Chapter 14 – A New Beginning (Part 1)

Tartenon pressed his lips to Reubellina’s forehead, who was staring at him with dazed eyes. Although he did it to check for fever, he also had a bit of selfish intent.

“You’re a bit warm. Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, no.”

When his soft lips touched her, her temperature rose even more, but Reubellina tried hard not to show it. As she averted her eyes from the bare skin visible between his shirt, Tartenon grabbed her chin instead.

“What’s wrong?”

“Well… I came because I have something to say.”

Embarrassed, Reubellina turned her head away from Tartenon’s gaze. Feeling his grip tighten as if he thought she was avoiding him, Reubellina hurriedly spoke.

“Well, first, could you… put on some clothes?”

“Oh, right.”

Seeing her gaze waver, Tartenon laughed and buttoned up his shirt. Though it didn’t change much, the skin hidden beneath the clothes helped her regain her composure. Reubellina sighed inwardly and calmed her heated thoughts.

Tartenon adjusted his attire and moved quietly. Standing in front of her, he asked,

“What’s the matter?”

“Well, um?”

Seeing Tartenon approach her closely, Reubellina stepped back in surprise. She stumbled over her own feet, and as Tartenon tried to catch her, they both fell to the ground.

With a thud, Reubellina fell to the floor of the training ground but didn’t feel any pain. She slowly opened her eyes. Just like before, Tartenon was cradling her head. Reubellina, who had fallen on top of him, blinked.

‘Is this pounding heartbeat mine or Tartenon’s?’

The thought was fleeting. As she tried to get up, pressing her hand against his firm chest, she was startled by the sensation and quickly tried to stand.

But she couldn’t move easily. Tartenon’s bare skin, which she had touched unintentionally, was warm and soft.

As she marveled at the feel of his skin, she met Tartenon’s blue eyes looking down at her, and she quickly turned her head.

“As I said before, if you can’t take responsibility, don’t provoke a man carelessly…”

“No! Absolutely not!”

Reubellina screamed and got up. Tartenon chuckled, finding her stomping feet cute. Reubellina’s eyes narrowed at his playful laughter, but there was no point in responding with her flushed face.

As Reubellina tried to calm herself, Tartenon, half-risen, asked,

“So, why did you come looking for me?”

‘Why is he so calm when I’m so anxious?’

Her sharp eyes turned to Tartenon. Reubellina scrutinized his face and soon smiled in satisfaction. His ears were red.

‘Of course.’

Though she was a bit disappointed that he showed no change in expression despite liking her, she decided to be content with his reddened earlobes. Somehow, she felt she could understand Tartenon, who had licked her ears before. Seeing his flushed earlobes made her want to place her lips on them too.

‘Wow, I must be crazy.’

Reubellina pushed the lewd thoughts occupying her mind to the corner.

“It’s about that matter.”

As Reubellina cleared her throat to steady her breaking voice, Tartenon spoke first.

“Are you talking about that fool lying down?”

A sharp light glinted in Tartenon’s blue eyes. Looking around, Reubellina decided there was no need to correct his title. They were alone here, and she didn’t want to use honorifics for Inferno, the second prince.

“I’m worried they might drag us into it.”

Tartenon’s eyebrows moved at Reubellina’s words. Surprised by her unexpected statement, he soon agreed.

“That’s possible.”

“So, we need to prepare.”

“Hasn’t the rumor already spread in the capital?”

“Yes, but that won’t be enough as a shield.”

“That’s true.”

Tartenon sat on a chair near the training ground. Reubellina sat next to him and continued speaking.

“I think the imperial family might use this as an excuse to pick on us.”

“That’s possible. It’s better to direct dissatisfaction towards outsiders than to create internal enemies.”

“Outsiders?”

“Northerners aren’t considered citizens of the Freynante Empire. They’re just Northerners.”

Reubellina couldn’t say anything to Tartenon, who implied that Northerners weren’t treated as citizens of Freynante. She was aware of the discrimination happening in the capital.

Some nobles looked down on Tartenon, even though he protected the northern borders. They didn’t know exactly what sacrifices the Northerners made for the capital. It was taken for granted that they guarded the borders and exterminated monsters and barbarians. It was seen as an effort to protect the North, not the Freynante Empire.

‘I’m no different. I thought the same way.’

But living in the North, she realized that Northerners had a belief in protecting the Empire’s borders rather than just their land. Reubellina, who watched and cared for them, knew that ordinary beliefs couldn’t sustain life in the North.

Some Northerners couldn’t endure the harsh life and fled. They moved to the South, West, or East and became residents there. Tartenon didn’t punish those who abandoned their pride and took on other jobs. He couldn’t force the Northern residents to share the hardships, so he tolerated their departure.

“We’re different from the Empire’s citizens.”

“No, you’re not!”

“Most people think that way, Reubellina.”

“Then we just need to change their minds.”

Reubellina’s golden eyes sparkled. She was already planning to change the North’s image, and adding a bit more effort could yield better results.

“The North has sacrificed a lot for the Freynante Empire.”

Tartenon’s low voice reached Reubellina’s ears. Her head nodded involuntarily. Even if others didn’t know, Reubellina was aware of the deeds in the North’s Speraum.

They patrolled the borders constantly, hunting monsters. Even if the monsters weren’t heading towards the northern villages, they blocked their route to the capital. When barbarians tried to bypass the northern villages and head to the capital, they killed them. If this area was breached, the heart of the empire would be at risk.

Many knights died in such efforts. Reubellina attended the monthly funerals in the north without fail. If she didn’t honor their souls in some way, their deaths would become meaningless.

It was a Northern tradition and their pride. They took pride in being Northerners, even if no one acknowledged them.

Reubellina, who had only stayed in the capital, couldn’t have known this truth. The peace in the capital was built on the sacrifices of the Northerners. At least, this fact should be ingrained in the minds of those living in the Freynante Empire.

“And now they’re demanding another sacrifice?”

At Tartenon’s bitter words, Reubellina quietly lowered her head. If things went as she predicted with Inferno, it would be a full-scale war. The North couldn’t back down. She only hoped the imperial family, cornered, would stay silent and let it pass.

She couldn’t accept it. If the Emperor really acted that way, if he rejected the North, Reubellina vowed she wouldn’t stand by. She would use all her strength to stop the Emperor’s greed.

“Reubellina.”

Tartenon called her. His tender voice didn’t reach the deep-thinking Reubellina. He called her again when she didn’t respond.

“What are you thinking about that you don’t even hear me?”

Tartenon’s hand gently stroked her cheek. When his fingers touched her cheek, she finally came to her senses. Seeing Tartenon’s sweat-drenched face, her heart pounded again.

‘Why does he look at me like that without even wiping his sweat? It makes my heart flutter.’

Swallowing words she couldn’t speak aloud, Reubellina averted her eyes. Tartenon noticed her awkwardly shifting her eyes and smiled, but Reubellina didn’t notice his amusement.

“Oh, I was thinking about the imperial family.”

“Don’t worry too much. The imperial family can’t act recklessly either.”

“Do you think so?”

Reubellina’s hair fluttered in the wind as she quietly answered. It wasn’t that cold, but it did feel chilly. She shivered at the sudden chill, and Tartenon pulled her close.

“I will protect you.”

Her tense shoulders relaxed at his words. But the wind still ruffled her hair.

***

Imprisoned, Bellaruse still couldn’t understand why she was there. She had stabbed Inferno, but it was his fault. He treated her poorly all this time.

‘But why do I have to be here?’

‘Inferno should be here too.’

She had seen him fall, bleeding, but wasn’t sure if he was dead. Bellaruse feared Inferno might come back and strike her again. Yet she also wondered.

‘How did it come to this?’

When she let go of Tartenon’s hand and escaped the princess’s torment to take Inferno’s hand, Bellaruse felt as if she had the world. However, what she thought was a jewel turned out to be trash, not even a common stone, and all that remained for her were the traces of that trash.

The more Bellaruse thought about it, the more unfair it seemed. She wasn’t someone whose life should end this way.

She could hear the prison guards cursing at her, but she remained defiant. She had done nothing wrong. Since no one stopped the man from hitting her, she had to stop him herself.

Though the man got a bit hurt in the process, it wasn’t her fault. It was self-defense. Bellaruse kept searching for the cause of this incident.

‘It’s all Reubellina’s fault.’

If Reubellina had held onto Inferno’s heart, none of this would have happened. She could have broken off her engagement with Tartenon quietly and found someone better to live happily with. Bellaruse began to believe her delusions as reality.

Bellaruse convinced herself that the root of all this was Reubellina and that she acted this way because of her.