TGW Chapter 21 Part 2

 

“It looks like it’s starting,” Dian said as he looked across at Kuhn.

“I was wondering why the Red King was so quiet. This move is aimed at me, too, because she knows you're one of my people.”

“Of course.”

Despite the first social party being on the verge of falling apart, both men remained calm. It wasn’t because they were optimistic; they simply didn’t care about how the party would turn out. Getting riled up over something as trivial as this would not prepare them for the long, unpredictable battle ahead.

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to host the party as planned.”

“The Red King will be even more provoked. She’ll think you’re trying to challenge her.”

“If I cancel or change the date, the Red King will likely change her date again, too.”

Dian chuckled.

“She would definitely do something like that.”

“Besides, the Red King won’t be satisfied unless she defeats me outright. She needs a decisive victory while I am still opposing her. And if she lets her guard down, even for a moment, that could work to my advantage.”

“That makes sense. How do you think it will turn out?”

“Of course, I’ll lose.”

Dian nodded in agreement. This wasn’t just any matter; it was about social gatherings. While the social scene and political power could not be entirely separated, they didn’t always align perfectly either. Compared to the Red King, the Marquis of Raad’s position in society was poor.

“It doesn’t matter if my estate is empty that day.”

“There will be at least one person, no, two people there. I’ll go with Violette.”

“Well, thank you very much.”

“Oh, and one more. The Silver King might attend your party too, right?”

“……”

Dian looked curiously at Kuhn, who didn’t respond. Judging by the atmosphere between them when he saw them together, the two seemed like lovers. He was certain things were going very well between them.

“Is the Silver King not coming?”

“…I don’t know. That’s for the Silver King to decide.”

“You haven’t asked her?”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

Kuhn gave a wry smile.

“The Red King is her mother, after all.”

Dian sighed in exasperation.

“There you go again. You’re so timid when it comes to certain things. Hey, you can’t be on the same side as the Red King anyway. If you want to win the Silver King’s favor, you’ll have to turn against the Red King. You’ll become an enemy worse than any other to the Red King.”

Kuhn simply shrugged his shoulders.

“Not yet.”

“Why are you acting like a rookie? Need some love advice?”

“Take care of your own problems first.”

“I’m handling mine just fine.”

Kuhn looked at the boasting Dian and gave a small laugh. Then, with a more serious expression, he said, “As soon as people realize that you see Lady Grossi as more than a strategic partner, she will become your weakness. Are you prepared for that?”

Dian nodded with a stern expression.

---

Kuhn left the Iron Palace and headed to the Royal Residence. Palace workers, especially women, who passed by him, always turned around for a second look.

Two ladies, who were leaving the royal library at Royal Residence, spotted the marquis from a distance.

“It’s the Marquis of Raad. He must be having a hard time these days because of the party date,” said Emily, the Duke of Schultz’s daughter. Next to Emily stood Fatima, a beautiful woman with an exotic appearance.

The two had kept in touch since meeting at the Iron King’s birthday party. Emily had access to the library, so they often went together and explored the market afterward. Before long, they had become close friends.

‘Lord Kuhn…’

Fatima’s eyes shimmered with a trace of sadness as she looked at the marquis. When she first heard the rumor that the marquis sent flowers to the Silver Palace daily, she was deeply shocked and fell into despair.

The Silver King had returned to being a free, unmarried lady after her engagement was broken. The marquis was also unmarried. If a single man and woman were fond of each other, it was a matter no one else could interfere with.

All of a sudden, Fatima lost all motivation. She shut herself away for a while, lost her appetite, couldn’t sleep well, and her face lost its vitality.

Countess Merze was deeply concerned.

---

“It must be homesickness.”

---

Fatima’s excuse was plausible. Countess Merze took pity on Fatima and cared for her more attentively than ever, taking her to every possible gathering. While attending various social gatherings, Fatima found a glimmer of hope.

Prominent figures in society who had some insight all agreed:

---

“The Marquis of Raad is cleverly using the Silver King.”

---

The only ones who believed the marquis would develop a deep relationship with the Silver King were the ladies who thrived on gossip. The idea that the marquis and the Silver King would fall in love despite the realistic obstacles between them? It didn’t seem plausible when thinking about the cold nature of the Silver King.

Fatima kept a close eye on the situation. The marquis’s floral gifts continued, but the Silver King never responded. Eventually, the stream of gifts had stopped not too long ago.

‘Lord Kuhn must have stopped because he got everything he needed.’

Fatima turned to Emily and said, “Lady Schultz, do you mind if I leave first? I’d like to….”

Fatima shyly pointed in the direction of the Marquis of Raad.

Emily smiled knowingly. Fatima had hinted at her affection for the marquis several times.

“Alright. I’ll be going then. See you later.”

The two ladies waved goodbye. As soon as Emily turned away, Fatima hurried towards the Marquis of Rad. In the short span of time, he had already moved quite a distance.

“Marquis!”

Kuhn stopped and turned around. Fatima, who had run up to him, caught her breath and smiled happily.

“Princess.”

“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”

“Yes. Have you been well, Your Highness?”

Kuhn glanced at the book in Fatima’s hand and commented, “It seems you’ve been to the library.”

“Yes, the royal library has such a great selection of books. I’ve been enjoying reading different kinds lately.”

“I’m glad to hear that you’re doing well.”

“There’s something I want to tell you, my lord.”

Fatima’s eyes shone with determination.

“Your Highness, perhaps later…”

Kuhn tried to cut her off, sensing that an unusual conversation was about to unfold. This was not the right place. There were people nearby, lurking, observing the two of them.

But Fatima was quicker. Before the courage she had mustered could fade away, she confessed her feelings.

“Lord Kuhn, I admire you with a woman’s heart.”

The man who received the confession showed no expression. The sparkle in Fatima’s eyes dimmed, but she did not let herself be disappointed by a hasty assumption.

‘Lord Kuhn is not one to easily show his emotions.’

During her time in the desert, she had seen various sides of the marquis.

At first, she thought he was a swindler. She believed he moved between tribes, deceiving the naive desert people with his smooth words. It didn’t take long before her father and brother treated him like a close relative. She wondered how he had managed to win them over so easily.

That’s why she was so shocked when she discovered he was a warrior who could easily take on multiple desert fighters.

As a woman born and raised in the desert, Fatima had a fixed notion of what a “warrior” was. A warrior was a manly, serious, and upright figure. A warrior could never be a smooth-talking con artist. This was the turning point that made Fatima see Kuhn in a new light.

He was also an excellent commander. He led the field with a cool-headed judgment and was passionate when asserting his views. He knew how to gain the trust of his subordinates. His rewards and punishments were clear, and he remembered even the smallest details.

His negotiating skills were top-notch. Moving between desert tribes, he mediated differences and quelled disputes. No one denied his enormous contributions to the establishment of the coalition.

After he saved her life during an attack by desert bandits, Fatima found herself watching him more frequently. At some point, she realized she was always looking at him. Then she discovered something.

His expression changed when he talked to Uss, his close aide, who was always by his side. He smiled more freely and showed a wider range of emotions. That was his true self. His usual smile was just a formal courtesy. She envied Uss. Around that time, Fatima became fully aware of her feelings.

“Your Highness, would you walk with me for a moment?”

“Yes.”

Fatima quietly walked alongside Kuhn. The two made a noticeable pair, attracting attention from the people around them.

Kuhn steered towards a spot where there was no cover for anyone to hide. Naturally, this led them further away from Henggwan. The farther they walked, the fewer people there were.

‘Were they following the princess?’

Kuhn wondered to which faction the eavesdropper might belong. They hadn’t been trailing him. If they had been, he would have noticed much sooner. There were no signs of them following now. Perhaps they were more interested in Fatima than in surveillance.

Kuhn stopped at a suitable place. Just ahead was a garden. The area was open.

“Your Highness.”

Kuhn had intended to ignore the matter unless Fatima said something. However, he couldn’t completely disregard it. He had a moral responsibility to take care of the princess of the coalition. And in the desert, duty outweighed the law.

When he checked on Fatima, he would send a subordinate. If she invited him to Count Merze’s estate, he would politely decline with an excuse. He had hoped that maintaining a distance would naturally resolve the situation. That was a naive thought.

“I am always grateful for your kindness.”

“I’m not a child who cannot distinguish between kindness and affection.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Please don’t think of my words as something said on a whim.”

“I don’t take your feelings lightly. That’s why I don’t want to confuse you with vague answers. I’m sorry, but I cannot accept your feelings.”

Fatima’s complexion turned pale. She hadn’t expected an immediate answer, but she also hadn’t expected a direct rejection.

“I… I was too hasty. To someone who still has so much to do…”

Fatima forced a smile. Her throat felt dry. She swallowed repeatedly to avoid bursting into tears.

“Lord Kuhn, my feelings won’t change. I can wait forever…”

“No, please don’t.”

Fatima looked at the man, who was cutting her off mercilessly, with a resentful gaze.

“Your Highness, I have already found my life’s companion. To me, there is only that person, so I don’t want you to waste your time on me.”

Fatima consciously put strength into her legs. Otherwise, she felt like she might collapse.

“Who… who is it?”

“……”

“Does she feel the same way about you?”

“……”

“Please tell me!”

“I have no reason to explain that to you, Your Highness.”

“I feel like you’re lying just to reject me.”

“Using a non-existent person as an excuse for rejection would be an insult to you. I have no intention of insulting you.”

She would have preferred to be insulted. Fatima’s heart didn’t cool; it burned hotter with frustration. She hated the idea of losing him to another woman.

“If you marry me, you could become a king.”

If her feminine charm couldn’t seduce him, then she would appeal to his human desires.

“I am a woman of the desert. By our customs, it’s acceptable for a husband to have multiple wives. You may share your heart with another woman if you wish, as long as you take me as your first wife. My father trusts you. My brother would never stand a chance against you.”

Kuhn, who had been watching Fatima, sighed. Misinterpreting his sigh as a sign of inner conflict, Fatima quickly added, “Think it over slowly. Once you make up your mind…”

“I’ll answer you right away. You’ve misunderstood me, Your Highness.”

“What…?”

“I’ve never wanted to become a king of the desert.”

“Are you saying you’re satisfied with your current position?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m satisfied, but there’s no reason for me to explain myself to you. Also, your proposal is quite problematic. Body separate from the heart? My late father would turn in his grave. I am not a desert man. Our family does not have a tradition of having multiple wives.”

As Fatima stared blankly at Kuhn, her head gradually dropped. She felt so wretched that she wished she could disappear.

‘Who could it be?’

The only woman that came to mind was the Silver King.

‘There’s no way it could be between the two of them.’

In her despair, a sliver of hope remained.

“I understand your words, Lord Kuhn,” Fatima said with a sorrowful expression. “But don’t force me to move on right away. It’s my heart, but I can’t control it.”

“A good person will come into your life soon, Your Highness.”

His attempt at consolation only hurt Fatima more.

“My mind is so unsettled that I’m not sure I can find my way back in this vast palace. Will you please escort me back to the count’s estate, my lord? If you have any compassion for me, you would at least do that, wouldn’t you?”

“...Yes. I understand.”

The marquis began walking briskly. After a few steps, he turned back, looking at Fatima as if urging her to follow.

Fatima clenched her teeth and took a step. Her knees ached from standing so stiffly.

‘I didn’t cry.’

That was the only thing that comforted her.

---

The first person to hear about Fatima’s confession was Patricia. One of Patricia’s maids had hidden and eavesdropped on the conversation between the Marquis and Princess Fatima.

Patricia knew Fatima had been frequenting the royal library, so she assigned someone to keep an eye on her. The aim was to understand Fatima’s habits—who she befriended, and what her interests were—so she could engage in smooth conversation when they eventually met.

She had considered calling for Fatima one day for a meeting. Hearing the maid’s report, however, she lost interest.

‘How ridiculous. They’re playing at romance.’

Doug had once hinted to her that the Marquis of Raad might become the son-in-law of the coalition king. Doug’s speculation had been plausible. If the Marquis of Raad, who wasn’t from the desert, could represent the coalition in diplomatic matters, that would make sense.

But the relationship Patricia had in mind was purely a political alliance. A love confession? How absurd.

‘There’s no point in meeting her now.’

Patricia decided against summoning Fatima. If it had been the Marquis who had confessed, things might have been different.

‘How pathetic.’

Patricia clicked her tongue. The coalition princess was a girl completely infatuated with a man. She wasn’t someone with whom Patricia could have a deep conversation.

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