The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 38

Throughout the winter, the Duchy of Makari was plagued by the constant threat of demons. The sky did its best to extinguish the small spark of hope they had begun to kindle.

Despite the blizzard conditions, Santia relentlessly went on expeditions to deal with the demonic threat.

He always led the knights, venturing beyond the walls and into the rugged mountains. The dark blood of demons was scattered across the snowfields marked by their footprints.

Santia always fought at the forefront. His sword flashed with a white light, fiercely cutting down demons, and his resolute figure inspired courage in the knights. However, after the battle, when he returned to the castle, his face was always hardened with fatigue and a heavy sense of responsibility. Yulania could discern those subtle differences in his expression that others failed to notice.

One night, after returning from another urgent expedition, Santia was utterly exhausted. He stood quietly on the snow-covered ramparts, catching his breath and wiping the blood from his sword. Then, someone slowly approached him.

It was Yulania.

She stood silently beside him, wrapped in a thick cloak. Santia didn’t look at her, muttering softly.

“…You’re out here again?”

Yulania silently gazed at the dark night sky with him. Since learning about the holy stone’s reaction, she often came to the ramparts to look outside, wanting to get close to the demons and find out anything that could help.

As a result, she naturally spent more time with Santia, who went in and out of the walls every day. Thanks to Yulania often being on the walls to greet them, the Makari knights became much more friendly with her.

Watching the returning knights, she said, “You look particularly tired today. Was the battle difficult?”

Santia paused for a moment before replying briefly, “The attacks are too frequent. Everyone is exhausted.”

Yulania cautiously continued, “It shows on your face too. The atmosphere in the castle isn’t good because of the constant expeditions.”

Santia nodded slightly.

“I don’t like it, but it can’t be helped. I can’t just leave it alone.”

Yulania hesitated for a moment before quietly saying, “Isn’t it, a burden for you to always be at the forefront?”

Santia put down his sword and sighed softly.

“I’m used to it.”

Silence fell between them again. Yulania silently looked down at the snow-covered ramparts. After a long while, she spoke softly.

“It seems like I’m waiting for you on these ramparts more often now.”

Santia glanced at her before turning his gaze away again.

“I told you, you don’t have to do that. It’s cold.”

She smiled faintly.

“I know. But it’s become a habit. I want to see with my own eyes that you’ve returned safely. And I also want to figure this out quickly.”

She said, clutching the holy stone tightly in her hands.

“Let’s go inside.”

Without another word, he covered her hands with his warmth and headed towards the castle.

The dining hall of Makari Castle, buried under thick snow, was the place where friction with the royal investigation team was most frequent.

Since Yulania attended the Makari Knights’ meeting, the knights had become noticeably friendlier towards her. That atmosphere extended to mealtimes with the royal investigation team.

“Princess, how was it today?”

“Not as much as during the meeting. It seems to really depend on my mood.”

Yulania smiled sheepishly, touching her chest where the holy stone was. She didn’t openly show the holy stone where the royals were watching. However, as if light had become a habit, small, subtle vibrations spread from her palm. A knight sitting next to her whispered, “I really think the Princess is bringing some good energy to the castle.”

At those words, several knights nodded, and the atmosphere naturally revolved around Yulania.

Yurban, who had been quietly watching this scene from across the dining hall, had a slight glint in his eyes.

He silently put down his utensils. Force was applied to his fingertips, and the sound of the fork scraping against the plate echoed lightly, causing some of the investigation team knights sitting nearby to glance over.

“My sister seems to be spending a lot of time with the knights these days.”

Yurban’s voice sounded like a light laugh, but there was a noticeable edge to it. Yulania didn’t raise her gaze, answering calmly, “Is it strange for me to talk to my knights?”

“My knights, Interesting.”

His reply was expressionless. Just as Yulania was about to put down her fork, Yurban pointed to her chest.

“What’s in there? The knights are whispering strangely.”

“What? There’s nothing there.”

“To say that, the knights’ attitude towards my sister has changed in the past few days, and it’s suspicious. You’re not intentionally hiding something, are you?”

At those words, the surrounding conversation stopped abruptly. Santia quietly turned his gaze to Yurban, and the two men’s eyes met briefly. Yulania quietly inhaled. A feeling of absurdity rose before anger.

“Yurban, are you suspecting me right now?”

“Rather than suspicion… I’d call it interest as a royal. If my sister is hiding something special, I should know for the sake of the country.”

Before those words could even finish, Santia quietly put down his utensils and said very politely, “The Duchess is working hard with our knights to fight demons.”

“Is there anything the Duchess can do? Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration? Haha!”

Although it ended with a laugh, Yurban’s words were laced with an indescribable emotion. An unknown anxiety, as if something had been taken away. That emotion was because he vaguely felt that Yulania was gaining some kind of power through the holy stone.

Yulania felt it. She couldn’t say exactly what it was, but she sensed an uncomfortable feeling in Yurban’s gaze.

‘Is it anxiety, jealousy…?’

Her mind became complicated. The holy stone was faintly vibrating inside her clothes. And that vibration was gradually taking on a wave that was increasingly difficult to identify.

“Whatever the case, if this blizzard doesn’t stop, we’ll be trapped here until spring, won’t we?”

Yurban quickly changed the subject to blatant complaints. He complained like this every day. Santia sighed inwardly and repeated the same answer every time. Perhaps it was a less uncomfortable topic than revealing Yulania’s power.

“We can’t control the weather, Prince. What can we do?”

But Yurban didn’t listen to him.

“The Duke seems to be enjoying this situation. He seems to be enjoying keeping me, a prince and the representative of the investigation team, in this uncomfortable environment.”

At those words, Santia’s eyebrows twitched slightly. The suppressed emotion was evident in his low voice.

“That’s not true. I’m the one who wants to send the Prince back as soon as possible. I’m probably the one who most desperately wants the blizzard to subside here.”

As if he had been waiting for it, Yurban glared sharply at Santia.

“Duke, I’m starting to doubt whether you sincerely want us to leave this place. I’m even starting to suspect that this blizzard is due to some kind of scheme.”

The knights in the hall held their breath and watched the two men with tense expressions. Santia responded with a cold smile.

“Prince, you should refrain from making unfounded accusations. You’re not an attractive enough guest for me to hold onto you that much.”

Instantly, Yurban’s face flushed red. He gritted his teeth, jumped up from his seat, and strode out of the hall. As soon as Yurban disappeared, Santia quietly told the tense knights, “Everyone, please continue your meal.”

After the meal, Yulania quietly visited Santia’s office. She knocked lightly and carefully opened the door. Santia, who was sitting at his desk organizing documents, looked surprised when he saw her and stood up.

“Yulania?”

Yulania said with an awkward smile, “I’m sorry because of Yurban.”

Santia waved his hand dismissively.

“It’s not your fault. What can you do about the Prince being so headstrong?”

Yulania quietly sighed and muttered, “I know but somehow I’m ashamed.”

At her small voice, Santia was momentarily lost for words. She walked to the window, looked outside, and continued, “I don’t feel comfortable. Seeing the emotions between the royals and the people of Makari getting worse, it feels like it’s all my responsibility.”

At her words, Santia slowly approached her. It was an awkward and clumsy comfort, but it was sincere.

“That’s not true. It’s all because of this snow. And because of your arrogant prince.”

Yulania smiled at Santia’s words. His rough comfort was a little comforting to her.

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