I’ve Become a S*ave Bride - Chapter 59
“Is it because the nurses are women?”
“…Director.”
“Is that why you won’t threaten them?”
“That is not the case. There were women among the technicians at the artillery workshop as well.”
“There were. But they weren’t young and beautiful like these nurses.”
The vice captain let out a hollow laugh, seemingly at a loss for words. That only wounded Ophelia’s pride further.
“Why are you laughing? Is what I said funny?”
“Director. You must be rational.”
“I am. That’s why I asked you why you didn’t impose any sanctions on the nurses.”
Finally, as if admitting defeat, the vice captain took a long breath and spoke.
“It was because her points were valid.”
“……What?”
“I, too, have felt exactly what that nurse pointed out this entire time. Since your appointment here, rather than devoting yourself to the study of new medicine, you have been busy searching for women with whom you could build rapport.”
“That’s because… I have to know this place before I can—!”
“Have you forgotten the words His Majesty the King strictly charged you with?”
Ophelia’s shoulders flinched and trembled.
“What you needed to grasp was not the people! It was the cannons!”
Recalling that harrowing day, she instinctively shriveled. Seeing her like this, the vice captain forced his voice to soften.
“Yes. Your method could also be a path. Learning knowledge through people rather than books can sometimes be more effective.”
“T-that’s right…. That’s why I… I was trying to get close to the nurses.”
“However, Director. Even in that regard, your method was wrong.”
“…….”
Ophelia disliked every single word the vice captain chose. However, she couldn’t offer a rebuttal; she was already overwhelmed by his aura.
“Building rapport through negative topics is easy. However, it is unhealthy. It also lacks longevity in a relationship.”
His words made her surge with emotion.
No, it’s not! That’s exactly how I pushed Lenette out and reached this position. In the end, Dawes chose me—the one who empathized with his pain and suffering—not Lenette, who only talked about useful things and plans for the future!
But no matter how foolish a woman she might be, she couldn’t spit those words out of her own mouth. She had married Dawes simply because she loved him; to say that would make her look like a villain who had pushed Lenette out with calculated intent.
So, suppressing her anger, she answered with difficulty.
“…Thank you for the advice.”
“Not at all.”
Only when she took a step back did the vice captain retreat as well. The whole sight of it was incredibly offensive to her.
‘He’s always trying to stay one step above me.’
If it weren’t for Dawes’s request, she would have cleared the vice captain away from her side long ago. Her inability to do so made irritation boil up inside her.
‘Just you wait. I’ll definitely….’
—
Even after Ophelia returns to the Imperial Palace, Vice Captain Cameron usually remains by her side. However, today was the day of the monthly knight order meeting. Thus, he left Ophelia alone and headed toward the knight order’s building.
The formal meeting lasted about an hour. As the Commander and the other knights were about to leave the room after the meeting concluded, Dawes called out to the Vice Captain.
“Cameron, stay behind.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The vice captain approached Dawes, who remained seated, looking somewhat somber.
“How is the hospital?”
“She is adjusting.”
“Months have passed, and yet she still hasn’t integrated with the staff there?”
It seemed he had already received reports that things at the hospital weren’t going smoothly.
Cameron spoke as if to defend Ophelia.
“To be precise, forty-two days have passed.”
“That doesn’t seem like a short period of time….”
“I believe it can be considered short when one is adapting to an entirely new field.”
At the remark that subtly advocated for Ophelia, Dawes stared up at the knight standing before him.
“Is that so?”
“It could be.”
Not ‘It is,’ but ‘It could be.’
The reason the Vice Captain answered this way was that he, too, was someone who had observed Lenette for a long time. Regrettably, Lenette was a person who displayed genius in every field she touched. The only thing she had failed to capture was Dawes’s heart.
“Do you think she will eventually adjust well to the hospital?”
“It does not look like it will be easy.”
“May I ask why you think so?”
Dawes’s particular way of speaking bore a striking resemblance to Ophelia’s. However, Dawes had been educated as a ruler since childhood. Thus, even when saying the same things, he did not exude the aura of a weakling like Ophelia did. Cutting off his stray thoughts, Cameron spoke.
“To put it kindly, she is pure.”
“And to put it unkindly?”
“She lacks social savvy.”
“Yes. That is true.”
It wasn’t exactly news.
‘It was because she was so different from Lenette in that regard that I was drawn to her.’
Ophelia was the polar opposite of Lenette in many ways. Unlike Lenette, who excelled at everything, Ophelia was clumsy at everything. Compared to Lenette, who handled people with ease, Ophelia was insecure about dealing with others and, in truth, had no talent for it.
Well, she had changed quite a bit after meeting him and becoming the Prince’s Consort… but she was still clumsy.
“It was that clumsiness I liked… but….”
He had liked Ophelia because she stood beside the perpetually strong Lenette. Her weakness had been lovely and welcome.
But why?
That weakness, which he had perceived as a charm… was now, for some reason, starting to look like a flaw.
‘If the wedding with Lenette had proceeded as planned….’
Lately, such thoughts had been welling up inside Dawes more and more often. Once again, Dawes shook his head as he found himself imagining a present where Lenette, not Ophelia, stood by his side.
“No.”
That’s right. No matter how much he thought about it, it couldn’t be Lenette.
She was overflowing with talent and shone brightly, but because of that light, he always had to hide in the shadows.
‘I don’t need someone like Lenette; I need a woman like Ophelia.’
Dawes pushed away the negative thoughts crowding his mind.
“Cameron, keep a close eye on her nonetheless. She isn’t a woman who is completely incapable of understanding.”
“Yes, I understand.”
—
After successfully completing their audience with the Khal, Lenette and Kazen were guided to the “Carta Palace,” where they would stay during their time in the capital. Lenette tilted her head at the name, which sounded like a person’s name.
“What does ‘Carta’ mean?”
“If translated into the Kingdom’s language, it would be something like Prince or Princess.”
“It’s the first time I’ve heard it.”
“It’s not a widely used term. Usually, people just call the Khal’s children by their names.”
“Then, do they not call you ‘Kazen Carta’ or something like that?”
She posed the question under the guise of casual curiosity. Though she had already seen enough evidence to confirm Kazen was Khal’s child, she wanted to double-check just in case.
“It’s never used that way.”
“How about ‘Lord Carta’?”
“Not really that, either.”
‘No wonder I was confused.’
If terms like Prince aren’t commonly used, how was she supposed to figure out Kazen’s true identity?
‘Even the titles are different.’
It was only natural to mistake Kazen for being from a collateral branch.
‘Sigh, what can I do about it now?’
The fact remained: Kazen was indeed Khal’s son, and she was set to marry him soon. Rather than lamenting unchangeable facts, it was better to find a solution.
‘There must be another way.’
A direction other than simply running away.
‘Suggesting an alliance with the Kingdom of Ecaron and getting myself dispatched as a special envoy could be one option.’
Of course, she wondered if that was even possible given the current situation, but still. It was a far more realistic story than trying to escape after being married to Khal’s son.
‘For now, let’s observe the atmosphere inside the palace.’
While she continued these thoughts, they arrived at Carta Palace. Located to the northeast of the central main palace where Khal resided, Carta Palace was the residence where the Khal’s children stayed.
“What do you think?”
“It’s ornate.”
When Lenette offered that brief assessment, Kazen let out a soft chuckle.
“Not the room.”
“Then what?”
“You should know what I’m asking.”
Yes, she knew. He was asking for her impression of meeting Khal face-to-face.
However, she didn’t exactly have much to say to Kazen. After all, the only thought she had in front of the ruler of this empire was, ‘Damn it, so Kazen was the Khal’s child?’ But if she were forced to say something, anything….
‘To be honest, putting aside the titles of Empire and Kingdom, the King of Ecaron felt much more dignified.’
The King of Ecaron possessed the imposing aura of a powerhouse who had survived the battlefield.
However, she wasn’t foolish enough to voice her honest thoughts, so she just pieced together a few words.
“He was different from you, yet similar.”
Perhaps he hadn’t expected such a comment, as Kazen paused.
“In what way? Appearance?”
“Yes.”
“You think he looks like me?”
“Let’s be precise. You look like your father, the Khal.”
“…I suppose so.”
Since it wasn’t a response he could particularly build on, Lenette shifted her gaze out through the wide-open window.
“Where is that?”
“Karan Palace.”
“Karan Palace? Is that where the Karans stay?”
Karan. Meaning the wife of Khal; currently, there were thirteen Karans in existence.
“That’s right, but Markhal also resides there.”
“By Markhal… you mean your grandmother?”
The mention of Kazen’s grandmother suggests a new family dynamic is about to unfold.
“That’s right.”
The Tazetra Empire had no concept of a ‘Queen’ or ‘Empress.’ Instead, Khal’s biological mother, the ‘Markhal,’ managed the palace households and performed the duties typically assigned to an empress.
“It is a strictly female-only zone.”
“Even you can’t enter, Kazen?”
“That is why it’s called a female-only zone.”
“They are quite thorough.”
“Even the guards consist only of women. The only male permitted to enter that place is Khal himself.”
“I see.”
It was then.
“Lord Kazen.”
The attendant assigned to Lenette and Kazen knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
The attendant entered with a bowed head and held out a neatly folded letter.
“There is a message from Lord Damer. He wishes to hold a banquet this evening to welcome you.”
“Welcome? Damer is welcoming me?”
Kazen wrinkled the bridge of his nose. His face practically screamed that he found the idea absurd.
“Yes. It is scheduled to be held in the dining hall of the Carta Palace in one hour.”
“Who is attending?”
“It will be a small gathering, primarily for those currently residing in this palace.”
“Understood for now.”
As Kazen waved his hand dismissively, the attendant bowed and backstepped out of the room.
As soon as he was gone, Lenette asked immediately:
“Who is Damer?”
“My half-brother.”
It was a simple explanation, but through his expression and the heavy atmosphere, Lenette could tell that this ‘Damer’ was not someone Kazen particularly liked.
However, she didn’t press for more details. For now, she intended to stay one step back and observe the conflict between the Khal’s children without getting involved.
“Let’s wash up and get ready.”
“Understood.”
