Ord suddenly burst into laughter while looking at Baso. The head servant Baso, who never left Ord’s side even for a minute every day, felt as if he was seeing Ord laugh like that for the first time in nearly a hundred years.

“Coming through the main gate, it seems you have something urgent to say. Isn’t that right?”

Baso lowered his chin slightly and smiled. It was alright… Today, Ord’s condition was very good. To Baso, that fact was more important than anything else.

“You may go out, Baso.”

The head servant bowed politely. Then, after bowing in the same manner to Eustar who entered next, he disappeared behind the heavy door that closed silently.

“What brings you here?”

Ord said. Seeing him sitting on the bed bathed in sunlight, a smile spread across Eustar’s face.

Although the skin illuminated by light was as pale as a corpse, the absurd thought crossed his mind that if he just stayed in the sun for another day or two, his illness would miraculously be cured.

“It’s been a while since you came through that door.”

A gentle expression appeared on Ord’s face as he looked at his smiling brother. Eustar smiled softly, glanced back at the door he had entered through, and then pulled up a chair to sit beside him.

“I’m glad to see you looking comfortable today, elder brother.”

“My head hurts a bit less since I don’t have to hear Sui’s clucking.”

For a moment, Ord’s expression looked remarkably like that of a very young boy as he said this. This was despite the sickly pallor and wrinkles that still covered his face.

Sui was the name of Marchioness Himierd. Hearing Ord’s words, Eustar let out a short laugh.

“Don’t be too hard on her. She’s someone who thinks of the kingdom’s well-being more than anyone else.”

“That’s right. So isn’t she desperate to oust me and put you in this position? When I ascended to the throne, she was someone who would have pretended to die if I told her to.”

Eustar’s gaze lowered slightly. The bright smile on his lips also faded. However, Ord didn’t seem to mind his brother’s change much, and just silently looked at him for a moment.

Eustar slowly exhaled and looked at Ord with a gentle smile.

“You know better than anyone that I have no such intentions, elder brother.”

Hearing his words, Ord burst into low laughter. Though mixed with a metallic sound, he didn’t cough.

“Yes, that’s right. No one knows you better than I do. That much is certain.”

Ord clenched and unclenched his hand once more. As if even that small movement was burdensome, his joints ached and his wrist trembled. His eyes sank with pain as he looked at his own fingers, as thin as tree branches. Eustar noticed this too, but pretended not to for his sake.

Ord changed the subject.

“What’s that young witch up to?”

Recalling Laila’s anxious face, Eustar replied in a calm voice.

“She refuses to leave her room. She’s very anxious about going outside.”

Ord made an irritated breathing sound for a moment, as if displeased with his answer—or perhaps displeased with Laila—and then curled up one corner of his mouth.

“She seems to have less courage than she looks. She seemed quite bold when she spoke to me with her head held high, saying she wasn’t an object.”

Eustar said,

“It’s unavoidable for her, given the unfamiliar environment. She’s someone who has lived a self-sufficient life in a small house in a small village all her life.”

“But hasn’t the land where she took root burned down? If she’s found new land, she should spread her roots as soon as possible. Even if it’s a painful process.”

Ord rebuked in a low voice, glaring out the window with bloodshot eyes.

“Otherwise, what else is there but to wither and die?”

Eustar thought of Laila again. He knew well that she wasn’t a weak person. But he didn’t bother to refute Ord’s words.

The land where Laila had taken root. No… The place she believed she had taken root was now gone, reduced to ashes.

Lijikers was not a place that could embrace her. Laila was just a seed accidentally scattered there, unable to grow abundantly while enjoying the bountiful blessings of the earth.

If she had remained in Lijikers, she would have soon died. In that barren land without sunlight, water, or even nutrients.

Eustar didn’t want to dare say that he had saved her. He couldn’t speak so arrogantly. The life Laila had built for herself was hers alone.

But now, in one way or another, his life and Laila’s life would become entangled, and there were already parts that had become so.

If that was the case, he had no choice but to pull. He had to pull her, who kept trying to distance herself, and make her take firm root beside him. Otherwise, both he and Laila would wither away, staggering.

Ord asked,

“So, what did you come to say?”

“It’s about the wedding ceremony.”

He had expected it would be about that. That’s why Ord deliberately shook his head indifferently.

“If it’s about that matter, you don’t need to worry, Eustar. The palace officials will take care of it.”

“That’s precisely why I came. I know the officials are busy with preparations, but… elder brother, I beg you to allow us to omit the wedding ceremony.”

Ord turned to look at Eustar with sharp eyes. It was a fierce gaze as if he might slap him right away, but nothing of the sort happened. Instead, he lowered his voice as if angry and asked,

“Why?”

Eustar silently pondered his answer. But whatever he said would not be sufficient. Conversely, whatever he said could be justified. After all, it was Eustar’s own wedding.

Ord, before being an elder brother, had the right to command Eustar in many things as the king. But he would not try to reign strictly as king even in private matters like marriage. Because of that belief, Eustar came knowing Ord would disapprove, and used the term “elder brother” instead of the honorific “Your Majesty.”

“I asked you why, Eustar.”

“Elder brother, this marriage is anyway…”

Eustar’s words trailed off. He soon shook his head silently with his head bowed. His long hair swayed slightly as if caught in the wind.

“No, any other reason is meaningless. I just want to ease her burden. That’s all.”

At this, Ord stared intently at his brother’s face as if intrigued. Did Eustar notice the meaning behind that gaze?

No, he wouldn’t know, Ord thought. He had never seen Eustar consider someone so delicately before.

He knew well that Eustar’s nature was kind, but he had never, he swore, seen him prepare to go against his only brother’s mood for the sake of one person.

Ord knew well that although Sui Himierd was so devoted to Eustar, he had never given Himierd any hope. Whatever kind of hope it might be…

Ord said,

“It seems you’ve taken quite a liking to that young witch.”

Eustar smiled ambiguously as if unsure how to answer.

“She’s a good person. The day will come when you’ll know that too, elder brother. And Laila… Laila will also come to know what kind of person you are someday.”

“What about you? When I told you to marry that witch, did you have even a little resentment towards me?”

Resentment. For a moment, Eustar almost laughed, thinking how preposterous that sounded. He could not resent Ord for anything.

Even if he had ordered him to marry someone other than Laila, he would have gladly accepted it.

“There was none. I believe you know that better than I do, elder brother. But it was an unexpected thing.”

Ord nodded. His gaze had already been withdrawn from Eustar.

“Yes, it would have been. But as I did then, I won’t allow you to ask for reasons. You’ll know someday. When the time comes.”

“I understand well.”

Ord painfully moved his hand, which was curled up as if from cold, and placed it on his knee. He felt pain as if the drying bones were colliding with each other.

“If you want to do that for that young witch, fine. Let’s omit the wedding ceremony. However, as she has become a new member of the royal family, she must receive greetings. That must be done without fail.”

Receiving greetings meant meeting the most important and renowned high-ranking officials and nobles in the Kingdom of Sierrow. As Ord said, it was something that a person who had newly become a member of the royal family must go through, and it was also a very important matter.

“I understand, elder brother.”

“And one more thing.”

Ord turned to look at Eustar.

“The omission of the wedding ceremony must be my order. It must be my whim. Do you understand what I mean?”

For a moment, Eustar furrowed his brow like someone displeased and held a bitter smile.

“I understand that as well.”

Ord’s body tilted slightly. Thinking he might fall, Eustar hurriedly tried to raise his arm, but at that moment, Ord planted his trembling hand firmly on the sheet and opened his eyes wide.

His pale face was close enough to almost touch Eustar’s chin.

“You must be pushed further, Eustar. For your own sake. And for my sake. Do you understand?”

Ord said. It was a voice mixed with a lot of breath, like a snake hissing. Eustar unfurrowed his brow and then nodded with a faint, inscrutable smile.

“I understand.”

When he answered, Ord finally withdrew his body. Eustar, who had been quietly waiting for the slow movement to stop, said,

“Then, I’ll take my leave now. Please rest.”

Ord nodded.

Eustar, who had left the king’s bedchamber, went out into the corridor as if changing shifts with Baso, who had been waiting outside. The late afternoon sunlight was gradually fading, and he could see the shadows of the pillars stretching long.

Come to think of it, I was supposed to have dinner with Laila. He thought. He had almost forgotten in that short time.

It was always like this after meeting Ord, after conversing with him. His mind would become clouded with complex thoughts, despair, and regretful affection.

Eustar judged that it would be best to go to Laila’s room before it got too late. But before he could take even ten steps, a member wearing the uniform of Tentinella called out to him and came running.

“Lord Eustar! I have something to report.”