The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 106
## Chapter 106: THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
It was impossible to tell when Talia would lash out with severity and attack again, but lately she had been remarkably quiet. It seemed she didn’t even have the energy to be capricious.
“Maybe it was a mistake to have brought her with me.”
Varkas gazed at her emaciated face with eyes full of concern and then stepped out of the carriage.
The intense rays of the sun fell over their heads like a torrential rain. A slight crease appeared on Talia’s pale forehead, as if the light bothered her eyes.
Varkas placed the edge of his cloak over her eyes to shade her and crossed straight through the castle gate. Hundreds of eyes laden with curiosity settled upon them. Suddenly, he felt a tension in his back.
He was used to being the center of attention, always surrounded by glances. However, it was not easy for him to maintain his composure before the eyes that slipped in to observe the woman he carried in his arms.
“It seems the princess is ill,” murmured the captain of the guard compassionately as he followed to guide him, his eyes fixed on her disheveled hair and pale cheeks.
Varkas suppressed the urge to hide her from everyone’s sight and said coldly:
“I would appreciate it if you would guide me to the bedroom first.”
“Of course, we must take that into account. This way, please. Lord Timuran has ordered that the Grand Duke be treated with the utmost respect.”
The man immediately began to walk ahead.
Varkas followed him and climbed the stairs, revealing a silent hall reminiscent of a monastery and dark corridors.
“You may use this room.”
The man crossed a room that looked like a reception hall and opened an iron-framed door.
Varkas entered and thoroughly examined the understated interior decor. It was a modest bedroom, but not neglected. It seemed adequate for a stay of a few days, so he laid Talia down on the bed.
Meanwhile, Talia remained deep in a sound sleep. Were the effects of the sedative administered by the healer still ongoing? Varkas watched her closely as she struggled to regain consciousness; at that moment, he noticed the captain of the guard hesitating by the door.
He threw a sharp question at him:
“What is the matter?”
“My apologies, but Lord Timuran requests to meet with you immediately. Could you please present yourself in the reception hall right now?”
Varkas frowned.
The customary practice was to offer rest first to a guest who had traveled a long distance. This meant that Timuran was either a rude man who knew no manners, or that he had a matter so urgent it did not allow him to respect formalities.
Varkas looked at him with an inquisitive stare for a few moments and then nodded his head:
“I will go immediately.”
The man, who had been tense, exhaled a sigh of relief. He ordered one of his men waiting in the corridor to call a healer, and then Varkas followed him without delay.
Shortly after, they entered an elegant room illuminated by a bright light. Varkas crossed a carpet woven with intricate patterns and approached a massive wooden table.
An elderly man stood up from the opposite side to greet him warmly.
“Thank you for coming, Grand Duke.”
His claim of being ill was not a lie, as the old knight looked pale. Varkas observed him in silence and sat down without uttering a word. The old man also sat down and began to speak rapidly:
“I beg you to excuse my lack of courtesy. As you can see, my health is not good and I could collapse at any moment. I wished to meet with you while I was still in full possession of my faculties, and that is why I dared to call you with such haste, I offer a thousand apologies…”
“Enough with the preambles, tell me what it is you want.”
Varkas interrupted his long speech with severity.
The old knight wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at him cautiously before beginning:
“Actually… there is a matter I would like to consult.”
He extended his hand toward a servant who stood behind him like a shadow, and the young man placed a parchment document in his hand. The knight offered it to him in a tense tone:
“We recently received news indicating that the Heimdall family is gathering warriors in the north. Is it true that the crown prince is behind this?”
Varkas took the document and began to read it carefully. It appeared to be information leaked by a merchant traveling between the north and the east. The document was written in a handwriting that was difficult to identify and contained details about the movements of the northern nobles, as well as testimonies of sightings of imperial knights in Amasek.
Varkas read it quickly while drumming his fingers on the table, as the old knight continued prudently:
“Recently, rumors have begun to circulate about an engagement between the first princess and the heir of the Heimdall family. Are you aware of these matters?”
“What exactly is it that you wish to know?”
Varkas raised his eyes from the document and asked directly.
The old knight moistened his tense lips and finally addressed the core of the matter:
“I want to know your exact position, Grand Duke. Which side are we on?”
Varkas fixed his gaze on the man’s face without answering. The old knight could not tolerate the brief silence and spoke in a hurried tone:
“Rumors have begun to spread that the east might become neutral or lean toward the Empress’s side due to your marriage. It is said that the crown prince has begun to establish close ties with the north. There are those who fear the possibility of an armed conflict breaking out.”
Varkas let out a light chuckle.
Barely a few months had passed since the breaking of his engagement and his subsequent marriage. It seemed everyone was very busy making moves.
Varkas leaned back against the chair and held the document over a candle that was on the table. The yellowish parchment caught fire, giving off black smoke, and shrank rapidly. He contemplated it for a few moments, then turned toward the old knight and said firmly:
“Nothing has changed. The east supports Garciel Rum Guerta.”
“But why the crown prince would head north…”
“He is trying to rebuild the reputation of his sister, who was humiliated by a commoner. How many families in this Empire can compare to the Seerkan family?”
Despite his statement, the doubts did not dissipate from the knight’s face. Varkas sighed with exhaustion:
“I understand your concern as the administrator of a region near the north, but it seems to me you are being overly sensitive. They are simple rumors.”
“Does it mean that you still remain on the crown prince’s side?”
Varkas felt a slight annoyance at the persistent question, but restrained himself:
“Yes. The Seerkan family will not oppose the crown prince.”
An expression of relief finally appeared on the old knight’s face.
“Thank you for your sincere response. Thanks to your kindness, I can now part with my worries.”
Varkas nodded his head instead of replying and then rose from his seat. The old knight attempted to escort him, but Varkas stopped him with a slight wave of his hand and left the reception hall quickly.
Darkness had already begun to descend upon the corridor. He walked following the dense shadows while sorting through his thoughts in a hurry.
Garciel’s reckless actions were not a surprise. With his distrustful nature, he would not have rested easy solely with his promises. It was to be expected that he would reach out toward the north to build his own strength. However, the speed with which the rumors were spreading was a matter that deserved caution.
“It seems the Empress’s influence is beginning to reach the east.”
Otherwise, the news about the crown prince’s movements would not have spread so quickly in this region. That woman had not given up on her plan to sow discord between him and Garciel.
Varkas felt the tension rising as he turned his gaze toward the window. The sky was covered with gray clouds, as if rain were imminent, and the weeds in the garden and the paths were submerged in the twilight.
He observed that bleak scene with indifference, but stopped dead in his tracks. In an instant, he felt a sharp pang extending from his temples to his forehead.
The woman whom he himself had laid down on the bed was walking through the garden completely alone, without even a maid to accompany her.
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