Supporting Characters Also Need Some Love

CHAPTER 4: EACH TRUTH AND EACH HAPPINESS (VII)

Part 073

 

Adrian glanced out the window. I had it. I check the clock and it’s almost dinner time. I couldn’t sleep for two days. My eyelids were tight. Remina and Homer, who had similar complexions, were looking at documents across the table with bloodshot eyes. The heads of many families, including the dukes of Nodovan and Galleon, visited Adrian or sent him messages. The Duke of Donovan has donated 10 million gold worth of military funds and the entire knights, and the duke will personally participate in the battle. The Duke of Galleon donated 20 million gold in military funds on behalf of the Knights. It was reported that neither the duke nor the minor duke would participate in the battle, but they did so to save face. The northwestern nobles, whose territory is expected to be included in the front line, left Midok all day today. There will be a family where no one can attend the king’s funeral at night, but since the situation is so urgent that all exceptions can be accommodated, no one will have an issue. After a meeting that lasted all day, the organization of the Taln punitive force to be sent to the west was completed. It consisted of 5,000 cavalry-centered soldiers and 500 allied knights. And the rest of the capital army and the entire aristocratic alliance army decided to camp on the Plain of Jezero, but Tyrellius continued to argue about the departure time and organization. Dividing the entire army into three, the infantry of the main camp led by Duke Donoban take the center of the battle, while Kayle, who will lead the elite troops of the capital army, and Ban, who will lead the knights of the noble union, form a separate unit. While the main force attacked the enemy’s camp in the center, Cale and Ban devised a strategy to disrupt the enemy’s command center. It was a tactic that everyone could understand, but Tyrellius opposed it. While Adrian, commander of the capital army, was away on the Western Front, it was Tyrellius who officially held the title of commander-in-chief. Because of his position, he requested command of the main camp, which he intended to entrust to Duke Donovan. Homer gritted his teeth several times and tried to dissuade him, but Tyrellius did not break his stubbornness. Adrian closed his eyes tightly and spoke in a tired voice.

 

“Today’s meeting will end here. We will meet again at His Majesty’s funeral after dinner, and the meeting will resume tomorrow morning.”

 

Remina put down the papers she was holding, her face covered in blood.

 

“Of course. It would be a good idea to ask Duke Donovan to attend the meeting tomorrow.”

 

As Remina and Ban got up and left the conference room, Tyrelius also left. After seeing off the princess and crown prince, Homer rubbed his eyes and lowered his heavy body into his chair. Adrian said as he quickly organized the documents.

 

“The princess came up with a good plan.”

 

“That’s right. Since the Duke of Donovan is firmly under the mistaken belief that they are on my side, I will have to ask the Duke to persuade him.”

 

“It’s okay to be the general commander in name only, but if the crown prince steps forward to lead, it becomes difficult.”

 

“Don’t worry. If I have to, I’ll at least give you alcohol and put you to sleep.”

 

“That’s a good idea too.”

 

“Have you heard from Romanov yet?”

 

“They said military maintenance was completed. “We’ll be leaving soon.”

 

Homer nodded at Adrian’s firm answer. The 20,000 National Guards led by National Guard Commander Boromir Luthor, plus the troops drawn from the noble families who participated in the rebellion, totaled at least 25,000. On the other hand, when you pay 5,000 to go west with Adrian from the capital, it is only 16,000. Even if the combined knights of the pro-king nobles join, the difference in troops is close to 10,000. The lack of power had to be made up for through tactics, and as expected, the clumsy Tyrelius was the most difficult ambush. The rebels that need to be stopped in the Jezero Plain are a problem, but if they are unable to stop the Taln army and they storm into Midok, they will suffer even greater damage. Homer also knew that there was no commander other than Adrian who could stop Taln with such a small force, but he asked in frustration.

 

“Are you really going to go west in person?”

 

“If there is any other way, please tell me.”

 

There was no way Adrian would be reluctant to leave Midoc where Damian was. After looking at each other with dry eyes, Homer was convinced with a tired face and asked something else.

 

“Shouldn’t we go out on a mission around the weekend?”

 

“We have to build a camp on the Jezero Plain and head west, so we have to set out on Sunday at the latest.”

 

“Is it possible? The crown prince seems excited about the launch ceremony.”

 

“Sounds like a departure ceremony.”

 

Adrian clicked his tongue. It would take five days just to travel from the Jezero Plains to the Ethart Territory. In a situation where it is unknown how long it will take to build a camp, there is no way to afford to spend the insufficient time and money on something like a launch ceremony. Homer added, nodding his head.

 

“There will be a lot of difference in the number of troops there, but you still need to return to base as soon as possible. If the Crown Prince decides to do it, there will be no one to stop him except the Duke.”

 

“Duke Donovan will do well.”

 

After saying that, Adrian got up and left the conference room. As soon as I got on the horse, he literally sprinted all the way to Duke Bigor’s residence.

 

* * *

 

This morning, he saw Damian in tears for the first time. It actually broke his heart because she was always trying to show her brave side. He blamed himself for not being a trustworthy lover enough for her to cry on, and tried to be her comfort. However, seeing her trembling and crying loudly made me feel as if something in her body, not her heart, was being torn apart. Adrian thought it would be nice for her to lean on me and show her weakness, but when she did, she realized how foolish she had been. He felt so sorry for himself as all he could do was wipe away the tears that kept flowing. He packed his bags alone, brought them to an unfamiliar place, and couldn’t even look into them. He was so worried about what would happen if he was sad that he rode his horse roughly until he reached the Duke’s residence. As I entered the entrance, I ran into Damien coming down the stairs to the second floor. Damian came down with a cute smile and approached Adrian.

 

“Wow, you came at the perfect time. Welcome. Huh? Is the ‘welcome’ greeting a bit weird? It’s Adrian’s house. Hehe.”

 

As she looked down at Damian, who greeted her with a smiling face, she cried and something welled up inside her without anyone noticing. It was obvious that her voice was trembling, so she couldn’t respond and just looked at Damian. She tilted her head and took a step closer. Damien reached out her hand and caressed Adrian’s cheek.

 

“Has something bad happened? Or is it because you’re tired?”

 

Adrian wrapped his arms around Damian’s waist because he felt like he would shed tears if they continued to look at each other. He buried his nose in her shoulder and hid his expression. He was tired. The war situation continued to be bad. Although it could not be revealed anywhere, the growing nervousness continued to gnaw at Adrian. Damian patted Adrian on the shoulder without saying anything. Then everything else became irrelevant. Even though it was harder and more exhausted, he was confident that if he could just come back to these arms, everything would be okay. Three seasons have passed since he returned to Duke Bigor’s residence, but only today did Adrian realize that he had finally returned home. Among the many duties and propositions with which he had pushed himself, he knew what he was actually looking for. He hugged Damian, who was patting his shoulder, by his waist. He sat Damian on his right arm and looked up.

 

“Oh, my God.”

 

Adrian said with a bright smile as Damian wrapped his arms around his neck in surprise.

 

“I’m back. Where were you going?”

 

“Si, it’s the restaurant. Adrian, I’m heavy. Please put me down.”

 

Without answering or, of course, not dropping the car off, Adrian walked towards the restaurant. The employees who had come down to welcome the matriarch home disappeared from the front door the moment Adrian hugged Damian. And the meal for two was diligently set. Adrian, who had put Damian down at the table meant for just the two of them, sat across from him. While Adrian was simply washing his hands, Damian was muttering with a slightly red face.

 

“You shouldn’t just lift someone up like that.”

 

When Adrian still smiled brightly without answering, Damian also laughed along as if he had no choice. Adrian asked, cutting into her steak while Damien grabbed her salad and ate it.

 

“Have you had any inconveniences?”

 

“Not at all. Everyone has been so nice to me that it already feels like my home.”

 

“Do you like the room?”

 

“I like it, but Adrian was the one who chose that room? The guest room he stayed in before was fine, so he gave me that room for some reason.”

 

“I thought it would be good if you stayed as close as possible during your stay.”

 

When Adrian answered with a look that asked why she was asking such an obvious question, it was Damian who was left speechless.

 

Damian asked, scratching his right cheek.

 

“It’s definitely close, but that room is the Duchess’ room, right?”

 

“You’ll be doing that soon, right?”

 

Adrian smiled broadly as he answered. Adrian already knew what kind of face he would make that would make Damien go easy on him. She thought it was arrogance not to use something that could be used.

 

“Well, I guess that’s true…”

 

“I hope you like it.”

 

“Well, okay. Thank you. I’ll put it to good use.”

 

Damian, who was scratching his cheek, just ignored it this time. Adrian smiled like a flower in full bloom once again. Watching Damien crunching a piece of her steak into her little mouth, she felt a hunger in her that she had forgotten about all day. Just by being with her, things that were nothing become meaningful. Adrian put a piece of steak in her mouth and chewed it. Before she met Damien, she was just like Adrian, who was all about food as long as she could chew and swallow it. Her meals with her were always amazingly delicious, but today the meat was especially sweet. Adrian was surprised when he first saw the marriage vow sent by Count Colin. He couldn’t express his joy because he could sense the sorrowful denial radiating from his scribbled signature. Moreover, in front of Damian, who was crying profusely, he could barely control his racing heart. But, no matter what, the marriage contract ended up in his hands. And he put Damian in the next room. Of course, the war would end in victory, and this unstable situation would be resolved, but even so, he had no intention of sending Damian back to Ethart Street. Now that she knew what it felt like to come home to her, she had no intention of giving up this comfort. They have obtained the consent of the Earl and Countess, who we thought would be the most difficult, so first of all, let’s end this damn war quickly.

 

Adrian clenched his fists under the table without Damian noticing. After finishing their meal, Adrian and Damien prepared to enter the palace. Adrian, who was changing into mourning clothes in his room, felt strange again when he heard a voice coming from beyond his thin door. As he listened, he could hear the voices of Damien and his maids.

 

“Eh? The main ceremony alone took three hours?”

 

“Yes, Miss. Normally, it takes place all night, but this time it will be held in an abbreviated manner, so it will be three hours.”

 

“Really? Well, since it is the funeral of Her Majesty and the Queen, that would be correct.”

 

“Are you very tired, Miss?”

 

“No, Jenny, I’m fine, but it won’t be over until midnight. Adrian’s eyes are really red, and I just want to let him rest early.”

 

Adrian stiffened while adjusting his cravat. He could no longer hear the voice, but his attention was already focused on the sound coming through the small inner door. When he heard a small laugh as he wondered what she was doing, he automatically grabbed her hand. He wondered if the door was too thin to isolate his heart from that lovely person. He wanted to open it right away and steal those pretty lips, but with a long sigh, he endured it with difficulty. After completing preparations, Adrian knocked not on the inner door leading to the room, but on Damien’s door. For some reason, he didn’t think he should start opening that small door. As he entered the room, Damien was standing there wearing a black dress, his hair tied up and his face covered with a black veil. Even in his mourning clothes he looked simply beautiful, causing Adrian to chew his tongue. He himself thought that his condition was already irreversibly severe.

 

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Translator Note: