TDKSR 14

Chapter 14

For a moment, Jonathan replayed in his mind what exactly Livga had just asked.

“Wh-what…! I have preferences too, you know?”

“What kind of preferences?”

“What?”

“Sir Yona said this. That Your Highness had never shown particular interest in anyone before, but recently you’ve been showing interest in me, so she couldn’t help but think of it that way.”

“That’s because you’re a Star!”

“Yes, I understand. And while we’re at it, why don’t you clearly state your preferences? I’ve been a little mistaken too, after all.”

“Mistaken?”

“This is an embarrassing confession, but I actually worried about what I’d do if Your Highness confessed to me.”

“What are you—!”

“All this time, I thought Your Highness hadn’t proposed to me because I wasn’t of age yet, and after I came of age, because the war wasn’t over.”

Jonathan was so dumbfounded he couldn’t find the words.

Livga, observing Jonathan’s expression, gave an awkward smile.

“Now that I’ve said it out loud, it’s even more embarrassing.”

“Royal marriages are purely political. For the sake of His Imperial Majesty’s authority, I intend to marry late.”

“…”

“Even if I do marry, until the imperial authority is firmly established, my spouse must come from a family with no backing and no political ambition.”

Livga looked at Jonathan without answering.

“She must come from a family that has no plans for children, or at least won’t push my children forward as imperial successors. My brother’s children must take the throne.”

Unlike Livga, Jonathan lowered his gaze to the floor.

“My wife should be someone who just enjoys spending my money and having fun, with no interest in any other matters, from a status below even a fallen noble—that kind of woman.”

That was the ideal wife Jonathan had always envisioned, keeping political alliances in mind.

“My ideal type is someone I love and who loves me back.”

Livga said in a calm tone.

“It would be even better if they have enough wealth and diligence to support a family.”

Jonathan listened to Livga’s words in silence, just as Livga had listened to his ideal type.

“Right now I’m working in the Finance Department, but actually I enjoy household chores and taking care of children too.”

“Is that so? Right. That makes sense.”

Jonathan made a reluctant sound and, without realizing it, nodded in understanding. Something felt odd, but Jonathan had no idea what was strange about it.

“It’s fortunate our preferences are complete opposites.”

At those words, Jonathan looked at Livga. She was smiling prettily.

“Huh? Oh, well…”

“Your Highness, I really should be going now.”

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

He hadn’t called her because he had something to say. Jonathan didn’t know why he had stopped her.

“…Travel safely.”

“Yes.”

Livga smiled.

Soon Livga left, and the door closed.

Jonathan felt strange.

For an ordinary noble lady like Livga, marrying someone she loved was only natural, but Jonathan couldn’t do that.

When it came to his own marriage, he couldn’t help but consider the political consequences.

These were things he had no reason to doubt or feel anxious about, yet somehow a sudden melancholy washed over him.

He had never once been dissatisfied with his position or situation before.

How strange.

“…Right. Ordinary people now marry the ones they love.”

Even now, high-ranking nobles typically had arranged marriages, but due to recent winds of change, occasionally even among nobles there were those who married someone they truly liked.

Still, it wasn’t yet a widespread culture in noble society.

“Marrying someone you love”—

He never thought anyone would bring up such a topic right in front of him.

Jonathan closed his eyes.

He had been stabbed, lost consciousness, and spent time unable to wake. His body wasn’t well, so it seemed he was easily falling into gloom. It would be better to just sleep.

He had too much to do to let himself be dominated by negative thoughts and emotions.

—

* * *

—

“Wh-what?”

Jonathan nearly fainted when he saw Livga walking in carrying a basin of warm water and a towel.

“You said you were returning to the capital?”

“I meant I would go back to the temporary quarters where I’m staying, in case Your Highness needed rest. I’ll return to the capital eventually anyway.”

“What?”

“I’ll wipe you down. Your arm is injured too…”

“I-I hate that! Whoa! Tern, get her out of here!”

“Isn’t that a bit too much of a reaction?”

“Don’t touch my body. Absolutely not.”

Jonathan covered his other arm with his good one, glaring at Livga.

“Why are you acting like that? You need to be attended to anyway. You were unconscious for days and haven’t been able to wash properly.”

“Oh, right. That’s exactly why! Livga, you leave. Call someone else.”

“I’ve learned first aid, and I know how to wash a patient and attend to them.”

“No, no, no.”

Jonathan shook his head vehemently.

His body must be sticky and a mess right now—the thought of letting Livga see him like that was horrific.

“…You’re rejecting me so strongly, it hurts my feelings.”

“Help with something… something else. Not this.”

Jonathan covered his face with his arm.

“It’s not like you’re going to take a bath. Your wound is too large for a bath right now anyway.”

“Either way, I don’t want it. Don’t come near me.”

Livga was practically chased out by Jonathan’s obvious disgust.

Her expression was full of dissatisfaction, but since Jonathan was so repulsed, it seemed she had nothing more to say.

Only after Jonathan had washed and even shaved with the help of an attendant did he call for Livga.

“Go back to the capital. Why is a Finance Department talent on a battlefield?”

“I told you yesterday. Everyone thinks I’m at a resort, so it doesn’t matter. It would be strange if I went back too early.”

“What’s there to see on a battlefield?”

“I came to see Your Highness, of course.”

“That…”

Jonathan raised his uninjured arm to gesture at Livga, trying to say something, but instead clenched his fist.

“I didn’t die, did I?”

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean you’re perfectly fine either.”

“You never back down a single word.”

“That’s because Your Highness always lets me win.”

“…”

“I know you call me a Star.”

She seemed to have anticipated that the next words would be about that, so she brought it up first. Jonathan hadn’t thought of it.

“I know that Your Highness favors me.”

Had I done that?

Jonathan gazed silently at Livga.

“I know how to be grateful, and I know how to return the love I receive.”

“Wh-what are you saying?”

Jonathan stammered in embarrassment.

This was one of the things he should never show in front of a subordinate. He should have remained composed, but he stammered.

No, but since when was the word “love” something that came out so easily?

“Ahem! I never gave you any particular love.”

He deliberately cleared his throat and steadied his voice before continuing. It came out fairly calm.

“You’re a Star, and you’re young, so I’ve shown you some consideration.”

“Well, that’s…”

“So I would have been more than willing to tend to Your Highness’s sickbed.”

“Enough of that.”

“I also received a command from His Imperial Majesty.”

“What?”

What was this now?

At the mention of His Imperial Majesty, Jonathan’s ears perked up.

“He ordered me to make sure that the Duke of Kusakov doesn’t overexert himself.”

“There’s no way my brother would give orders to someone like you…”

“Those orders were given to all of Your Highness’s close aides. Sir Yona and Sir Tern Barsano both agreed, you know.”

“What would I overexert myself on? I told you, it wasn’t that serious and I wasn’t badly injured. I have to take the lead in the ceasefire negotiations so there’s no backlash…”

“You must follow the physician’s recommendations. If Your Highness ignores even the doctor’s instructions, I will personally attend to you.”

What was all this nonsense?

“I’m not at the point where I need a child to tend to my sickbed.”

“I’ve been an adult for quite a while now. And since Your Highness hates having me tend to you, I trust you won’t ignore the physician’s advice.”

“…”

Jonathan’s eyes narrowed.

“Fine, do as you please.”

It wasn’t as if Livga could stay here for long anyway.

“Count Ezekiel Gibati is handling the ceasefire preparations well. Even while Your Highness was unconscious, he diligently carried out that duty.”

“I know. He’s an excellent strategist and general.”

“So what’s important is that you focus on recovering your health.”

“Even with a ceasefire, there are other subordinates watching. I need to show a healthy appearance.”

“You’ve often worn masks when moving about. Sir Ronen has been doing an excellent job as Your Highness’s substitute.”

“Still, the inner circle…”

“There isn’t a single close aide who doesn’t know about Your Highness’s injury. It would only be a show of overexertion.”

“…”

Having said all that, Livga acted as if nothing had happened and brought a spoonful of soup to Jonathan’s lips.

“What are you doing?”

“Your arm is injured.”

“It’s my left shoulder—my right is perfectly fine. I can eat by myself.”

“It’s inconvenient for you. It’s cooled down to the right temperature. Now, say ah.”

Jonathan leaned his head back. This felt a bit embarrassing.

“I-I’m fine.”

“You haven’t been eating properly for days while you were ill, so you must have no energy.”

“Just give it to me. I’ll eat.”

After studying Jonathan’s sullen expression, Livga handed him the spoon.

“Give me the plate too.”

“Your arm is uncomfortable. Let me hold it for you.”

Livga brought the plate of soup close to Jonathan’s chin.

“You know…”

“Please let me do at least this much.”

“…”

Jonathan let out a small sigh and began to eat the soup.

He tried to focus only on the plate that felt awkward in his hands.

Then he glanced up at Livga, and she was looking at him.

“What?”

“I need to watch Your Highness carefully so I can position the plate properly.”

“What happened to ‘you sparkle so much it’s blinding’?”

Jonathan asked in a teasing tone.

“It’s still the same. Sparkling, sparkling.”

“That handsome, huh?”

It was meant as a joke.

“Yes, you’re handsome.”

Wouldn’t affirming it just make things more awkward?

Jonathan ate his soup with a sullen face and said:

“Is that kind of joke fun for you?”

“Why would I joke about something like that?”

“…”

Jonathan’s spoon stopped.

This time, he didn’t have the courage to raise his head and look at Livga’s face.