The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 34.1

The sun dipped below the jagged peaks of the mountains, casting a warm, amber hue over the tranquil countryside. The stillness of the air was only occasionally broken by the faint chirping of birds.

Nikolas gave Evelyn a playful wink and pivoted on his heels, walking away with purpose. He drew his sword and scraped it against the stones on the ground, as promised. Though the resulting cloud of dust wasn’t ideal, Evelyn couldn’t help but feel a tickling sensation at the back of her throat.

She gazed at his broad back as he strolled down a narrow path bordered by vibrant, blooming flowers. “He’s a kind man, despite his eccentricities,” she mused to herself.

A sudden gust of spring breeze lifted the petals of the flowers, causing them to sway like waves in the sea. Nikolas halted in his tracks, watching the captivating spectacle. He laid his knife down on the ground, tilted his head back, and spread his arms out wide.

Closing his eyes, he relished in the scent of the flowers, letting it wash over him. After a few moments, he lowered his arms and turned around to face Evelyn. “This is a flower that only blooms on the Great Plains of Loire, correct?”

Evelyn was taken aback and posed the question back to him. “Have you been there?”

“A few years ago, I participated in a horse-riding competition at the Marquis of Madus. You didn’t happen to catch a glimpse of me, did you?” Nikolas explained.

Evelyn furrowed her brow, trying to recall the event. A dressage competition at the Marquis of Madus? How could she have forgotten something so significant?

Realizing her confusion, Nikolas chuckled. “I rarely venture outside the castle myself. My father, daughter, and I preferred to keep to ourselves.”

His smile suddenly faded, replaced by a stern expression. “But make no mistake, the true heart of the empire is wild and uncivilized. You’d be better off being born with it.”

Evelyn gasped, sympathizing with Nasser’s past comments about his uncle. Nikolas had a bold and unfiltered demeanor that clashed with his elegant and aristocratic appearance. He was unlike anyone she had ever met before.

Despite his abrasive nature, Evelyn couldn’t help but be entertained by their conversation. Nikolas continued on in a serious tone, “The West is insignificant. The current governor, Olavia Lauren, is a woman.”

Evelyn recognized the name. Who didn’t know about Lauren Hu’s family and their matriarch, Olavia? She was Nasser’s beloved grandmother and the mother of the man standing before her.

“My mother is the head of the Lauren family, the greatest lord of them all. You need not concern yourself with such matters,” Nikolas declared.

He plucked a flower greedily from the ground and held it up to Evelyn’s gaze. She met his gaze and couldn’t help but feel drawn to his enigmatic persona.

“Ilya has won the championship, unfortunately for me, but at least I got more flowers,” Nikolas remarked, his voice tinged with a hint of disappointment.

Evelyn couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at the prosecutor’s name. “Ilya? I’ve never heard of him before. Is he good?”

Nikolas chuckled softly, his tall frame casting a shadow over Evelyn. “He’s more than good, he’s excellent. But don’t worry, Lady Evelyn, you’re not expected to keep up with every rising star in the legal world.”

As he spoke, Nikolas suddenly recited a line of poetry in a low voice. Evelyn strained her eyes to see his face, but the backlight made it difficult to discern his expression.

“It’s a fantasy, but it’s beautiful nonetheless. Here, let me give you a present,” he said, presenting her with a bouquet of flowers.

Evelyn hesitated for a moment before accepting the gift. It was the first time a man had ever given her flowers, and she couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement.

Nikolas turned away from her and began to walk, his sword sweeping the ground as he went. Evelyn fell into step behind him, her eyes fixed on the cedar branch in his hand.

As they walked, Evelyn marveled at the softness of the soil beneath her feet. It was as though she could keep walking forever, lost in the beauty of the spring day.

***

As Ilya sat in the dimly lit room, a soft voice broke the silence.

“Since we’re married, we’re family now, right?”

It was the white-flowered woman, blushing as she spoke the word “family.” Ilya couldn’t help but chuckle at her innocence.

“Wife, there’s no such thing as ‘family’ when you’re married. Only food,” he replied with a laugh.

But Ibelin had said something similar recently, with a sad expression on her face.

“Did you ever think I was your wife?”

Ilya couldn’t understand why she was so fixated on the idea of family. Even if he did, it didn’t matter now.

“The moment the black forest knights sprayed blood in the canyon of Tatar, our end was already set,” he muttered, trying to drown out the sadness in Ibelin’s voice.

His head throbbed with pain, so he fumbled around his desk for some painkillers. As he searched, his fingertips brushed against a hard object. He picked it up and saw that it was a red jewel emitting a brilliant light.

“Your Highness, what is this?” a familiar voice asked.

Ilya frowned at Renee’s question. “You don’t know when you see it? It’s a ring.”

Renee sighed and picked up a medicine bottle that had rolled off the desk. She poured a cup of water and handed Ilya a painkiller.

Once the pain had subsided, Renee handed Ilya a necklace.