episode_0005

“Then I will go back now, father.”

“Okay. Prepare for your trip in advance. I will have to leave for the empire in at least three days.”

After the conversation was concluded satisfactorily, I left the room.

I felt like I had been trapped in a sauna and came out.

I think I’m finally going to buy something.

The attendant did not appear to have returned to work, and only Jahan was standing upright and waiting.

“Is the audience over, Mr. Hashal?

“Phew…yeah. I somehow managed to finish it safely. It was tiring. So much so that I want to rest a bit.”

“In that case, I will send an attendant to Geumhwa Palace and tell them to prepare. You there, come here and see.”

At Jahan’s call, a maid who happened to be passing by hurriedly came over.

“Ah yes! Princess Hashalli, Jahan. Why did you call me?”

“The princess said she was tired from the long expedition, so tell her to go to Geumhwa Palace, prepare her bed, and prepare hot water.”

“Yes. I will tell you right away.”

The maid who bowed her waist and quickly left.

So, it looks like Geumhwagung is my home.

“Then, would you like to go to Geumhwa Palace right away?”

“Hmm…Yeah, that would be good. Take the lead.”

“Do you mean me?”

Jahan flinched as if he was a little surprised.

What is it? What is it again? Was it really not possible to have him guide the way?

There’s no way I would know that.

…It would be even weirder to overturn it now.

Let’s just push ahead shamelessly.

“Do you not want to do it?”

“…No. I will guide you.”

I swallowed what I wanted to say and slowly followed Jahan, who started walking.

There are good things about being a bitch.

If you push hard enough, everyone will do as they are told.

—-

Geumhwagung Palace was a spacious villa located behind and west of the main palace.

It was originally the palace where Hashal and his mother Aimela lived, and it is said that Taorhan himself named it the Golden Flower Palace after the color of Aimela’s hair.

It used to be a beautiful palace filled with marigolds blooming all year round, but no one has taken care of the garden since Aimela died.

Certainly, the garden I saw upon entering was desolate, without even the common weeds, let alone marigolds.

“Huh…”

After leaving my armor and clothes to the maids to tidy up, I went into the bath next to the bedroom and washed my body with warm water.

The maids who came by to help with the bath were kicked out, saying they were not in the mood.

It’s already been 15 days since I was possessed here.

Even though my new body was awkward, I got used to it.

Only in the functional aspect.

As I fought like crazy, I got used to it.

What should I say about becoming a woman’s body…

I looked again at my reflection in the water.

Now that I think about it, is this the first time I’ve seen Hashal’s face in person?

During the expedition, there was no way to find anything like a mirror, and there was a lack of water, so instead of using a bathtub, I just wiped my body with a wet cloth.

I was so mentally tired to begin with that I didn’t even think about it.

Looking at her like this, she is definitely a beauty.

The black hair that had grown down to her waist was quite rough, perhaps due to her long life living on the street, but after washing away the dirty oil and dust, it soon fell gently onto her shoulders.

In the original version, only the left half of the hair was tied back.

His face was also clean and handsome, unlike a barbarian who lived in a battlefield.

It seems that the popular belief that there are many beautiful women among mixed race people was true.

However, because of the overly sharp eyes, as if there was a bit of dissatisfaction with the world, it felt harsh rather than beautiful.

The blue eyes were cold and devoid of any warmth, and it seemed like I was looking into the eyes of a wolf, not a person.

If only his hair was white, he would be the Grand Duke of the North.

The body was well-trained, without any flab, but the muscles were not so prominent that they were unsightly.

Rather, it was an attractive body brimming with health.

Although there were still a few cuts-like scars.

It was definitely a beautiful body, but I didn’t feel particularly embarrassed or excited.

Well, it’s not my first time seeing a woman’s body.

Isn’t it a bit strange that I lust after my own body in the first place? Not even Narcissus.

It’s weird, right? I’m not the only one who thinks it’s strange, right?

anyway.

I leaned into the bathtub and immersed myself in the warm water.

Come to think of it, I heard that it is a tradition for people who have been sexually assaulted to try masturbating.

After experiencing it myself, I honestly couldn’t even think about doing that.

Not only was there psychological repulsion, but if Lee Baek, a hot-blooded barbarian man, was caught doing something like masturbating nearby…

I understood and accepted the idea of becoming a woman, but I never agreed to becoming a female.

—-

After taking a bath and changing into a thin robe, I returned to the bedroom.

Unlike the drab tent, the inside of the room was quite fancy.

Tapestries embroidered with various pictures and patterns were hanging on the walls, and every piece of luxurious furniture carved from solid wood was covered in gold leaf and sparkling.

The bed in the middle of the inner wall was surrounded by silk and was very soft, probably made of feathers instead of animal skin.

I didn’t think Hashal liked things this flashy.

So, did Aimela have this kind of taste?

As I was enjoying the soft bed for the first time in a while, I felt sleepy.

I soon fell into a deep sleep.

—-

In my dream, I saw the people I had killed and the people I had sold into slavery.

Countless half-rotten hands grabbed my legs as I tried to escape, pulled them in, and bit them.

The moment my legs were torn off, I woke up screaming.

It was a nightmare.

—-

As Orhan boasted, the proposal to send me as a hostage to sign a non-aggression pact with the empire was passed in just one day.

I heard that the three older brothers took the lead and approved very enthusiastically.

It seems he was quite wary of Hashal. After all, it would have been dangerous to remain here.

I explained the inside story to Jahan and Mersin, who came to visit after hearing the news.

“It’s a situation where you are left alone in the middle of enemy territory… but since you are Hashal, there is no need to worry.”

“Then what should we do?”

Mersin smiled, relieved to learn that I was not being sent away by force.

Jahan then asked what to do with those who would be left behind in Ordos.

well. What should I do with these guys?

The sins I have committed are too deep to save them, and yet it feels strangely bitter to let those who are loyal to me die.

no. What a crazy idea. Have you heard anything just yet?

“If your father starts conquering the grasslands again, will you also participate in the war?”

“If the princess orders it, it will happen.”

“Are you saying that if I don’t give you an order, your father won’t bother dragging you into battle?”

What should I really do?

“What do you guys think? Do you want to join the expedition?”

“Of course I want to follow-”

“Our intention is not important. We are Princess Hashall’s personal guard cavalry. I’m just following the princess’s orders.”

Mersin declared, cutting Jahan’s words of affirmation with shining eyes like a knife.

decided.

okay. These are people I won’t worry about in the future, but there’s no need to send them to death.

“In that case, stay in Ordos and protect this place. If you go to the battlefield, it is obvious that you will be killed instead of receiving any credit. Would you, my brothers, who are so anxious to send me away, leave me alone?”

“I will follow your orders.”

Just live quietly in Ordos.

And if you die, it’s something that can’t be helped.

—-

After sending Jahan and Mersin away, I spent the whole day preparing to head west.

It is said that if you ride a horse all day, it will take about six days to reach the border.

Because it was dangerous to travel through the steppes alone, twenty cavalrymen from Mersin’s unit were selected as escorts.

It was an ambiguous number, but if it increases further than this, does it mean there will be unnecessary caution and attention?

They plan to accompany only as far as the border and then return to Ordos.

Details such as checking the movement route and preparing supplies were left to Mersin.

After all, it’s convenient to have competent subordinates.

Judging by the way he calmly follows orders, it seems that Hashall had originally left this part to Mersin.

I leisurely recalled information about the original work in my room and prepared items to use for living expenses in the West.

Meanwhile, an attendant came carrying a heavy-looking wooden box.

“Princess Hashal, the armor you ordered before the last expedition has been completed.”

“Hmm? okay. Good work. Bring it here.”

armor? I think it was originally ordered by Hashal before the expedition.

First, I accepted the box the servant gave me and sent it back.

It’s lighter than I thought. I heard it had weapons in it, so I thought it would be heavy.

I opened the box with half curiosity and half anticipation.

This…!

Silver gauntlets of a familiar shape resting on soft silk gave off a subtle cold air.

A one-piece scale glove with large, sharp silver scales extending from the left shoulder to the fingers.

The fingertips were sharp enough to easily pierce the skin of a bear, so it was no exaggeration to say that it was a weapon rather than armor.

frost columns.

The gauntlets symbolizing Madness Hershela were in front of me.