Chapter: 772
The guilt and self-loathing directed toward Rizie made my mind and body snap into a state of alertness.
As a husband on our honeymoon, I had utterly failed to fulfill my duties. Frustrated, my wife finally brought up the couple’s rights and obligations.
I can only imagine how anxious and embarrassed she felt during the process. This was a calamity where even if I had ten mouths, I’d still be speechless. If Rizie weren’t such a generous person, it wouldn’t be surprising if she had kicked me in the gut a thousand times.
‘What a foolish slave I’ve become.’
The once thick-headed servant of the Emperor had devolved into a thick-headed husband. What a horrible fate.
With a heavy heart, I embraced Rizie, whispering twice or three times more affection than usual, filled with remorse.
Of course, doubling infinity is still infinite, and tripling it is also infinite, but my feelings transcended even that. One can’t limit human potential with mere math.
However, as always, my sincerity seems a bit excessive for the poor bodies of my wives.
“…Are you okay?”
I gently brushed Rizie’s hair, but there was no response. She seemed to have fainted.
‘I overdid it.’
I smiled bitterly, feeling the sunlight filtering through the curtains. Usually, when I invest myself so genuinely, I’d feel drained for a few days, but this honeymoon wouldn’t allow for that. After all, there are two writers eagerly awaiting our visit.
Though I had some time to spare, it didn’t mean I could ditch out for two or three days. If we just remained holed up in the resort, Rodesa and Alren would probably be dying of impatience.
So, I condensed the love we were supposed to spread over several days into one night, and then thought,
‘I really shouldn’t have done that.’
I had no idea about it.
Or perhaps I did realize it, but my fiery heart was overpowering my rational mind. How could I backtrack when Rizie initiated it first? That same burning passion consumed everything.
Because of this, Rizie alone had to suffer. Not only did I embarrass her, but I also put her through physical torment.
‘Thank goodness Rizie is a mage.’
Unconsciously, I sighed in relief. Not only is Rizie a mage, but she’s also a student of Trixie, which was quite fortunate.
If Rizie’s body hadn’t been enhanced by magic, I could only shudder at the thought of what might have happened.
“Let’s rest well today. Alren and Rodesa will probably understand if we take a day off.”
After softly whispering to the still-unconscious Rizie, I picked up the communication device placed on the nightstand.
Sorry, but I’ll just say I can’t make it today. Forcing my way there now would only tire Rizie out more.
I can’t bear to let her suffer for something we enjoy.
*
A message from the Count came saying he wouldn’t visit today.
I was grateful for such kindness. The couple on their honeymoon is about to share precious moments with unfamiliar faces, dishing out secrets that are hard to come by. Honestly, both Rodesa and I considered ourselves lucky with what we had heard so far, so we wouldn’t even have the right to complain if we returned home today. Regardless, the Count informed us of his schedule for our convenience.
Moreover, unlike Rodesa, I got to receive organized documentation from the Empire as well. While I couldn’t elaborate much on events after the war, stories from the time the Count was in service could surely be crafted beautifully.
“What? It’s not just that Lady can’t come, but the Count can’t either?”
“Aren’t couples one? If the lady can’t come, neither can the Count.”
Nodding calmly at Rodesa, who had already received the message, I went deep into thought.
If a newlywed couple suddenly halts all external activities, the reason would be obvious. It’s something everyone knows but can’t just blurt out.
“Well, if you two are resting, then today we can just spend our time together.”
“Sounds good. We had a lot to talk about anyway, so this works out.”
As those words left her mouth, Rodesa pulled out a densely packed notebook filled with her awful handwriting.
“Every time I see it, I can’t help but admire your handwriting.”
“I have to write quickly. It’s more like rapid writing, and it’s odd that I still maintain somewhat consistent handwriting.”
“In my day, everyone wrote like this─”
“Now, now. This section is where the Count and Lady had their first meeting.”
A sigh escaped me as Rodesa naturally interrupted my words.
How much can one’s respect and consideration for their elders drop? What’s going to happen to the once-glorious and beautiful Balkros literary scene?
‘How can this silly girl become the next great writer?’
The future of the Balkros literary world—can it really be okay like this?
“By the way, I heard a strange story from the lady.”
“What’s that?”
“The story about the Count having a first love. It isn’t strange for someone to have a first love, right? Nobles are people too, and they might fall in love.”
“Y-Yeah.”
I hesitated to respond since I knew who she meant.
“But the lady said the Count lost a precious person. I assume that first love must be the one who has passed away, right?”
I pondered that statement for a moment. The Count had directly told me about the death of his first love, while the lady’s mention seemed indirect.
The reason is easily guessed. Regardless of who she is, discussing the Count’s first love would be a sensitive subject. Only the individual can share about their first love.
‘It should be fine to say it, right?’
However, the Count had already told me about his first love’s death. There’s no indication that it should remain a secret, so it’s fair game for the novel. If it’s going to be included in the book, it would eventually become common knowledge.
In that case, I might as well share the information to facilitate a smoother and more complete narrative. I wouldn’t mind confirming Rodesa’s suspicions.
“True. The Count lost his first love during the great hunting war.”
“How sad. The lady lost her sister to illness, and the Count lost his first love in war… it’s a meeting of people with wounds.”
“Absolutely. Wounds that can never be erased.”
I handed the paper I had lightly tucked away to Rodesa, whose voice was tinged with sympathy.
“So, could you help me a bit with the Count’s first love story? I cannot evoke this yearning on my own.”
“I can’t do that! I have too much content to write as well.”
“Think of this old man’s last request. I want to leave the Count’s biography as my final project. Even if it’s not my strength, I don’t want to leave anything inadequate.”
Having said that, I stared straight into Rodesa’s eyes.
“I’ve done a lot for you too. Remember when your manuscript caught fire, and you were crying because the contest deadline was approaching?”
“Uh, when did that happen?!”
“How about when you were going to hold an exhibition at the Saleria Pavilion, and the old-timers were frothing at the mouth opposing you? I persuaded them one by one…”
Just as I finished my sentence, Rodesa snatched the paper from my hand.
Of course, I knew Rodesa wouldn’t forget her debts. She’s not the type to swallow sweet things and spit out bitter ones.
“…This is the last time.”
“Well, if it’s not this time, you won’t ever pick up a pen. You’ll only come asking me for favors.”
“Why can’t you just stop talking?”
Seeing Rodesa grumble like this made me chuckle.
Even if she complains now, it’s clear she’ll turn out like me as she gets older. The only thing that accumulates through long years in this field is sharper tongues and more agile hands.
“Hmm?”
Rodesa’s eyes widened as she read through the paper.
“What? The Count’s first love was a commoner? Is this real?!”
“Whoa, he’s now the Count of Livnoman.”
“But back then, he was still a commoner!”
Somewhere along, Rodesa’s eyes began to sparkle.
An epic love that transcends social status. With a tragic ending, it seemed she was utterly captivated.
*
After taking a day off for Rizie’s health, I diligently attended Alren and Rodesa’s estate day by day.
While it might’ve seemed tiresome, sharing different stories each day kept it from being boring—rather, I found it quite exciting. Was I always this chatty?
Or maybe it was the passionate and intense reactions from the two writers that fueled my enthusiasm. They were not just good writers but also good listeners.
“We’ll be heading home in two days. I really enjoyed our conversations during this time.”
“That’s a pity. I knew there would come a day, but thinking about separating from you makes me tear up.”
“How lovely to hear you’re so attached to the great writer.”
Seeing Alren genuinely sad made me smile slightly.
To be honest, I felt the same way. Since Rizie admired great writers, I took an immediate liking to Alren. From the start, I was fond of him, especially when he showed such enthusiasm for turning my experiences into a novel. Whatever I said, he listened intently, making it impossible not to like him.
If I could, I’d love to take him back to the Empire. But he now firmly believes in his identity as a Balkros, so that’s not feasible.
“Tomorrow, I plan to enjoy one last sightseeing tour with Rizie. So, let me give you a small gift as today serves as the last day.”
“A gift? You’ve already given us so much.”
“Well, think of it as advice for your writing. It’s not wrong, is it?”
With that said, I stood up. It was a gift that wouldn’t be suitable to take out indoors.
“Shall we step outside for a bit?”
“Oh, yes.”
Watching Alren follow me without hesitation, I fiddled with the sword I had purchased yesterday.
Among the swords available for purchase, it was the finest one, and I believed it would serve its purpose perfectly.
When discussing the great hunting war and the northern conquest, there’s an essential element that cannot be overlooked.
The nomads racing across the plains? The imperial army fighting bravely against them? The monsters slaughtering each other on both sides?
All are important, but there’s an even more striking element.
“This, this, THIS is…”
“This is called ‘Myeolse,’ also known as ‘Heaven’s Cut.’”
That is indeed Myeolse, or Heaven’s Cut.
Kaagan’s trademark and the symbol of the great hunting war.
“The calamity was able to use this Myeolse repeatedly to lower the morale of the imperial forces. However, many people, including myself, managed to mimic Myeolse clumsily during the imperial campaign.”
“Are there really multiple people who could do such a thing?”
“Except for me, they’re all dead now.”
I shrugged lightly before slipping the sword into its sheath.
“I’ve mentioned this before. During the great hunting war, I faced Talara with Myeolse, and during the northern conquest, I faced Dorgon.”
“Yes… you did mention that.”
“At the very least, understanding what kind of technique Myeolse is can help with the description. So consider this a gift and advice.”
Of course, this wasn’t me but rather the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It’s not something that’s easily used, so having it used across foreign lands is quite the endeavor. I can only imagine how much work the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must have put in for this performance.
They must have sweet-talked Balkros into letting it slide, saying they’d only teach once for the sake of literary advancement. Most likely with all sorts of flattering words in tow.
“So, how does it feel to see it in person?”
“It’s beyond words…”
“Thank goodness you’re satisfied.”
With those words, I handed the sword over to Alren.
“Here. This is also a gift. If your memory starts to fade, looking at this sword would evoke your memories again.”
At my joke, Alren’s eyes widened in shock.
Well, that was supposed to be a clever quip. Did it not land?
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