The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 238

THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – Chapter 238

“It has been a long time.”

Varkas looked at her with an expressionless face while she smiled elegantly. Although she pretended to be calm, it was easy to notice that she was in a state of extreme tension.

The woman raised her head as if trying to hide her anxiety, and curled the corners of her lips, continuing her words in an affectionate tone:

“Seeing you well like this finally puts my heart at ease; you don’t know how much I worried when I heard the news that you had been injured during the war.”

“…What have you come here for?”

The woman’s face tensed slightly at that coldly formulated question.

Garis stepped forward as if protecting his sister, and said in a tense tone:

“We have come as representatives of the Empire. There is an order from his majesty the emperor to convey condolences regarding the various tragic events that occurred in the east, and to offer support to the Shierkan ducal family.”

“…”

“In recognition of the efforts you have made for the Empire during all this time, the Empire has no intention of sparing any effort to assist in the reconstruction of Kalmure.”

The crown prince pulled a private letter sealed with the emperor’s seal from his coat, which was adorned with luxurious embroidery, and offered it to him. Varkas took it, broke the wax seal, and quickly scanned the words written on the parchment.

Just as Garis had said, there was a brief message of condolence regarding the tragedy that occurred in the east, followed by clauses promising enormous sums of support arranged on a regular basis.

He rolled the parchment up again, handed it to the secretary, and then turned away coldly:

“I have well understood his majesty’s intentions. Proceed inside first.”

Faced with that frigid attitude that did not show the slightest sign of hospitality, the crown prince’s face contorted pitifully. The princess patted her brother’s arm gently and said calmly:

“Come, let us go in.” Then, she instructed the escorts lined up in a corner of the garden in a measured and dignified tone: “Let only the minimum staff remain; the rest shall wait at the camp.”

Immediately, the escorts began to disperse in an orderly fashion. As the two members of the imperial family observed this, they walked up the steps and entered the main palace.

Varkas, who entered the hall first and dictated some orders to the servants, said in a dry tone:

“Since the postwar management tasks are at their peak, I cannot prepare a grand reception; I ask for your understanding.”

“We have not come to be treated as guests; we understand the situation of the duke’s family, so you may omit the cumbersome formalities.” An indulgent smile appeared on Ayla’s lips.

Varkas cast a brief glance at that sensible face, then nodded toward the maids lined up along the wall.

“Accompany the guests to their rooms; ensure strictly that there is no inconvenience during their stay here.”

And when he directed his steps toward the staircase as if he had fulfilled his duty, the mouth of the princess, who had not lost her composure the entire time, suffered a slight spasm. Garis, stepping ahead of his twin sister, caught Varkas in a hurry.

“Wait a moment!”

Varkas looked at him over his shoulder, and Garis’s dark complexion flushed noticeably at that gaze in which annoyance was clearly displayed. The man, who normally would have erupted in anger like fire, suppressed the feeling of humiliation and ground his teeth while drawing a deep breath; then he continued in a calmer tone:

“I have an urgent matter to discuss with you; grant us some time alone.”

“Speak now.”

“It will not take more than a moment; you can grant that amount of time to someone who has ridden from a distant path,” Garis raised his voice with an angry expression.

Varkas looked at his cousin with a gaze laden with fatigue and said as if sighing:

“Change out of your travel clothes first; we will speak after concluding all official duties.”

“I want to now…!”

“Garis.” The princess gently stopped her brother, who was trying to charge forward in rage. “We have come to help the duke’s family; should we really obstruct the duke’s work?”

Garis’s gaze contorted fiercely at that manner of speaking, as if she were addressing an ignorant child. However, it seemed he understood that continuing his stubbornness would only damage his dignity, so he loosened the fist of his arm and then shouted at the servants:

“Have you not heard? What are you doing instead of guiding us to the room immediately!”

The servants, who were observing the situation with tension, rushed like horses whipped by a lash.

“Y… yes, follow me, please; I will guide you to the room.”

Garis, who was casting burning glances at him, left behind the servant; as for Ayla, who hesitated for an instant as if she wanted to say something to him, she too walked up the stairs leading to the rooms under the guidance of the maids.

As soon as the unwanted guests disappeared from view, Varkas resumed his interrupted steps.

Upon entering his office after crossing the dark hallway, the cold air permeated with the smell of ink and candles penetrated his head, which was congested with fatigue. He felt a sudden blackout before his eyes, so he supported himself with one hand against the doorframe.

How long did he remain standing like that? His vision, which was swaying strangely, stabilized. He sat in front of the desk as if nothing had happened and took an official document from the piles placed to one side; at that moment, a cautious voice was heard from nearby.

“Sir, shall I bring you a tea to help recover your energy? I have been told you have not eaten anything all day…”

He startled and raised his head, only realizing at that very instant the presence of another person in the room. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the slender man standing by the door. He could not recognize him immediately; perhaps due to the excessive exhaustion of the last few months, people’s faces sometimes appeared to him as gray, blurry blocks.

He pressed the bridge of his nose with his fingertips and waved one of his hands with a certain nervousness:

“I do not need it, withdraw.”

The man hesitated a little, then opened the door and left.

Varkas returned his gaze to the parchment document. The city reconstruction project was progressing smoothly; thanks to the eradication of the scavenger groups that caused havoc for a time, the flow of goods was beginning to function fluidly again, and the end of the civil war in the north acted as a catalyst that injected vitality into the economy of the east. Although the investigation regarding the forces backing all this chaos was moving slowly, after seeing the destruction of the Heimdall family, they would undoubtedly be forced to be cautious. As long as a major variable did not appear, the era of the Empire would remain consolidated in the future.

After signing the budget for the construction of new commercial facilities in the east, Varkas set down the pen and leaned his back against the chair.

The outside of the window had darkened noticeably; he did not know if it was due to dusk or dark clouds, because from a certain moment, the sky always adopted a dark gray color. While he looked with vacant eyes at the plain that was gradually staining black, he suddenly felt a strong vertigo and covered his eyes with the back of his hand; then, it seemed he lost consciousness at some point.

Varkas opened his eyes suddenly at the sound of a knock on the door, and looked around the office plunged in darkness with a confused expression; he could not understand where he was for a space of time.

‘Was I not in the tent preparing to depart?’

While he tried to order his thoughts, which were intertwined without order, holding his throbbing temples, the sound of a hurried call struck his ears once more.

“S… sir, his highness the crown prince requests to see you; w… what do I do?”

“What do you mean what do you do! Step aside!” A harsh voice resonated from outside the door, and then a black silhouette burst into the room. “What are you doing in a dark place like this, for God’s sake?”

The man who had entered by force shouted with his temper at the servants stationed by the door:

“What are you doing instead of lighting the lights immediately!”

Instantly, dim lights were turned on in the room; only then could Varkas recognize the identity of the man standing in front of him.

Garis Roem Gerta.

‘By the way, he came to the castle in broad daylight.’

It was something strange; why had he forgotten that reality?

Varkas knitted his brow and rose from his seat immediately.

“What is it that you want to say?”

“Come and sit here; this is not something that should be spoken about while standing.” Garis sat on the long sofa placed in front of the fireplace and gestured with his chin arrogantly while taking the glass of wine that the servants had prepared.

Varkas looked at that arrogant face in silence, then sat in the seat opposite him.

“I beg you to finish your words briefly; I am very tired.”

“Do not worry; I have no intention of delaying this either,” Garis said in a firm voice after drinking the wine in large gulps; contrary to his external appearance which denoted relaxation, the knuckles of his fingers holding the glass were tense and white, as if he were very nervous inside. “I have sent an official letter of apology to the Bleiston family,” he began his speech after a long pause. “If necessary, I intend to go personally before the daughter of the Bleiston family to ask for her hand; now I understand that to calm the hearts of the people of the north, we have no choice left but to make the daughter of the family that represents Balto the crown princess…”

“My, how quick you really are,” Varkas mocked sarcastically while bringing the glass that the servant had handed him to his mouth.

Garis looked at him with an angry expression, then took a deep breath attempting to contain his rage and continued with his words:

“I apologize to you now; I was wrong, I should have followed your decision but I did not; this matter will never be repeated again in the future.”

Varkas fixed his gaze on his serious face in silence after erasing the mocking smile from his mouth. Garis tapped his knee with his fingers nervously, and added in a low voice:

“In the future… I have decided to trust you no matter what happens; because whatever anyone says, you are on my side, are you not?”

“Is that true?” Varkas replied with a rhetorical question as if hearing that for the first time.

Garis’s face flushed in an instant.

“You can never betray me; even if you wanted to, you cannot, right?”

Varkas did not answer anything. Garis saw an acceptance in that silence, so a triumphant smile spread across his mouth.

“Before, I was hesitant… but I have made sure of this matter now; you are bound to something materially, and for that reason you can never stand by watching while I or Ayla are in danger, am I correct?” The man who was leaning on the back of the chair inclined his body forward and added with a wide smile: “But that does not mean I do not value your loyalty; I still consider you as my brother.”

“It is something truly moving.” Varkas let out a slight sigh while placing the wine glass he had in his hand on the table. “Is that all you want to say?”

“I have not yet raised the main topic,” Garis continued in a relaxed tone after having recovered his confidence completely. “I want to repair our alliance that deviated from its course.”

Varkas raised an eyebrow. Realizing that the other party did not understand his point, Garis added sharply:

“I mean that I want to resume the project of your marriage to Ayla; I have already obtained the approval of his majesty the emperor and, if you accept, everything will go smoothly.”

Varkas showed no reaction for a space of time. While he pressed his temples, leaning his back against the armrest, an ironic laugh finally burst from his mouth.

“I wondered what you would say after such a long preamble…” Varkas shook his head helplessly and rose from his seat, taking his cloak. “I have heard enough of this nonsense; it seems I have fulfilled my duty as a servant, so I will withdraw.”

And when he turned to leave the office, Garis grabbed him by the shoulder in a hurry.

“If you need time to order your feelings, there is no problem in moving forward next year; if the marriage is promoted after approximately one year has passed, people will not speak with curiosity, and Ayla can wait that time…”

“Enough nonsense.”

Varkas brushed the hand placed on his shoulder away abruptly, and looked at him with a gaze full of annoyance.

“I have said time and again that I will never divorce her; if you have come to present such a ridiculous proposal, get out of this castle immediately.”

“What… what are you saying now?” Garis looked at him with a bewildered expression. “What divorce? Just marry Ayla and…”

Garis, who was muttering with a lost expression, opened his eyes wide suddenly like someone who has been struck by an impact. Varkas looked at his relative with disgust, sighed, and turned around; he no longer remembered when he had slept properly, and he did not have the energy to tolerate this man’s foolishness. He walked slowly across the room and took the door handle.

At that moment, Garis turned his body forcefully:

“Is it… is it that you still believe that woman is alive?”

Varkas’s gaze froze coldly at this statement that surpassed the limits. He grabbed Garis by the lapels and warned him in a gloomy voice:

“Do not utter nonsense about my wife; I have made it completely clear to you, if you want me to remain by your side until the end, do not even think about harming her.”

Garis opened his mouth with an astonished expression and, suddenly, his face contorted fiercely.

“Damn it, you have completely lost your mind!” he shouted while the veins in his neck popped. “Wake up! That woman is dead; Talia Roem Gerta no longer exists in this world!”

At that precise instant, the sound of something breaking was heard in his head. His hand launched before he realized it, pushing Garis’s body mercilessly, and in the blink of an eye, his hands were strangling the crown prince’s neck implacably.

Chapter 238

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