Volume 1 – Cain Richen
Warning: Volume 1’s translation is Hot Garbage!
I will be retranslating the entire book in 2023
1
The land West across the forest from Kajang was a desert. It wasn’t a sandy desert without a drop of water, but it was a place that could only be described as a wasteland, where the soil, the occasional small trees, and the sparsely growing grass of unknown names, had grown to dryness. In this desolate land, the wind mixed up the soil and blew it constantly. There was not even a bit of shade to shelter from the hot sun. The inside of Aran’s mouth and his throat were dry and felt stuffy.
~
There was not a person or beast to be seen in this vast lonely land. It was already the third day after Aran fleed Kajang-guk. If he had walked it would have probably taken him more than a week to get this far. He might have been lucky to have been held captive for a while. Thanks to that, he was now riding horseback towards the West.
~
“….It’s a barren land,” Aran said bitterly.
~
He looked around with narrowed eyes to avoid the sandstorm. Although they had crossed a large mountain range, Aran had no idea that the land would have such a different appearance as they crossed the border. Although the sun was warm, Kajang was a very fertile land and a good place for farming. Green Paddy Fields were spread out everywhere, and there was no part that was barren. It was that just seeing this wasteland made Aran feel even more lonely and bleak.
~
“It makes people in this land harder than those in Kajang.”
Cain responded with a serene voice and looked back at the expanse of land with a dry gaze. His silver-grey eyes, looking at the vast but barren land, sink deeply. It was a look that was hard to describe in words. His eyes which seemed to see through everything, elicit a chill.
~
“Cain, what do you do?” Aran unconsciously asked as he was watching him
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It was a question he was curious about, but up until now, it was a question he could not ask because of the dizzying situation. Cain let out a short sigh as if thinking about it.
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“What kind of person do you see me as?” Cain asked playfully in lieu of answering the question.
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“A rogue¹” Aran responded seriously and Cain smirked.
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“Hey, for a little boy you’ve got good eyes. How do you see so well?” He said jokingly. As Cain often said, he was like an old man.
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“So were you out wandering around? Are you on your way back from Kajang?” Aran asked as he looked at the horizon, and Cain nodded.
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“There’s literally nothing better for a rogue who has nothing to do, than wandering around. Actually, I was going to rest in Kajang, but then something happened, and I couldn’t set foot there, and I had to turn around”
~
Aran, who had been listening to his reply, shut his mouth tightly and sunk into his thoughts. It had seemed so far away, but in actuality, it had only been a few days since the day his father and brothers died, the kingship and the royal castle were taken away, and forced he ran away from death, to a place that was like hell.
~
His voice and mind were split. He didn’t know anything. It was like lightning struck overnight. Even now, he was dying to know what had happened. He asked shakily.
~
“You… how much do you know about Kajang?”
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“As much as I need to.”
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“Then can you tell me what happened, and how?”
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“Did you get kicked out without knowing why?”
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Aran was surprised at this question. He was ashamed and felt pathetic for not knowing anything until this point. In fact, he was still young and the third Prince, far from the throne, so he lived separately in an annex. Moreover, because he was born under an omen, he didn’t even learn martial arts and was never included in internal affairs. Now he could only lament the situation.
~
“There are no people who knew what happened there. If I had known in advance I wouldn’t have been there without help.” Aran who was blaming himself looked back at Cain. Cain spoke and an indifferent voice.
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“He devised a scheme that no one expected, and in the end, he succeeded in usurping the throne within 3 days of rebellion.”
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“Who is he?”
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“Taejeok Rune. is the son of the late king’s half-brother. To be honest, it’s better to say he’s the nephew who defeated his uncle and took the throne”…foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
~
“Half-brother?”
~
Aran had never heard such a thing. The late King, his father, had two brothers, both of whom were weak. One died in childhood, and the other sometime after the late King ascended the throne. But what half-brother? He had often seen cousins who were the children of his Aunts that had married away to other countries, or nobles. He had never heard of his father having a half-brother or that there were children from him. Perhaps because he saw Aran’s bewildered expression, Cain hurriedly finished his story.
2
“To understand the story exactly, then we have to go back to the time when the late King became the Crown Prince. In fact, the late King was a Second Prince, and the eldest son was above him. Naturally, people did not doubt that the eldest son would become the Crown Prince.
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“… …”
“The eldest son Tae Seo-ha was good at nothing and didn’t look good in the eyes of the king. In the end, he turned out to be below everyone’s expectations, and the Second Prince became the ‘Crown Prince’ instead. The first prince and his supporters opposed this.”
~
Aran body stiffened with tension. It was the first time he heard this. Why had no one ever told him such an important and great thing? His head was dizzy.
~
“However, no matter how fierce the First Prince’s opposition was, the King didn’t yield. When he died, the now late King, ascended the throne. Tae Seo-ha revolted. He wanted the throne so badly, he disregarded the will of the King, his father, and wanted to kill the Second Prince, his brother.”
~
Aran’s dry throat stung. He took a short breath, stroking his neck with his hand, as Cain’s story intermingled with the regular ringing of horseshoes.
~
The late King quickly defeated Tae Seo-ha. It’s said that the people began to tremble with fear when the late King, who had a quiet and benevolent disposition and never had anything to do with the military, defeated Tae Seo-ha and mercilessly executed his followers.
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“… …”
~
“Anyway, Tae Seo-ha, who failed and conspiring a rebellion, deserves to be put to death for treason, but the late King could not kill him because he was his blood. He ended up exiling him to a remote area.”
~
Aran nodded without a word. He showed mercy to those who sincerely repent. In particular, he did not treat them harshly when they were blood relatives.
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“But that’s the problem. After all, a person who once tried to kill you, cannot be left alive, even if they are blood.”
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“Are you saying that Tae Seo-ha revolted there again?”
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Perhaps because of his cool head, even his voice rang low. His heart was boiling and angry, but his head was so cold that it felt rather strange.
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“No.” Replied Cain, and shook his head. Aran raised his eyes looking puzzled.
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“No, it wasn’t Tae Seo-ha. Actually, he wasn’t very smart. He also lacked the type of personality to attract people. Even if there were people on his side when he was the first prince, there were none left after they were all arrested for treason.”
~
“Then…..”
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“It was his son, Taejeokrune, who incited the rebellion and usurped the throne. He possessed the power of his father and an extraordinary head at the same time. He’s a dangerous man because he’s got a mean spirit and a sense of urgency.
~
Cain, who was explaining quietly, clicked his tongue disapprovingly.
~
“Last year Tae Seo-ha died without fulfilling his dream of regaining the throne. Taejeok rune, the son who succeeded him, eventually rebelled instead.”
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“…….Taejeok Rune.”
~
It was clear that the last man he saw in the palace, the one who gave a cruel impression, was him! He recklessly called his father the ‘King of the Dead’ and tried to violate him. How could he forget those evil and Insidious eyes? Aran clenched his fists slowly. Cain, who was completely unaware of his feelings, clicked his tongue.
~
“Taejeok Rune, I don’t like him, but objectively I think he must be good.”
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“…….”
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“Actually, the previous King was not a person to be taken lightly. The fact that the country had few civil wars, and had good relations with the outside, was all the achievements of the previous King. He was such a clever and powerful King.”
~
Cain’s voice gradually got lower and Aran couldn’t tell if he was talking to him, or contemplating and talking to himself. But Aran just listen without a word.
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“Besides, on the surface, the King appeared to be benevolent, but in fact, no one survived against the late King. It means that when he had to use force, he did so with absolute certainty. In any case, it is by no means easy to rebel against a king with that much power and even usurp him.
~
Cain crinkled his eyebrows as though he was contemplating his next words…
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“But Taejeok Rune overturned it in three days.”
~
Suddenly Aran felt a chill go down his back. The dark and cold gaze of the man who was staring at him seemed to be vividly in front of his eyes. Feeling goosebumps on his arm, he shrugged his shoulders and leaned closer to Cain a little more. If it wasn’t for his Cain body temperature Aran might have been trembling.
~
“But kid, what about you?”
~
He clenched his jaw and opened his cold hands, and finally managed to move his blue lips, despite the intense sunlight
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“…… My father passed away and my brothers were arrested. I was the only one who got out, I was barely able to escape.
~
It was difficult for him to convey even a single word. It was something he didn’t want to think about, and it was even more so because it was after he heard the story about Taejeokrune.
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“Hmmm, the king’s close associates we’re all caught and killed…. that must have been your family too,” Cain mumbled quietly. .foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
3
Aran was puzzled by Cain’s knowledge of the details of Kajang’s struggle for the throne. How could a foreigner know the internal affairs that he himself was unaware of, even though he was the son of the previous King?
~
“Cain, I don’t know how you know so much about everything in Kajang.”
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Aran asked as he looked at the growing shadows on the ground, Cain laughed wildly. His chest, touching Aran’s back, shook with the force of his laughter.
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“I like to go all over the place. Information always gives me strength, so I collect as much information as possible. However, this rebellion was something I never expected.”
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“……”
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“I went to Kajang because I had business to do, thanks to the rebellion, it turned out to be a waste of money, so it’s a big loss.”
~
Something about his tone didn’t settle right. Aran glanced up at him. In fact, the more he looked at him, the more suspicious he was. He wondered if he was a wandering information dealer. But Aran was too tired and didn’t want to think anymore, so he just shut his mouth.
~
His body was just worn out. He hadn’t been able to rest properly for the last few days, and today he was thirsty, but there was no water here. The sun had already risen and was now moving down again, it was so relentless. He wished they could find a small town, but there was only an endless wasteland before his eyes. His mind and his body were devastated. Aran put his head down on Cain’s chest and close his eyes. He also had a low-grade fever that went up and down repeatedly because he was never able to get rest after being ill.
~
It was around the time that he thought it would be on a horse for forever when Cain exclaimed in a voice full of joy.
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“Aha, now I can see the destination.”
8~
Indeed, a small town with several small buildings was seen from afar through a vast expanse of land, like a mirage. It was a small village on such a barren land, its appearance was both strange and reassuring. Would he finally be able to drink and rest? Just thinking of it made him sigh in relief.
~
“Still…. I’m glad Ryugen was kind enough to accommodate us, if I had been walking, a week would not have been enough.” Aran murmured as he looked at the faint panoramic view of the village.
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“……of course I sold my body…..” Cain snorted-
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“What if there hadn’t been compensation like that?” Cain murmured, but it couldn’t be understood, so Aran just looked at the village that was gradually getting closer, without answering. ..foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
4
The distance to the small village seemed quite long. Thanks to that, by the time they finally reached the mouth of the village, the sun was already setting over the horizon. In the village of scattered houses made of painted earth and walls, darkness was falling. Nevertheless, some people were still working. Most of them wore long cloaks to avoid the sandstorm, and most of them looked like Cain. They had dark brown skin and dark brown hair. However, there were no bright silver grey eyes like Cain. Most of them had dark brown or black eyes, and no one had a physique as magnificent as Cain.
~
As Aran looked around he was even more confused by Cain. He wondered where he came from and what country he was from, but he didn’t bother to ask. Cain, who was slowly maneuvering his horse around the village, soon found a place that look like a tavern. He hurriedly got off his horse and grab the reins and pulled the horse to a post. The weary horse muttered. He seemed to know that it was time to rest.
~
Aran sat on the horse barely able to support his own body, he looked as though he may collapse at any moment. Cain was tying the horse at the post. It seemed to be empty but suddenly he heard footsteps from somewhere. The footsteps were too heavy and daunting for the sound of villagers walking.
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It was the sounds made by several people, not just one or two. It was like the sound of soldiers marching, but it would be strange for soldiers to be in such a small outlining town. Aran thought something was unusual and nervously set up straight.
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“Huh”
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Then, Cain turned around with an incomprehensible smile. It was disconcerting to see him with that half smile. Aran looked at him with anxious eyes. The sound of footsteps we’re getting closer, and the group of people who had turned the corner of the alley finally appeared.
~
It was a group of soldiers, it looked like they were ten in number, and the sharpness could be seen at a glance, and their best talents could clearly be felt. Aran unconsciously grip his dagger at the sight of the man with a strong physique, posture, and a who had a stifling presence.
~
The man walking in front appeared to be the leader. He had black hair, all black clothes and shoes, and strong shoulders. He wore a long black cloak that went down to his ankles, and two long swords around his waist, making him look more like a reaper from the underworld than a man.
~
Cain said that Ryugen was an impressive assassin, but he always did as he pleased. If fact he was so disorganized that Aran doubted whether he was the best. But the dark man who looked like a living shadow was utterly different. Aran felt that if he moved wrong the man would pull his swords, it felt almost suffocating. He hoped Cain wasn’t a target for this man.
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Aran breath was caught in his chest, and he hoped inwardly that he had made a mistake, that the swordsman was not headed this way. However, as if ridiculing Aran’s hope, the shadowy man came up to Cain and stood tall.
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“Jar.”
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A low-pitched word came out of Cain’s mouth, and mercifully broke Aran’s expectations. Aran, who had steeled himself, reflexively turned his eyes to look back at Cain’s head. At that moment, Aran was resenting Cain for always meeting dangerous people everywhere.
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“Lord”
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The black-shadow-like man bowed his head in front of Cain at once, as he bent down on one knee, placing his arm on it. At the same time, the ten soldiers standing behind him bent their knees and bowed their heads in respect at once.
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“I was waiting.” The low voice said coldly.
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At that Aran finally turned to look at Cain with a bewildered expression. Are you a lord? He didn’t understand what he meant by this.
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“Thank you for coming this far.”
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Cain was nothing more than calm as he responded, as opposed to Aran who seemed to have gone mad. Aran watched with wide-open eyes as his handsome lips were raised at an angle. He wondered if he had met the wrong person. ..foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
5
(侯諸) The Earth Prince² ran out barefoot and bowed down in front of Cain. Cain, this man who has only been seen as a carefree rogue, is the emperor of this vast western land, The Empire.
~
Aran looked at him and couldn’t shake this bewildered feeling. It was only natural to doubt whether this could actually be Cain, who he had been with the last few days. As he entered the prince’s castle, in the escort of the soldiers, his appearance remained the same, but the easy atmosphere changed. The laid-back and playful rogue was already gone.
~
His presence overwhelmed the surroundings, as though it was letting everyone know that he was standing atop everything. His walking posture, the way he looked at people, and the way he talked, each was full of dignity. No one could match him. His very existence was intimidating.
~
Aran, who was walking after them at a distance, exhaled a short breath. He thought Cain was just a regular person, he had no idea that he was the emperor of The Empire. Who could he have imagined? What kind of Emperor crosses the ‘Forest of Evil Spirits’ alone without an escort? What is that all about!?
~
Cain heard the prince was waiting and headed toward the castle with a smile. Aran sat in front of Cain on the horse as usual, but he sat upright instead of leaning on him, as the soldiers walked in front of them with stoic faces.
~
Aran felt like he might collapse after only having a little water, but he stubbornly held himself up. He was surprised and a little angry at the same time at Cain, who was the Emperor of a vast expanse of land. He was upset because he felt he had been deceived. He was tempted to ask him why the emperor was wandering alone, but he didn’t have the energy to do so.
~
Aran, who was exhausted, was just staring in front of him, then suddenly a strong arm wrapped around his waist.
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“Whoa, what are you doing?”
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“It’s funny that a guy who’s really sick is forcing it so much.”
~
Cain laughed out loud briefly and tightened his arm pulling Aran in. Thanks to that, the upper body that he had been working so hard to keep straight and upright, was dragged backward, and his efforts were in vain. Cain hugged him more tightly, without a single-inch gap. His small body was subdued in his generous arms. It was frustrating.
~
Moreover, as his body got closer, an uncontrollable heat arose in him. Aran struggled with all his might, but it was useless. He didn’t have the might needed to move this arm in the first place. Aran soon ran out of energy, his limbs drooped, and his protruding pouty mouth showed that he had gone as far as he could go.
~
A delighted laugh fell over his head.
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“This is fun”.
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“I’m not a toy. And since you are not my monarch, I will not honor you as an emperor like they do.”
~
Aran temper rose quicker than his good sense, and the words came out involuntarily. Certainly, it was not something to say to the Emperor of this land, but he was angry at being deceived. As he was sulking Cain whispered in his ear.
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“I’m not yet a full Emperor, so don’t be nervous.”
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Aran shrugged and stiffen his shoulders. He wanted to ask what that meant, however, he was too scared. He closed his mouth instead.
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“Little boy, I’m not trying to be your emperor. But, since you’re my first subordinate, I’m still determined to make you genuinely consider me a superior, that has not changed yet.”
~
Aran couldn’t honestly understand why Cain was saying that. Even though he’s 12 years old, he’s still just a child. But when he thought about it, from the beginning until now, he never ignored or look down on him for being young.
~
He couldn’t understand why the king of a country went around so defenseless. It was common sense, in Kajang that would have been unacceptable. He was a man who always did strange things that Aran did not understand at all.
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“I’m not surprised. You are strong and courageous for such a young age, but on the other hand, you are just like an innocent child, you don’t really know anything. It’s strange, but it’s also attractive to people.”
~
Aran considered Cain strange, but Cain also seemed to think that Aran was strange. Aran woke up from his thoughts at Cain’s honest words. He looked up at Cain who had a smile on his face, but his silver-gray eyes were dark, he could tell he wasn’t joking.
~
“I have a sense of humor and keep things light. However, when you grow up, I feel like you’ll be swayed by me. But I hope that such a day will come sooner rather than later.” Cain whispered sweetly.
~
“There’s no use trying to try to entice me.”
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Aran who had not resolved his anger yet only turned his head. Cain’s laughter only grew louder.
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“This is too much fun.”
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“Even if you say you’re having fun, I’m not having fun.”
~
Cain ruffled Aran’s dark hair with his hand. Aran shriveled away from his touch and didn’t make eye contact.
~
“Okay, from now on, I’ll allow you to treat me the way you feel comfortable with, and I won’t force any of my expectations onto you. I’ll wait until you accept me, as my subordinate.”
~
His languid voice was sweet. Aran took a short breath. In fact, it wasn’t that he didn’t like Cain. He did like him, and Aran wanted Cain to get what he wanted. It was just that he was an ambiguous man, and he could never tell whether he was joking or serious, but he didn’t hate him. However, it was difficult to put these feelings into words, so he kept his mouth shut.
~
“Come on, how should I treat you in the future? Huh?”
~
As usual, Cain’s words were embarrassing. But the real problem was that he whispered with his lips close to Aran’s ear, as he was playing around. In an instant, the wet breath tickling is here caused excitement. A tingling thrill flowed from the back of his neck, down to his bottom. It was a creepy sensation. ..foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
6
The prince’s castle was simple. Aran didn’t know if it was because it was on the outskirts of barren land, but it was too small and simple to be called a castle for a prince. As if the prince’s personality was pure, he also wore plain clothes and a cloak without any adornment. The Prince and his family were pleased with Cain’s visit and led them directly to a banquet hall.
~
The soldiers were to be served outside, so the only people who followed inside the castle were Cain, The Shadowy Man, and Aran. Aran looked carefully inside the castle. Most of Kajang’s palaces were made of wood and emphasized lines so that they felt grand, splendid, and neat. This style that he saw for the first time now, was so strange that Aran couldn’t take his eyes off it, as he followed his host.
~
Upon entering the banquet hall, there was a long table, and it was filled with food that he saw for the first time. It seemed to show how much the prince cared about impressing Cain. Cain walked into the front, and sit down at the head of the table as though it were natural.
~
The only thing that looked out of place was Cain, who was wearing his sloppy outfit, but no one cared. The prince sat opposite him. The prince’s wife, two mature daughters, a young son who looked a little older than Aran, and several unknown people sat around him. Aran sat to the left at Cain’s beckoning. The Shadowy Man named Jar pulled out Cain’s chair and stood behind him.
~
Jar stood behind Cain, staring down the table with his sharp eyes. It was unavoidable that the man would cause one to become intimidated. The thought that he could pull his sharp sword lingered in the back of one’s mind. If he had been standing behind Aran he probably wouldn’t have been able to eat. But Cain wasn’t bothered at all. He just sat down and started eating as though he were used to it.
~
Aran stared at the dish in front of him with bewildered eyes. The unknown meat looked mouth-watering, but the problem lies with the tableware.
~
Cain, who was talking with the prince turned his silver-gray eyes to look at Aran, whose eyes were full of wonder he couldn’t even lift a finger.
~
“What is it?”
..foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
~
Aran hesitated a moment and then put his mouth to Cain’s ear and whispered softly.
~
” I don’t know how to use these utensils.”
~
Cain turned to Aran with a look of surprise, at Aran’s look of embarrassment. He had never seen, much less tried to eat with this strange trident-shaped utensil. Nor had used this kind of knife, or long spoon before.
~
“Give it to me.”
~
Aran sat still without moving his hand as Cain pulled Aran’s plate and placed it in front of himself. He took the knife and cut the food into pieces, broke off a large piece of bread and wrapped the food and it, then handed it over to Aran and instructed him to take the trident-like thing, called a fork, and dip it to pick up the rest of the food.
~
Aran nodded and meekly grabbed the bread he had made and chewed it. After a while, he felt the surroundings become quiet and he looked up. The movement of chewing food had stopped abruptly. Not to mention all eyes were on Cain and himself.
~
Everyone in the banquet hall was looking at Aran with wide-open eyes as if he had committed some terrible offense. Even the shadowy man standing behind Cain’s back raised his eyebrows in bewilderment. A groan nearly escaped him as he recognized his faux pas. He could hardly hide his embarrassment at forgetting Cain’s identity for a while.
~
“If his majesty wants it, I will tell the chef to cut the food for the party.”
~
The prince suggested earnestly with a face full of embarrassment, as though he didn’t know what to do. Everyone in the hall was speechless at the spectacle.
~
“No, there’s no need, I’ll take care of it so don’t worry about it.”
~
Cain waved his hand indifferently. He didn’t seem to have noticed that the faces of all the people gathered here were gray. Nevertheless, when the Emperor said it, it was difficult to repudiate, so one mentioned it again. Everyone just turn their head and awkwardly continued their meal. Thanks to this, Aran felt that he was sitting on a cushion of thorns, but he could not undo what had already happened so he just chewed his food.
~
It was an uncomfortable, depressing atmosphere, but he had to pretend to enjoy himself while he ate. In the middle of all this, Cain alone was the only person who didn’t care and kept a pleasant smile on his face.
7
As soon as the meal was over Aran followed the guide to the bedroom. He was exhausted from his fever constantly fluctuating, and he could not stand it anymore. Fortunately, Cain noticed quickly and told him to go up first.
~
The room the attendant guided him to was spacious. It was simple, but the floor was covered with luxurious rugs and the bed was large enough to roll around. This time Aran looked at the things he saw for the first time with curiosity. However, he could not stand the overwhelming exhaustion and fell asleep lying on the bed. It was around that time that he was in a semi-conscious sleep, that he heard a faint voice. It was a low, cool, unfamiliar voice that pierced his hazy sleep.
~
“Sir, who is this child?”
~
“It’s the jewel I picked up, what do you think, isn’t it pretty?”
~
The bass tone with a smile in it was Cain’s voice, which was easily recognizable to him. Aran could feel him next to him, gently stroking his hair. Nevertheless, he could not wake up and he was floating around the border between sleep and reality.
~
“I know you can’t like that!?”
~
“What do you take me for? I’m not the kind that would like a kid like that.”
~
“………sorry.”
~
Cain smirked at the man’s questioning words and scolded him.
~
“His spirit is considerable, but he will need your talents.”
~
“You have a unique eye for judging people, so if you say it, it must be so.”
~
The man’s tone of voice was full of trust in Cain. It told that in his heart, there was not a bit of doubt in him. It made Aran pause, he did not know how to give that kind of trust yet. Cain, who have been silent for a moment, spoke softly.
~
“It seems that he was a noble boy who was orphaned instantly because of what happened in Kajang-guk.”
~
“Did you say Kajang-guk?”
~
“Thanks to that mess things went wrong, but it wasn’t all bad since I got this instead. If he grows up with the pride underlying nobility, this child will become even more handsome.”
~
His monotonous movements of slowly wrapping Aran’s hair around his fingers had a soporific effect. He could barely hear what they were saying now as he began drifting farther off to sleep again.
~
“Jar, I want you to teach this kid.”
~
“You mean?”
~
“I don’t know if he can keep up with your craft, but it will be fun. Teach him to be lethal.”
~
“Lethal?”
~
“Seriously, just looking at his face made me weak. If he lives with a face like this and no support, the bizarre people will come after him in a moment. So don’t be swayed by this guy’s personality.”
~
“………”
~
“So I hope you will be a good teacher.”
~
“If it’s of any help to his majesty, I am willing.”
~
Upon hearing jars answer, Cain languidly played with Aran’s hair. His movements were like a cat casually playing with its prey, but it wasn’t unfriendly. Cain, who had been playing with Aran’s hair for a while, suddenly lowered his head and place the tip of his nose over Aran’s head. Aran reflexively shrugged at the heat that was too close.
~
“I’m not surprised. This child smells sweet.”
~
Cain, who had been muttering softly as if talking to himself, immediately pulled away. As the heat that had touched Aran disappeared, he felt a little sad.
~
“Do all children naturally smell like this?”
~
“……”
~
“You must know.”
~
Jar didn’t say anything to Cain, who was talking to himself as though he were alone. Then his gentle hand tickled his hair again. After being silent for a while Jar suddenly asked Cain.
~
“Master, what are you going to do now about Kajang-guk?
~
“Well, I’ll have to see. Had the late King have lived, he would have been a good collaborator, but that damn Taejeok Rune came in. Now I have no choice but to wait and see if I can reach out to him first.”
~
“I don’t think Taejeokrune can be trusted.”
~
“He’s really mean and evil. Even though he paid him good money, he didn’t like Ryugen who helped him. He almost went for his neck.”
~
“….Have you met with Ryugen?” Jar asked in a stern voice.
~
‘Ummmm’ Cain didn’t answer right away he just let out a sound as though it was troublesome. Even if Aran didn’t open his eyes, he seemed to know what kind of embarrassing expression Cain was making right now, so Aran raised his eyebrows and pulled the corners of his mouth slightly. In the meantime, Jar was nagging Cain.
~
“So, didn’t I tell you it was dangerous?”
~
“Yes, you did.”
~
“I was worried something like that would happen. Where in the world do you find an emperor who crosses borders without an escort?”
~
Cain shrugged at the sharp voice.
~
“I arrived safely. Besides, Ryugen can’t kill me recklessly, right?”
~
“Even if it wasn’t that, you did too much this time. Do you know that I’ve been waiting for you worrying, and not getting enough sleep from day to day since you disappeared, it was supposed to be just overnight.”
~
Jar let out a low sigh. The voice alone conveyed how much he suffered. Aran wanted to express his regret to him, even though he did not know him yet.
~
“I know. I’m very sorry for leaving you behind. Still, there was something I needed to do myself, so I had no choice.”
~
“From now on, you will become the emperor of the Empire. Please refrain from hasty actions.”
~
In the end, Cain replied ‘I know’, but smirked as though something had come to his mind.
~
“Jar, come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you talk this much so excitedly. When I want to see you like that again, can I just walk around as I please?”
~
“Lord!”
~
In the end, Jar couldn’t stand it so he screamed at him. At the same time, tremendous energy was spreading. Aran, who have been sleeping in a hazy sleep, woke up with a flash of anger and raised his ire. All of his sleep was gone in an instant…foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
8
“Hey, you woke Aran up.”
~
‘How about that’, Cain laughed and pulled Aran into his arms. Although he woke up, he was still in a daze, so Aran was gently dragged by him while looking around blankly as expected. As if the conversation that had been circling in his ears up until now, had been a dream.
~
The man in black was glaring at Cain with a grim expression. It wouldn’t have seemed strange even if the actual Grim Reaper came, so Aran just flinched and shrugged.
~
“Look, the kid is scared because of you. If I saw you, I’d be scared and would be trembling like that too.”
~
Cain clicked his tongue and scolded Jar. Then he squeezed his arms and hugged Aran tightly. It was stuffy and choking so Aran looked up at him and told him to stop. Cain, who was wearing clean clothes, smelled soft as if he had taken a bath. Just looking at his face, Aran was blown away.
~
“Let go.”
~
Aran said while shaking his arm and trying to sit up straight, the sharp gaze of the shadowy man following him. Even so, Cain smiled at Aran who was half buried in a soft pillow.
~
“Kid, you fell asleep without washing. You have to change your clothes first. These are dirty, you look a mess.”
~
Looking down at his dirty clothes, Aran clicked his tongue. It was just as he said, but by the time he entered the room, he was too tired to wash and change his clothes. He wasn’t in very good condition now, but he was even worse when he first entered the room.
~
“Did your fever go away?”
~
While he was thinking about his need to change clothes, Cain’s large hand suddenly covered his forehead. When he turned his head surprised at the unexpected action, he clicked his tongue slightly.
~
“You still have a fever. I guess it’s better to just sleep than to shower today. Take off your dirty clothes and lie down comfortably. Get a good night’s sleep and your body will heal faster.”
~
Cain, who was speaking as if commanding Aran, beckoned to Jar. At that one movement, Jar bowed his head and said his farewells as he left the room. There were only two of them in the room now.
~
“Come here, I will help you.”
~
As he was sitting feeling a bit awkward, Cain broke the silence and pulled Aran in. Then, with skillful hands, he unbuttoned the buttons, then grabbed one arm, and took off the sleeve from the bottom. Cain held out his hand against Aran, who watched as his arm fell out of the clothes he was wearing.
~
“There.”
~
This time Aran naturally stretched out his other arm. At that exact moment, there was a knock on the door. As the heavy door opened silently with the knock, someone immediately stepped through the small gap made in the doorway.
~
Aran and Cain looked up at the same time. They thought Jar had returned, but instead, there was a young woman standing by the door. The woman was covered in a dark cloak from head to toe and had long hair hanging down to her chest. Perhaps she didn’t know that Aran was there, because the moment she saw the two of them sitting side-by-side on the bed, she quickly lifted up her thick cloak to cover herself.
~
” I…….”
~
The woman whose cheeks were stained with a blush was obviously startled and nervous to the point where she could not speak. Cain, on the other hand, glanced at her with apathetic eyes and let out a low ‘hmmm’.
~
“Did this Prince send you?” When Cain calmly asked her, the woman nodded her head in affirmation.
~
“How about this?… I’m too tired right now, so I guess I’ll have to politely decline.”
~
Cain spoke calmly, with a light tone. She nodded her head, recognizing the friendly, resolute refusal. Cain was half laying on the bed, as Aran caught him in his eye, he wondered if he was regretting it. As he undressed she bowed her head and blushed as if knew what they were doing now.
~
“Okay, I see, I will tell my father that.”
~
“Okay. Please tell him that I am grateful for the gift.”
~
As soon as the words fell, the woman ran out of the room. The door closed, and the gloomy silence descended once more. Aran, who had been sitting still until now, realized that the woman who had just visited was one of the prince’s daughters.
~
But why did the grownup virgin come in like that? As he was thinking about it, Cain laughed out loud next to him.
~
“I Can See Clearly what you’re thinking.”
~
“……”
~
“You are a bold and fearless child, but I can see that you’re ignorant of that.”
~
Then he extended his other arm in front of his nose and said, ‘to do it’. Aran furrowed his brows as he frowned at Cain, who was throwing out words that didn’t make sense, rolling his eyes and smiling.
~
“So cute” teased Cain
~
Cain took off Aran’s clothes with ease and with a friendly smile on his face. Then, he put a thin white gown over him. The sac-like clothes were also similar to those worn by the woman who had just entered and disappeared.
~
“Maybe tomorrow there will be a rumor throughout the castle.”
~
While Aran fluttered his clothes around like dragonfly wings, Cain mumbled as he lay down on the bed.
~
“Is a bit of an unpleasant rumor, but…..”
~
“An unpleasant rumor? What are you talking about? “
~
Aran looked back at Cain who was muttering to himself and tilted his head. But instead of answering, Cain just tapped the spot next to him. Aran had no intention of cuddling up like a tamed puppy, but he was tired from waking up from his sleep. So Aran lay silently with his back to Cain’s side. Then Cain’s heavy arms wrapped around his waist from behind.
~
“Get them off of me.”
~
His muscular arms were so heavy Aran couldn’t catch his breath. So he grabbed Cain’s arms and threw them off him. It was uncomfortable because he wasn’t used to having a person lay next to him, and it was so uncomfortable to have a person’s heavy arms wrapped around him. But the most uncomfortable thing was that every time Cain came closer, his body started to heat up.
~
“Alright”
~
As he grumbled from behind, Cain didn’t know how hard Aran’s heart was pounding. That only lasted for a moment, and soon the low breath sounds resounded. He fell asleep as soon as his head touched the bed. Like Aran, Cain was exhausted from the journey. He closed his eyes with a sigh of relief.
~
When Aran closed his eyes for the past three days, a single scene replayed in his mind. It was dawn just before leaving ‘The Forest of Evil Spirits‘. The figure of Cain crushing Ryugen under him in the forest where the moonlight was pouring in. Sweat drenched his brown skin, his terrifyingly strong muscle movements, the violent waist movements, his excited expression…….. and the cold but furious passion.
~
Aran’s heart was pounding at the afterimages that vividly played in his mind. A long sigh leaked out of his mouth. Aran, unable to bare the gradually spreading heat, crouched down and clenched his teeth. Cain’s body temperature still clinging to his back, was so hot it was scalding. He suddenly became anxious. If the memory did not go away and remained like embers burning …. he had a foreboding that one day it wouldn’t be able to look at him face to face. He made a vow to forget; he repeated ‘It’s nothing, just forget it, over and over, then Aran finally closed his eyes. ..foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com
T/N:
² This Royal ranking isn’t like the Western ranking system. The Prince isn’t related to Cain, he was originally a ruler of that land that became a part of the Empire. By Western standards, he’d be something like a King. ↩
Foolish Translations 
I thought he was a general or something but not the emperor. This emperor is too playful lol
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I cant believe he’s the emperor. I wasn’t expecting that at all 😆
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Thanks for reading it []~(￣▽￣)~*
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