Chapter 21: Royal Capital: Women's Clothing
The melodious sound of bells announced the end of the day. The dark night fell slowly and wetly. The lights lit up one by one, and the upper city of the Capital of Light once again became the reflection of the stars in the sky on earth.
Nobles in gorgeous formal attire, holding the hands of ladies and princesses whose long dresses sparkled with gems, were led by proper servants holding candlesticks high as they entered the dazzling Silver Moon Palace. Surrounded by the heavenly music performed by actors and musicians, the crisp clash of crystal cups and glass plates, and the rustling of skirts across the floor, they hid their joys, sorrows, ambitions, and conspiracies under lace and silk, and spent another flashy night with laughter, singing, and dancing.
The pale moon, uninterested in anything earthly, hung high in the sky, quietly emitting a cold light, shining on the glittering palaces, flower-filled gardens, and the dark alleys of the lower city that might not be lit at night until the destruction of the capital.
At midnight, the host, who was as slender as moonlight, went back to her room to rest accompanied by her younger brother. The guests who had been playing all night gradually became exhausted and lay in a mess beside the sofa and on the carpet with their eyes wide open and their mouths open, like a school of fish sinking to the bottom of the water.
The owner who returned to the room did not intend to go to sleep.
He glanced at the half-open curtains in the reception area and smiled mysteriously: "Kellyer, don't let anyone into the house for the time being."
"Yes, sir!"
The chief attendant received the order and left the room.
Xiao Yun was also ready to leave.
But Yaris let him stay and walked to the half-open curtain and lifted the remaining half.
Crash——
Moonlight streamed into the room in large swaths, revealing a tall, strange figure in a skirt behind the curtains.
"Women" step out of the shadows.
"She" was wearing a light silk dress, her hair was wrapped in a dark headscarf, and her face was covered with a veil decorated with bells.
"you--"
"It's me."
The "woman" raised her hand, took off her veil, revealing a masculine face, and her rough big hands grasped the sword that Yaris used to lift the curtain.
"The sword is not for you."
"Women's clothes don't suit you either."
"Who brought you in?"
"Marina."
Kairusha spoke calmly as he walked up to Xiao Yun and sized up the chestnut-haired young man with his black, rock-like eyes. "--Sure enough, just like you, he has a woman's face. Of course, compared to you, your brother is obviously healthier and more manly."
"Why are you sneaking into my living room in the middle of the night dressed as a woman?"
"Edmund has stationed two cavalry units at my residence to monitor my comings and goings."
Kairusha said, "I don't know what happened between you, but he obviously doesn't want me to have any private contact with you."
"And you hate being ordered around."
"Yes."
"The more he tries to prevent me from contacting you, the more I will come to Silver Moon Palace to meet you."
Kairusha complained and suddenly slapped Lucien's shoulder with such force that Xiao Yun suspected that his shoulder blade would be broken if the system did not deploy protection in time.
(So strong! Like an iron claw!)
“—Be gentle!”
Yaris scolded distressedly: "If you use so much force, he will get hurt."
"Not everyone is as delicate as you, ready to break at any moment."
Kairusha muttered, then noticed that Lucien didn't frown or show any pain because of his slap, and nodded in praise: "Yaris, your brother is not only healthier than you, but also stronger than you."
"There aren't many adults in the world who are weaker than me."
"Your God is so strange. He actually likes someone like you who is so fragile that she could break at any moment. Although you are indeed more beautiful than most people in terms of appearance, you are too fragile, like a flower that will be blown away by the wind."
"It's not that gods prefer delicate and frail individuals; it's that the human body is too fragile to bear even the smallest fragment of a god's genes. Fragmentation and a shortened lifespan are side effects of chimerism."
Yaris said casually and asked Kairusha to sit down.
Xiao Yun took a breath of cold air.
(Gene? Fragment? Chimerism? Side effects?)
(These words... This world, whose technological civilization is only at the level of Earth's medieval times... actually...)
(The Holy Family is a gift dedicated to the Twin Gods, created by all the scientists and magicians of the Eternal Empire, which was destroyed by heavenly punishment six thousand years ago, using super science and super magic...)
Edmund's words flashed through his mind again.
(If what Edmund said about the Eternal Empire and the Holy Family is true...even if only a tiny part of it is true...then...)
Kairusha paid no attention to this.
He sat on the sofa with his legs crossed: "-Yaris, you are saying something I don't understand at all again."
"Then let's talk about something you can understand."
Yaris also sat down and played with his wine glass: "First of all, next time we meet, don't wear this dress. Although it is a beautiful dress, it looks weird on you."
"puff!"
Xiao Yun laughed out loud—from the moment Kairusha appeared in women's clothing, he had been wanting to laugh—and then he quickly covered his mouth and apologized: "Excuse me, I..."
"I understand how you feel."
Kairusha said nonchalantly, "When I looked in the mirror, I wanted to laugh, but Marina said this was the best way to repay you for deceiving me."
"I didn't lie to you. It was you who mistakenly thought I was a woman and even offered me your sword of loyalty, imitating the knight."
"You finally smiled just now."
"You... So you are..."
"Marina said you've been feeling down lately and she's concerned about you."
"So you just..."
Kairusha nodded.
Sadness flashed in Yaris's eyes: "You care about her too."
"She's a good woman."
"In that case, I'll give her to you."
"I refuse."
"Why? Don't you love her?"
"I love her, so I refuse."
"Um?"
Yaris looked surprised.
"I once proposed to her, and she said she was willing to become one of my wives, but only after you die. You are her sword master and the brother she worries about. As long as you are alive, she cannot become anyone else's wife."
"In that case,"
Yaris closed his eyes and muttered, "In order to fulfill you, perhaps I should——"
"You are not allowed to die!"
Kairusha interrupted Yaris and said seriously, "I would rather never see Marina come to the grassland to live with me than for you to die!"
“…But I am destined not to live long.”
"Then live as long as you can, with your brother! Live a long, long time!"
Kairusha shouted angrily, "You said you had many dreams!"
“Yes, I have many dreams…”
Yaris looked dazed. "For example, right now... I dream of ending Edmund's reign and making Lucien emperor... Kairusha, are you willing to help me?"
"you--"
"When we first met, you told me that you would be my knight, leading me away from suffering and toward happiness. But the only happiness I desire right now is to crown my dear brother as the high priest."
"Karusha, will you come to our aid on the day we raise our flag against Edmund?"
"I……"
"Even if you refuse, I will not forget my promise to you."
Yaris looked at Kairusha tenderly.
"Given the Holy Family's special status, even if they were captured and defeated, they would only be secretly executed and buried a year later under the name of having died of illness..."
"Before the decisive battle, I'll have Marina take my letter to the grasslands. When you receive it, you'll know I'm dead... By then, Mikael should be dead too. You must take care of Marina for us. She has no real family left in this world..."
"I've always considered her my non-blood sister, one of the few good sisters in this world who truly loves me and treats me as a person rather than an object..."
"You...you...you are forcing me! You know I—"
Kairusha exhaled and said painfully, "I promise you, after receiving the news that your brothers have officially raised the flag, as long as I am still alive, I will lead the army to support you! Even if it means breaking up with my brother the king."
Kairusha's half-brother, the wife of the current King of Monglis, and his mother are all related to Edmund.
(Is it...that simple?)
(Such a big thing... How could it...)
Xiao Yun was stunned.
He quietly held Yaris's hand.
[Brother, you just—]
Kairusha is a true hero. Once he makes a promise, he will keep it no matter what happens in the future, even if it means he has to make the world his enemy.
So, brother, you...
"The fact that he's here tonight shows that he cares about me. And as long as he cares about me, he'll be convinced by me and make a promise to me."
"I heard that Isabel rejected Edmund's proposal on the grounds that she couldn't forget her late husband?"
"That's what happened."
Yaris smiled elegantly: "His intention is too obvious, how could Isabel agree?"
"He has become what he is today, and it has a lot to do with you."
"Why? You sympathize with him?"
Yaris glanced in the direction of the palace with smoky eyes: "He has tried to kill me and Lucien more than once."
"Your current appearance reminds me of a ghost wandering in the moonlight... Maybe I shouldn't have promised you..."
"But you've already made a promise... and you know that without your help, our plan will inevitably fail... Failure doesn't just mean death... Edmund won't let us go easily... He hates me to the core..."
"But if you win, Edmund will—"
"He won't die. He will spend the rest of his life in a cold tower."
Yaris smiled charmingly again.
“…”
Kairusha decided to give up the idea of understanding Yaris.
He walked up to Lucien and solemnly announced: "Starting tomorrow, you will learn military and swordsmanship from me."
"ah?"
"The grasslands' combat methods aren't perfect, but compared to Edmund's generals who still treasure outdated military philosophies from a hundred years ago, what I teach you is definitely more practical than what you could learn at the Royal Academy."
"I want you brothers to survive even if I die in battle and can no longer fulfill my promise!"
Small Theater
Xiao Yun/Lucien (trained half to death): This whole thing was clearly an agreement between you and my brother, why am I the one who increased the intensity?
Kairusha: He is too fragile. A simple grab from me could break his bones, but you were completely defenseless and withstood the force of my pat on the shoulder.
Xiao Yun/Lucien: I'm not! I didn't! It wasn't me who withstood the force of your pat on the shoulder, it was the system in my body— (covering mouth)
Kairusha (scratching his head): Why do you brothers always like to say things I don't understand? Hold on to your swords and continue!
[Xiao Yun/Lucien (wants to cry but has no tears): The system misled me! ]
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