“I won’t ask for forgiveness. No, don’t forgive me.”
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“……”
“Just let me apologize to you. I’m sorry, really sorry.”
Khalid just quietly looked at Maryam as she apologized. He could feel the bitterness tightly clumping in the pit of his stomach vanish as if a frozen ground during winter melted in the spring sun. Feeling overwhelmed, he bit his lip. If he didn’t do so, he would be swept away by the waves of emotions arising in his mind.
“It should have been like this…… I’m too brazen even when I think about it again. Right? Haha. Still, I won’t needlessly bother you anymore. I promise in my name.”
Maryam clumsily laughed, then promised in a more serious voice than ever. She wondered if Khalid would believe her, but she still wanted to say so.
After hesitating for a bit, she carefully clasped Khalid’s hand. She couldn’t even remember the last time she held his hand like this. Hot tears welled up in her eyes out of regret.
“So don’t mind me, just live for yourself and your companion from now on.”
“Noonim……”
“I will try my best to protect my family here, so you…… huu, I don’t think you will, but if you ever need help, feel free to contact me. Understand?”
With reddened eyes, Maryam deeply inhaled to hold back the cries reaching her throat. Then, with a face that seemed to be both crying and smiling, she forcibly curled up the corners of her trembling lips.
“……”
Khalid said nothing. To be exact, he couldn’t. He quietly moved his lips, then silently nodded. He couldn’t fully trust Maryam, but he knew the feelings she was showing now weren’t a lie. So he wanted to believe her.
“Thank you, Khalid. And I’m sorry, really sorry.”
Maryam’s face contorted when she realized her gentle and kind brother had forgiven her. She clenched her teeth desperately, holding back her tears. She didn’t deserve to cry in front of Khalid. But her weeping kept leaking out.
“Huff.”
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Having managed to hold back her cries, Maryam took a deep breath. Then, she courageously hugged Khalid. Her younger brother had grown much bigger than her, but it somehow reminded her of the old days.
‘Khalid? What are you doing here? Why are you in the corner? Did someone bother you again?’
‘……No.’
‘No? Let me see. Huff, oh my God! What happened to your face? Which bastard caused this?’
‘It’s okay. Because I hit him more……’
‘Really? You did well. No, wait, what do you mean that it’s okay?! It’s not okay at all! Who did that? Tell me who it was and I will teach him a lesson!’
‘Why would you, noonim?’
‘Huh? Why else?! You’re my brother! Protecting her younger brother is the sister’s job! So hurry up and tell me!’
‘But…… If noonim is in trouble because of me……’
‘Haiz, what am I supposed to do with this naive child? You don’t have to worry about that. Do you think I can’t solve this one thing?’
‘No.’
‘Right? Hehe, trust me! I’ll protect you!’
Recalling the memories of comforting Khalid, who crouched in one corner of the training ground after fighting with a young lord shortly after becoming a royal prince, and vowing to protect him, Maryam couldn’t help but shed tears.
Feeling his right shoulder get wet, Khalid gently hugged Maryam. It wasn’t possible, but he felt as if they had gone back to their childhood. To that time when they just purely cared for each other as an older sister and a younger brother, without any political calculations or judgments.
* * *
“Greetings, Your Imperial Highness. I am Alia, a shaman from the Black Wolf Knights Order. I have come to check the spell on the artifact under his highness’ command.”
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Renato, who was resting after making preparations to return to the Empire, was slightly startled by the unexpected visitor. The person that introduced herself as a shaman of the Black Wolf Knights Order was someone he knew. Though actually, he only knew her name.
It’s that person.
Looking at Alia greeting him, Renato stiffened. It was his first time seeing her face, but he knew quite a bit about her. Of course he did, since Alia was the Omega that became a hot topic as Khalid’s partner in his previous life.
‘Do you know the Omega who attended with the grand prince of the Khan Kingdom today? I heard she’s a shaman.’
‘Is it Dame Alia? Are you talking about that person? A beauty with black hair and blue eyes.’
‘Yes. They were also together at the last imperial banquet…… Do you happen to know what their relationship is? Doesn’t the grand prince have no betrothed?’
‘I think he doesn’t, right?’
‘Hmm, is that so? Then they don’t have much of a relationship, huh?’
‘Perhaps……, but why are you so curious?’
‘Ah, because I’m thinking of sending a marriage proposal to the grand prince. So it bothers me a bit, as he always goes with the same Omega.’
‘Aha. It’s indeed something to worry about.’
In his previous life, Khalid was the top groom that the Empire’s nobles had an eye on. Perhaps due to that, he could hear people talk about Khalid and Alia everywhere whenever he attended banquets under Blanche’s orders. Renato would sit in a corner of the banquet hall and kill time by picking up the nobles’ conversations.
But he didn’t pay much attention at the time. After Ludmilla’s death, he was mentally exhausted and couldn’t afford to do so, and he also thought it had nothing to do with him as it was before he first interacted with Khalid.
So it was this person.
Enveloped in a strange sentiment, Renato looked at Alia with curious eyes. As people said, Alia was a beauty with blue-tinted black hair and sky-blue eyes.
“Your Imperial Highness?”
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Louis quietly called Renato when he did not accept Alia’s greeting and just stared at her. Only then did Renato realize he was lost in thoughts and hurriedly open his mouth.
“Welcome, Dame Alia.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness. It is an honor to meet you like this.”
Alia, who was nervously looking at Renato, smiled broadly in relief after her greeting was accepted. Her smile was as bright as a blooming flower.
“I’m also pleased to meet you. I have heard the Knights Order has a very good shaman…… It must have been you.”
“I’m still lacking a lot. Still, I will do my best to fulfill the order given by his highness today.”
Alia answered in a motivated voice. She had a strong affinity for Renato. Not only Alia but everyone in the Black Wolf Knights Order also did.
For the Knights Order’s members who were very loyal to Khalid, every day had been like a sweet dream for the past few months. It was a joyous occasion that Khalid, whom they wished to be happier than anyone else, had a companion who would be with him for the rest of his life, and in addition, that person was Renato, the Empire’s Prince.
Besides, Renato had good looks as well as personality and ability. He made full use of his wealth and authority to raise the spirit of Khalid and the Black Wolf Knights Order’s members.
All of the Knights Order’s members’ families were granted commercial permits in the Esteban territory, and houses and jobs were provided to those wishing to relocate with their families.
That alone was enough to appreciate, but Renato also protected Khalid’s aide, Nasir, from Marquis Ishbart and saved the life of Queen Consort Laila.
Thanks to the outstanding achievements of the Prince-nim who was small and pretty like a rabbit, the kingdom’s nobles that often looked down on Khalid and his knights were cut down to size. Recently, they had become quite cautious.
With that situation, the knights naturally liked Renato. They were all delighted that Khalid had found a good companion. Alia was one of them. To her, Renato was like a treasure that fell from the sky.
“Did his highness tell you to check the artifact?”
“Yes, I heard that his highness gave his mother’s keepsake, the pocket watch, to Your Imperial Highness, is that right?”
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“It is. I have it.”
Renato nodded his head and pulled out the pocket watch from his chest pocket. He had always carried it with him ever since Khalid gifted it to him. It felt familiar, as it was also the same in his previous life.
“It’s indeed that watch.”
Having politely accepted the watch, Alia exclaimed. She had heard Khalid had gifted Renato with his mother’s keepsake, but seeing it with her own eyes was even more surprising. Because she knew how much he valued this watch.
“Do you know this watch?”
“Every Knights Order member can’t help but know. It’s something that his highness cherishes…… I also had to look into the watch a few months ago.”
“A few months ago?”
“Ah, yes. His highness asked me to check the watch for any traces of curse or anything suspicious, and to make sure that the spell wasn’t affected.”
Alia recalled the task that was given to her a few months ago and replied. In response to her words, Renato asked with a surprised expression.
“Curse?”
“About that…… His highness’ watch suddenly broke one day. Fortunately, there was no problem.”
As long as the artifact was not completely destroyed, it could be restored several times as long as the power given by the shaman remained. However, creating such a powerful artifact took a lot of effort and put a great burden on the shaman, so disposables for one-time use were much more common.
However, Khalid’s pocket watch was so unique that it couldn’t be compared to other artifacts. It was because Jamila, an excellent shaman, had poured out the rest of her life into making it. So despite being shattered, the spell remained intact.
Maybe it’ll still be fine even if it breaks two or three more times?
Amid recalling the power remaining in the pocket watch, Alia escaped from her thoughts as she heard Renato’s somewhat bewildered voice.
“The watch was broken……? When?”
“I won’t ask for forgiveness. No, don’t forgive me.”
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“……”
“Just let me apologize to you. I’m sorry, really sorry.”
Khalid just quietly looked at Maryam as she apologized. He could feel the bitterness tightly clumping in the pit of his stomach vanish as if a frozen ground during winter melted in the spring sun. Feeling overwhelmed, he bit his lip. If he didn’t do so, he would be swept away by the waves of emotions arising in his mind.
“It should have been like this…… I’m too brazen even when I think about it again. Right? Haha. Still, I won’t needlessly bother you anymore. I promise in my name.”
Maryam clumsily laughed, then promised in a more serious voice than ever. She wondered if Khalid would believe her, but she still wanted to say so.
After hesitating for a bit, she carefully clasped Khalid’s hand. She couldn’t even remember the last time she held his hand like this. Hot tears welled up in her eyes out of regret.
“So don’t mind me, just live for yourself and your companion from now on.”
“Noonim……”
“I will try my best to protect my family here, so you…… huu, I don’t think you will, but if you ever need help, feel free to contact me. Understand?”
With reddened eyes, Maryam deeply inhaled to hold back the cries reaching her throat. Then, with a face that seemed to be both crying and smiling, she forcibly curled up the corners of her trembling lips.
“……”
Khalid said nothing. To be exact, he couldn’t. He quietly moved his lips, then silently nodded. He couldn’t fully trust Maryam, but he knew the feelings she was showing now weren’t a lie. So he wanted to believe her.
“Thank you, Khalid. And I’m sorry, really sorry.”
Maryam’s face contorted when she realized her gentle and kind brother had forgiven her. She clenched her teeth desperately, holding back her tears. She didn’t deserve to cry in front of Khalid. But her weeping kept leaking out.
“Huff.”
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Having managed to hold back her cries, Maryam took a deep breath. Then, she courageously hugged Khalid. Her younger brother had grown much bigger than her, but it somehow reminded her of the old days.
‘Khalid? What are you doing here? Why are you in the corner? Did someone bother you again?’
‘……No.’
‘No? Let me see. Huff, oh my God! What happened to your face? Which bastard caused this?’
‘It’s okay. Because I hit him more……’
‘Really? You did well. No, wait, what do you mean that it’s okay?! It’s not okay at all! Who did that? Tell me who it was and I will teach him a lesson!’
‘Why would you, noonim?’
‘Huh? Why else?! You’re my brother! Protecting her younger brother is the sister’s job! So hurry up and tell me!’
‘But…… If noonim is in trouble because of me……’
‘Haiz, what am I supposed to do with this naive child? You don’t have to worry about that. Do you think I can’t solve this one thing?’
‘No.’
‘Right? Hehe, trust me! I’ll protect you!’
Recalling the memories of comforting Khalid, who crouched in one corner of the training ground after fighting with a young lord shortly after becoming a royal prince, and vowing to protect him, Maryam couldn’t help but shed tears.
Feeling his right shoulder get wet, Khalid gently hugged Maryam. It wasn’t possible, but he felt as if they had gone back to their childhood. To that time when they just purely cared for each other as an older sister and a younger brother, without any political calculations or judgments.
* * *
“Greetings, Your Imperial Highness. I am Alia, a shaman from the Black Wolf Knights Order. I have come to check the spell on the artifact under his highness’ command.”
Sponsored Content
Renato, who was resting after making preparations to return to the Empire, was slightly startled by the unexpected visitor. The person that introduced herself as a shaman of the Black Wolf Knights Order was someone he knew. Though actually, he only knew her name.
It’s that person.
Looking at Alia greeting him, Renato stiffened. It was his first time seeing her face, but he knew quite a bit about her. Of course he did, since Alia was the Omega that became a hot topic as Khalid’s partner in his previous life.
‘Do you know the Omega who attended with the grand prince of the Khan Kingdom today? I heard she’s a shaman.’
‘Is it Dame Alia? Are you talking about that person? A beauty with black hair and blue eyes.’
‘Yes. They were also together at the last imperial banquet…… Do you happen to know what their relationship is? Doesn’t the grand prince have no betrothed?’
‘I think he doesn’t, right?’
‘Hmm, is that so? Then they don’t have much of a relationship, huh?’
‘Perhaps……, but why are you so curious?’
‘Ah, because I’m thinking of sending a marriage proposal to the grand prince. So it bothers me a bit, as he always goes with the same Omega.’
‘Aha. It’s indeed something to worry about.’
In his previous life, Khalid was the top groom that the Empire’s nobles had an eye on. Perhaps due to that, he could hear people talk about Khalid and Alia everywhere whenever he attended banquets under Blanche’s orders. Renato would sit in a corner of the banquet hall and kill time by picking up the nobles’ conversations.
But he didn’t pay much attention at the time. After Ludmilla’s death, he was mentally exhausted and couldn’t afford to do so, and he also thought it had nothing to do with him as it was before he first interacted with Khalid.
So it was this person.
Enveloped in a strange sentiment, Renato looked at Alia with curious eyes. As people said, Alia was a beauty with blue-tinted black hair and sky-blue eyes.
“Your Imperial Highness?”
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Louis quietly called Renato when he did not accept Alia’s greeting and just stared at her. Only then did Renato realize he was lost in thoughts and hurriedly open his mouth.
“Welcome, Dame Alia.”
“Yes, Your Imperial Highness. It is an honor to meet you like this.”
Alia, who was nervously looking at Renato, smiled broadly in relief after her greeting was accepted. Her smile was as bright as a blooming flower.
“I’m also pleased to meet you. I have heard the Knights Order has a very good shaman…… It must have been you.”
“I’m still lacking a lot. Still, I will do my best to fulfill the order given by his highness today.”
Alia answered in a motivated voice. She had a strong affinity for Renato. Not only Alia but everyone in the Black Wolf Knights Order also did.
For the Knights Order’s members who were very loyal to Khalid, every day had been like a sweet dream for the past few months. It was a joyous occasion that Khalid, whom they wished to be happier than anyone else, had a companion who would be with him for the rest of his life, and in addition, that person was Renato, the Empire’s Prince.
Besides, Renato had good looks as well as personality and ability. He made full use of his wealth and authority to raise the spirit of Khalid and the Black Wolf Knights Order’s members.
All of the Knights Order’s members’ families were granted commercial permits in the Esteban territory, and houses and jobs were provided to those wishing to relocate with their families.
That alone was enough to appreciate, but Renato also protected Khalid’s aide, Nasir, from Marquis Ishbart and saved the life of Queen Consort Laila.
Thanks to the outstanding achievements of the Prince-nim who was small and pretty like a rabbit, the kingdom’s nobles that often looked down on Khalid and his knights were cut down to size. Recently, they had become quite cautious.
With that situation, the knights naturally liked Renato. They were all delighted that Khalid had found a good companion. Alia was one of them. To her, Renato was like a treasure that fell from the sky.
“Did his highness tell you to check the artifact?”
“Yes, I heard that his highness gave his mother’s keepsake, the pocket watch, to Your Imperial Highness, is that right?”
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“It is. I have it.”
Renato nodded his head and pulled out the pocket watch from his chest pocket. He had always carried it with him ever since Khalid gifted it to him. It felt familiar, as it was also the same in his previous life.
“It’s indeed that watch.”
Having politely accepted the watch, Alia exclaimed. She had heard Khalid had gifted Renato with his mother’s keepsake, but seeing it with her own eyes was even more surprising. Because she knew how much he valued this watch.
“Do you know this watch?”
“Every Knights Order member can’t help but know. It’s something that his highness cherishes…… I also had to look into the watch a few months ago.”
“A few months ago?”
“Ah, yes. His highness asked me to check the watch for any traces of curse or anything suspicious, and to make sure that the spell wasn’t affected.”
Alia recalled the task that was given to her a few months ago and replied. In response to her words, Renato asked with a surprised expression.
“Curse?”
“About that…… His highness’ watch suddenly broke one day. Fortunately, there was no problem.”
As long as the artifact was not completely destroyed, it could be restored several times as long as the power given by the shaman remained. However, creating such a powerful artifact took a lot of effort and put a great burden on the shaman, so disposables for one-time use were much more common.
However, Khalid’s pocket watch was so unique that it couldn’t be compared to other artifacts. It was because Jamila, an excellent shaman, had poured out the rest of her life into making it. So despite being shattered, the spell remained intact.
Maybe it’ll still be fine even if it breaks two or three more times?
Amid recalling the power remaining in the pocket watch, Alia escaped from her thoughts as she heard Renato’s somewhat bewildered voice.
“The watch was broken……? When?”
