The Sand Bride - Chapter 57

The young servant cautiously approached him and reported everything. From Karzhen, who seemed pleased by his encounter with Esther, and the items he had prepared to give her, to the final news that Esther’s father had ultimately not survived the day.

Hakan gently closed his eyes. Then, for the first time, he conveyed a piece of information to the bewildered young servant and also gave his final command. It was the ultimate and most crucial order.

“Y-Your Majesty…….”

Upon hearing the news of Esther’s mother’s death and Hakan’s command, the young servant was startled at first, looking at him, but then quickly realized his impertinence and lowered his head again. However, he couldn’t conceal the unease etched on his face.

This was because Hakan had ordered him to inform Esther herself that both her father and her ailing mother in their homeland had died.

The young servant was utterly flustered. Everyone in the royal palace already knew the rumor that Sayar favored that woman. He was also well aware that Karzhen had even provided the slave, the woman’s father, with a physician and medicine usually reserved for royalty.

He couldn’t fathom what Hakan stood to gain by specifically informing the woman that both her parents had died. What could Hakan possibly gain by souring the relationship between Karzhen and that woman? Rather, he could only think of what they would lose.

However, Hakan silently commanded the young man to leave with his eyes. The young man, obedience etched into his very being, eventually left the room without another word, and soon after, another person entered the greenhouse.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

The newcomer, unlike the young man who had just worn stylish but uncomfortable clothes, was dressed in practical attire, and an empty sword sheath hung from their waist. As the woman, who appeared to be a warrior, knelt and saluted, Hakan nodded.

“Yes. I called you because there’s something I want to ask you.”

“Speak, Your Majesty.”

“From what you’ve seen…… does my brother still seek that woman out often?”

At those words, the face of the woman, fiercely loyal to her master, stiffened slightly but soon relaxed. In truth, it was no longer a secret that Sayar practically lived in the room of that sacrificial woman.

“Yes, he does.”

“Hmm.”

Though Hakan’s stern expression had softened, he furtively observed the woman, who remained wary so as not to speak carelessly about her master. Then, he leaned back in his chair with a relaxed demeanor. He seemed unperturbed.

“Don’t misunderstand. I just wanted to confirm, as I didn’t realize my brother would be so taken with that woman named Esther.”

“Esther…… did you say?”

At Hakan’s words, a subtle emotion flickered across the woman’s face. It was bewilderment. She was the daughter of a high-ranking central noble and had grown up as Karzhen’s closest confidante since childhood. Therefore, she knew what Karzhen called that woman. Karzhen often called her Eder.

And even though Hakan had already heard this fact from the young servant, he pretended not to know.

“Ah, you didn’t know? Yes. They say that woman’s name is Esther. That attendant who just left is from the palace where her father resides, you see.”

“Is that so…….”

The woman answered silently, but her eyes now held a different emotion instead of confusion. From the circumstances, it seemed that the woman had lied about her name to her master. Was she not a woman who was not only outrageous but also sacrilegious? To deceive her master, who had bestowed favors upon her and even her lowly slave father.

Because of that rage, the woman didn’t deeply consider the fact that Hakan was needlessly divulging too much information to her.

Seeing the rage ignited in the eyes of his loyal subordinate, Hakan uttered his final words.

“By the way, they say you never know what will happen in this world……. Who would have thought? Of all people, my brother would be clinging to a s**t who even drugged his drink. When that happened during our last farewell, I expected my brother to tear that b***h to shreds.”

“…….”

Don’t you agree? Hakan chuckled heartily and spoke to the woman. The moment he looked into her eyes, he instinctively knew his plan would succeed.

Only after the woman, her face illuminated by wrath, disappeared, did Hakan signal his confidant, who had been hidden behind the lush flowers and trees tended by the gardener, to come out. The confidant emerged without a sound.

“Will this be alright?”

The confidant, who knew Hakan’s plan, looked fearful.

“If Sayar were to find out…….”

“He will find out.”

Hakan shook his head. Even if he didn’t know now, Karzhen would soon learn everything. Just as Hakan had confidants, Karzhen also had many. Without going far, the Aldana priests alone were people who, if Karzhen ordered them to find something, would discover and report whatever it was.

Hakan knew that Karzhen would soon learn everything he had done. But it didn’t matter.

“Because this is something he needs to know.”

The confidant looked bewildered but soon nodded obediently. He was not one to think. He was merely one to act. Hakan gazed at his bowed confidant, then eventually sat down.

Everything had begun. He vowed not to waver. The same tragedy as before must not repeat itself. This time, he would bring an end to the tragedy.

Just as he had opened it.