Chimera(1)
In the open plain looking down from the wall, I could see the army holding various flags.
Affiliated families and allied families were bringing soldiers.
It was not a confrontation between huge families, but rather a war in the form of punishment for us.
It was enough nonetheless. In an army of this size, it seemed that there would be no problem in suppressing the Paine family.
“Kayden.”
Lawrence climbs up the castle wall with his iron armor on.
He stood behind me and looked at the soldiers gathered with me.
“Lawrence.”
Lawrence, my teacher and the knight representing Priest, pulled out a small note from his pocket.
“…our messenger has arrived at Paine’s estate. By now, we must have officially declared war.”
I nodded.
Of course, the declaration of war was merely a formality, as it was not Pain, who would not have known what we were going through.
“…Yeah. It’s just the beginning.”
Tomorrow we would depart for the estate of Payne. If it’s urgent, you could say it’s urgent, but it was impossible to have such a large army stationed at the Freister estate.
“Kayden.”
Helen followed Lawrence right away and said to me.
“House Trant, House Merrin, House Grivel, and the heads of House Linse are waiting for you.”
“…the heads of state? All?”
“yes. Everything.”
It was quite surprising. There were some families that had not arrived yet, but all of them came directly from the head of the household. As it was not a very big war, they all showed up in person, even though they said it was okay to send a knight who delegated authority.
What was the reason? Was it because of the fear of Asena, or was it because of loyalty to the Freisters, or was it to measure me?
“… Shall we go?”
First of all, it seemed like we had to meet.
*****
Meals with the heads of state went smoothly. No minor problems occurred.
As I was in charge of Ga-Jul as a proxy, there were questions about Asena’s condition for a while, but I was able to pass it on with the lie I had prepared.
Even though there was a strange air current as if they were looking at me… I didn’t push myself too hard.
I just do the tasks assigned to me.
Not a fryer, but like a fryer.
Not a maid, but like a maid.
We exchanged only formal conversations and greeted them.
Surprisingly, I felt that they were looking at me positively.
Also, I couldn’t be sure.
I finished eating with the housekeepers.
Last check of the army.
I met Judy, Daisy, and even my grandmother.
So I could go back to my room and take a break, and then leave the next morning, but my steps didn’t go to my room.
It’s not my bedroom, but it’s a familiar place.
If it’s natural, it’s natural…. If it’s not, it’s not my behavior.
After the walk with Kirsi, it seemed that something had changed in his mind.
-smart.
I knocked on the door, and a soft reply came as if I had promised.
‘….come in.’
It was as if he knew I was coming.
When I opened the door and entered, Asena was sitting there, taking a break after finishing the paperwork she had been busy with recently.
She was looking out the window, dressed in light clothes. In a strange atmosphere, she didn’t even look at me.
“…are you ready?”
The true head of Priest, who hid politically for a while, asks.
“……okay.”
“…Have you met the heads of state?”
“yes.”
“……..”
Asena paused for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
I asked the meaning of that sigh.
“why?”
“……I hate it so much.”
“…..what.”
“My brother has to go to war. In case anything happens… run until your heart hurts.”
It was familiar to me for her to show her emotions so clearly. Even if you never show it to others.
“…if I die, I lose the war, right?”
The size difference was too great. In fact, upon arriving at Payne’s estate, he might have surrendered first.
“…know. That’s ridiculous. I hate it though.”
“……”
Asena looks back at me only after finishing that end.
“….sorry. I decided not to say this.”
“….It did.”
Sometimes, I wonder how twins are so different. Kirsi is Jericho and innocent, but… Asena is the opposite.
“……”
“…Asena. I will come back victorious-”
“Wait a minute, brother. Wait a moment.”
Asena hastily cut off my words. And then took a deep breath. Her eyes rolled to make sure the door behind me was closed properly, then she said.
“…I don’t want to make the same mistake as last time. Last time I cursed… I cursed… but this time…”
Then he shut his mouth tightly and tapped the bed on which he was sitting a couple of times.
It was a sign to sit next to him.
As she suggested, I sit down next to her. I don’t think it’s going to cause any problems for me, but I thought this breakup would be better.
Sit next to me, she says.
“…I am happy to have an older brother.”
“……”
“Because I have an older brother… I got over the despair I felt after losing my parents when I was young. It was not uncommon to lose a parent now. My brother also… grew up in Hexter Orphanage. But then I didn’t know that. I was so afraid. Without my parents… I didn’t know what to do.”
She put her hand on the seat next to me and slowly closed the distance.
“I wondered if I should be responsible for the family now… I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to do it properly… I was afraid that my grandmother would scold me. But my brother is here. The older brother who took care of us with a smile even though our parents were safe just like us.”
Asena promised, she continued to spit out her heart. It wasn’t her heart that she didn’t know, but hearing her like this… it was getting harder and harder to push her away.
No, you may be giving up. Gradually, I couldn’t figure out why I had to turn away from her so hard.
“…I guess that’s why, without my brother, I’m still going back to that time. No matter how hard I try and act… in the end, I can’t do it without my brother.”
“…Ase-”
The moment I opened my mouth, Asena’s finger touched my lips. It was a gesture to be quiet.
“….brother. I will ask you a few things.”
“……”
“…don’t answer me. I’ll just ask you a question.”
Her body gradually draws closer to me. Still, I did not avoid myself. Just like Kirsi the day before, he gives Asena a body just like before.
Asena sat on my thigh. Kneel with your legs wide apart and place your belly button on me. Putting her arms around my neck, she stared into my eyes unwaveringly.
“……I grew up in Hexter Orphanage… and I know that you have been attracted to Daisy since the beginning of the academy. Judy had so many similarities with her brother, and I can understand how the feelings of friendship developed.”
“……”
Asena then asks me with an earnest expression.
“…if I could grow love like that….. can’t you love me too?”
Whatever her question was, I tried to answer it if I could, but… my mouth hardened and I couldn’t open it.
Again, the words that you gave up on me a few days ago were a lie. When the opportunity arose, she showed me that sticky love again.
“……There were no lies in your love for me. Just like she likes Daisy…Like she likes Judy… Can’t I do the same?”
Her two eyes that seemed to see through everything continued to stare at me. It was as if they were taking the answer through my eyes.
Even if I didn’t open my mouth, it seemed like I was having a conversation.
“…my last wish, brother…just once…”
“……”
Asena’s hand gradually moved, holding my face tightly.
“……I’m so disgusted…?”
she asked suddenly. My eyes fluttered.
What she saw in my eyes, I didn’t know. But her words were gradually raising the level.
“…if it’s not disgusting, oppa…if I’m dirty and I think I’m going crazy, but if it’s not…then…”
She took a deep breath. And he said firmly.
“Then, stay still. This might… be our last.”
Immediately after her head turned, she started getting closer to me. With two breaths, our distance narrowed.
At the same time, her body trembled. After showing her strength while working on paperwork for several days, she is now trembling.
Looking at her slender figure, I asked myself her question for a short time.
Is she disgusting?
…In the end, my body couldn’t push her away. I no longer had the strength to do that.
Her lips overlap me.
With their lips closed, only their skin touches each other.
As if I was about to break, her touch was so careful.
Asena stayed like that for a while.
Silent night, alone.
In the candlelit room, Asena sat on my lap and continued kissing.
****
the next evening.
Our army was looking at Pain’s estate from afar.
They didn’t have many opportunities.
As much as they had brought enough siege weapons, the Paine family’s low wall would be easily demolished.
The result was finally decided.
The Payne family would be destroyed.
It’s just a difference in method.
“A surrender?”
I asked Lawrence.
“It doesn’t seem like it. They seem to be trying to hold on.”
It was to be expected that Payne would not surrender. If they surrendered or not, they would die.
“The Mercury Weapon?”
“You can’t see it from either side.”
The Payne didn’t seem ready for any Mercury Weapons either. Maybe that was normal.
Then, Judy appears riding Goldie and sticks to me.
“Then we can only use our siege weapons out of range.”
I nodded.
“okay. I will.”
In an instant, the murmur of the soldiers grew louder. Our eyes, who were looking at the silent battlefield, are drawn to the sound.
“….yes?”
I, who soon found the reason for the murmur, expressed my doubts.
The walls of the Payne family opened, and a lot of soldiers were pouring out.
“……Do you want to see a match before being attacked by the siege weapon? Or maybe he’s trying to destroy a siege weapon.”
Lawrence said next to him.
I could understand their choices, but they were foolish.
They shouldn’t have met us on the plains.
“Order to guard the siege weapons.”
“yes.”
“Let’s go, Lawrence.”
“yes.”
I waved Rush’s reins and lowered his helmet’s visor.
“Come on, wait a minute!”
But in the middle, Judy snatches my reins.
“Where are you going, Kayden?”
Confusion appeared in her eyes.
“You can lead from behind, why are you moving because they are coming?”
“……”
“……”
Me and Lawrence’s eyes met for a moment.
Lawrence told me.
“…I will go first.”
“Yeah, wait a minute.”
Next to Lawrence, two servants drove the horse, raising a flag with Freister’s snake on it.
I look at Judy left behind.
He raised his helmet’s visor again and faced her.
“Judy. I have to run in the front.”
“What do you mean, Kayden…!”
“It’s all a war for me. As there are soldiers risking their lives, I cannot hide behind them.”
I smiled and stroked Judy’s cheek.
“And in order for my subordinates or allied families to not look down on me… it has to be like this. If I run in front, I will respect myself and follow my orders more smoothly. I don’t run in front without a second thought, Judy. It’s a decision I made after much deliberation, so please follow it.”
The longer the conversation, the more soldiers of the Payne family coming out of the castle.
– Boom! Boom! Boom!
Pain’s drums were also heard. At the same time, the enemy began to charge us.
“I’ll go, Judy. See you later.”
As I turn around again, Judy stops me again.
“main-“
“I will run with you.”
What you are trying to say no is going up to the uvula and going in.
Time was time, but Judy’s expression was so determined. I didn’t have time to convince her.
Besides, if it was Judy… if it was Judy, I could believe it. she’ll be fine
“…you have to be careful.”
I said.
“So are you.”
she answers
I nodded and ran.
The soldiers split and make way for us. As I ran forward across Pryster’s men, the men cheered and began to raise their morale.
Soon, Lawrence, who was waiting in front of me, turned to me. Beside him, Freister’s snake was still fluttering in the wind and shaking his head.
My heart started beating like it was going to explode. When I see the enemy running in front of me, my blood boils and my hands and feet feel numb.
The more I did, the stronger I drew my sword.
– Shreung!
The newly crafted sword reflects light.
“Lawrence! Blow the horn!”
Simultaneously with my words, Freister’s trumpet shook the battlefield. Payne’s drumbeat disappeared.
-Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu…
“Let’s run, Rush.”
At the same time, the army I led rushed to the vanguard.
