reason¡­ she was in his protective arms, and he was holding her close to him. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 50 Lucius closed his eyes and groaned, clearly inconvenienced to be stuck in such a weird situation. ¡°Freya, why don¡¯t you get off of me now?¡± He asked the girl who lay sprawled on his chest. Freya desperately wanted to come down. She had no intention of crushing the scary man under him, but it felt like her body had no strength left in it and she couldn¡¯t move. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Your Majesty, I can¡¯t move,¡± She mumbled sheepishly and her voice stuck in her throat as a sob spilled out, followed by a volley of cries. ¡°Gemini, help?¡± The Emperor ordered in a low voice. As Freya sobbed quietly, Gemini walked towards her stiffly and lifted her from her arms. He then sat her on a tent chair while giving her water. ¡°Here, take this,¡± He offered her a pill along with the water and urged her to calm down. ¡°Thank you,¡± Freya stammered as she drank the water carefully. A bewildered Lucius lay on the ground as he watched the sight in front of him, too confused to laugh. ¡°I¡¯m the one who¡¯s hurt,¡± he stated matter-of-factly. He¡¯d instinctively stuck out his arm to stop Freya from falling on the floor and lost his balance as a result. To protect Freya from the fall, he¡¯d pulled her on top of him. He let out a cough, and finally caught Herro¡¯s attention. Herro looked at him coolly and asked, ¡°Your Majesty, are you hurt?¡± Lucius raised an eyebrow at his formal tone. Freya left the tent for Archer¡¯s and Lucius was left behind glaring at his men. Herro, a wizard, whose thoughts he couldn¡¯t figure out to begin with, and his knight Gemini, who barely spoke so Lucius had no idea what he was like either. ¡°I am deeply touched with your loyalty,¡± he spoke coldly, hoping his blockheaded underlings understood his sarcasm. Gemini flinched while the Herro smiled leisurely, waving his hands as if he were dissipating the situation physically. ¡°Your Majesty,¡± he purred softly and closed his arms as he continued. ¡°I assumed a big strong man like you would¡¯ve been able to fend the little maiden, so I didn¡¯t interfere. You were very heroic in helping her and I wouldn¡¯t have stolen your thunder,¡± his smile widened like that of a Cheshire Cats. Lucius clenched his fists, annoyance boiling under his skin as he looked at the impish wizard smirking at him nonchalantly. ¡°I think you¡¯d find yourself a better actor than a wizard,¡± He spoke sourly. ¡°Ah, although it is a sin that my charming good looks are being covered by this hideous wizard cloak, I find myself to be pretty popular here- therefore I stay.¡± He smirked again, running a hand through his long raven black hair. Lucius scoffed, muttering, ¡°all right pretty boy, I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± Herro¡¯s smirk faded and the pleasantries in the air evaporated. He put his arms together and spoke out somberly. ¡°What were you thinking¡­ treating Count Adelion like that?¡± Lucius scoffed again. ¡°I¡¯m tired,¡± he announced and turned to fix his clothes. ¡°You know you need his support,¡± Herro urged impatiently. Lucius¡¯s face darkened as he recalled the events of the day. He¡¯d adorned fancy clothing and mustered through the loud celebrations of the Count¡¯s arrival. Lucius knew that wasn¡¯t enough. He didn¡¯t have many nobles supporting his reign and he was dependent on the famous southern family of Count Adelion¡¯s. He knew there were two reasons that the Count supported him; his later mother belonged to the southern parts and she was close to the Adelion family. The second reason was the daughter of the Count, Selena, who Lucius assumed fancied him. The little red-headed lady whose name he couldn¡¯t remember even after hearing it a million times had started to show her affection towards him a few years ago. ¡°Did she not get my message? It clearly stated my rejection,¡± he grumbled. Even after rejecting her, Selena hadn¡¯t yielded and it came to a point where the Count had come to him with his daughter in hand. Herro smiled sheepishly. ¡°Of course, it¡¯s hard to tell what liking me truly means.¡± Lucius thought bitterly. He did not trust anyone at this point in his life and neither did he like the Count¡¯s blatant arrogance. The Count believed that Lucius was not in a position to reject his proposal and that did not sit right with him. ¡°I believe Miss Selena would make a perfect companion for you,¡± Herro commented. ¡°Probably,¡± Lucius replied without any effort. Considering everything, it would be hard for Lucius to find a good match like this one. If he married Selena, he¡¯d unite with the southern power and could receive wealthy support from the wealthy Adelions. Chapter 51 ¡°Your Majesty, need I remind you, it costs a huge amount to maintain all the weapons, horses, and feed the mercenaries¡­ even during the duration of Count¡¯s visit.¡± Gemini cleared his throat and adjusted his sword consciously at the wizard¡¯s words. They were caught in unfavourable circumstances and needed more than just good tactics and winning battles to continue the reign. Lucius grimaced at Herro¡¯s words. *** ¡°You¡¯re¡­ going hunting?¡± Freya probed curiously. ¡°Yes,¡± The King replied shortly. Freya bustled about the King, dressing him in a leather vest while also shooting him questioning glances. In whatever time she¡¯d spent with the King, she had never once seen him be vivacious about hunting. Unlike the rumors spread about him, he wasn¡¯t always bathed in the blood of people or animals for the pleasure of it. ¡°Maybe he¡¯s just a little out of it,¡± Freya thought as she nodded to herself. ¡°Get ready, you¡¯re going with me,¡± The King ordered, breaking Freya out of her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, me? But I don¡¯t know how to ride or hunt,¡± Freya emphasised, hoping to dissuade him. ¡°No one said you were going to ride,¡± He replied and Freya frowned as she realised he wanted her to carry his things. She packed extra clothes and got herself ready for hunting. The leather bag she held was heavy and she huffed as she dragged it. As she followed the King outside, Selena stood to greet them, her fanciful clothes shining in the sunlight. She wore a beautiful puffy white dress with a red jacket on top. Freya watched her with saucer eyes, her mouth hanging open at the lady¡¯s effortless beauty. ¡°Your Majesty Lucius, I¡¯m so happy you accepted my request.¡± Lucius didn¡¯t answer, choosing to grind his teeth silently. Herro quickly spoke in his place. ¡°Miss Selena, you look exquisite today,¡± He smiled as he bent down to lay a peck on her dainty hand. ¡°Oh my, you flatter me,¡± She giggled slowly, covering her face with her mouth delicately as if she were shy. ¡°Shall we get a move on?¡± Lucius cut through abruptly, and it was apparent through his demeanor that he wasn¡¯t particularly happy about this situation. He rode forward and Selena quickly joined his side. Behind them, Gemini rode with a cavalry of soldiers wielding their swords and spears. Freya walked alone behind the procession, thinking to herself. ¡°The other side is trying to kill us and they are out here enjoying hunting,¡± When her thoughts shifted towards Archer and the wounds he came with sometimes, she felt a wave of displeasure go through her. She quickly sighed, she knew she couldn¡¯t do anything about it even if she didn¡¯t like it. Her gaze flicked towards the front of the procession. The hunt was a treat for the Count, and his daughter, the fair Selena. She admired the way Selena spoke, the air of confidence yet simplicity that hung about her. Freya wouldn¡¯t have been able to imitate it even if she tried. She huffed as she dragged the heavy buffalo skin bag. Why did they feel the need to change their clothes at the hunting grounds, Freya would never understand. The scout who was assigned with her was nowhere to be seen but she could hear the sounds of the hunting horn bellowing in the distance and could estimate where the procession might be. ¡°I¡¯ll just rest for a bit,¡± Freya declared to herself and sat under the shade of a large comforting tree, plucking a grass blade from the ground and placing it between her teeth thoughtfully. She envisioned her future, a little house paired with a farm and a beautiful garden. If she saved coins for herself each month, she¡¯d be able to achieve her goal. It would be better to move to the north, as the south wasn¡¯t much plentiful for paupers like herself, then her thoughts shifted to Lottie and she gripped her hands. ¡°I wonder if she¡¯s doing well,¡± Freya grimaced and sighed deeply. She hated that she had to leave him as she did. She should¡¯ve just grabbed him and ran. She spat on the grass and heard the faraway sounds of the horn. A flock of birds flew up in a flurry and Freya gave a grim smile, someone was successful in his hunt. She mused over her swordsmanship skills and realised she should practice. Gemini had told her that her body wasn¡¯t fit for a longsword but she could use a dagger and practice on her surprise attacks. She grabbed a stick from the ground and practiced swinging. ¡°It would look ridiculous to someone.¡± She laughed and continued swinging, her body heating up as her movements quickened and she repeated her moves. After a while, she grew hungry, and sat on the ground, devouring the bread she brought along with her. She lifted her head and sniffed the air, realising it would probably rain. She didn¡¯t consider herself superstitious but a disaster always occurred on rainy days. Freya suddenly realised she¡¯d strayed far too long from the royal company. She was Lucius¡¯s servant, after all, she needed to take care of him. So she picked up the heavy bag and made her way towards the King. Repetition was the only meaning of becoming skilled. She was hungry as she moved quite a bit. Freya took out a piece of bread and started to chew on it a little. To get to the King, she needed to go through the forest and cross a wide river. She sighed and wished she¡¯d gone with the King earlier. She walked quickly, her head down. All of a sudden, a scream pitched through the forest and Freya froze, her back flooded with cold sweat in an instant. Her eyes fell upon the origin of the sound and she quickly hid behind a tree. Before she was an army of men who wore uniforms unfamiliar to her. She realised the soldiers were advancing towards the place where she¡¯d last spotted the King¡¯s cavalry. Her heartbeat quickened as she realised something bad might unfold in front of her, her body caught in the unease she felt when Sophia had beat her senseless. Freya remembered Archer¡¯s words. King Lucius wasn¡¯t just protecting the outskirts but the entire Morciani Empire. She needed to warn the King, he was in danger. At that moment, she thought about nothing but Lucius and his blonde head. Chapter 52 ¡°I don¡¯t care if he bullies me, I just hope I find him,¡± Freya panted as she ran in the direction of the King. She spotted a horse running out of the forest and judging by the laces, she knew it was Miss Selena. ¡°What is going on?¡± She frowned as she continued to run towards the scene before her. She started to slow down as she realized what she saw. There were dead bodies of soldiers littered all over the ground in front of her. She felt an empty hollow in her chest and the little lunch she had moments earlier threatened to spill out. She ignored the tangy taste of bile that sat on her tongue like an uninvited guest and dug her fingers into her palm to prevent her from emptying her innards. Freya¡¯s hair was soaked through from the rain that was falling around her, rain that she hadn¡¯t noticed until the droplets trickled down into her eyes. She didn¡¯t have the strength to stretch out her arm and prevent the droplets from falling on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sure His Majesty is okay, he has the brave Sir Gemini backing him,¡± Freya shuddered as she thought of the King and his Knight. She stopped in her tracks as she realized Gemini lay on the ground, his face deathly pale. She rushed to him, preventing her thoughts from going to the fact that no one might be protecting His Majesty. She leaned down next to the big man, and reached under his arms, struggling to pull him under a tree to shield him. She heard him groan and she sat down to him quickly. He reached out with speed he shouldn¡¯t normally have had and grabbed Freya¡¯s arm, causing her heart to skip dangerously. ¡°The coward shot a poisonous arrow at me.¡± He mumbled slowly and Freya was taken aback by his milky white eyes and his chest rising and falling rapidly. ¡°Sir Gemini, where is his Majesty?¡± Freya asked urgently, clamping a hand on the Knight¡¯s much larger one. ¡°Please¡­take care of-¡± And with those words, he lost consciousness again. Freya felt a wave of uneasiness flood her body. She had no idea where she was and how long she¡¯d walked among the corpses that lay dead on the ground. Her nostrils burned with the sharp tang of blood mixed with mud and water, her body shivering as she looked among the masses with impending urgency. Finally, after what seemed like hours of searching, Freya detected a golden halo among the corpses. Her breath caught in her throat as she ran towards him, her jaw clamped strongly to stop her from screaming out. ¡°Your Majesty!!!¡± She cried out as she ran to Lucius, almost slipping as she sat next to him. It was him alright, weak and pale, his eyes dropping yet his hand clenched around his sword as if he were still waiting to fight. ¡°Your Majesty, please hang on,¡± Freya stammered at the half-conscious King, who had been getting ready to attack feverishly but had stopped at the sound of her voice. ¡°I need you to get up,¡± She insisted as she gripped at his arms. ¡°Freya¡­¡± He mumbled slowly. Freya knew there were people out there who put targets on his head, who were ready to strike him down if they had the opportunity. She hadn¡¯t, however, realized the impact it would have on her. The King, lying there helpless and wounded. It had taken everything in her to stop herself from crying and puking but she couldn¡¯t stop the tremors in her arms and she tried to move the King. She then realized he was still in danger, and anything could happen at any moment. Eyes wide open with fear, Freya looked around with the caution of a frightened animal. She had to shield the King from any further attacks but she couldn¡¯t understand how she could move a man of his girth across the field without attracting any unfriendly attention. To her luck, Lucius¡¯ horse stood to a distance from them, neighing nervously. Freya was too worn out to smile at his loyalty so she slapped its rear hard, hoping to frighten it and make it run in another direction. Which it did, to her relief, as it galloped away crazily. Freya prayed it was an ample distraction to any enemies watching until she was able to help move the King to a safer place. Behind her, Lucius let out a painful moan and Freya¡¯s heart clenched with hurt and anger, her face burning at the sight of him. She had no idea what to do, and it felt like her legs had been trapped in a sandpit, the sands slowly sucking her down into the ground, blurring her consciousness. ¡°Stop it,¡± she commanded herself and punched herself in the arm. The pain focused her mind again and she began to think of ways she could help the King. Thankfully, the King¡¯s eyes had snapped open and Freya sat next to him. ¡°Your Majesty, I need you to walk with me, please.¡± She asked slowly. The King¡¯s eyes registered acceptance and he groaned again as he tried to sit up. ¡°You can lean on me,¡± Freya said, her voice almost a whisper. The King wrapped his huge arm around her shoulders and Freya had to hold her breath as she shouldered his weight and help him walk across the expanse of the land to a safer place. She had lost all concept of time as she leaned the King into a small burrowed shelter she¡¯d found a few miles away from where they¡¯d originally been. She rubbed her numb arm and ran out to find leaves and weed to help cover their hiding place. By the time she was finished, Freya sank with shaking hands in front of a burrow with water. Her hands painted the water red and she was confused about where she¡¯d gotten the blood from. She shuddered as she remembered her proximity to the dead soldiers on the battlefield. Suddenly, her back became ramrod straight as she realized the blood might have come from the King. She ran to Lucius. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 53 ¡°Your Majesty, where are you hurt?¡± She asked urgently. ¡°Water¡­ I need water,¡± Lucius mumbled in reply. Freya scanned his body from top to toe. He was covered in mud and his clothes were soaked in his blood. She ran to the burrow and collected water in her hands. Running back to him carefully, she inched her fingers in his cold mouth. ¡°Drink,¡± she instructed softly. He drank the droplets from her hands slowly but wasn¡¯t able to drink fully and spilled the rest. ¡°You have to drink more water,¡± she prodded at the King again. She assumed he would have been poisoned too if he were facing the same men Gemini did. She brought more water for him, streaming water between his lips. He drank slowly, and Freya was careful not to give him too much lest he choked on it. She then realized he was soaked through and he would catch a cold along with the poison that wracked through his body. That would be too much to handle, even for a man like him. She looked back at the leather bag she had brought along and sighed with relief. She set to work the clothes off of him and dressed him in the warm dry clothes she¡¯d packed. By the time she was done, she felt small trickles of sweat running down her back and her temples. She looked around, hoping to find a way to make a fireplace in the burrow and warm the both of them. She regretted not paying attention to Archer when he¡¯d offered to teach but she couldn¡¯t do anything about it now so she resorted to cleaning Lucius¡¯ face, neck, and hands with a damp cloth. Soon, the sky darkened and the world became quiet, only the sounds of the nightlife remaining. Freya was just about to nod off when she heard the sound of a horse running through the land behind her. She stiffened, looking for the source as she hid behind a tree. She soon saw him, a rider with unfamiliar colors and an aggressive air around him trotted by with his horse. Freya knew he was one of the enemies and remained hidden. After a while, she crept back to her hiding place to the King, careful not to make a noise. She¡¯d waited a while before coming back but she was still afraid the rider might come back. Sensing her arrival, Lucius moaned loudly. ¡°No, no quiet,¡± Freya hissed and she leaned to him. ¡°Your Majesty, you need to remain quiet,¡± she said again but the King did not oblige, his moans growing louder. Panicking, Freya looked at the man before her, fear of being caught by the hostile man gripping her like a cage. ¡°I¡¯m going to regret this,¡± She thought and covered his mouth with hers quickly. He sensed her on his lips and pulled her closer, his lips encompassing hers completely. Freya¡¯s mind went blank, all thoughts wiped out as she felt the man¡¯s soft lips nibble her own. Heat surged through her body and she trembled against the King. She struggled against him, but his hands had found their way around her arms, holding her tight as he kissed her. ¡°What is going on,¡± She wailed in her mind, her fingers gripping him. His eyes snapped open and she flew away. ¡°We- we weren¡¯t kissing, it was just a touch- you were being loud!¡± Freya rambled on, too featherbrained to make a complete sentence. She hid her face behind her hands, her cheeks burning. Lucius dragged her back to him, kissing her neck with slow tender kisses. Her breathing quickened and she moaned out slowly, ¡°Your Majesty¡­¡± ¡°I missed you,¡± He spoke, his voice deep. Freya paused, her mind reeling. Was he thinking about someone else, did he confuse her for another? She pushed her forehead away from his gently and watched him as he fell asleep again, his head on a makeshift pillow she¡¯d made for him. He looked content in his sleep, but she was not. Freya found herself fuming as she walked away from him and sat in a corner. She placed cold hands on her heated face. ¡°He is just delusional from the poison in his body, get it together Freya,¡± She commanded herself. She willed her brain to forget what had happened. After a while, she went back to check on him, repeating her routine, and cleaned his body with a wet rag. Thunder cried out in the background and she jumped her heart hammering. Rain soon followed afterward, and she realized the search party wouldn¡¯t be able to find them in this weather. The smell of ozone found its way to Freya as the thunder continued to strike. Despite trying everything, Freya had not gotten over her fear of thunder and lightning. She brought Lucius¡¯ hand to her face, gripping it for comfort. It was the first time after so long that she was sharing such a night with someone else. ¡°What? Freya isn¡¯t afraid of ghosts, but fears the rain?¡± She heard Ruth¡¯s teasing voice speak to her. Her thoughts trailed back to her memories of the orphanage. It had been a day like that day, torrents of rain crashing down around them. Ruth had grabbed her hand, teasing her. She smiled at the memory sadly and gripped Lucius¡¯s cold hand. Pressing it slowly to help with the circulation, she watched his beautiful face stuck in a frown in his sleep. She yawned suddenly, her body spent. She¡¯d spent the entire day without rest and now her body and mind were giving up. Fatigue overcame her and Freya found her eyes closing forcefully. Her limbs felt like wet cement and she sighed with contentment as her head found a soft pillow. Her body craved the warmth that came with it and she lost consciousness. Freya woke up slowly, her ears getting used to the birds chirping outside the burrow. She yawned and stretched like a cat. Her body was stiff and it hurt as she got up. The rough surface has done a job on her. She stretched her arms again and jumped as they touched a soft warm surface. She looked back slowly and gasped as she realized she¡¯d spent the entire night on the King, using his arm as a pillow. She flushed with embarrassment, hating that she¡¯d treated the King- her patient- like that. She looked back at him and he¡¯d lost the frown that he had the night before. ¡°At least he was warm all night, he should be okay,¡± She mused as she brushed his hair out of his eyes without thinking. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 54 What if the warmth belonged to her and Lucius died overnight? When Freya crawled back and touched Lucius¡¯ nose, she could feel his breath even though it was weak. Thank God! Freya, who swept his chest, organized Lucius¡¯ clothes that he threw randomly yesterday. ¡°It¡¯s time for someone to show up¡­¡± When she stepped out of the cave, it was hard to open her eyes to the sunlight. Freya was carefully looking outside the bush after pulling out her neck long. At that time, she heard the voice of a slender woman. ¡°Where are you his Majesty!?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s Selena.¡± At the thought of finally being safe, Freya broke through the bushes. She waved her arms and was delighted with the rescue¡¯s touch. ¡°This is it! Here you go!¡± With the appearance of the rescue team, which started early in the morning, the subsequent work runs smoothly They safely carried his Majesty¡¯s stretcher into the wagon. That¡¯s a relief. Freya muttered as she watched the back of the wagon running on the wet road. Now that Hero¡¯s good, he will take care of Lucius. He will definitely be fine. ¡°By the way, it¡¯s still difficult to walk¡­¡± She felt sore all over, and her back, shoulders, and ankles were throbbing. Somehow she was impatient and couldn¡¯t stop walking. She was also curious if the poisoned soldier has woken up, and also concerned with his majesty¡¯s condition. I¡¯ll have to hurry up and be by his side. Otherwise, the accusations of His Majesty that she would only receive gold and not do the work would be endlessly pouring out. Freya picked up a long wooden rod and began to walk with her body relying on it. ¡°But it hurts so much.¡± Freya reached out her hand and fumbled once on the wound on her forehead that kept hurting, and then she lifted her mouth bitterly. ¡°It¡¯s not the first time that I¡¯m sick alone,¡± she muttered She forced herself to move a heavy step, but it was painful, she could hear a painful sound in her mouth. The rain that fell all night was stuck in the leaves and wet her forehead every step she took. *** ¡°Your Majesty, you¡¯re awake¡± Lucius, who opened his eyes, was surprised by the unfamiliar environment and stared fiercely everywhere. Near the bed where he lay, Count Edelion and his daughter stood, looking very anxious. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Herro, who was nearby, approached and explained quickly. ¡°I am delighted your Majesty that you are awake. There was a surprise attack yesterday, whether the information about our going hunting was leaked.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± He tried to raise his body, but he could hardly feel a sensation in one arm. ¡°Your highness, you can¡¯t move now.¡± The doctor said we should take absolute stability.¡± Selena approached and lifted her mouth gently as she raised her hand on Lucius¡¯ arm. ¡°Get rid of it.¡± Selena looked embarrassed when he turned and shook off her hand. As the atmosphere suddenly cooled down, Herro quickly stepped out. ¡°Lady Selena here has been nursing you since morning.¡± But without a reply, Lucius asked. ¡°¡­¡­tell me what happened first.¡± A rough voice flowed from Lucius¡¯ neck as if scratching iron. ¡°It seems the opponents used a strong poison arrow that neutralizes the limbs. Gemini is also severely injured and is undergoing treatment.¡± ¡°Did you figure out what it was?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll find out soon.¡± They have no idea the kind of poison used and they have never seen anything so serious. When Herro, who had a serious expression, bowed his head and disappeared, Selena came back to his majesty¡¯s side and made an exaggerated voice. ¡°Your Highness, don¡¯t worry about anything now, I will be here by your side.¡± Selena covered Lucius with a blanket with her fine hands. ¡°You have no idea how heartbroken I was when I found that you fell in the forest today.¡± The Count helped his daughter say a word. ¡°Selena said she would go to the forest to save you even if it was raining. Ha! Ha! Ha!¡± Lucius felt like his head was about to burst at their voices and laughter. Really, I wanted to be alone. ¡°¡­¡­thank you.¡± He turned around and grabbed a shirt that smelled of dry sunlight. It wasn¡¯t what he wore when he went hunting. It was clear that someone changed his clothes. I couldn¡¯t have allowed Count Edelion to do this. Due to frequent threats of assassination and his sensitive nature, Lucius was extremely reluctant to let anyone touch his body. At that moment, what caught his eye was a long, dark hair attached to the bottom of the hem. Wasn¡¯t that a dream? Lucius¡¯ cheeks heated up with a short memory that suddenly came to mind. In his dream, he was lying in a dark, cold space. It was raining outside, and the sound of knocking on the floor could be heard. Having suffered from a severe fever, he saw someone. He couldn¡¯t remember the face clearly, but the eyes were vivid. It was eyes that I wanted to reach and have. Chapter 55 Unable to overcome the impulse, he endlessly indulged in the lips of the mysterious object. ¡°You seemed like a person I knew for a long time.¡± Someone might say it¡¯s crazy when they hear it. But he couldn¡¯t erase yesterday¡¯s memory easily. The sound of rain and the faint scent of flowers passed by the tip of the nose. And the rough texture of her lips that touched his hot lips due to the fever. *** Freya was walking in a wet field soaking in the rain. ¡°No matter where I go, there¡¯s no end.¡± She was soaking wet and she could hardly open her eyes because it hurts due to heavy rain. Freya, who was breathing heavily, stopped for a while to catch her breath. Mud splattered from the muddy floor from the overnight rain clung to the bottom of the trousers becomes heavy. ¡°What is this?¡± Freya shook off what was on her pants, relying on a stick with one hand. Then something thick got on her hand. Freya roughly wiped it off the hem of her shirt and straightened her back. ¡°I should have asked for a ride on the carriage.¡± Earlier, she couldn¡¯t think of it because she was focusing only on Lucius¡¯ rescue. Selena might have been willing to give her a ride. ¡°Because she¡¯s as pretty as an angel.¡± When she thought of the carriage that left earlier, Freya felt lonely for no reason. ¡°Why am I thinking like this? It¡¯s a good thing I went to rescue his Highness.¡± It would be just a strange idea because she was feeling sick and weird. ¡°Let¡¯s go back quickly.¡± Freya, who immediately shook off her useless thoughts, moved her body with a stick and dragged her feet. It was a slow pace, but the flag-waving was faintly visible as it had come quite far. It was proof that the barracks were not far away. ¡°Let¡¯s cheer up a little bit more.¡± Throughout this difficult journey across the field, Freya was only worried about Lucius. ¡°His face was so pale,¡± she murmured. Freya¡¯s heart almost fell off because it looked really wrong when his face turned white as if all his blood was completely gone. ¡°By the way, what does this smell like?¡± Since yesterday, she couldn¡¯t wash properly and smelled pleasant somewhere in her body full of dirt. She thought there were flowers blooming in the field, but the surroundings were desolate. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Then Freya, who realized the smell, her cheeks blushed. This was a scent that she smelled when close to his majesty. ¡°Oh my God, I should go wash these clothes right away.¡± The scent of His Majesty from her body made her goosebumps in fear that someone might know. ¡°Don¡¯t ever get caught.¡± No one should have known that she slept in Lucius¡¯ arms all night. ¡°It¡¯s a secret, especially for his Majesty Lucius.¡± The nape of the neck that was caught yesterday was a bit itchy. The rough hand holding her tightly and the touch of his hot lips that were constantly bumping into each other were too vivid. That was because your highness was sick. It¡¯s just a slight touch of meaningless flesh. It has nothing to do with the kiss of lovers you saw on the street. There was a reason for that. The first thing she touched her lips was to keep her from making a sound. Freya, who was constantly making excuses without anyone asking, bit her lower lip for nothing. ¡°What¡¯s all this?¡± Red blood gushed out of her wounded lips as she sighed. And something strange happened. She stumbled as if she was going to faint, and heard a call from afar. ¡°Am I hallucinating?¡± There was no one to come out to find her. Freya continued to move forward without raising her head. ¡°Freya!¡± This time, Freya thought she could hear the sound very close, but someone hugged her. In the wind, a wooden cane fell to the ground. ¡°¡­ Uh, uh.¡± ¡°Hey! What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± The clothes in the rain were less dry and covered with blood and mud. Her lips were all chapped, and the bottom of her eyes was black. Archer¡¯s voice grew even worse than when we first met. ¡°¡­Archer.¡± ¡°Why are you making me worry so much? Huh?¡± He couldn¡¯t sleep a wink all night after hearing about yesterday¡¯s surprise incident. His Highness Lucius did not return, the camp was cluttered and there was no news from Freya. Only Lady Selena of Edelion managed to return and announce the surprise situation, but the sudden heavy rain broke the bridge connecting to the forest and failed to send a rescue team. ¡°Archer, I¡¯m fine. Please put it down.¡± Freya was just uncomfortable because she had never been hugged by anyone. However, Archer did not pretend to hear it but put a firm force on the arm holding Freya. ¡°Who am I?¡± Isn¡¯t me your guardian? In this case, you should keep silent. This is why parenting is hard.¡± ¡± What¡¯s parenting? ¡± Although grumbling, Freya became drowsy as soon as she was in his arms. The tension, which had been on high alert since yesterday, felt like it was collapsing at once. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 56 With a start, Freya realized she was occupying Archer¡¯s bed. Archer said something but Freya couldn¡¯t comprehend his words. Was he taking care of her while she was sick? When she was sick in the orphanage, all she had to do was lie somewhere, groaning in pain and delirium until her sickness passed. She¡¯d never received medicine or treatment from anyone, she wasn¡¯t used to it. ¡°You don¡¯t know anything, do you?¡± He spoke in the silence around them. Archer had been angry at Freya¡¯s behavior, her fear of eating- or let alone sneeze. Her eyes would panic like those of a thief who¡¯d been caught anytime he¡¯d look at her eating food. Her eyes widened like a doe¡¯s at every single movement of his, worrying he¡¯d strike her. Freya eyed the big man and thought, ¡°He¡¯s okay, even when he can be incredibly grumpy at times,¡± she thought to herself. Archer looked back at her wearily. He was intent on remaining honest and avoiding trickery, if he¡¯d had more decent parents and a better upbringing he wouldn¡¯t have had trouble now. He sighed faintly, running his long fingers through his shaggy beard. Freya remembered the moment Archer came to find her as clear as day. She couldn¡¯t form the words out of lethargy but she was so glad to see him. For the first time, someone had come for her. Archer had bustled around her like an impatient hen, taking care of her. Freya smiled as she realized his manner was that of a nagging father. Not that she knew what it was like, she¡¯d only seen slivers of it on the streets. The friendly voice of a man who urged her gently, telling her to walk slowly and not run with food in her mouth. Archer¡¯s voice mirrored his now, and Freya¡¯s heart burst with happiness. She reached her hand out like the manner of a needy child and ordered Archer, ¡°I¡¯m hungry, give me my bamboo bowl,¡± Archer raised his eyebrow at her but gave her the bowl silently, and watched as she drank the broth from the bowl in an instant. ¡°It is your first meal in three days, I¡¯d drink slower if I were you,¡± He spoke slowly. Freya¡¯s eyes widened at his words. ¡°I have been unconscious for three days?¡± She spoke loudly. Archer narrowed his eyes at her, she wasn¡¯t as well as he¡¯d thought she was. Freya had gotten over the shock over her predicament and ate the food gratefully, her stomach growling but satisfied. She took a few bites then looked at the man who nursed her back to health. ¡°You know Archer, you¡¯ve been naggy these days,¡± She said playfully, twirling her spoon as she watched the man break into an expected outburst. ¡°Naggy? I¡¯ve got gray hair because of you!¡± He spoke back, huffing as he shuffled around the room. Freya stifled a smile and got out of her bed slowly. ¡°I have to rejoin work, I¡¯ve missed a lot of days,¡± She muttered and felt her head spin, knowing she wasn¡¯t yet physically well. Archer was at her side at an instant, steadying her. ¡°Your Highness likes his things to be neat,¡± He said, his voice tinged with disapproval. She needed to go back and he couldn¡¯t stop her. ¡ª- Freya looked down and quickly wrapped a flyaway fabric under her pants, her sprained ankle had not healed yet. It was the second time she¡¯d injured her ankle, having broken it once in the past. She grimaced as her ankle flared with the hot heat of pain. She ignored it and raised her head, looking around. She stood in front of Lucius¡¯ tent, her heart constricting as she sensed a different atmosphere. She knew he wasn¡¯t there but she still felt nervous. She inhaled slowly and walked towards the tent, the soldier at the entrance lifting the tent flap for her as he recognized her. Her eyes adjusted to the light in the tent as she realized everything was left as they were since the last time she was there. So it was true, he didn¡¯t allow just anyone to walk inside. With a huff, Freya gathered the clothes and shoes that lay on the ground astray. She mumbled to herself and she worked and cleaned the King¡¯s tent. After a while, when the tent looked like it¡¯d been set anew, Freya sat on a chair tiredly, having worn herself out. She realized a map was in front of her. Leaning forward, she ran her fingers over the ink. ¡°So¡­ this is the forest and that is the the-the battlefield,¡± She stuttered as the sights of that day flashed back at her. She shivered as she realized the extremity of the situation she¡¯d been stuck in- viewing the dead piled up like mountains would¡¯ve thrown her off the edge if she hadn¡¯t experienced something similar earlier. The lines between her memories blurred as she remembered the children dying at the orphanage and the soldiers taking the last breath stormed through her mind and she clutched her stomach. Shaking away those emotions, she stood back up to sweep the floor. Her ankle throbbed but she bore it with clenched teeth. Thanks to Sophia, she was used to working through her pain. She smiled to herself bitterly when the tent¡¯s opening flapped and footsteps walked in. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 57 Freya straightened to welcome the newcomers. Upon viewing Selena and Lucius standing side by side, Freya¡¯s head bowed immediately. Selena raised her chin as she looked at the servant in front of her, ¡°Please bring us some tea,¡± She commanded as she seated herself gracefully. Freya bustled to make tea, her eyes viewing Lucius from a corner as she watched him disappear into his bedroom. Freya felt the sharp watchful gaze of someone as she poured the tea leaves into the kettle. The tea was ready in a little while, and she took it to the noble who sat on a chair haughtily. ¡°So, you are his Highness¡¯s servant,¡± She asked, her voice filled with displeasure. Freya raised an eyebrow as she looked at the woman as she served her tea. Selena stared at her with an expression that was dripping acid. She looked down at herself, wondering if her clothes were too meager for the noblewoman¡¯s tastes. Selena took a sip from the tea and curled her lips distastefully. ¡°This tea is cold,¡± she spoke and raised it towards Freya expectantly. Freya felt a surge of annoyance, considering she¡¯d just poured the liquid boiling hot from the kettle. She walked forwards, her hand raised to take the cup from the woman. ¡°I¡¯ll remedy that, my lady,¡± she said. Just as her hand came close to Selena, the woman tilted her hand, pouring red hot liquid on Freya¡¯s hand. She winced inwardly but she didn¡¯t react, not bothering to clutch her burnt hand. ¡°Well?¡± Selena asked, her voice singing with victory. Freya felt like screaming but she knew it¡¯d add to her opponent¡¯s satisfaction. She looked at her hands and walked to a basin calmly, putting them in the cold water. The skin on the back of her hands threatened to peel off and Freya groaned slowly. ¡°It hurts,¡± she thought miserably. Despite being used to such treatment, she felt anger rising through her. She¡¯d misunderstood the dainty beautiful Selena. At first glance, she¡¯d seemed like an angel, but her ugly layers were showing underneath. Unlike Sophia and Shylo, Selena had the advantage of her beauty, hiding the ugliness in her heart. Her burnt fingers itched to pull the pretty hair off the noblewoman¡¯s head. But she knew it wasn¡¯t worth it, the only outcome would be punished for speaking back to a noble, so Freya buried her resentment. ¡ª It was not an exaggeration to say that Selena Edelion was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and was gifted with everything from birth. Being the eldest daughter of the richest family in the south, she had all eyes on her. From her family¡¯s wealth to her beauty, she was quite popular among the noblemen- but Selena¡¯s attention was always diverted to one person. She couldn¡¯t forget the first day she¡¯d seen Lucius Morsiani. She was three years younger than the man himself. Her mind played back the moment she¡¯d seen him, going to the palace holding her father¡¯s hand firmly. His shiny blonde hair, red lips, and milky white skin were exactly what she¡¯d dreamed of from the crown prince. She played the words, ¡°Empress Morsiani,¡± in her mind repeatedly. She¡¯d made it her life¡¯s mission to get closer to him. So far, everything had been going smoothly. Lucius barely had other interests besides war, scarcely attending social events- which Selena considered fortunate. She¡¯d always reveled in hearing the rumors about him. She knew he wasn¡¯t the monster everyone painted him as it was an advantage to her as it reduced the competition for her. It was only a matter of time before Lucius ascended the throne and then she¡¯d be next to him. It was only after coming here that Selena had felt anxious for the first time. She could tell that the mousy little servant was more than that to the King. Lucius, the man who hated women, was close to this girl. It was something that¡¯d been on her mind as soon as she¡¯d watched the interaction between the two of them. Coupled with that, the fact that this incessant bug was with him during the attack and spent a night with him had bothered Selena very much. She¡¯d been sent away by Lucius¡¯ lackeys, and she knew she¡¯d have done a better job with the Crown Prince than the servant. She could never forgive her for her proximity to the Crown Prince. Pouring the tea on the servant¡¯s hands was a way of showing her who was superior but the servant hadn¡¯t shown any reaction and Selena felt even more annoyed. ¡°I¡¯d like to rest now,¡± Lucius¡¯ voice spoke from the back. Selena realized what he was asking of her and was angered at leaving the suspicious servant alone with her Prince. However, wanting to appear perfect in front of him, she bowed gracefully and left the tent. ¡°Your Highness, get well soon,¡± she muttered before leaving. Silence ensued between the two as Selena left and Freya realized it quickly as she hid her hands behind her back. ¡°Your Highness, I trust you are well?¡± She asked formally, her eyes on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine, why do you think I¡¯m standing upright?¡± Freya rolled her eyes away from the King¡¯s gaze and regretted having been worried about him from her sickbed. He was as grumpy and rude as ever. ¡°I hear Count Adelion and his daughter saved me,¡± he said suddenly, his tone not believing the words which came out of his mouth. He leaned on the sofa, his eyes trained on Freya with questions. Freya hesitated, her mind rebelling. Should she tell him and get generous compensation from him? Was it necessary to talk about things in the order that happened? She knew if she said yes she¡¯d have to confess about the moment she¡¯d shared with the King and the thought shook her. She knew she wasn¡¯t good at lying and she would probably spill the contents of what happened that night and face the shame. Freya bit her lower lip, her mind and heart debating. In the end, she shook a little as she answered, ¡°Yes- yes they did,¡± ¡°I see, that was expected.¡± Chapter 58 I don¡¯t care if he knows wrong facts, but this really isn¡¯t fair. He was the actual real why she¡¯s hurt like this. Freya frowned at the pain felt from her ankle. It was her that didn¡¯t ignore Lucius and dragged him with all her might to the cave. She even turned that big body around to change him, since she was worried that he might catch a cold while being poisoned. If it wasn¡¯t for me, you might not even be here! If she didn¡¯t use her wit when she heard those suspicious footsteps, their hideout would¡¯ve been discovered because of Lucius¡¯s moans. She got goosebumps imagining what would¡¯ve happened next. To think what I had to do to stop that¡­. Her mind turned blank thinking about the memory. But it was too late to reveal all of that. Freya unintentionally brushed her lips with her finger. ¡°What¡¯s that on the back of your hand?¡± Lucius, taking his back off the sofa, fixed his sharp gaze on the back of her hand. Freya mumbled as she hid the hand at his question. Would be it ok to tell him the truth. While she was hesitating, Lucius came close to her, grabbed her wrist hard and then lift it up. His lips displayed cold rage. ¡°You were burned.¡± It was her that was burned so she didn¡¯t understand why he was being angry. ¡°I made a mistake while making tea a moment ago.¡± Freya didn¡¯t want to make a fuss. Even she told the truth, who would they believe between the Count¡¯s daughter and a delivery girl from the battlefield? ¡°Something like this gets better quickly.¡± As she moaned because of the arm that was being held, he let it go. Then he glared and went back to the sofa and roughly leaned back. ¡°I don¡¯t like it when my people are careless. So be careful from now on.¡± ¡°¡­.. Okay.¡± ¡°Enough with that. Come here.¡± He coughed lightly and then called Freya to sit near him. ¡°I couldn¡¯t even use one arm the first day because of poison it seemed.¡± Lucius pointed at his arm while frowning. ¡°It seems like it was very strong poison. If Sir Gemini also was impacted so heavily¡­¡± Freya had cold sweats as she realized the arm she put her head on was the same arm he was pointing at. Does his arm hurt because I used it as a pillow rather than because of poison? If Lucius found out about the truth, he would take the sword off the wall and¡­.. No. Let¡¯s not think like that. Freya shook her head vigorously. ¡°Since Herro is examining what kind of poison it is, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find out soon.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Something like this shouldn¡¯t happen again.¡± ¡°For someone who stayed in the cave calmly while I was wandering through death, you have a lot of wounds.¡± Lucius¡¯s gaze sharply examined her body. The scratches that have yet to heal covered her arms, legs, and cheeks. Freya gulped at his sharp question. ¡°That¡¯s because I had to face a beast when we went into the cave.¡± ¡°¡­. What kind of a beast?¡± ¡°The one that¡¯s a little big and had yellow fur?¡± Her eyes kept shaking and her breathing got rougher as she kept talking. But she was flustered as she was wondering what kind of beat would be big and have yellow fur after she spoke. Lucius, examining her flustered expression, spoke as he leaned his back. ¡°A yellow furred beast¡­¡± His tone wasn¡¯t questioning like a moment ago. Actually, it sounded like he was barely holding back laughter. He seemed like he was angry just a moment ago, so what¡¯s going on? Was he just insane or did the poison do this to him? She was scared whichever it was. Lucius looked at the back of her hand while kept lightly coughing. ¡°When Herro comes, show him your wounds.¡± ¡°I¡¯m ok. To be healed by a wizard, that¡¯s absurd.¡± The grand wizard only took care of the person they¡¯re guarding as a principle. And such kindness, it doesn¡¯t suit him. As Freya looked suspiciously at him, Lucius put his hand on his forehead and mumbled. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I be uncomfortable if you¡¯re hurt?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right.¡° Of course, it was probably more for him than her. He just had to say that¡­. There was a reason why saying like being neutral takes you further. His Majesty Lucius was always like that. ¡®He makes it that I drop what little affection I have.¡¯ Freya twisted her lips as she looked at him, who had his eyes closed while leaning against the sofa. *** Count Adelion, who said he was going back soon, has been staying here for over a week. The soldiers were in good mood every day as they could see lily-like Selena a bit longer. Archer, who also seemed to be smitten by Selena¡¯s beauty, said something he usually wouldn¡¯t. ¡°Freya. I was thinking we get you a dress.¡± ¡°Archer, did you go crazy? How would I work while wearing that.¡± ¡°I know, but the battle here is almost over so.¡± Lucius, who has yet to completely recover from poison, took his army and completely destroyed the enemy that was aiming the outskirt. They almost accomplished the small goal they came here for. Archer was thinking about helping Freya live a normal life once they leave here. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 59 ¡°That¡¯s very good, right?¡± Freya talked in a cheerful tone on purpose. She meant it. A battle like this that kills so many people should end for sure. Archer would go back to where he¡¯s from once the war is over. Lucius that she¡¯s serving would go back to the palace. That¡¯s really good. I don¡¯t have to see that strange man again. But she also felt a little sad that she had to leave Lucius. I guess I got closer to him than I thought. Freya kept walking after finally getting Lucius off her mind. How can I earn money? And where should I go? Freya was in deep thought while biting her lips as she has yet to earn enough. But she also had tons to do right now. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± Freya wore the clothes that Lucius fit for her and went across the barracks. It was a big difference from the old clothes that she picked up. ¡°What is the use of such luxurious fabric when I¡¯m only wearing it for work?¡± And as Hero attended her wounds, they healed quickly. It was such an embarrassing moment to confuse Hero as a servant. Hero¡¯s position was grander than she knew. ¡°A wizard¡­.!¡± Hero seemed even more handsome after knowing that. He was pretty popular with his luscious black hair and calming red eyes. ¡°He¡¯s also kind too.¡± On the other hand, her heartfelt burdened thinking of His Majesty¡¯s cold personality. Why am I like this? Shouldn¡¯t she feel happy now that she can get away from those annoying nagging? She was a temporary servant as it was hard to find people on the battlefield. It was weird from the start. A girl servant¡­ She remembered his Majesty and Selena who were standing together after she took a few steps. Two of them will get married soon, and Freya will live a life of her own. That¡¯s that, but that woman. If she tries something funny again I won¡¯t leave her alone. Hero attended to the burn on the back of the hand, but in the end, it still left a faint scar. Archer nagged her because of that. A girl shouldn¡¯t have a scar. Archer wouldn¡¯t know. The giant wound started from Freya¡¯s forehead and went across her back and leg. ¡°Well, really doesn¡¯t matter.¡± She already knew that she wouldn¡¯t be able to live like a normal lady. To be raised by parents and marry someone next door, and have children like her parents and then age. That sounds like as big of a bluff as a hundred gold. But by the sound of getting a dress, Archer seemed to have that kind of dream. I don¡¯t mind Archer worrying about me. It was just unfamiliar, but Archer¡¯s nagging was warming. It felt like he was her family. As she walked in thought for a while, someone stopped her. ¡°Oh my, His Majesty¡¯s servant.¡± ¡°¡­. Hello, Count Adelion.¡± ¡°Oh, you recognize me.¡± It was Count Adelion she met in the middle of the street. He was wearing a shirt with puffy lace that seemed a little small for him, as his buttons look like they were going to burst. His greasy face had a smile on, but it felt a little too much. Where have I seen this face before? As Freya lowered her gaze, she remembered someone. Shilo¡­. He had similar creepy eyes as the man who always examined her from top to bottom. ¡°I confused you as a boy before. I heard from Selena that you¡¯re a pretty lady?¡± His tone was kind, but his stare wasn¡¯t. He kept staring at her chest and examining the legs that were more revealed rather than the dress. It would¡¯ve been better if you were still wrong. Freya barely nodded her head as she felt uncomfortable. ¡°You haven¡¯t reached the age yet? Hm?¡± ¡°No, I have passed the age.¡± Count that is wondering about the age of a lowly servant. She wasn¡¯t even curious about his intention. As Freya acted like she had to leave, he acted like a good person. ¡°I¡¯ll see you again.¡± ¡°Take care.¡± As she was getting away from Count Adelion, her back felt so hot that it felt like it was burning. *** As she arrived at the tent, there was something covered with a cloth on the table. ¡°What is that?¡± It made some strange noise. As Freya carefully took the cloth off, there was a pretty big bird glaring at her. The bird with yellow eyes and black feathers seemed to have very sharp claws. That¡¯s weird. I feel like I¡¯ve seen it before¡­. Freya felt like the bird seemed frustrated being caged. As she opened the cage, the bird flapped its wings a few times, came out, and sat on the table. ¡°Hello.¡± The bird shook its beak at Freya¡¯s greeting. It was pretty calm, unlike the way it looked. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Have we seen each other before?¡± But no matter how much she tried to remember, she couldn¡¯t remember seeing such a big and amazing-looking bird. Freya crushed the bread she had in her pocket on the table. The bird put its beak on it and then showed no interest. ¡°Ah, you eat meat.¡± She was able to remember an old memory without much trouble. There was a little bell-like voice that was heard beside her a long time ago. Freya, that bird likes fruits. Some birds only like meat, and other birds at omnivores. What¡¯s an omnivore? A bird that eats anything just like us. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 60 ¡°I don¡¯t care if he believes lies but this isn¡¯t fair, I got hurt because of him,¡± Freya mused bitterly as she bit against the pain of her freshly scalded hand. It felt like the universe was working against her at that moment as all her ailments sprang to life just then, the ache in her ankle, the burning pain from her hand, and the scratches on her body. She grimaced, thinking about how she¡¯d been the one to save Lucius. She had dragged him to the cave, washed and changed his clothes, making sure he didn¡¯t succumb to the poison. If it wasn¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t even be here! She yelled at Lucius in her thoughts. Her thoughts flashed to the moment when they¡¯d almost been caught by the enemy because of Lucius¡¯ moans. A shiver trembled down her spine and she imagined how they would¡¯ve fared if she hadn¡¯t stopped him in time. To think what she had to do to stop him caused a heat spread in Freya¡¯s body and her brain blanked. She couldn¡¯t reveal all that, it was too late- and too risky. Freya¡¯s fingers brushed her lips thoughtfully. ¡°What happened to your hand?¡± Lucius demanded angrily leaning forward, bringing Freya back to the present. She jumped as her vision zeroed back onto him, hiding her hand behind her back, silently cursing herself for showing him. She wondered how he would react if she did end up telling him the truth. While her thoughts battled on the best ways she could dissuade this conversation, Lucius rose forward, gripping her wrist furiously bringing it between them. He exuded cold rage. ¡°How were you burned?¡± He asked this time, his voice digging at her sharply like daggers. She looked at him with confusion and annoyance, she was the one who was hurt, why was he acting so harshly? ¡°I burned myself accidentally while making tea,¡± she lied as she looked at him directly, her eyes paining due to the fresh flare of heat that rushed through her hand because of his majesty¡¯s death-like grip. She lied because she didn¡¯t want to cause any drama, besides, even if she did tell anyone, who would they believe- the esteemed daughter of a Count or a simple servant girl? Finally, she whimpered because of his majesty¡¯s force and he noticed, his eyes widening for a fraction before he let her go, stalking back to his seating place while glaring at her angrily. He leaned back, his stare on her permanent, and Freya felt small and useless under his gaze. ¡°I do not like it when my people act carelessly, be more careful,¡± He commanded. Freya felt a stab of annoyance but didn¡¯t retaliate, choosing to nod slowly. ¡°Come here,¡± Lucius said, coughing lightly. Freya went towards him, sitting next to him at his directive. ¡°I wasn¡¯t able to use my arm the entire day because of the poison, it seems it was really strong,¡± He said as he frowned at his arm. Freya stiffened, it was the same arm she¡¯d slept on that night. If he knew, she¡¯d feel the cold glint of his blade soon. She shook her head, hoping to dissipate her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll find out what kind of poison it is soon, Herro is examining it rigorously,¡± Lucius continued and Freya nodded. ¡°That is good, you shouldn¡¯t have to go through something like that again,¡± She said. Lucius smiled grimly, but then his gaze traveled over her body, grazing her hands, her feet, and he looked straight at her. ¡°So tell me, for someone who stayed in a cave calmly while I fought death, why do you seem to have more wounds?¡± Freya froze, wondering what lie she could conjure up. ¡°Well¡­ when I was in the cave, I had to fight off a very ferocious beast to claim my space,¡± She finally said, immediately beating herself over her answer. Lucius raised his eyebrow, his lips curving slightly- almost imperceptible. ¡°What kind of a beast might that be?¡± He asked, his tone lighter. ¡°Well¡­ it was medium-sized but it had this weird yellowish fur and ferocious teeth,¡± Freya said and she nodded, hoping her lie would ring true. ¡°Huh, a yellowish furred, medium-sized ferocious beast, I see,¡± Lucius replied, watching Freya¡¯s flustered expression with amusement. He leaned back and his body shook a little. Surprised, Freya looked at the man and realized he looked like he was trying to contain his laughter. She grasped at any ideas which would help explain his behavior. A moment ago, he looked as if he were going to kill her, and now he was laughing? Freya was baffled by his behavior. She wondered if the poison had made him act this way or if he was like this usually. Either way, his attitude scared her and she wished to run. His attention was caught on her wounds again and his expression sobered. ¡°Show Hero your wounds when he arrives,¡± he said in his natural domineering voice. Freya paled slightly. He wanted her to be healed by his Royal Wizard? The man reserved only for royals and nobles? Such kindness didn¡¯t suit him. ¡°That is okay, Your Majesty, I cannot fathom being healed by a wizard,¡± She replied. Lucius looked appalled at her suspicious expression and ran a hand over his face. ¡°I- I don¡¯t like to see you like this, all bruised and battered. It is better if you heal quickly,¡± he mumbled. Ah, so that was his reason. Freya rolled her eyes away from his vision and dug her fingers in her palms, feeling stupid for thinking he¡¯d do anything for her. It was all for him. She grimaced, looking at him while he lay back on the sofa, his eyes closed leisurely. She stood up, hating him for evaporating whatever affection she¡¯d built for him. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 61 With burning red cheeks and a little hiccup, Freya drained her glass and ordered Gemini for more. Gemini lifted an eyebrow, looking at the petite girl in front of him, unsure. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re going to be okay?¡± He asked with concern in his voice. Freya laughed with another hiccup followed by, ¡°why wouldn¡¯t I be? I¡¯ve got Archer, the beautiful wizard Herro, and the best knight in Morciani to protect me.¡± Freya was chatty under the influence of alcohol, sputtering words she wouldn¡¯t have said normally. Gemini blushed and fought furiously to hide it but the quick-eyed Hero caught it in time pointing it out jeeringly, ¡°Aw, look, the best knight in Morciani is shy.¡± Gemini bristled immediately, rejecting his claim while the wizard kept poking fun at him. ¡°I am a respectable Knight, I would never act like a quivering maiden, do not compare me to the likes of you,¡± he slurred, the alcohol affecting him. Freya stared at them dazedly, admiring Herro¡¯s audaciousness at challenging the big knight. To her right, Archer sat with chicken grease on his mouth. It seemed that he didn¡¯t have the best table manners while drunk. He leaned forward, a chicken leg dangling from his greasy hands, and he slurred fussily saying, ¡°I sliced five men behind the King¡¯s back, I tried to relieve him of the danger.¡± After a moment of silence, Gemini spoke out somberly, ¡°I respect your skill Archer, you saved us from a lot of trouble.¡± Archer¡¯s eyes widened as he registered the words being said to him. ¡°Hearing these words from you have made me truly happy, I can now die in peace.¡± When he finished, there was suspicious dampness around his eyes. Watching the men converse in front of her made Freya weary, she wanted to go hide somewhere. ¡°Freya, are you dozing off?¡± Archer asked her and Freya scrunched her eyebrows before smiling. ¡°Archer, you look like a chicken,¡± she said and giggled, her eyes threatening to glue themselves together. She nodded off eventually, her head hitting the table. ****** Freya opened her eyes slowly and her head hammered after the drinking bout she¡¯d gone through the night before. When her vision cleared, she was lying next to a fire pit and smelled heavily of alcohol. It felt good only at the time she was drinking it, now she felt terrible. She got up finally, looking around her wondering where Archer was. Did he not come back after the night? She was worried but she could barely handle herself. As she rose, her stomach protested and she felt a wave of nausea welling up inside her. She held it miserably but she knew she needed to get up. She was craving warm porridge. Freya made her way out of the tent, feeling considerably better than she was a few moments ago. She ran a hand through her hair as she walked out and her foot landed on something big and soft. With a shriek, Freya leaped backward, looking at the thing she¡¯d stepped on. ¡°Archer! What are you doing?¡± She demanded, holding a hand over her hammering heart. ¡°Freya, please be quiet, my head is screaming,¡± He groaned and he placed a hand over his eyes. He was lying in front of the tent when Freya had stepped on his abdomen but he hadn¡¯t even flinched, only complaining at her voice. Freya huffed and she nudged him towards the tent with her toe. ¡°Go inside and sleep, you don¡¯t have training today,¡± She ordered, nudging him again. Finally, with great exertion, she¡¯d managed to get the big man inside the tent and on his bed. He threw himself on the bed and immediately fell asleep. Freya looked at the man slumbering like a child and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m glad he wasn¡¯t too cold,¡± She thought as she made her way out of the tent again, making sure she didn¡¯t step on any wayward drunk soldiers on her way. Why did Archer even sleep outside the tent? Come to think of it, she didn¡¯t even remember when and how she made her way back to the tent. She pondered over the idea as she drank and washed in the cool river water. Doing so immediately made her feel better and she sighed with relief. She wiped her face off with her sleeve and stretched slowly. A sudden sound of a breaking branch behind her made Freya look back quickly. She looked at Count Adelion approaching her and cringed. ¡°What can I do for you Count Adelion?¡± She asked, keeping the grimace out of her voice. Freya didn¡¯t understand why he¡¯d come here, of all places. The Count smiled at her and Freya¡¯s stomach turned at his nauseating stare. ¡°So you bathe here?¡± He asked and his voice made the hair on the back of Freya¡¯s neck stand up. She clenched her teeth and smiled as she replied, ¡°No, I usually do the laundry here.¡± The Count stared at her again, observing her face and everything in Freya wanted to run away from her spot and not see him again. ¡°You have a cute little face you know?¡± He commented and Freya¡¯s mouth fell as she stuttered, ¡°Uh- thank you.¡± She¡¯d hated his leech-like compliment but she¡¯d nodded nonetheless. ¡°Do you have any place to go after this entire thing gets cleaned up?¡± He nodded towards the mass of tents in their background. Freya didn¡¯t answer, not knowing how to navigate around this situation. ¡°You do realize His Majesty will soon be emperor, he won¡¯t be able to take a girl servant back to the palace.¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 62 Freya already knew this, she¡¯d dreaded it for weeks and now she dreaded what she understood to be the Count¡¯s proposition. ¡°If you do not have any place to turn to, you can come back with us to the Adelion estate. I will say you well,¡± He said and stepped forward. ¡°I do not have the skills you need, I will prove useless,¡± Freya reasoned as she stepped back, careful not to fall in the water behind her. ¡°You don¡¯t need to do much, I¡¯ll feed and clothe you,¡± the Count replied, his voice lilting with the disgusting excitement which shone on his face. Freya kept seeing flashes of Shilo in his appearance and felt a wave of sickness attack her belly. ¡°Please excuse me, his Majesty is looking for me,¡± Freya managed to get out and ran, not looking behind. She reached Lucius¡¯ tent panting heavily and tried to compose herself as best she could before she walked in. Without looking up from the papers he was holding, Lucius grumbled, ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± ¡°Apologies, Your Majesty¡± Freya replied as she set to work. ¡°I had to miss breakfast and was wondering if I¡¯d miss lunch too,¡± he resumed his grumbling and Freya pretended to listen intently while rubbing a corner of the table she stood in front of with a cloth. ¡°And Freya, you¡¯re not allowed to drink anymore,¡± he said and Freya flinched, looking at Lucius dumbfounded. How did he know she drank the night before? Did she smell that much? She¡¯d washed herself to rid of the smell as much as possible but it seemed she¡¯d failed. Freya tried to sniff her sleeves inconspicuously while eyeing Lucius. She realized he had glasses on- she¡¯d never seen him with glasses on. With brushed-back hair and spectacles on his handsome face, Lucius looked like a wise scholar at that moment. While Freya stared at his face, he commanded, ¡°You are to sleep in my tent from now on.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, what?¡± She asked, feeling slightly dizzy. This morning had been too much for her, and now Lucius¡¯ words had seemed to throw her off balance. She knew the he barely let anyone in due to his hypersensitivity to sound. Sleeping with a man in the same tent also unnerved her. She¡¯d stayed with Archer but it was comfortable being with him since he was like family. ¡°Your Majesty, I-¡± Freya started but her words trailed off and he rose his eyebrows at her. She seemed to be imagining it but while Lucius maintained a serious expression on his face, his ears had reddened a little. ¡°I am doing this for security reasons,¡± he said simply while continuing to work on his papers. ¡°Why don¡¯t I work at night instead of the day, that way you and I both can be safe,¡± Freya suggested hopefully. ¡°Have you perhaps developed any feelings for me?¡± He asked blatantly and Freya¡¯s mouth hung open. ¡°Pardon me?¡± She huffed and he shrugged. ¡°I simply asked if you were going to do anything to me, having succumbed to your feelings towards me.¡± Freya stuttered incoherently, surprised and annoyed at his words. There was a sheer difference between His Majesty and a lowly servant, and come to think of it, he wasn¡¯t even her preferred choice in men! His behavior towards her had been weird from the start, from bumping heads at their first meeting to him asking her to bathe him- she¡¯d tried to get through it all. He had various weird rumors based around him but despite that, he was still somewhat normal. But the only thing that dipped in his favor was his blonde hair and good looks! Nothing else. Lucius must¡¯ve noticed the indecision behind her eyes as he huffed and leaned forward. ¡°This is just an extension of your duty, nothing else.¡± ¡°Why do I have to do this? Aren¡¯t we leaving soon enough?¡± She argued half-heartedly. ¡°Have you forgotten the contract you signed to be here?¡± he challenged back, his stare unwavering. Freya stopped, she knew that the contract would hold her in place, and if she argued any further she might be accused of actually having feelings for the King, and she couldn¡¯t handle that. She sighed and nodded resignedly. She looked around the tent, wondering where she¡¯d sleep when Lucius interrupted her. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± He asked. ¡°For a place to sleep, Your Majesty,¡± Freya answered dryly. Lucius raised his eyebrows but didn¡¯t react. ¡°I¡¯ve already planned that for you,¡± he announced. He resumed his observation of the documents and pointed towards his bedroom. Freya looked at his hand with surprise and slowly went towards his room. When she peeked inside, it seemed like Lucius¡¯s bed had been moved to a corner and a small bed was placed on the opposite side of the room. Appalled, Freya looked back at the disinterested Lucius and asked, ¡°What¡­ is this?¡± ¡°I have sensitive hearing, I might not be able to sleep peacefully if you moved around outside the room,¡± he said. Freya almost rolled her eyes. If he had such a problem, he could sleep alone like he always did. She wanted to ask what this security problem was but couldn¡¯t bring herself to form the words when she remembered the poisonous arrow his Majesty had suffered through. Lucius looked up at the girl in front of him and smiled. Slowly sipping the antidote Herro had concocted for him, he drummed his fingers on the table in front of him. ¡°Ah Freya, what shall I do with you,¡± he said cattily. He¡¯d gotten Herro¡¯s invite late at night but he had no intention of drinking and chatting. He¡¯d just won a battle and was looking towards the many more he¡¯d have to face. He had many more enemies left to face and could not rest until he¡¯d conquered every single one of them. However, when he noticed Freya¡¯s name in the message, he¡¯d felt restless. She wanted to leave the camp so badly and now she¡¯s hanging out with Herro? He wasn¡¯t pleased and he left his tent to correct her actions. When he arrived at Gemini¡¯s tent, he heard her before he saw her. Her loud drunken slurs rang out in the night and he couldn¡¯t comprehend her words but smiled despite himself. He brimmed with anger as he realized the other men were looking at her. He ran his fingers across the half-moon pendant, grateful he hadn¡¯t lost it. At that thought, he¡¯d felt so nauseated he¡¯d left to cool his head with water. *** Archer didn¡¯t act surprised when Freya informed him of her move. ¡°It¡¯s good, you¡¯re closer to his Majesty and you can serve his needs at any time,¡± he said matter-of-factly. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried?¡± She replied as she packed her stuff. ¡°Well, if I had to choose I¡¯d be more concerned about His Majesty than you.¡± Freya huffed and slapped Archer¡¯s arm. ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± She demanded irritatedly. Archer gave her a one-sided smirk replying, ¡°Your sleeping habits are, well, pretty bad.¡± ¡°Hah, no one else sleeps more gently than I do.¡± Archer huffed and said, ¡°Just because you sleep in one place doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re exactly gentle.¡± With that, he imitated loud snoring, earning another smack from the enraged Freya. Chapter 63 Ever since Archer started living with Freya, he woke up surprised on a rainy night. Whenever it started to thunder and lightning, Freya whimpered and shouted a small scream in her sleep. Sometimes she mumbled a few words that he didn¡¯t understand which made him scared at first but he felt bad in the end. She looked around the inside of the tent after saying goodbye to Archer. It felt like a very old story how she randomly ran into Archer on the street and how she got here since. I almost had something terrible happen to me while hanging around here¡­. In the moment of danger, Archer became a pillar that she could lean on. I don¡¯t really have things to pack. She didn¡¯t have anything to take as she was moving the tent. As she was tidying up the fireplace where she always slept, Archer stopped her while cleaning his sword. ¡°Freya, whenever you want.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°Come back if you want.¡± Freya¡¯s face twisted at his short words. ¡°Why are you saying such a thing after eating a good breakfast?¡± As she spoke bluntly while her eyes became red because of Archer¡¯s words, he continued while staring at the ground. ¡°Who¡¯s going to clean here without you? Isn¡¯t that so?¡± ¡°You¡¯re leaving here soon anyway.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying,¡± Archer said angrily as he seemed awkward. Two of them were angry without having the intention to be and just kept standing there. Freya, who didn¡¯t like the awkward atmosphere, moved first. ¡°His Majesty is waiting so I¡¯ll be off first.¡± Her nose felt a little tingly as she came out of the tent. Such a short distance to the tent, I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s acting like that. She was trying to be brave, but she kept seeing the tent she stayed with Archer. ***** Freya quickly went to the Grand Master while Lucius was getting treated by Herro. ¡°Master, how about it? Do I have some talent?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking about talent after such short sessions?¡± She definitely felt like she was getting a little better, but he wouldn¡¯t compliment her. Hmph, so old-fashioned¡­. If Lucius was annoying, Gemini was like a wall that was really high and thick. Usually, people would get a little closer as they see each other more often, but he was the same as usual. ¡°Lower your chest a little then quickly swing your arms.¡± But since he tried to keep his promise of teaching her swordsmanship, he wasn¡¯t a bad person. He¡¯s personally teaching her how to use a dagger while delaying his duty at the order. ¡°Let¡¯s practice hitting the target this time.¡± Gemini held a dagger and personally demonstrated. ¡°When you¡¯re throwing a dagger, it¡¯s efficient to aim for their vital area.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll ever get that good.¡± Freya felt goosebumps at Gemini¡¯s amazing accuracy as he aimed for the neck and the forehead of the target while being expressionless. ¡°Ha, ha.¡± Freya thanked him after she practiced until her back was covered in sweat. ¡°Thank you so much, Master.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry for taking up so much of your valuable time.¡± ¡°The men of the Stern family keep their promise.¡± She stared at Gemini, who disappeared without even looking back after the training. ¡°Man. He looks pretty cool.¡± She rubbed her nose as she felt awkward. As she passed the barracks, she felt at home as everyone was moving busily. Freya started cleaning when she came back to Lucius¡¯s tent. She didn¡¯t think of anything when she was dusting and cleaning the floor, as it was a familiar task to her. How long has she been on her knees? ¡°¡­.. Your Majesty!¡± Lucius was leaning by the tent¡¯s entrance without a sound. As Freya¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, he frowned a little. ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°I still have the stuff to do.¡± ¡°Now,¡± he commanded. Freya roughly washed her hands and started following him. As Lucius was heading where the stable was, her eyes became a little unstable. As he ordered her to take out two horses, Freya spoke anxiously. ¡°Your Majesty, I don¡¯t know how to ride a horse.¡± She told him at the last hunt, but Lucius wouldn¡¯t remember. He shrugged his shoulders at Freya¡¯s words and brushed the horse¡¯s mane. I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s thinking. Lucius stretched out his long legs and jumped on the horse and slowly moved it. ¡°Be careful.¡± As she thought he was going alone and was about to send him off, a hand randomly snatched her. ¡°Ah!¡± When Freya came back to her senses after screaming, she was on the back of the horse. ¡°If you scream like that, the horse gets surprised.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, I was more surprised.¡± As Freya somehow straightened her upper body, she could see the wide-open field in front of her. It was different from seeing it on the ground. It was open that made her feel like it would be endless no matter how long they go. ¡°Wow, so wide.¡± As her mouth was wide opened from surprise, his lips faintly moved while holding onto Freya¡¯s waist. ¡°But it¡¯s a little uncomfortable.¡± ¡°You mind that I¡¯m holding onto you?¡± ¡°A little¡­.¡± After being in awe of the scenery, she became very aware of her position. Her back was touching Lucius¡¯s hard chest and the hand that was holding her waist was very big. ¡°Fine. Then I¡¯ll let go.¡± Lucius answered in a light tone and really let go, and at that moment Freya lost balance on the horse and swayed. She had to grab Lucius¡¯s thigh in surprise. How can he really let go, I almost died. Freya, who barely got up, moved her lips. ¡°Your Majesty, can I ask you a favour again?¡± She couldn¡¯t keep riding while holding onto his thighs. The tip of Lucius¡¯s lips rose at her words. ¡°If you insist.¡± As his hands grabbed her waist steadily, the horse calmed down and started running hard again. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°We¡¯re scouting.¡± Freya looked around as he said they were scouting the opposite field of the outskirt. As she did, a blackbird flew at them from afar. Freya closed her eyes as she got scared of the sharp eyes of the bird. She felt like she heard a story of how a bird that big could swoop up a baby goat. ¡°Looks like a pretty aggressive bird.¡± ¡°It¡¯s called an eagle.¡± As the big bird settled down on a tree nearby, Lucius started to slow down. ¡°Ah! It¡¯s Ruth.¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 64 She recognized immediately as she examined the bird. Lucius got off the horse first and then gave her his hands. His eyes had a faint smile. Really don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on. It was the first time he brought her on scouting. She gave him her hands after hesitating a little. Freya, after getting off the horse, quickly ran to the tree where the bird was sitting. ¡°It seems like it lives a free life outside like this.¡± ¡°Very free.¡± Lucius tied up the horse by the tree, looked up at the bird, and quietly spoke. Freya thought that he looked a little sad while saying this. It was Freya who turned away after meeting Lucius¡¯s eyes for a while. His Majesty is very weird today. He was staring at her so sympathetically instead of coldly. As she stepped back while pretending to be doing something, Lucius stepped towards her. Don¡¯t come. She didn¡¯t want to talk to him right now. Her heart was fluttering as they were alone. She didn¡¯t want him to realize that. But there was nowhere to hide from him as they were in an open field. ¡°Stand still for a bit.¡± Her feet froze as his low tone stopped her. He randomly lifted her bangs with his large hands as she was being mesmerized by his blue eyes. Freya tried to stop him by lifting her arm as it happened suddenly. ¡°What are you doing!¡± Lucius obediently took his hand off at her shout and stepped back. What? Why is he touching my bangs all of a sudden? She didn¡¯t want to hide her scar purposely but also didn¡¯t want to reveal it. She quickly tidied up her bangs, and Lucius didn¡¯t say a word for a while. It really was you. The faint moments that showed up in his dreams from time to time were times spent with Freya. He remembered the day when she got the scar on her forehead. The thin child threw herself to protect him. How tragic he felt as he couldn¡¯t do anything while staring at such a small back. It wasn¡¯t a dream. His heart hurt as he saw the scar on the forehead, but at the same time, it started to ache. He felt like it was a token of promise between him and Freya. On the night when Archer, Herro, and Gemini were drinking, it was him who brought Freya back to the tent. I can¡¯t let this happen. I have to keep you a little closer. So that no one can see you, and touch you. Lucius, after calming his heart a little, spoke. ¡°You remember our contract, right?¡± ¡°¡­.Pardon?¡± What contract? Freya quickly patted her memory. It was written on the day of hiring her as his servant. It¡¯s best to be precise about this kind of thing. He demand to sign on the paper where there were lots of words on it. She barely was able to read it, but she signed after asking Lucius each and every one of the terms as there were many words she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why are you asking about that?¡± ¡°How was the duration of that contact?¡± ¡°One year.¡± ¡°Then how much time is remaining?¡± Freya frowned as he ignored her question. I can calculate that much since Ruth taught me. Freya took both her hands out and folded three of them, which meant seven remained. But was there 10 months in a year? Lucius approached her and added two of his fingers. ¡°Now try.¡± Freya folded two of his fingers and folded one of hers. ¡°Ah, that means nine months.¡± As she smiled as she felt like she found the answer, then Lucius¡¯s forehead brushed her face. Freya thought she touched it by accident and quickly backed off. ¡°Remember what you just said. That you¡¯re my subordinate during that time.¡± ¡°¡­.. Ok.¡± But Freya didn¡¯t really know hard words like subordinate, so she thought that Lucius was probably going to bully her during that time *** ¡°Mr. Herro, we¡¯re leaving after two days?¡± ¡°So you heard the news.¡± ¡°Of course. Since I¡¯m serving His Majesty, I hear this news earlier than anyone.¡± Herro smiled strangely as Freya proudly shrugged her shoulder. ¡°Do you stay at the palace since you¡¯re a wizard of the Royal family?¡± ¡°Only the Royals can live in the palace.¡± ¡°Ah, I didn¡¯t know.¡± Freya whispered softly as she really felt like this was a goodbye. Herro was friendly towards her from the beginning. Even though she experienced many goodbyes in the orphanage, she never got used to this moment. He soon spoke as he saw Freya¡¯s depressed face. ¡°What is this. Freya, you look like we¡¯re going to be separated soon.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not going to be like this again.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know. Freya.¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 65 Herro¡¯s voice was so small that she couldn¡¯t hear him. That moment, the fire in the fireplace was blinking like it was going out and someone approached him. ¡°Herro, the fire in the fireplace went out, what should I do?¡± ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Herro smiled warmly then at the tip of his fingers came a red light and the logs went out started to burn again. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± The lady that was cooking porridge on a big pot kept bowing at him. Freya was reminded that Herro is a wizard whenever something like this happened. ¡°Wow! Herro, you¡¯re so amazing.¡± Herro waved his hands with his cheeks blushing from her compliment. ¡°Just a low talent.¡± There was almost no one that didn¡¯t get his help in this barracks. He was good at making potions to heal the casualties, and his ability to handle water and fire was exceptional. ¡°But you¡¯re a Grand Wizard!¡± Herro¡¯s cheeks would not calm at her constant compliment. *** ¡°So sick of it.¡± Herro, after throwing the white cape he was wearing, spoke in a cold tone, unlike his normal tone. The kind and red eyes grew cold. He didn¡¯t forget to glance back before going to his secret space inside the tent. As he flicked his fingers, his place that was sleeping in dark got a little brighter. There were unknown animals and herbs everywhere. ¡°You¡¯re pathetic, Herro.¡± Herro sighed deeply after opening the book he¡¯s been writing for a few years. Herro was the firstborn son of the family that produced many great wizards, including Elymus. His grandfather and father were all called Grand Wizard, but for some odd reason, Herro¡¯s magic power wasn¡¯t so strong when he was young. I appointed Herro Elymus as Crown Prince Lucius Morciani¡¯s personal wizard. This was usually for wizards that came to age. There was a great scheme behind such an outrageous reality. Milady, who became the Queen after pushing out the previous Queen, looked down on Lucius, who was being protected by young Herro and Gemini. She probably thought we were three weak children. It wasn¡¯t a farfetched idea, but there was one thing Milady missed. The reason why Herro¡¯s magic power was measured low was that there was no crystal ball that can properly measure his ability. But I¡¯m still lacking. Herro¡¯s face got darker as he was brushing the outskirt of the book. The Emperor ignored how his son was being threatened with poison and assassination attempts every night. Gemini and Herro had to perform over their ability to protect their master. Milady is so evil. As the Emperor went to a spa for medical purposes, she clogged the door and the windows of Lucius¡¯s room and started a fire. It was to kill Lucius, who was a thorn in her eyes. Three of them desperately tried to make an exit, but it was no use. I don¡¯t think this will work. Herro, who had strong power but couldn¡¯t control it, had to decide. Your Majesty, we can¡¯t run away right away. There was blood streaming down on Gemini¡¯s hand as he swung his sword at the door to open it. Lucius¡¯s face was mixed with giving up and anger. He handed a wet towel to Herro and spoke. I will not forget you for trying your best. He saw it in the middle of the smoking-room. Herro couldn¡¯t handle his anger. Lucius should¡¯ve become the Emperor no matter who said. I pledged to Diana as I became His Majesty¡¯s wizard. To give his master the crown no matter what¡­.. ¡°Why am I remembering such terrible memory?¡± He ominously whispered. He had to do his best as Lucius¡¯s personal wizard. That was his reason and everything for living. He straightened his back on the chair, lifted his long sleeves, and ominously mumbled incarnation. As he did, a black symbol appeared on his wrist and his body became twisted. ¡°Lucius can wear the crown if I hold on a bit longer.¡± As his long nail stabbed on top of the symbol, the blackish-red blood started to spill. An unknown spell kept coming out of his spell, and Herro¡¯s red eyes became completely black. ¡°Hm¡­.¡± As he was panting in pain, someone¡¯s voice went across his ears. Herro, you¡¯re amazing. I¡¯ve never seen a wizard before. Does it hurt to perform magic? The green eyes that smiled like a child just at a small light shown at the fingertip were reminded. He smiled unintentionally and at that moment a bigger pain came upon him. *** Thick darkness came upon the northern forest. Freya took out the sword she cleaned and cleaned it again, and fixed the shield again. As she had nothing to do, she rolled up the carpet on the floor and wiped the floor. ¡°Freya. I can¡¯t breathe because of the dust.¡± Lucius, who was writing a message leaning again the table, spoke as he stared at her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I feel like I should start preparing now.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± The army to defend and the fixing of the fence on the border was almost done. Now Lucius will be returning to the castle tomorrow. ¡°I¡¯m tired.¡± Lucius put down the pen and took off his glasses as he spoke in a low tone. ¡°¡­..!¡± If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 66 Freya¡¯s back flinched at Lucius¡¯s words. She was aware of it since the sun was going down so when he spat it out, her mouth dried up. Normally it wouldn¡¯t be too weird. To live in a tent like this, the servant has to sleep near the master¡¯s bed so that they could answer at any time. It was like that at Archer¡¯s tent too. If Archer looked for water overnight as he fell asleep after drinking a ton, she would bring him a water bottle. If he fell from the bed, she should push his back. It¡¯s the same as that. Of course, she also remembered that most servants are men. Hmph! I¡¯m just serving. She decided to not think much about it. Or else she might have to be up all night. Freya put the robe on the wall on the chair and then took off Lucius¡¯s cost. As she took off his vest and then undid his shirt, Freya¡¯s cheeks blushed. Why am I suddenly remembering the incident in the cave? ¡°What are you blushing and flaring your nostril all of a sudden?¡± Lucius lazily smiled as he stood on the stool and stared into her face. So crazy. Why is he smiling like that? He was so different from dragging a bloody sword on the ground. He¡¯s a little weird after he recovered from the poison. He was a little weird, to begin with, but he became very dangerous in a different way. Lucius¡¯s face shone in the darkness like there was stardust on him. Freya gulped at his different expressions and action. ¡°Why, is it because I¡¯m so handsome?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that¡­.¡± His expression suddenly became vicious at her words. ¡°So are you thinking that I¡¯m ugly?¡± ¡°No. Y, you¡¯re handsome.¡± There was a hot atmosphere in Lucius¡¯s blue eyes at her words and he kept asking tenaciously. ¡°How about it? Is it the best out of all the men you¡¯ve seen? Hm?¡± Freya almost fall from the stool as he shoved his face into her while she was about to take his shirt off. She barely got her balance together and then responded. Why is he asking how handsome he is? He probably already knows too well, so why is he asking so tenaciously? ¡°Why aren¡¯t you answering?¡± ¡°That is.¡± Lucius¡¯s face was handsome, but it wasn¡¯t the best for her. Ruth, who was like a spring flower, was the best Freya has ever seen. Also, unlike His Majesty, Ruth was nice and cute. ¡°¡­. How boring.¡± Lucius cold said after waiting for her answer. She thought Lucius was going to be angry at her for not answering, but he took the robe from the chair and turned his back against her. As Lucius disappeared into the bedroom, she quickly turned the candles off and sat in the corner. She couldn¡¯t stop her heart from thumping so fast. She breathed in and out a few times while sitting on the floor to calm her heart. ¡°Phew, finally.¡± Freya had no intention of sleeping on her bed that was in His Majesty¡¯s bedroom. I wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep there. She imagined lying on the bed. She might see his hard chest and wide shoulders if she turned her head. ¡°¡­.. Huh.¡± She didn¡¯t know when she started to be so conscious about him. Freya shook her head hard and mumbled. I, it¡¯s not that, but because he¡¯s a scary person. There was a long sound of a horn indicating dinner time, and also what sounded like a cry of a wolf. ¡°I¡¯m so tired.¡± As Freya leaned her head against a pillar, she kept blinking. She was all tense as she might wake Lucius up if she made any noise. Then her head fell to the side and soon there was calm breathing. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± A moment later, the curtain that was covering the bedroom was lifted and someone very quietly came out. Lucius bent his knee a little, sat in front of Freya, and then sighed. ¡°Freya, what should I do with you?¡± The enemy that was after Lucius was even stronger and tenaciously bothered him. To survive, to beat them Lucius had to throw away emotions. The result was that he was becoming more exhausted. When he thought he lost all emotions, Lucius met her. ¡°¡­.. Ha.¡± The emotion that caught fire spread out in his heart like wildfire. Lucius, with his eyes becoming teary, stretched out his hand and retracted it in the end. I¡¯m right in front of you like this, but you are asleep. He lifted the bangs with one hand and stared into Freya¡¯s face, as she was sound asleep. You always show up at my hardest time. The fragment of memory that Herro couldn¡¯t find was right in front of him. The night when he accidentally saw Freya¡¯s necklace, he had a worse headache than normal. Why is Freya wearing the same necklace as mine? That necklace that was made from special metal from Mount Alpi was left by his mother. The necklace he thought he lost was being worn by his servant. But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn¡¯t remember when he and Freya would have met. He fell asleep sometime after having cold sweat from pain and he had a familiar dream overnight. Ruth¡­. He remembered the voice that called him quietly. The place he hid to save his life, she kept giving her hand to him who wasn¡¯t thinking at all. The thin and rough small hand kept patting him. Lucius remembered the face that was from his lost memory that night. That familiar green eyes were Freya¡¯s. Sixteen and thirteen. To call it love, was certainly an immature emotion. But before even realizing that Freya was already entrenched in his heart. Freya, what would you think if I say I¡¯m Ruth? His head was in chaos, but his sharp eyes had determination. If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 67 He had no intention of letting her go now that he found her. ¡°Freya, don¡¯t worry about a thing from now on.¡± He hesitated for a while before lifting up Freya and heading to the bedroom. ¡°Mm¡­¡± Her hand touched his arm as it dropped. Lucius¡¯s ears blushed immediately at such small touch. He tried not to look, but his gaze kept touching her lips. The heat that was created on a rainy night could be felt. Lucius! Get a hold of yourself. He shook his head, lifted Freya, and walked into the bedroom over the curtain. This was solely his area and he let no woman in until now. ¡°Freya, you¡¯re the first.¡± She stumbled to the bed as he carefully laid her and mumbled lowly. ¡°You¡¯ll fall¡­.¡± A long sigh came out from him as he tucked her away under a blanket and turned away. I thought it¡¯d be all okay if I found my memory¡­. He returned to his bed and lay down beside her. His stare was pointed at Freya, who was sound asleep. Did she grow a bit taller since? It felt like he could remember her voice as she was boasting that she was thirteen. He was sixteen then. He remembered he flared up as she treated him like a child. You wanted me to call you big sis even though you didn¡¯t even reach my neck. Lucius locked his hands and used them as a pillow as he stared at Freya, who was moving her lips and smiling. She was the only one that could make him smile now and then. Lucius sighed again. If it wasn¡¯t for the side effect of the antidote¡­.. He would¡¯ve immediately gone to find her at the orphanage. He was very angry that he wasted three years. How long would she have waited for him? Freya would¡¯ve had a hard time at the orphanage. Thinking about it made him angry which drove him insane. It¡¯s alright. There¡¯s more time left. I¡¯ve already found you. As he came to that conclusion, he felt a little calmer. You¡¯re the only one for me, Freya. Like always, it was just that he didn¡¯t realize it. *** For some reason, she felt light as a feather waking up in the morning. As Freya stretched out her arms and yawned, she touched a soft cloth. ¡°¡­.. Soft?¡± The only that she touched on Archer¡¯s tent floor were bones or squashed fruit. As she felt an unfamiliar touch, she stood up and sat. ¡°Oh my god! There¡¯s no way.¡± She was lying on the bed she swore she would never lie in. ¡°When did I come here?¡± She remembered Archer saying that her sleeping habit was wacky. Did she get up and just walk around too? ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything bad right?¡± She remembered acting up to Lucius while asking for more meat. ¡°No. That can¡¯t be possible.¡± Her back was completely wet just by thinking of it. As she glanced, his bed was empty. ¡°I have to be hurry!¡± She was panicking as she was going to get scolded for sleeping in. You¡¯re trying to get free money? You must have pride as the Crown Prince¡¯s servant. The Crown Prince¡¯s nagging was out of this world. As Freya tidied up a little and made both of the beds, she heard a conversation outside. What? He¡¯s working already? It seemed like there was no way she wouldn¡¯t be scolded today. The voice she heard was getting louder. ¡°Your Majesty. There¡¯s no way the Emperor can ignore this time.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no one that doesn¡¯t know about your achievement of driving out the enemies¡¯ outskirt.¡± It was Gemini and Herro¡¯s voices, which sounded like they were a little worked up. It sounds like they¡¯re having a pretty serious convo, so can I just leave? Freya hesitated in front of the curtain. ¡°But, there¡¯s one more thing left.¡± Her attention automatically went to Lucius¡¯s strangely exciting voice. ¡°This is outrageous. To put all kinds of conditions on the rightful heir!¡± As enraged Herro criticized the Emperor, Gemini hit the sword against the ground a few times. ¡°That doesn¡¯t help His Majesty at all.¡± ¡°Like I didn¡¯t know that¡­..¡± Freya gulped over the curtain. The Crown Prince isn¡¯t in the Emperor¡¯s favor? If you want to support the Lunar Letters team, you can do so by pledging to us on Patreon and get to read advanced chapters of our novels! (Note: Patreon is not compulsory. Patrons are able to read ahead, but chapters will still be released to the public at a later date. This is only one way to financially support the team and keep the site running. Thank you very much!) Chapter 68 Even though he went through all the trouble in the war, no one from the palace came to congratulate him. She thought if you were born as a royal it would be a flowery path, but it didn¡¯t seem like it. He almost died too. She remembered the day Lucius fell while bleeding. It was more often than she thought. But she eventually shook her head. ¡®They said worrying about the nobles is the most useless thing in the world.¡± Herro was a Grand Wizard Gemini was a great knight so there was no need to worry. I have the biggest problem out of all of them. She didn¡¯t even know what was going to happen tomorrow. Freya held on to the curtain and hesitated but then someone opened the curtain. Because of that she lost her balance and leaned forward. ¡°Uh, uh¡­..¡± Someone¡¯s solid hand grabbed her waist and hands as she was about to stumble forward. Freya lifted her head and awkwardly met Lucius¡¯s eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a bad habit to eavesdrop.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to.¡± She stood up straight, and blushed as she listed out her excuse. How could I not hear it when you¡¯re speaking so loudly right beside me? ¡°Freya, you were there?¡± Herro waved his hands cheerfully at her. ¡°H, hello.¡± Freya was embarrassed as she was caught eavesdropping so she couldn¡¯t lift her head and stammered. Then she realized that Lucius was still holding her wrist. ¡°Your Majesty, my hand¡­.¡± But for some reason, Lucius held onto it tighter. ¡°Freya, hush. I¡¯m going to say something important now.¡± As she just woke up, she just nodded at his words. Lucius waved the hand he was holding and smiled. ¡°I¡¯m dating the daughter of the Count¡¯s family from the del Mundo region with marriage in mind.¡± ¡°¡­.. What?¡± Herro¡¯s voice was so loud that it would pierce through the tent. For him as Lucius¡¯s closest personnel to hear this for the first time! He wouldn¡¯t let a woman get close to him. But to be dating someone came as a shock. Especially Del Mundo was too weak of a region to give him proper support. ¡°Who is that lady?¡± Even Gemini, who was normally quiet, spoke in surprise. Herro gathered his mind and then asked again. ¡°What about Selena? No, first, when did you start seeing this person?¡± ¡°Why is everyone so curious?¡± Lucius pushed Freya to the front instead of answering. Her brown and pretty long hair touched the shoulders, and her questioning green eyes were full of fear. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you to her. It¡¯s Freya de Bua.¡± ¡°¡­. Pardon?¡± Lucius was the only one not surprised at this. Everyone covered their mouth and kept blinking, and a heavy silence followed. Freya, while pointing at herself, stammered. ¡°Your Majesty, you don¡¯t mean me as that Freya right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re pretty smart.¡± Lucius looked very satisfied and Herro quickly intervened. ¡°Your Majesty! Freya isn¡¯t noble.¡± ¡°She is starting today.¡± Lucius took out a document and showed it to them. He was no longer a small boy that was scared of assassination attempts. *** After the sudden engagement announcement, Gemini and Herro left to take care of urgent work, and only two of them were left in the tent. Freya couldn¡¯t think for a while about such a shocking event. What is going on? Who is de Bua, and why am I a noble? She thought over and over again but couldn¡¯t come up with anything. And del Mundo, she never heard of this place. She kept quiet for a long time and then spoke. ¡°Your Majesty, I really don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°How I can be a noble and that I¡¯m dat-?¡± Freya murmured as she couldn¡¯t put say such a word. Not just dating, but dating for engagement. Lucius, who looked relaxed, gave her a glass of water. ¡°You look like you¡¯re going to faint.¡± Freya felt like she was going to faint but was also very annoyed at the Crown Prince, who looked relaxed. ¡°How can I not be surprised by something like this?¡± Freya drank and wiped her mouth, then Lucius spoke seriously. ¡°You remember what we talked about before. How long our contract¡­.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± But what does that have to do with this? As Freya frowned, he took out a paper from his drawer and showed her. ¡°This is a copy so read it.¡± Her head was spinning from looking at all the letters on the document. As Freya just rolled her eyes, he took the document. ¡°I¡¯ll read the important part for you.¡± Lucius slowly read the violation of the contract. ¡°Unless the death of the contractor, the duration of the contract must be fulfilled.¡± ¡°¡­.. Ugh.¡± Chapter 69 Freya brushed her neck at the word death. ¡°If the contractor breaches the contract as she cannot fulfill the duration¡­.¡± She felt like she was going to faint as Lucius read that part very slowly. ¡®What happens if there¡¯s a breach in contract.¡¯ As Freya was about faint from curiosity, his red lips moved. ¡°The penalty is one hundred gold coins.¡± ¡°¡­. Pardon?¡± Her mind turned blank when she heard the penalty for breaching the contract. So truthfully she couldn¡¯t hear what Lucius said after. What could I do with that? ¡°So, there¡¯s a reason for both of us to carry on the contract. I¡¯m going to the palace but there¡¯s time left on the contract. I¡¯m suggesting one thing¡­.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± She felt chilled looking at Lucius¡¯s smile. She hit the tent¡¯s pillar as she stepped back. ¡°Freya, it¡¯s not all bad for you.¡± But Freya already felt like was losing out. I can¡¯t keep doing this. Never! As Freya screamed internally, Lucius leaned his hand against the pillar after stepping in front of her. Freya was locked between his arms that she couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°If it¡¯s something about dating, then I don¡¯t want to.¡± Freya shook her head vigorously as she trembled. She barely was able to do servant work but to act like a fake noble and fake girlfriend. She didn¡¯t think she could even if there was a sword against her neck. ¡°You see. I have no intention of forcing it on you.¡± Lucius put one arm down and stared down at her while whispering. ¡°I just have to deal with it through the means of a contract.¡± It didn¡¯t sound like a threat, but his words had heavyweight. ¡°I have to pay a penalty of one hundred gold coins right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s it. Freya.¡± She wouldn¡¯t be able to pay that amount even if she begged on the street for life. If she tried to pay it off by working, it would take several years at least. So if she didn¡¯t listen to him, the dream of buying and house and farmland was. Just a bubble that¡¯ll burst? Freya, even though she didn¡¯t want to, had no choice but to listen to the plan. *** Freya sat at the corner after coming back to the tent and kept taking a deep breath. She was sitting still but her head was spinning and her hands and feet were shaking. Her neck kept losing strength and slouched. ¡°Freya, are you sleeping with your eyes open?¡± She was able to come back to her senses after Archer¡¯s loud voice. As Freya rubbed her eyes and looked up, Archer smiled. ¡°There¡¯s good news.¡± ¡°Ah, I also have news¡­.¡± Archer, who roughly sat on the bed, stop drinking and speaking. ¡°Freya, I¡¯m working under the Grand Master now. I¡¯m no longer a mercenary.¡± ¡°Wow! Congratulations.¡± Freya was truly happy that Archer¡¯s skill was recognized. ¡°There¡¯s wages every month and a place to stay too. So don¡¯t you worry too much!¡± Freya¡¯s eyes perked at Archer¡¯s words. ¡°¡­.. Me?¡± ¡°You¡¯d think I¡¯d leave you here alone? I¡¯m not that heartless.¡± Archer hit his chest while speaking vigorously. ¡°I¡¯ll take you and let you study, so just trust Archer from now on!¡± Freya couldn¡¯t hold back her tears as Archer spoke. She was so tired from such tiring work, so she was truly touched by his warm heart. ¡°Archer¡­..¡± Archer became flustered and get talking as Freya looked teary. ¡°Of course, it won¡¯t be a big house, but wouldn¡¯t it be better than here?¡± ¡°Archer, thank you.¡± For not ignoring someone like me. She felt embarrassed to say it out loud so she swallowed that part. ¡°Anyways, what did you want to tell me? Are you all packed?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a little later.¡± Freya felt like she was going to cry so she kept spitting it out. ¡°I told you to change the way you speak.¡± ¡°Let me be. I lived well like this.¡± ¡°How are you going to date like that? Hm?¡± Her body froze like a statue at his thoughtless words. Normally she would say she wouldn¡¯t date even if someone paid her in gold and would laugh it off. Ha, I don¡¯t know. Freya lay down and put the blanket over her head at his joke. It was because her face became bright red thinking of Lucius at the word dating. ¡°You taught you to sleep before saying anything!¡± Archer scolded her, but she didn¡¯t want to show anyone this face. Chapter 70 Lucius completed his duty here by getting on his horse and scouting the outskirt. He left a minimal amount of his finest men here and ordered the rest to the palace. Freya finished cleaning up the tent, carried her load, and started walking by Archer. But her head was full of Lucius¡¯s suggestion. That¡¯s impossible! You don¡¯t have to act like a noble. But the person that dates you has to be noble. She was told that the region of Del Mundo never really followed the canon of the nobles. So your freestyle of speech and action won¡¯t be too suspicious. Your Majesty, this is still too crazy. It fits the rumors of me being crazy. Lucius¡¯s eyes became vicious as he said this. As Freya shrunk her shoulders, he whispered. It¡¯s best for you. Gold coins appear just by being with me. Well, the role of servant fits me better. You just can¡¯t do what you want as you live. Ha¡­. No matter what Freya said, she couldn¡¯t refute what Lucius said. There was still duration left on the contract, and even if she was born again, she wouldn¡¯t be able to afford the penalty. ¡°¡­..Ha.¡± ¡°I heard dishes from the palace melt at the tip of your tongue-.¡± Freya got out of her thought as Archer hummed. The bear-like man was all smiles as if he was the happiest person. ¡°How is he so imposing? Hm?¡± Archer spoke in awe as he was staring at Lucius, who was at the very front leading. Freya, who was walking with her load by him, didn¡¯t look impressed. ¡°He¡¯s so far that he looks like an ant.¡± ¡°So mean.¡± Archer was throwing a temper and stopped himself from giving her a noogie. ¡°We are all his subordinates so we always have to be polite.¡± ¡°Archer! Where does all that nagging come from? From your stomach?¡± Freya shut her ears and stuck her tongue out. ¡°I told you this is all muscle. It¡¯s so hard a sword can¡¯t even get in!¡± ¡°There were quite a few wounds for you to be saying.¡± ¡°Why do you keep talking back on a good day?¡± Archer, who seemed to be in a good mood as he was going to the palace, didn¡¯t get angry today. He kept sipping on a small bottle of alcohol. Freya fixed the load she was carrying and looked forward. He really looks small though. The soldier that was waving the long flag in front followed his Majesty Lucius and the guard knight Gemini. Herro is riding a carriage because he¡¯s feeling weak. It finally hit her that they were leaving as they got on the road. The camp that she was running around busily, the pond she did laundry and the tree she leaned to rest from time to time were all right in front of her eyes. Thank you for being there. Goodbye. A bunch of mixed emotions came upon Freya as they were walking away from the camp. How long have they been walking? The camp they left became small as an ant, and in front of her was unfamiliar scenery. There was a land with a bunch of crops she didn¡¯t know and also corn. I¡¯ve only eaten it, never seen it like this before. Everything was so new to Freya, who was born and raised in the city. But she had almost no time to enjoy it. Lucius¡¯s suggestion kept heavily weighed on her heart the entire time. If you pretend to be my fianc¨¦e then I¡¯ll give you hundred more gold coins. It was true that almost swayed her. Freya loved gold coins very much. If I¡¯m poor I have to starve. To over-exaggerate a little, she figured that out before she was even able to walk and talk. But for me to go to the palace seems absurd. She almost didn¡¯t have the confidence to act like Lucius¡¯s fianc¨¦e as well. So right now is the last chance. If she went into the palace, it was obvious she¡¯ll get involved in something big. There was no way she could deceive the nobles and the royals. Even if she was pretty quick-witted. I hate things that made my head swirl. She kept feeling anxious, and her instinct warned her to leave immediately. Okay. I¡¯ve made my decision. Freya started to walk slowly on purpose after making the decision. As Freya lagged behind, Archer, who was picking his teeth, stopped. ¡°Why are you walking so slowly? Hurry up.¡± ¡°Archer. I need to pee.¡± As Freya looked troubled, he kicked his tongue. ¡°I told you to go before leaving.¡± Archer nagged her. Freya felt sad at such a familiar voice. She will miss his nagging. She felt bad for leaving without saying a word. ¡°Archer. This is the only way for me to save myself.¡± She hid in the tall cornfield with words she couldn¡¯t say out loud. ¡°Thank you for everything.¡± She put the brown cape she was wearing over her head and shut her eyes. It had been a few hours since she left the group and wandered the cornfield. ¡°I don¡¯t know which direction I¡¯m going.¡± She didn¡¯t want to acknowledge it, but she was lost. She looked into the map on the table in the barracks quite a bit while she was cleaning the cleaning. So she thought she knew the area pretty well. ¡°I didn¡¯t know there would be a cornfield.¡± Chapter 71 In the tall cornfield that overshadowed her height, the information on the map meant nothing to her. ¡°Feels like I¡¯ve been here before.¡± Freya left a mark wherever she passed as she was trying to get out. She caressed the string at the tip of her fingers and mumbled. ¡°Ah, I¡¯m hungry.¡± She remembered the bread she was carrying but then shook her head. She couldn¡¯t have her emergency yet. ¡°Should I try a corn?¡± Come to think of it, there was corn everywhere. She took an ear of corn and sniffed it. It smelt sweet and tasty. She peeled it off and then bit into it. It was softer and sweeter than she thought and edible. ¡°Ah, whatever.¡± Her legs hurt from walking around and she was tired. She threw the empty cob and lay down. ¡°The sky is so pretty here.¡± The sky she looked out the windows of the orphanage was always ash-like. ¡°Anyways, I should revise my plan. I have nothing.¡± She stopped thinking about the few change she had in her small bag and kicked the corn stalk. ¡°I worked so hard and didn¡¯t get a single gold coin!¡± She felt bitter thinking about that. She felt lost when she was separated from Ruth and felt pathetic that she was basically in the same situation. ¡°I should stop resting and get out. It might become dark at this rate.¡± Even though she was brave, it didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t scared of sleeping out. Freya stood up, spread her arms out, tried to guess the direction, chose one, and then started walking again. Then the sun really started to go down. ¡°Am I really stuck in here?¡± The cornfield started to become orange. As she felt hungry, Freya felt defeated. ¡°The sun comes down early.¡± As it became dark, she wouldn¡¯t be able to see anything soon. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be sleeping in the cornfield¡­..¡± As she was complaining, she heard an unknown sound. ¡°Is it an animal?¡± Since it¡¯s a cornfield, it was obvious that there will be wild animals. By the sound of the ground rumbling, it seemed like a pretty big one. ¡°I hope it¡¯s the sound of the wind.¡± She was caressing the dagger on her waist and swallowed. But she had no confidence in beating an animal with such little training she had. ¡°No. It¡¯s important to always have confidence.¡± She spoke as she was scared. A moment later, the corn stalk swayed, and the thing that was making the sound appeared. ¡°What is that. A monster¡­?¡± The tusk around the mount of an animal that was around three times the size of Archer shone with moonlight. Freya froze as she met an animal she¡¯s never even heard of, let alone seen. She spoke to the animal with her eyes. Please just go. I¡¯m not tasty. Despite Freya¡¯s effort, the animal¡¯s eyes became more vicious. Prrr, prrr. The animal that became excited started to dig the ground in front of it. It looked like it was getting ready to charge at her. The sharp dusk shone as it nodded. I¡¯ll be dead if I get stabbed by that. The hand that was holding the dagger started to become sweaty. Where should I stab if it charges at me? Can I even stab it? The leather of the animal seemed so thick that the dagger didn¡¯t seem to be sufficient. It was when she was trembling in nerves. Someone came to her quietly and covered her eyes. ¡°¡­. Your-.¡± She felt Lucius¡¯s form she got familiar with by spending time together behind her. ¡°¡­. Sh. It¡¯s ok.¡± She was surprised at the sudden appearance of Lucius, but the animal was about to charge at them so she couldn¡¯t pay attention to him. He brushed Freya¡¯s frozen arm and whispered. ¡°Just stand here. Don¡¯t run or scream.¡± ¡°¡­. OK.¡± Lucius took out a long sword with the hands that covered her eyes and then breathed silently. It was that moment. The animal kicked in and then started charging at them. The ground shook like there was an earthquake, and there was so much dust that it was hard to keep her eyes open. Freya covered her eyes in fear. The sword seemed to slash the air and then the beast screamed. ¡°Oh my¡­.¡± As she carefully uncovered her face and lowered her hands, she saw Lucius putting one foot on the beast with his sword deep in its side. ¡°It¡¯s ok now. Freya.¡± Lucius whispered while wiping the blood off the side of his face. Freya blankly stared at him and breathed a sigh of relief. This is a scary sight for sure¡­. Lucius looked like how the rumour had it with slaying the beast with one slash. Anyone freezes when they meet his vicious eyes that bring blood. But with his blonde hair that shone with moonlight and his smile, he looked rather fancy. I¡¯m crazy. What am I thinking right now? Lucius took care of his sword and went to her and grabbed her wrist. Freya¡¯s eyes became round like rabbit¡¯s in surprise. ¡°Uh, uh¡­.¡± Freya looked at the wrist that was being held and screamed. ¡°Your Majesty, there¡¯s blood¡­..!¡± The blood from Lucius¡¯s wound streamed down the back of her hand. It must be a wound he got from taking care of the beast. ¡°Looks like I got him. Ah, I¡¯m dizzy.¡± His face instantly turned white, his legs wobbled and Freya quickly helped him. Chapter 72 Why does this keep happening? It hasn¡¯t been that long since the night Lucius was attacked. Freya quickly leaned Lucius against cornstalk, took off his cape, and checked his arm. ¡°Your Majesty, there¡¯s a stabbed wound there.¡± ¡°This is fine.¡± ¡°You¡¯re bleeding so much, what do you mean you¡¯re fine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not too bad to get hurt.¡± Lucius, who was staring into her eyes, whispered very quietly. Freya looked through her bag, found a piece of cloth, and tied it around his wound. ¡°It¡¯ll be too dangerous if you don¡¯t stop bleeding.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll stop soon.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, you remember your way back right?¡± Lucius leisurely but slowly shook his head. ¡°No, I was lost and found you.¡± ¡°¡­. Pardon?¡± Lucius was in the same situation as her, she couldn¡¯t say anything about this ridiculous situation. ¡°Then what should we do now? You¡¯re hurt and it¡¯s so dark.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lucius looked at her and the dead beast and shrugged his shoulders. Then when she found something that shined on the floor and as she went to pick it up, Lucius stretched out his arm. ¡°Are you going to leave a patient?¡± She sat right back down at his strong pull. Freya complained as she dusted her clothes. ¡°It looks like we dropped something there.¡± ¡°Just stay by my side.¡± Lucius held her tight and his eyes flashed strong light. ¡°How is someone that was badly hurt, this strong?¡± In the end, Freya sat beside him with her handheld by him. It was uncomfortable just to be sleeping in the cornfield, but to be with his Majesty as well. So unlucky I am. So unlucky. Also, she was scared that Lucius might find out that she tried to run away. He mumbled slowly as he stared at Freya¡¯s nervous face. ¡°I won¡¯t let your hand go no matter what you say so keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, why?¡± She was uncomfortable sitting so close, and her mind headed to the wrist that was being held hard. Lucius spoke as she was frowning. ¡°I was hurt trying to save you. If you run away at this point, who¡¯s going to take care of me?¡± ¡°¡­.. Ha.¡± She was about to say something but his face was so serious that she couldn¡¯t. Freya calmed her breathing and spoke. ¡°What do you mean running away?¡± She felt a little guilty after yelling. It wasn¡¯t like she wasn¡¯t thinking of running away then and now. ¡°Then you weren¡¯t running away from me?¡± Lucius held her wrist tight, stared away, and responded bitterly. ¡°No, I was¡­ I just got lost.¡± As she was trying to lie, her tongue twisted as she wasn¡¯t used to it but she couldn¡¯t admit that she was running away. Freya glared as she was put in a corner. If Lucius found out she was running away, she has to give him hundred gold coins. ¡°But why are you here, Your Majesty?¡± If on schedule, he should be at the palace already. Lucius pulled her wrist at her question and their bodies touched each other. His eyes were curved with a smile as he stood so close that they could share the same breath. ¡°I had something to catch here.¡± She stammered as she felt the heat from Lucius coldly smiled. ¡°That beast just now?¡± But it was weird. His Majesty didn¡¯t enjoy hunting. Also, if it was for hunting then he would¡¯ve brought hunting dogs and the chasers. No way could that be it. She met eyes with Lucius as she was shaking her head in disbelief. ¡°Yes. I came to get you.¡± Hiccup. Freya hiccupped in surprise as she stared into Lucius¡¯s blue eyes. ¡®Me?¡¯ His eyes were very serious. The wind that came through the cornfield wrapped around them, and Freya carefully opened her mouth. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry, but I can¡¯t-.¡± Be part of your insane plan. I only have one life. She bit her lips as she couldn¡¯t continue. Lucius continued as he saw her troubled face. ¡°I have no intention of letting you go.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, I¡¯m getting a little scared.¡± Freya threw a joke trying to alleviate the heavy feeling, but Lucius smiled. ¡°Freya of Flanders, I heard Archer is your relative?¡± ¡°¡­.. Ah.¡± The end of a lie was never good. People thought that Freya was from the region of Cheese and Archer¡¯s relative. ¡°This is a threat!¡± As she fought back, Lucius brushed his bang. ¡°Freya, I¡¯m being fair.¡± ¡°How is this fair?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too mean to a patient?¡± She didn¡¯t feel pity as he held his wounded part and moaned. ¡°If I knew this was how it was going to be, I would¡¯ve never signed.¡± He calmly spoke as she looked enraged. ¡°That¡¯s why you should really consider when you sign a contract.¡± Lucius pulled Freya¡¯s hand strongly and put his cold lips on the back of her hand. As her eyes opened wide surprised at the feeling, Lucius smiled. ¡°¡­. This is my signature.¡± Freya froze and turned her head. The night got deeper. Freya kept complaining while sitting face away from him. The gratefulness that she felt when he saved her from the beast was no longer there. I¡¯m not thankful, and I don¡¯t pity him! She was trying not to pay attention to Lucius, who was moaning once in a while due to the wound. How can he threaten me with that? It was Lucius who spoke first after they didn¡¯t talk for a while. ¡°Freya.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She was waiting for whatever weird thing he was about to say, but he really did say something weird. ¡°That moon looks like your face.¡± At the end of Lucius¡¯s gaze was a full moon that was glowing brightly. Is he saying that my face is round and chubby like that? How could he pick such annoying words all the time? Freya tapped on her fattened cheeks and frowned. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asking me why?¡± Lucius asked while still holding her hand. Then Freya shook her head while not even looking at his face. ¡°I¡¯m not curious at all.¡± It was when Lucius was about to speak. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± Soldiers led by Gemini showed up through the cornstalks. Red torches surrounded them and Freya sighed secretly. Just like that, her plan to run away failed. Chapter 73 Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Chapter 74 It was after quite some time that Lucius noticed something strange. ¡°Luuu¡­Lucio¡­¡± He suffered from nightmares from months ago. When he lay in bed at night, someone looked for him with a sobbing voice. He couldn¡¯t sleep properly, and the next day, he suffered from a severe headache. Lucius complained about his pain to Milady, and she offered to help, but the nightmare continued. I can¡¯t be the one who promised my mother like this. Lucius plucked up his courage, thinking of his late mother. It isn¡¯t a ghost. One day, Lucius pretended to have fallen asleep and covered himself with a blanket. Then someone opened the door and appeared and made a creepy sound. As expected, it was not a ghost but a person. One of the servants took Milady¡¯s order to make a gloomy voice while hanging around on Lucius¡¯ bed. At first, Lucius didn¡¯t believe it, but he realized it after repeated bizarre actions repeatedly. All the sweet voices were false. The soft cotton candy-like world that the child believed in collapsed. Once he began to doubt it, he was out of control. He thought he saw and heard something which is not there. He was hallucinating. ¡°How pathetic was that?¡± he recalled. Milady wanted to end his life cleverly. The milk contained poison, and a faceless man suddenly swung a sword at him. The result of believing the way it was, was terrible. Without Hero and Gemini, he would not be here today. Lucius¡¯ bright personality got darker and darker. Then he faced a lifetime crisis. He almost died in the fire and managed to escape and stay in a strange place. Yes. I met Freya there. He had nothing, and he was comfortable with her, not with anyone. Lucius didn¡¯t know that he, who had been in the palace all the time, would be able to get along with someone. She didn¡¯t know about me. Freya was not pessimistic about life and not afraid to try new things. He learned a lot from her, who calmly accepted fate. Lucius was always knitted and cleaned. ¡°I hope to eat a lot of cake.¡± It was Freya¡¯s simple wish. So, Lucius¡¯ eagerly wanted to be strong. He tried to gain more strength than he originally had. Freya, I want to show you something that I¡¯m not afraid of anything. Freya was such a precious person. She always readily gave him some food with a smile. But I forgot you, it¡¯s pathetic. I wanted to repay you. She was his savior, the first and last friend to make him live on the most challenging day of his life. Yes. I might curse myself for being selfish now. Lucius¡¯ blue eyes gradually deepened as he watched Freya sleep, leaning against the wagon window. Will you smile at me like that soon? While back in the barracks where Lucius was riding a horse at the forefront, he saw Freya conversing with Archer, which was different from what she usually showed him. ¡°That was how you smile.¡± When she stayed at his barracks, she always frowned or had a mouth sticking out. ¡°Why is she glancing at the cornfield so often?¡± An ominous hunch wrapped around his whole body. And after a while, his prediction became a reality. Freya, who was next to Archer, disappeared. ¡°She said she¡¯s taken a break for a while, but where did she go?¡± Lucius jumped off the horse at the appearance of Archer, who was restless. Hero, who noticed that his expression was unusual, stepped up. ¡°If you remove all the cornfields by magic, it is easy for us to find her. If she¡¯s lost, she¡¯ll come to us right away,¡± Gemini asked Hero. ¡°No. I¡¯ll take care of this with my own hands.¡± Lucius blocked Gemini, who was preparing to search directly with the soldier. Freya, did you run away from me? Anger soon shifted to nervousness. He cut countless corns over his height. The saliva in his mouth dried up, but still, he couldn¡¯t find Freya. Freya, where the hell are you hiding? It was because of that damn contract. It¡¯s all because of me. I forced myself to hold you. He blamed himself severely, and finally, Freya¡¯s back came in front of him. He found her. Lucius was about to feel relieved when suddenly a fierce beast came in front of her. The energy of pulling a sword alone could handle such a beast, but Lucius did not. He approached Freya silently and covered her eyes. You don¡¯t have to be scared. Let me see all kinds of dirty and ugly things instead. Hiding his words, Lucius stabbed the beast¡¯s heart that was rushing toward them. After killing the beast, he proudly turned toward Freya. Blood flowed from his hands, even though he was intentionally injured. However, Lucius couldn¡¯t think of anything when he looked back at Freya. Freya¡¯s face, which seemed to have suffered all day, was heartbroken. He could only do to hold her hand. His whole body trembled lightly, recalling his sense of that time. We won¡¯t break up again. Lucius reached out and made Freya¡¯s head fall asleep and lean against his shoulder. Freya, sweet dreams. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Hero stuttered as if he had seen a ghost on the other side. ¡°Why?¡± As Lucius raised his chin, Hero shook his hand. ¡°It¡¯s scary because you do something before you didn¡¯t do.¡± ¡°¡­shut up.¡± In response to Lucius¡¯ fierce answer, Hero fiddled with his cape sleeves. The condition of the electric charge was strange. What should I do? Is your gone Highness crazy? That¡¯s why he was curious about the story Gemini told him. Your Highness was attracted to an ordinary woman? His Highness showed an extraordinary interest in Freya. Of course, it was far from likable, but he tried to keep it by his side anyway. She is only a servant. It is fortunate to show interest in the opposite sex, but it was hard to say that all of them were good. Your Highness must be engaged to Lady Selena. To strengthen his position to become the future Emperor, Lady Selena¡¯s support, coming from an influential family, is needed. Chapter 75 Read latest Chapters at Wuxia World . Site Only Chapter 76 Freya glanced down at the clothes she wore. Her hair was a bit long, but she was far from the look of a noble person. Lucius, who was frowning at her words, spoke off. ¡°If I say it¡¯s possible, it¡¯s possible.¡± ¡°But your Highness, I don¡¯t really know how to do anything.¡± ¡°What I need now is a reliable person, Freya.¡± ¡°What?¡± She gave up her conversation with Lucius, who was saying absurd things. Of course, she¡¯d gotten quite attached in the meantime, but how can she say that? ¡°Why do you keep talking about faith, hope, and love?¡± Perhaps he didn¡¯t know how she felt at the moment, full of agony. The carriage gradually slowed down. I guess I¡¯m close to the palace now. Freya chewed her lips without even thinking of looking outside at all. Soon the wagon stopped completely, and a serious light shone on Lucius¡¯ face. ¡°Hero, take charge of Freya, please.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Freya, don¡¯t think about anything else. I won¡¯t let you go twice.¡± He stared at Freya¡¯s eyes for a moment before getting off. Freya lost her will to run away due to the threat of the crown prince. It felt like he was going to get a knife if she got caught. Looking around, she also got off the wagon along with Hero. ¡°Wow! Is this the palace?¡±¡¯ It was an unfamiliar scene for her, she who had never experienced anything other than an orphanage or barracks. Freya¡¯s shoulders, overwhelmed by a well-groomed garden and a huge building in front of her, kept shrinking. ¡°Freya, just follow me.¡± Walking behind Hero, she whispered quietly. ¡°Hero. I don¡¯t think this is right.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s the meaning of your Highness.¡± ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense even to you.¡± It seemed that Hero had a lot to say, but the conversation soon ended. As she went through a garden wider than the field, a winding corridor appeared. As Freya climbed the stairs and repeatedly passed through the hallway again, Hero heard a rough breathing sound from Freya¡¯s mouth. ¡°Hero, it¡¯s not a maze, right?¡± Where in the world are we going? Is it so complicated and far away? Freya, who was out of breath, put her hand on her waist and breathed heavily, and he took his mouth off. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Freya¡¯s mysterious eyes opened the door and a strange woman appeared. ¡°Okay, I¡¯d like to ask you to decorate Ms. de Bua here.¡± Hero pushed Freya into the room and smiled brightly. ¡°Hero! Can you wait a little bit?¡± It was her first time at the palace and she was scared to be alone among complete strangers. He smiled softly through the closing door. ¡°Your Highness Lucius will be fine.¡± Soon, the door was closed, and only Freya dressed in rugged clothes was left alone. ¡°What if you suddenly throw it here and go?¡± Freya stood as if confronting a few maids standing in front of her and pulled the hem of her clothes. The employees were much nicer and tidier than her. What should I do? When Freya acted awkwardly, one of them spoke first. ¡°Can you wait a moment?¡± Freya thought she was sharing her opinions for a while but soon they came to Freya. ¡°Lady, trust us.¡± Those who drew a circle touched Freya¡¯s head and tried to undress her. ¡°Uh..Uh..¡± ¡°I think you need to take a bath first.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m fine.¡± Freya had no intention of undressing or bathing in front of strangers like this. But after a while, she became a mouse in a bathtub. Chapter 77 Freya couldn¡¯t stand the feeling of a wide, long green dress touching her ankle. You can¡¯t take a step out of this way. If Archer saw her, he would probably laugh because she looks like a boy in a dress. Freya, whose cheeks were hot, was restless, then Hero appeared in the room again. ¡°Gracious! Miss Freya De Bua!¡± Hero who was changing into a white robe embroidered with gold thread, couldn¡¯t speak properly. Freya blushed at his reaction. ¡°It must look ridiculous!¡± She raised her hand out of embarrassment and tried to erase what was applied to her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t do that.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s weird.¡± ¡°Not at all. It suits you very well.¡± ¡°No way.¡± Not believing Hero¡¯s words, she blurted the end of her words and he spoke off. ¡°Let¡¯s go to your highness first. Come on.¡± Hero, who came close to her, reached out one arm. Freya grabbed his arm without a clue what would happen. Her fingertips trembled slightly. She tried not to look as awkward as possible, but her eyes kept turning because it was so bright everywhere. It was her first time seeing such a colorful building and walking on a soft carpet. ¡°Hero, can you walk a little slower?¡± The end of the long dress she wore for the first time was constantly wrapped around her ankle and almost fell. ¡°By the way, where are we going right now?¡± ¡°We¡¯re on our way to meet someone.¡± ¡°What?¡± She just came to the palace, and now Hero¡¯s telling her she would meet someone? Freya¡¯s face turned pale in an instant. If it was a palace, there would surely be crowds of nobles and imperial families, the thought of it made her feel nauseous. ¡°But I¡¯m not ready for anything yet.¡± When she cried, Hero continued with a slightly nervous face. ¡°The place we¡¯re going now is no different from the battlefield.¡± However, you only have to remember that you are Freya De Bua.¡± Freya nodded, and they suddenly stopped in front of an incredibly large door. The guard who was guarding the door pulled out the spear, and when the servant pushed the door, someone made a loud noise. ¡°Hero Elymus, the Great Wizard.¡± Freya keeps blinking her eyes because of the pouring light. Hero¡¯s appearance seemed to draw attention for a while, but soon the lights focused on the left-center where the emperor was seated. Oh my gosh! Am I in front of the emperor right now? Freya, who had never thought of meeting the emperor in her whole life, was suddenly become nervous. She wanted to run away through the open door. What? When did I sit here? When Freya came to her senses, she was already sitting stiffly next to Hero. What am I doing here? Questions kept pouring into her mind, but she couldn¡¯t open her mouth carelessly due to the suffocating atmosphere. Stealing the sweat from her forehead, she saw someone sitting near the emperor. There was a man who was escorted by Gemini armed with armor and exuded cool energy. ¡°Your Highness Lucius¡­¡± When she saw him, she was somehow relaxed. He was wearing tight black pants with his long legs emphasized and a navy cape with gold wine over a white shirt. Blond hair that went back, sharp nose blades, and thin lips were revealing his sensitive nature. Dressed up splendidly, he proved to be noble from head to toe. Why is so different from the way he looks on the battlefield? Lucius, who was originally handsome, was more beautiful here. Bam ba-a-bam! When the emperor beckoned, the man next to him blew a trumpet. The wind barely allowed Freya, who was drunk on Lucius¡¯ beauty, to come to her senses. ¡°It¡¯s not a dream, right?¡± She tried to sit as if nothing had happened, but she was too nervous that she felt her lower abdomen was going to twist. ¡°I guess the rumor that the disease is serious is right.¡± Even from a distance, the emperor¡¯s yellow eyes stood out. It was then. ¡°Prince Lucius, the successor of the Morsiani Empire, come here.¡± At his call, Lucius stood up and knelt under the emperor¡¯s feet. ¡°I praise you for annihilating enemies on the periphery and protecting the empire.¡± The emperor gave the crown prince an emerald-embedded dagger. Lucius accepted it and the people gathered at the banquet hall cheered. But why is it so weird? Everyone was delighted, but it was a little different from them celebrating the victory near the barracks. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s for real. Like acting. She was aware of this atmosphere at once because she had lived her whole life. Squashed by the awkward and stuffy air of the banquet hall, she clenched her fist. ¡°Prince Lucius, congratulations on your victory.¡± The empress, who came down three or four stairs dragging the hem of the dress, held Lucius¡¯ hand. The red-haired empress was wearing a muslin dress of the same color as her hair, and several gold necklaces were hung on her neck. ¡°Thanks to the crown prince, we were all able to spend the night with confidence.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor to protect Her Majesty.¡± Lucius greeted politely and soon opened his mouth to the emperor. ¡°Your Majesty the Emperor, I¡¯ve done everything you said the other day.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± There was no one here who didn¡¯t know what it meant. The empress mediated Lucius¡¯ challenging attitude. ¡°Your Majesty is sick, so let¡¯s discuss the matter quietly.¡± Standing next to Lucius, the empress slightly bent her knee toward the emperor with her hand on her chest. It was like a loving wife who thought of her husband. Chapter 78 Milady Xavier, who was born the second daughter of a Korean-American self-composed family, had only one dazzling beauty. However, because she was poor, she didn¡¯t even get a chance to use her beauty properly. After adulthood, she had the fortune to find out about the re-employment of an old man. I will never live a life of warming up the body of an old man. She woke up quite early in the world and forced herself into the palace as a maid. It was the result of Milady¡¯s unspeakable efforts that allowed women from prominent families to do what they could. This is where I¡¯m going to stay. Flamboyant dresses, elegant furniture, well-decorated gardens, and everything in the palace captivated Milady¡¯s heart. At first, she decided to seduce a young aristocrat entering and leaving the palace. It would have been if she hadn¡¯t met the emperor in the garden by chance. ¡°Did you fall?¡± The emperor, who encountered Milady, who fell in while walking through the rain in the garden, fell in love with her at first sight. The emperor couldn¡¯t draw attention from her in a sticky dress that revealed her moist eyes and body shape. Thus, the emperor¡¯s heart tilted to Milady overnight. I will give you the title of a marquis wife. Thus, Milady had a high position, and while being the empress¡¯ maid, she secretly built a conspiracy with the emperor. There have been countless crises before reaching the top. It wasn¡¯t a coincidence or luck that I was standing here. After her son Hart was born, her goal became clear. Making Hart the crown prince, before that, she had no intention of giving up this journey. However, it was impossible before Lucius died. I won¡¯t let anything like how to fail to hold my son¡¯s ankle. Milady, who struggled to escape from her past thoughts, spoke affectionately. ¡°Prince, you know the norms of our Morsiani Empire.¡± The crown prince of the empire must be engaged to be guaranteed his legitimate position. ¡°Even so, I have someone to introduce to you today.¡± Milady was a little nervous at Lucius¡¯ relaxed words. ¡°How dare you brag about it?¡± She has done her best to prevent the marriage of her successor, Lucius. Until recently, the Edelion family has been struggling, but it will not be a problem because it has made some kind of deal with Count Banderas. ¡°Lucius, you won¡¯t be able to find a girl next to you in the empire.¡¯ In high spirits again, she raised her chin, and Lucius reached out as he looked somewhere. ¡°I¡¯ll introduce her to you, Miss De Bua from Del Mundo.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± The crowd quickly became noisy at Lucius¡¯ words. In the Del Mundo region, it was the southernmost island in the Morsiani Empire, and in fact, there was little exchange with the capital nobleman. Even then, Freya just watched the exciting scene by bouncing her finger. Your Highness is going to introduce someone today, but why does it seem everyone is so surprised? ¡°What situation is this?¡± Although she worked hard on her brain, it was not enough for her to know the work of noble Nari. ¡°Freya, Freya.¡± ¡°What?¡± Freya came to her senses when Hero called her name. ¡°Your Highness is calling you.¡± ¡°Now? Why me?¡± It was only then that she realized that she was the one who was supposed to be introduced. Oh my gosh! I knew this would happen. It was no use wanting to run away from the carriage coming to the palace. ¡°Your Majesty, this isn¡¯t it!¡± Freya raised her head, and Lucius¡¯ eyes were intertwined. She could see the desperation in his blue gaze. But it has nothing to do with me. Soon she turned away from Lucius¡¯ gaze. She didn¡¯t have the guts to do such a play in front of so many people. ¡°Your Highness Lucius, I¡¯m sorry.¡± Freya decided to pretend not to know the situation with her head down. It¡¯s best not to be involved in the work of the nobles. When Freya, who had been ignoring him the whole time, looked up, she made eye contact with Lucius, who was still looking in her way. What¡¯s with those eyes? If it was a high-pressure feeling, Freya would have turned her head right away. But the figure of Lucius now was like her before, one face that seemed lonely among many people. Enchanted by the gaze, she raised herself with her armrest. What the heck. Why does he look like a puppy in the rain? It wasn¡¯t long before her legs shook as she walked on the red carpet. This must be crazy. Freya was sure she¡¯d regret it later. She stared at her opponent who was reaching out to her. This is all because of your threats. She reiterated that it was never something she wanted to do. ¡°Thank you.¡± The moment they held hands, a voice small enough to be heard only by her flowed from Lucius¡¯ mouth. I knew you¡¯d say hello like that. The grabbed hand soon got tangled, and tremors were transmitted through thin gloves. Freya opened her eyes wide as she feel her hand¡¯s strong vibration. She wasn¡¯t the only one shaking. ¡°Your Highness, Lucius, is shaking too? She put a little force on her hand. Being confident anywhere suits him better. Perhaps reading Freya¡¯s mind, the tremors surrounding the two soon subsided. Chapter 79 ¡°So, who is she?¡± The empress raised her chin and gave Freya a sharp look. Freya stood in a hurry, grabbed the dress awkwardly, and bowed her head. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Freya de Bua from Del Mundo.¡± The empress pretended to have heard a greeting and then chined up again. ¡°So, who is it?¡± The empress turned her gaze to Lucius. ¡°She¡¯s the one I am currently seeing,¡± Lucius answered. Milady bit her lips tightly at his words and scanned Freya¡¯s whole body. ¡°I heard that if it¡¯s Del Mundo, barbarians lived there.¡± Lucius briefly flinched at the empress¡¯ words. ¡°You¡¯re going to ignore Freya and me at the same time?¡± If he moves according to the opponent¡¯s will, Lucius will lose. ¡°I think I¡¯ve met the right partner.¡± Lucius acted sly as he raised his eyes. In a way, it seemed like a joke between a harmonious hat, but the banquet hall atmosphere seemed to be walking on thin ice. ¡°On top of that, doesn¡¯t it matter where my fiancee, who will soon be the empress, came from?¡± Milady¡¯s face heated up with what Lucius added. That cheeky fellow must openly mock her that she is the illegitimate child of a noble family. She smiled affectionately to avoid this conversation quickly. ¡°I agree that the true hearts of the two are important, just like the relationship between his Majesty and me.¡± After watching the conversation between the two, Freya trembled in the cold air of the empress. She and the empress saw for the first time felt like she was going to make a hole in her chest just with her gaze. What is it? Why is she so scary? The disregard for being a savage was nothing. Freya heard a lot of things already. First of all, the important thing is to get out of this situation. Freya who is determined firmly gave her stomach a lot of strength and she smiled naturally. ¡°Your Majesty! Empress! Please take good care of us!¡± All the nobles who gathered at the banquet hall became contemplated at a powerful greeting that would not even be a gardener of the palace. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such an undignified lady like that.¡± ¡°Oh my god, how can that be?¡± Soon, the nobles murmured, and Milady also made an impression as if she had seen something he would not see. Lucius was the only one who smiled at Freya. ¡°Ms. de Bua, nice to meet you. Let¡¯s say goodbye here for now.¡± The empress, who barely managed to put on an absurd look, announced the start of the banquet. Soon after, Muhee came out in the middle of the banquet hall and showed a delicate dance. Freya, who sat down along Lucius, shook her knees and ripped off the rubble of her fingers. Wow, I think my heart is going to pop out to the floor. She pretended to be confident, but she was so nervous. ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Freya drank the water on the table in a hurry. Her heart palpitations showed no signs of calming down. Then Lucius bowed his head and whispered. ¡°Freya, shall we go out?¡± ¡°But¡­¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anyway.¡± She heard it was a banquet for Lucius, but he wanted to go out. Lucius, who held her hand with strange eyes, left the noisy banquet hall. After a while, the two arrived in an ornamental garden. Freya first filled her stuffy chest with cool air. She felt like she was going to buy a little now. Then, he stared intensely at Lucius. ¡°Your highness! What are you doing right now?¡± Freya whispered very quietly in case someone would hear it. Lucius, who stopped walking in her voice, reached out to the rose arch above his head. There he broke the white rose, and he smiled. Lucius slowly appreciated Freya¡¯s dress and did not hide his admiration. ¡°The person in front of me is Freya, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the time to play around like that.¡± Freya was ignorant of etiquette, but she was not tactless. As Hero said earlier, this place was as brutal as a battlefield. Despite her serious response, Lucius¡¯ blue eyes only turned to Freya. ¡°It looks good on you.¡± Lucius, who had friendly eyes, gently stuck a flower into the side of her ear. Her heart pounded at the touch of him. She didn¡¯t want to admit this feeling, so she acted unevenly. ¡°Even if you don¡¯t tease me like that, I know well that I look funny.¡± It was bizarre to wear a noble lady for the first time in her life. ¡°Yeah. It would be better if it were a joke, Freya.¡± Somehow, she faltered as she tried to get angry at Lucius¡¯ strange voice. ¡°What does it mean?¡± Freya, who was quite quick-witted and confident, could not understand the prince¡¯s attitude for a while. ¡°Something changed.¡± She was not particularly good to him, but she was a little more interested in him than usual. ¡°You must be used as my fiancee.¡± She was contemplating for a long time and heard the footsteps of another person coming out of the garden. ¡°I think I should do more plays.¡± Even before Freya could answer, his hand hugged his back. As a result of the rebound, she naturally put her forehead on Lucius¡¯ hard chest. ¡°It¡¯s falling off right now.¡± ¡°Hold on. Stay like this for a second.¡± Lucius whispered, who tightened her struggling body more intensely. ¡°It¡¯s easy for people to misunderstand.¡±¡® Freya has never been interested in anybody before. She never went dating. But that doesn¡¯t mean she doesn¡¯t know what dating was. When she begged on the street, she saw and heard more than she thought. My beloved lover made friendly eye contact and held hands tightly. When his hot breath tickled Freya¡¯s forehead, she could recall the night she wanted to forget. The texture of the lips I put on to cover Lucius¡¯ mouth was vivid again. Crazy. Why are you thinking about that now? Freya felt like it would be weirder if she didn¡¯t move away from him. She turned stronger and met a pair of blue eyes looking down at her. ¡°What? Why do you look at me like that?¡± The two staring at each other under the arch were buried in a white rose. *** ¡°Your Majesty!¡± The maid, who was trying to stop the empress, sweated hard. Milady screamed in response. After returning from the banquet, the empress¡¯ palace was turned upside down. Milady threw things as soon as she could. The necklace was loosened, the pieces of jewelry were scattered, the vase was broken, and water was splashed everywhere. Milady was anxious that what she had worked hard on would go wrong. ¡°We were almost there..!¡± she screamed. Prince Lucius returned alive and sound with all the cheers of the people on their backs. And that wasn¡¯t all. She brought a girl with him, saying that they were engaged. ¡°Did you see that woman earlier?¡± It was a barbarian-like woman who was not worthy of the imperial family of Morciani. She hurriedly put on her hair and makeup and dressed up in a nightgown, but she couldn¡¯t avoid her eyes. ¡°Who recognizes the aristocrats in Del Mundo?¡± At Milady¡¯s evil words, a middle-aged maid approached and wrapped a cloth around her bloody hand. ¡°Your Majesty. That¡¯s not what¡¯s important right now.¡± ¡°Yes. That man who never dies is the problem.¡± The empress was trying to cool her mind. ¡°It¡¯s like I¡¯m almost close to my goal. We have to deal with things somehow before the emperor dies.¡± The emperor was so weak that it would not be strange if he died today. If he died without saying that he would change his successor, the crown goes to Lucius. ¡°I¡¯ve been grilling so many nobles.¡± When Milady, who was exhausted, threw herself into bed, the maids rushed in and began to massage her arms and legs. Milady, who frowned a lot on her fine forehead, jumped up and sat, shaking off the maid¡¯s touch as if it were annoying. ¡°Hart, did Hart come back?¡± She pressed her temple with her fingertips to ease her headache that was gathering again at the thought of her son. ¡°I was so desperate, and he is not even on my side?¡± On the day when a lot of nobles gathered like today, she had to attend unconditionally. However, Hart didn¡¯t even show his nose to Lucius¡¯ victory banquet today. ¡°Your Highness, his Majesty Hart came¡­¡± ¡°Tell him to come here right now.¡± After a while, a man appeared staggering. The tall man swept a lot of cilantro hair and spoke blurry. ¡°Mother, did you find it?¡± ¡°Hart, oh my god! Are you hooked on alcohol?¡± Milady was confused about the appearance of her son, the smell of strong alcohol vibrated in the room. Milady quickly sat his son on the sofa as he mended. The son was very sensitive, so she was careful not to get angry. She managed to make a real voice. ¡°My beloved son, didn¡¯t I say I¡¯d bring you the whole world in a little while?¡± ¡°Mother. I¡¯m sick and tired of that.¡± Hart, whose eyes were relaxed at her words, shook his head hard. Milady was angry at his son¡¯s insincere attitude. ¡°You can¡¯t say things like that. I did everything for you.¡± ¡°Did someone ask you to do that, mother? ¡°¡­Hart!¡± He didn¡¯t know how hard she struggled to remove the label of resuscitation of an empress who was a former maid. Milady held his son¡¯s hand and began to recite her efforts. Then, while listening to his mother, Hart leaned on the sofa and fell asleep. Chapter 80 Freya was squatting in the corner of her new room. Isn¡¯t it a dream? No matter how deep she took a breath, she couldn¡¯t calm down. It was strange to enter the palace, dressed up in a beautiful gown and attending the banquet. More, I saw His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress. Even if she told Archer later, she wouldn¡¯t believe it. However, it was clear that it was not a dream when she looked at her twisted heels because of her shoes. ¡°Are you saying this is de Bua¡¯s room?¡± She looked around the room with her beautifully dressed hair tangled. White lace was fluttering along the pillar on the slope of the bed. It was just amazing that such a lace could run on the bed. ¡°I won¡¯t be able to sleep in this huge bed.¡± Freya wrapped her head with her hands and put her forehead on her knee. Sweeping her neck with her hand, she opened her mouth roughly. ¡°If I had clothes to change, I would have taken them off right away.¡± However, her comfortable clothes disappeared somewhere. She opened the closet filled with colorful dresses a hundred times more than this. ¡°Wooooh.¡± She had imagined a closet like this when she was very young. A closet was full of her dress, not a perforated dress from someone. ¡°But why do I feel so messed up?¡± Freya thought she would be happy if she had only cake and gold, but maybe that¡¯s not it. Her eyes were watery as she was touching the hem of the dress. Time went by, but she couldn¡¯t get rid of the feeling of something stuck in her throat. ¡°It¡¯s suffocating.¡± Freya raised her hand and pounded her chest. However, she was heavy, as if she had an upset stomach. ¡°I should get some fresh air.¡± Freya, who stood up, pulled the door to the balcony. She leaned slightly against the railing a little higher than her waist. The palace garden, which was overlooking the second floor, was fantastic. The well-groomed flower beds and lights everywhere sparkled like fireflies. ¡°It¡¯s like magic.¡± What unfolded in front of her was a world that she didn¡¯t even know existed. But soon, the impression was nowhere to be found. ¡°It¡¯s not the time for me to admire this beautiful scenery.¡± The cold night breeze passed by her cheek and soon penetrated between the thin saliva. ¡°It¡¯s quite cold.¡± But she didn¡¯t want to enter the room with a large bed because it was so awkward. She missed the floor where the sound of Archer¡¯s snoring rang loudly, and trash was rolling around. ¡°Archer is probably sleeping somewhere over there, too.¡± Lucius caught a faint smile on Freya¡¯s lips as she looked far away. She thinks she has grown quite attached to him. ¡°Ha! What will happen to me in the future?¡± She wanted to buy a small house with a garden if she collected a few gold coins. Was that such a big desire? ¡°I feel so creepy here.¡± Life here was more challenging than expected. Lucius said it was not difficult at all, but it was unbelievable. She still recalls how the empress stares at her. She scratched her head, thinking of the empress showing hostility to her earlier. Something similar like this happened before. ¡°Oh! That¡¯s right. It feels similar to Sophia.¡± When she spit out the words, she looked depressed. It¡¯s terrible to have someone like that again. There was something else that disturbed her head. ¡°Why does his highness keep doing this to me?¡± After that intense first meeting, she kept getting involved with Lucius. She became his servant, and that¡¯s why she¡¯s here. It is all because of you, Lucius. However, his appearance in the cornfield was still vivid in her mind. The pale cheeks covered with blood and a beautiful smile were in front of her. ¡°It¡¯s because we¡¯re so close these days.¡± Otherwise, there was no reason to feel this way. Freya sat on the railing and hugged her head. Because she didn¡¯t eat anything all day, her stomach was growling, but somehow she didn¡¯t have any appetite. ¡°Did I become a noble lady? That¡¯s funny.¡± Freya rubbed her shoulders with both hands and slowly walked into the bedroom. The food that was left untouched on the table remained the same. ¡°Hmmm¡­When did I fall asleep?¡± Freya, who stretched while leaning on the sofa, muttered. When the morning sun came in, the bedroom sparkled even more. ¡°I was pondering and starved.¡± She picked up the bread she had left yesterday and bit it when someone knocked on the door. ¡°Lady, your Highness Lucius is here.¡± What is he doing here? Freya looked everywhere, but Lucius, wearing a red cape, walked into the room. ¡°You¡¯re very adaptable.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Only then did she realize that she was standing holding the bread. As Freya quickly hid it behind her back, he strode up and opened the window. ¡°I¡¯m going to be very busy from today.¡± ¡°And so?¡± It has nothing to do with her whether he is busy or not. When Freya answered half-heartedly, he twisted his lips. ¡°I¡¯m not alone, and you¡¯re going with me.¡± ¡°Why me? I only needed to be next to you.¡± ¡°I think you need to reread the contract?¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Thanks to Lucius, who threatened her again in the early morning, her dim eyes opened wide. Standing with his back against the open window, Lucius stared at her and opened his mouth. ¡°You think it was as easy as standing like a statue next to me? Of course, that¡¯s not it, Freya.¡± Freya was angry to the tip of her head at his sly words. ¡°Why you¡¯re always doing this to me?¡± ¡°You should have expected it first when I asked you to act as my fiancee.¡± Lucius, looking at her angrily, swept her lips with his index finger. Freya was speechless at his trivial gesture. Chapter 81 ¡°You don¡¯t mean that, do you?¡± As she swallowed her saliva, she imagined her lover, who had been kissing her like one body at the alley entrance. The lovers whispering love exchanged looks as if they were caressing and swallowing each other. ¡°Do you mean we have to do what a real couple does?¡± After shaking her neck with her hands, she realized that she was wearing a thin needle now. Freya covered her chest with her hands, and the bread fell to the floor. ¡°I have no intention of doing so.¡± ¡°Are you going to break the contract?¡± Freya seemed to go crazy over his lousy contract. ¡°No, Your Highness ¨C¡± ¡°I have no intention of rubbing my lips or coveting my body, pretending to be engaged.¡±¡® She was embarrassed to say one thing together, so her voice kept crawling. ¡°Why, do you like me or something?¡± ¡°¡­What? That¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the problem? We have to do what we agreed.¡± Her voice grew louder because she was so surprised by Lucius¡¯s wild question. ¡°What? Am I being too complicated? You didn¡¯t mean it at all, did you?¡± She supposes to feel that way from his highness. Freya coughed because she was ashamed of her excessive imagination. Lucius, who approached her, took off his red cloak and put it on her. ¡°Miss de Bua of Del Mundo, I hope you don¡¯t catch a cold.¡± His fingertips touched Freya¡¯s shoulders for a moment. The rude gesture tickled her heart. ¡°There you go again.¡± Lucius made her so angry that she was so affectionate. After a while, he delivered the schedule. ¡°I¡¯m here for a message.¡± Starting today, she is going into severe training. There was no end to horseback riding and beauty based on etiquette, dance, philosophy, art, and music. Freya was out of breath and distracted just by listening. ¡°How can a woman learn all that? And why would I do that?¡± ¡°Why do you think so, Freya?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll just have to imitate it for months.¡± ¡°How can you imitate it? Huh?¡± It did make sense to hear that. No matter how discreet you may be, there will be limitations in pretending to be a noble person. Eventually, she could not say anything, but Lucius pulled the rope near the bed. Soon the bedroom door opened, and the maid appeared. ¡°I¡¯ve brought what you told me to do.¡± The thing on the table was covered with a silver lid; Freya couldn¡¯t tell what it was. ¡°Open it, Freya,¡± It was the sweetest voice I¡¯ve ever heard. I will no longer be swayed by this man, whatever that may be. She gave a dissatisfied look on her face. Lucius reached out to the table and made a curt voice. ¡°I don¡¯t know what this is, but it¡¯s no use.¡± As she opened the lid with a huff, Freya could see its glare. ¡°Well, uh¡­.¡± The thing was covered with sugar-coated and white cream. In an instant, the room was filled with sweet scents. Freya, speechless, stuttered as she watched it. ¡°Your highness, this is the cake¡­¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯ve been having a hard time since this morning. I¡¯ll take care of you every day.¡± ¡°Every day¡­? I will eat cake every day?¡± Receiving this was more exciting to her than meeting the emperor. The emperor and nobles are far from her life, but the cake is right in front of her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe it.¡± Freya¡¯s mouth was watering. In other words, Lucius¡¯s words are not wrong. They¡¯ll all come in handy if you learn these things later on. I¡¯m not going to beg for life. Suddenly, Freya, eager to learn, tightened her fists. ¡°Somebody told me that there is no end to learning.¡± ¡°Sure, sure, taste it for now.¡± Lucius held a small silver fork in Freya¡¯s hand. Freya took her hand out of the red cloak and quickly tasted the cream. ¡°Wow!¡± Such exclamations came out of her mouth. The whole body trembled with a completely different feeling from meat. It tasted like milk, soft and sweet. It tasted just like the cake Freya had imagined. Lucius sighed secretly as he watched Freya enjoy her cake. He pretended to be fine, but he was always nervous when he stood next to her. It¡¯s always a mess. Freya was a precious person to him. He wanted to be nice to her, but it wasn¡¯t easy. Because she keeps trying to get away from him. Freya always looks for a moment and tries to run away. So, he was forced to mention the contract. What a coward! After a long sigh, Lucius smiled faintly at her eating the cake. Chapter 82 Freya was coming down from her horse after horseback riding, and Hero was waving in the distance. She responded to her long-awaited welcome face, stretching her back to a fragile back we were about to break. ¡°Freya, why are you riding a horse?¡± Hero made fun of Freya who was unable to straighten her back, clinging to her horse. She was ashamed, but it was no wonder that he laughed at her. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I have to go horseback riding.¡± She shook her head, putting strength on her shaky legs. ¡°I take back everything you said about living comfortably with your noble family.¡± Freya thought the aristocrat would only drink tea gracefully and take a walk, but she had no idea it was this more complex. Freya, gasping for breath, wiped her sweat with her sleeve. Hero, who was watching the scene, held back his laughter and spoke. ¡°If Francesca sees you wiping your sweat with your sleeves, she¡¯ll be angry.¡± ¡°Oh, my!¡± Fraya who was surprised at the remark, looked about. She could vividly feel a hawk made of soft reeds hitting the back of her hand. Francesca was a woman in charge of etiquette, and she had a cold impression that even a stab of blood would not work. Her reaction made Hero ask. ¡°Freya, are you scared of Francesca?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she scary?¡± ¡°There are so many scary people in the palace.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Freya nodded at his remark. ¡°This place is more frightening than the battlefield.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a quick adjustment, after all.¡± Hero smiled at Freya¡¯s remark, which immediately grasped the atmosphere of the palace. Freya sauntered and sat down for a moment. ¡°I can¡¯t walk at all because my legs are loosened.¡± ¡°Would you like an apple?¡± Freya, who accepted the apology that Herod had taken out of her arms, opened her eyes wide. ¡°Is this magic, too?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the talent to make food.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re excellent, though. ¡°¡­is that great?¡± Freya nodded as he handed her an apple cut in half with a dagger. Standing side by side with Hero, she bit at the apple, and a cool breeze brushed her forehead. It was nice to have a break. ¡°This is the happiest moment of the day.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor,¡± Hero, who was chewing the apple finely, whispered very quietly. The woman standing next to him had an extraordinary aspect. She had nothing to learn and possess a shallow position. However, she was adapting so firmly and well to unfamiliar situations. ¡°It¡¯s not going to be so easy in the palace,¡± Hero doesn¡¯t know for some reason, but he was interested in this woman. ¡°I think I know why.¡± Hero turned his head slightly away, and he saw Freya¡¯s red lips eating apples with a delighted face. Hero just looked at her with his heartbeat fast, and his ears were hot. ¡°Hero! Don¡¯t you have a fever?¡± ¡°¡­what?¡± Having finished eating the apple, she wiped her hands at the hem of her dress and stared at Hero. ¡°No, I think it¡¯s because I¡¯m tired after a little walk.¡± ¡°Hero you must be tired.¡± Freya was worried about him, who was always friendly to her. They soon parted and went their separate ways, but Hero¡¯s ears were particularly red. *** The painter Morden made a long impression in front of Freya¡¯s painting. The white canvas was covered with black lines of unknown origin. ¡°Have you never painted a picture, Miss de Bua?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to get a crater in Del Mundo.¡± Freya closed her eyes tightly and lay as close to the truth. All she did was draw a picture with a branch on the soil. It was her first time seeing such paint and coal. Morden asked again, sweeping his serpentine mustache on both sides. ¡°So, who is this?¡± It was the person she liked that Morden asked her to draw. Freya thought of the blond boy without hesitation. His hair was as fine as gold dust, with slightly darker green eyes, a sharp nose, and thin lips. ¡°This is Ruth.¡± She responded in a low voice. Ruth¡¯s memory faded away, leaving only a feeling. ¡°He looks more like your Highness than you said,¡± she muttered. The painting resembled that of His Highness Lucius. Morden called her, who had been lost in thought alone. ¡°Miss de Bua?¡± ¡°Oh, this is my childhood friend.¡± ¡°Oh, is this human?¡± Freya scratched her head at the artist¡¯s words. It was like a portrait of His Highness Lucius in her eyes, but in Morden¡¯s eyes, it seemed to be meaningless graffiti. Morden let out a sigh and frowned heavily. ¡°It seems that Miss de Bua must practice again from drawing the line.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Freya responded dryly. Chapter 83 When he returned to the palace, Lucius was anxious for a moment. ¡°Oh, my God! What am I thinking here?¡± The sound of Gemini¡¯s cough managed to get him back to reality. At the banquet hall, he stared at the dagger given by the emperor. ¡°Is he making fun of me?¡± He didn¡¯t expect that the price for his life was so simple. Usually, it was common to receive a sword used by the emperor himself in this case. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal.¡± Lucius sigh. Milady, who tried to undermine him in front of many people, was even more disgusting. She glared at Lucius with fierce eyes. ¡°You must know the virtues of successors.¡± Lucius recalled the emperor¡¯s promise to him before he left for the frontier. Prince, if you bring your fianc¨¦ back after making an outstanding achievement on the periphery, we will have a succession ceremony soon. Lucius wanted to go through due process in ascending to the throne. ¡°So that the sacrifices of my dead mother will not be wasted.¡± But somehow, that day, his hand was trembling towards Freya. I hope Freya doesn¡¯t hold this hand. On the day of the return ceremony, Lucius wished she would kick out the door and run away. At the same time, he desperately wanted her to hold his hand. ¡°What if my greed hurts you?¡± Freya took his hand as soon as he was about to bend his knees in a confused mood. She held his trembling hand tightly in fear of being left alone. ¡°Cheer up.¡± It was as if Freya had been cheering him on without a word spoken. Her warm body temperature brought Lucius back to his senses. ¡°The play isn¡¯t over yet.¡± Lucius soon made the face of the madman. ***** How long has it been? The sunset was out of the window, and she felt a cold wind on her forehead. ¡°Did I fall asleep?¡± As Freya stood up, her lengthy hair fell before her shoulder. As she arranged her tangled hair, Lucius leaned against the door, looking at her. ¡°¡­Your Highness?¡± Freya was surprised by Lucius¡¯ presence. ¡°Did I wake you up?¡± Lucius asked. He slowly approached her and saw it more clearly, taking himself away from the door. The sweat-drenched shirt clung to her body, and her blond hair was everywhere. ¡°Freya, you look like a noble lady now.¡± ¡°That kind of joke is terrible, so stop it.¡± Lucius grinned with his green eyes while Freya was crumpling her blue muslin dress. ¡°Why are you laughing when I¡¯m so angry?¡± As he strode closer, Freya took the remaining teacup at the table and gulped it down. She won¡¯t know why she¡¯s so thirsty. ¡°I¡¯ve been a little far, but..¡± Lucius put a small box dangling in his hand before her. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Freya raised her head. ¡°I promised you.¡± When Freya opened the box, there were a lot of carrot-shaped and star-shaped cookies. When she saw the cookies, she felt sorry for swearing at him, so she asked in a low voice. ¡°Did you get hurt?¡± ¡°¡­did you worry about me?¡± Lucius was perplexed by her questioning him. ¡°Is it against the rules to worry about your highness?¡± In the book of etiquette, there was only a lot of content that this and that was not the law, and she had only learned a little of it yet. ¡°It¡¯s not that, but because your majesty has gone to get rid of the evil.¡± Freya had never seen a demon, but she was sure it was more terrifying than the beast that appeared in the cornfield. When she looked closely, Freya saw something blue splashed on his white shirt, and his pants were torn. ¡°Are you hurt?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all right. Just try it.¡± As he stepped closer, he sat down beside Freya. She didn¡¯t want to care about Lucius, but she had to admit that she was glad to see him again. ¡°He who gives food is always welcome.¡± Freya, who hid her red cheeks, gave her poor excuse. ¡°Did you bring it for me?¡± Chapter 84 Lucius whispered at Freya, who had been looking into a box for a while. ¡°I wanted to bring the cake, but it was all going to be crushed in bringing it here.¡± Freya thought of a strange scene as she stared at a cute little cookie. With a bloody sword, the creepy-looking Lucius went into the bakery and chose these things. The bakery owner might be frightened? What a ridiculous imagination, she sighed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you eat?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t like sweet things very much, do you?¡± ¡°No way. When I was a child, I imagined eating something like this out of the mud.¡± Out of excitement, Freya said something that she shouldn¡¯t have said. Lucius, too, swept his face with her words. Lucius pressed his thigh tightly and swallowed his saliva in all the memories that he thought she had forgotten. ¡°Then try to eat comfortably. I¡¯ll take a break.¡± Freya pouted her lips and looked at him, leaning back on the sofa again. ¡°What skill do you want me to eat comfortably?¡± When Lucius glanced sideways, Freya¡¯s loose shirt covered her chest narrowly, and her thigh muscles, which looked thicker than her waist, popped out on the outside of her pants. Why does he keep peeping on me? Freya, whose cheeks kept burning, quickly stared at the box with her eyes drawn. I didn¡¯t know Lucius is this sincere! Freya carefully picked up a carrot-shaped cookie. The moderately sweet and savory flavor spread through her mouth when she took a bite. ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s so delicious!¡± Without consciousness, she uttered an exclamation, and in the wind, Lucius moved his body. ¡°How does it taste?¡± Is there a carrot in it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if they put in a carrot, but it¡¯s very savory.¡± ¡°If you¡¯ve tasted it, I¡¯ll try it, too.¡± ¡°¡­¡­?¡± Freya looked at him with suspicious eyes as he opened his mouth toward her. That¡¯s right. There¡¯s nothing strange about it. It wasn¡¯t once or twice that she suddenly asked him to stand down or did something strange. Freya picked up a cookie and put it in his mouth. Lucius, who ate the cookies, made a tiny voice. ¡°It reminds me of my childhood.¡± ¡°Your childhood?¡± ¡°I shared this with my friend.¡± Looking at his dream-like blue eyes, Freya recalled similar but different memories. We had a lot of fun. Ruth¡¯s face, who complained about Freya¡¯s playing the role of a mother, stood out. It was adorable, Freya struggled for a moment in the past, and Lucius picked up a cup of tea from the table. Freya shook her arm in astonishment. ¡°Your highness! That¡¯s the cup I was drinking.¡± Regardless of what she said, Lucius gulped down the rest of the tea. ¡°Why is it poisoned?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not true, but I ¨C¡± No, there¡¯s a new cup next to it. Freya realized that there was no point in weighing these things for a moment. Is he weird? A picture of the corner of the table came into his eyes as he put the cup down. ¡°By the way, what is this?¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t look!¡± Freya quickly stretched out her arms to stop him, but Lucius¡¯s arms were faster. ¡°¡­well,¡± he unfolded the paper and frowned heavily. ¡°You must have taken art lessons.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± ¡°But what are these black circles and lines?¡± Lucius, too, responded no differently than the teacher. ¡°That¡¯s my friend,¡± ¡°Is it Won¡¯s face or Sun¡¯s hair?¡± Fortunately, unlike the teacher, he recognized that the painting was someone¡¯s face. He was so excited that Freya spoke pleasantly. ¡°Ruth¡¯s face was pale, and his blond hair shone like the sun. The green eyes were like bushes. His lips were thin but very red.¡± ¡°Ruth¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Who made such a fuss about her childhood friend? Lucius, who had been silent for a moment, folded the painting and put it in his arms. ¡°I¡¯ll take this,¡± ¡°¡­what?¡± It was of little significance to others, but it was precious to Freya. ¡°It¡¯s the first Ruth I¡¯ve painted.¡±¡® Freya could not understand why he took her painting. ¡°No, Your Highness, what good is that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give it back to you when I¡¯m done. It¡¯s a kind of collateral.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Why did he give me cookies and be friendly? Again, His Highness Lucius was evident as a dark cloud hanging over her life. *** In dance class, Freya gasped and hid in the garden. She breathed heavily as she wiped away her sweat like it was raining. ¡°I want to run away for a while.¡± When she said a short word, her nose seemed to be steaming. Freya thought she had experienced many things that she couldn¡¯t see in her life, but it was also a mistake. An etiquette class where you get a cramp in your head every time you listen to it, a poem class where you fall asleep when you open a book, and a horseback riding class that is fear itself. ¡°They all look elegant, but they¡¯re all the worst!¡± Among them, were the dance lessons. Mr. Pierre was full of enthusiasm. He was a man who would not let his hands and feet alone for a moment and forced Freya to do it. Today, Freya practiced touching her forehead for an hour, and she felt like she would get hurt continuously. ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ve fallen before.¡± Her legs trembled, and her face burned, but Pierre was not satisfied. ¡°Now! Miss! Stretch your legs further!¡± You can do it!¡± Freya ran away after saying she would drink water for a while. ¡°Gasp. I¡¯m going to rest over there for a while.¡± Chapter 85 On one side of the garden was a table and chair made of wisteria under an arch of purple flowers. It gave off a simple look that did not go well with the place that was covered with gold or jewels. Freya, who had limped a little, went there and sat down, feeling tired. ¡°Oh, my God! I¡¯ve got a lot of muscles.¡± She spoke a little louder but quickly covered her mouth. Baroness Francesca said that such expressions hurt the dignity of the aristocracy. Her nagging seemed to be stuck in her ear. It was so painful, but it was inevitable. ¡°Yes, it all depends on how you think.¡± She decided to think of her life as an imaginary play that she sometimes played while she was in an orphanage. When Freya worked imagining that she was in a ragged dress and attending a ball, it was a time. It would have been hard to bear that life if it hadn¡¯t been for imagination. Flakes and tooth-infested blankets, clothing, and porridge with little solid ingredients. Whether it was raining or snowing, Freya could vividly remember when she was begging. But there was something else that was hard. Hunger and cold were tolerable. But she couldn¡¯t get used to the feeling of not being loved by anyone. There was a family on the street where they went begging, except for Freya. I feel like a beggar when I¡¯m alone. Suddenly, feeling a chill, she wrapped her arms around her. ¡°Good morning,¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Something came through the vines behind her, and Freya almost fell out of her chair. ¡°What?¡± She thought it was an animal, but there was a suspicious man in a cloak holding a basket. He was so cynical that he tried to leave. Then a faint voice stopped Freya from coming. ¡°Forgive me if I frighten you. I didn¡¯t know there would be people.¡± ¡°No, sir,¡± Freya couldn¡¯t feel any danger from the very polite and careful voice. Moreover, it did not look like a noble lord or royal family. Perhaps he had noticed Freya¡¯s suspicious expression, but the opponent quickly greeted her. ¡°My name is Michael. I run the errands in the palace.¡± Working in a palace gave me a strange feeling of homogeneity. She¡¯s also an actress hired by the Crown Prince. The tension disappeared, and she greeted him. ¡°Good morning. My name is Freya.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t had lunch yet.¡± The timid man caught a basket of cloth on the table. It was full of well-opened raspberries and blueberries. The sight reminded me of a pomegranate tree planted in the orphanage¡¯s sponsorship. When Sophia went out, she went out to the laundry and cut the ripe pomegranate in half, and the red juice flowed through her hands. ¡°It looks so delicious.¡± Her mouth seemed to be drooling, exhausted from the lesson. Michael spoke to her carefully. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, would you like to join me?¡± She wanted to eat it, but she hesitated, unlike before. But when she saw Michael¡¯s hand shaking as he grabbed the basket, she changed her mind. Now she¡¯s not Miss de Bua nor Miss Freya at the orphanage. Eating alone is very lonely. Besides, it¡¯s not easy to recommend it. ¡°It¡¯s impossible to refuse favors.¡± Freya smiled quite aristocratically. The man¡¯s silver hair in the cloak, who was watching him pick up the fruit, seemed to shake gently outside, and his lips slightly went up spiky. *** It¡¯s been a month since Freya came to the palace. She was learning something all day, and she lost track of time. After a long time of free time, Freya wandered around the palace. ¡°Where are they, anyway?¡± She hasn¡¯t seen Gemini and Archer since she got here. ¡°What! The Stern family man was so loud about keeping his word.¡± She had been teaching with Gemini for a long time, and her insignificant dagger skills were on the verge of extinction. However, she could not find the Knights¡¯ place because she was not familiar with the palace. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a huge and complicated place.¡± The splendid walls, the floor, and the ceiling had been glazed at first, but now they were calm. I¡¯m amazed at your adaptability. She congratulated herself. The bed in the bedroom has not been used yet, but her room feels a little less unfamiliar. Moreover, as she saw the maid who helped her dress up every day, she kept wanting to talk to her. Freya, looking down at her sharp shoe nose, murmured bitterly. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving soon..¡± Freya knew very well that this was not her home. Freya, who had been looking around for a long time, came across Hero by chance. His face was paler than usual, and he pressed down his cloak deeply. ¡°Freya, are you skipping today?¡± ¡°What do you mean? How hard it was to get a break.¡± Horseback riding is her break, and for this time, she had five hours of classes a day with Francesca. Seeing that cold face for a long time made her feel like she was her blood. At the thought of Francesca, Freya shuddered. Then he asked with a friendly look. ¡°By the way, what were you doing?¡± ¡°Well, I was looking for Archer.¡± Hero looked at her worn shoes and gladly said he would help her. ¡°I¡¯ve been here once or twice, so it¡¯s hard to learn the right way.¡± The Knights Building was separately located outside the castle, but getting there was quite complicated. Freya, who was looking around, spoke. ¡°Hero, I¡¯m not disturbing you for no reason, am I?¡± ¡°No, I have to see the Knightsman, too.¡± Looking at his smiling face, she secretly moved her lips. Freya¡¯s palace life would have been lonely without him for the past month. Chapter 86 ¡°I can¡¯t compare him to His Highness.¡±¡® ¡°I guess you miss Archer a lot. I should have arranged a seat earlier.¡± ¡°¡­that is,¡± His question made her a little hesitant. It was a little strange to Freya that she wanted to see someone. It bothered her that they broke up without saying goodbye. ¡°He has arrived.¡± On the building where Hero¡¯s finger indicated, a flag with a black eagle, symbolizing His Highness, fluttered violently. When asked if she wanted to see him, Freya, who had been hesitant, grabbed the hem of the dress and began to run. ¡°Archer! Archer!¡± As she pushed her way through the heavy wooden door, she suddenly shut her mouth with her hands. It was completely different from the noisy atmosphere of the battlefield barracks. Inside the quiet room, a group of knights sat at a long table, quietly grooming their swords. ¡°¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± She bowed slightly in embarrassment, and the knights stood up and greeted her at once. Freya who had responded awkwardly to them, opened her eyes wide. Seeing only a bunch of dirty soldiers on the battlefield, these men look different. She slowly approached the top seat. It was awkward because it was the first time in a month that Gemini, the captain of the Knights, saw her. Moreover, it was almost the first time she had met her in a dress, so Freya couldn¡¯t speak very well. ¡°Good morning, sir,¡± ¡°Miss De Bua, how are you?¡± Gemini, sitting at the top of the table, stood up and politely showed respect. Freya was perplexed because it looked very different from how she had been treated in the barracks. ¡°Miss De Bua said she wanted to see Archer, so I brought her.¡± Gemini nodded with a stern look at Hero¡¯s smile. But his black eyes were focused on a woman with a white silk dress and a long green strap around her waist. He hesitated at Freya¡¯s unfamiliar appearance, and she made a low voice. ¡°By the way, sir, I think you forgot something?¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Gemini was puzzled. ¡°You said you¡¯d keep your promise, didn¡¯t you?¡± Gemini smiled vainly at Freya, glaring at him, with her hand on the waist of a delicate dress. For a moment, he was fascinated by her appearance and forgot what she was like before. ¡°Isn¡¯t it the woman who threw the man out of the mud?¡± With the smile off his lips, he opened his mouth. ¡°I¡¯m not good enough, and I didn¡¯t. Next time, I¡¯ll make it good,¡± replied Freya coolly, waving her fan in her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the office and have a cup of tea. I¡¯m thirsty.¡± At Hero¡¯s suggestion, the three entered the office of the Knights-General and sat down. The room looked like its owner; there was no speck. The books filled one side of the wall, and the title alone made Freya¡¯s headache. It¡¯s just the right thing to do with a strict Gemini. She was looking around with curious eyes, and the door opened with a knock. ¡°Did you call me, sir?¡± A knight with neat brown hair and a thick face came in and bowed his head. ¡°Archer Walther,¡± Gemini¡¯s words made Freya¡¯s eyes round. ¡°Is it an article with the same name as Archer?¡± As Archer stood across from her, Freya¡¯s confusion grew more significant. ¡°I feel somewhat familiar?¡± Hero finally burst into laughter at this beautiful reunion of the two. But no matter how hard she looked at him, he was not the man she knew. It seemed like she had no idea whether it was the same with her. ¡°Archer, this is Miss Freya De Bua.¡± ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Archer, who could not recognize her after hearing her name, scratched her head awkwardly, and Freya was moved to tears with delight in the familiar gesture. ¡°That¡¯s Archer!¡± She jumped out of her chair and jumped into Archer¡¯s arms. ¡°Oh, dear!¡± ¡°Oh, yes. What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± The elegant lady burst in, and the startled Archer was about to take off her body. Freya narrowed her eyes and pretended to hit him with her fingers raised on the chin. ¡°Well, uh¡­?¡± Archer¡¯s mouth, which prevented her attack, continued to groan strangely. ¡°Oh! Freya, is that you? Chapter 87 ¡°How can you not recognize me?¡± Freya uttered a shrill voice. ¡°Oh, my God,¡± Archer scratched his head, and the two facing each other burst into laughter. Freya, clutching her stomach, spoke as she looked at his unfamiliar face. ¡°How old are you, Archer? I thought you were over forty!¡± Archer, who had a shaggy beard and was not well-decorated, looked old. ¡°You little rascal! Stop messing with a gentleman who is not even thirty!¡± Archer, who was very angry at her words, shouted. ¡°Why have you been such a mess so far, Archer?¡± Hero also examined Archer¡¯s appearance, wondering if his change was strange. ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m too lazy to trim my beard,¡± Archer answered. When Freya uttered a disgruntled voice, Archer glanced at her and spoke. ¡°Who would recognize you now?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­!¡± Freya was angry, but she couldn¡¯t say anything because it was true. As she puffed up her cheeks, Archer spoke to her with a happy face. ¡°Look at that. Don¡¯t you look good in a dress?¡± ¡°What do you mean all of a sudden?¡± Flushed with sudden praise, Freya turned her head sharply. ¡°By the way, Freya, what do you do in the palace? I¡¯m sure you are not a maid in that dress.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s¡­¡± It was a natural question for Archer, who knew nothing yet. When asked by him, Freya carefully opened her mouth as she grabbed the front hem of the dress. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m His Highness Lucius-¡± But Freya couldn¡¯t finish her words. It¡¯s not true, but I¡¯m ashamed to say it. Hero, who was picking up the tea, spoke for her. ¡°Miss De Bua will soon be engaged to his Highness.¡± ¡°What do you mean by getting engaged to your Highness?¡± said Archer with his wide-eyed. He seemed skeptical when he heard it. ¡°It¡¯s not that surprising, for this is all to help his Highness.¡± Freya added a very brief explanation. ¡°Oh, my God! Freya!¡± Archer, who had heard what she had to say, looked at her profoundly moving eyes. ¡°You have at last pledged your allegiance to your Highness!¡± ¡°What do you mean by oath? That¡¯s just what happened.¡± It reminded Freya of the moment she had wanted to jump out of the palace window for the past month but gave up thinking about her debt. ¡°By the way, do something about the way you said.¡± Freya went mad with the awkwardness of Archer, who had a young man¡¯s face. Gemini, watching their conversation, looked through the papers silently, and Hero grinned. *** ¡°Your chin is always raised, and your eyelashes fall, but your eyes should never look down ¨C¡± These were a few of a series of boring etiquette lessons. Freya lowered her eyelashes, but her eyes were full of sarcasm. She began to think about something else in her head. After class, should I go to Archer and eat chicken legs? At the end of the lesson, she was dancing with joy, and suddenly Mrs. Francesca¡¯s words awoke her mind. ¡°Today, the Empress invited you to the tea-time.¡± Freya could have escaped from here in a little while, but¡­. ¡°Yes¡­?¡± Freya shuddered as she remembered the Empress, who had a frightening face in her dream. What if I go and make a mistake? ¡°I shouldn¡¯t refuse her invitation, should I?¡± ¡°Of course. Isn¡¯t it an honor for the Empress to call you personally?¡± ¡°Oh, yes. It¡¯s an honor.¡± Freya, who was smiling awkwardly, secretly broke into a cold sweat. ¡°In this case, let¡¯s go to the Queen and try not to speak as much as possible.¡± Francesca reminded her. The Empress Palace had exceptional boundaries from the entrance. The guard who stood in the corridor to the door stood a tight guard as if a war had just broken out. A soldier with an unnamed weapon with a round iron on both sides was wearing a black mask, starting with a spear that seemed to kill him instantly. I can¡¯t even pick a bone if I try to break into the Imperial Palace. Freya¡¯s throat was cold as she was swallowing her saliva with tension. Chapter 88 ¡°To the Empress Milady¡¯s blessing!¡± Francesca, who entered the audience room, greeted the Empress with an impeccable gesture, and Freya, who stood next to her, copied it clumsily. ¡°Come here, Miss De Bua.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡± Freya sat down on the chair on the opposite side of the Empress, whose head was turned upward and decorated with feathers, looking like a sculpture with her closed mouth. The red lips rattled, and soon the Empress spoke. ¡°Sorry for the late invitation. I haven¡¯t been feeling well.¡± ¡°Oh, it is okay, your Majesty.¡± It¡¯s all right if you¡¯re not feeling well all the time. She gulped down what she couldn¡¯t say. ¡°Do you know that I raised Lucius as my son?¡± ¡°Oh, yes.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ll think of you as my daughter.¡± Freya smiled forcefully as she looked at the Queen. She did not know the court manners and stuttered through the writings, but Freya knew the Empress was after Lucius¡¯s life. Every little boy on the street knows the story. Moreover, she was disgusted by the Empress¡¯s words. The Empress¡¯s gaze becomes disgusting as she looks down on Freya from head to toes. Her expression changed, and she sat down quickly. ¡°It¡¯s an honor.¡± The Empress nodded with great satisfaction at Freya¡¯s answer. Again, this answer was all-around. Freya began to eat muffins and scones placed on the table in a quiet atmosphere. Francesca told her to take it slowly, but Freya had no choice but to fill her mouth as if she did not want to speak in such a stuffy atmosphere. She puffed her cheeks like a squirrel, and the Empress smiled at her. ¡°Ms. De Bua eats so exquisitely.¡± ¡°It is because, in Del Mundo, we have plenty of delicious foods.¡± Freya scratched her head with her hands full of crumbs, and Francesca frowned at the sight. ¡°Miss De Bua, didn¡¯t I tell you to be careful?¡± The Baroness whispered lowly, and the Empress waved her hand. ¡°It¡¯s all right. I like Miss De Bua¡¯s freewheeling part.¡± Contrary to her gentle way of speaking, the Empress did not hide the contempt in her eyes. Freya broke the cookies into small pieces with her hands, looking forward to the end of a terrible time. Why is time so slow? Freya was so conscious of the time, suddenly the door burst open, and someone came in. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had such a visitor.¡± Francesca jumped up and bowed politely at the man¡¯s appearance. He had brownish red hair, black eyes, and a slightly fragile impression. ¡°Miss De Bua, this is my son, Prince Hart.¡± Milady clasped Hart¡¯s hand beside her with a happy face. But he held out the Empress¡¯ hand and gulped down the tea in front of him. He put the teacup down and gave a chin to Freya. ¡°Oh, so you¡¯re my brother¡¯s fiancee? ¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Prince Hart.¡± Freya greeted Prince Hart as politely as she could. The prince, who seemed to be greeted by her, grinned and spoke. ¡°Don¡¯t say such a greeting. It¡¯s not fun.¡± ¡°¡­oh.¡± Prince Hart was the most unusual person she had ever seen here. She didn¡¯t know what expression to make, so Freya was spaced out, and he leaned forward and whispered. ¡°Do you know that? It is a secret, but there was a rumor that he was a dead man because he had never been in a relationship.¡± ¡°What?¡± Freya¡¯s jaw dropped at his shocking remarks. Oh, my God! Lucius is a nobleman! Freya¡¯s face flamed up. She didn¡¯t expect to hear such a story from Prince Hart. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a rumor. Lucius is in such good shape that it¡¯s possible.¡± For a short time, the rumor of Lucius made her head want to explode. Freya thought that it had nothing to do with her anyway. Anyway, I¡¯m not his fiancee. For a short time, Milady squealed. ¡°Hart! How could you be so ungrateful.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m only telling her that there¡¯s a rumor.¡± Since then, Milady has been preaching to his son in front of them. Oh, please save me from here. Freya wishes to disappear from her seat. ¡°Why don¡¯t we get out of here. I¡¯ll show you around the palace.¡± Hart jumped up from his seat and grabbed Freya¡¯s hand, and pulled her. It happened in an instant. ¡°Well, uh¡­.¡± Freya looked perplexed, but no one could stop her. Then she was left alone with him holding her hand. ¡°Does crazy run in the family?¡± The Prince who dragged Freya helplessly became aggressive again. He let go of his grip on her when they were a little out of the public¡¯s eyes. ¡°You almost died of frustration while drinking tea, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°No, sir,¡± She was suffocated but couldn¡¯t speak honestly. ¡°No way! It¡¯s hard for me to deal with my mother, too.¡± Chapter 89 ¡°Oh¡­.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we go out?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯re from Del Mundo, aren¡¯t you? Is it a free place?¡± Freya, who had no idea of Del Mundo¡¯s atmosphere, just nodded slightly. ¡°Come here. There¡¯s a hole I dug.¡± ¡°What?¡± What does he mean, a frog? Freya tilted her head at something she had never expected. Why is the Prince sneaking out? When he cleared the bushes he had covered with his hands, a hole was revealed enough to pass by if he bent over. ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­¡­.¡± At Prince Hart¡¯s gesture, Freya hesitated. Freya knew better that¡¯s why she followed him. I wanted to go out and look around, too. Besides, wouldn¡¯t it be less dangerous to be with a Prince, not with someone else? While her thoughts were busy wandering, the prince disappeared. ¡°Oh¡­! Wait a minute.¡±Freya chased him through the hole in a muddle. ¡°Now, let¡¯s have something to cover your dress. It¡¯s troublesome when you¡¯re seen.¡± Hart handed over a cape taken out of a box hidden outside the hole. It¡¯s not something Freya did before. She wore her cape deeply and walked along the waterway with him. The floor was muddy, and a gutter rat squeaked by near the ankle. ¡°Surprised.¡± The Prince exclaimed. Freya wonders how many times she was surprised by him. Soon a bright light came out and a street crowded with people came out. ¡°Wow!¡± It was Freya¡¯s first time seeing the proper appearance of the capital since she entered the palace. Everyone looked sophisticated and joyful. ¡°Should I fill your stomach?¡± Hart led her to a place where meat and vegetables were stuffed between pieces of bread and sold. ¡°It¡¯s called meat bread and it¡¯s the most popular these days.¡± When he handed over the money with a familiar feeling, the merchant immediately began to make meat bread. After baking a wide bread, put lettuce and onion on it, then thinly sliced meat and finished it with bread. ¡°Here, try it.¡± Freya was the first to eat something on the street, so she only looked at it for a long time even after holding the bread. ¡°You¡¯ve never eaten street food?¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s my first time.¡± It¡¯s not that Freya hasn¡¯t tried it because she¡¯s an aristocratic lady. Mumbling inside, she immediately took a bite of the bread. ¡°Wow! What is this?¡± Freya burst into admiration. The moderately seasoned meat and vegetables and the savory, coarse-textured bread were incredibly harmonious. ¡°It¡¯s delicious.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a taste that you can¡¯t find in the palace.¡± Sweet sauce flowed through the mouths of two people standing side by side. Freya kept biting the bread, licking the sauce with her tongue. ¡°It¡¯s really good.¡±¡¯ Freya ate the bread hard and looked at Hart secretly. ¡°Here¡¯s one more, master. Would you like another one?¡± ¡°No.¡± She had already finished one bread and looked blankly at him ordering something new. The place looks very familiar. ¡°I¡¯m thirsty. If you go here, there¡¯s a place that makes great lemonade.¡± ¡°Yes, yes¡­?¡± The lemonade in the stall, which was led by him, was moderately sweet and sour, leaving her stomach wide open. After filling her stomach, he led Freya to a place with an unusual sign. She made a low noise and read the words on the sign. ¡°A store that has everything except the ones that don¡¯t have it.¡± ¡°It sells everything in the world. I¡¯m just looking around for a while.¡± ¡°Really? Prince Hart disappeared without her time to hold him, and Freya was left alone. ¡°I¡¯m out of my mind.¡± A tired voice crept from her mouth. Freya was tired because she filled her stomach too much after being dragged around. ¡°By the way, where am I?¡± Freya, who stretched, looked around. Unlike ordinary stores, strange-looking props were just kicked in their feet. ¡°Is that real?¡± Freya, opened her eyes wide and peered intently at what was displayed on the glass shelf. The upper body is human, and the lower body is made up of fish. It felt rather creepy, but she only shrugged her shoulders. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of fun stuff.¡± More bizarre things came out as she walked along the winding passage. Some frames collected butterflies hanging from the ceiling, and there were many portraits of someone. ¡°There are a lot of daggers, too.¡± Interested in this area, she took a close look at the things neatly placed under the display. ¡°If I have money, I want something with jewels like that.¡± Where there were a lot of books, she suddenly thought of Gemini, and where the medicine bottle was placed, Freya thought of Hero. I¡¯ll have to buy some presents when I get the money later. Looking around looking for something suitable for Archer, Freya¡¯s eyes stayed on the gloves with blue jewels. Freya thought of someone unconsciously as she watched it. It refers to the appearance of a large, hard hand sweeping over the blond hair or holding a teacup. Crazy. Why am I thinking about Lucius? Surprised, she shook her head and walked past it. Going in a little bit more, there were a lot of antiques on display. Her writing skills are much better than they used to be, so she can easily read the words written underneath the article. ¡°Nulitas¡¯ gown.¡± It was the first time Freya heard the name, she tilted her head and looked at the next item. ¡°Gelda¡¯s whip.¡± It was also a stranger. ¡°Is it famous?¡± Freya was about to get tired of looking at the novelty. As she was trying to find the entrance around the corner, she heard someone moaning somewhere. It is the sound of pain. Freya hurried to visit the place, and a middle-aged gentleman collapsed under the bookshelf, clutching his chest. ¡°Are you all right? I¡¯ll call someone.¡± Frayah¡¯s bewildered voice filled the narrow aisle. At that time, the gentleman, who was shaking his fingers, struggled to open his mouth. ¡°I need to take medicine.¡± ¡°Where is the medicine?¡± The gentleman pointed his finger at the cane, and Freya asked back urgently. ¡°Do you have medicine in your stick?¡± Chapter 90 The handle of the cane was elaborately decorated with rose patterns. But Freya couldn¡¯t figure out how to open it. The gentleman was panting and his eyes were shaking. Freya¡¯s touch became urgent in a situation where it would not be strange even if her breath passed as it was. ¡°I¡¯m going crazy.¡± She turned the rose on the handle with the feeling of grasping at straws, and the stomach of the cane moved. ¡°Wow! Is this opening?¡± The handle opened and a small bottle of medicine came out inside. She quickly took out the pill and put it under the old man¡¯s tongue. ¡°I wish I had water¡­¡± However, it seemed that the medicine worked, and the man¡¯s breathing soon became comfortable. ¡°Oh, thank God.¡± It was horrible to watch a man die. She shivered as she recalled the orphanage child buried in sponsorship. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± The man was unable to speak clearly, but he picked his breath again and again. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay. I¡¯ll go out and call someone.¡± ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± Freya hesitated for a moment as the gentleman stretched out his arm and tried to hold her. She lent her arm so that he could sit upright, and only then they could see each other¡¯s faces. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Freya has never felt so strange in her life. A man with pale green eyes and brown hair blinked at her. Perhaps the man also wants to look at Freya¡¯s face hidden by the cape. ¡°I have to go back now!¡± Hart, who appeared at the time, pulled her arm, breaking the delicate atmosphere between the two. ¡°Did you enjoy the tour?¡± Freya fumbled as she looked back. ¡°There¡¯s a man down there.¡± ¡°You can send someone out.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but¡­¡± With the field behind the coughing gentleman, Freya soon left the store. Somehow she felt uncomfortable. She looked back over and over again the whole time she was away from there. They followed the channel and went through the opening hole again. It wasn¡¯t hard at all when she went out, but their way back was only slow. It was not until she came to the palace garden that she could barely straighten her back. Hart, who was looking beyond the wall where the sun began to set, whispered quietly. ¡°I¡¯m glad we got back early.¡± At Prince Hart¡¯s words, she took a breather and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s annoying when I come back at night.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Yes.¡± Freya had blank eyes, thinking about the secret passage behind her. She did a lot of adventures in a very short time. They ate street food and looked around interesting shops. And I was able to help a sick man, Freya thought. ¡°How was it? Did you have fun today?¡± Hart asks Freya while arranging his messy hair by the cloak. ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± It was definitely more fun than a boring class. In addition, Prince Hart was not as bad as she thought. It was offbeat but easygoing and pleasant. But Freya heard he was the enemy of Lucius. Somehow Freya was bothered that someone might know that she was hanging out with Hart. In the end, hesitating, she just smiled awkwardly. ¡°I enjoyed being with you,¡± Hart told Freya. That was strange. Hart, who had been talking all alone, stopped when they reached the Royal Palace of Lucius. ¡°I think we should break up now.¡± ¡°Go home safely.¡± Freya walked gently with swollen feet because she walked around excitedly. She crossed the garden and reached between the arches leading to the building. And when she got in there, she screamed. ¡°Oh my god!¡± It was because she faced the sharp eyes of someone sitting on the railing. It was Lucius who stared at her as if he was going to eat her. ¡°Lou, Your Grace, Lucius.¡± ¡°Why would you sit here and watch?¡± Freya, who was sweeping her arms in a chilling mood, couldn¡¯t breathe properly. Hiccups. Suddenly, the hiccups burst and he slowly approached Freya as he blocked her mouth with his hand. His face was as ghastly as a volcano on the verge of bursting. Don¡¯t tell me, he saw me with Lord Hart? But it was beyond her control, Hart asked her to go out with him. Of course, it wasn¡¯t her fault at all, it was hard to raise her head straight. You don¡¯t have to stare at me like that. She kept backing away from his aggressive gaze and was pushed back to the post. A cool thing soon touched her back and she was trapped between Lucius¡¯ arms and pillars. ¡°Freya, where have you been?¡± ¡°Well, Francesca¡¯s class was at the palace today.¡± She stammered even though she wasn¡¯t lying at all. ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m curious about.¡± ¡°That¡¯s where I met Prince Hart.¡± ¡°You met¡­?¡± Freya, looking into his blue eyes blazing with anger, trembled slightly. Ohhh, it might be hard to understand. Chapter 91 His eyes twitched and his shoulders soon drooped. With her lips full, she hesitated, and Lucius bowed and leaned on Freya¡¯s shoulder. She was about to yell or smack something, but when the crown prince suddenly hugged her exhausted body, the hiccups stopped in surprise. ¡°Freya, I was worried you were late.¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I want to hear.¡± Freya was embarrassed when he didn¡¯t seem to want to question her about Prince Hart. What the hell did he want from me? As Lucius¡¯s forehead, which was excited by the heat, touched her shoulder, Freya somehow felt a tingle in her heart. Why do I feel like a wife who cheated? She and Prince Lucius have nothing to do with each other. We¡¯re on a contractual relationship with a hundred gold pieces in exchange. Freya couldn¡¯t know what to reply to his words. There could not have been anyone in the world who could see the depths of Lucius. Maybe even the goddess Diana can¡¯t handle Lucius. ¡°You remember our promise, don¡¯t you, Freya?¡± ¡°Your Highness, I¡¯ll keep my promise.¡± Her ears were ringing before she could speak. Cause I¡¯ll be back soon. The promise of a day that Ruth never kept. But Freya didn¡¯t blame him. His childhood oath was vain, but it was a hill for Freya to lean on whenever she was tired and exhausted. ¡°You said you¡¯d keep your promise.¡± Lucius looked up at her words, his eyes wetter and his lips redder than usual. Freya couldn¡¯t take her eyes off his strangely racy face and licked her lips automatically. ¡°¡­well.¡± It was natural for a kiss to come to mind in a cave. ¡°There are a lot of people who doubt that we¡¯re dating.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± It was not unreasonable to have such doubts. No matter how much you look at it, you don¡¯t seem to have an atmosphere full of love. Freya was thinking to herself, and he spoke slowly. ¡°That¡¯s why. I think I¡¯ll kiss you here now.¡± At Lucius¡¯s words, Freya paused to think. ¡°Maybe it means that we¡¯re going to match what we said in the last carriage.¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I need to know in advance.¡± ¡°No, Freya. It¡¯s not like that.¡± Lucius, staring furiously at her lips, shook his head. ¡°¡­what? If not, I¡¯ll kisses There was an unprecedented red heat around his eyes staring at Freya, whose face turned red. ¡°Why on earth?¡± As the big green eyes filled with questions, Lucius grinned. ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s because we really¡­¡± ¡°Huh? How come that¡¯s not a big deal?¡± Freya frowned, and he continued. ¡°We don¡¯t mean anything to each other anyway.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point of rubbing your lips?¡± Freya shouted to herself, sticking out her chin. Lucius, who was watching her, slightly covered his mouth with one hand. After throwing a proposal that wasn¡¯t even planned, the fever spread out from her body. It wasn¡¯t wrong at all. ¡°You do need a play like that to clear your doubts.¡± Freya needed to give the impression that she was going to be his fiancee, not just a doll to stand by. But really, my heart is¡­ The complicated emotions tangled together and weighed heavily on Lucius¡¯ heart. He wanted to hold her body like this and covet her soft lips. Not for someone¡¯s watch or play. A heart that should never be embraced now was winding Lucius¡¯ ankle and pulling him into the ground. Having regained his composure, he strengthened Freya¡¯s hand by the waist. ¡°Freya, no one else, anyway.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I want you to be faithful to the contract.¡± ¡°If I¡¯m this big, uh¡­¡­.¡± Freya protested with trembling, and his eyes deepened as he looked down at her. In fact, Lucius was very angry with her with Hart. But even Lucius couldn¡¯t know what his mind was like now. rustling When he heard footsteps near the garden, Lucius, who bowed to her, whispered. ¡°Don¡¯t meet anyone else.¡± Freya¡¯s whole body trembled as he acted as if his lips would overlap at any moment. ¡°Close your eyes. Freya.¡± ¡°Your Highness¡­¡± Lucius told her to close her eyes, but the strain made her eyes bigger and bigger. Freya gulped down his breath and heat as he approached again. ¡°What if we really kiss at this rate?¡± Chapter 92 She can push his chest hard with both arms and she¡¯ll get away with it. But Freya did not. His breath, looking into Freya¡¯s confused eyes, tickled her cheeks. Only then did she come to her senses and groped her lips. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± She asked. ¡°Stay still.¡± He put his lips near Freya¡¯s cheek with a wink in one eye. It was a really short moment, but the moment Lucius¡¯ lips touched her flesh, almost made her heart skip. It wasn¡¯t a real kiss. ¡°What? Why are you sad?¡± Lucius teases her. Her cheeks touched his lips were ticklish, but he was caught up in a regrettable feeling. Then there was a short laugh in her ear. ¡°You look pretty carried away.¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°Did you expect me to kiss you?¡± When she opened her eyes, Lucius¡¯ blue eyes were looking into her face closely. ¡°Well, that can¡¯t be true!¡± Freya¡¯s green eyes, which were furious, had sparked. There was a wave of unbearable anger at being played down by Lucius. Freya was furious. She thought her heart stopped beating because she thought it was really a kiss. Freya quivered and he whispered in a mean whisper. Thank you for your cooperation today.¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± Freya wanted to be angry, but she was upset that she couldn¡¯t. ¡°You¡¯re so annoying!¡± If she had any power, she would have smacked him on the forehead. But such a great thing had to stop in the imagination. ¡°I¡¯m leaving now. Your Highness!¡± Freya, whose cheeks were burning, walked toward her room with her fists clenched. Then Lucius closed his eyes and laughed and began to chase after her. ¡°Freya, I haven¡¯t even brought up my business yet.¡± Freya walked quickly without looking back, and silence descended on the Palace, which was noisy by the disturbance caused by the two. *** Moonless night, darkness fell deep in the city of Morsiani. ¡°Michael, this is your last chance.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no such thing as that, Her Majesty the Empress.¡± MIlady covered in a black cloak, secretly visits the place underneath the castle. She was the second daughter of the Viscount family but in fact, an illegitimate child born of Viscount¡¯s infidelity. Her mother was a gypsy that everyone was pointing fingers at. It¡¯s annoying to be born a self-writer, and even this blood is vulgar. Mature Milady looked up at her mother. She visited her dying mother in a shabby tent and even so couldn¡¯t even ask her mother why she gave birth to her. ¡°Michael, you didn¡¯t forget Kira.¡± Michael¡¯s face hardened noticeably when he mentioned Kira¡¯s name. She was Milady¡¯s mother and benefactor to raise Michael who was wandering around. Whenever the queen felt his loyalty faltered, she forced him to obey in the name of her mother. With a short sigh, he took his mouth off. ¡°Of course, I never forgot that.¡± Milady gritted her teeth as he watched Michael bowing to her. ¡°We must find a way to kill Lucius!¡± After repeated unsuccessful attempts to kill the crown prince, she became overly nervous. ¡°The dead queen. I wonder what she did to the crown prince.¡± Milady chewed her nails and recalled the dead Empress. She took her place and eventually led to death. But Milady didn¡¯t feel a bit guilty. Milady¡¯s mother, who died three days after MIlady¡¯s visit, was leaving the gypsy¡¯s blood. She taught her daughter a secret recipe for atonement. ¡°Magic that can captivate any person at once.¡± her mother once said. At first, she thought it was a bluff, but it wasn¡¯t a lie to see that she seduced the Emperor and divorced the first Empress. The thought of the Emperor, who still believes that she is his true love, made MIlady laugh. She untied the robe she was covering, and soon reveal the silk underwear. Milady spread her arms roughly across the table. Her eyes were smeared with an indelible desire. ¡°Come here, Michael. It¡¯s a long night.¡± Under the faint candle, the silver hair shook and Michael soon breathed hot air into her throat. Milady, who groaned in a heartbeat, whispered in his ear. ¡°Tempt the stupid girl into yours.¡± Michael nodded as he recalled the brown-haired woman he had met the other day under the guise of coincidence. He didn¡¯t mean anything particular to MIady. He is now staying here just to do the favor of his benefactor, Kira. ¡°Give me you now, Michael,¡± Milady commanded. Michael, in the Empress¡¯ name, buried his head in the bosom of her silk underwear with an emotionless face. His hands slowly peeled off the empress¡¯s underwear and Milady, who was very excited, gasped. Michael¡¯s red eyes were conspicuous by the appearance of the Empress, who was thoroughly naked under him. ¡°¡­Hurry!¡± At her urging, Michael also took off his clothes and dug into the Empress¡¯ skin. There was no foreplay, but Milady¡¯s insides were already slippery, so it was not difficult to insert. ¡°Oh my god!¡± At the Empress groan, Michael constantly bent his waist from bottom to top. Every time he pushed, MIlady¡¯s legs shook up and down. Michael grabbed her legs, pinned them to her shoulders, and coveted the queen¡¯s interior with all his might. A dilute liquid splashed all over the combined lower body. ¡°¡­Michael! Ugh. Push a little harder!¡± Michael, who had no expression unlike the Empress¡¯ blushing face, recited to himself. Your Majesty, I will be your dog for a while. Michael¡¯s face with his eyes closed was smeared with a sneer. Chapter 93 Lucius¡¯ office was set up in the Imperial Palace, but there was a separate place where he handled things secretly. Sitting at his desk and looking at maps and documents, he flew a dagger that reached toward the door. As soon as the dagger which was making the sound of cutting the wind was stuck in the door, Hero stuck his head out. ¡°¡­¡­Yikes.¡± ¡°I told you to make some footsteps and walk,¡± Lucius said. Hero swept his chest as he looked at the sharp dagger stuck in the door. ¡°Sir, just because I¡¯m a magician doesn¡¯t mean I can avoid all threats.¡± ¡°I wonder if I can call you a magician for that kind of course.¡± When Lucius was sarcastic, Hero gave up replying. ¡°By the way, Your Highness, what¡¯s that frame over there?¡± At first glance, a sheet of paper with a lot of scary black lines like a curse spell hung on the frame. ¡°You know what?¡± When asked by Hero, Lucius breathed heavily as he wrapped his hands around the hot ball. ¡°Your Highness, are you starting to have an attack?¡± As a side effect of the strong drug, Lucius was suffering from headaches, vomiting, seizures, and insomnia. Hero, who rose from his seat in a hurry, showed light at his fingertips. ¡°Get your hands off me, Hero. I¡¯m fine.¡± Lucius, who removed his hand from his face, was smiling unbecomingly. It was almost five years since Hero saw such a smile again. ¡°Your Highness, are you going crazy?¡± ¡°Ha, you¡¯ll be the only one who can talk like that fearlessly in front of me.¡± Hero¡¯s words swept his hair and his eyes were fierce. ¡°If not, why are you laughing so hard?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something you¡¯ll never know.¡± Lucius laughed again as he looked up at the most noticeable wall in the office with his back buried in the chair. I can¡¯t believe I was the first person she drew.¡­. Lucius¡¯ heart tickled as if he had received a confession of love from her. It was not unusual for his master to behave strangely, so Hero sat back calmly in his chair. ¡°This engagement issue.¡± Hero decided to have a serious conversation with his Highness about this. It was sudden, So, Hero couldn¡¯t afford to ask Lucius¡¯ intention. ¡°Well, what¡¯s with my engagement?¡± ¡°It may not be true, but why don¡¯t we find another way now?¡± ¡°Why do you think so?¡± Lucius, who returned with a cool expression with a serious look at Hero¡¯s words, broke his knuckles. Hero looked around for no reason because it seemed like a small vortex was being created in a not-so-wide room. ¡°That¡¯s what it is.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll sacrifice anything for your crown.¡± That was his pledge, and he kept it well until now. Although Freya prevented Lucius from being humiliated in public, there was much to be desired. The del Mundo area will not empower Lucius at all. Hero ruled out the personal favor he had for Freya and only thoroughly considered what was beneficial to his Highness. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t Selena of the Edelion family be more suitable in many ways?¡± It was necessary to be protected by the Edelion family, who could rally the forces of the south. ¡°Hero¡­.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± It was Lucius, who was more serious than ever, and Hero got up and bowed his seat and bowed his head. ¡°I¡¯m always ready.¡± So far, Lucius has fought the enemy with all his might. ¡°My main goal is to avenge my mother to the person who stole her life!¡± But now there was a small sprout in his heart, where fiery hatred was taking hold. He is stronger than yesterday. ¡°I will protect Freya and will not let go of her hand.¡± Lucius looked somewhere in the faraway Imperial Palace with longing eyes. Even if he tried not to do so, Lucius kept getting nervous. ¡°Oh, my Freya,¡± he whispered. Knowing how dangerous it was, knowing how hard it would be, Lucius was overwhelmed to control his growing heart. With his secret, which he could not tell anyone, tucked into his heart, Lucius managed to say it. ¡°So please follow my choice.¡± Hero bowed his head toward Lucius, who stood with his back in front of the small window. Chapter 94 After Freya was groomed by the maids she stares at the mirror. ¡°Wow! Who is this?¡± The disheveled hair and dirty face were nowhere to be found, and a neat noble lady was reflected in the mirror. Freya laughed awkwardly, scattering her hair for no reason. ¡°You look less awkward in a dress these days.¡± Now Freya looked quite like the girl she envied on the street 10 years ago. As she walked slightly along with the waist-length cloak, She could see a rich lace at the end of the hem. It was unthinkable when she was begging for money in the street with her rags and worn clothes. Should she thank Lucius for all of these? If it wasn¡¯t for him, she would never know that the water in the silver basin was not for drinking but for washing his Majesty¡¯s hands. She sighed as she sat at her desk organizing the books to learn today before preparing for class. ¡°I wish Lottie could read.¡± If so, Freya could have delivered the general news by letter. Perhaps Lottie¡¯s eyes will pop out when he sees her now. ¡°Is he doing well?¡± The thought of Lottie made Freya depressed. ¡°There¡¯s no need to do this. There are only seven months left and I¡¯m out here in the palace.¡± Freya endured sixteen years in such a dark den, and there was no way she couldn¡¯t stand in seven months. Freya¡¯s whole body seemed to be full of energy when she made a determination that cheered her up. ¡°Assy, please take care of me today.¡± Freya named her horse Assy. Though a handsome horse with a friendly name, Freya¡¯s riding skills were boring. The man guiding her walked slowly, holding the reins with a firm expression. ¡°If you¡¯re so scared, the horse feels it all.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Freya sat on the horse¡¯s back with a stiff expression and managed to straighten her back. But I don¡¯t want to ride. Freya was a little scared of horses since she was young. Every time she sat on the street begging, she know how big the horses of the wagon passing by. If it kicks me, I might die. It was when Freya took her three or four-year-old friend to work instead of Lottie. They can get a lot of money if they always look cold and hungry. As Sofia said, the money saved by begging should be transferred into the pocket. Freya could earn more pennies by sticking out an empty bowl. Don¡¯t move. Because I have to clean up the money. Freya just looked away for a moment, and in the meantime, the little child who walked out was standing on the way to the carriage. No! Freya, who had lost her mind, threw herself. She didn¡¯t even worry about dying together. (Screaming) The child¡¯s screams rang out everywhere, and when they came to their senses, the two were safe. Thanks to Freya¡¯s tight hug with her friend while rolling around the floor, the child was nowhere injured except scratched. Well, my leg was stepped on by a horse. Freya felt her ankle was sore again from the memory of being squishy for a while. At that time, the ankle with the ligament stretched hurt for a long time. I tried my best not to get caught by Sophia. A sick child in an orphanage was the most useless and easily neglected. I hate horses and horseback riding. But now she couldn¡¯t make that excuse. ¡°You¡¯re Miss de Bua!¡± she said slowly. She held the reins for a long time and sweated, but a group of knights was passing by after training. Archer, who had identified Freya, ran toward her with a welcoming face hidden. ¡°Oh! You must be riding.¡± Freya¡¯s cheeks flushed up when she saw Archer¡¯s grinning face. It was obvious that she would be teased for at least a few months to show him this ugly appearance. ¡°This is the end of the class.¡± A few rounds of practice finally ended, and she came down from her horse holding Archer¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you have some time now?¡± Archer was making a very small noise in case anyone heard him. Freya snapped at Archer, who secretly teased her for her sophisticated attire and riding. ¡°If you have time, well.¡± ¡°How do you like chicken legs? Huh? Looks like you¡¯re having a hard time being a lady.¡± Freya couldn¡¯t express it much because she was afraid someone else would see it, but Freya¡¯s face turned bright. This boring lady can¡¯t wait to cut off the leg of a chicken. Freya¡¯s heart was pounding thinking about it, but Freya shook her head pretending to be elegant. ¡°I need an escort, please. Archer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an honor, Miss.¡± Archer, with his chest out wide, took the lead, followed by Freya very slowly. The place where Archer took her was a very small house, with wooden tables and chairs in a narrow yard to be called a garden. ¡°Wow.¡± As Freya sat there, the lilac tree standing behind her back created a large shadow. A sweet smell reached the tip of her nose. ¡°There was a place like this in the palace.¡± It was a great home, considering the narrow barracks. Enjoying the beautiful scenery for a while, Freya rode the horse nervously. Her butt was tingling and her body ached. She just thought that playing the role of a noble lady would be a business that she would lose even if she gave 100 gold pieces.