Chapter 017 Saihan Malaken and Count Kevin Dravina
The sound of hooves broke the silence of the forest. Duke Hugh Griffith's entourage had left the Manor early in the morning, cutting through the mist that still hung over the valley. As the sun began to climb higher, the biting cold air grew sharper, slipping through every gap in their cloaks and clothing, as though testing their endurance. The rhythmic sound of hooves echoed through the silent forest, adding to the tension with every meter they traveled.
Saihan, sitting beside Hugh, felt the oppressive silence begin to weigh on him. He tried to fill the empty space with light conversation, though his tone was far from serious.
"Duke, isn't it a shame?" he asked casually.
"What do you mean?" Hugh responded without looking away, his attention still on the road ahead as he held his reins firmly.
"Your beautiful wife, freshly made your wife, and now you leave her behind," Saihan continued, purposely adding a touch of sarcasm to his words. "Why destroy a young girl's hopes for her wedding night so soon?"
On the other side, Kevin, who had overheard the conversation, couldn't help but chime in. He joined them, his horse moving at a more leisurely pace.
"She's not beautiful," Hugh replied flatly, correcting Saihan's words in a detached tone. "In fact… she resembles you."
Immediately, Saihan's eyebrows shot up, surprised by Hugh's response, which was blunt yet far from warm. A sense of unease crept over him, and he began to feel a bit uncomfortable. But the response didn't only unsettle Saihan; even Kevin, who usually kept things light, quickly interjected.
"Blonde hair shimmering with skin as white as snow, and her experience as a lover of adventure… I imagine she must be quite sexy," Kevin said, his voice full of curiosity, seemingly trying to gauge Hugh's reaction. "That's what I know… Otherwise, she wouldn't have been offered to you, Duke."
Hugh, who had thus far paid little attention to the words around him, finally turned with a sharp gaze that pierced Kevin directly.
"Count Kevin Dravina," Hugh's voice sliced through the air, as if reminding them all who held control here. "Be careful with your words, Kevin. She is Duchess Griffith."
The sudden silence that fell over them made the journey feel even colder, not only because of the wind but also due to Hugh's sharp reprimand. Kevin fell quiet, realizing he had crossed a line with his joke. However, he quickly responded in a more subdued tone.
"Forgive me, Your Grace," he said sincerely, though there was an awkwardness that he couldn't hide.
Hugh gave a slow nod, his voice neutral. "Hm." But inside, Hugh continued to mutter in his mind, "The description I read was far different from what I see."
With that, the conversation ended abruptly. Silence reclaimed the group as they continued on their journey. The air grew even colder, making an already exhausting journey feel heavier.
However, there was something else troubling Hugh's thoughts. The more he thought about Atthy, the more questions arose in his mind. How could he so easily leave a young girl who had just become his wife? What made him feel justified in doing so? He felt uncomfortable with the decision he had made, though he tried to mask his emotions with a stern exterior in front of others.
At the same time, Kevin seemed largely unaffected by the tension. For him, this was just another casual conversation during the journey. But for Saihan, there was something deeper buried in Hugh's words and his cold response. Something that made him even more curious.
The group continued their journey with a palpable sense of unease. Though no one spoke again, the underlying tension was unmistakable. They were not only crossing a silent forest but stepping into an even deeper uncertainty—about Atthy, their relationship, and what would happen next.
The sound of hooves echoed through the quiet forest, and though no one spoke, the tension grew heavier with each passing step. The breeze was soft, but the atmosphere within the group felt much more oppressive. Hugh continued to lead, his face devoid of emotion, but deep within his thoughts, something continued to gnaw at him.
Hugh had received a full report on Athaleyah Galina, who lived in Nauruan. Every detail of her life had been neatly documented. Her bravery, her captivating beauty, and her ability to manipulate situations for her own advantage. But in reality, the woman who had arrived at the Manor, a woman whose identity remained mysterious, seemed entirely different. For someone hired to replace such a significant role as a Duchess, her gaze was emptier, more innocent, as though she carried no burden at all.
Yet, in Hugh's eyes, that was merely part of a larger game.
"Entering the territory of a Griffith, how could she remain so at ease?" Hugh thought to himself, gazing ahead as if searching for the answers along the winding path. "A brave woman… or reckless? Or perhaps she is indeed brave, but also reckless?"
The thought continued to swirl in his mind. He tried to push it aside, but Athaleyah's gaze—seemingly unconcerned with anything other than her fate—only made him more obsessed.
Atthy, with the innocence radiating from her face and beautiful eyes, challenged his gaze in a way he couldn't quite understand. Perhaps that was what disturbed Hugh. To him, the world was a grand chess game, and every move had to be calculated. If a woman like Atthy came without the weight of a past or hidden ambitions, there had to be something much larger behind her.
"Or perhaps more than just bravery. She might have her own ambitions?" Hugh thought, a hint of sarcasm in his mind. "Maybe she was paid to replace someone who should have arrived. But instead, this turned into her opportunity to achieve something greater."
In Hugh's mind, all these possibilities emerged rapidly. He didn't believe it was a mere coincidence that the original Athaleyah, the one he knew from the reports, had been replaced by someone with bigger goals. Her position as Duchess Griffith wasn't something that just happened. There was a huge opportunity there, an opportunity to gain greater power.
Perhaps Atthy saw this as her chance in life. To use this opportunity to become the Duchess, even if it was just a stepping stone. Maybe she saw it as a cheap romance story that she could write herself, with herself as the main heroine.
"Most likely, she's just taking this opportunity because she wants to become a real Duchess?" Hugh thought, his brows furrowing. "Maybe she feels more worthy than her predecessor. Maybe, for her, this is the path to fulfilling her ambitions."
At the same time, on the other side, Saihan casually threw out a surprising question, trying to break the thickening tension in the air.
"So... what about the mastermind who ultimately placed you as her husband, and now we must honor her as a Duchess?!" Saihan asked fearlessly, as if this was just a normal conversation.
Hugh glanced at Saihan with an expression that was completely unaffected. "I don't know," he replied coldly, avoiding further discussion. "It seems they're planning something else."
"Something else?" Saihan asked, now more intrigued. Kevin, too, perked up, waiting for more details.
"Isn't it your job to find out?" Hugh retorted, his eyes gleaming slightly in challenge.
"Hah?!" Kevin spoke, forgetting his intention to remain silent, and got involved in the conversation again.
Some of the soldiers trailing behind them sighed, feeling as though they were watching an endless comedy.
"Didn't you accept my money for this? Shouldn't I be the one doing all the work?" Hugh added, his voice firm and clear.
Saihan, beginning to feel bored with the rising tension, decided to tease once more. "Then, Duke, how about you double my payment?" he said with a playful smile.
Hugh responded without hesitation, his tone still firm. "Fine, I'll make it five times as much… as long as you find out what my wife is doing, the one you all think is sexy... How about that?"
"My answer is definitely no!" Saihan replied firmly, immediately rejecting Hugh's offer. "I don't like following women, especially when she's already married. That's just for your personal interests. Besides, I don't like women..."
"Then you like men?" Hugh asked, jokingly directing his words at Saihan.
"I wasn't finished speaking, Duke!" Saihan quickly answered, not wanting to be misunderstood. "I don't like vain women... and as for your question... If it were you, Duke, I think I wouldn't reject it..." Saihan responded with a sly grin, not backing down.
"Unfortunately... you're not my type, Saihan. Your body is too muscular," Hugh retorted without changing his expression.
"It's a shame you're leaving a woman who came all the way here with the resolve to become Duchess Griffith... At least enjoy married life first, rather than hanging around with muscle-bound men like us..." Saihan replied casually.
"A virgin like you has no right to advise me on that!" Hugh retorted, chuckling inwardly.
HAHAHA
Some of the soldiers following them laughed, understanding how deep the conversation had gotten, even though they didn't know everything. But for Hugh, his feelings remained disturbed—disturbed by the uncertainty hidden in every glance from Atthy, in every smile she gave. There was something bigger than he had anticipated.
Amidst the journey, the heavy and tense atmosphere lingered in their silence. The sound of the horses' hooves breaking the stillness of the forest was the only noise heard. Though no words were spoken, the air seemed to be filled with unasked questions and unspoken doubts. Hugh led the way, his face still unreadable, but his mind was in turmoil.
Saihan and Kevin, two of Duke Hugh Griffith's elite soldiers, had contrasting personalities, yet both were solid in carrying out their duties. Both were handsome, with a captivating aura, but their views on women were vastly different.
Saihan, now 28, was a man who always avoided women. Despite being very handsome, he was famous among the soldiers as the man most reluctant to approach women, even just to unwind after months on the front lines. Soldiers returning from war typically sought the company of courtesans to relieve the tension, but Saihan always avoided them, even preferring to be alone.
The reason for this remained a mystery to many. No one knew why he behaved this way, except for Saihan himself. The truth about him was never revealed, even when he spoke firmly and without formality to Duke Hugh, who rarely paid attention to social class. This was one of the reasons Hugh respected Saihan—because, despite coming from humble beginnings, he possessed skills and courage rarely found among the nobility.
In contrast, Kevin, still young at 20, had a very different view. Though he had been at war for only a few years, Kevin had already carved out an impressive reputation. As a Count, he had experienced the world of the nobility, filled with intrigue, but he never felt at ease with it. Kevin preferred to speak his mind, and his laid-back attitude often made him stand out from other nobles.
The Griffith clan had a system different from most aristocrats. They valued skill and experience over social status. This was why Saihan, despite not being a noble, could hold a command position equal to Kevin, who came from a noble family.
Now, tension began to rise as their conversation continued.
"Whatever," Saihan responded indifferently. "I don't care about that. You all know I've never been normal. But, once again, Duke... you corrected my words about the beautiful Duchess. It's just not like you."
Hugh didn't immediately respond, but after a moment, he spoke. "I've told you before, she's not beautiful..." Hugh replied in a flat tone, as if denying it, but his thoughts were different. "...But, she certainly managed to catch my attention," he muttered to himself, feeling that there was something he couldn't ignore about Athaleyah's arrival.
Unable to contain his curiosity, Kevin tried to ask a question. "Has your perception of women changed?" Kevin asked with a hint of curiosity, though he knew Hugh didn't like talking about such matters.
"I've heard rumors... about the Duchess, before she became the Duchess..." Kevin emphasized the last word, "Sorry, Duke. But... according to the information, she's a woman quite experienced with men... Honestly, I thought she might be a good match for you. Considering she's also known for her assertiveness... Wouldn't that be good?"
Hugh gave Kevin a cold stare that instantly made the air feel colder. "Kevin, it seems I've been too lenient with you lately," he replied, his voice slightly altered, asserting that he didn't appreciate being spoken about in such a manner.
Kevin was taken aback but soon relaxed as he realized that Hugh wasn't truly angry.
"Fine, I'll answer your curiosity..." Hugh finally spoke after a brief silence, "I know she's just someone being used... And as for my personal matters, that's none of your business!" Hugh spoke firmly, his eyes showing resolve.
"Alright," Kevin replied, feeling that his curiosity had finally been addressed, though not completely satisfied with Hugh's explanation.
As a soldier more accustomed to fighting on the battlefield than dealing with political intrigue, Kevin refocused on the task at hand. Meanwhile, Saihan, unaffected by such conversations, redirected their attention back to more important matters.
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