Better Things

A knife slices the meat into bite-sized pieces. The brownish steak oozes juices.

The cross-section of the sliced meat is a pale pink, just the way the Emperor likes it.

“It’s not as good as yesterday.”

The Emperor muttered after putting a piece of meat in her mouth, and the chef, who was standing at a distance, lowered his head in dismay.

“I-I’m sorry.”

The chef trembled so much that one might worry he would bite his tongue.

“It’s alright. It’s just that if yesterday was a 94, today is a 93.”

The chef’s face turned pale at the Emperor’s smile.

“Leave. I want to enjoy my meal in peace.”

As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, the chef bowed deeply and left the tent.

The Emperor, having dismissed even the attending servants, slowly cut the steak and put it in her mouth.

Then, she took a sip of wine. The sweet and bitter taste mingled with the meat.

“Indeed, it’s not as good as yesterday.”

Normally, she would have had the chef’s head.

But this was, after all, a battlefield, and the Emperor was in a good mood today.

Thus, the chef was able to save his life.

The Emperor’s meal proceeded quietly.

She acted as if someone was sitting across from her.

A stern face,

Few words,

Scars all over his body,

Unable to adorn himself,

The Cavalry Commander of the Zernoah Kingdom,

The man she loves.

She imagines that man eating the same food as her across from her and acts accordingly.

That way, she firmly believes, such a future will truly come to pass.

And it is a future that will soon come to pass.

“Ah—only two more days to wait.”

The first day of the three days was passing.

The Emperor, with the face of a newlywed bride awaiting an anniversary, smiled while eating.

Excluding the afternoon tea, it was the most genuine smile the Emperor had shown recently.

“What food would be good to eat with you when you become mine… Of course, that cookie would be the most symbolic.”

The Emperor tended to value meaning more. The taste of the cookie was terrible, but its symbolism would be great.

“Hehe, it wouldn’t be bad to designate that day as the day for making cookies. The entire empire will celebrate our union.”

As if enjoying the imagination, the Emperor twirled the glass of wine.

The Emperor’s face reflected in the glass was clear and spotless.

As the Emperor finished her meal, a voice was heard from outside the tent.

“Your Majesty. The Knight Commander has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

At the Emperor’s permission, the tent opened and the Knight Commander appeared.

The heavily built man strode forward and knelt at the Emperor’s feet.

“A report has arrived.”

He took a letter from his bosom and offered it to the Emperor.

“Oh, it’s finally here. I was wondering about it.”

The Emperor’s eyes sparkled.

Snatching the letter from the Knight Commander’s hand, the Emperor read it quickly.

“Hmm, meat stew… He tried hard with what he had. Well, he has to eat well since he’s not in good shape.”

The Emperor muttered to herself and nodded in agreement. The Knight Commander remained kneeling, motionless.

“Knight Commander, three days of rest should be enough to recover, right?”

It was about the Cavalry Commander.

“It depends on the extent of the injury, but if it’s the Cavalry Commander, I think he will recover sufficiently.”

The Knight Commander affirmed.

“Hehe, yes. It seems like giving him three days based on your words was a good choice.”

“Even if it weren’t for my words, Your Majesty would have made that decision.”

“Haha, that’s true too. I’m not such a villain as to pressure someone who’s injured.”

The Emperor laughed, seemingly in a good mood.

“Knight Commander.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Cavalry Commander will soon be my man.”

The Emperor’s voice was full of excitement.

“Congratulations. The Cavalry Commander’s joining will be a great blessing to the empire.”

The bear-like Knight Commander nodded.

“Oh, you think so too?”

As if discovering someone with the same hobby, the Emperor asked enthusiastically.

“Anyone who has stood on the battlefield with him would think so. He is brave, wise, and an exemplary figure.”

“Haha, I didn’t know you could praise someone else so highly.”

“I am merely stating the facts. That’s why I was so disappointed when he rejected Your Majesty’s offer and left.”

The Emperor’s face turned bitter at the Knight Commander’s words. Old memories she had been trying to forget suddenly resurfaced.

“Leaving?”

The Emperor asked. And doubted her ears.

“I helped the Emperor’s war as per the contract. Now that the contract is over, I plan to return to my original place.”

“Did you hear my offer correctly? I promised you the position of Cavalry Commander if you came under me. I would use you greatly.”

The Emperor said, fanning her face with a hand fan.

“I only did what I had to do as a mercenary. I will not receive any additional rewards.”

“It’s not a reward, it’s an offer.”

The Emperor frowned, but the mercenary captain showed no reaction.

“Then let’s pretend I didn’t hear the offer. I have no intention of belonging anywhere yet. I still have the mercenary band.”

“That mercenary band… doesn’t exist anymore, does it?”

“………..”

In the process of breaking through, he lost all his men.

After all the battles were over, he gathered the fallen members in one place.

Ignoring everyone’s offers to help, he carefully moved the bodies of each of his men.

He moved his comrades to the center of the battlefield and buried them himself.

Digging a hole, putting in a comrade, and burying them again. Their equipment becomes their tombstone.

“I’m sorry.”

He apologized in front of the grave.

“I’m sorry.”

He knelt down.

“I’m, pathetic.”

He shed tears. The tears that flowed one by one soon formed a stream.

“I’m… sorry….”

The stern man’s face was horribly distorted.

The prostrate man screamed in pain. It was a groan he had not made even when he was cut by a sword or had his shoulder pierced by an arrow.

The Emperor saw that sight.

And thought.

Ah, this man is someone who can cry passionately for others.

Wouldn’t the love of such a man be passionate?

Can’t I have that emotion?

Curiosity quickly developed into affection.

Like a fire in the fields, affection blazed in the Emperor’s heart.

That’s why she made the offer.

But the mercenary captain refused outright.

“Tell me what you want, I will grant it. You just have to say you will be my Cavalry Commander.”

“Emperor, there is nothing in the empire that I want.”

The mercenary captain said with a stern face.

“Have you forgotten who is in front of you? I am the Emperor of the empire. Is there something I cannot give you?”

The Emperor was frustrated.

“Yes, there is.”

“What is it that you desire? Tell me!”

“Family… a sanctuary. That is what I desire.”

It was the moment a faint smile appeared on the stern mercenary captain’s face.

The Emperor had no choice but to let him go.

As the mercenary captain said, she could not give it to him.

The Emperor’s face contorted at the regrettable and unpleasant farewell of that day.

“Knight Commander.”

She raised the kneeling man.

“Yes.”

The massive Knight Commander bowed sharply.

“I’m afraid it can’t be helped.”

She pointed to the empty plate.

“Indeed, the food was worse than yesterday. I can’t just let the person who fed me such food go, can I?”

“As you command.”

The Knight Commander bowed and left the tent.

The sound of a sword being drawn was heard in the distance.

Before long, someone’s scream was heard from somewhere.

“Two days. Two days. You will soon be mine.”

The Emperor repeatedly uttered the two days as if chanting a spell.

“I will give you something better than a sanctuary. I promise in the name of the Emperor.”