Laslo’s eyes were filled with bewilderment. Agnes smiled faintly because she could guess how he felt.
“Before I met him, I thought he existed only in fairy tales.”
“Sigh, what the hell is this? No, keep talking. You met a Dragon, Eugene and signed a contract?”
“Yes, in Kishu.” Agnes said calmly. Laslo tried to hide his confusion and take her words as they were.
“In fact, that’s the reason why I collapsed during the ceremony.”
“Because of the contract?”
“He said that my soul was already contracted to Eugene, that’s why I wasn’t able to withstand the ritual of oath.”
Laslo’s face is stiffer than it was the first time. Agnes checked his countenance and wriggled her fingers with guilt.
“It happened because I was careless. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”
“No, wait. Are you saying that the soul, your soul, is being held by Eugene, it’s not like a metaphor, but actually he is actually holding on to it?”
“Yes.”
“Is the contract irreversible? A soul, your soul being a mortgage.”
Laslo murmured painfully as he touched his temples.
“Well, that’s true. Wouldn’t it be okay since I’m dead anyway?”
“What? You’re saying that now…….”
His voice rose in an instant and then managed to subside. At some point, his brow was deeply cut.
“Agnes, your soul is at stake. What made you sign such a dangerous contract?”
“I would have done the same if I could go back to that time. No, I can bet more.”
Agnes smiled and looked up at him.
“I sold my soul to see you alive again, so that’s enough for me.”
“……Agnes.”
“Laslo, we weren’t in love with each other in the past. Honestly, we weren’t very close.”
“…….”
“But you sacrificed your life for me without any hesitation, just because I was your wife.”
Agnes still remembers that dawn. The last time he saw his face was as clear as if it were still engraved on her mind.
“Soul. I can do it over 10,000 more times for you.”
Laslo’s face changed strangely. He reached out very carefully and swept her cheek down.
“I probably.”
“Hmm?”
“I must have loved you in the past.”
His touch was tender and itchy for no reason, so her cheeks heated up. Agnes looked away awkwardly.
“Well, we used to be on the same page. So maybe it was an act of duty.”
Then Laslo laughed and said,
“I can’t give my life for a woman I don’t like.”
– Would you give up your life for a woman you hate?
All of a sudden, Zoltan’s words while spilling blood were heard overlapping. As soon as she realized the meaning of the word, her heart beat hard and swelled like it was going to explode. Agnes’ voice sounded as if she were very nervous.
“You are my everything.”
“Agnes.”
“My resolution to revolt and my attempt to kill Sebastian was to never lose you again.”
His face drew nearer. Agnes couldn’t help but hug Laslo. It was just physically touching, but it was unbearably good. He returned a hot hug and whispered.
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe your story from the beginning.”
“No, I should have told you beforehand.”
“How hard did you have to carry all this on your own?”
The disappointment melted like snow already in spring, no trace was left. She felt much better when she told him everything. The couple hugged each other tightly for a while like they were the only people left in the world.
“Was there such a big epidemic and war in the past?”
“Yes, the difference is that you went to war yourself, but the big picture is still similar.”
“If it’s not me, who, ah. Then Zoltan must have gone out instead.”
Agnes nodded quietly.
“So, do you know how surprised I was when I heard the news of your participation? I was afraid something would go wrong.”
“Don’t worry too much. I think it’ll be the end of the war in a few months. Oh, yeah. In the future you know, when did the war end?”
“Next spring, the first prince…….”
She tried to speak casually but paused. Laslo relaxed his arm, which held his wife’s waist tightly.
“Why?”
“Not long after the death of the first prince, the war ended.”
“What? The prince died. Why?”
“As far as I know, he contracted the plague and died. That’s not all. For the same reason, the second prince will die first.”
“Both princes die of plague…….”
“Well, I heard that when the queen lost the princes, she was so shocked that she wandered around death.”
Laslo’s face quickly became serious.
“I can see why the king attacked Sutmar with ridiculous false accusations, since both successors died.”
“But in the past, I was naive.”
Agnes said with a bitter smile.
“At the time, I had no power or financial resources at all because I was lying flat to watch Sebastian’s eyes. I never imagined that the king would still try to kill me because of that.”
“In terms of common sense, isn’t it right for you to think?”
“After that, as I said before. The king brought his army and surrounded Estar, but you hid me and fought back to the end. Eventually, it collapsed, but…….”
“I just did the best I could that time. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” said Laslo, sweeping her arm gently as if to console her. Agnes took a deep breath and pulled him close. Her eyes, which were filled with sadness, have completely changed. Now all that remains in her eyes is the heat.
“So, I don’t want to miss this opportunity.”
* * *
“What about the body?”
“Sorry, I couldn’t find it. It seems she already left the palace.”
“Are you sure?”
Sebastian swept his chin roughly down. The guard nodded.
“None of the bodies from under the fallen blue palace had black hair.”
“Yes, I see. All right, get out.”
“Yes.”
Agnes disappeared after the day the beasts attacked the palace. In fact, it was quite a while before he realized she wasn’t there.
“I should have killed her sooner.”
Regret is always too late. He didn’t know it would turn out like this since Ilona wouldn’t leave Agnes’ side. He would like to send an army right away to find Agnes and bring her there, but the situation was difficult.
Although there were only a few casualties from the invasion, it symbolized many things.
‘I shouldn’t have sent all the knights down.’
The forced movement of troops to the south revealed how lax the palace’s security was. In addition, it took a lot of money and manpower to repair the broken palace.
However, the only thing left in the barrel that had already been used up by the war was a small amount of gold.
“Your Highness, Marquis Devorsen and Marquis Sandor are asking for an audience.”
“Let them in.”
The door opened and two men came in and bowed to the king.
“Why did you two come together?”
“I have something to tell you.”
Marquis Devorsen walked in with a grim face. Sebastian shook his hand roughly as if to hurry.
“Tell me.”
“I’m sorry, but there’s a terrible rumor going around the capital right now.”
“Rumor? What rumor?”
“It’s….”
When Marquis Devorsen hesitated, Roland opened his mouth first.
“The Marquis seems worried about your performance. Is it necessary to tell his Highness the story?”
“What do you mean? Of course, as the king of Nirseg, I should know everything.”
“But there is no need to report that there are some foolish people who are dissatisfied with your reign.”
“What does that mean?”
Sebastian’s expression hardened. The Marquis Devorsen hurriedly bowed his head politely and continued.
“The common people must have misunderstood the beasts’ recent appearance at the palace.”
“Didn’t I ask what the rumor was?”
“They say that the plague and the beasts invading the palace didn’t happen by accident, but your highness…….”
“It’s my fault?”
Sebastian finishes the words that Marquis Devorsen could not continue.
“Things that aren’t as good as pigs are spitting out nonsense because they have unnecessary time. It’s not worth caring about.”
“But your highness. You can’t just let their voices flow. Please bend over to the people.”
“Marquis. What are you talking about?”
Sebastian said with a gracious look.
“When did I just let the people’s voices flow? Marquis Sandor.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Take the man who spread the dirty rumor and rip his mouth open. Don’t ever let him say that again.”
“I’ll do that.”
“Y, your highness!”
The Marquis Devorsen was stunned and raised his head without permission. He happened to meet blue eyes that resemble snakes. He stiffened as soon as he saw it.
“And if the marquis is going to talk about such useless things, you don’t have to come to the palace.”
“…….”
“Oh, Roland. Have you checked the identity of the merchant I told you to find out?”
“Yeah. You mean Ballint? It’s normal and clean except for a little debt.”
The topic was quickly shifted, but Roland answered the king’s words without any hesitation.
“What about the spice business he mentioned?”
“According to the investigation, it was planned since last summer, but it seems to have been delayed day by day because the partner who worked with him ran away with the money. He has a long career and his personality is reliable.”
“That’s right.”
Sebastian tapped his finger on the armrest. Normally, he would have checked two or three more times, but he decided to save time as the situation was not good.
“Tell the merchant I’ll join in.”
“How much are you going to invest?”
Roland lowered his head and asked back obediently. You can estimate how much the king’s hidden property is. Dozens of boxes of gold at the least, and 200 boxes at the most, will be the limit.
“I will send you two hundred boxes of gold.”
“It’s a great choice. Your Highness.”
He took the bait. Roland bowed his head, bit his molars, and suppressed his laughter.
‘It’s not long before your head will be on my hands.’