The Forgotten Field Novel - Chapter 111
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – Chapter 111
Chapter 111
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL)
—Are you comparing me to a colt now? —Talia finally erupted in anger and shot back with a sharp tone.
Varkas sighed faintly.
—Stop making a fuss and eat this.
He returned carrying a bowl filled with apricots. Talia stared at the bowl as if it were her worst enemy and then turned her head away.
Varkas watched her in silence, dragged a chair over to the side of the bed, and sat down. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took a small apricot and began to peel it with a knife using smooth movements.
Talia watched in astonishment at this man who performed a task worthy of the maids with total tranquility, and then raised her voice in annoyance:
—Stop. Who asked you to serve me food? Leave a woman who requires as much trouble as I do and do your work…
Talia suddenly stopped protesting when a piece of tender apricot was pushed into her mouth, making her furrow her brow deeply.
The man, who had silenced her with utter effectiveness, wiped his fingers moistened with the fruit juice using a handkerchief and said in an annoyed tone:
—If Your Highness would not skip your meals, I could concentrate on my work.
Talia looked up sternly while chewing the piece of apricot. She wanted to yell at him that her skipping meals was none of his business, but first she had to swallow what was in her mouth.
She chewed the soft fruit roughly. The sweet taste of the juice, which caused a tingle on her tongue, spread along with a refreshing aroma that filled her mouth. It was not as unpleasant as she had expected.
—Do you want more?
The man, who had been watching her intently while she ate, took another piece of fruit.
Talia hesitated for a moment and then nodded her head.
Varkas began to peel the apricot immediately. His way of handling the fruit carefully with the small knife resembled that of a craftsman carving a work of art. Her sense of discomfort quickly dissipated before that strange scene.
Talia looked at him again as if she were observing an unfamiliar creature.
Since she had been forced to take the medicine, it seemed that Varkas felt some guilt, so he began to take care of her meals himself. At first, he limited himself to checking that she did not skip food, but at some point, he started feeding her directly. He seemed to have realized the gravity of the matter after noticing the actual amount of food she consumed.
—Go ahead, eat —he said as he brought a piece of clean, peeled apricot to her mouth.
Talia opened her mouth, pretending to give up. Along with the sweet fruit, his strong fingers brushed the tip of her tongue.
Her face flushed and she tried to throw her head back, but Varkas held her neck with one hand and gently covered her mouth with the other, as if he thought she was going to spit out the food. Talia frowned in astonishment. Did this man think she was a child rejecting food?
—Eat just this and I won’t force you to do more —Varkas said in a persuasive tone.
Talia looked at him with suspicious eyes and then moved her jaw mechanically. Once she swallowed the soft food, he finally withdrew his hand.
—Wouldn’t you like to go out for a short walk today? —Varkas suggested suddenly after tidying up the fruit bowl.
Talia was taking a sip of warm water, so she turned to him with surprised eyes. Since she had regained consciousness, she had been confined to bed, so she felt bewildered for a moment.
Varkas seemed to read her reaction and added calmly:
—The healer said that fresh air and sunlight help recovery.
Then he brought a coat and placed it over her shoulders.
Talia frowned.
—I haven’t said I’m going yet.
—Don’t you wish to go out? —He tilted his head strangely.
Talia looked at him with a somber face, then sighed and lowered her feet from the bed. However, before her feet touched the ground, she was lifted into the air. She looked in astonishment at the man who carried her with ease and left the room; then she gave up and relaxed her shoulders. She no longer had the energy to be angry.
—Aren’t you cold? —Varkas asked as he pulled the coat’s hood over her head once they quickly stepped out of the building.
Talia shook her head. The cold autumn air enveloped the garden, but the sun’s rays were still warm.
Varkas walked on the crunchy grass along a narrow pedestrian path. A few black starlings that were pecking at flower seeds flew away from the brown flowerbeds.
Talia gazed at the scene with a lost look and then directed her eyes to his face. The pale rays of the sun tinted his light blonde hair a silvery color. She suddenly remembered the moment Varkas entered her private palace for the first time. She would have never imagined that he would care for her in this manner.
But thinking about it, Varkas had always been compassionate toward the weak. He had carefully cradled a dying bird and had tended to a skeletal colt that rejected human contact. And he had not stopped there. He volunteered to be the protector of Garciel and Ayla, who lost their mother at an early age; and even with the woman who held hostility toward him, he could not ignore her devastated state and married her. If he had not suffered the mistreatment of the priests, perhaps he would have become an exceedingly tender man.
While Talia was immersed in these thoughts, Varkas came to a sudden halt. She soon discovered the reason. On one side of the dried flowerbeds, an autumn rose was blooming.
Talia looked at him in surprise.
—Do you like flowers too?
—I neither like them nor hate them —Varkas replied dryly.
“Then why?”. She was about to ask, but closed her mouth. She realized, belatedly, that he had stopped to show her the flower.
Talia swallowed hard, feeling her throat tighten. Whether it was out of pity or duty, that did not matter to her now. She said in annoyance:
—Pluck it for me.
Varkas reached his hand toward the stem of the rose immediately. She saw how the sharp thorns pierced his fingers. However, he didn’t even blink. He cut the rose with an expressionless face and stripped the thorns from the stem with his fingers. When the stem was clean, he offered it to her.
A strange sensation washed over her. This man had patience even with Garciel, who treated him harshly. He had shown absolute loyalty to the Emperor and had been an ideal fiancé to Ayla. And now, he played the role of a husband without a single complaint. Was this man planning to live his life solely in accordance with the responsibilities assigned to him?
For the first time, she wondered about his life.
—Are you… planning to do everything I ask?
—If it is within my capabilities —Varkas replied indifferently, seeming puzzled.
Talia looked at him dumbfounded and then lowered her eyes to the pale rose. It meant nothing to him. She carefully held an insignificant flower that he had handed to her only because she had asked for it.
At that moment, she clearly understood the nature of the feelings she was experiencing. It was resignation. She would never obtain a reciprocated love from him. This man would never fall into the crazy fever that had consumed her. However, as a husband, he would do everything in his power. Perhaps that would be enough.
—If you don’t like it, I will cut another one —Varkas said while examining her face, as if he had noticed the shadow covering her features.
Talia shook her head.
—This one is enough.
She carefully embraced the large yellow rose, and he resumed walking. She saw light clouds gathering in the distant sky. As the sun’s rays began to fade, he turned back toward the castle.
Suddenly, a booming voice was heard from behind.
—Lord Duke!
Talia turned and saw Daren crossing the garden in a hurry; her face froze. Just seeing his serious features was enough to foresee the arrival of bad news.
Just as she expected, the man who came running said in a distressed tone:
—It seems we must return to Leidgho Castle immediately. —A look of pain appeared in his eyes. He breathed for a moment and then continued heavily—: A telegram has arrived indicating that Your Lordship’s father… is in critical condition.
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