Against the World II: Transgression
Chapter 28: Sheer Stupidity, part 3
...—21st January, E643 | Royal Palace, Etharna, Favilifna Kingdom—...
It was still early morning when Elmira got the news that tens of thousands of Ekralina Kingdom citizens were entering the Favilifna Kingdom territory, and there were tens of thousands of others who were on their way to leave their towns and villages.
An official letter from the Carolinas requested that the Favilfna Kingdom be willing to accommodate the citizens of Ekralina for a while. As a human and god-chosen nation, Mortana insists on bringing the kingdom to defeat the enemies.
Elmira's reaction?
Elmira's reaction was unsurprising: she laughed as she clapped her hands enthusiastically.
The Hebranest who reported and read the contents of the letter written by the Ekralina Kingdom government did not know how to behave. His logic says Elmira's attitude is inappropriate. Hebranest wouldn't think it strange if Elmira snorted or something, but laughed and clapped? That's far from normal.
However, on the other side that was out of nowhere, Hebranest felt that there was nothing strange about Elmira's reaction. Even if Elmira decided to laugh giggling while rolling around, it was still normal. Elmira is “Holy Queen”. Everything he did was nothing strange to him. Elmira is never wrong. If anyone says the queen is wrong, then that person's concept is completely false.
In addition to the interaction between the main warrior general and the queen of the Favilifna Kingdom, Hebranest had never had any other nonformal interactions with Elmira. She was the lover of the queen's mother. After Hebranest and Theana get married, he will become Elmira's stepfather. The distance between them is like the earth and the sky. Hebranest could not bring himself to look upon Elmira other than her queen.
Therefore, Hebranest could not voice any opposition within him. In the end he just kept quiet without voicing anything. Just wait until the queen is done with her fun. The opposition within him was quickly ignored.
“Hebranest,” call Elmira after her laughter subsides, her expression quickly turns serious. “Speak to the Mayor of Allecia. Tell him to welcome the refugees. Treat them well. We cannot receive them in the city; provide them with a campground near the city. Fulfill their needs. Affirm to Allecia to import logistics from the empire if the stock is insufficient.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Hebranest then left the room to immediately carry out his duties.
It was still early in the morning, and he was teleported here just now when the new sun was about to rise. Theana will frown if she finds out she is back at the palace but leaves immediately without giving her a good morning kiss. However, Hebranest has a duty to do, a responsibility to carry. And responsibility always ranks highest on the Hebranest priority scale.
“Hebranest,” greet Mary who happens to be walking in the opposite direction to Hebranest in a hallway.
Hebranest greeted him back, and the two passed each other without another exchange of words.
It was not because there was a conflict between the two. Mary from the beginning was very irritable to talk. If there's no need, the woman won't talk. To be close to Mary without feeling ignored, the initiative to talk is very necessary. Therefore, if Hebranest does not start a topic of conversation with him, there will be no meaningful conversation.
The problem was, Hebranest could not bring himself to invite the girl to talk like before. There was a love that always whispered as he looked at the petite woman. However, he owned Theana—two-daughter widows. Hebranest could not betray that woman. The woman really loved him half to death. If she knew Hebranest had a penchant for Mary, Theana would have asked Elmira to drive Mary out of the palace.
After all, Hebranest knew that if he spoke it would only end up disappointed. His love clapped one hand. Mary has no interest in him. Hebranest doesn't even know if Mary has an interest in the thing called love. The girl herself does not understand what love is.
Hebranest can only love him from afar, unnoticed, and in a lonely heart ‒ if there is a chance, they might meet in a dream.
...—Royal Palace, Cornnas, Emeralna— Province...
Xavier felt that way every night with Artemys. He always woke up earlier than Artemys, and he always spent time until Artemys woke up looking at and stroking his wife's face and hair. It's a simple thing, but the comfort is so meaningful. The fun is so real.
Xavier never got tired of doing that routine.
“I can also be mistaken if you look at it like that,” muttered Artemys who just opened her eyelids, her eyes looked intensely at Xavier's eyes which also looked at her intensely.
“How long have you been awake?” xavier asked, linking his right fingers to Artemys' left fingers.
“Not longer than you.” Artemys closed his body to Xavier, landing his head on the commander's left shoulder. “What are your activities today? I'd be happy if you stayed here until noon. This morning my schedule was empty. We can go for a walk together. Light walks are good for the development of our child-to-be.”
Xavier gently dipped the tops of Artemys' heads and made their heads lean. “If yesterday afternoon I was not told that your father wanted me to be in his palace this morning,” said, “I will gladly accompany you. I even thought of taking you to relax on an empty little island today.”
“You can ignore the call. Don't you like my father? Why should I try to fulfill his call?”
Xavier can do that. He could say he forgot. Things finished.
However, Nueva already knew of her relationship with Artemys. Although their marriage was known to only a handful of people, Nueva managed to sniff it out. He didn't know if the man knew his daughter was pregnant or not; xavier didn't want to take the risk. She remembers Catherine's story about Nueva killing her own daughter.
The fact that Nueva did not give him a list of names of people seen in the Carnal Village massacre was also a concern for Xavier.
The man did not care that Xavier would accept it and ignore his actions the previous time or not. The man may never think of apologizing for what he has done. Xavier did not want Nueva to use Artemys to move him.
Monica is safe with Kanna, and Artemys is safe with her; Xavier won't let Nueva do anything Xavier doesn't want her to do. Xavier has to play it safe here. He should make sure their “cooperation” relationship goes well. At the very least, Xavier had to tolerate it until Fie Axellibra and Vermyna Hellvarossa could be overcome. He and Kanna really need Nueva to be able to fight one of those abnormal creatures.
“If I am not a commander, I will gladly ignore him,” Xavier replied in the end. “However, I am currently a commander. After all, the war is getting closer. There might be a very important thing that she needs to talk to me about to the point of having to speak directly.”
“So, huh?”
Xavier quickly hugged his wife, pecking her cheeks with affection. “You really want me to ignore the call?”
Xavier was able to split his body in two and asked him to meet Nueva.
Artemys broke free from Xavier's embrace, got out of bed and pulled Xavier's hand saying, “Help me wash my hair, then we have breakfast together, and after that I'll take you out.”