TLSDNWL Episode 86

TLSDNWL | Episode 86

Posted by Bree, Released on December 24, 2024

Episode 86

The detour made it impossible to take the original route, causing them to arrive later than planned at the port of Malbona.

Known as the largest port city in the Empire, the meticulous attention to security was evident. While not as fortified as the capital, the city’s efforts to ensure stability were visible in many areas.

Riding a carriage, they headed to an inn that had been pre-arranged. People began gathering, perhaps drawn by the emblem of the Duke’s House of Rodore on the carriage. It wasn’t surprising; since Igon became Duke, it was rare for the Rodore family’s carriage to appear here.

‘…!!!’

Someone shouted loudly, and soon after, a chorus of voices erupted in unison. While the words weren’t entirely clear, the main topic seemed to be Igon’s military exploits.

It seemed word had spread outside that the Duke himself was in the carriage. Though the praise wasn’t directed at her, she couldn’t help but feel a mix of pride and embarrassment. Avoiding Igon’s gaze, she turned her head.

‘I’ve agreed to take half of Malbona,’ Igon said nonchalantly, as if discussing someone else’s business. She nodded absentmindedly, thinking, ‘Oh, I see…’—only to jolt upright when the words sank in.

‘Half of what?’

‘Of course, it’s conditional on the Crown Prince ascending the throne without issue,’ he added, still indifferent.

‘Did you strike a deal with Kenneth?’

She tapped the back of his hand to focus his attention and asked. Igon nodded.

‘Does this have to do with the Empress?’

‘Something similar. It involves stabilizing her status and rebuilding the Duran County.’

Rebuilding the County? And the Duke’s House is helping with that?

She couldn’t comprehend his intentions. Wasn’t Igon the one most responsible for the downfall of the Duran family? To destroy it with his own hands and then rebuild it himself—what was he thinking?

‘We’re giving a lot, so we should take as much as we can in return.’

Igon’s sly grin made her momentarily worry for Kenneth’s future.

‘We’ve arrived.’

The carriage stopped in front of a luxurious inn built from red bricks. The crowd outside delayed their exit as the guards worked to control the gathering.

Once inside, they were guided to their room.

‘The ship will depart tomorrow,’ Igon said, preparing to leave as if he had other matters to attend to.

‘I have a meeting with the Count who manages this city. I probably won’t be back until after dinner, so rest well until then. Let’s go for a stroll tonight.’

With a lighthearted smile, he left the room, and she saw him off just as casually.

Returning to the room, she dove onto the bed, burying her face in the pillow. It was a rare moment of separation and a much-needed rest.

Reflecting on the past few days, she concluded that Igon being moderately busy seemed to improve her quality of sleep.

Still, the arrangement was remarkable. Whether Igon meant taking half of Malbona’s land or sharing half its profits, either way, it was a great benefit for the Duke’s House of Rodore.

Igon was undeniably skilled.

She recalled hearing from the staff that since Igon became Duke, the family’s wealth had grown exponentially.

‘Did he leverage knowledge from his multiple regressions?’

Though the thought was vague, it seemed plausible.

‘But helping to rebuild the Duran County?’

She remembered the fleeting hint of coldness in his eyes when they’d talked about it. Igon didn’t appear to have forgiven either the Empress or the Durans.

So why ensure the Empress’s safety and aid the County’s reconstruction? What justification could he possibly use for such actions?

The Duran family’s reputation had plummeted due to their involvement in the demonic beast incidents. Even if the aristocracy accepted them, the Empire’s citizens might not.

‘I don’t know.’

Thinking about it made her head spin, exhaustion from the long carriage ride and the sleepless night with Igon finally catching up to her.

She decided to leave Igon’s affairs to Igon.

Lying face down, she closed her eyes, drifting into sleep without even touching her meal.

* * *

I woke up in the evening, after the sun had already set. Beyond the window, bathed in moonlight, stretched the inky black sea.

I wondered if I had overslept, but it didn’t seem to be terribly late. Outside the door, the atmosphere was lively.

I stepped out into the hallway and looked down the staircase. In the brightly lit dining hall below, the guards who had accompanied Igon were eating dinner. Judging by their raised voices, a few drinks had clearly been consumed.

Igon, however, was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he hadn’t returned yet.

‘If Igon were to come back and see this, he might scold them for being undisciplined,’ I thought, amused.

Still, they seemed to be enjoying themselves, so I let it be. From a corner of the room, the soft sound of a lute being played drifted up. The melody wasn’t unpleasant, so I lingered in the shadows of the hallway, letting the music fully wake me.

Returning to my room, I rang the bell to summon someone. After a light meal, I sat down to read a book. Before long, the noise from outside began to die down.

Suddenly, it was completely quiet, as if someone had doused the room in cold water.

‘See? I told you they’d get scolded.’

It seemed Igon had reprimanded them for being too carefree in a situation where anything could happen, even if they weren’t in the duchy. Still, once he confirmed there had been no real issues, the tension seemed to ease.

There was a collective sigh, loud enough to be heard, followed by a burst of applause and cheers.

Footsteps on the stairs prompted me to close the book I’d been reading and set it on the table.

“I’m back.”

Said Igon as he entered, bringing the scent of the sea breeze with him.

“Were you waiting for me?”

When I shook my head, he playfully pulled a disappointed face. He leaned over and embraced me, pushing me back in my chair with enough force to make it screech against the floor.

His soft hair brushed against my nose, carrying the faint scent of the ocean. I wrapped my arms around him and patted his back.

Igon looked happy, but there were moments when his gaze grew incredibly deep as he stared at me.

At those times, it felt as though he was questioning whether this was a dream or reality. Ever since I vaguely realized that his happiness was tinged with daily unease, I began holding him close, comforting him as if to reassure him.

Just as he had once done for me, I embraced him tightly, sharing warmth as a reminder that this place, this moment, was real.

After a long while, Igon let out a sigh and pulled back.

“Do you want to go out?”

He asked, lightly rubbing the corner of his mouth. I nodded.

I chose a simple dress that wouldn’t draw attention and threw a cloak over it. Igon also abandoned his formal attire, opting for a tunic and plain trousers.

Despite the simplicity of his outfit, his presence still shone. His face truly completed the look.

As I pulled up the hood of my cloak and moved toward the door, Igon stopped me.

If we weren’t going out through the door, then where…?

Proving my unease wasn’t unfounded, Igon flung open the window.

“Let’s go out through here,” he said.

No, I’d much prefer using the door…

But there was no room for refusal.

In the blink of an eye, he had me in his arms, and I was plunged into the salty sea air.

Tap, tap.

Before I knew it, we landed on the ground unscathed, and he set me down.

I hit his arm, to which he playfully responded with an exaggerated “Ow…”

This wasn’t the Igon I knew; he was becoming more shameless by the day.

He adjusted my displaced cloak and placed it gently over my shoulders.

“Let’s go,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

Igon took my hand and led me into the dark alley behind the inn.

The peculiar atmosphere of the night sea made my heart flutter.

The night market was near the harbor, so it didn’t take long to get there. Torches illuminated the area, making it as bright as day.

As expected, it was much larger and more crowded than the night market in the small town where the villa had been. From the entrance, the enticing aroma of food wafted over, making it impossible to pass by.

We bought skewers from a stall selling grilled scallops coated in sauce. The smoky flavor of the tender meat paired perfectly with the savory sauce.

With a drink in hand, we strolled through the market, exploring the stalls.

As befitting the Empire’s largest port city, there was an array of goods from foreign lands: exotic accessories, furniture, and countless other curiosities.

Clothing stalls displayed garments from various countries. The vendors, realizing I was a woman, eagerly held up skirts and tried to lure me in, but none dared approach too closely under Igon’s sharp gaze.

The vibrant stalls were filled with dazzling jewelry and colorful braided cords from faraway lands.

A vendor handed me a strange fruit as part of his sales pitch. I took a bite, and the sweet juice filled my mouth.

Seeing my satisfied expression, Igon tried to buy an entire box, but I stopped him, insisting on purchasing just three, which we shared.

The experience was a feast for the eyes and the palate.

In the square, musicians played instruments, while clowns performed tricks nearby.

The clowns blew whistles, danced, flipped acrobatically, and even performed sword dances. Their skills were impressive.

When one of the clowns began breathing fire, I watched in half-dazed amazement.

“Should I invite them to the Duke’s residence?” Igon whispered in my ear.

I let out a small laugh at his excessive indulgence.

Earlier, he had tried to buy every little thing I glanced at, and I had to work hard to stop him.

Shaking my head, I looked up at him. His mysterious sky-blue eyes, tinged with gray, were fixed on my lips.

It was frustrating when words failed him, but whenever Igon looked at me like that, it made me feel strangely pleased.

I found satisfaction in the fact that his attention was entirely on me.

‘It’s good that we’re seeing this here tonight,’ I mouthed silently.

Even if their talents were just as impressive at the Duke’s estate, it wouldn’t have the same immersive charm as tonight.

The experience of sneaking out with Igon, weaving through the night streets, surrounded by so many people like scattered stars, was something I didn’t want to replace with anything else.

Igon seemed to understand and nodded.

‘Let’s see more,’ I thought.

We moved through the crowd in the square, browsing more stalls and snacking on street food.

When my feet began to ache, we left the bustling market and sat on a cape overlooking the sea.

Igon spread his cloak beneath me, making the seat comfortable.

Biting into one of the fruits we had bought, I gazed at the calm, moonlit sea. The sea breeze brushed coolly against my forehead, dampened slightly by the humid air.

Behind us, the lively chatter of people filled the air.

When someone shouted, “Waaah!” loudly, I couldn’t help but laugh.

Maybe because I was in such a good mood, laughter came easily tonight.

“Shall we come again next time?” Igon asked.

I gathered my laughter and shook my head.

As delightful as this place was, it was a bit too noisy for my taste.

Instead, I wanted to return to the small town where the villa was located.

Taking his hand, I wrote a word on his palm: ‘Villa.’

Watching me curiously, Igon broke into laughter when he understood, squeezing my hand tightly.

“All right,” he said softly.

He paused for a moment, looking deeply into my eyes.

I tightened my grip on his hand, meeting his gaze.