Chimera (3)
Upon hearing the news, Kirsi ran down the hallway.
The servants from behind called her to slow down, saying she fell, but Kirsi didn’t want to do that.
“haha…!”
She quickly opened Asena’s office immediately.
Inside it were Liana and Asena.
Asena was preoccupied with the letter in her hand. He didn’t seem to even notice Kirsi’s appearance.
“Oh, oh… Dad…?”
Her aphasia was improving a lot. The word ‘oppa’ itself was now perfectly able to spit it out.
Asena’s pupils continued to move from one side to the other. Still she was speechless.
“….brother is…?”
Kirsi couldn’t stand it any longer and came closer to her.
“Calm down, Kirsi.”
Mrs. Liana next to me said with a small smile.
“Kayden has won.”
Kirsi covered her mouth with both hands in surprise, and then clinged to Asena’s side in exultation. Her eyes also began to scan the letter.
Asena’s lips twitched slightly, and she was reading the letter as if in a whisper.
“…Reinforcement Force…Pain…Repulsion…”
Asena, who couldn’t take her eyes off of her for a long time, released her body’s strength with a long sigh of relief.
“…Now, wait…just…!”
Kirsi took the unread letter from Asena and began to read it thoroughly.
In the beginning, the story of the victory was briefly written, and a detailed explanation of the situation was written below it.
When Kirsi’s eyes became similar to Asena’s before, it was when the information about the reinforcements came out.
However, it was the last crisis of the war, and there were even stories that Caden’s right choice could end the war.
“brother….!”
Kirsey looked like she was about to cry again. There was no doubt that he would come back victorious, but when the work was finished, the anxiety that he had neglected for a long time was noticed.
It was very fortunate for her that she no longer had to grapple with that anxiety.
How could he look more handsome… How could he be more proud of him? Even Kirsi couldn’t figure it out.
“So, did you reveal the identity of the reinforcements?”
Liana, who calmed her heart, asks. She was happy inside, too, but it seemed like she was trying to hide the momentum.
“no. I think we are looking into it now.”
“What is different?”
“The Payne family… they are all dead. Except for Shalon Payne.”
“…there is room for Cayden’s family to be established.”
Kirsi, who was digesting the joy while holding the letter tightly, opened her eyes.
“…Oppa’s…family?”
Her eyes fluttered and asked for an answer.
“…Oppa…don’t you… come back…?”
“…I’ll explain it slowly. For now… let’s get ready to depart for Pain’s estate.”
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.
.
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Pain’s estate arrived after just a few days.
A match between the fryers.
Daisy Hexter was moving in another wagon.
After passing the battlefield overflowing with cruelty, crossing the gates… I saw allied soldiers wandering here and there.
What’s odd is that some citizens ran out and started applauding Freister’s carriage.
Kirsi had to be embarrassed to see the citizens cheering for them, secretly pulling the curtains on the carriage a little.
It was the same with Asena.
“…why are you welcoming us?”
In any case, as they were invaders from the outside, there was no reason to receive their cheers.
Neither Liana nor Asena could answer that question with certainty.
maybe he’s crazy Maybe he didn’t know he was flattering the new leader.
Asena pondered for a moment, then gave up her interest in him easily… and looked forward to meeting Kayden soon.
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.
In front of the door of the large reception room, four women were waiting.
Among them, those with the last name Freister could recognize the familiar face of the soldier.
The soldiers smiled at the twins and Liana, respectively, and showed them the pride of surviving.
After that, after asking for each other’s well-being in a quick voice, the soldiers shout at the closed door.
“The Duke of Asena Pryster, Kirsey Pryster, the former Duchess of Liana, and the daughter of Daisy Hexter are here!”
‘I’ll open the door.’
At the sound of Cayden’s heavy voice coming from inside, Asena’s arms were filled with goosebumps.
I am relieved by his voice, but I am also overwhelmed. It has always been…and always will be.
He was insanely lovely, but at the same time terrifying. What is it like to be overwhelmed?
Sometimes it’s hard to know that there’s only one thing in the world that you can’t do on your own.
And yet, because of that… it just drives him crazy.
Asena hardened her expression and entered the room.
After Asena, Kirsi, Liana, and Daisy followed.
In a large, long room, the heads of state were standing on the left and right. There was a carpet on the floor, and it was full of warmth.
Freister’s flag hung from the pillars supporting the ceiling.
and the very end. in the deepest part of the room. A chair set on a slightly higher place.
In that chair, Cayden sat like a king.
He sees Asena who entered first, and gets up with a smile.
Asena’s eyes quickly looked at him.
He wasn’t hurt anywhere.
He had not been injured in the war, even though he had made a decent contribution.
Asena had to put up with her expression as if it was about to break with joy. In particular, in the presence of so many subordinate families and the heads of allied families, he couldn’t act less like a Priest.
Cayden came down from the table and said hello.
“Come.”
Kirsi runs to Asena’s side….Pauses for a moment.
And Kirsi’s eyes turned to look for Daisy.
Daisy also looked at Kirsi for a moment, then ran to Kaden as if she had been holding back.
The two ended up hugging each other in a marriage-bound relationship.
“Did I say I’d be okay?”
Kaden speaks quietly to Daisy.
Daisy nodded and breathed a sigh of relief.
Next was Kirsi.
When Daisy falls, she falls into Caden’s arms without paying attention.
Kayden also took Kirsi in her arms and blinked…. He hugged her slowly.
Neighbors smiled at the delightful sight.
Asena could read the air in the space.
It had already been heard that Cayden played a major role in the war, but it seemed that the heads of state who experienced the reality showed more respect for him.
The rude clutter of the heads of state, which he felt as he looked down at Cayden’s departure from his room, was now in order.
He is a former Priest from commoners, but his abilities are now acknowledged.
Good news.
– Tuk-tuk.
Cayden signaled that it was okay now, signaling Kirsi to let him go, but Kirsi did not let go of his arms.
Asena had to put up with the growing jealousy.
She was very envious of Kirsi at times.
As long as they are twins… if they were born late.
The headmaster would have become Kirsi too, and in this situation, it would have been okay if I didn’t even have to pay attention. It could be you in his arms.
– Tok tok.
Cayden signaled once again, this time by patting Kirsi on the back, not on the back, and she finally fell.
Seeing Kirsi’s already covered with tears, some of the housekeepers who were looking at them with joy burst into laughter.
Next was Liana.
Liana walked over to Cayden, patted his shoulder and exchanged glances.
Kayden also smiled at Liana like that and nodded her head.
At the end, it’s Asena’s turn.
However, there was no warm touch between the two as before.
Although that fact was excruciatingly difficult, Asena knew that she had to endure it.
said kayden.
As much as it was official, he raised his words this time.
“We won the war. Most of the members of the Payne family died during their capture, and only Shalon Payne, who was the starting point of the war, survived. He is currently imprisoned in a dungeon. The family of the reinforcements was also identified. There were several families mixed together…. What I found out was that they were related to the crimes that Payne was organizing. We have foretold retaliation against them, and the friendly families have already marched forward.”
Asena was constantly getting goosebumps at his report… but at the end of the last sentence, it quickly cooled down. His face twitched.
“…Are we going to war again?”
she whispers quietly let no one hear
Kayden looked at her softly, and answered her equally quietly.
“…I have to go. don’t worry. It won’t be long. Most of the soldiers were defeated in this war.”
As he appeared in the reinforcements of the war, the scale became larger than expected… but from the look of Kaden’s face, it didn’t seem like a big deal. It didn’t look like it was going to be difficult, as he had promised, it just seemed to be the last step to a clean ending.
Asena was anxious, but she put her mind at ease at Caden’s expression and the expressions of the heads of state around her.
She nodded and told everyone that she had worked hard.
****
After entering the private space, Asena hugged Cayden’s back as she walked into the room.
Rihanna didn’t even look at Kirsi anymore.
Cayden gave Asena a small smile and patted the back of her hand a couple of times to reassure her.
After that, they are seated where they have been prepared.
The only ones who entered the room were the fryers.
It was Asena who asked the question first.
“…are you okay?”
As the eyes looking at them around them disappeared, Asena asked in a tone overflowing with concern.
“it’s okay. No injuries.”
“Haha… Oppa, can’t we just rest now? You can leave the rest of the enemy army to the heads of state…”
“Asena, as I said, you have defeated almost all of the remaining enemies. In fact, it’s at a level where all you need to do is enter the territory and surrender.”
“……”
Cayden likewise relaxed and leaned back in his chair.
“Still… I was surprised when the reinforcements first appeared. Pain seems to have a bigger influence than I thought. in the bad way You will be surprised to learn what Payne has done for the families that appeared as reinforcements this time… Now we must uproot it.”
“…how dirty did you dare show your teeth to Pryster?”
“It’s amazing, Asena. But…it’s also an opportunity. There is a way to subjugate us using this as an excuse.”
Liana nodded her head quietly.
“…Oh..Brother.”
Kirsey opens her mouth. Cayden looked at him and smiled broadly.
“Now you speak well, Kirsi.”
“Yeah…it’s getting…better.”
“…thank god.”
Cayden thought for a moment that he was right.
The gathered members chatted for a long time. The composition of the war, the members of the Payne family, the well-being of the soldiers, the casualties, etc…
The story didn’t know how to end.
Then Kirsi calls Cayden again.
“….brother.”
“Why, Kirsi?”
“…..I have a question….When we came here….Some permanent residents cheered us on…Do you know why…?”
“ah.”
“…I have no idea.”
Cayden scratches his head, shrugs.
“…do you already know that Payne was close to a crime? There was also a gang that supported them, Hani… But this war has uprooted it, so Yeongji people seem to like it. Not everyone likes it, but…not all.”
Asena heard Cayden’s voice and nodded her head.
“…it’s fine. I think it will help with my future plans.”
“…..yes? plan?”
“brother.”
Asena straightens her posture and looks at Kayden.
Soon all eyes are on him.
Seeing that their gaze is focused on the answering self rather than the open Asena, Cayden realizes that the three of them are telling him the story that has already ended.
Asena hesitates, looks straight at him and asks.
“……Don’t you want to start a family?”
“…………”
Kayden’s expression freezes.
Asena didn’t stop talking.
“…Your grandmother is from the royal family. So that we can have a writer who replaces the Payne family.”
“….viscount?”
Asena pulls something out of her arms.
It was the first time he had seen it, but he quickly realized that it was the family pattern Asena suggested to him.
sheep’s head. bear’s paws. snake tail.
It was a strange type of monster, but… still. It was a kind of chimera in mythology.
And it was the kind of animal that caught Kayden’s attention in particular.
Hexter’s sheep.
Ice Bear.
And… Freister’s Snake.
Through this pattern, I could tell what she was trying to say.
Liana didn’t say anything.
“……”
Kirsi’s hand trembles and touches the back of Kayden’s silent hand.
Asena also followed Kirsi and grabbed Cayden’s arm.
The twins look at Kaden at the same time.
Asena said.
“…This land needs a leader now. It has rooted out the roots of crime and said that the young people like it. Looking back, the other heads of state seemed to recognize my brother. He had a good reputation at the academy in the first place… “
Asena explained the reason for establishing the family for a long time, but everything was just an excuse.
Cayden, Asena, and Kirsi knew.
The snake’s tail engraved with the family pattern proved it.
“……”
Asena continues her speech and closes her mouth.
And then the real reason was revealed.
“……This is the last time. If you refuse… I will really give up.”
Cayden’s eyes found Asena.
Asena’s expression of giving up… did not contain a single word of sincerity.
But at the same time, he also knew that Kaden’s heart had been shaken.
