Chapter 24
“My, your majesty, are you heading out already? You really are an action-taker . I might not have been able to see you one last time if I had woken up later . ”
I looked at Nara who was in front of me, smiled and said: “Don’t say something so scary . We’ve lost two days already . Thank you for taking care of us the last two days, Lord Nara . Time is of the essence for us now . ”
Nara smiled and responded: “Yes, your majesty . Your majesty, you must pay attention to something . Though the four other nations have not been explicit about it they have surely sent out their own teams . Nobody is your friend in that place with no one managing it . You are the team I am sending out . You will be watched as soon as you leave the city . Therefore, be cautious . I do not want my dream to end before it starts . ”
“It’s not just your dream alone . It’s my dream too, so I won’t let it end so soon . ”
“Yeah? You sure let me feel reassured . I am reassured . I have prepared several things to allow you to be more comfortable . ”
She waved her hand and a young man came up from behind . He had really tanned skinned, a common trait of those living in the desert . Maybe it was more a chocolate colour? Beneath his slightly curly hair was a pair of very clear eyes like stars in the desert . Though his skin was a little dark, they didn’t hide his refreshing facial features . His lean and competent appearance made him seem like he was made from the same mould as Castell .
Could it be that you lords all like this sort of guy?!
“This is my childhood friend who is also in charge of the imperial guards, Military Official Tarak Suofurisk . ” Nara pinched his face and smiled . Her reserved nature and dignity reduced a little as she revealed a playful nature young girls have which gave off the comfy feeling between childhood friends .
“Y-Your majesty! It is an honour to meet you!”
He wore a stern look and gave me a big bow . Stiff like a toy-soldier, his relatively handsome face now looked distorted . I smiled and patted him on his shoulder . I asked: “It’s alright, you don’t need to be nervous . I am the prince, but I’m also human, so you don’t need to be so nervous . Well then, Lord Nara, are you giving me this young man as a gift or something?”
With a smile, Nara said: “Of course not . Your majesty, I would not give him to you even if you wanted him . He is my childhood friend . We are very friendly with each other . If I was not the lord of the city, I might have had a few cute kids with him already . ”
“Nara!”
Tarak scolded her with a red face . Nara giggled softly . I looked at Nara’s eyes . She wasn’t joking . The way she looked at Tarak certainly had the same feeling as the way Nier looked at me . That strong hint of love can’t be false . However, she stripped down completely in front of me that night . It looks like she is very determined to achieve her dream and to serve her city, to the point that she was willing to abandon her love as well .
“Alright now . His majesty just said it too . Time is everything right now . I shall not waste anymore of your time, your majesty . ” Nara wore her serious expression again . She then took a parchment from Tarak and put it in my hand . With that she said, “Before you came here, I had sent out enough teams to gather information except I did not get anything from it . This is a map I drew . I can promise it is accurate . You will not get lost in that area with this map . ”
I nodded and then opened the map . There were a few red areas on the map . Nara pointed and said: “These are the places my people have checked . If you pass those zones, you will see marks they left behind when setting up camp . Those are zones where you can avoid the wind and are comfortable . You must seek shelter at these places when resting at night . Otherwise, a sandstorm may swallow up your entire team at any moment . ”
“Alright, thank you for giving me something so important . ”
I nodded and put it away carefully . A map is the most important item for any foreign group, especially when I’m heading into an area I’ve never been too with nobody there . This map is more important than anything right now . Now that I have a map, I’ll be able to further narrow down the perimeter I have to search, which also means that I have a greater chance of locating it .
Nara pushed Tarak over to me and while smiling said: “Also, there is Tarak . But I am just lending him to you . You must remember to return him to me, your majesty . Tarak is a professional at living in the desert and he has searched for that sort of metal twice so you could say that he is very familiar with that area . Further, Tarak he is good at communicating with local residents and others . And as the military officer in charge of protecting me, he is an expert swordsman . I therefore believe that he is the most valuable asset there . ”
“He’s that incredible?!”
I looked at Tarak astounded . I never thought the young man was so incredible . He looked around the same age as me . They sure were right when they said “young people can make great heroes” . But when I look at Tarak, I have an odd feeling of humiliation and jealousy . We’re clearly about the same age yet he’s so accomplished at many things while I still need to depend on the people around me .
“You flatter me, your majesty . I am but just a military officer . I shall be responsible for guiding you and keeping you safe for the coming journey . I hope you can achieve your wish and of course, Lord Nara’s wish . ”
Tarak bowed and then raised his head with a straight-face . I nodded and then responded: “Alright . We shall join hands with sincerity for this journey, since this isn’t just about me but also Lord Nara . ”
“That will be all then . Please do not be displeased with the minimal support I have offered . Considering the set-up of your team, do you not feel this combination is perfect?”
“It is . Thank you, Lord Nara . I believe that this will be a very simple job thanks to what you have provided me with . ”
Nara nodded . She then grabbed hold of Tarak and told him: “While you have said that you are tight on time, you do have time for me to say a few words with Tarak, do you not, your majesty……? If you would permit it, please allow me to bid Tarak farewell . ”
“That’s fine . ”
I nodded and then watched them leave my sight . Lorana looked over in their direction with curiosity, sighed and said: “Those two… poor them . ”
I nodded and said: “Yeah . They clearly love each other yet can’t be together . There is no one forcing them nor is there any power stopping them, but they have chosen to not be together . That sort of love is admirably but also pitiable . ”
“Yeah, just like Elizabeth . Actually, no . Elizabeth isn’t that sort of person . Elizabeth is the type who could sacrifice everything for her love . Honestly, a woman who could betray herself for her city is truly admirable but also pitiable . ”
“I think Tarak is the pitiful one . He clearly loves her yet they bound to never be together . But even so, he has chosen to always stay by her side . I actually admire and respect him for that . ”
“The woman he loves married herself to Karnashun City after all……”
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