episode_0013

========[Jahan]=========

The first time I met Princess Hashall was 9 years ago.

It was a time when I, who had just become a warrior, was full of immature pride.

The winter rain poured down hard as if there was a hole in the sky, drenching the floor.

A woman who was Ser Khan’s third wife and the owner of the Golden Flower Palace.

It was the day Aimella’s funeral was held.

With only Geumhwa Palace’s maids and twenty warriors present, the crude wooden coffin was carefully placed inside the tomb.

It was an unsightly tomb that could not be considered the funeral of a khan or the Queen of Geumhwagung.

None of Aishan’s blood relatives came to visit.

Even Ser Khan and Aishangior Orhan.

I was sick of the bitter cold that felt like it was freezing right down to my lungs, and I was grumbling inwardly, wondering why I had been assigned here.

Then, suddenly, a girl caught my eye.

In the middle of the burial site, where the maids sit down and wail.

A girl standing alone was expressionlessly looking down at Aimella’s coffin on the floor.

White cloth, soaked from the winter rain, clung to her pitifully thin body.

The maids tried to block the rain with oiled leather cloth, but the girl refused and just silently accepted the rain that drenched her hair.

Only my pale fingertips trembled slightly.

Is that Aimela’s daughter, Hashar?

I heard you’re only nine years old. You have great patience. The cold is difficult for even warriors in their prime to endure.

Looking at his skinny body, he probably can’t be a warrior.

At that time, I was thinking about the same thing while looking at that scene.

—-

The late winter rain finally stopped after ten days.

Among the warriors, rumors about Hashalir spread secretly by word of mouth.

I heard that he stood there for ten days looking at Aimella’s grave without eating or drinking.

Thinking it was just a rumor, I chuckled and took a sip of my drink.

This was not possible for a person, much less a young girl.

Late at night.

Why? My drunken, unsteady steps headed toward Aimella’s grave.

Perhaps he was planning to brag to the warriors in his unit that he had confirmed with his own eyes that the story was a rumor.

How could a single warrior arbitrarily set foot on the graveside where Aishan’s relatives were buried? Although it was a foolish thing to do, he would be decapitated immediately if discovered.

The rustic cemetery built in the northeast corner of the city was as quiet as an abandoned house.

There wasn’t even a guard to guard the tomb.

Even though it is a Westerner, it is still the tomb of the Khan’s wife. Isn’t this an excessive insult?

Why does Ser Khan let this happen?

Ignoring the disloyal questions that arose in my head, I headed inside the tomb.

He was there.

A feeling of astonishment resembling fear ran through me.

I felt the drunkenness disappearing in an instant and fell to my knees without realizing it.

It did not look like a person.

The hair and clothes were frozen and covered in frost, and only bones and skin remained on the body.

It looked like a frozen corpse standing still.

There was nothing like the thrill of witnessing a miracle.

Rather, my spine trembled as I felt like I was encountering something strange and incomprehensible.

“……What is it.”

I raised my head when I heard a low voice that seemed like it was going to break.

It turned towards me and my eyes met.

It looked as if only a thin piece of cloth was covering the skull.

His pale, sunken cheeks revealed the appearance of his bones, and a blue light like a will-o’-the-wisps flickered beyond his sunken eyelids.

Even if you starved for three months instead of ten days, you would not end up like this.

It was a strange thing that could not be explained by human logic.

I just trembled without even being able to open my mouth.

Only then did I understand why there were no maids or warriors here.

If anyone were to encounter something like this, they would run away in fear.

Then why am I not running away?

“…Are you not planning on answering?”

That prompted me.

He quickly lowered his head and opened his mouth.

“Se, this is Jahan, Ser Khan’s warrior unit.”

“……Ah, yes. I remembered. Among the warriors who attended my mother’s funeral, there was one particularly large man. It was you.”

The warriors at that time did not attend voluntarily, but were deployed as guards like me.

I also wouldn’t have cared if it wasn’t for the order.

Because of Aimella’s weak personality, the maids might not have known it, but she was a woman who was not supported by the warriors.

I was always labeled as being from an imperial slave.

“……There was still one person who came to visit my mother.”

Surprised by the voice mixed with a bit of warmth, I raised my head and looked at it again.

Perhaps it was because of his mood, but his ghost-like blue eyes seemed to have calmed down a bit.

It was only then that I realized it again.

The fact that what was standing before my eyes was not a strange monster, but a child who was frozen, starving, and on the verge of death.

An unfamiliar feeling weighed heavily on my heart.

It was only later that I realized that it was pity and guilt.

After hesitating for a while, I opened my mouth.

“…Princess Hashal. You must return to the palace.”

“Are you trying to sound the same as the ones below? I was so sick of them whining that I kicked them all out.”

Princess Hashall turned her head again and looked at the shabby tomb, as if she didn’t want to say any more.

There was a mixture of directionless hatred and deep longing in his blue eyes.

“Take a look at the princess’s body. It wouldn’t be surprising if I collapsed and died right now. Are you planning to throw away your life like this?”

No miracle or strange thing can last forever.

Even this incomprehensible miracle that held on to the princess’s life would one day reach its limit.

“I understand the princess’s feelings, but…”

I tried to persuade the princess somehow.

“-You understand? How do I feel? That’s funny.”

The princess gritted her teeth in frustration.

“You don’t know.”

It was a growling voice.

“No. No one will know!”

Princess Hashall cried bitterly, spitting out blood from her dry and cracked throat.

A series of ferocious killing spews out.

I couldn’t answer anything.

Actually, I didn’t know much about Princess Hashal or Lady Aimella.

Princess Hashall, who had been breathing heavily for a long time, slumped her shoulders.

“……It was done. Even if you don’t hurry, you’ll be back in five days anyway.”

“You mean five days? Why bother..?”

If I was going to go back anyway, wouldn’t it be okay to go back now?

It wouldn’t be strange if he died right away, let alone in five days.

“Because my mother died after suffering for 15 days. So, I too will guard this place for fifteen days.”

I couldn’t stop it.

In the first place, it wasn’t something I, who was just a warrior, could stop.

“…See you again. Please take care.”

So I just decided to come here every day.

—-

first day.

The princess stared at me blankly for a while, as if she really didn’t think I would come back.

I spent time looking at the tomb with the princess.

Because I was embarrassed by the long silence, I forced myself to open my mouth and tell the princess various stories.

A story about trivial everyday life.

The life I have lived. Even the rumors and folk tales I picked up.

“You talk more than I thought.”

The princess, who had been listening quietly, shook her head.

I need to think of some way to quietly kill time.

Should I at least do some training?

the next day.

There was no significant change in the princess’s physical condition.

It was still incomprehensible, but now it seemed fortunate.

In one corner of the tomb, I trained my body by swinging a thick club carved out of wood.

The Princess occasionally looked in my direction with interest.

The third day.

I handed the princess a coat made of wolf fur.

The princess looked at me in silence for a while, then took the coat and draped it over her shoulder.

“……My mother made clothes like this once. Did you say it was a cape?”

As if she was longing for the warmth in her memories, the princess pulled the hem of her coat and covered herself.

And on the fourth day.

“What are you?”

An unpleasant visitor came to the grave.

—-

I looked down at the boy who was less than half my height.

He was a child wearing flashy clothes that did not suit him.

Jewelry made of gold sparkled here and there on the small body.

He even had a dagger on his waist.

In the back, two warriors who appeared to be guards were looking away as if they were embarrassed.

Who is this?

“I’m asking. Are you deaf?”

The child tapped the dagger and sarcastically sneered.

I could barely resist the urge to kick.

I don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble where the princess’s mother is sleeping.

“…It is called Jahan.”

“Do you think I asked that question? What is it that is just a warrior here? I came to see that flipping bitch.”

I forgot what to say due to the verbal abuse beyond my imagination.

Splash? Could it be that he called Princess Hashall that way?

“Prince Amin. You must not speak like that outside. Still, aren’t we half the same blood relatives?”

The escort standing behind gave the damn little bastard some advice.

If you look at me while talking, it looks like he’s actually telling me to listen.

They are of the same blood family. So, is this guy Aishangioro Amin?

Ser Khan’s third son.

If I kicked him in the face like I did, something big would have happened.

“Then what do you call it? It’s even half the same, so it’s not called thousand, but fried.”

Amin grumbled as if he was annoyed and then turned to point at me.

“So, what are you asking? Why is someone who isn’t even a relative of Aishangior snooping around his relative’s grave?”

I became embarrassed.

Of course, it was a shame because there were no guards guarding the tomb until now, and he continued to commit acts that would have resulted in execution if he was discovered.

“I don’t think I’ve been given permission by my father… I wandered around the graves of my relatives as I pleased, so I have nothing to say even if I die, right?”

Amin drew his dagger.

Cold sweat ran down my face.

One blow was enough to turn this brat into a corpse. The guards were also worth beating even if two guys attacked at the same time.

The problem is that if you carelessly lay hands on Ser Khan’s direct blood relatives, your entire hometown will be annihilated.

Even if they kill and bury all three, since Serkan’s blood relatives are gone, they will turn the city upside down to find the culprit.

Many people will remember this guy’s actions because of his flashy clothes.

If you investigate like that, it won’t be long before it’s revealed that Amin was murdered here.

While hesitating, unable to do one thing or another, Amin raised his dagger high.

… Should I think about killing him first?

I clenched my fists tightly.

Even if it was an impossible task to handle, I had no intention of giving up my head for something like a dagger from a young bastard.

It was then.

“…Stop, Amin.”

As if she heard Amin’s voice, the princess walked over.

Amin, who had put his dagger in his hand, sighing as if he had lost steam, was shocked to see the princess.

“…What, you bitch. Are you a ghost?”

“I have no intention of joking with you. What did you come here for?”

The princess looked at Amin expressionlessly.

The corner of Amin’s mouth twitched, perhaps because he was rather appalled by the gruesome appearance that resembled a corpse.

“Twi, I came here to see Twikki’s face, but it was more than I imagined. Yeah, that’s a funny look.”

Amin forced himself to bluff.

“If you saw it, go back. Don’t act like a fool. Because I feel bad.”

The princess frowned as if she were disdainful and gestured with her chin as if telling him to get out of the way.

“This bouncing bitch has been around since a while ago…! ”

Amin’s expression was distorted by anger, as if humiliation had overcome his fear.

The princess turned away, ignoring Amin as if he was not worth worrying about.

“Where are you going!”

“I said I had nothing to say to you. And Jahan is my escort, so don’t interfere.”

“Escort? That’s funny. What right do you have to stand out?”

“… … .”

The princess did not even respond.

“Jahan, follow me.”

I glanced towards Amin and then moved to follow the princess.

Amin, who was grinding his teeth, spit out and screamed.

“What did you do in front of your mother’s grave? I guess you were hanging out with the boy all this time?”

The princess’s steps stopped.

When Amin saw that, he became enraged and continued to sneer.

“Since her mother was a lowly slave, would it be any different if she were her daughter? I guess you learned how to move your body properly from your mother?”

The princess turned around and slowly walked towards Amin with her head slightly lowered.

Perhaps sensing something unusual, Amin’s guards hardened their faces.

Amin continued to pour insults at the princess.

“It was enough to captivate my father, so I must have done that one thing better than the prostitutes, right? I should have seen it too!”

The princess came right in front of Amin.

Amin’s guards placed their hands on the hilts of their swords.

I tensed my body and glared at them.

“amine.”

The princess opened her mouth.

“Why, do you want me to show it to you? It seems like one man isn’t enough. Should I at least lend you some of my men?”

“Of course, for the first time, I want you.”

The suppressed hatred finally burst forth with ferocious murderous intent.

Amin’s eyes were torn out.