3. The Grand Chancellor’s Lover

In the slightly swaying carriage, Ir looked outside. Buildings blurred past at an increasing speed. People walking between them would look at their carriage with either fear or envy before turning away.

‘They don’t seem surprised even though it bears the imperial crest.’

Ir remembered when she first came here six months ago.

It was natural for the residents to be shocked when suddenly not only royalty but imperial knights as well flooded into this lawless zone. From those who fled thinking they were being pursued to those who attacked believing offense was the best defense. It was even more troublesome dealing with those who approached thinking they could score big by targeting royalty.

Unlike then, now everyone seemed to treat the passing carriage as natural.

Ir glanced at Nergal sitting across from her. As expected of a carriage used by a prince and grand chancellor, it was extremely spacious and comfortable. Enough to place a small table in the middle.

‘So it wasn’t a lie that he’s been coming and going to Lagash for half a year searching for the Holy Sword.’

Though Nergal had no particular reason to lie, it was hard to believe that he had really come all this way from the capital whenever he had time to search for the Holy Sword.

‘Why would he do that?’

Wasn’t he the one who showed the least interest when the Holy Sword was first discovered? Yet he had been continuously searching for it afterward.

‘Maybe he came looking because it was annoying him.’

According to his explanation, the Holy Sword’s disappearance had greatly affected the political landscape of the imperial palace. Because of that, other royal family members were pushing all sorts of women at him who had been keeping to himself. From Nergal’s perspective, he probably wanted a successor to be decided quickly and peace to return to the palace, regardless of whether his siblings lived or died.

Considering his temperament, he would probably find the Holy Sword, throw it to whoever wanted it, and return to his office to work.

While Ir was lost in these thoughts, the carriage left the city. As they emerged from the disorderly city, an endless forest came into view.

If they followed the road without rest for two days, they would reach the capital. Ir’s heart raced at the thought of the capital.

‘What should I do first?’

If she could have her way, she wanted to grab each of the knights who were there that day, hold a sword to their throats, and beat them until they talked. Surely one of them would know something. Of course, this wasn’t actually possible.

‘It’s absolutely impossible with this body.’

Ir looked at her soft hands that didn’t have a single callus. It was a body that was as weak as it was beautiful.

‘How can someone get out of breath just from walking?’

She hadn’t noticed much while at the auction house since she barely moved, but this body had unbelievably poor stamina.

‘It’s no different from the body of someone with a serious illness.’

What people called a beautiful body was, from Ir’s perspective, no different from a state of starvation. Of course, not all thin people were weak, but her current body was so frail it seemed like it had never exercised once since birth.

‘I need to build up my stamina first.’

Only then could she do anything. Besides, building stamina was what she was most confident in.

Ir reached out and pulled over a wooden box beside her. Inside were simple foods that could be eaten easily.

Though Lagash’s roads weren’t properly maintained, making even a good carriage shake considerably, Ir started eating with a peaceful expression as if motion sickness was irrelevant to her.

‘I need to eat well, sleep well, and exercise.’

Actually, she had already started exercising yesterday. She had walked around the room all day, trying various poses and exerting strength. Movements she could have done 200 times while carrying heavy weights before now left her breathless after just a few repetitions.

‘Let’s not rush too much.’

It didn’t matter if it took a long time or if it was exhaustingly difficult. She wasn’t afraid of dying again. She was only afraid of failing her revenge despite receiving such a miracle.

Ir moved her hands busily again. Then suddenly realized something.

‘This is delicious?’

Since it was prepared at the mansion where Nergal was staying, it wouldn’t have been made carelessly. They must have used the most expensive and fresh ingredients available, prepared by someone skilled. But rather than that being why it was delicious….

“…”

Ir paused for a moment and looked at the wooden box. She had eaten without thinking at first, but now she noticed everything inside was exactly what she liked. From the types of roasted vegetables to the degree of doneness and seasoning of the meat. Even the bread holding it all was her favorite kind.

How did they manage to include only things she liked?

As Ir was wondering if there was someone who shared her exact tastes, she looked up at the feeling of being watched.

Her eyes met with Nergal’s, who was resting his chin on one hand while watching her. In front of him on the table was a pile of documents.

Nergal looked exactly as he did at the imperial palace. As always, wearing his formal uniform, surrounded by mountains of documents, looking slightly tired. The only difference was that now he was staring intently at her instead of the documents.

Normally, she would have faced him with a “Do you have something to say?” as if questioning why he was looking, but Ir turned away from him so quickly the sound of wind could be heard.

Her nape instantly turned bright red.

‘I had just managed to forget…’

Seeing Nergal in his immaculate formal uniform made her recall how he looked two nights ago.

The way he had overlapped their lips without hesitation and tried to devour her. When she woke up the next morning, Ir thought he must have embraced her while she was passed out. That’s how full of lust he had looked.

But when she checked her body after waking up, it was completely fine. There were no marks or pain, and she was properly dressed not only in underwear but even in quite thick clothes.

In the two days since then, up until this morning, Nergal hadn’t touched her again. Not only that, but he left her alone in the room and stayed out all day, busy with something. Though he would occasionally come in to check that she was still there before leaving again.

His clean behavior showing no particular attachment made Ir doubt whether he had really asked for her body.

Though she had resolved to do anything for her goal, she couldn’t help feeling embarrassed.

‘I’d rather watch someone die.’

She was used to scenes of blood and flesh flying, but scenes of mingled sighs and sweat were still too unfamiliar to her.

They say people remember things more clearly the more they try to deny them, and the more she tried to erase it from her mind, the more she remembered his body covering hers that night. As a knight, she could tell. It wasn’t the body of a chancellor who sat working all day. He must certainly be training his body rigorously in separate time.

‘Though it would make sense if it’s to prepare for occasional attacks…’

She just found it amazing how Nergal, who was overflowing with work, managed to find separate time.

‘He didn’t particularly have a healthy body when he was young.’

He was certainly tall back then, but thin and weak.

“Ir.”

“Yes!”

Nergal’s voice allowed Ir to barely catch her mind before it drifted to past events.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Ah, well…”

She couldn’t say she was thinking about the past. After the fall of Levant, when she reunited with Nergal much later, he had thoroughly treated her only as an imperial knight.

‘It’s not a good memory for either of us.’

It would have been funny for Nergal to ask how she had been doing while looking at her scars. Also, their relationship back then was that of a hostage sent under the pretext of studying abroad and a servant helping that unsightly hostage’s daily life. Bringing up that time again would have been shameful for Nergal. That’s probably why he had never mentioned those times once since they met again.

While Ir was struggling with how to answer, Nergal asked again.

“Is it something difficult to speak about?”

Nergal’s sharp eyes curved gently. Someone who didn’t know him well might think he was smiling. But Ir, who had received all sorts of rebukes from him, knew well that this was his expression when he was quite displeased.

“Not at all! I was just feeling bad that I couldn’t properly thank the maid who took care of me before we left in such a hurry!”

Ir hurriedly mentioned what she had briefly thought about that morning.

After leaving the auction house, she had suffered from high fever for a week straight. While she was sick and could barely open her eyes, she could tell someone was taking careful care of her. When her fever rose, they continuously wiped her body with wet towels, and when she had chills, they meticulously covered her with thick blankets. Though she hadn’t seen their face, she thought they must have prepared the meal she just ate as well.

“I should have shown my gratitude somehow.”

“Gratitude? What do you think they would want?”

“I’m not sure, but it seems right to give something.”

“Oh really?”

Nergal’s lips twisted slightly before he said.

“Then I’ll receive it now.”

The next moment, Ir’s body fell backward.