Shadow's Oath

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 95: A Request (2)

"There’s nothing more to say! Everything has been decided, so take it as it is. We’re leaving at dawn tomorrow! Not to the main force where King Gallant is, but directly to Born."

Rusef shouted.

"Fine. Then when are we coming back here?"

Charlon shouted back, unwilling to back down.

"Are you planning to return to this cursed land?"

"Of course. I'm supposed to marry Prince Damion. That means I'll come back here after the wedding. That’s what I was asking."

Charlon’s tone sounded defensive.

"There will be no need to return. Count Vadio will rule this place."

"What... are you saying? Then what about my marriage to Prince Damion?"

"The marriage will proceed. But you won’t be coming back here. Prince Damion will not be ruling this place."

"What do you mean? Count Vadio...!"

As Charlon’s voice grew louder, Rusef’s voice also rose.

"Enough! Lower your voice."

Charlon’s voice dropped to a whisper, but her fierce energy remained.

"Explain this properly! This isn’t something that can be brushed aside. My father decided to marry me to Prince Damion because he believed the prince would become the ruler of the North. That was the calculation. If that’s not the case, the marriage itself could be canceled—this is a huge issue! So explain. I’m not just throwing a childish tantrum right now."

"Yes, this could be a serious problem."

Rusef's voice lowered until it could only be heard close to the tent.

"I’m not entirely sure myself. But this is the situation. As a foreign knight, no one would tell me exactly how far and in what way Terdin's army will be controlled, but at least I can sense the atmosphere. Vadio has taken control of the army."

Ram had been walking towards Charlon’s tent but suddenly stopped.

The knight guarding the entrance of the tent questioned him.

"What’s your business here?"

Ram answered politely.

"I’ve come to see Lady Charlon. I bring a message from Prince Damion."

"They are talking inside. Wait here."

"I will wait."

Rusef’s voice became even quieter.

"I think it’s best to get out of here before we get entangled in this mess. That’s why we’re leaving quickly, using your injury as an excuse. Not that it’s even an excuse—your wound is getting worse..."

"That’s impossible. The prince told me he would marry me and rule the North. No matter how powerful a count may be, can he really strip the prince of his authority?"

"I thought the same. But it wasn’t so. It seems King Gallant brought his son here to test whether he had the capacity to rule. That’s probably why he allowed the prince to negotiate. But after what happened, do you think the king will entrust this place to him? Vadio will report to King Gallant in an exaggerated manner, saying, 'The prince permitted a barbarian village trial and conversed with their wicked witch.' He will use that as a justification to take over."

"Olga is not a wicked witch..."

"I know! You have your reasons, the prince has his, and everyone has their own circumstances. I may not understand everything, but if you believe that, I can stand by your side. But the people outside won’t see it that way!"

Rusef continued in a persuasive tone.

"Be careful, my sister. You and I may be called heirs to Vormont, but in reality, we are not. You know how precarious our position is, don’t you?"

Charlon reluctantly replied.

"I know. I know how much our mother wants both of us dead."

"That’s why this is a good opportunity."

Charlon was young, but she was over sixteen—a mature young woman.

However, her brother spoke to her as if she were a child younger than ten.

"Even if he doesn’t rule here, a prince is still a prince. He will be granted some land to govern. No matter how small it is, you can escape there. If you can just get out of Born, you’ll be free. Just endure until then."

Rusef’s voice was almost pleading.

"Just endure for now. Understand?"

"...I understand."

To Ram, it didn’t sound like she was truly convinced, but Rusef looked satisfied.

"Good. Thank you. You know I love you, right?"

"I love you too."

Rusef was the first to step out of the tent.

The moment he saw Ram standing next to the knight of Born, his previously smiling expression turned into a frown.

"What do you want?"

Ram bowed respectfully and said,

"I bring a message from the prince."

"Tell me."

At that moment, Charlon burst out of the tent.

"No!"

Rusef stepped back in shock.

Charlon declared firmly,

"Stuga will speak only to me."

She gestured toward Ram.

"Come inside. No one else is allowed in!"

"You’re going to be alone with this man inside the tent?"

Rusef shouted in disbelief.

"This man and I spent the entire night together in a pitch-dark cave."

"Watch your words."

Rusef whispered, glancing at the nearby knights and soldiers.

"You are the daughter of a duke! Even the smallest words and actions must be cautious..."

"Stuga, why are you hesitating? Hurry up and come inside! You slowpoke!"

Charlon’s loud command drowned out Rusef’s voice, and she disappeared back into the tent.

Ram walked up to the tent entrance and turned to Rusef for confirmation.

"May I enter?"

Before Rusef could answer, Charlon’s voice burst from inside the barracks.

“This is my barracks, and I told you to come in, so you don’t need anyone else’s permission! No matter who it is!”

Even so, Ram waited for Rusef’s permission.

His gaze was too fierce.

“I won’t be far,”

Rusef said, raising his voice as if making sure Charlon heard.

Then, with a nod, he gave Ram permission.

Ram bowed respectfully to Rusef once more before stepping inside.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“What message is it? Get to the point!” Charlon asked sharply, her tone harsh.

“I came to ask if Your Highness was experiencing any discomfort.”

“Oh? There are quite a few things that are uncomfortable. More than a few! I’m already furious, so you better watch every word you say.”

Charlon snapped at him as if dealing with someone in debt, then glanced over Ram’s shoulder, checking if anyone was around.

Ram stepped closer and whispered very softly.

“If you speak at this volume, it will be difficult for anyone to eavesdrop. There is no one within ten paces of the barracks right now, and Captain Rusef is speaking with another knight.”

Charlon placed a hand on her chest and sighed.

“I’m sorry for yelling, Ram.”

“I already knew.”

Before he forgot, Ram held out a small medicine bottle.

“It’s Olga’s medicine.”

Charlon took the bottle from his hand and asked,

“Is it safe to take?”

“I don’t know. I will leave that to Your Ladyship’s judgment.”

Charlon brought the bottle’s lid close to her nose and sniffed.

“It has the scent Olga described.”

Burnt charcoal.

And violets.

“There were no other bottles on the shelf, and no other medicine with a similar scent to what Olga described, so it’s unlikely I brought the wrong one. But I still can’t be sure it’s safe to take.”

Charlon fiddled with the bottle and then asked,

“That’s all the prince said?”

“Yes. He was worried and asked me to check on you, to see if there was anything he could do to help. His Highness was concerned that you might have been deeply shaken by Olga’s death.”

“Oh, our kindhearted prince.”

Charlon squeezed the medicine bottle in both hands, closing her eyes tightly before opening them again.

“What should I do, Ram?”

“I don’t know.”

Ram wanted to say she should simply leave it behind.

That Charlon and Jedrick should put their relationship to rest as a fleeting night of passion and return things to the way they were.

Damion would find out that Charlon was no longer a virgin.

As far as Ram knew, for noblewomen, this was a serious flaw—so serious that he had once received an assassination mission over such a matter.

But Damion wouldn’t press Charlon about it.

He would assume it had happened sometime in the distant past with someone unknown to him and wouldn’t dig further.

As for the lord of this place, Rusef was probably right.

Damion would find it difficult to become this land’s ruler.

Even if Charlon and Damion were to marry, returning to the North would be nearly impossible, making it difficult for Jedrick and Charlon to meet again.

If they accepted reality, yesterday’s moment in the village square would be their final meeting.

There was no need to bring up what happened between them last night in the cave and burden the prince with it.

As long as Charlon forgot, everything could go back to normal.

Ram wanted to say this.

And yet, he couldn’t.

They had made an oath—to never lie to each other.

But did it really have to apply to this?

How far did the bounds of their oath extend?

“I have a favor to ask, Ram.”

Charlon spoke.

“There’s no need to ask me for favors, Lady Charlon. Simply tell me, and I will act.”

“Don’t call me ‘Lady Charlon.’ When we’re alone, call me by my name. We have to. Isn’t that right?”

It wasn’t a difficult request.

But if he got used to it too easily, he might slip up and call her by name in front of others.

“I’ll try, Charlon.”

“And drop the formal speech, too. We are equals.”

“That, I cannot do.”

“Why not?”

“Because even you use formal speech with the prince.”

“That’s because I have no choice in public.”

“It’s the same for me.”

“You’re stubborn.”

“Not as much as you.”

“How do you know?”

“I heard you arguing with Captain Rusef earlier. You won’t follow your brother’s orders, will you?”

Charlon laughed.

But then, her face darkened again.

“Since you overheard, this will be easier to explain. Rusef is right. When I leave tomorrow, I might never come back here again. That means I might never see Jeje again. If the last time I saw him was when he was being dragged away at the square, then that was our final moment together.”

Perhaps Ram himself wouldn’t be able to see Jedrick again before leaving.

If Damion followed the king’s orders exactly, everyone would already be on horseback, riding south by now.

It was a heartbreaking farewell even for Ram.

He hadn’t even said goodbye to Jedrick, and now he might never see him again.

For Charlon, the pain would be even greater.

“I can’t ask Rusef to let me see Jedrick one last time. He won’t even let me say his name. That’s why I need you to find a way.”

She continued, her voice trembling as if on the verge of tears.

“I don’t care if it’s through an official meeting with the prince. But if possible, I’d like to see him alone.”

Charlon grasped Ram’s hands tightly.

She leaned in, pressing every word onto him as if stamping them with a seal.

“But if you can’t find a way… make sure you give him my message. Tell him that I will find a way, that I will come to him, no matter what. Tell him I’m sorry. Tell him I miss him. And…”

Her grip tightened even more.

“Tell him I will never forget.”

Hearing those words, Ram couldn’t bring himself to tell her to forget and accept reality.

He couldn’t tell her to let it become a memory of the past, to keep it a secret, and marry Prince Damion.

And if he accepted her request, he, too, would be able to see Jedrick one last time.

Ram slowly answered.

“I’ll find a way.”@@novelbin@@

[Translator - Night]

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