Chapter 66

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“I guess the site of that palace was not good.”

“Do you believe in such superstitions?”

Raha chuckled.

“Of course. There are many interesting things the commoners say.”

As soon as she finished, a faint cry was heard from the palace.

“Your Majesty! Forgive me, Your Majesty, Your Majesty!”

Karzen was fed up.

“That fellow follows me everywhere I go and makes a big fuss.”

“He’s faithful. Don’t be too harsh.”

Raha said with a smile.

“Your Majesty, ……!”

The voice crying and pleading was that of the Wizard. Oliver told her a few days ago that the wizard’s face was covered with blood because he banged his forehead on the floor asking Karzen for forgiveness.

(*the wizard followed Karzen and asked for forgiveness because Raha lied that his magic for the slave’s branding was not good, that’s why Shed stabbed Raha and escaped. So Raha put all the blame on the wizard. You can imagine how mad Karzen would be at the wizard.)

‘I can’t believe I can’t see that jerk doing that in front of me.’

Unfortunately, it couldn’t be helped. Raha had a hard time getting out of the bedroom. Her shoulder was injured, but her whole body was exhausted and she didn’t seem to get better.

She wanted to kick the wizard, but she couldn’t move her body.

It was strange to be sick like this, but there was nothing she could do about it.

In fact, she wanted to break the wizard even more.

“I didn’t know that his magic was so weak.”

Raha replied slowly to Kalzen’s seething words.

“It’s not that he’s weak, but he’s careless. Didn’t Karzen say it before? Lesis is proud of his ability.”

“He is an arrogant guy.”

“Anyone who excels can be caught off guard, Karzen.”

Raha said in a soft  voice. Slowly but surely, Karzen’s forehead became distorted. With those words just now, that arrogant wizard, who might have been forgiven by now, would only be completely forgiven after Karzen broke a few more of his bones. (*the wizard’s bones)

Raha, on the other hand, was a bit surprised.

Karzen was ruthless. If such a mistake was made, even the captain of the Kingsguard Blake Duke, would have been fired. But Karzen was just angry at the wizard. He didn’t say anything about finding a new one.

Why didn’t Karzen want to fire the wizard?

‘Is there a hidden talent that I don’t know about?’

“Raha.”

“Yes, Karzen.”

Raha’s unusually cold, thin fingers were caught by Karzen. A rather rough hand slowly swept her skin. Karzen asked.

“Did your slave also get hurt when he stabbed you?”

“Hurt, I don’t know….”

Raha, who seemed to be taking her time to remember, slowly continued.

“I didn’t smell it.”

Karzen chuckled at her reply. He knew very well that when someone hurts the heir, the culprit also gets hurt.

Unless the other person had no intention of murder.

“It seems that he really used you to escape.”

“Yes. I am disappointed because I treated him so well.”

“He had a different heart.”

“I didn’t take it, so he ran away?”

“I wonder if those feelings were true. I think he was trying to change his fate by grabbing the heart of the precious Princess.”

Karzen said bitterly, his chin tilted at an angle. His hand began to climb up Raha’s shoulder. Just where Oliver had put a bandage.The skin still had a faint wound on the inside.

“But I don’t quite understand. He seemed to be very obedient. How could he have stabbed you so suddenly?”

Raha blinked slowly.

“Actually……I said something terrible just before.”

“Something terrible? What would my twin have said?”

For the first time Raha, who always answered without delay, did not speak. Karzen raised his head in a slow trajectory over the thick bandage.

“Raha.”

“…….”

“What did you say to him?”

Raha looked a little distressed, but slowly opened her mouth.

“There’s a man I hold in my heart, so don’t act cocky.”

Karzen’s fingers stopped for a moment. His eyes were fixed directly on Raha’s. His gray pupils gradually darkened.

“This is the first time I’m hearing about this. Who is it?”

Raha blinked.

“It’s a lie. I don’t have anyone.”

“Why are you so insecure, Raha?”

Karzen whispered so softly that it sounded sweet.

“Is there anyone in this empire who does not fall in love with your beauty?”

Raha’s situation. Numerous slaves. A tyrant made that way. But the two didn’t say anything about that. They just acted friendly like close twins. It was a perfect and polished appearance.

“It’s enough to hold the person in my heart. I’m not going to marry anyway.”

“Tell me.”

Raha shook her head.

“Raha.”

A faint discomfort appeared on Karzen’s forehead. His patience vanished to the extreme in the face of Raha’s silent, mixed refusal.

“I told you to tell me. Why are you hiding it from me?”

Was she afraid he would give her another slave? Or did she think he would drive her hidden lover away to the frontier? Or afraid he would cut off the man’s limbs and bring it before her?

No, it would not be appropriate to say that it was caught, since she had never properly hid it.

He must ask you what kind of man she was in love with and dare to bring up such a subject in front of him, even if he had to pry her mouth open.

“Raha del Harsa.”

“Karzen.”

Raha frowned.

“It is ungentlemanly to try to dig out a lady’s heart.”

“I’m not much of a gentleman, Raha.”

“If you keep doing this, I’ll never talk to Karzen again.”

Raha, who spoke coyly, turned around. Even in the midst of all this, Karzen could tell she was heartbroken. Hearing her usual voice, Karzen calmed down a little.

Chuckling bitterly, Karzen took both of his twin sister’s hands in his and made her look at him.

“Raha, don’t be angry. It was my fault. But I was really curious. Because you’ve never liked anyone before.”

“That’s what Karzen thinks. Everyone my age has someone they have a crush on.”

“Unrequited love? I’m wondering who is loved by Princess Raha.”

“Will you let me marry him if I tell you, Karzen?”

It was an unexpected question. Karzen, who was a little dazed and frozen, soon smiled. Ah, what the hell? How far would she go to provoke him?  It was so stimulating that he wanted to grab her by the hair immediately.

“How can you do such a thing? You must stay by my side.”

“Isn’t that right? That’s fine.”

A reply that seemed to have no meaning. Raha often did this. His twin was not interested in anything for a long time, and she would soon lose interest after a little fun. Thanks to this, Karzen also often became less impressed by Raha’s interests.

She was this cold-hearted. Raha moved her hands caught by Karzen. She smiled and stroked his rough hands soothingly.

Even while her gentle touch touched his hands, Karzen’s gaze peered intently into Raha’s pupils.

“I’m going crazy wondering who’s the lucky one to receive your heart.”

“What, he wouldn’t last with me anyway.”

Karzen stroked Raha’s thin cheek. Perhaps it’s a joke. She could throw it at random that she didn’t like anyone. But why would Raha say that?

Unless she was trying to protect the slave.

Karzen grabbed the passing thought at once. Dudung. Dudung. It was only for a moment that the thin guess began to gain weight. Yes, that’s right. Raha was quite fond of that lowly slave. Didn’t she hold that insignificant doll in her arms for a long time?

But on the other hand, he could not understand. Why did she want to protect the slave now? What good does it do to protect the one who ran away?

Slowly but surely, Karzen’s eyes grew cold. Countless branches of thought grew, leading to a single question.

‘Did you help that slave escape, Raha?’

Why? What do you want?

* * *

That night, the wizard, his forehead split open and disfigured, rushed to the emperor’s call. As soon as he arrived, he immediately knelt down and placed his forehead on the floor.

“I have made a terrible mistake, Your Majesty. Please forgive me once…….”

“Get up.”

“……!”

The wizard faltered to his feet. Karzen leaned his elbows on the desk and was deep in thought.

“If this happens one more time, no matter how much you do, you won’t be able to keep your head.”

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty. I will never let my guard down. It seems that the power of the Holy Land has caused problems with the branding.”

It was a desperate excuse, but it did not sound wrong. In fact, all of the slaves presented to Raha that day died and rotted much earlier than expected.

“I think my twin is really heartbroken.”

“Yes, the Princess must be…..”

“So heartbroken that she doesn’t hesitate to say things she wouldn’t normally say to me.”

“……..”

The wizard was silent, looking pale. Karzen was organizing his thoughts as he spoke.

In the luxuriously decorated emperor’s main palace office, Karzen thought of his beautiful twin sister, who was still unable to get up from her bed.

Karzen had developed quite a sense. It was natural after repeated wars. One thing he thought about was Laha. It was that she hurt worse than he thought. He was very surprised, because she never once said anything that would have caused him to develop his thoughts in a different direction than he intended.

There was a reason why Raha’s doctor, the one who was the wisest disciple of that wise man, took care of Raha more seriously than expected.

So what was the piece of truth of Raha’s pain?

Why did she let the slave escape?

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