May Every Wound Be Fatal - Chapter 33.1
In the summer, Maria Percy sent word from the northern Percy lands about her marriage.
It was sudden news, yet considering she was already eighteen years old, it was not entirely surprising.
Martin, however, reacted with noticeable surprise.
“Maria is getting married already? What happened? Were you shocked by her news?”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“Maria actually liked you. Surely you knew that, right?”
Elizer smiled awkwardly at the blunt question.
“You really are a sinful man.”
Whether out of jealousy or sibling revenge, Martin jabbed Elizer’s side with his elbow and then glanced again at the letter written by their mother, Helena Percy.
“In any case, I should return home soon. How long has it been?”
There was an unusual hint of excitement and longing in his muttered words.
“Well, if I can get leave this coming winter, it will have been almost three years.”
Elizer had already been over two years in the distant southern lands as Cassian’s knight. It was natural that he missed home.
Whenever he thought of the Percy lands, he could not help recalling the last time he had seen Helena Percy. It always left him with uneasy feelings. Still, he knew that if he returned, she would greet him with a bright smile and pat his back.
As Elizer stared for a while at the northern lands where Percy was located, his gaze instinctively drifted toward the mountain ridges.
The Red Citadel of the Dazbel Ducal family, where Reyna was, came into view.
His heart throbbed with a mix of fear, tension, great excitement, and anticipation. In one of his pockets, he always carried Reyna’s handkerchief.
It was a strangely peaceful time.
That peace ended with the sudden death of Prince Tiberian.
“A carriage accident?”
“Yes, Prince. While ascending a steep slope, the leading carriage slipped, causing dozens of carriages behind it to fall off the cliff.”
“Did anyone survive?”
“No. The queen, who rode in the same carriage as the prince, also passed away immediately.”
“……”
“…You should go to Elmaril soon.”
With the engagement to Reyna Dazbel canceled, Prince Tiberian sought a new bride. On the way to meet her, he died in a carriage accident.
It was a truly shocking and meaningless death.
“The duke really kept his promise.”
Cassian realized that Leonard had kept his promise to oust Prince Tiberian from Elmaril and to summon Cassian back there.
When allying with Leonard, Cassian had not expected the deaths of Tiberian and the queen. Yet seeing them die so easily, he felt unavoidable fear and instinctive rejection.
Even though Leonard kept his promise, Cassian could not trust him any more. He decided to temporarily send Priscilla back to her hometown. In case anything happened to him, he wanted at least his wife and the child in her womb to survive.
At that time, Priscilla was pregnant with Cassian’s child, though the world did not yet know.
Priscilla had no choice but to board a ship to return to her distant homeland, escorted by Marius Percy, now a squad leader, and his unit.
Not long after, a royal attendant arrived from the far southern lands to speak with Cassian.
“The king wishes to see the prince,” the attendant said.
King Bailion wanted to see his ‘one remaining son.’
Cassian remained cautious of Leonard, but at the same time, he relaxed slightly, knowing he was the only remaining heir to the throne.
‘No matter the duke, he cannot take the life of the only heir to the throne.’
Though Cassian seemed like a brother to Elizer, Elizer understood that the king did not see him as a potential ruler because he was not a legitimate heir.
When Cassian’s trip to the royal capital was scheduled earlier than expected, Elizer could not hide his excitement. Perhaps, by fate, he would see Reyna again.
He quietly repeated in his mind the things he wanted to tell her.
Finally, the day came when Prince Cassian’s group set off for Elmaril.
As they mounted their horses, Martin suddenly looked back at Elizer and said,
“This time, after we return from the capital, I will propose.”
Martin, who had planned to marry a lady from Elmaril, had met a lady in Ibelar and their eyes met. He had not yet proposed, fearing rejection, though this time he was sincere.
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