TSMMT Ch 65

You Shouldn't Have Abandoned Me

Crisp weather marked the transition from autumn to winter. Shouts of men training echoed through the chilly air. The sweat-glistened skin of shirtless warriors caught the light. Within the cool breeze, the heat radiating from their bodies warmed the surrounding atmosphere.

Upon his arrival, Guiscard immediately oversaw the training of his knights. This move was natural. The foundation of his power rested on the loyalty of his warriors. His forces included noble knights who resembled well-crafted steel swords, desperate men driven to take up arms by circumstance, and brutal mercenaries as fierce as packs of wolves.

The prince who subdued and united these disparate men was Guiscard Lodbrog, the dragonslayer. He united the mercenaries, swordsmen, and noble sons who followed him to forge the Vargrhati Order.

Fierce, cruel, and brave like Hati, the wolf beast that devours the moon, these knights cut down anyone who refused to follow the prince. They even slaughtered those who opposed his ascension. These very warriors executed Ragnar—Guiscard's father and greatest adversary—and Duke Eirik, who supported him.

Scars covered the bodies of all the men, and their wild eyes gleamed like untamed beasts. Although Guiscard granted them the honor of knighthood and filed down their sharp fangs to enforce chivalry, cruelty overflowed from their gazes.

[Revius] "Your Majesty. Do you intend to proceed with this?"

One man stood apart from the crowd. Among the massive warriors, Revius alone remained fully clothed.

Guiscard ignored the question, staring at the knights instead. The dismissal was absolute. Revius narrowed his eyes and spoke.

[Revius] "Your Majesty! The backlash from Duke Levian will be immense."

[Guiscard] "Then we shall wipe them out as well."

[Revius] "This is unwise, especially when Grand Duke Blake opposes it too!"

Revius shouted. Many harbored doubts regarding the death of the late king. This reaction was natural, for Guiscard killed his predecessor with his own hands. Even a society that worshiped swords and raw power maintained a code of ethics.

Because Guiscard destroyed the late king's army and imprisoned the monarch, many questioned the ruler's demise. Amidst that chaos, Duke Levian was the one who supported Guiscard.

[Revius] "How will you handle the backlash if the Round Table opposes this?"

Unlike Panborough, where the king held supreme authority, Lodbrog suffered constant civil wars and shifting dynasties. The dukes possessed immense influence. Every duke carried royal blood, and if they reached a unanimous agreement, they could claim the right to disobey the crown. If they desired, they could even dethrone the monarch. This arrangement defined the Lodbrog Kingdom, where all high nobles shared royal lineage, unlike Panborough, where royal authority stood unchallenged.

[Guiscard] "If they oppose me, I will force them to agree."

[Revius] "Then you might as well build a new nation!"

Revius shouted in frustration.

Guiscard had only recently ascended the throne. The nobles had managed to agree on the conquest of Panborough, and the crown had distributed land and wealth based on military achievements to keep the aristocracy focused. Yet now, he intended to push forward with this marriage.

Unable to contain his anger, Revius spoke out.

[Revius] "Why choose a mere noblewoman instead of Panborough royalty? You should marry Princess Ionia instead!"

[Guiscard] "It must be her."

Revius stared at him in despair. The King's gaze remained unyielding, showing that he would never alter his decision.

[Revius] "Think about it, Guiscard. That woman will hate you far more than Princess Ionia ever could."

[Guiscard] "……."

[Revius] "What good does sparing her family house do? You killed her father and inflicted horrific suffering upon her brother."

[Guiscard] "……."

[Revius] "I believe that punishment was just. But do you think she will agree?"

Guiscard narrowed his eyes.

[Revius] "She attempted suicide the instant she learned of the marriage. What do you gain by marrying such an unstable woman?"

[Guiscard] "What do I gain?"

He looked toward the distant horizon. Glancing at the moonless sky, he let out a short laugh.

[Guiscard] "The fulfillment of my purpose."

[Revius] "……."

[Guiscard] "That woman is my ultimate goal. I risked my life to claim her."

[Revius] "……."

[Guiscard] "I don't care if she lives or dies. I don't care if she rejects me. Hate me? Let her."

The King had lost his mind; he was far from sane. A strange, maddening satisfaction dominated his features. The moment Revius observed that look, the minister knew that no one could stop the King.

Just then, a maid rushed toward them.

[Maid] "Your Majesty."

A maid approaching the King? Only male servants usually surrounded him. The presence of a maid meant one specific thing. The young woman hesitated, unsure if she should deliver the message.

[Guiscard] "What is the matter?"

[Maid] "I…… I was commanded to report directly to Your Majesty regarding the lady……"

She looked like a recently hired maid. The girl didn't even know if her report was accurate.

Guiscard spun around, completely abandoning his previous attitude of refusing to look at Revius.

[Guiscard] "What happened?"

[Maid] "The…… the lady has collapsed from a high fever."

[Guiscard] "……."

Revius observed the complete collapse of Guiscard's composure. This matter was entirely beyond repair. He finally surrendered all attempts to persuade the King.

---

[Mable] "I am Mable."

Dianna offered a bitter smile as the head maid delivered a stiff greeting.

[Mable] "I shall serve you with complete devotion, My Lady."

The middle-aged woman wore her hair pulled back tightly into a bun without a single loose strand. Her rigid expression concealed all thoughts. Dianna knew that the woman harbored an intense hatred toward her.

[Dianna] "Let go of me!"

She recalled a certain day from her first life when her pride faced brutal destruction.

[Mable] "Dress her immediately!"

The maids pinned her down like an animal and stripped off her clothes. She shrieked and resisted like a beast dragged to a slaughterhouse. Noble dignity vanished completely from her actions.

[Dianna] "No! Stop!"

[Mable] "You are to become the queen. Act with proper dignity!"

[Dianna] "Why must I do this?!"

[Mable] "If you don't become the queen, you will die. Act wisely!"

The maids forced the wedding gown onto her frame. The servants dared to strip and dress Dianna at their own whim. No matter how much Guiscard mocked her by bringing her here, she had never endured such treatment anywhere else. Her entire dignity lay shattered in the dirt.

Slap!

Unable to endure the insult any longer, Dianna slapped Mable's cheek.

[Dianna] "Is this vulgar and lawless behavior the official etiquette of the Lodbrog royal palace? You barbarians!"

She shouted. In that instant, the pride of the head maid—who had survived in this castle for a long time—and the pride of the Lodbrog Kingdom shattered completely.

[Mable] "If she refuses to cooperate, bind her."

[Dianna] "Let go of me, you lunatics!"

The relationship between Mable and Dianna remained terrible. Even when Mirva stayed at the palace, Mable had humiliated Mirva multiple times.

She reflected on the day she clashed with Mable. The old humiliation and resentment rose slowly within her. Yet sadly, the current Dianna lacked the strength to fight back.

[Dianna] "I know not under what status I arrived here, but I ask for your assistance."

She had no desire to create friction with Mable, for doing so guaranteed endless complications.

In the past, the servants occasionally left her room freezing in the winter by withholding proper heating. In the summer, they delayed placing the magic orbs enchanted with cooling spells. At times, they refused to clean her chambers or leave her gowns pressed, forcing her to wear wrinkled clothing.

Pleasing such a woman felt ridiculous. Nevertheless, Dianna resolved to avoid making her terrible life any worse.

Mable assumed a puzzled expression upon studying Dianna's compliant face. The lady she had to serve looked gentle, yet her features bore no trace of cowardice.

[Mable] "Do you experience any discomfort, My Lady?"

[Dianna] "Well…… I believe not."

Her voice trailed off.

[Mable] "Then we shall begin with a bath."

[Dianna] "I shall bathe alone."

[Mable] "Forgive me, but His Majesty commanded us never to leave you unattended."

[Dianna] "I suppose that can't be helped……"

Her voice faded.

The maids exchanged glances. Contrary to their expectations that the noblewoman would act arrogant or rebellious, Dianna submitted quietly.

She accepted their service. Exhaustion from the journey forced heavy drowsiness upon her. Although the water temperature remained mild, heat flushed her face.

[Dianna] "……."

She understood her physical condition clearly. Dianna rose with a hazy consciousness. The maids spent a long time drying her wet hair, and she forced down a meal that possessed no flavor to her tongue.

[Mable] "His Majesty will arrive this evening."

[Dianna] "Yes."

She replied with a cold voice. Although a chill wracked her frame, she strove to maintain a calm front. Exposing her weakness would only provide her enemies a vulnerability to exploit. Though she had not yet become the queen, Dianna acted out of the ingrained habits of her past life.

[Mable] "Would you like to take a walk?"

She nodded at Mable's suggestion and stood up. Sudden dizziness struck. She pressed a hand against her forehead.

[Mable] "My Lady."

[Dianna] "I am fine. Don't concern yourself; I have no intention of causing unnecessary trouble."

Dianna leaned against the wall. Her breath grew shallow. She attempted to stand firm, but her legs collapsed beneath her.

[Mable] "Forgive me…… Good heavens!"

Mable pressed a hand against Dianna's forehead and gasped. Her consciousness began to fade.

I know they will only view my illness as a nuisance.

The agony mirrored her past life. Falling ill during the journey stood as the only difference; the high fever remained identical. Receiving the cold care of the maids only amplified the physical torment.

Dianna suffered a deeply mortal illness. Unlike her previous life, where she recovered rapidly, the sickness consumed her completely.

Ah, I prefer to die right now. I hope this fever takes my life.

The conclusion remained obvious anyway. Even experiencing the torment a second time didn't lessen the agony.

O God, why are you so cruel to me? I was deceived by you.

Dianna sobbed through her delirium. Destiny had tricked her, leaving her to thrash in a swamp far deeper than her past life.

[Philip] “Ann, I hope…… I hope you become free.”

His voice, from when the prince held her and wept, drifted into the distance.

[Philip] “I am sorry, so sorry, Ann…… Please be happy.”

Philip. I can't. I am bound to a miserable existence.

She continued to sob. The fever raged through her body. Trapped within horrific memories, she wept continuously.

[Guiscard] "Do you loathe it that much?"

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the nightmare. Dianna nodded.

This is exactly what you wanted.

Long fingers gently brushed across her sweat-soaked forehead. Her eyes were far too swollen from weeping to open. She wanted to speak. She wanted to declare that this reality was never her desire.

[Guiscard] "Since it mattered little who took you anyway……"

[Dianna] "……."

[Guiscard] "Be satisfied with me, My Lady."

[Dianna] "……."

A sudden warmth enveloped her hand. Even breathing brought sharp pain to her throat. The touch was warm. The warmth threatened to summon more tears.

[Guiscard] "Therefore, you should never have abandoned me. You…….."

No, I didn't abandon you. I wanted you to be free.

She gestured a refusal against the voice filling her mind, but the presence refused to fade.

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