“More importantly, why are you dressed like that?”
“We are holding a small banquet. Some guests have come.”
“Guests?”
“The lords of the eastern regions. Apparently, they've come to make themselves known to me.”
“Hm...”
She made a strange sound and began idly playing with the edge of his coat.
He quietly lowered his gaze to her hand.
After fiddling with his clothing for a long while, she hesitantly opened her mouth.
“Shouldn't I attend too?”
He raised his eyes again.
That face, beautiful enough to seem unnatural, filled his vision.
She was a woman who strangely stirred the emotions of others. Even someone like him, whose senses were restrained in nearly every aspect, was not free from peculiar impulses around her.
He did not even need to see it to know what kind of chaos she might bring to this place.
After a brief silence, he slowly shook his head.
He could not hide her forever, but until he had completely secured control over the East, he wished to keep her out of people's sight as much as possible.
“There is no need. I will explain everything properly to the vassals. For now, Your Highness should focus on recovering.”
“...You're doing this because you're ashamed of me, aren't you?”
Her voice suddenly sharpened.
Varkas, who had been about to turn toward the door, stopped and looked down at her.
Gnawing at her cracked lips, she sneered.
“Do you already regret taking a cripple for a wife?”
He clenched his fist tightly.
Otherwise, he felt as though he might do something terrible.
Taking a long breath, Varkas waited for the sharp emotions to settle before looking down at her with cold eyes.
At that, the hostility in her gaze only became more pronounced.
At last, the words he had held back clawed their way out.
“Sometimes, I truly can't tell. Whether the things you say are meant to wound me... or whether you're trying to wound yourself...”
Her lips stiffened as though the words had stolen her voice.
He silently gazed down at her face, filled with distrust, then let out a faint sigh and turned away.
“I'll call a maid. If you truly wish to attend, I won't stop you.”
“No.”
Talia jumped down from the windowsill and snapped coldly,
“If I stay with you any longer, I think I'll get a fever again.”
With that, she staggered to the bed and threw herself onto the sheets.
Varkas quietly watched her for a moment before leaving the room.
Descending the stairs and stepping into the grand banquet hall, he was met by hundreds of eyes.
Everyone rose to their feet.
“Young Lord, you have returned.”
One of the vassals seated near the entrance bowed respectfully.
Accepting the greeting with a slight nod, Varkas slowly crossed the hall.
The high-ranking nobles and his own relatives, dressed in splendid attire, occupied the central table, while men in much simpler clothing sat surrounding them.
Passing them by, he reached the seat of honor.
The faint melody playing in the hall came to an abrupt stop.
After slowly surveying everyone present, he offered the customary greeting.
“Thank you all for coming such a long way. I hope you'll forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality.”
“Shortcomings? Never!”
One of the men seated around the long table shouted heartily.
“In all my life, I've never tasted wine this excellent!”
Varkas turned his gaze toward him.
A black bear crest was embroidered on the dazzling cloak wrapped around the man's body.
It was the symbol of House Gutvan, which dominated the southeastern territories.
Raising his goblet high, the man continued in a provocative tone.
“As expected, gifts bestowed by His Imperial Majesty are truly different. I wonder if men like us are even worthy of putting them to our lips. Is this not the reward you received for dedicating your entire life to the Empire, Young Lord?”
The man, speaking with theatrical exaggeration, gulped down the wine before slamming the goblet onto the table with a loud bang.
“Thinking that this wine is the sweat and tears shed by the Young Lord himself, even such fine wine tastes bitter.”
Heavy silence descended over the hall.
Leaning back in his chair, Varkas twisted the corner of his mouth.
“It seems you've come here looking for a fight.”