episode_0191

Even though he only saw a glimpse through the open door.

Robert shuddered at the unpleasantness exuded by ‘that man’.

Skin blackened like a rotten old tree. Countless tangled chest hairs covered it. The only thing he wore was underwear, and even then, his crotch bulged as if his genitals would pop out at any moment.

‘Darling’?

Then this man… was Tia’s ‘husband’?

He couldn’t believe it.

Beyond his ugly appearance, his age didn’t match Tia’s. He looked at least fifty, even if you tried to guess younger. He was corpulent, appearing to have done nothing but eat, sleep, and relieve himself, resembling a fat pig. His lower belly protruded massively, almost swallowing his underwear. The top of his head was completely bald, with only sideburns barely remaining.

Truly, his appearance was no different from the ‘rat-like wretches’ who trailed behind the tribute cart.

He also stank.

When he had a brief conversation with Tia, a subtle floral scent seemed to gently waft. But as soon as this man appeared, a fishy, repulsive stench was immediately noticeable.

What was going on?

Tia was right in front of him.

He had met countless women until now, but Tia was the only one who had ever stirred his heart.

But.

That child, truly beautiful like an angel and with a kind heart…

Was standing directly in front of that disgusting, ugly man, who was wearing nothing but underwear.

Even with that filthy hand, which looked like it would rot anything it touched, resting on her clean, soft shoulder.

The girl did not refuse.

Instead, she pressed her body even closer to the pig-like man and explained in a flustered voice.

“Ah, well… it was so sudden, I don’t really know what’s going on, but… they say I’m the Prince’s daughter.”

Joseph and Teacher Bin also raised their heads.

And they were aghast at the large man standing behind Tia.

“You’re… Fosao?”

“Uh, u-u-ugh…”

It seemed Joseph finally recalled.

That the surname ‘Modaless’, which had always felt unsettling, was indeed Fosao’s name.

Teacher Bin couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

“Tia. Ah, no. Princess. Who is that man?”

“He’s my husband. Fosao Modaless…”

Saying so, Tia gently held Fosao’s thick shoulder.

“You know him, Uncle Joseph, right? The one who ran the general store down in the village…”

Yes. Joseph knew.

Joseph and Fosao were ‘Breezdon people’. That’s why they knew each other.

However, it was only to the extent of knowing each other’s names and faces.

Joseph only remembered him as a gloomy fellow who ran a general store down in the village.

He had only visited his general store once.

There had been no other contact, and the villagers treated him as if he didn’t exist.

He couldn’t have imagined meeting Fosao here, let alone as ‘Tia’s husband’.

“Heheheh- Jo, Joseph! Long time no see…”

A laugh that sent shivers down his spine. Words stammered foolishly.

Joseph realized that he was indeed Fosao from the general store.

And he grasped this cold reality.

This was not a dream.

This was not a bad joke.

Tia was truly married.

Her partner was not Ritsu or Ruyef, boys from the same village. Nor was it a sturdy peer from a neighboring village. He was not a noble from some region. Nor was he an ordinary young man from the city.

The man chosen by this beautiful girl, who possessed the most noble blood in the world, was…

The one all women had badmouthed in unison, saying he was unpleasant…

That old, ugly, low-born, insignificant fat man.

Why?

The question escaped Robert’s dry lips soundlessly.

Tia was different.

Among all the women he had met, she was the wisest girl with exceptional courage.

Logically, Tia couldn’t possibly marry a man like that. It was impossible.

Then, did that man threaten Tia and force her into marriage?

But.

Soon, he realized that too was impossible.

Because ‘Tia Anshier’, who had proudly subdued Alan in a one-on-one duel…

Could not possibly be vulnerable to a pig-like wretch like that.

Joseph asked in a trembling voice.

“When… did you get married?”

“The ceremony was held at the beginning of the month.”

And seeing her take a step back from the kneeling knights and gently lean into Fosao with that gesture.

It became clear that Tia had truly married him out of love.

“…”

In a terrifyingly heavy silence.

Joseph’s and Robert’s eyes met for a moment.

Robert spoke with his eyes.

She said the wedding was held not long ago.

Good. Let’s kill Fosao right here and now, and make Tia’s marriage as if it never happened.

If the three knights sitting here remained silent, and the rabble at the inn witnessing this scene were put to eternal sleep.

Then no one would ever know the truth.

Joseph seemed to have understood his intent without a doubt.

If only he were given the signal. Robert was confident he would immediately draw his sword and sever the neck of that pig standing behind Tia.

But Joseph merely bowed his head in silence.

His stunned gaze was fixed below Tia’s chest, on the dress that hung like a curtain.

“Are… you pregnant?”

Joseph managed to ask, squeezing out the words.

“…”

Tia silently lowered her gaze.

Then slowly nodded.

“…Congratulations.”

Joseph offered his congratulations. His voice was choked.

Yes. Something irreversible was already there.

The noble blood of the Likene Dynasty had been mixed with the lowly, filthy blood of ‘Modaless’.

Even if Fosao were killed, there was truly nothing that could be done about what was in Tia’s womb.

Tia, who had never received honorifics in her life, hunched her shoulders.

“Thank you, Uncle. But you can speak casually to me. It feels a bit awkward—”

“No, Princess. It is you, Princess, who must now compose your words and bearing to uphold the dignity of a king.”

“But I’m not qualified, am I? I didn’t know what kind of person my father was… and my mother never said anything, so I don’t know anything… How could I dare…”

“Princess. ‘Blood’ itself is pure.”

Joseph closed his eyes and spoke calmly.

“Princess, you have inherited the bloodline of the Likene Royal Family. With that alone, all the people will serve you, and conversely, you have the right to rule the people. This war was a process of expelling those who denied that providence, and as we have achieved victory, we have enthroned you as king to reestablish the Likene Dynasty.”

“I… I don’t know. It’s so sudden…”

Tia had an expression that showed she didn’t want to shatter this peaceful life.

No, rather, it felt like she wished to be forgotten by everyone.

In Tia’s weary eyelids rested…

The desire to live peacefully with Fosao, and with his child who would soon be born.

A wish to live harmoniously, disturbed by no one.

“Are you saying it’s a burden?”

“I’m sorry… I just… want to live like this.”

Tia didn’t even desire the position of ‘King’.

The girl who had proudly declared her grand dream of becoming an adventurer was no more.

The girl standing before Joseph now…

Was merely an ordinary woman, who had become someone’s possession, protecting a humble and insignificant home.

Joseph forced down the agonizing pain that made his teeth grind. And he spoke as if spitting blood.

“Then, Princess. If you wish to achieve that, you may ascend to the throne yourself, then voluntarily abdicate the crown and step down.”

“Do I really have to do it that way?”

“Yes, you must.”

“If Uncle says so much… then I suppose there’s no choice.”

Having received his answer, Joseph rose.

“First, I will guide you to the royal palace. Your retainers are waiting for you, Princess. May I explain the details there?”

“Ah, yes. Um…”

Tia turned around and looked up at Fosao.

“What do you think?”

Robert, waiting for the answer, felt his heart tearing apart.

From now on, Tia was the king he had to serve.

Yet Her Highness… was asking that incompetent pig for his opinion.

In the end, the three knights were now no different from waiting for Fosao’s command.

Fosao chuckled awkwardly and said.

“U-uh, w-well… le-let’s do that.”

* * *

Clip-clop. Clip-clop.

Inside the slowly moving carriage, only silence lingered.

The three knights looked in different directions, saying nothing.

Because there was nothing to say.

“I never imagined the most joyful reunion… would turn out like this.”

Teacher Bin said in a bitter voice.

“Joseph. How on earth are we supposed to explain this situation to the higher-ups?”

Joseph gazed intently at the other carriage following behind.

Tia’s and Fosao’s shadows were within it.

“I merely carried out my duty. The final decision rests with them.”

“The Dragonez retainers said they would respect your choice. What if they refuse to accept her?”

Teacher Bin asked anxiously.

Indeed, in the current situation, the likelihood of the nobles rejecting Tia was very high.

She had married a fat man with no lineage, and was even carrying his child.

When they heard this news, the nobles would undoubtedly be furious.

It would be fortunate if she wasn’t exiled for daring to defile the blood of the former king.

“Nevertheless, Princess Tia is the Prince’s sole blood relative. If her safety is compromised, I will escort her and take refuge.”

Joseph replied silently.

He was the Prince’s bodyguard. Betraying the bloodline left by the Prince was unthinkable for a knight.

He would probably serve Tia as his liege until he died.

That would be better.

Robert thought such an outcome would be better.

He sincerely wished that the nobles would strongly oppose and that the crown would not be given to Tia.

Only then could he correct Tia’s misguided fate with his own hands.

Clunk.

The carriage stopped.

Before they knew it, they had arrived before the Red Castle.

Joseph offered to escort them, guiding them into the royal palace.

“Please follow me, Princess.”

Tia looked around with nervous eyes.

Because they had come in a hurry, she couldn’t dress in luxurious clothes, and she had no shoes, so she was wearing old boots.

She looked like a maid who had suddenly been dropped into a palace adorned with all sorts of dazzling jewels.

But amidst the crimson light created by countless rubies.

Tia’s hair and eyes, shining nobly alone, were undeniably the majesty of a king.

The court ladies who had worked in this palace for a long time all bowed their heads.

Red hair, and red eyes.

There was no way they wouldn’t recognize that sacred proof, which had long ruled Deseo.

Thump-.

The doors to the audience chamber opened.

In front of the empty throne, countless nobles stood in the large, long corridor.

To them, who were sitting disorderly and chattering, Joseph shouted as if scolding them.

“Everyone, rise and pay your respects to Her Highness!”

At that sound, the audience chamber fell silent for a moment. The nobles bowed their heads, offering a formal courtesy to the one who would be the ‘new king’.

Scrape- scrape-.

Onto the hard marble floor.

Instead of the clicking sound of shoes, dirt-stained boots scraped.

At the shabby sound, devoid of any elegance, the nobles each tilted their heads, stealing glances at the king’s face.

Their eyebrows furrowed.

A woman?

…A woman, you say?

That fact was shocking enough.

But her shabby attire, unadorned by any ornament, as if she had been snatched from some rural village, delivered yet another shock.

And not just that. Her appearance was so young, as if she had just become an adult.

Her eyes trembled with unease, as if this audience chamber itself was unfamiliar to her.

Various pieces of evidence—proclaimed this ‘king’s’ unsuitability.

The nobles’ silence did not last long.

A murmuring arose here and there, and in an instant, they began chattering loudly.

Joseph thumped his staff, feigning a warning for silence, but it was no use.

As expected. Was she a king they couldn’t accept?

There was no precedent for a queen in this country, nor had there been a royal living as a commoner.

Robert had also fully anticipated such a reaction.

Just as the commotion was growing uncontrollably.

“Wait a moment…”

Suddenly, a man walked forward with a dazed expression.

It was ‘Rudy’, the second son of the Piolo family, the most authoritative among the nobles.

He looked at Tia’s face and spoke in an incredulous voice.

“Aren’t you… ‘The Iron Woman’?”