Episode 11: Same Bed, Different Dreams (1)
Iskandel, who had been staring at her as if trying to read her mind, shrugged and gave a faint smile.
“Well. It is not exactly pleasant, but it is something I am used to. Laughing and chattering about nothing. Sitting still like a flower, or a piece of jewelry.”
There were jagged edges in that habitual self-mockery.
Even his bodyguard, who usually traded all manner of harsh jokes with the prince without restraint, glanced at Iskandel nervously; he was not even trying to hide the barbs lacing his words.
His sarcasm was openly aggressive, yet Hashana neither flinched nor panicked.
She simply looked at him quietly and chose her words with care.
“Mm… Rather than that, what I meant was closer to asking you, as the head of the delegation, to think things through and make decisions together with me.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes. Everyone, let us get moving now.”
Nodding with a smile that was almost refreshing, she started walking again.
Tension hung over the delegation and the watching guards.
Walking ahead alone as if nothing were wrong, Hashana turned her head back, as if to ask what was the matter, and looked at them.
Iskandel had lost even the will to speak and entered the dim passage she was leading them into without a word.
‘For her to so openly say she will keep me close and watch me… That means she is that confident.
Just how little does she think of me?’
The prince gave a cold, crooked smile.
He was used to being ignored, to being treated as someone who could be slighted or mishandled without consequence.
He had long since steeled himself for the possibility that his identity as a spy would be exposed, sooner or later.
He had prepared himself for all of it, and it was nothing new—so why he felt so filthy about it now was something he could not understand, and that only fueled his displeasure.
‘Enough.
I will just think of it as getting the same treatment from the saintess that I get from my brother.
No point in dwelling on it.’
Contrary to Iskandel’s thoughts, Hashana’s inner state was far from as calm as the smile she showed on the surface.
She had not let it show, but she was fully aware that Iskandel’s mood had soured badly.
‘What do I do?
It seems “stay by my side” is used like an insult in the Capital.
The expressions they use there and the ones we use here are quite different… Who am I supposed to ask about this?’
Pretending not to, Hashana kept sneaking glances at Iskandel’s expression.
After mulling it over a little longer, she decided to simply explain honestly why she had asked him to stay close.
“Your Highness.”
“Go ahead.”
“I believe there has been some misunderstanding, so let me clarify… I meant my words literally.
Rsanda may subject you to some verbal abuse and leading questions, so for your safety, I meant that you should stay right beside me.”
“…Verbal abuse and leading questions?”
“Rsanda is the sort of person who would not hesitate to resort to violence, kidnapping, or torture until she hears a confession of espionage from Your Highness’s own mouth.
Of course, I intend to do everything I can to stop her, so please do not be too frightened.” She continued, “Even if it is a bit uncomfortable, as long as you stay with me, your life will not be in danger.”
Hashana shrugged and gave an awkward smile.
She felt ashamed in front of the delegation, but from her perspective, warning them and personally protecting them like this was the best she could do.
Kidnapping and torture could be prevented as long as she stayed close and guarded them.
However, not even Hashana could put a gag on a god.
There was no real way to deal with the verbal abuse and wild rants Rsanda habitually spewed.
‘When we run into the citizens, I will have to signal them.
I will stall for time as much as I can, so they should calm Rsanda down with alcohol or sweets or something.’
Having formed her own little plan, Hashana reached out a hand to Iskandel, her expression full of responsibility and concern.
“Then, to commemorate becoming comrades in a very secret plan, shall we shake hands?”
Iskandel pointed at the white hand extended for a handshake and the gold ornaments dangling from her wrist, tilting his head slightly. This chapter was taken from novelping dot com without permission.
“Did you not say that no one is allowed to touch your body, saintess?”
“If I ask first or give permission, it is fine.”
“…Well, in that case, gladly.”
Their hands clasped firmly.
‘I will make sure to watch over the prince so carefully that he does not get so much as a scratch.’
‘I look forward to seeing just how impressive this “surveillance” will be.’
With completely different thoughts filling their heads, Hashana and Iskandel smiled brightly at each other.
Hashana adjusted her grip on his hand to make it more comfortable and began her tour of the fortress.
“The gate you crossed a few days ago is the only entrance to Durgtah.”
“…So it seemed.”
“We call the wall with the gate the outer wall, and the area you are about to see the outer fortress.
That is where the outer complex buildings are, where soldiers and merchants stay.
The place you have been staying these past few days is the barracks for the guards who protect the gate.”
“I see.”
“Between the outer buildings, there is a market street… Would you like to walk up through it?”
“A stroll through the market sounds pleasant.”
Looking down at the hand that had been caught with no chance of escape, Iskandel answered dryly.
Despite his flat tone, his insides were churning with confusion.
‘How is she so strong?
It does not even feel like she is gripping that hard, but I cannot pull my hand free…’
Completely unaware of his dismay, Hashana smiled without a care and tugged his hand a little closer.
“Just a little farther, and we will reach the Outer Hall market district.”
The outer complex market district was also her favorite place in all of Durgtah.
Feeling like someone about to show a treasured secret to a new friend, Hashana led them across the empty little square and into a dim passageway.
Matching her stride, Iskandel began to recall the rough layout of the fortress he had guessed from outside.
‘The saintess came down along the outer wall.
Is she deliberately taking us a different way because the path she used is a military route?’
‘The path I came down was far too steep.
Just from looking at them, the prince and the delegation all seem like idle types who have never exercised a day in their lives.
If people like that walked along the wall in this weather, they would all collapse from dehydration.
It is better to take the market road, even if it is a bit longer and less steep.’
Once again, Hashana and Iskandel smiled at each other while harboring completely different thoughts.
With one hand helplessly surrendered to Hashana, Iskandel stretched out his free arm and brushed his fingers along the light brown wall.
Then he blew the dust from his fingertips into the air and offered a mocking remark.
“It is like a giant sandcastle.”
“It is not sand, it is stone.
Stone that Rsanda breathes power into, and that I reinforce every day.”
“…I was not talking about the building materials.
I meant that everything inside and out is the same pale yellow color.”
“Wow.
That was a metaphor!”
Hashana laughed, a bright peal of amusement.
It was a clear, guileless laugh, without a trace of malice.
As it echoed down the passageway, a strange sense of defeat washed over him.
Iskandel was far better with words than with a sword, yet he was at a loss for how to win against someone who remained oblivious to his provocations.
While he was busy plotting his next attack, Hashana, buoyed by excitement, led them out of the long passageway.
“So that’s how Durgtah looks like a sandcastle to people from other regions.”
She murmured to herself as she guided the delegation between the neat rows of buildings under the bright sunlight, as if the more she considered Iskandel’s comment, the more touched she became.
“To look at this stark, unadorned fortress-city and see a sandcastle… I’m honestly touched. It’s so poetic.”
Iskandel remained silent.
“Rsanda always insists on just the key points, briefly, so the people of Durgtah rarely use metaphors or figurative language.”
“…I see.”
It may look like a barren, empty place, but I pay a great deal of attention to every nook and cranny.
Hearing such an unexpected compliment makes me truly happy.”
He looked down at her profile as she repeated to herself, cheeks faintly flushed, “He called it a sandcastle.” The more he watched the small, pretty curve of her ear turning red between strands of platinum hair, the drier his lips felt.
‘I was mocking its monotonous color… Is that really something to be so happy about?
No, she must have understood perfectly and is just pretending not to, simply to get under my skin.’
Contrary to his suspicion, Hashana genuinely loved the expression sandcastle and continued her explanation in an excited voice.
“As I mentioned, Durgtah is a fortress-city built by stacking layers of rock imbued with divine power all the way around the mountain.
Four tall walls encircle the entire mountain in terraced layers.”
“What is this dim passageway we’ve been walking through?
It seems to be a route running beneath the buildings.”
“Exactly!
The entire area above this passage is the trade warehouse district.
We built these passageways underneath the warehouses.
They’re perfect for avoiding the blazing sun during the hot season and the heavy snowstorms during the cold season.”
Feigning admiration, Iskandel steadily filled in the mental map of the fortress.
As his hand swept lightly over their surroundings, she tugged on it, hurrying him along, and grabbed the long, thick curtain hanging at the end of the passage.
“Beyond this curtain is the village at the very outer edge of the fortress. It’s also my favorite place.”
When Hashana pulled aside the heavy fabric, harsh sunlight, noise, and countless gazes poured in all at once.
On the other side, a bustling commercial street spread out, completely at odds with his expectations.
Soldiers, merchants, and townsfolk mingled in a lively crowd, but they all turned their heads toward the newcomers in unison.
After a moment of curiosity, they quickly lost interest and returned to their business.
“…That’s a remarkable curtain.”
Iskandel spoke with genuine admiration as he looked back and forth between the curtain in Hashana’s hand and the noisy scene beyond it.
The narrow passageway, where only their footsteps had echoed, and the world beyond that curtain felt like two entirely different realms.
‘A single piece of fabric can block out both light and sound?
Everything here is unbelievable.’
Unlike the delegation, who were gasping in amazement, Iskandel stared holes through the pale curtain in Hashana’s grasp.
He simply could not accept that a single layer of fabric could provide perfect blackout and soundproofing.
When he seemed to show interest in the curtain, Hashana proudly flicked it back and forth.
“This is a fabric made from fibers extracted from sunflower stalks. It’s far too stiff to be used for clothing, but in exchange, it’s strong enough to withstand divine power. So I use it like this, imbued with my power, to separate spaces.”
While she used the curtain to keep Iskandel’s attention, she quickly signaled the soldiers and townsfolk with a series of subtle glances.
‘While I stall for time, make sure to cheer Rsanda up.’
As if they had read her command telepathically, they began casually gathering dried fruit, fruit wine, and other goods.
Just as she was cheering inwardly, Iskandel, who had been silent, spoke up carefully.
“Saintess, may I touch the curtain?”
“Of course. Everyone, please feel free to touch it.”
Iskandel rubbed the fabric lightly between his fingertips, then smoothly extended the edge of the curtain toward the delegation.
The delegates, their eyes shining as they watched his fingers, surged forward as if they had been waiting for the signal.
While they eagerly crowded around the curtain, Hashana naturally steered Iskandel toward the merchants and whispered in a voice only he could hear.
“I’ve hung this cloth over the windows of every room prepared for the delegation.
If you like it, I’ve already prepared enough for each of you to take one back when you return to the Capital.”
“I’m already looking forward to it.
I’m curious what the room you’ve prepared for me will look like, saintess, and what other fascinating things it might contain.”
“Oh?
Your Highness will be sharing my room, of course.
The delegation’s lodgings and the temple are very far apart.”
“…Pardon?”
At the declaration that he would have to share a room with her, the boisterous delegation fell so silent they seemed to stop breathing, all of them staring at Hashana.