Mr. Kadan in the Deep Forest - Chapter 1
The kingdom was unaware. Beyond the northern forest, where the beasts roamed, lay a vast land.
Its ruler was the Inut, whom they had despised as a barbarian. The people’s superior strength and technology overwhelmed the kingdom.
The Brillan Kingdom was decisively defeated. Once the outcome became clear, it was only a matter of time before the king, who had fled southward, was captured.
The greatest contributor to this war was none other than the second prince of the Inut Empire. After taking control of the royal palace, he wiped his face. The blood on his hands left a streak of red across his face.
He looked down silently at the trembling commander of the Brillan knights, who had fallen to his knees, before turning his gaze away.
Hundreds of women who were offered as hostages, knelt in line with their heads bowed. Covered from head to toe in large cloths according to Inut customs, their faces were obscured.
The prince’s slow footsteps echoed through the silent hall. His dark, fathomless eyes scanned the hostages, each wearing the same cloth.
Then, his long stride halted in front of one woman. He inhaled deeply, his chest swelling like an animal’s as he sensed a familiar scent. A cold smile curled on his lips.
『I’ve found you.』
The prince reached out with his rough hand, grasping the chin of the woman who had her head bowed and lifting her face to meet his gaze.
『Long time no see, Luna.』
The prince called the woman Luna and muttered words in a foreign language she couldn’t understand. When she recognized the prince’s face, her eyes blinked rapidly, as if trying to confirm if this was real or just a dream.
“Mr. Ka, Kadan… “
There was no way that man could be here like this. It must be a hallucination. The woman, named Luna, was bewildered by the unexpected situation and couldn’t fully grasp what was happening.
『Ah, I forgot you couldn’t understand Inut.』
The prince muttered in a low voice and narrowed his eyes. Slowly, he knelt on one knee. Even though he made it easier for Luna to look up at him, she still had to tilt her head to see the large prince.
“How about the baby?”
This time, the words were spoken in the common tongue, a language Luna could understand. As the prince switched to the common language, the Inut soldiers exchanged uneasy glances, unable to hide their surprise.
The Inut people were known for their strong adherence to their own culture and language. The prince’s use of the common tongue was unusual for one of his kind, and Luna was the only one who appreciated it.
“The… baby?”
“Yes. The baby.”
As the prince answered, he reached out his arm toward Luna. Luna flinched, her shoulders trembling as she quickly closed her eyes.
Soon, his palm rested on her lower abdomen. He gently caressed her flat belly, counting the days with his fingers.
“Your belly should have been this big by now.”
The prince gestured just a hand’s width from her belly and frowned slightly.
“But… there’s nothing. No baby.”
“I… I’ve never been pregnant, Mr. Kadan.”
“That can’t be true.”
The prince tilted his head as if sifting through his memories and his gaze fixed on the empty air. His perfect nose created a beautiful profile, but the bloodstains on his cheek were chilling.
“No matter how much I think about it, I can’t count them.”
“Huh?”
“The seeds I’ve sown inside your belly.”
The prince pressed his hand firmly against Luna’s lower abdomen. Her face turned bright red, and she struggled to form a coherent response.
“Well, that doesn’t matter. By the way, Luna.”
His hand, which had been caressing her lower belly, slowly traveled up her body and gripped her cheek.
“Why did you run away? From that cabin.”
The touch on her soft cheek was tender, but his voice grew increasingly harsh.
“And with another man, no less.”
