Breeding Season - Chapter 29
Eltan found the woman with silver hair to be quite uncomfortable, as usual.
In this case, he was especially unsettled by her subtle prompting for Yasamin to be summoned.
“The King will be where he wishes, when he wishes.”
“That’s obvious. But do you happen to know where he went?”
“That is not something a mere subordinate like me should concern myself with, nor something I should pay attention to.”
“A mere subordinate, you say? Yet you’re the most trusted one.”
Her words had a bite to them. A few seconds later, Eltan’s lips twitched into a slight smile as he quietly observed her.
“Ah, I take it you’ve heard something from the people you’ve placed?”
“People I’ve placed? There’s no such thing.”
“If that’s not the case, then there would be no reason for you to be so anxious and irritated.”
Fidgeting. Hiyes’ delicate brow furrowed. With that, Eltan was certain.
‘She’s heard something about the princess. At least, she’s heard that Yasamin treats her like a captive and spoils her, not as an enemy.’
Damn it. This is why I said we should just let it go there.
Eltan leaned back. Though he hadn’t said it aloud, he knew where Yasamin was right now.
‘He’s probably gone home.’
The inexplicable place he calls “home” is not here in the South. It’s in the desert. And since that place is his sanctuary, even Eltan could not enter freely.
“Anyway, that’s all I have to say.”
“……”
“If they find the reincarnation of Aquafuran or whatever, they’ll offer it as a living sacrifice at the next rain ceremony. Then, it will rain. That’s what the Nu clan is advocating.”
“It’s not an advocacy, it’s a prophecy.”
Hiyes sharply retorted. Seeing her mood sour uncontrollably, Eltan felt a certain satisfaction. Because, you know, everyone has that one person they just dislike for no particular reason.
For him, Hiyes was exactly that person.
‘What’s worse, believing in something as illogical as rainfall caused by a living sacrifice? How foolish.’
He wondered what Yasamin was thinking.
If Hiyes finds out that the Princess of Wilkeron has signed a subordinate contract with Yasamin, she’ll surely foam at the mouth…
‘Is he trying to mess with her?’
Maybe.
It seemed that Yasamin didn’t have a very favorable view of the priestess or the Nu clan.
“This morning, a messenger bird arrived. It seems that among the women in the royal palace, all those with blue eyes from the Wilkeron family were selected.”
“How many are there?”
“Sixty-six.”
That was a considerable number, but it didn’t matter. After all, half of them would likely die on the way.
Eltan swallowed a sigh and stood up with a rustling sound.
“I’ll take my leave. As the priestess said, the King must arrive before the next task can proceed.”
He had only just returned to the South last night. He was still exhausted, his fatigue not fully gone, and he was absolutely drained.
There was a need for rest in a safe place, and a right to it as well.
“Ugh!”
However, upon entering the royal palace and seeing the elderly man sitting on the windowsill of his chamber, Eltan couldn’t help but shout.
“No, Jin…!”
“I have come to deliver the Master’s orders. Human, prepare jewelry and clothes for the woman. There must be no lack of them when she arrives here.”
“Sigh. No, well… I understand.”
As soon as he bowed his head to accept the order, the old man wearing a turban vanished like smoke.
It seemed that Yasamin had indeed gone to his “home.”
Eltan had been invited to that “home” only once.
‘It was terrifying.’
He rubbed his arms, which had been covered with goosebumps, and shook his head, trying to shake off the chilling sensation.
Even when facing his lord, Yasamin, or just now when encountering Jin, the desert spirit… as an ordinary human, the overwhelming pressure was unbearable.
His breath became unsteady with fear, and he wondered if that fragile princess could survive there.
‘Well, that’s not my concern.’
Shuddering, he staggered to the bed and lay down.
He decided he would sleep for a bit, then search the black market to fulfill the order.
“I’m back.”
“Okay.”
Back again, at the Saam mansion. In the study filled with old books.
Jin, who had appeared suddenly before Yasamin, who was smoking a cigarette in the darkness, bowed as he reported.
“How is Eltan?”
“He looked tired, but his limbs are fine.”
“That’s good.”
Shaking the tobacco out of the cigarette holder, Yasamin glanced at the pile of books haphazardly pushed aside.
“Do you know how many times I’ve read that book?”
“Hmm, I don’t know.”
“Today was the hundredth time. I could tell from the markings left.”
“Oh, really?”
As Jin flipped the pages, he widened his eyes upon seeing the marks left on the last page of the book.
The ink and handwriting were slightly different each time, but they had all been left by the same person. Each time it was read, a line had been drawn to mark it, and now, it had reached the hundredth time.
Yasamin could now recite the sentences of that book by heart.
“Is it a blessing to be able to read the same book over and over?”
“Humans would answer yes to that.”
“I don’t understand why immortals like it so much. I can’t fathom it.”
He muttered slowly and then quietly fell into contemplation. Jin did not interrupt Yasamin and also sank into his own thoughts.
In truth, they could remain in that state for a year or two.
For them, living was not a dynamic act. It was more akin to a stillness.
“E-excuse me… Is everyone here? I heard that Pamilla is here, h-here…”
Knock knock.
