Volume 3 – Cold Wave (寒波)
1
A sharp wind blew past his ears like the blade of a knife. With every trudging step the horse made, white snow flew out from under its hooves. He pulled on the thick hem of his clothes and he exhaled, as the white clouds of his breaths scattered. The harsh cold that he had felt for the first time in years made his body shudder, but Aran just sat on the horse as usual, in an upright posture.
The whole earth had turned white. Even now because of the pouring white snow, the mountains, the trees, and the whole expansive land, everything that could be seen was pure white. It was different from the Empire where the scorching hot sun was always shining, and the desert spread endlessly.
How long had it been since he’d seen snow? The scenery around the area was covered with white snow that was rarely seen in the Empire. It was enough to cause him to make an exclamation of admiration. Aran was looking at the magnificent scenery as if to remind himself that this was what winter was like.
It was the scenery he saw every winter when he was a child, but back then he didn’t think it was particularly impressive. However, since he hadn’t seen it in a long time, he felt that the cold air, white snow, and the ridges that curve like flowing water were so beautiful that they made his heart ache.
When he put everything into a single view, his heart throbbed. Unbearable emotions arose and he pulled on the reins with force with his leather-clad hands.
Aherherher–
The horse that was carefully descending the snow-covered mountain road stopped and made a sound. Every time the horse shook his head and exhaled, a white mist spread through the icy air.
Aran jumped off the horse’s back. As a result, the group stopped moving all at once, but without any hesitation they walked neatly down the incline, stepping into the snow that came up to their ankles. Aran’s obsidian eyes trembled as he looked down at the ridge. He just stood there for a long time, sweeping away the gloominess in his heart.
”…Prince.”
Shaw walked over to his side without a sound, raised his hand, and gently brushed the snow off his shoulder. Despite their long journey, he showed no sign of exhaustion anywhere, but his concern for Aran could not be hidden.
“It’s cold today.”
The way he spoke was sweet. Aran had been living in a desert with a hot climate for a long time, so Shaw was probably worried that he was not used to such cold temperatures. Aran shook his head as he thought about how he showed his caring attention to even the smallest things.
“I couldn’t believe it. So I wanted to take a closer look.”
To be honest, it felt so incomprehensible that he couldn’t believe that the ground he was standing on was Kajang. He didn’t know that he would be coming back so suddenly. Or maybe it was because he had been living with the anxiety that he might never be able to come back.
“I’m back. I’m really back!”
His soliloquy came out unconsciously. Is this really the motherland? Was this really the country where he was born and raised? Did he return to his father’s country?
He didn’t know if he was still dreaming. Aran raised his hand and clutched his chest with a mixture of overwhelming joy and pain as if his heart was sinking heavily. Shaw’s hand that was wrapped around his shoulder tightened a little. Shaw, who always conveys warmth, opened his mouth for a moment, then lowered his head and spoke.
“Yes, you are back. You have truly returned!”
After hearing his kind words Aran nodded his head. It was a pity that because of the land being stolen they couldn’t fully rejoice, but he was so moved that his heart was pounding anyway. But soon he remembered the real purpose of coming back here, to reclaim this lost country, and he bit his lip that had become blue in the cold air.
“How much farther do we have to go until we get to General Jiyul?”
Aran’s face as he turned around and asked, no longer showed any emotion or regret. All that remained was the stoic and calm expression that was the same as it always was.
“As long as the snow doesn’t get any heavier, I think we can reach there in three or four days.”
Answered Shaw while holding the reins for Aran, who climbed lightly onto the back of his horse.
“In three or four days…….”
Aran exhaled a long breath as he looked at the snowflakes fluttering in the wind.
“We should move a little faster.”
“Yes.”
“There’s no time to be immersed in sentimentality in the first place.”
Aran said, chastising himself out loud. Then he got back on his horse that had been standing there waiting for him. As soon as he was ready to ride again, Shaw beckoned to the waiting companions. And soon they started running through the snow at a slightly faster speed.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than www. foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
2
The road back to Kajang from the capital of the desert country ruled by Cain was longer than Aran anticipated.
For the first three days, he just ran frantically for fear that Cain might follow. He was running blindly without thinking like there was an envoy at his back. He was sorry, anxious, and afraid to leave Cain in such a way. It felt as though he was giving chase to him right away. To Aran, It was as if he was about to grab his throat and freeze him with a look from his cold gray eyes.
It was for that reason that he couldn’t eat or sleep. He just pushed the horses as if he were running away. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was half out of his mind. It was Shaw that stopped Aran from continuing on that way.
“If you persist in continuing on in this manner, I will turn back to the Imperial Palace!”
Exclaimed Shaw, who rarely raises his voice, as he opened his eyes wide and shouted loudly. It was not what the escort warrior would normally do to the Lord, but it was inevitable. Especially after seeing Aran that early morning, when he saw him taking the initiative to leave the Imperial Palace.
After seeing Aran’s exhausted face, the vivid marks on the nape of his neck that were visible above the hem of his clothes, and a faint smell that made it obvious as to what had happened to him last night, Shaw’s mind became dizzy. Had he been forced to do it? When he thought back on that suspicion, he lost his rationality and wanted to spill blood.
However, Aran was calm to the end. He behaved like he normally did, as though nothing had happened, and with a relaxed countenance, he spoke with a calm voice saying only that they had to leave this place right now.
“…Don’t say anything.”
His quiet words calmed Shaw’s anger that was about to explode. He couldn’t say anything more. Nevertheless, he ground his teeth while leaving the castle with Aran. If he ever met Cain again he would never let it go. He clenched his fists. Regardless of his status, he promised to pay him back for making his precious master suffer in this way.
Aran said nothing and pretended not to notice as he watched Shaw’s silent anger. As though he could think of nothing else other than leaving the castle in a hurry. But even though he was pretending to be calm, he was as dangerous as a lamp in the wind. So on the third day of not seeing him, his condition had gotten worse.
“l know you heard me say I’m okay.”
Aran’s obsidian eyes were sharp as he looked at Shaw, who shouted that he would return to the Empire immediately. But his face was still red from the fever. He was trying to hide it somehow, but his short fast breathing was unsettling.
‘Don’t be stubborn. The Prince is in no condition to ride a horse right now, is he? I know The Prince’s feelings better than anyone. But what are you going to do if you keep going on like this, and collapse?”
“I’m not weak, I didn’t fall.”
“You are weak now.”
Shaw, who spoke the truth with his calm, cold eyes, dragged him to an old inn on the outskirts of town. The first thing he had to do was rest! He had run without being able to rest in a proper bed for fear that Cain might come after him, but he couldn’t let it go any longer.
“This is a village on the outskirts of the empire and it’s hard to find, so you can rest peacefully.”
Shaw spoke firmly as he strode forward. In fact, it didn’t matter if it was a difficult place to find or not, he had to rest anyway. Soon they would be crossing the ‘Forest of Evil Spirits’, but in his current state, it would be impossible.
In the end, Shaw didn’t give into Aran’s stubbornness, and was dragged to his bed by Shaw, and made to lie down. Shaw was never one to insist on Aran doing anything, but in this situation, he felt he had no choice. What he said was true, Aran’s condition was deteriorating. Since he was a child he would often get fevers, but now his fever was boiling.
Aran laid down on the bed, he thought that if he insisted anymore, Shaw would become more difficult. However, contrary to his pleading that he was fine, Aran fell asleep and did not wake up for over a full day,
After Aran fell asleep, as though he’d passed out, Ryugen arrived outside the inn. When Aran left the palace he contacted Ryugen, who quickly followed him as though he’d been waiting for him, contrary to the lukewarm attitude he showed Aran when he first visited him and asked for help.
As soon as he arrived, he heard the news that Aran had collapsed and lost consciousness, Ryugen frowned and clicked his tongue. As soon as he showed up at Ryugen’s house in that condition, Ryugen hugged him and went out and cursed at Cain, saying that it was obvious that he had abused Aran, otherwise he wouldn’t have fled the palace like he was running away, and he wouldn’t have been in such a bad condition!
“Are you saying that Cain hasn’t been following you?”
Ryugen asked Shaw, who was worried about Aran because he had fallen asleep like he’d fainted. Shaw remembered Cain and nodded. Just like Aran, Shaw was afraid that he might be caught by Cain as well. Isn’t it impossible to stay calm when faced with that fiery personality?
But until now when Ryugen arrived, for some reason, he’d only been scared of encountering Cain. If Cain had decided to pursue Aran, it would have been easy enough for him to have captured them by now, but there had been only silence. It was the silence that heightened his anxiety.
“Hey, escort.”
Shaw looked up at him.
“The emperor must have been unbearably angry.”
“Is that so? I thought that there would be a pursuit team dispatched right away, but all this quiet has me worried.”
The corners of Ryugen’s mouth lifted when Shaw voiced his dissatisfaction mixed with doubt.
“The Cain I know is such a man. If he gets angry to the point that he loses his head, he’ll let go of his hand. And while he’s cooling his head, he’ll make up a plan step by step. How to catch and kill them in the most perfect and brutal way. He’ll wait until he can make a rational decision.
Ryugen rolled a cigarette with his fingers and laughed out loud, he even looked happy. Shaw looked at him silently and frowned slightly.
“Since the cherished one ran away in this way, he must be insane too, right? If he chased after him in such a state, he would be too afraid of what he would do.”
Ryugen was carefree as he talked to himself with a cigarette wrapped neatly in paper in his mouth. Shaw’s uncomfortable feelings and anxieties were twisted at the sight of him.
“For the time being The Emperor will not follow you. When The Prince wakes up, let him set off on the road in peace.”
“Can you guarantee me?”
“Have you heard what I’ve said so far?”
Ryugen’s confident words made Shaw’s mood even darker. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever be able to believe it. However, Ryugen just smoked for a long time, as if there was nothing more to say.
Then he asked a random question.
“Did you say you were going to meet your allies soon?’
Shaw nodded instead of answering. After a few more villages, they would join the warriors sent by General Jiyul. Yes, there were only three or four people coming so they shouldn’t be noticed. By now they would have already arrived in the village and were waiting for them.
“Then it would be better to separate for a while, here.”
Muttered Ryugen as he exhaled the cigarette smoke. Shaw glared at him suspiciously with squinted eyes. Aran said he was a necessary person. He told him that not so long ago, he had been Taejeokrune’s closest aide. He remembered being deeply surprised by that bit of information. That a skillful assassin would join the group and have a lot of information. He was even more surprised because that person had a completely different character from what he expected.
“What does that mean? Weren’t we going to Kajang together?”
“Of course, we’re going there. But before that, there are things that need to be taken care of.”
“… …”
Besides, if you add up the number of your warriors with mine, the number is greater than twenty. It’s inconvenient to go all at once with such a number. Also, I stand out so I can’t even say hello to The Prince.”
He was right, so before he could add anything else, Ryugen quickly threw out a shortened cigarette and got up from his seat.
“You know where you’re going, so we’ll see you again, there.”
“I’ll tell you something else…”
“The Forest of Evil Spirits gets particularly rough at this time of the year. Be careful not to become lost.”
Ryugen added with a smirk, then turned around without hesitation. Although he was dressed in a shabby outfit, Shaw was watching his strong back. He sighed briefly instead of answering back. Ryugen quickly disappeared into the darkness, and after a while, he heard the sound of the hooves of several horses moving away. Shaw was lost in thought as he stood motionless, listening to the disappearing sound.
In any event, just as he said, the emperor did not seem to be coming after them. When he considered how quiet it was until now, the tension in his mind was relieved. He would let it go. At least there will be no obstacles on the way back to the homeland.
He breathed a sigh of relief, and his breath scattered white in the cold air. Staring blankly at that, Shaw pulled his cloak tighter. The days were getting colder. Even though it is a desert land, after the sun has completely gone down, it is cold enough to make your bones ache.
By the time they arrive in Kajang, it will already be midwinter and it will be covered with snow. Did he properly prepare to withstand the cold? After Shaw thought about his allies that they were about to meet, he let out a long sigh as he contemplated yet another concern.
Aran woke up deep into the evening when the moon was rising. In the dark inn, as Shaw was closing his eyes in the chair in the corner, he heard quiet footsteps. Even while sleeping, Shaw noticed his movement and opened his eyes. Aran was standing in front of the window, where the moonlight was pouring in, and looking up at the dark sky with a blanket around his shoulders.
“You’re awake.”
Said Shaw worriedly, he got up quickly and walked up to him.
“How long did I sleep?”
“It must have been a little over a day.”
“……A day.”
Aran looked up at the sky with calm eyes. He didn’t like a person who woke up from illness, though he looked a little startled as he turned to Shaw. Seeing him with a haggard face and having lost some weight in these few days, Shaw smiled sadly
Then Aran muttered softly.
“…I guess he didn’t follow.”
All of a sudden, his heart felt heavy. He had an indifferent expression and deeply immersed eyes. But unlike his expression, he felt a sense of deep disappointment, and he couldn’t respond. It was as though his running away towards death was now somehow irrelevant.
Aran pulled the top of the blanket and wrapped it around his thinking body, and looked at the dark sky again. He looked again and again like someone looking for something beyond the darkness, waiting. But in the dark desert, there was nothing but the cold moonlight.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than www. foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
3
The castle hidden in the mountains was made of dark gray stone walls. It was really a small fortress, but it was fairly close to being a castle. It was a quiet and gloomy place, to the extent that they would have believed it had been abandoned if the lights hadn’t flickered one by one to meet Aran and his escorts. After all, who would have known that such a castle would exist in a remote mountain, far away from the villages where people live?
A soldier opened a heavy door and gave way to the inside, bowing his head with his spear up. As they entered through the narrow gate, a wide-open courtyard was revealed. As in other places, the courtyard had turned white due to the heavy snow. Aran took a step into the castle and found that there were people already there to meet him, he then jumped off his horse lightly.
“Prince……Jung?”
As soon as he heard the news the man ran out of the main building in a hurry, and as he stood in front of him breathing white breaths in the courtyard, he opened his mouth.
“Jiyul, is it you?”
The man, who was looking at Aran as though he’d lost his mind, jumped in front of Aran and bowed low, putting his forehead on the frozen snow-covered ground. As a result, the people who came to welcome The Prince fell to the floor in unison.
“Prince Jung, it is an honor to see you again. Greetings from Jiyul.”
The man was much smaller than he remembered, and he spoke in a voice that trembled thinly like a frayed snowflake. Before the age of forty, he had gained the trust of the late King with his brilliant mind and extensive knowledge and rose to the rank of General at a young age.
When he was young Aran rarely had to go to the main palace, so they didn’t see each other but a few times, however, Aran was left with a unique impression every time. He had an upright posture without distraction and a soft and gentle presence, but he also had sharp fierce eyes, which made him feel that he was not an easy person. He was a person who was confident and full of dignity in every way.
Such a man was now lying at his feet, pouring out intense emotions. Perhaps because of that, he looked so small and weaker, contrary to what Aran remembered. Aran approached him and swept away the somber atmosphere.
”…..Jiyul.”
He bent down on one knee and put his hand on his shoulder, and he slowly straightened his back. The face that was revealed at that time was still more haggard than before. It was obvious without even having to say anything just how much he had struggled in the past. Even so, there was no difference in the black eyes looking back at him. His eyes were clear and bright.
Jiyul was his father’s General, his strongest supporter, and his right-hand man. It made Aran’s heart feel proud knowing that he is now by his side.
“I was not able to protect the late King because I was lacking. God please forgive me.”
Jiyul lowered his head as if he had committed a mortal sin, and sobbed.
“You don’t have to say that. It’s not your fault.”
“If I had known that this would happen, I would never have left the side of the late king, I have no right to face The Prince.”
His faintly, trembling, regretful voice made Aran’s heart freeze like cold snow. A cold snow wind swept over the dark hair of the man who knelt down and bowed his head like a sinner. Aran carefully wiped away the snow that had piled up on his shoulder and put his arm around him.
“It was a long time ago. I’m just thankful that you’re alive. Thank you for finding me.”
“Prince Jung…….”
“Thank you so much.”
He said endlessly to himself, that he was grateful for being alive, and for creating a place like this for him to return to. Jiyul’s head was bowed, and his shoulders seemed to be trembling involuntarily. Aran felt pity for him, so he tried to embrace him with a little more strength, then Shaw came close and spoke in a low voice.
“It’s getting cold. Why don’t you eat inside first?”
Then they realized that they were still in front of the courtyard where the blizzard was still blowing. Jiyul got up first in a hurry.
“Oh my god, I didn’t even welcome the person who came from a long way with joy. Please forgive my rudeness.”
Reproaching himself for failing to bring a precious person inside, he hastily led Aran into the fortress. Aran, who was following them quietly, suddenly looked back before entering the castle.
There was nothing in the dark surroundings. He saw nothing but the shadows of the black trees and the snowflakes still flying. Still, he looked around for a while longer. It was because he had the illusion of hearing Cain’s voice from behind.
A sad voice called out to him.
Maybe it was tinnitus. Even though it is clearly an illusion, a voice that made his heart throb was ringing in his ears through the blizzard. Aran could not take a step as he stared at the dark sky.
“….. Cain, we have just arrived.”
Aran’s faint voice scattered white in the cold air.
He wanted to let him know that he had arrived there safely. He said that he had reunited with the loyal servants who had followed the late king. He wanted to convey that he didn’t have to worry, and to wait a little longer. He wanted to remind him again and again that he would definitely go back to him when everything was sorted out. Aran took a heavy step hoping that he would understand his sincerity.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
4
“After Taejeokrune ascended to the throne, Kajang changed a lot.”
Jiyul said calmly, in a space that was so quiet that Aran could hear the sound of a bonfire burning. Dark shadows danced in the flickering candlelight, making the space where they were located even more somber.
After having a proper meal after his long journey, they were left alone in the room with a heavy atmosphere. Jiyul bowed his head as if he were sorry for bringing up this subject as soon as he came with his tired body.
“I am happy though. Now that The Prince has come, I think that God has not abandoned us yet.”
Aran was deep in thought as he looked at Jiyul, who was sitting opposite him with a light smile on his lips. The situation was worse than he had expected. Taejeokrune was destroying the wealth and honor of the country that the previous Kings had built.
As Aran listened to the story of what had happened over the past decade since he stole the throne, he couldn’t even tell if Taejeokrune was actually doing politics for the country at all. Taejeokrune’s main activities were to expand the land endlessly and invade neighboring countries. Because of this, the country’s territory grew, but there was also news that revolts were taking place in various places, and there was serious pressure being put on the conquered territories.
Did Taejeokrune believe that he could rule a country with force and fear alone? Aran still remembered his bloodthirsty eyes, vividly. Just by looking into his eyes, Aran didn’t think he would take good care of the people but hearing the stories of his reign in person was dark. Did he murder his father and annihilate his brothers, just to ruin the country in this way?
Taejeokrune did not hesitate to speak and act insidiously towards himself, and even though he knew that Cain was the Emperor of the Empire, he would have killed him mercilessly by firing his bow. But now after facing the news of the devastation of his country he felt anger boiling up from the depths of his heart.
“If we go to war, what are our chances of winning?”
He swept aside his boiling anger and looked at Jiyul, as a strange smile spread across his lips.
“Everything is ready. All we needed was you, Prince.”
“…….”
Shaw said that The Prince was definitely alive and that he could find him. We trusted in his conviction and have prepared everything.”
His words were full of confidence. His frighteningly fiercely eyes spoke as if saying there would be no problems even if they stormed Taejeokrune at this very moment. If Jiyul was so confident, there was no doubt about it.
“Currently, the forces against Taejeokrune are growing. When he usurped the throne, he purged those who sided with the late King and his relatives, but there were bound to be survivors.”
“Like you and me.”
He muttered bitterly to himself and Jiyul nodded his head gently and continued speaking.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that most of the bureaucrats and leaders who were loyal to the late King have joined hands with us.”
“The leaders who followed my father….”
“Yes, the confidence in the late King was that great and strong.”
“Alright…….”
“Besides, knowing that Prince Jung has returned will surely lend strength to those who are still unsure.”
Contrary to Jiyul’s happy brightening face, Aran made a more firm expression. The burden of responsibility was much greater than when he faced Taejeokrune as a child. For the first time he was afraid that as the son, he wouldn’t be able to do well as the late great King.
After thinking about it for a while, Jiyul filled the glass from the bottle of wine placed on the small table. Listening indifferently to the pure sound of alcohol dripping in the empty space, Aran continued to be lost in thought.
“By the way, it is said that there is an internal division in the palace.”
“Internal division?”
“The group that Taejeokrun brought with him at the beginning and the new powers have not aligned with each other, so the new faction is divided, it is a good opportunity for us.”
“Right.”
As he continued to listen to Jiyul’s words, he felt puzzled at the same time. He wondered what the hell Taejeokrun was doing by conquering all these lands!? Why are they constantly waging wars and expanding their land while leaving the country in shambles as though they have no interest in politics?
“The Prince’s return came just in time to fall in line with the current situation, in which conflicts on the inside, and the public sentiment on the outside, are atrocious. We have a chance. I will make it happen!”
The former General, whom his father trusted, spoke calmly and resolutely. No one ranted foolishly, no one spoke nonsense as if he was so sure it would be an easy victory. Aran nodded and tilted the glass he had only been holding in his hand.
“The throne belongs to The Prince. Please take back your throne and the country that Taejeokrune took away.”
Aran put down the empty drink and shook his head. He looked at Jiyul carefully, and he lowered his head as he calmly spoke.
“No, it wasn’t mine originally. It’s a position that should have been inherited by my older brother after my father. It was never supposed to be mine.”
“Prince.”
“I heard that Won is alive, so I’m asking you, where is he?”
He was told by Shaw that it was Jiyul who sent him a definitive answer, so if he had questions he had to ask him. Nevertheless, Aran asked to confirm yet again. When he was asked about Won’s story, Jiyul had a stiff expression on his face for a moment, and slowly opened his mouth.
“Yes, an aide told me that there was a boy who looked like Prince Won in an annex that was far away from the inner palace. However, it is difficult to find out why Taejeokrune kept Prince Won alive.”
That was the part that Aran couldn’t even guess about, so he didn’t say anything recklessly. However, Ryugen had also assured him that Won was still alive, and no matter what anyone said, his intelligence was reliable, so he had no choice but to believe it was Won.
“It is incomprehensible, but I believe the child is Won. Therefore, the most important thing to do while striking at Taejeokrune should be to recover Won safely.”
Aran, who had been thinking about Ryugen and Jiyul’s words over and over again, gave the order with a thoughtful face. At his words, Jiyul deeply bowed his head.
“Of course, getting Prince Won back safely will be our top priority. But there is one request.”
“Tell me.”
“Even if a situation arises in which Prince Won cannot be recovered…… Please, I beg you, do not be swayed.”
Aran bit his lip at his serious request. It was a word with a subtle meaning, to think about striking Taejeokrune first and foremost. Aran quickly realized the meaning. It meant abandoning Won for the sake of the future, he slowly closed his eyes, and opened them. Of course, the most important mission was to defeat Taejeokrune and regain the country, but the only thing that meant anything to him was to recover his only remaining blood relative, which was equally important to him.
But as he said, if a situation arises where he had to abandon Won……will he be able to make that choice? He clenched his fists in fear just thinking about it.
“It’s late at night. I must have been keeping someone who is tired from traveling a long way.”
Jiyul bowed his head deeply once again to Aran, who was troubled and without an answer. Aran smiled bitterly without realizing it. He was truly a man who could cope with most things, but when the story of Won came out, he seemed to take a step back.
“Please rest well and God be with you.”
As he disappeared without a sound, an oppressive silence filled the air even more heavily. In the midst of that, Aran repeatedly filled and emptied his cup by himself. He emptied his glass one after another and drank until there was no more alcohol to pour, then he leaned halfway in his chair and looked out the large window.
Snowflakes fell constantly from the black sky, filling the window. The blizzard wasn’t as heavy as when they first arrived there but looking at the endlessly falling snow gave him an unfamiliar feeling all over again, and let out a small sigh.
The night sky he remembered was pitch black and full of countless stars, darkness on the barren sand. A dry, cold sky with almost no rain or snow. A desert sky that was so different from the sky he was looking at now came to his mind, and Aran rolled up his mouth at an angle.
He felt as if he’d just left his hometown, rather than returning home. No, maybe he didn’t even realize that he had two hometowns. Here, where he was born and raised as a Prince, and Shátteun, where he met Cain and started a new life.
When he was there, he missed the snowy winter of Kajang, but after coming here, he missed the dry wind of the desert. Maybe he just missed that person, but the first night in his hometown with the people who were waiting for him felt very lonely.
Aran, who had been contemplating various things, felt his intoxication slowly increasing, and closed his eyes. He drank a glass or two while chatting with Jiyul, and he seemed to drink more after. Did he feel lonely because he had been drinking for a long time? As he asked himself that question, he buried his tired body a little deeper in the chair.
“… Cain, what would you do?”
And the words he uttered before falling asleep were whispers that even he did not even realize he whispered.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
5
The person who came to him early in the morning was unexpected.
“… Ryugen.”
“Hey, long time no see.”
When Aran called his name, he gave an indiscernible smile and raised his hand to greet him. Even though the people around him frowned at his rude attitude, he staggered towards Aran with a bright smile.
“Did you find your way without getting lost, Prince?”
“… Yes, thanks.”
“That’s good. I was worried about what would happen if you got lost in the forest of evil spirits, like a lost child.”
What a shameless answer. Aran narrowed his eyes and glared at Ryugen.
In fact, when Ryugen came to see him after he lost consciousness, he didn’t even consider waiting for him, he just left him and Shaw and went on.
Thanks to him, Aran suffered quite a bit in the Forest of Evil Spirits, which was now in deep winter. The memories that had been forgotten for a while came back as soon as he saw Ryugen.
“Still, you didn’t suffer too much hardship, did you? Our Prince is still very handsome. Or did the pretty Prince fall behind?”
“I don’t feel like joking around.”
“I’m serious.”
Aran, who was staring coldly at Ryugen as he giggled and laughed, turned his head. He couldn’t afford to match wits with his stupid jokes.
“There is some news that The Prince will want to hear.”
Then Ryugen opened his mouth and cleared his throat. Aran’s cool black eyes finally turned towards him.
“There’s more than one or two bits of news I imagine.”
“Among them, there’s one that you might not want to hear.”
“Is this the news you most wanted to tell? I wonder what it is?”
Aran took a step into the courtyard, he thought it was more appropriate to play along lightly, rather than being too curious at Ryugen’s baiting. Last night the snow had stopped falling and the deep blue sky looked refreshing, but the snow covering the large yard still made the whole world look white. As he walked on the pristine virgin snow, he heard a refreshing sound from beneath his feet. The crunching sound he had been listening to for so long wasn’t bad, so Aran listened and walked.
“By the way, it’s freezing cold here.”
Ryugen followed Aran grumbling as he rubbed his shoulder in an exaggerated way.
“It was nice not to have to deal with the cold when I was in Cain’s lands.”
He clenched his fists reflexively, he said it in such a way that made it obvious that he had used his name on purpose. His heart started beating a little faster as he anticipated whether or not the news he had was about Cain. Aran stopped stepping on the white snow. In response, Ryugen also stopped following and muttered in a low voice.
“I feel sorry for Cain. How painful it must have been to lose a Prince as pretty as you.”
“It would be better to just say what you have to say.”
When Aran angrily cut Ryugen off for mentioning Cain’s name, Ryugen shrugged his shoulders and smirked.
“Cain’s anger must certainly have been out of control, seeing that he suddenly started a war.”
“… War?”
“The news I have is that he’s in the midst of a battle with the Northern Prince.”
He was at war? He wondered if he had heard something wrong. It was something he couldn’t even imagine. Cain is at war with The Prince of the north?
“He’s been struggling quite a bit with that situation, which isn’t like Cain. It would be difficult anyway but with that opponent, it is proving to be difficult. Cain Richen isn’t living up to his fame.”
“……..”
“If it was Cain of the past, it would have taken less than a month to beat The Prince of the North. I’m not sure if it’s because he’s old, or if it’s because of Taejeokrune’s interference.”
While saying all that Ryugen pretended to dig into his ear with his finger. However, unlike Ryugen who spoke as if it was nothing of significance, Aran felt like his eyes were turning white.
The Northern Prince has quite a strong military power. His power has grown because of his wide fertile lands, and now he has even allied himself with Taejeokrune. It’s evident by the fact that he was the only Prince of a country neighboring the Empire, that Cain had difficulty dealing with. But now it’s war. This was an entirely unexpected development.
“Is that true?”
His voice trembled unintentionally.
“I never lie.”
Responded Ryugen bluntly as he looked at Aran, who was still stiff with disbelief. Aran groaned softly. It was quite a shock to hear that Cain had gone to the Northern Prince without notice.
It was natural to think that he was incredibly angry at the way Aran left without saying a word as if he were running away, but Aran became nervous when Cain deviated so greatly from what he expected.
Aran was so worried that he couldn’t stand it. Cain, who is a natural war god, probably won’t get seriously hurt, but he scolded him in his heart, saying that he should have been more careful when dealing with an opponent. If he ever gets hurt…….
“He must have been very heartbroken that you left like that.”
Ryugen’s smiling voice passed through Aran’s ear, who was stiff like he’d been frozen in the cold weather. Then he came to his senses and turned his head. He watched him walking back on the snow where he had just come from, with his hands in his pockets.
“Ryugen, what were you doing before you met up with me?”
He asked a question that had been puzzling him up until now. Ryugen, who was retracing his footsteps, stopped walking and made eye contact.
“This and that. I also had a lot of things to prepare.”
“Have you been in touch with Cain?”
“Well.”
He laughed out loud after refusing to answer. Aran, who did not approve of Ryugen’s lighthearted attitude, stood there and followed him with his eyes.
“Then I’ll ask you again, why did you follow me? Are you going to tell Cain everything about my situation? Like how you told me about Cain’s news?
When asked coldly, Ryugen responded with an exaggerated expression of surprise.
“Wow, you think I’m a double agent now? Why would you make such a hurtful remark?”
”…….”
“Look, I was just following you to help. It’s admirable that you’re looking to strike out at Taejeokrune. Besides, don’t you remember that I made a deal with you?
Aran didn’t answer the question he asked.
He couldn’t help but be a sly man. It was the same when he left the palace. It’s true that Aran sent him a letter, but it was unexpected that he’d followed right away. Aran asked him to come to him if he changed his mind at any time, but who knew that he would follow him faster than Cain.
‘Besides, we made a deal.’
Aran tilted his head at the incomprehensible remarks. It was true that in the beginning he went to Ryugen to make a bargain. But Ryugen refused, saying he didn’t want anything. Aran offered to exchange himself for a moment of entertainment, but nothing was done properly. Cain suddenly showed up and responded in anger. Because of that, Aran couldn’t meet any of the conditions that Ryugen wanted, so he was surprised to hear that he had struck a deal with him.
“But I haven’t given you anything.”
“I enjoyed a little bit of entertainment, so that’s it.”
“Is that enough? Are you serious?”
Aran asked without hiding his doubts and Ryugen shrugged.
“That’s enough. I won’t ask you for more.”
His answer was clear, but it did not dispel Aran’s doubts. He was a person whose thoughts could not be known, nor what plans he was making, but it was even more so now.
“Look, you made me your ally, so trust me and follow me. Because I don’t lie.”
Then, Ryugen frowned and grumbled.
“However, collecting information is my hobby, so I hope you don’t make a fuss about it. Among them, there will be information you need, but there will also be things that I do for my own reasons.”
“…. ….”
“By the way, chasing Cain is also a fun hobby that I can’t give up on.”
Ryugen, who had warned him with a very serious expression, concluded with a little joke. Even though he said he wouldn’t lie, it was difficult to distinguish how much of what he said was serious, and how much of it was a joke.
“As you please.”
“Isn’t that good for you? That you can hear about Cain occasionally?”
A low voice that was different from the way Ryugen normally spoke scattered behind Aran’s back, where Ryugen was walking just behind him. This was the first time Aran ever heard him use that unfamiliar tone, and he stopped walking. But the answer didn’t come easily.
“If you don’t want to answer, don’t.”
Ryugen muttered as though nothing in the world mattered.
“If you still want to strike at Taejeokrune, now might be the right time.”
“You mean to take advantage of Cain’s attention being focused elsewhere?”
Aran turned his head to face Ryugen, who was still continuing to use a nonchalant tone.
“Because Taejeokrune formed an alliance with the Northern Prince, he had to lend him an army. I can’t be certain, but it must be a significant number. He seems to have wanted to hurt Cain a lot. I imagine he never dreamed that you would go back and gather forces, after living in such good conditions.”
“…….”
“Anyway Prince, you are lucky, just know that.”
Little by little, his heart began beating rapidly. Cain said that he would do anything for him and that he would rather Aran struck a deal with him instead, but he never wished to benefit from Cain’s virtue. He never wanted Cain to help him.
Besides, wouldn’t that mean that Cain could be at risk as Ryugen said? It meant that it might be a difficult war for Cain because the Northern Prince and Taejeokrune had joined forces. As he thought about it, Aran was so afraid that his fingers were trembling. His heart fell to the floor! He couldn’t stand the thought that he’d left Cain at a time like this.
Did Cain feel the same way? Did he feel that kind of anxiety, did he worry because Aran wasn’t by his side and couldn’t be seen? So, is that why he was held so hard so that he wouldn’t be able to leave?
“Cain…….”
Oh my god, how the hell did that happen? He never dreamed that he would be so worried and miss him so much! He never thought he would have to worry about a man stronger than anyone else, he was more afraid now than when he ran away from the palace.
“Prince Jung.”
As he was chewing his blue lips, he heard a low voice calling out to him from afar, and Aran turned around quickly. Then Shaw ran from the fortress and stopped in front of him, making a puzzled face.
“What happened? You have a very bad complexion.”
“It’s nothing.”
That can’t be how it is. Cain is stronger than anyone else and he will not face any precarious situations in that war. Still, Aran couldn’t hide his anxiety and looked at Ryugen with shaky eyes.
“Ryugen, you said now is an opportunity for me, but what about Cain? If I’m unprepared and have to delay, then Taejeokrune will send more troops to the Northern Prince, and won’t that put Cain at a disadvantage?”
Aran asked calmly, but he couldn’t stop his heart from trembling. However, Ryugen just clicked his tongue as if he heard something nonsensical.
“Prince, what have you learned from watching Cain up until now? Do you think there’s anyone who can stop him once he’s determined? It’s not like he’s called a war god for nothing. Is it because you’ve never really seen him before? That’s true that it’s been so peaceful that you would have only seen him being indolent.”
Ryugen sighed as he looked at Aran with pity, as though he were looking at a child who had fallen for candy.
“I’m telling you because you don’t seem to know, but I’ve fought all kinds of enemies all my life. People who hire me for assassinations are my basic clientele, but I’ve seen too many battlefields in my life.”
“…….”
“So let me assure you, that out of all those bastards, none was as terribly cruel, ferocious, and terrifying as Cain. He was born that way. He’s just been hiding his claws like a good little puppy to show off to the pretty Prince. You must not be deceived by just seeing his gentle appearance.”
Aran swallowed saliva down his dry throat when he saw Ryugen uncharacteristically giving advice in a serious way. His throat was dry and stinging. He’d known Cain for such a long time and he thought he knew him better than anyone, but it seems like that wasn’t the case. Ryugen couldn’t stand watching Aran’s bitter feelings and waved his hand, moving far away from him, and sighed.
“If I say more than this, that ill-tempered Emperor will not leave me alone, so stop.”
It felt like his pulse was dropping. It seemed like something happened to his head because he suddenly felt far away. Worrying about Cain on the battlefield was certainly something that Ryugen would laugh at. As he said, who would be able to stop Cain on the battlefield? There was no one who could stand against Cain Richen, who is a natural war god!
“I must have been feeling weak.”
“I’m glad you realized.”
As Aran muttered in frustration, Ryugen snorted.
“You don’t look like The Prince I saw in Cain’s castle now. Weren’t you The Prince who skipped over the easy path to jump into a pit of fire to save your country and your brother?”
“…….”
“Or did you lose your mind after being embraced by Cain once?”
“That’s too much!”
Instead of Aran, Shaw, who had been silently listening to their conversation, showed his temper. However, Aran grabbed his wrist and stopped him. That was because he knew better than anyone else that Ryugen had a point.
“Wake up! What you need to worry about now is you, not Cain. The Taejeokrune you decided to go up against is by no means an easy opponent. Just keep that in mind.”
He didn’t respond to the sharp criticism, instead, he just stood there like a warrior, so Ryugen patted Aran on the shoulder and stepped aside. Aran watched his slowly receding back bitterly, and let out a low sigh.
“Prince, don’t worry too much about his words.”
Shaw quietly read his thoughts and showed a worried expression. Aran looked back at Shaw and laughed.
“What Ryugen said wasn’t wrong.”
“Prince.”
“I think I’ve been showing an absurd side of myself to you.”
“Don’t say that.”
Aran stepped away from Shaw’s comfort and walked slowly across the snow. Aran had been walking in the courtyard for a long time, to the extent that his skin was freezing cold. He took a deep breath of cold air as if trying to calm his heart again. As the cold, refreshing feeling of winter air penetrated deep into his lungs, it felt like his complicated head was cleared. Aran stood for a moment and took a deep breath, then looked back at Shaw, watching his hair fluttering in the wind. The dark eyes, which had sunk a little from before, were shining as coolly as always.
“Shaw, gather Jiyul and the other leaders. I would like to hear more from them.”
His tone was monotonous, yet irresistible. Shaw rejoiced at the sight of Aran awakening himself. He had been worried that Aran might have been hurt by Ryugen’s criticism.
Shaw then bowed his head and immediately turned around. From now on, he felt that Aran would move in earnest, and he started walking hastily in the cold wind.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than http://www.foolishtranslationss.wordpress.com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
Foolish Translations 
aahhhhh the angst!!! I already miss their moments together :’> can’t wait for them to reunite again! anw, thank youuuu for the update!!! ❤️❤️❤️
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Anytime ; ) ya, its going to be a minute before they reunite 😦
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Love, love looove this novel, thank you so much for translating ❤️
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Of course 😊
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IT’S BACK!!🥳🎉 I cant even tell you how happy I am, this is my favorite novel. I can’t wait for the next update, thank you for the translations!
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This series will be complete after 7 more updates. Woot!
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