TGW Chapter 13 Part 2

Patricia informed her.

"Silver King, the engagement date has been set. It's early next month, in about fifteen days."

Sienna replied without showing any sign of surprise.

"Yes, I understand."

From the moment Patricia had called her to have tea, she had a rough idea of what it was about.

"Starting tomorrow, have tea and converse with Count Luke's son once a day until the engagement. It's not good to show too much indifference to your fiancé in front of others. Even trivial matters can lead to gossip."

This time, Sienna frowned without replying.

"Silver King, you should at least make time for this."

"Yes."

Sienna let out a small sigh. It was bothersome, but she had no choice.

‘Since I’m going to get engaged anyway, there’s no need to clash with Mother. It will only hurt those around me.’

She had gained one thing but lost another. By pressuring her mother to save the Countess of Poph, she inadvertently reveals to her mother that the Countess is her weakness.

The two of them drank tea peacefully as if nothing had happened. Outwardly, there seemed to be no rift between mother and daughter.

Sienna returned to the palace and told Beth about her engagement as if it were someone else's matter.

"From tomorrow until the day before the engagement, Count Rouk's son will visit every afternoon. Just letting you know."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will inform the maids. ...Your Highness, it seems you are not pleased about the engagement."

"What does my opinion matter?"

"That's not true. It is about Your Highness forming a family with someone. Your wishes are the most important."

Sienna propped her chin on her desk.

"Wasn't yours a political marriage too?"

"It was, but we had enough time to get to know each other before the marriage. I was certain I could spend my life with my husband. But Your Highness…"

"Of course, I have no such certainty. Just between you and me, I honestly don’t like him."

Every time she saw Joseph's brazen face, she felt disgusted.

Beth was quite surprised by Sienna's direct expression.

"But is a marriage without feelings necessarily a bad thing? Do those who marry for love maintain that love all their lives?"

"......"

"Feelings are not eternal."

Beth looked at the princess with pity. The princess was only twenty years old. At her age, she could still dream of eternal love. It was a privilege that only someone of her age could enjoy.

"If there are no feelings from the start, there won't be any pain when things change later."

Kun's warm gaze and the cold expression he had shown in her dream alternated in her mind, making her chest ache inside.

Beth grew increasingly puzzled. The more she listened, the more it seemed the issue wasn’t just a cynical view of marriage.

‘It seems quite the opposite.’

Beth had long suspected, and now she was almost certain. The princess clearly had a man. After a brief moment of surprise, Beth felt anger towards this unknown man.

'What kind of scoundrel…'

She was furious at the man causing the princess such heartache.

 

***

 

The preparations for the engagement ceremony were progressing smoothly. With Patricia actively taking charge and overseeing everything, the preparations for the lavish engagement party were perfectly completed in just two weeks.

However, Sienna's engagement ceremony did not become as much of a talking point as Patricia had hoped.

On the surface, it appeared to be a successful party. Since many nobles and lords had come to the capital for the Central Council meeting, the party was a grand affair. Yet, the topic of conversation among the small groups was not today's engagement ceremony.

News that the desert had been unified had spread through the social circles. Everyone was curious about the envoy from the Ferro Confederation, which was reportedly on its way to the imperial palace.

"They say they’re on their way to the capital, coming by regular ship."

"Do you think they fainted from shock the first time they boarded a boat, having lived in sand dunes their whole lives?"

"Who knows if those barbarians even know any etiquette?"

"I hear they’re incredibly strong. They say they can tear apart a beast with their bare hands."

People spread baseless rumors. Though there was a sense of wariness due to the unfamiliarity, it was not outright hostility. The thought that even the fierce desert people were coming to bow their heads before the Emperor made them proud as imperial citizens.

"They make a fine pair."

At someone's comment, all heads turned.

The newly engaged couple was walking around the banquet hall, greeting people. They looked good together, being a handsome man and a beautiful woman.

However, their expressions were contrasting. Joseph looked like he had the world in his hands, grinning broadly. Meanwhile, the princess beside him wore her usual impassive expression, not even attempting a smile.

Previously, people thought that was to be expected. After all, the Emperor was the same way. The princess, like the Emperor, was a divine being who did not easily show emotions.

But the arrival of Dian had changed that perception. The Iron King was also of divine descent, but he was different. He mingled warmly with people, laughed easily, and talked openly.

Nobles, who both feared and longed to touch the untouchable royalty, found Dian’s approach refreshing, which led to their fondness for him. Some criticized the Iron King for being too frivolous, but they were in the minority.

"By the way, has everyone heard about it?"

"What are you all talking about so amusingly?"

Someone suddenly interrupted the conversation. Upon recognizing the newcomer, the group quickly straightened up. Joseph and the Silver King had approached unnoticed.

The nobles showed respect towards the Silver King. Joseph, the fiancé, was essentially a nobody. Even after the wedding, he would only gain royal status if the Silver King became the Emperor. As a fiancé, he was merely addressed as "Sir."

Joseph, the grandson of Duke Rouk and fiancé of the Silver King hadn’t achieved any of this by his own abilities. Yet, he basked in the nobles’ respect as if it was all rightfully his.

"Why did the conversation stop? Is it something we shouldn't hear?"

A lady found herself in an awkward situation and subtly glanced at the Silver King. It was a remark that could be easily misunderstood. A few people nearby twisted their lips, mocking Joseph for trying to assert his authority already.

"No, Lord Rouk. We were just chatting about some rumors for fun…"

"What kind of rumors?"

The lady skilfully hid her displeasure.

"About the Raad Trading Company."

"Ah, I’ve heard about that too."

A middle-aged man chimed in.

"I’ve heard bits and pieces as well. That rumor is everywhere these days."

Another person joined in, allowing the lady to step back with a sigh of relief.

"Rumors about the Raad Trading Company? There are always a lot of rumors about them."

Joseph asked. He wasn’t usually out of the loop with gossip, but he had been too preoccupied with engagement preparations lately to keep up.

"It’s about the owner of the company."

"This time, the rumors are quite specific."

"There’s consistent information going around, making it seem credible."

"People used to say the head was an old man or a woman, but now they’re saying it’s a young man."

"I also heard he’s a noble from the continent. Apparently, he’s been granted numerous titles by various countries across the continent due to his family’s long-standing involvement in commerce."

As the hottest topic in social circles lately, words burst out from all directions like a dam breaking.

‘Raad Trading Company.’

Sienna listened with a seemingly indifferent expression, but she was keenly interested in the chatter. The Raad Trading Company, having a tremendous impact on the empire's commerce, was of great interest to her.

The Raad Trading Company had established itself in the empire long ago, but its identity remained vague. It was unsettling to let a mysterious group settle in the heart of the empire, the capital, but their significant contributions to commercial development couldn’t be ignored.

Moreover, the Raad Trading Company subtly set a standard for fair trade practices. They never exploited the people for excessive profits and paid their taxes diligently. They also refrained from meddling in politics. There was nothing to criticize them for.

‘The owner is a young man. That makes sense. The company has a long history, so he wouldn’t be the founder, but an heir.’

Sienna found listening to the rumors much more engaging than hearing the same monotonous congratulations. However, Joseph was unhappy with the current atmosphere. He was supposed to be the star of the day, but everyone was engrossed in other stories.

"They say the Raad Trading Company's private military force is more famous on the continent than the company itself."

"Private military force? Are you saying the company raises soldiers?"

"Unlike the empire, the continent has lawless zones."

"Indeed. It’s chaotic."

"They even have a name for this private force. What was it? Kali…"

"Ahem."

Joseph tried to draw attention back to himself. But the word buried under his forced cough penetrated Sienna’s ears clearly.

"What did you just say?"

As the Silver King spoke, the chatter immediately stopped.

"That private military force run by the Raad Trading Company. Someone mentioned its name?"

A young man replied.

"Yes, Your Highness. I mentioned it, but I only heard it in passing, so I’m not sure."

"Kaligo?"

The man exclaimed, "Oh!" and nodded.

"Yes, now that you mention it, that was definitely the name."

"The Kaligo Mercenary Corps?"

"I'm not sure if it’s a mercenary group."

"The Raad Trading Company operates a private military force only on the continent. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Your Highness."

"It sounds like a lot of information about the Raad Trading Company is circulating. Has anyone heard the name of the head of the Raad Trading Company?"

Sienna looked around at the gathered people. Everyone glanced at each other, but no one spoke up.

"Your Highness, I know."

Someone spoke up from within the crowd. The group naturally made way for a middle-aged man to step forward.

"Count Merze. They say there’s nothing you don’t know in the social circles, and you are certainly quick with the rumors."

"I simply enjoy listening to other people’s stories, Your Highness."

"Have you met the head of the Raad Trading Company?"

"I haven’t met him."

"What is his name?"

"It’s an unusual name for the empire. His name is Kuhn Raad."

Sienna clenched her hand so tightly that her fingernails dug into her palm. She was desperately trying not to show any reaction on her face.

Claiming fatigue, Sienna hurriedly returned to the palace. She went straight to her office and opened a drawer under her desk. Inside, there were two envelopes. The top one contained information about the Rebels that Evita had delivered through a messenger a few days ago.

Sienna placed the bottom envelope on her desk. It was information about the Kaligo Mercenary Corps that Evita had given her several months ago.

She took a deep breath and pulled out the documents. Suppressing her anxiety, she calmly read from the first page. It was more disappointing than expected. The content was not much different from what she had previously received from Gilbert.

However, towards the last page, Sienna found a short but intense sentence.

---

The black sword of the Kaligo Mercenary Corps leader is notorious for drawing blood every time it is unsheathed. It is said that no one who has seen the blade of the commander’s sword has ever returned alive.

---

Her blood ran cold. She recalled their first meeting.

---

“It is a sword that must draw blood once it is drawn.”

---

At the time, she thought it was a ridiculous boast.

“Kaligo… Raad Trading Company…”

The rumor that he held multiple titles from various countries on the continent was probably not an exaggeration.

‘I knew he wasn’t an ordinary person.’

Sienna sat in her chair, burying her face in her hands.

‘The Sky King wasn’t a new power created as a shield by the Iron King.’

Kuhn Raad. He was the kingmaker.

‘He made the Iron King the Emperor.’

The title of Sky King had been his reward. Everything fell into place. The Sky King had not lost his power even after the Emperor’s death because it was not a position he had gained solely with the Iron King’s backing.

Sienna remained seated at her desk until the sunset and her office grew dark. She couldn’t bring herself to laugh or cry.

<PREVIOUS                                                                                                                                   NEXT>

 

Previous

Next