Chapter 233 – Later Story: The Warmest Winter in the World (15)
The white horse kicks off the ground and runs. On top of a galloping white horse with a fluttering white mane, Theorard was engrossed in riding while holding on to the reins.
Benelia was behind Theorard. Benelia wondered if she might fall off her horse, so she hugged Theo Rad by the waist and admired the scenery of the forest road.
A dried leaf or two can be seen hanging from the end of a bare branch. Even if you look elsewhere, the same scenery unfolds.
Since it is a dense forest of birch trees, the knots on the trees resemble human eyes, giving it a gloomy feeling for some reason. Feeling uneasy, Venelia hugs Theorard close.
“Theorard.”
“Yes. Your majesty.”
“Why did you leave the main road and enter the forest? If you do this, you will be late for the banquet.”
“It is because of the eyes of the local people. Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if rumors circulated that His Majesty was riding a horse driven by an alien man?”
“If that was a problem, we could call the driver and ask him to bring the wagon.”
What is my point of asking when I know the reason? Is it because she is afraid of the dreary forest road and continues to talk to her?
Thinking about it made the whining Benelia look a little cute. Theorard smiled secretly and spoke softly.
“It is a narrow, unmaintained road. If I had come here in a wagon, I would not have been able to proceed properly.”
“But…”
Benellia, who nodded her head, was silent for a while. Benellia, who had been hiding from the wind behind Theo Rad’s back her, opened her words as if she had just remembered her.
“Theorard.”
“Yes. Your majesty.”
“The saintess asked me to say hello to you. Thanks to her, she was able to look at the world correctly. She even regretted not being able to attend your birthday banquet due to her busy schedule her.”
The saint, Rastain, gained courage from Theorard and succeeded in exposing the Pope’s sins to the whole world.
Shortly thereafter, a trial was held to determine her authenticity of her, and a mental appraisal through an astrologer proved that the saintess’ words were not false.
The pope’s illegal experimentation with the lives of his orphans incensed the public, and the court sentenced the pope to be publicly executed.
In that way, after the death of the pope, Rastain was able to free herself from the ‘light of life’ she hated so much. Since the person who engraved the magic circle died, the magic naturally lost its effect.
“Is that so. To be honest, I don’t know how much I helped, but…….”
Theorard said.
“Even without me, the saintess would have come out of the egg someday.”
“Is it.”
I don’t like clichéd answers. It would be okay if you rated yourself a little highly.
However, this figure was also Theorad, whom Benelia loved. Benelia, with her faint smile, leaned her head on Theorard’s back her.
“Theorard.”
“Yes. Your majesty.”
“How can I win your heart?”
Theorad’s shoulders trembled at the rather straightforward way of speaking. He can’t quite figure out what to answer. As Theorard hesitated, Benelia continued her.
“Didn’t you tell me? You still don’t love me.”
“I like it.”
“You damn bastard. Who told you to come up with sophistry? Answer any questions I ask.”
Her tone her was forceful, but Benelia’s voice her trembled thinly, like that of a girl trying her love her for the first time.
It was because she was a Benelia who always had to rule over others’ heads, so she was not used to the situation itself in which she had to humble herself in front of her love her.
That’s why the simple phrase ‘I want to know your taste’ is being expressed around it.
Theorard, who fully understood Benelia’s feelings of her, answered without stopping her words.
“It is very difficult to win my heart. Do you still want to hear it?”
“…… I am determined.”
If I can win the heart of the person I love, I will do my best. It was a hundred times better to take on the challenge than to live a long time full of regrets.
“Since you say you are prepared, I will tell you.”
A very serious voice. How difficult is it to catch the mood?
‘Are you trying to make me do something impure…….’
That’s when Benelia gulped down her saliva, feeling some kind of fear in her.
“I want you to smile often. His Majesty’s smile is special.”
The sluggish demands ease the tension. Only then, realizing that she had been tricked by Theo Rad, Benelia let out a low sigh.
“You’re gifted with speech that makes me humble.”
Theorad would undoubtedly be the first person to play such a silly prank on the emperor of the empire. While thinking about that, Benelia smiled lightly and half-opened her eyes.
‘First…….’
Come to think of it, Benelia gave Theorard many ‘firsts’. Because I gave my body, gave my heart, dressed up, suffered from heartache, cried, laughed, resented, loved, missed, and was happy again.
It was all emotions she hadn’t been able to feel if it wasn’t for Theo Rad. For Benelia, who has been killing her own emotions to become her emperor her, this experience has been precious.
‘Theorard…….’
Her half-open eyes her slowly closed. The occasional swaying body, the sound of horses hoofs running while raising dust, the melodious wind blowing through the branches of a birch tree…….
In a space where everything around her felt idyllic, Benelia hugged Theorad’s body a little closer.
‘Love. More than anyone else…….’
All the winter I will spend from today, it seemed that it wouldn’t feel cold anymore.
*
“When will the Bocchan come? ….”
David with his hands behind his back watched the villa’s front yard with pensive eyes.
Banquet tables covered with white tablecloths were lined up at regular intervals in the front yard, which was as vast as it was a Pelgaro family’s villa.
The dishes served on it are made by first-class chefs using the finest ingredients. It’s the birthday of the head of the household, and since His Majesty the Emperor, who is the dignity of the empire, is coming, I prepared it with great care.
‘Since the main characters don’t come….’
An hour had passed since the banquet began. Even though the countless people at the banquet are all drunk and burst into laughter, Theorad doesn’t even poke his nose.
Even if you have a lot of work to do, shouldn’t you take a little break on your birthday? Harvey, who sighed deeply in pity, found a woman passing him.
Red eyes with pointy ears. Linea carries a silver tray of pudding with her silver hair shining brightly in the moonlight. Thanks to this, David was frightened and followed.
“Come on, little madam! Why are servants doing what they have to do?”
Looking back at Harvey, Linea innocently blinks at her as if asking why.
“Chief of staff? This is just because I want to eat it.”
“No, so if you ask the servants…….”
“I know where it is, so why do I need to ask for it?”
It’s not wrong if you listen to it, but isn’t there such a thing as saving face? Harvey, who was looking around, snatched the silver tray and whispered carefully.
“How many times have I told you? This means that other users may feel uncomfortable.”
“Discomfort? Why?”
“I don’t know about Mrs. Little, but we humans have rules and systems according to our social status. So…….”
Harvey, who was about to explain slowly, shut his mouth at a sudden thought. There was no way that Linea, who had lived twice as long as she, did not know about the human world.
You got hit David, feeling a sense of rejection, frowned at him.
“Is it fun to make fun of this old man?”
“It’s not without fun.”
As she watches the little giggling Linea, she wants to hit the honey chestnut.
‘Still…….’
It wasn’t bad for Linea to joke around like this without hesitation. As Harvey looks on, Linea suddenly pricks up her ears and looks to either side.
“Came.”
“You mean the head of the household?”
“Yes.”
Did you finally arrive? She looked up at the entrance to the villa with delight, but Theorard didn’t even poke his nose her. There were only a few magic stones that formed the light source floating in the air.
Could it be that I fell for Linea’s prank again? It was at this moment that David, thinking that he really had to be angry this time, turned his head.
“Theorard…… !”
Silly was running towards this place with her skirt gently lifted up so that she could jump. Wanting something, Harvey felt the sound of his horse’s hooves getting closer and turned around.
Then he saw Theorard coming out of the woods on a white horse. Benelia was riding behind it, so the surprise was doubled.
While the startled David gasped, the rapidly approaching white horse stopped at close range.
Hee-in-
On top of the white horse, Theorard breathed heavily and looked down at Linea and Esily.
“Sorry for late. I tried to come as quickly as possible, but it didn’t work out.”
“Is that what you are going to say now?”
Linea grunted and crossed her arms. Esily also stars up at Theorad as if agreeing with Linea’s opinion of her.
“Right. Do you know how long we waited?”
“That is… I’m sorry.”
Theo Rad, overcome by the annoyances of his wives, dismounts from his horse with an awkward smile. Benelia followed suit and approached Theorard’s side.
Naturally, Esily and Linea’s eyes turned to Benelia. Seeley let out a low sigh when she finally understood why Theo Rad was late.
“It’s okay, so go say hello to your father and older brother. No matter how stubborn you were that you wouldn’t eat food if Seo Bang-nim didn’t come…….”
As soon as he finished speaking, Fred, who was sitting at the banquet table, waved his hand vigorously.
─ Brother-in-law! Why are you so late! How long have you waited!
Beside him, Leoberg sat in a solemn posture, but Theorard couldn’t help but laugh because both of them had faces wet with drunkenness.
“Looks like you put something else in your mouth instead of food. Seeing as His Majesty didn’t recognize him when he came, he must have drunk a lot.”
“Ha…”
Eshili’s face turns strangely red. She seemed to be ashamed of her drunken family of hers.
“I’m sorry. Because you waited so long……”
“Okay. I’ll read it well and send it back. Rather, what about Raylin and Roselia?”
“Over there, Bainon and Dremes are playing.”
Bainen and Dremes? Looking in the direction Esily was pointing, she saw Dremeth telling stories about her children. Bainen had a strangely restless face.
─ Do you know how funny I was? If I have to tell you one more thing, I stopped by a brothel to investigate a customer and saw Bainen bastard…….
─ Hey! Are you crazy? Why do you talk about brothels in front of the kids?
─ Why are you so excited? Kids are fun right guys?
Little…… She seemed to be talking about strange things, but she seemed to be fine for the time being, as Baynon was drying them well.
In addition, several people laughing and having fun (especially Roilen and Paras were excitedly chatting with their colleagues) can be seen throughout the banquet hall. Theorard, who was enjoying the quiet atmosphere, asked Esily, Linea, and Venelia for their understanding and walked to the place where the father-in-law was.
David also follows Theorad by his side. The three women, who had been watching Theorad’s back for a while, looked away for their own reasons.
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
A rare scene unfolds where beautiful women in dresses stare at each other without saying anything. In this awkward atmosphere, Essilly was the first to speak.
“Looks like it worked out well.”
Outrageous words. She was, after all, a quick-witted woman. She hesitated for a moment, then Benelia raised her head with an unripe smile.
“Sorry. To be involved in your love.”
“There is no need to be sorry. The choice was made by Theorard.”
“Thank you for saying that.”
Benelia turned her gaze to Linea.
“Will the Grand Master be able to understand me?”
Linea’s shoulders trembled as she was making her grim face.
“Oh, um.”
Clearing her unnatural cough, and clearing her voice her, Linea looked at her her Benelia and gave her a small nod of her head. Linea also had no intention of denying Theorad’s choice of hers.
“Understanding…… I will.”
Benelia, who has been re-accepted by Essili and Linea, breathes a sigh of relief. White snowflakes fell and landed on Benelia’s head her.
Snowflakes then touched Esily’s shoulder and the back of Linea’s hand her and melted away. When she lifted her head and looked at the sky, her pure white eyes her were falling steadily.
“…… It’s the first snow.”
The chill that permeated Essilly’s breath scattered in all directions. As Benelia and Linea nodded their heads involuntarily, a calm voice came from the other side.
─ Countess Esily! What are you doing standing there blankly! Come here!
It was a drunken Fred. Esily gave a small smile and looked back at the two women.
“Shall we go? I think we should give our souls to stop drinking. If that’s the case, if my brother is a nuisance to Theorard, it’s a big deal.”
That’s not wrong. With her nod, Linea and Benelia walked over to the table where Fred was, wishing Esily.
─ Huh? Woe, Your Majesty the Emperor…… ?
As the distance gets closer, a quiet laugh spreads around thanks to Fred, who becomes contemplative.
Benelia laughed involuntarily because it was so funny, Esily asked why she drank so much, and Linea let out a sigh and used her telekinesis to steal Fred’s bottle.
─ Huh? Did you come, Viscount?
— Viscount Theorard!
Aware of the commotion, the banquet hall personnel found Theorard and got up from their seats and moved on. In order to express their gratitude to Theorade, the figures approaching each with a bag of presents are unfolded here and there.
Embarrassed, Theorard drew a line saying that he would not accept excessive gifts, but people just passed on the gifts, saying not to decline.
Harvey, who watched the scene from the side, took out a notebook from his chest and recorded the day’s events. Because the day will come when you will remember today.
While recording, Harvey looked around the banquet hall where laughter never stopped, and he could n’t hide the smile on his lips. A crease forms at the corners of his eyes as he slowly narrows.
‘It’s a nice scenery…’….’
It was the warmest winter in the world, to the point where I didn’t even care about the snow falling from the sky.
