Shadow Oath

Chapter 31: First Meeting (2)

Demion stood awkwardly between the two facing each other and asked.

"What brings you here, Charlon?"

Charlon replied while looking at Jedric with a smile.

"I wanted to meet the Chieftain of Gerans, Your Highness."

"Well, you’ll meet him tomorrow anyway… I was planning to formally introduce you then."

"I guess I was a bit impatient."

Charlon nodded with an apologetic smile.

Ram realized from that smile that her visit wasn’t purely spontaneous.

It was clear she wanted to make their ‘meeting’ an established fact to avoid making her earlier words to Ruseph a lie, even if the decision itself was impulsive.

"Well, anyway, make your introductions. This is Chieftain Jedric, and this is Lady Charlon Bormont."

Demion introduced them in a slightly tense voice, and Charlon greeted warmly.

"Hello, Chieftain Jedric… or should I say, Elhorn?"

Despite the unexpected greeting, Jedric replied without showing a hint of surprise.

"I’ve heard about you from the Prince, Lady Charlon Bormont."

Charlon smiled softly and said.

"Your pronunciation is excellent."

"Your pronunciation is quite different from other people of Triton."

"Although it’s a southern common language, the pronunciation varies from country to country."

"And even the words are slightly different?"

"You’re well-informed."

Demion, still standing awkwardly, listened to their conversation and interjected.

"Rather than standing there, why not come inside?"

"I can’t, Your Highness. These men have to follow the General’s orders, and I don’t want to make them break the rules because of me."

Charlon gestured to the two guards as she continued.

"But since I’m staying outside like this, it doesn’t technically break the rules, so they won’t be punished later, right?"

"But the ground must be cold…"

"Shall I bring you a cushion?"

The two guards fidgeted nervously, looking guilty, as if they had forced the lady to sit in such a place.

Jedric frowned and spoke.

"This is tedious. State your business."

Jedric cut her off curtly, avoiding eye contact. He seemed irritated.

"I don’t have any business. The greeting itself is my business."

Charlon responded with a smiling face, while Jedric’s expression remained stern.

"Are you here to sightsee? I’ll pass."

"What if I came to show you something instead? Haven’t you been curious about who the Prince’s fiancée is?"

Jedric shook his head firmly.

"Not at all."

"You’re already close to the Prince. Why not get close to me too?"

"Who told you that? Demion, did you say such a thing? Let me be clear, I have no intention of befriending anyone from the South."

Jedric’s unusually cold response left Demion stammering.

"I thought we were close?"

"Listening to your chatter is good for learning the Triton language. These soldiers don’t talk at all."

At Jedric’s remark, Demion muttered, "So that’s how it is?"

Charlon nodded deeply, as if understanding, and spoke.

"That’s what happens to victims of war. But time will heal. Even our Borne and Triton were at war, killing and wounding each other a decade ago. Now we’re engaged to be allies. The Gerans will also come to know reconciliation."

"Impossible. Southern people I know never keep their promises."

"You’ll see that it’s possible."

Charlon lightly tapped her chest with her index finger.

"I’ll make sure you see it."

Jedric sneered.

"Don’t be so certain. You’ll be embarrassed when you can’t keep your words later."

"Is that a Geran proverb?"

"It’s a basic truth of human affairs."

Charlon exhaled softly and then smiled.

"That’s good advice. Alright, I’ll be careful. I must’ve gotten carried away. But Prince Demion was right. He said you give him the courage to rule this place."

"Prince, did you tell her to say such things? Did you think I’d be moved?"

Jedric glared as he spoke.

Demion jumped in surprise and quickly replied.

"No, not at all! I did say those words, but I didn’t intend for her to…"

"The Prince spoke the truth, and I agree with him," Charlon interrupted swiftly.

Jedric retorted with a mocking smile.

"Don’t talk about ruling so lightly. When you meet my elder brother, Ikahm, the chieftain of Elhum, you’ll realize you can’t govern this place. We are a people who might surrender but can never be ruled."

Charlon countered boldly.

"Let’s see about that. Isn’t that right, Prince Demion?"

“That… is so.”

Demion responded in a hesitant tone, quickly adding.

“Of course, I believe the Gerans and we can coexist in harmony, not in a relationship of domination and subjugation.”

Even as Demion explained, Jedric kept glaring at Charlon, as if she, not Demion, had come to dominate.

Charlon let out another soft “Hmm” through her nose.

“It seems my presence makes you uncomfortable.”

Jedric replied curtly.

“If you understand that, leave.”

“I hope our next meeting will be more cordial.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Do you mean it won’t be cordial, or that there won’t be a next meeting?”

“Both.”

Despite Jedric’s continuous retorts, Charlon smiled and rose from her seat.

“Let’s leave it at this for now. Any further, and we’ll just upset each other.”

Even the simple act of brushing dirt off her dress as she stood seemed graceful enough to make the guards hold their breaths.

“I’ll take my leave, Your Highness.”

“Wait! I’ll come with you.”

The prince hastily left the tent and stood beside Charlon.

At that moment, Jedric issued a warning.

“Do not bring your woman before me again.”

Demion frowned and shot back.

“Watch your words, Jedric! I will hold you accountable for your rudeness later!”

“Rudeness? Tell that to her!”

“You insolent…”

“Stuga! Block the tent entrance and don’t let those two back in.”

Jedric ordered, but Ram hesitated, unsure if he could enforce such an order against a prince. Fortunately, Demion had already walked off, following Charlon from a distance.

Ram lowered the tent flap to shield Jedric from view.

Walking beside Charlon, Demion tried to console her.

“Don’t take it too harshly. He’s just tense; Jedric is actually a good friend.”

“I wasn’t upset. I also think he’s a good person.”

The two moved further away. Ram debated whether to follow them or stay to guard the tent.

‘I’ve been facing these kinds of dilemmas a lot lately.’

As if to ease his indecision, Jedric called out.

“Stuga, come inside for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Ram stepped before Jedric.

“Closer.”

Following Jedric’s command, Ram knelt on one knee right next to him.

He wondered if Jedric would talk about Charlon but was surprised when another name came up.

“A man named Astian sought me out.”

Ram immediately scanned his surroundings, sharpening his senses. Although Jedric’s voice was low, one could never be too cautious.

Astian, stationed here, often seemed to keep an eye on Ram.

The second son of General Terrdin.

Astian always wore a smile, mingling well with both soldiers and commanders. His genial expression and pleasant voice made everyone like him. Conversations with Ruseph or Demion were always filled with laughter.

“Did he do something suspicious?”

Ram asked.

“He’s a shady man.”

“In what way?”

“It’s hard to pinpoint. But we Gerans dislike people whose actions and words don’t align. Just like that Charlon.”

“Lady Charlon… acted insincerely?”

“She was pretentious. She came to observe barbarians like us, only to mock us later, hiding her face behind a fake, elegant smile as if she were showing great courtesy.”

Jedric shook his head, angered even by the thought. Then he returned to the topic of Astian.

“That man asked me all sorts of questions.”

“Did he ask anything strange?”

“He asked what Gerans eat, how we conduct weddings, and what distinguishes our tribe from others.”

“Those questions seem… ordinary, don’t they? Prince Demion asked similar things.”

“True. But when Demion asked, he was genuinely curious. Astian, on the other hand, wasn’t. I treated him cordially at first because he’s General Terrdin’s son. But as his questions went on, something felt off. So I played dumb and gave irrelevant answers, and he grew frustrated. That’s when I realized it. He was trying to get an answer without explicitly asking ‘that question.’”

“What question?”

“Who killed Mantum.”

Ram tried his best to appear unaffected by the revelation, though he wasn’t sure if he succeeded.

It wasn’t as if he could ask Jedric, “Did I handle that well?”

“To be exact, it seemed he already knew who killed Mantum. What he was probing was my thoughts on the matter and how I planned to respond.”

Jedric warned coldly.

“He’ll come looking for you soon. Be careful.”

“Yes.”

As Ram stood to leave, Jedric let out a groan.

“Stuga.”

“Yes.”

“What I said earlier about… her being insincere, never repeat that to her.”

“I won’t share this conversation with anyone.”

“Good… If you meet her again… or if she…”

Jedric trailed off, trying to say something but shook his head instead. Then, with a serious expression, he added.

“Forget it. You may go.”

“Yes.”

Ram bowed and exited the tent.

‘I see now! I finally understand what General Terrdin meant. Demion and Jedric just approach things differently, but Jedric… seeing Charlon earlier…’

Ram quickly dismissed the thought.

It was a dangerous notion. Jedric must have driven Charlon away so quickly to deny his own feelings.

To reject what was in his heart!