C64
"Not just because of that. The second prince..."
Zachary frowned. He was contemplating how much to say. What were the words that surfaced and disappeared from his mouth? Bianca patiently waited for his words to continue.
"...He is a cunning man. Since I don't know what he will do, I hope you don't get too close to him."
It wasn't until a long time later that Zachary defined Jacob as a "cunning man." It was a resolute definition that showed he didn't care at all that Jacob was a prince.
Zachary's voice conveyed the displeasure he felt towards Jacob. Zachary, who always seemed calm and didn't strongly show his likes and dislikes, reacted in such a way that it was clear how much he hated Jacob.
It wasn't just because he was a political enemy. From Zachary's subtle tone, Bianca could sense his reluctance for her and Jacob to get involved.
Perhaps he misinterpreted Jacob's "tell me what bothers you" as flirting towards Bianca. With her husband, Zachary, by her side, it was natural to take it as an act that wounded his pride.
No matter how Zachary took the situation, Bianca nodded at the advice to stay away from Jacob. Until now, she had had many conflicts with Zachary, but Bianca also sympathized with him when it came to Jacob.
He was definitely a cunning man.
He demonstrated it by joining hands with the Kingdom of Aragon. Almost twenty years had passed. It was only after he devoured Sevran that Jacob joined Aragon. Upon ascending the throne, Jacob married a princess from Aragon. Perhaps it was with the intention of solidifying the alliance.
If that had been the case, Bianca would not have been so hesitant with Jacob. But not long after Jacob became king, the affair involving the Princess of Aragon caused a scandal. The opponent was the escort of the princess from Aragon. Jacob found them sleeping together.
Some said it was due to homesickness and loneliness from living abroad.
There were many speculations about the reason behind the affair. Everyone cursed the princess. Even the Kingdom of Aragon couldn't hold its head high because of this.
The momentum of the Kingdom of Aragon was on the rise after they had decisively helped Jacob ascend the throne, but after the princess's affair was discovered, they were only grateful for Jacob's mercy in keeping her as queen without expelling her even after committing an affair.
But Bianca couldn't curse the princess. She felt a sense of shame. Wasn't Bianca also expelled for the same reason? She fell into the trap with her own feet. It horrified her to think that the same thing could have happened to the princess.
Jacob was such a man.
Bianca remembered the blue eyes that looked at her. The sensation of a snake slithering was so vivid. Even if Zachary hadn't asked for this, Bianca would have fled first. Bianca nodded, trying to calm her goosebumps.
"I know."
Bianca's voice was firm, as if there was no room for reconsideration. But Zachary still couldn't shake off his anxiety. He reminded Bianca over and over again. For Bianca, listening to it was exhausting.
"If you ever come across anything, distance yourself even with the excuse of being sick. Always stay by Gaspard's side."
"Don't worry. The second prince must be very busy working. Can we easily meet in this spacious palace?"
Bianca smiled as if she wasn't worried, but Zachary remained silent without responding. As if he disagreed with Bianca's words, his forehead wrinkled, casting a shadow over his eyes.
There was a sense of wanting to confine Bianca within the room. Was he a man with so many worries in the first place? She thought he would be a little more bold, considering he often goes back and forth between life and death on the battlefield...
Bianca was surprised by her husband's unexpected side. To be honest, Jacob was a treacherous man, but that didn't bother her as much. She wasn't very active, and unless Jacob came to visit her, they wouldn't cross paths.
And Jacob wouldn't come to visit her. Jacob was in the midst of a "pleasant" period, which only gave Prince Gautier a sense of insecurity.
Jacob stared at her because she was the daughter of Blanchefort and the Countess of Arno, in other words, she meant nothing to him. Why would he bother to visit Bianca and not her father or her husband, Zachary?
Even then, Bianca took the incident with Jacob lightly. She didn't really expect what was supposed to happen.
---
Bianca and Zachary left, and it wasn't long before it was time for the king's audience, and Gautier and Jacob also left. In front of the king, they smiled and acted like brothers, but their expressions hardened as soon as they left the reception room.
Gautier immediately turned to Jacob and questioned him about their earlier conversation as if interrogating him. Contrary to his image as a weak poet, his momentum was fierce.
"Congratulations on Albert's engagement? If there's anything uncomfortable, can you tell me at any time? What the hell are you doing?"
"What do you mean? It seems like you have some intention."
"Do you mean to say I don't?"
"Just pure goodwill."
Jacob nodded skillfully. The nerve-wracking war of words in the brief conversations was acute.
Jacob didn't fully reveal his ambitions, but he wasn't so distracted as to pretend to be a good brother to his older brother, Gautier. It didn't fit his personality. It was more comfortable to show that he had a certain degree of ambition. To lie, mix it with the truth. Without that, it would have been nearly impossible to completely hide the truth for ten years.
Perhaps that's why Gautier only thought that Jacob had a thirst for power, not that he wanted to become king. The king appointed Gautier as his successor, and there were many talented individuals who believed in him and followed him. There was a certainty that he had control over "something" of Jacob's greed.
If Gautier had known how great Jacob's hidden greed was and what he could do for him, he wouldn't have left him alone, but the conclusion was "not knowing," so it was a meaningless assumption.
"Anyway, Sir Arno is my brother's loyal dog. I'm sure he's not such a compliant dog that he would flirt with me just because I'm there."
"...For a dog that's not so compliant, what kind of favor is this suddenly? You're the type of person who doesn't do things that aren't rewarded. Don't blur the point with the wrong words, Jacob."
Conversations at this level were frequent between the two brothers. Jacob was doing well in the role of "a greedy second son, but somewhat incompetent," and Gautier was completely deceived by him.
Count Blanchefort called Jacob a "treacherous and intelligent man," but Gautier shook his head. Compared to a person hiding a dagger behind their back, an opponent clearly aiming a sword at him was not very dangerous. The throne would come to him anyway, but Gautier didn't want to disturb his father by causing a commotion, so he left Jacob alone.
Gautier sighed deeply and warned, "I know you see Count Blanchefort and Count Arno as thorns in your side. If you still want to use a woman, then stop. It's unbecoming of a knight, or a member of the royal family."
"Oh, did you realize I was targeting her?"
"Jacob!!"
Gautier shouted at Jacob's joking reply. A powerful sound emanated from his slender body, resonating through the hallway. But Jacob simply held his stomach and laughed. Gautier hardened his face, patiently waiting for his mockery to end. How long did he laugh? Jacob, who wiped the corner of his eye with his finger, shrugged.
"Honestly, I don't see them as thorns. They treat me like a thorn, so I can't help it."
"Jacob."
"Compared to the fact that I only use my body well, my elder brother is intelligent. It's a shame that the only thing you think with that good head of yours is that I can only use a woman."
Jacob scratched Gautier's insides with a sarcastic tone. Gautier looked at Jacob with his blue eyes like waves, then added, "Don't be careless," turned around, and left.
Jacob's lips, who had been standing in the hallway for a long time, sharply lifted as Gautier's back disappeared.
"You're a boring guy, but you surprise me at times like this."
Tags:
TWB (Novel)