THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) - Chapter 145
Chapter 145
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
Varkas rubbed his temples with his fingertips as if he had a headache and then let out another heavy sigh.
"Anyway, we cannot sleep in separate rooms."
Having said that, he wrapped her tightly in the blanket and stood up from his place.
Talia pushed his shoulder in resistance, but soon relaxed her body.
As much as she did not want Varkas to see her looking so disheveled, her desire to be with him was also great, so she did not want to engage in a fight.
"Take the luggage back to my room."
Varkas gave instructions to the maids waiting by the door and then walked straight out of the room.
Talia peeked through an opening in the blanket toward the lit hallway.
The servants bowed silently, as if they were used to seeing Varkas walking through the castle carrying her in his arms.
Varkas passed by them with a quick pace and strode down the stairs.
At that moment, a familiar voice echoed from above the railing.
"Brother!"
Varkas stopped suddenly and looked toward the foot of the stairs.
Talia looked in the same direction and narrowed her eyes upon seeing two slender men dressed in black robes crossing the wide hall.
It was not difficult to recognize one of them.
It was Varkas's arrogant half-brother.
The boy, whose height had grown considerably in a few months, climbed the stairs with long, quick steps.
Talia pulled the blanket up to the bridge of her nose and examined him cautiously.
Following the end of the funeral ceremonies for the previous duke, Lucas Redgo Shierkan officially joined the Wolfram order of knights and began his training.
Thanks to that, there had been no casual encounters between her and him over the past few months.
Since late autumn, most of the Wolfram knights had begun to be stationed outside the castle due to the intensifying raids by the nomads.
Life there did not seem to be easy; the boy's body had become noticeably more robust, and he arrived in front of her in the blink of an eye.
"I apologize for my delay. I have come in a hurry from the camp to give you urgent news. It seems that the imperial palace..."
The boy blurted out his words hastily, but then cast a glance at her while she was in Varkas's arms and stammered as he finished his sentence.
Talia covered her belly in fear.
She felt the piercing cold she used to experience in the imperial palace chilling her to the bone.
Varkas felt her trembling, so he adjusted the blanket around her and said in a cold voice:
"Wait for me in my office."
"It is no problem for me, but perhaps it would be better to assign a room to the guest. He must be tired after such a long journey."
"It is fine. I will wait with the young master."
The man waiting behind the boy suddenly intervened in the conversation and pushed his hood back.
Talia's eyes widened upon seeing his face.
Edrick Robon.
The man who had bothered her in a particular manner among the knights of the guard who crossed her path was standing there with a tired face.
The trembling of her body suddenly stopped.
She did not know if she was surprised to run into someone she never expected to see again, or because she remembered his name with absolute clarity.
While she blinked and looked at him astounded, the man bowed with an awkward gesture upon feeling her gaze.
"It has been a long time, Your Highness the Princess. I hope you are well..."
"Tell the chief butler to prepare a guest room for you. I will call you in an hour, so get some rest."
Varkas interrupted his words and headed toward his bedroom. The man scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.
Talia stared at him for a while and then glanced at Varkas. He did not seem surprised by the unexpected visit of his former commander.
Was it perhaps a scheduled visit?
Whether he was aware of her inquisitive gaze or not, Varkas walked down the hallway quickly, entered the bedroom, and said:
"I heard it is not yet time for dinner. Do you wish to eat something?"
"...I have no appetite."
"You must eat well for the sake of the baby."
Varkas sat her down at the table arranged in front of the fireplace and spoke to her as if he were advising her.
Talia nodded reluctantly.
She had lost her appetite, which used to be good, due to the pain in her pelvis and waist that had started a few weeks ago; however, the thought that her baby might be hungry if she did not eat made her feel the obligation to force herself to do so.
"Then I will eat a bowl of chicken soup."
"Did you hear? Go and prepare it quickly."
Varkas gave instructions to the servant standing by the door in a dry tone, then walked toward the fireplace and lit the fire himself.
It did not take even a minute for the air in the room to become warm, since the fireplace was filled with magical fire stones or coal instead of dry wood that would give off smoke.
"How is your throat? I heard you were coughing earlier today..."
"It is just because of the dryness of the air in winter. But shouldn't you go to him quickly? He said it was an urgent matter."
"Do not worry. Nothing will happen if the conversation is delayed by about an hour."
Varkas replied coldly as he stirred the fire with the fireplace poker.
Talia examined his face with an analytical gaze.
Edrick Robon was a knight of the direct imperial guard. If he had returned to his original post without issues, he would now be serving Garis or Ayla.
Perhaps one of them had sent him.
"You will definitely regret what you did today, Talia Roehm Guerta."
Suddenly, her half-sister's curse, which she had pushed out of her mind, resonated in her ears. Talia unconsciously wrapped her arms around the lower part of her belly.
Remembering those green eyes, sticky and filled with hostility, her body began to shake uncontrollably.
As if the baby felt her anxiety, it began to move abruptly.
She stifled a gasp of surprise at the violent movement, which caused Varkas, who was taking off his jacket to hang it on the wall, to turn around.
"What is the matter with you?"
"The baby kicked me suddenly."
Although she felt the fetus's movement often, it was the first time she experienced such a strong jolt, so she felt some concern.
While she looked at her belly with uneasiness, Varkas, who was wearing a light shirt, approached, leaned down before her, and asked in a serious tone:
"Does it hurt a lot?"
Talia looked at him in surprise.
"How much can the kick of such a small fist actually hurt?"
She was about to say that, but held her tongue upon seeing his genuinely worried gaze.
She wanted Varkas to worry even more.
She wanted to prevent him from thinking about anything other than her and the baby.
"Yes, it hurts quite a bit. It seems it is just like you, possessing nothing but brute strength."
His features became even more serious at her exaggerated words. Varkas knelt on the floor and extended his arm.
Then he withdrew his hand suddenly, remembering that she had forbidden him to touch her.
Talia hesitated for a moment, then took his wrist and placed it over the lower part of her belly.
She did not want to expose her bulging belly, but she wished for Varkas to feel the baby's presence more clearly.
"I will allow you to touch it this time as an exception."
Varkas stared at her and then lowered his gaze to the place where she had placed his hand. At that exact instant, the baby moved forcefully.
A flash of astonishment appeared on his face.
Talia said triumphantly:
"Isn't it very strong? It will undoubtedly be a boy. And I have a feeling he will look a lot like you."
Then she placed the palm of her hand over the back of his and pressed down a little so he could feel the baby better.
She wanted Varkas to realize clearly:
"Inside of me is your child, the one who resembles you. Therefore, you must not pay attention to what Garis or Ayla say. You must be on our side no matter what happens."
She swallowed the words that were swirling in her throat and caressed the prominent veins and knuckles on the back of his hand.
Since she saw that same hand wrapping around Ayla's back to protect her 11 years ago, she had desperately wished for this man to be on her side one day.
Chapter 145
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)