Shadow Oath

[Translator - Jjescus]

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Chapter 28: The Duke’s Daughter (1)

“...The Vormont family still holds a massive army, and that army is causing trouble for your father—is that it?”

Jedrick asked.

“Exactly. Then, well, the Northern Conquest War broke out…”

Ram wished Damion wouldn’t use the term “Conquest War.”

It was the war in which Jedrick’s kin perished, the Geron tribe lost their lands, and Ram’s father met his end.

However, Jedrick didn’t seem particularly bothered by the mention of it.

Perhaps he was hiding his feelings well, but at this moment, curiosity seemed to outweigh anything else in his expression.

At first, Ram found Damion’s story boring, but gradually, his interest grew.

“…It seems that my father requested reinforcements from the Duke of Vormont and proposed a political marriage at the same time. Perhaps he thought the marriage could settle the conflicts surrounding the Sentyon region.”

“A common and predictable story. ‘Ikarum’ married the eldest daughter of the Nak tribe just half a day after our father passed away.”

It was the first time Jedrick mentioned his family.

“Ikarum?”

Damion asked.

“My brother.”

“And the Nak tribe?”

“One of the three tribes that surrendered recently, apart from our Elum tribe. The largest is the Tagda tribe. My brother was supposed to marry the eldest daughter of the Tagda tribe, but that changed due to negotiations during their surrender.”

It wasn’t exactly a state secret.

Even someone like Terdin or Lieutentant Aedun would already know.

However, Damion seemed grateful that Jedrick shared the information directly.

“Do you dislike the idea of marrying the Duke’s daughter?”

Jedrick asked.

“My father’s intentions behind this campaign feel sinister. It feels like I’m being used.”

“Marriage is always like that, isn’t it? Families leveraging each other for mutual benefit.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Well, when you put it like that, I can’t argue.”

“Isn’t it a good deal? An army, territory, and a dowry of that size. Or is it that you don’t like her face?”

“I haven’t even seen her face! And it doesn’t matter!”

Damion snapped.

It was the first time Ram had seen him lose his temper in the three days since they met.

He’d assumed noble children, like Zenri, were always angry, but Damion wasn’t usually like that.

“It’s the premeditation I dislike. They say she’s already on her way, even though we’ve been here for only three days. Born is far south of Triton, meaning she must have departed before we even set out. It’s as if my marriage is just another chore to be swiftly handled. If it comes to it, I wouldn’t be surprised if the wedding is held here in the camp.”

At Damion’s grumbling, Jedrick’s expression grew complicated.

Hearing such things must have been grating for someone who had lost his father in this war.

Yet, as always, Ram didn’t seem to react much to the prince’s words.

“I’m not the only one being treated like this. In Born, twins are considered unlucky. Especially mixed-gender twins—one of them is said to carry the fate of ending the family line. For the remarried Duchess of Born, it’s probably ideal to groom her son as the Duke’s heir and quickly marry off the unlucky daughter.”

Damion drained the remaining liquor in his glass and reached for the bottle, only to find it empty.

“Should’ve brought another bottle.”

He spoke regretfully and continued,

“It’s a pipe dream, but I want to marry someone I love. Marrying a stranger for political reasons? That’s the easiest way to start a miserable life.”

Ram began to feel concerned.

This level of information was valuable enough for an enemy spy to risk their life over.

Was it really okay to blurt it all out to the chief of a nominally hostile tribe?

“So, what do you plan to do, Prince?”

Jedrick’s voice softened noticeably.

His usual cold, emotionless expression relaxed.

Was it the alcohol?

No, it was his voice—Jedrick’s voice had an oddly disarming charm.

Ram felt it, too.

“I’m trying to find the safest and gentlest way to refuse.”

Damion replied.

“Can you really reject a political marriage so easily? What about Sentyon?”

“It’s Triton’s conquest territory as it stands. Whether through marriage or not, the Duke can’t touch it. Besides, I have the task of governing the northern lands. Soon, I’ll become the ‘Marquis of the North.’ Sentyon will be irrelevant to me—so what’s the point of the arrangement?”

“How do you plan to convince your father? I haven’t met him yet, but from what you say, he seems incredibly stubborn.”

“If both parties refuse, even he would find it hard to push forward. It’d be best if the lady herself spoke up first. They say the Duke of Vormont dotes on his daughter. If she proposes canceling the engagement, he might even suggest it himself. Or, how about she marries Ramuel instead? My brother often complains about his fiancée and might be willing to break it off to pursue Lady Charlon. From her perspective, the eldest son would be a better match than the second. And wouldn’t becoming the queen consort be better than being the wife of a mere northern noble?”

“Weren’t you just saying you’d become the northern Marquis and persuade the King?”

“…I was.”

“And what will you say to the lady herself? ‘Let’s not get married,’ just like that?”

“I’ve thought of something. Want to hear it?”

“Go ahead.”

Damion cleared his throat and, as if Lady Charlon were standing right in front of him, spoke earnestly,

“You are beautiful, Lady Charlon. You possess the grace of a queen and a fragrance that could blanket the world. I am unsure if I am worthy of you. I am but a mere warrior on the battlefield, incapable of tending to a household or treating a woman with the care she deserves. Marrying someone like me would bring you a lifetime of suffering. So, even now…”

Jedrick burst out laughing before Damion could finish.

Damion frowned and scolded him.

“Don’t mock me.”

Jedrick raised his hands in apology.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t mocking you.”

Ram never imagined an apology coming from Jedrick’s lips.

“But you laughed!”

“It’s not that I’m mocking you—I’m laughing because it’s genuinely amusing. If I were a woman, I’d probably be so moved by your clumsiness that I’d say yes to your proposal.”

Damion thought deeply for a moment, then shook his head.

“Where in what I just said was there any mention of a proposal?”

[Translator - Jjescus]

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“You’re saying those sweet words weren’t a proposal? If I translated even the first sentence you just said to the men of my tribe, they’d rather drop an axe on their own necks than let such words escape their mouths.”

“Then how do you savages reject a woman’s proposal?”

For the first time, the prince, who always called them the Geron tribe, used the word “savages.”

It seemed he was genuinely angry.

Jedrick, of course, wasn’t offended in the least.

“Basically, we don’t reject a woman’s proposal.”

“What? Then what if you already have a wife, and another woman approaches you to spend her life with you?”

“Then she becomes the second wife.”

“Good grief. And what about the first wife?”

“You mustn’t neglect her. Though you might neglect the second wife. She has to accept that risk if she joins.”

“Savage ways indeed! I can’t accept this. When I rule this land, the first thing I’ll do is abolish such barbaric customs!”

“You can rule us, but you can’t change us. I’m afraid of you wandering around Geron tribes saying things like that. I’ll have to follow you around to stop you from speaking…”

Jedrick, who was laughing as he spoke, abruptly stopped.

Damion grabbed Jedrick’s shoulder with a radiant expression.

“Yes, that’s it!”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’ll be my advisor. If I’m to rule this place, I’ll need help. Of course, I’ve received the education of a monarch, but that was all for the Kingdom of Triton. If I become king, that education will be useful—but not here. As you said, my knowledge and skills won’t work here. To unite you all and ensure peace without conflict with the kingdom, I’ll need a mediator.”

Damion spoke quickly, as if reciting lines he’d rehearsed, shaking Jedrick’s shoulders.

“You’ll do it, Jedrick. From now on, you’re my advisor. My counselor. My chancellor. How about that?”

Jedrick turned to Ram as if asking for help.

“Your prince is excited. Take him away.”

Ram agreed.

“I’ll escort him out. Your Highness, you’re drunk.”

“Exactly. What’s the use of discussing this among ourselves? This is a matter to discuss with General Terdin. No need to tell Father—he’s only interested in the fish and gold here anyway.”

The prince left without even saying goodbye.

Ram hurried to follow, but Damion was already walking far ahead, accompanied by two guards.

Come to think of it, Ram had no reason to guard Prince Damion.

His mission was to protect Jedrick.

Inside the tent, Jedrick’s laughter could be heard.

Though unlikely, it sounded like genuine amusement.

Two days later, troops from the Duchy of Vormont arrived.

Though fewer in number than the royal reinforcements, they had a significant cavalry force, likely why they arrived so quickly.

Upon seeing the troops, Lieutenant Aedun immediately complained.

“If they had given us those troops from the start, this war wouldn’t have dragged on so long.”

General Terdin replied cynically.

“If that had happened, you wouldn’t have the chance to be treated like this now.”

Ram deliberately stood some distance from General Terdin.

He could hear their voices clearly enough and wanted to avoid being dragged into a conversation where the general might conjure unnecessary questions.

“I heard the prince isn’t too fond of this marriage.”

Terdin suddenly turned around.

Their eyes met, startling Ram.

But Terdin was looking for Damion.

Confirming the prince wasn’t there, Terdin finally spoke.

“He’s still young. He dreams of love but is told to make a strategic choice. Naturally, he’d sulk.”

“Dreaming of love isn’t a crime. Could the prince refuse the engagement?”

“Could he disobey his father? That timid man?”

“Timid? The way the prince moves around meeting everyone, even lowly soldiers, he seems to have a strong spirit. The soldiers already like him.”

It was the first time Ram had seen Aedun praise someone like that.

“It’s because he’s timid that he tries to get along with everyone. He can’t bear the thought of anyone criticizing him, so he tries to be nice to everyone. I just hope that good nature doesn’t end up being exploited.”

Terdin’s voice carried genuine concern for the prince.

Ram heard the sound of approaching hooves.

It was Damion, riding slowly as if reluctantly facing an unwanted task.

“General, the prince is arriving,”

Ram informed.

Terdin nodded but deliberately kept his gaze fixed ahead, speaking only to his lieutenant.

“It doesn’t matter if the prince dislikes the engagement. The marriage will happen regardless. The Duke of Vormont is offering his daughter to gain justification for sharing this northern land instead of the Sentyon region. The king, on the other hand, wants an army to suppress Vormont, along with a hostage. The prince’s refusal won’t change anything.”

“It makes me feel sorry for the prince.”

“Does it really?”

“Why not?”

“According to ‘rumors,’ the prince won’t refuse.”

“What rumors?”

“You don’t know?”

“No.”

Terdin gestured toward the approaching Vormont army.

“It’s awkward for me to explain. Just look, and you’ll understand.”

[Translator - Jjescus]

[Proofreader - Gun]

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