TMBIPYMEN Chapter 34

Ode suddenly looked at Baso and burst into laughter. Chamberlain Baso stayed by his side every day without leaving him for even a single minute, yet he felt as if he were seeing Ode laugh like this for the first time in nearly a hundred years.

"Coming through the front entrance means he must have something important to discuss. Don't you think?"

Baso lowered his chin slightly and smiled. It was all right... Ode's condition was very good today. To Baso, that fact mattered more than anything.

"You may go, Baso."

The chamberlain bowed politely. After bowing the same way to Yustar, who entered next, he disappeared beyond the heavy door that closed soundlessly.

"What brings you here?"

Ode said. Seeing him sitting in bed bathed in sunlight, a smile spread across Yustar's entire face.

Though the skin under the light was pale as a corpse, it almost made him think the ridiculous thought that if Ode just basked in sunlight for another day or two, his illness might be miraculously cured.

"It's been a long time since you came through that door."

Affection rose on Ode's face as he looked at his smiling younger brother. Yustar smiled faintly and glanced back once at the door he'd entered through, then pulled over a chair and sat beside him.

"I'm glad you seem comfortable today, Brother."

"My head aches less without having to hear Sui's clicking."

As Ode said this, his expression momentarily looked like that of a very young boy. This was so despite the sickly color and wrinkles filling his face.

Sui was Marchioness Hymierd's name. Hearing Ode's words, Yustar gave a short laugh.

"Don't be too hard on her. She thinks about the kingdom's welfare more than anyone."

"Indeed. That's why she's desperately trying to drive me out and seat you in this place, isn't it? When I first took the throne, she was someone who could even pretend to die if ordered."

Yustar's gaze dropped slightly. The bright smile hanging on his lips also faded. But Ode didn't seem to care much about his brother's change, simply watching him in silence for a moment.

Yustar exhaled slowly and looked at Ode with a faint smile on his face.

"You know better than anyone that I have no such intentions."

Hearing his words, Ode burst into laughter in a low voice. Though metallic sounds were mixed in, he didn't cough.

"Yes, that's right. No one knows you as well as I do. That much is certain fact."

Ode clenched and opened his hand once more. As if even that much movement was too much, his knuckles throbbed and his wrist trembled.

His eyes sank with pain as he looked at his own fingers, thin as twigs. Yustar noticed this too but pretended not to see for his sake.

Ode changed the subject.

"What are you doing about that young witch?"

Remembering Laila's anxious face, Yustar answered in a calm voice.

"She won't come out of her room. She's very anxious about going outside."

Ode seemed displeased with his answer—or perhaps it was Laila who displeased him—and made an irritated sound before twisting up one corner of his lips.

"She has less courage than she appears. When she held her head high before me and said she wasn't a thing, she seemed quite bold."

Yustar said,

"It's an unfamiliar environment, so she can't help it. She's someone who lived her whole life self-sufficiently in a small house in a small village."

"But didn't the land where she'd taken root burn down? If she's found new soil, she needs to spread roots as quickly as possible. Even if it's a painful thing."

Ode snapped in a low voice and glared out the window with bloodshot eyes.

"Otherwise, what's left but to wither and die?"

Yustar thought of Laila once more. He knew well that she wasn't a weak person. But he didn't bother arguing against Ode's words.

The land where Laila had taken root. No... the place she'd believed she'd taken root had now turned to ash and vanished.

Ridgecarse wasn't a place fit to embrace her. Laila was simply a seed scattered there by chance, unable to grow lushly while enjoying the earth's abundant blessings.

If she'd stayed in Ridgecarse, she would have died soon. On barren ground with no sunlight, no water, not even nutrients.

Yustar didn't want to presume to say he'd saved her. He couldn't speak so arrogantly. The life Laila had built for herself belonged to her alone.

But now, one way or another, his life and Laila's life would become entangled, and some parts already had.

Then he had no choice but to pull. He had to pull her back as she kept trying to distance herself, help her take root firmly beside him. Otherwise both he and Laila would waver and wither.

Ode asked:

"So, what did you come to say?"

"It's about the wedding."

He'd expected as much. That's why Ode deliberately shook his head indifferently.

"If it's that matter, you don't need to worry about it, Yustar. The palace officials will handle it."

"That's exactly why I came. I know the officials are busy with preparations, but... Brother, please allow the wedding to be omitted."

Ode turned sharp eyes on Yustar. It was a fierce look as if he might slap his cheek at any moment, but nothing of the sort happened. Instead, he lowered his voice as if angry and asked:

"Why?"

Yustar pondered his answer in silence. But whatever he said wouldn't be appropriate. Conversely, whatever he said could become appropriate. It was his own marriage, after all.

As king before being his brother, Ode had the right to command Yustar in many things.

But he wouldn't try to reign thoroughly as king even in private matters like marriage. Because of that trust, Yustar had come despite knowing it would displease him, and had used the address "Brother" instead of the honorific "Your Majesty."

"I asked you why, Yustar."

"Brother, this marriage is anyway..."

Yustar's words trailed off. He soon lowered his head and shook it gently. His long hair swayed slightly as if caught by wind.

"No, other reasons don't matter. I simply want to lessen her burden. That's all."

Then Ode stared intently at his brother's face with interest. Did Yustar notice the meaning in that gaze?

No, he wouldn't. Ode thought. He'd never seen Yustar care for someone this meticulously.

He knew well that his nature was kind, but he'd never—he swore—seen him prepared to displease his one and only brother for the sake of one person.

Sui Hymierd devoted herself so completely to Yustar, yet he'd never given Hymierd any hope. Whatever kind of hope it might be...

Ode said,

"That young witch seems to please you greatly."

Yustar smiled ambiguously, as if he didn't know how to answer.

"She's a good person. You'll come to know that someday, Brother. And she... Laila will also come to know what kind of person you are someday."

"How was it for you? When I told you to marry that witch, did you resent me even a little?"

Resent him. For a moment Yustar almost laughed at whether that made any sense. He couldn't resent Ode for anything.

Even if he'd commanded him to marry someone other than Laila, he would have gladly accepted it.

"I didn't. I trust you know better than anyone that I didn't. But it was unexpected."

Ode nodded. His gaze had already withdrawn from Yustar.

"Yes, it would have been. But just as then, I won't allow you to ask the reason. You'll know someday. When the time comes."

"I understand."

Ode moved his hand with difficulty, hunched as if frozen by cold, and placed it on his knee. Pain struck as if his drying bones were colliding with each other.

"If you want to give that to the young witch, fine. We'll omit the wedding. However, since she's newly become a member of the royal family, she must receive greetings. That at least must be done."

Receiving greetings meant meeting the most important and prestigious high officials and nobles in the Sierrow Kingdom. As Ode said, it was something anyone newly joining the royal family had to go through, and it was also very important.

"I understand, Brother."

"And one more thing."

Ode turned to Yustar.

"Omitting the wedding must be my command. It must be my whim. Do you understand what I mean?"

For a moment, Yustar narrowed his brow like someone displeased and wore a bitter smile.

"I understand that as well."

Ode's body tilted slightly. Just as Yustar hastily tried to raise his arm, thinking he might collapse, Ode pressed his trembling hand against the sheet with a thump and opened his eyes wide.

His pale, wan face had drawn close enough to touch Yustar's chin.

"You must be driven further, Yustar. For your own sake. And for mine. Do you understand?"

Ode said. It was a voice heavily mixed with breathing, like a snake hissing. Yustar smoothed his furrowed brow, then nodded while wearing a faint smile whose meaning couldn't be read.

"I understand."

When he answered, Ode finally pulled back his body. Yustar waited quietly until the slow movement stopped, then said:

"Then I'll take my leave now. Rest."

Ode nodded.

Leaving the king's private chambers, Yustar passed into the corridor as if trading places with Baso, who'd been waiting outside. The late afternoon sunlight was slowly fading; he could see the columns' shadows stretching long.

Come to think of it, I promised to have dinner with Laila. He thought. He'd almost forgotten in that short time.

It was always this way after meeting Ode, after conversing with him. His head grew clouded with complicated thoughts, despair, and sorrowful affection.

Yustar decided it would be best to go to Laila's room before it got too late. But before he could even take ten steps, a member wearing Tentinella's uniform came running while calling out to him.

"Lord Yustar! I have something to tell you."