Chapter 50: 50

<II-2. The Princess and Vassal: Public and Private Life>

After returning to the Roheneim camp, Valhayle ordered the execution of all the mercenaries that threatened Zelle and returned the plunders to the Central region. 

And following Zelle’s orders, placed securities in every castle. 

Valhayle only realized he was still clenching his fist after all the work, in his tent. 

“…….”

He looked down at his hands.

The strained veins lined the back of his hands. It has been like this ever since this morning’s event. 

He wouldn’t ever be able to forget the feeling he felt when he blocked away the mercenary’s sword. 

The wound on the princess’s pale forehead didn’t leave his mind either.

He was shocked that the morning’s events were affecting him this much. Valhayle recalled the things he said to the princess.

‘Why did you leave the camp alone? Do you know how dangerous it was just now!! Do you know how much I…!!’

“Why in the world did I…”

Valhayle rubbed his forehead.

‘Lose my temper like that.’

Have I ever been that agitated? 

Perhaps it was a natural feeling to feel since he could have lost the only surviving royal heir as of now but Valhayle was very bothered by the words he couldn’t say.

The words after ‘Do you know how much I…’. 

Valhayle closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He smelled an unusual scent.

‘….The scent of the oil.’

It felt like the scent still lingered in the air.

Valhayle’s face and hands began to ease.

He recalled the princess’s faltering hands as she took the sword from him.

And the contrastingly firm gaze and posture when she returned it back. 

Valhayle looked at the sword emitting the oil’s fragrance. It was an ordinary sword. 

Swords often were destroyed so Valhayle had multiple swords in possession. 

‘I never thought I would make the loyalty oath ever again.’

If I knew I would make it today I would have brought the family formal-dress sword.

Valhayle regretted it shortly but soon shook his head.

It didn’t have to be formal-dress sword. The oath was what was important. 

He didn’t want the sword to be destroyed so he placed it in a chest and took out a new sword. 

The fragrance softened now that the sword was inside the chest. 

Valhayle unconsciously chased the dimming scent and thought of the princess.

She didn’t release a breath under his touch. 

Met his eyes without a sound.

He had never seen her blue eyes that close before. And his heart felt pressured under those eyes. 

‘…I’ll do it.’

When the princess said that, Valhayle answered thinking about how he used to look after the messenger bird’s wounds.

‘I was already doing it so I’ll do it.’

The stark contrast between her blood and her pale skin and fragile neckline lingered in his mind. 

“…Hah.”

Valhayle roughly ran his hand through his hair. 

‘I must be mad.’

He felt like his peace of mind would never come back. 

Valhayle pulled out paper and ink and sat in front of his desk. He was going to send an official document to Lopecce (in the West) and Voymont (guarding the black defense wall). 

It was to announce the survival of the 8th princess.

Valhayle purposely tried to focus on the document. 

His straight posture and face looked unbothered by anything but his slightly messy hair reflected his mind. 

*･ﾟ:༻✦༺･ﾟ:*

Zelle frowned. 

“Ouch.”

And immediately eased from the pain. 

What she was contemplating about now was the future. 

Before the war, her life goal was to survive. But now after living as a bird Zelle’s life goal was to be some kind of ‘help to the country’, and that lead to her confession that she was a bird. 

Since if Valhaye didn’t trust her, she couldn’t be any help to Roymonde. 

Now Valhayle said he trusted her and the chief commander’s trust equated to the whole military’s trust so the survival of the 8th princess will be announced. 

“…..”

Zelle furrowed her brows. 

She merely thought that her survival would increase the soldier’s morale.

That she would simply symbolize the royal heir. 

Since that’s the only role she thought she could play.

But after seeing the state of the towns, Zelle changed her mind. 

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‘This country needs someone who can substantially lead.’

She saw people coordinate according to her orders. 

If a single leader was all that was needed to save that town then the same would apply to the country. In this current state where the king is dead and the survival of the royal heirs is unknown, the country’s leadership figure is basically nonexistent. 

Zelle’s most desperate wish is {Victory}. 

And for this war to be won, the military’s power along with a leader’s leadership was crucial. 

Valhayle was great as a substitute for the king but his job was to lead the army. 

It was the royal heir’s job to suggest a new direction or vision of the country. They were the heart and center of the country that made the country act as one.

Zelle decided that she would take that responsibility if it was required for victory and therefore accepted Valhayle’s loyalty oath. 

But now that she thought of it, her original goal of ‘survival’ went totally against her new goal of ‘becoming the center for victory’. 

Her goal as a human and her goal as a bird were under different circumstances. 

The responsibility as the 8th royal heir and the only royal heir was different. 

As the 8th princess Zelleine, her duty was to hide but now as the only royal heir the nation could look up to, her duty was to come forward. 

But if she contributes to the country as the center, her life would be in danger when her elder siblings return. 

‘But I can’t keep hiding in the shadows like this.’

Ever since she accepted Valhayle’s sword, she made up her mind to fulfill her duty as royal heir. 

She would come forward and encourage the people she had had to encourage. 

‘Would there be a way for me to do that and survive?’

That was what Zelle was concerned about. 

Zelle stroked the wound on her forehead. 

“…..”

The wound started healing up already. But it still hurt whenever she moved her facial muscles. 

She recalled Valhayle’s hands wiping her face. 

His heated hands. The loyalty oath. When their eyes met. 

‘From this day onward, I pledge my loyalty to Your Highness.’

Just recalling that made her heart beat faster. 

Valhayle’s oath was probably a formality to the royal heirs. But even so, Zelle was stunned by the fact that someone swore to be on her side. 

‘If it wasn’t Valhayle…’

If it wasn’t Valhayle that made the oath would I still have accepted it? 

Zelle shook her head.

Most likely not.

If Zelle didn’t experience him as a bird ahead and if she hadn’t trusted him to the point it shocked herself, she would have never taken someone else’s hand. 

Zelle knew more than anyone that Valhayle’s goal was to win the war so his words moved her heart. 

She recalled the things he said to her yesterday night. 

‘Roymonde needs a royal heir right now. The reason to fight and win this war. The leader they can trust the future of this land with. All as the center that would unite everyone.’

Valhayle said a royal heir was needed to win this war. 

‘For victory.’

Then, Zelle and Valhayle’s goals were identical as of now. 

Finishing this war.

So until the war ends, Zelle and Valhayle were on the same side. 

“Yes, until the end of war.”

Zelle mulled over it. 

She was well aware that things would be different after the war. The loyalty oath was permanent by rule but she wasn’t that naive to think Valhayle’s oath had no deadline. 

It had nothing to do with the trust she had for Valhayle. 

After the war ends, Valhayle would have to stand at the side he has to. 

Family, central region, Roheneim, and the royalty. 

There was no guarantee that Zelle would be included in one of those. 

But at least during the war, she and Valhayle would be on the same side just for serving the same nation. 

They would fight for the same goal. 

{Victory}.

“So, at least until the war ends, I’ll fight with him.”

Trust him, and fight alongside him.

Zelle closed her eyes. She thought about the relief she felt when Valhayle blocked away the man’s sword.

And the words he said to her. 

‘I know about you now.’

His voice still resonated in her ear. 

Zelle opened her eyes. 

Yes. Valhayle is the only one that knows about me.

Then perhaps the way she could play the center during the war and still be safe was with Valhayle. 

Zelle smelled the oil’s fragrance lingering on her wound and rolled a fist. 

‘I will win this war.’

And I will…

Survive. 

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