The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 410

“Finally, you’re keeping your mouth shut. Did you not expect me to propose this? Or were you planning a political marriage with another Yegas royal family?”

Sion felt a sense of satisfaction seeing Azadin’s silence.

However…

“Midiam escaped?”

Azadin’s next words struck Sion Etar like a hammer blow.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because you brought so many Aragasa [elite warriors]. This isn’t a war, and there’s no reason to bring so many just to meet me. I suspected something happened within the Messenger Clan, and it seems I was right. Midiam escaped, and you’re here to catch her, aren’t you?”

“……”

It was just a guess.

However, Sion Etar was too proud to deny it, especially since he was so close to the truth.

“That’s right. The Hwajopungwol [a group of skilled martial artists] helped Midiam escape. We thought we could find them here, so we came fully prepared. But if we fight here, you, the king, will intervene. So, King Azadin, rather than fight you, I’d rather hand her over to you officially.”

If they tried to capture Midiam here, they would have to face the Hwajopungwol protecting her, Azadin, and the Banryung Kingdom army as enemies.

From Sion Etar’s perspective, it would be better to officially send Midiam to Azadin, which would save face and be beneficial.

“Is that a marriage proposal?”

“Yes. So, what do you think of the marriage proposal? What’s your answer?”

*********

“That’s how it is.”

Sion Etar spoke calmly to Midiam Etar.

“…Huh? What?”

Midiam was bewildered, as the words she had clearly heard didn’t quite register in her mind.

What was her cousin talking about? Was he deciding on marriage so easily?

She understood that Sion Etar had come to Banryung to pursue her.

She could also understand that he had met with Azadin, since a conflict could break out.

But a political marriage with Azadin out of the blue?

Midiam looked at Azadin. He stood there as if this marriage was the most natural thing in the world.

“Congratulations. It seems even the wild young lady has a day to get married.”

Ismail congratulated Midiam with a blank expression.

Sion Etar smiled wryly at the sight.

“You can run away again if you want. If you want to smear the king’s face, that is. But you won’t, will you?”

Sion Etar knew that Midiam admired Azadin.

She had admired him even when he was blind, so there was no need to mention how she felt about the current Azadin, who was not only handsome but also a king.

“N-no, I mean, it’s not that Azadin and Sion, it’s not…”

Midiam pointed her fingers back and forth between Azadin and Sion Etar.

“Are you saying that I’m marrying Azadin?”

“…It would be nice if your ears were as wide open as your open mind.”

“Then, I’d like to talk to him alone for a bit. Somewhere where other people can’t see us.”

“Of course. I also think it’s not right to decide on something like this without the parties involved agreeing.”

Azadin willingly agreed to meet with Midiam separately and went out to the royal garden.

*********

The royal garden of Banryung was a place enveloped in warm heat all year round, thanks to the heat from the furnace.

This garden, built above the path where the mine chimneys passed, was filled with barley and hops instead of flowers.

It was the unique aesthetic of the dwarves, who believed that the ingredients for making beer were truly beautiful crops.

“Are you angry?”

“No. Why do you think so?”

“I feel guilty for neglecting you all this time.”

Azadin said and smiled.

“Well, I thought there was a reason for it. And because you left me alone, Indim and Seraph were able to rescue me. If you had kept worrying about my safety, the security would have been even tighter. But, Azadin.”

Midiam asked.

“Are you still you?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“I heard rumors about you among the Messenger Clan. They said you were chosen by the gods and suddenly conquered several regions as if you were possessed, creating a huge military force. And now you’ve become the king of Banryung. So, I wondered… maybe the gods chose you to project their will onto this land? I started to have such doubts.”

Being called a representative of the gods sounded good, but for Midiam, it was like the death of the Azadin she knew.

She loved Azadin’s upright will and purpose.

She respected and admired Azadin for his courage to say what was right and wrong, even if he was persecuted by those around him, and for his will to practice goodness.

But what if he had been chosen by the gods, lost his ego, and turned into a tool of the gods?

Azadin couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Haha. You were worried about that?”

“It’s an important issue for me.”

Midiam said and stroked her chest.

“The rumors were terrifying. People in the clan believed that you had become someone else, not the original you. Miracles happened, and you even regained your eyes…”

“These eyes are Araiel’s eyes. When Araiel and I were both fatally wounded, Araiel sacrificed himself for me.”

“Yes. Araiel, the color of Harkonia [a legendary figure], also had such eyes. Now that I see it, you really do look alike. So, you are still you, right?”

“Don’t worry. I’ve met angels and spirits, but even before meeting them, this was entirely my mission. You know I’ve always wanted to do this, right?”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘this’?”

“To make sure that virtue is not ridiculed in this world.”

At Azadin’s answer, Midiam finally let out a sigh of relief.

“That’s good then. Azadin, please take care of me in the future.”

“Midiam. Actually, I have something to confess too.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“I won’t live much longer.”

Azadin said and covered his eyes with his palm before showing them to Midiam.

Blood was flowing from his tear ducts.

“……”

“I barely survived by receiving Araiel’s life at the brink of death. But Araiel didn’t have much life left either.”

By sitting on the throne of Banryung and receiving the original copy of the Divine King’s Scripture from the spirits of Yegas, Azadin was able to cleanly resolve the problem of the magical power of the grimoires twisted within his body.

However, even after resolving the magic problem, he occasionally felt blood flowing and pain as if his body was breaking into pieces.

“Then…”

“It would be better to keep it as an engagement. This engagement might give you some freedom for a while. And when I die, then…”

Midiam felt heartbroken looking at Azadin, who was speaking so calmly.

He was older than her, but Azadin was still in his prime.

How could he talk about his own death so calmly?

“Who else knows about this besides me?”

“You’re the first person I’m telling.”

“I see.”

Azadin’s military force was gathered solely by Azadin’s personal charisma and ability.

Azadin could never show that his body was not well or that death was approaching.

Even when Azadin occasionally bled, the people around him didn’t ask about it in detail.

They were afraid and reluctant to ask about Azadin’s health.

But now, Azadin was honestly telling Midiam about his condition for the first time.

“So, you’ve been keeping that fact to yourself all this time?”

“I’m fine. What do you mean by suffering?”

“How can you be fine? You want to live too, don’t you? You don’t want to die, do you?”

“Shhh, be quiet. Someone might hear us.”

“Anyway, so you’re saying that you want to get engaged, not married, to protect me until then. And when you fulfill your mission and pass away, you’ll release me then. Is that what you mean?”

“…That’s how it will be.”

“Haa. I can’t believe this.”

Midiam shook her head.

“Well, I knew from the moment I was born as a daughter of the Etar clan that marriage wouldn’t be up to me. But I have my own desires too.”

“What kind?”

“To marry someone who loves me passionately. Someone who tells me I’m beautiful, who passionately whispers that they want to spend the rest of their life with me. Even if it starts as a political marriage, wouldn’t married life be enjoyable with such a person?”

“But the remaining lifespan is an important issue.”

“No, who can guarantee tomorrow? You could die in a fire caused by a cooking accident at the wedding, or freeze to death because of Pimbulbert [a mythical cold wind]. Even someone who seems healthy and fine could die tomorrow, isn’t that how the world is?”

Listening to Midiam’s words, Azadin chuckled.

Come to think of it, it was similar to what he had said when persuading Sion.

Who can know and foresee the future?

Who can live tomorrow with a complete and perfect guarantee?

Even healthy and fine people are not guaranteed to live longer, are they?

“So, Azadin, please tell me that you want to marry me because you like me. Even if it’s because of a political marriage, you can at least tell that lie. And don’t talk about dying. Of course, you might not be feeling well right now, but miracles do happen in this world, right?”

Midiam held Azadin’s hand.

The warm heat from her hand warmed Azadin’s weakened body again.

“Are you sure? Midiam? I…”

“Don’t say that again… Azadin.”

Midiam took a deep breath and said.

“I like you. Even when you were a low-ranking messenger without eyes, you made any sacrifice for your will. I admire that about you, Azadin.”

“………”

“If I’ve made you say this much, now it’s your turn. Say it.”

“Midiam…”

“You don’t admire me much?”

“No. Since that day in Coral Sahar, it was your faith that has sustained me.”

The words that he didn’t have much time left lingered in his throat.

Was it okay?

But before Azadin could say anything, Midiam hugged him.

“More. More passionately!”

Midiam’s fingertips were trembling as she said that.

She was pretending to be bold, but Midiam must have been surprised and shocked by Azadin’s confession that he didn’t have much time left.

Yet, she was deliberately smiling brightly and comforting Azadin.

That courage, that will, and that faith that was too much to receive.

Azadin didn’t know how he could repay her kindness and faith.

“When I was wandering in the darkness, you were my star. Midiam. Please, will you be my partner?”

“Of course.”

Midiam smiled brightly and hugged Azadin’s arm.

“Ah, it’s hard to get a bow by poking my side. Well then, shall we go fulfill the king’s mission?”

“Shall we? There’s still a lot of work left.”

“No, that’s not the mission I’m talking about.”

Midiam chuckled.

“It’s about establishing an heir!”

“…T-that seems too fast.”

But Midiam had no intention of giving Azadin a veto.

Azadin was reluctantly being dragged along by Midiam.

But then…

“Congratulations, Your Majesty. But, is there anything you’ve forgotten?”

“……”

Standing in front of the royal garden was Heine, the Anshik Indozer [a high-ranking knight] of the Rescue Knights.

“Ah.”

The king’s mission seemed like it wouldn’t be completed yet.