An Unexpected Proposal-Chapter 53

“Well, what can we do? My son came back looking like this.”

“…”

“What’s with that look?”

“I thought you’d be mad at me for fighting.”

“So you do know that fighting is bad?”

“Yeah…”

He looked seriously troubled, his small face scrunched in contemplation. Alicia found it adorable. She placed her hands firmly on his shoulders and met his eyes.

“It’s okay. You won.”

“…”

“I don’t encourage fighting, but sometimes it’s necessary when people say cruel things. If you just keep holding back, they’ll think you’re weak.”

“Like you, Mom?”

Mikael’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“What about me?”

“You’re always fighting.”

“When do I fight?”

Alicia let out an awkward laugh, averting her gaze.

“Yesterday, with Mr. Peter.”

“That wasn’t a fight, he just kept— Actually, never mind. Let’s drop this and go wash up.”

“Can I just wash my hair?”

Mikael fiddled with a leaf stuck in his hair. Taking a full bath meant using a lot of water, and that meant his mother would have to walk back and forth between the house and the well multiple times.

“No, you need a full bath. And medicine for your scrapes.”

“Ugh…”

“Well, whose fault is it that you came back so messy?”

Alicia giggled and playfully pinched his nose. Mikael pouted, but then his eyes lit up with an idea. He raised his arms enthusiastically.

“Then I’ll help carry the water!”

“And risk breaking another bucket?”

“That was an accident! I’ll be careful this time!”

“Alright, alright. But don’t overdo it.”

“Of course! Leave it to me!”

Mikael grabbed a bucket and ran outside. Alicia smiled as she watched him go.

“Mom, hurry up!”

“Okay, okay. Don’t run too fast, you might fall again.”

“Got it!”

“You always say that…”

She followed him, but suddenly, a strong gust of wind made her pause. The days had been warm, but the air was starting to turn cold. Winter was approaching. Alicia stared into the sky, her vision growing hazy. She thought she had moved on, but every winter, her heart would ache. The land of endless winter… and…

“Mom?”

“…”

“Mom!”

“Ah, sorry. I’m coming.”

Alicia shook off her thoughts and quickened her pace. She only needed Mikael. That was enough. She didn’t want to think about anything else. She was happy as she was now.

“After your bath, shall we go to the market? Uncle James is visiting tomorrow, so let’s get something delicious for dinner.”

“Really? Uncle James is coming?”

“Of course. He even said he’s bringing you a gift.”

“Oh no, what do I do? I’m already so excited!”

Mikael stomped his feet in excitement and clung to Alicia’s skirt. She ruffled his round head and winked.

“Excited for Uncle, or for the gift?”

“Both!”

“If you had to pick just one?”

“Of course, Uncle James!”

“You like him that much? Now I’m feeling a little left out.”

“But I love you the most, Mom!”

Alicia playfully pouted, and Mikael panicked, waving his arms frantically in defense.

“Really?”

“Yes! I love you the most. But I like Uncle James too. Everyone listens to him when he’s here.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Chris said Uncle James is a noble. He’s really important.”

So that’s where those ridiculous rumors were coming from. People had assumed James was some noble’s concubine because of his frequent visits. Alicia could already imagine James’s dumbfounded expression when he heard about it. She chuckled. Small towns thrived on gossip, after all.

“Well, I suppose he does have a noble air about him.”

“You do too, Mom.”

“Do you even know what that means?”

“Doesn’t it mean pretty?”

“Huh?”

“Uncle James and you are both really pretty.”

Mikael spun around and looked up at her. His round cheeks were flushed.

“You think I’m pretty?”

“To me, you’re the most beautiful person in the world. Even Chris says you’re the prettiest. He said he’s never seen anyone prettier than you.”

“Really?”

“You’re like a princess, Mom. The prettiest in the village. That’s why I’m going to grow up fast. I’ll become a strong and cool adult as soon as possible so I can protect you.”

Mikael ran back to her and buried his face in her skirt. The fabric, warmed by the sun, carried a familiar, comforting scent.

***

“I didn’t expect a priestess to come in person.”

“I’m the prettiest among them, after all.”

Natalie shrugged playfully. She tried to smile, but her eyes remained devoid of humor.

“Is this a seduction attempt?”

“The High Priest still wants what he couldn’t have eight years ago. And Jerpeneus is fuming too. My presence keeps him from laying a hand on me.”

Cabelenus smirked and poured a glass of Zille, the strong Schwarhan liquor, before handing it to her. Natalie wrinkled her nose but accepted the glass. The alcohol’s sharp scent burned her nostrils.

“How’s the capital’s situation?”

“The public is turning against Jerpeneus more and more. Rumors are spreading—claims that he forged the late emperor’s will and even poisoned him.”

“Good. That works in my favor.”

“You think so?”

Natalie sighed and took a sip of the drink. Alcohol was forbidden for a priestess, but tonight, she didn’t care.

“Schwarhan liquor? It’s strong but… good.”

“I had a special batch of Zille prepared for today. After all, today is her memorial day.”

“You still observe her memorial?”

“Of course. Though I suppose liquor doesn’t suit someone of faith.”

"I’m not exactly a devout servant."

Natalie handed a cleanly emptied cup to Cabelenus. Without a word, he refilled her cup. After sitting for a moment, Natalie drained her cup twice more before speaking again.

"I agonized over whether to tell you this. There were times I thought it might be better to let things remain hidden."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

"If the reports from eight years ago—that her death was faked—are true… that she’s still alive—"

Crash! Fragments of a shattered drinking cup, crushed in Cabelenus’s grip, clattered to the floor. Natalie stared at his blood- and liquor-stained hand before cautiously lifting her gaze. The once impassive face of the man, who never seemed to falter, was now twisted in anguish.

"…Are you all right?"

"Do you believe what I’m saying?"

"I have no choice but to believe—indeed, I must believe—because there is nothing else."

Cabelenus bit his lip hard. His voice, now hoarse and rough as if scraping against metal, carried a raw edge.

"Then, please, tell me."

"And if I do, what will you do for me?"

"Anything."

"You know exactly what I want."

"It matters not what you desire; if it isn’t already mine, I will seize it—even if I must take everything by force."

Cabelenus spoke quickly, without pausing for breath. He didn’t even understand his own words—he clung desperately to a sliver of hope, no matter how futile.

"Though we are brothers, Your Grace and Jerpeneus are not the same."

"…"

"That difference is what has allowed me to decide."

A bitter smile crossed Natalie’s face. She still remembered, as if it were yesterday, the day her life fell to ruin—the day she saw the face of the lover who had once turned away from her.

"Do you recall the incident eight years ago, when all the monsters that appeared in Schwarhan every year suddenly vanished?"

"Are you suggesting that has something to do with her?"

"At least, that’s what Jerpeneus seems to believe."

"…"

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

"Jerpeneus has been searching for her all this time. And lately, it appears even the High Priest has begun to notice."

Natalie removed her overcoat and fixed her gaze squarely on Cabelenus. Slowly, she unbuttoned her priest’s robe.

"I’ve secretly copied the locations they discovered."

Clad only in a thin undergarment, Natalie offered her robe to Cabelenus. At her subtle nod, he carefully unstitched part of the inner seam. Hidden within the lining were writings, densely inscribed.

"There are more than just one or two suspicious sites—we must reach her before they do, even if by a moment."

"…"

"It will be a hard fight. Up until now, Your Grace had nothing to lose and could rush in recklessly. But once there’s something to protect, caution becomes inevitable."

"I will no longer allow myself to create regret."

"That remains to be seen."

"…"

"Remember: she has not returned. Perhaps she has forgotten about Your Grace and is living a happy life now—or even, she may no longer wish to return."

Just as I once did. Natalie tightly closed her eyes. She knew all too well that the life of a power-wielding woman is always hollow. The lover who used to whisper “I love you” was nothing more than empty words. Even if he turned his back on love, he never let go of what he held in his hands. Over time, all that remained was a heart burned black by regret.

"I don’t know if she truly possesses such power. But Your Grace doesn’t need her strength—only her presence."

"…"

"I wish it were that simple. At the very least, I hope that you, Cabelenus, may escape the depths of hell."

Perhaps it was the alcohol, for the heat that started in his throat soon spread throughout his body. Natalie swept her hair roughly back from her forehead, then, unable to hold back her turbulent emotions any longer, covered her face with both hands. Cabelenus watched her for a long moment before rising, draping his overcoat around himself.

"There is no need to wallow in guilt."

"…"

"I have never harbored resentment toward you."

"Dear sister," he added in a hushed tone as if the words barely brushed past, and Natalie, like a malfunctioning machine, slowly lifted her head. The eyes that had so perfectly captured Cabelenus were now stained red with unshed tears.

"…This time, you must protect her—no matter what."

"Of course."

"Thank goodness. I needed to hear that."

Natalie’s shoulders sagged as a long-held sorrow welled up in her eyes.

***

"Sorry."

"It doesn’t matter—I can’t hear you. I won’t play with you anymore."

Chris folded his hands and bowed his head deeply. Mikael, half-watching Chris and half-lost in his own thoughts, pursed his lips in protest.

"Why! You already apologized!"

"My mother always said that the one who receives an apology must understand the heart behind it."

"Hmph! If you don’t want an apology, then don’t take it!"

"I’m not accepting it! No matter what, I won’t accept it!"

Chris shouted loudly, then abruptly turned his head away. In their small, close-knit village, Chris was Mikael’s only playmate. Though both missed each other when apart, this time the hurt ran too deep to simply let it pass.

"If you accept my apology, I was going to show you something I discovered."

"…"

"It’s really incredible! Absolutely amazing!"

"…"

Every time Chris flailed his arms dramatically, Mikael’s head bobbed slightly.

"If you don’t want it, I’ll go see it by myself."

"What is it?"

"Then will you forgive me?"

At Mikael’s reaction, Chris broke into a wide grin.

"No."

Though Mikael tried to maintain a stern face, half of it already softened.

"Then I won’t say another word."

"…But I’d really like to see what this amazing thing is, if you’re willing to show it."

"Really?"

"It must be truly spectacular. You know that, right?"

"Of course!"

Mikael retorted cheekily, but Chris, delighted, quickly clung to Mikael’s arm.

"So what exactly is this incredible thing?"

"I found a rabbit warren in the forest yesterday."

"A rabbit warren?"

"How about it? Isn’t it amazing? Want to go see it?"

"Um… I’m not sure it’s that incredible, but since you’re so eager, I’ll come along."

"Then let’s hurry. We can’t afford to be caught by the older kids."

Chris tugged Mikael’s hand. Mikael, though pretending to be reluctant, slumped his body and followed his friend—or at least tried to.

"What's wrong? Suddenly you don't want to go?"

"No, it’s just… isn’t there some noise coming from somewhere?"

"Noise? What noise? I can’t hear anything."

"There’s definitely a sound coming from over there…"

Mikael turned his head toward the source of the sound, but saw nothing. He furrowed his brow, then turned back. At that moment, something appeared in the distance.