I Thought I Was Married, But I Was Left Alone, So I'll Live as I Please. So Please Don't Mind Me Anymore, My Lord of the Border - Chapter 4

I gazed down at the dark forest spreading beyond the high, thick defensive wall outside my window and quietly let out a sigh.

The abnormal proliferation of monsters was finally showing signs of coming to an end.

My first task as lord was also about to reach some sort of conclusion.

The wind blowing from the forest still carried the scent of something burnt. How many lives had that miasma claimed?

Watching the soldiers who grudged even sleep as they took up their swords, I blamed myself countless times.

If only I, as lord, had taken action sooner…

But now, an end was finally in sight.

“It’s become quite quiet, hasn’t it?”

“Yes…”

The brief reply carried the weight of three years.

Looking back, they were truly hellish days.

Three years ago, magical beasts began pouring out of the forest one after another.

Every day, the knights and mercenaries took turns fighting them off.

Our people, supplies, and morale were all steadily worn down.

Yet we never gave up, gritted our teeth, and protected this land to the end.

If this place had been breached, the country would have been overrun by magical beasts. That was something we absolutely had to avoid.

The decisive turning point came six months ago with the development of the “Magical Beast Repellent” within our territory.

Only with that were we able to reclaim our nights for sleep and take the offensive against the forest during the day.

Those who carried the repellent were not attacked and could hunt safely.

A single medicine had changed the course of the war. Its contribution was immeasurable.

The attrition rate among knights and mercenaries visibly decreased.

We had lost nearly half our comrades from three years ago. Those who remained, fighting on without time to grieve, were finally beginning to smile again.

Come to think of it, over the past year, the quality of the delivered medicine had improved astonishingly, speeding up wound healing and alleviating fatigue.

Thanks to that, the entire territory was finally recovering.

In contrast, the medicine from the Kreuz territory, which we had once relied on, had suddenly declined in quality.

It was fortunate that our own territory’s medicine improved around the same time, because if we had continued relying solely on Kreuz, many more lives would have been lost.

And now, for some reason, I heard that skilled alchemists were gathering one after another in this Graphica border territory.

The medicine they produced now boasted a perfection that surpassed even that of the Kreuz territory.

At the center of it all was a young man, they said.

When I tried to express my gratitude to the alchemists and discuss rewards, I received reports that they all unanimously said, “Him first.”

As if honoring a “master.”

Not just respect, but absolute trust.

That was how it sounded.

How could I not be curious about what kind of person he was?

The one who saved this land.

Just who was this young man?

I wanted to meet him…

And thank him directly.

I wanted to honor his achievements at the very least, so I sent multiple invitations to the mansion, but…

“Nia, any response from that young man?”

“This time as well, he declined, my lord.”

“…I see.”

It was the knights and mercenaries who fought.

But without a doubt, it was the alchemists who supported them from behind.

Without them, this victory would not have been possible.

Even among the mercenaries, the medicine’s performance was so captivating that they were saying, “I’m definitely stocking up before I go home.”

The forest had completely calmed down, and thanks to the magical beast repellent, the burden of patrols had lightened.

Of course, there was always the possibility that monsters with resistance might appear someday.

We couldn’t let our guard down. But even so, the current peace was precious and dear to me.

“What about the matter of the commendation?”

“As usual, he only requests priority for magical beast parts used as medicine ingredients.”

“Money?”

“He says he doesn’t need any.”

“Hah…”

Too humble. To refuse even a reward after contributing so much to the territory.

I wanted to express my gratitude somehow. At the very least, I wanted to tell him directly, even if just a word.

“I’d like to meet and speak with him in person.”

“I’ll arrange it.”

Simply honoring his achievements wasn’t enough.

They were the ones who rebuilt this land. As lord, and as a person, I felt I should thank him face to face.

And so, three days later.

At the newly established alchemy guild I visited, I met a beautiful young man with silver hair.

His intense dark blue eyes, which seemed full of determination, were very captivating.

The moment he saw the young man, I could tell that Nia behind me gasped. A single bead of sweat traced down the forehead of the always calm man.

Even I could feel his agitation.

What was wrong with the man who never showed his emotions?

But before I could ask, the young man started walking, and I followed.

Still, this young man… We should be meeting for the first time, yet something about him felt familiar, tugging at some corner of my memory.

“Your Excellency…”

Nia started to say something, but before I could hear him out, we arrived at the reception room.

With a smile, the young man gestured to the sofa. As soon as I sat down, tea was served.

“Nice to meet you, Lord Graphica. What brings you here today?”

…His “nice to meet you” carried a strange pressure.

As if he were hiding something.

And yet, his voice… I felt like I’d heard it somewhere before.

Where could it have been?

As I searched my memory, I took a sip of the served tea.

“…This is good.”

My consciousness was drawn to the flavor, interrupting my thoughts.

The tea was a vibrant green unlike any I’d seen, with a refreshing aroma that spread through my mouth.

The sensation as it went down my throat was surprisingly light, seeping through pleasantly.

“I tried making tea from medicinal herbs. It helps prevent illness.”

“Oh, such a thing exists?”

“There are also cookies and bread with medicinal herbs kneaded into them.”

With a gentle smile, the young man presented item after item.

“This territory has many wonderful medicinal herbs. It would be a waste not to use them!”

His demeanor was like that of a master merchant.

The table was soon filled, and he carefully explained the taste and effects of each.

His voice was easy to listen to, his explanations clear.

His intelligence was evident.

“If it’s acceptable, I’d like your permission to sell these as local specialties.”

“Very well. From now on, you may proceed freely.”

“Thank you.”

After he expressed his thanks, I finally broached the main topic.

“And this is the main reason I’m here. Though you’ve refused multiple times, the commendation…”

“I don’t need it.”

His voice, as he stated this, was utterly calm and without hesitation.

Then, smiling, he said:

“As someone living in this land, I merely did what was natural. I don’t need anything.”

Hearing those words, warmth spread through my chest.

That such a person existed in this territory…

Just that alone felt like salvation.

Thinking I should at least express my gratitude, I praised the various medicines that had been delivered so far.

The young man listened, nodding happily.

And then, as we finished our tea, it was time for me to return to the mansion.

I was reluctant to part with this young man. I felt lonely, wanting to talk more.

This was a first for me, and I was bewildered by my own feelings.

I wanted to at least know his name, but he kept refusing to give it, saying, “I’m just an alchemist, nothing more.”

That he was merely a common alchemist, unworthy of the border lord remembering his name. That it would be presumptuous.

Refused to that extent, I couldn’t press further. I had come to reward someone for their merits; forcing the issue was not my intention.

I had no choice but to give up on learning his name.

Nia behind me remained agitated the entire time, not even looking at the young man.

The meeting ended with this strange atmosphere.

“Well then, until next time.”

I said this to the young man who had come out to see me off.

His movements were graceful, beautiful.

I want to see him again.

I genuinely felt that.

“Goodbye. From now on, if anything comes up, someone else will handle it.”

But as if seeing right through my inner thoughts, the young man implicitly told me we wouldn’t meet again.

Despite his soft smile, something stirred uneasily in my chest.

After receiving the horse I had left, I mounted and started riding. Immediately, Nia came up beside me.

Looking at Nia’s face next to me, I noticed something was wrong.

“What’s wrong? You look pale.”

“Your Excellency… That person…”

“Do you know something?”

“That person is your fiancé, Ash Kreuz.”

“…!?”

My breath caught.

My heart seemed to stop for a moment.

That young man who had been smiling gently until just now is my fiancé?

Two years ago, the engagement was practically forced upon us.

I had told myself it was just a necessary “procedure” to obtain medicine and had pretended to forget about it.

To be honest, the terms of the contract were terrible, taking advantage of our desperate situation.

If not for our dire circumstances, I would never have accepted.

But at that time, Graphica absolutely needed Kreuz’s medicine.

On top of forcing their foolish son on me as a fiancé, Kreuz acted as if they were doing us a favor, and their demands only kept increasing.

I was crushed countless times by distrust and indignation, and by my own helplessness at having to accept such an unreasonable contract.

A troublesome person shamelessly sent all the way to the mansion.

To me back then, a fiancé was nothing more than that, so I didn’t even bother to look at him properly.

That’s why, even now, my memory of that day remains blank.

I don’t even remember the brief conversation we had.

I think I said, “Do as you please.”

So I had assumed he was living freely in the mansion, but what is this!?

Yet, in those gentle eyes, there wasn’t even a shadow of resentment.

As if he had never expected anything from the start.

My chest ached.

Was that pain regret, or something else?

I had to confirm the meaning behind that smile.

And I wanted to know.

Where he had been these past two years, and what burdens he had carried.

The night wind rustled the distant forest.

The sound of the black branches whispering lingered in my ears like a calling voice.