Chapter 113 Daria & Estevan
Chapter 113 Daria & Estevan
Living with her solitude in her fourteenth life and coming back in time, Darya was not satisfied with the lives she spent with her lover. She misses her children and she wants to see them.
“Major Roachim!”
Alright. How could she think about her past life when she is in the middle of a war? She is currently hiding in the woods with their camouflage. Not knowing what exactly is happening, Darya listened to the command.
“Flunk 22, commence your weapons and install the grenade after 2 minutes!”
Following the original body’s experienced hands in signalling, Darya headed her team closer to the opponent’s base but unfortunately, one of them stepped on a trap, leading a bomb to explode.
Excruciating pain has penetrated in Darya’s whole body as she gripped her left knees and remembered the memories of the original body. It turns out that she is a spawn in the front lines because she is a woman. Damn, misogynistic world!
Darya did not even know when she lost her consciousness due to the pain. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw a white old room, like the wards in ancient times. She was right. She is in a time more advanced than the Largoth Empire but in another world. This is a world where women aren’t seen equally compared to men. It is a misogynistic world where women are treated as objects that are tasked to serve men and bear their children.
She tried getting up only to realize that her right hand is handcuffed to the bed. She could not feel her left leg which seemed to have been cut off due to the bomb. She had just been into this world for days and she already felt unlucky.
A loud sigh came out her mouth as she stayed lying down and looked at the spider webs in the ceiling. Fergus told her that due to her strong union with Desmond, they could possibly meet in other upcoming worlds. But it does not mean that they will meet in each of the worlds.
“It seems that Major Daria Roachim of the Lendomn Republic has gained consciousness.”
There was a sound of ‘tick’ in her heart after hearing that voice. Her eyes immediately looked at the man who spoke and all memories came back to her once again. She does not know if her power is a curse or a blessing. It is a blessing that she could be saved and she could remember all good memories but it is a curse that she could not forget some of the people who became part of her life.
“Seems like the lady has no idea who I am. Please excuse my rudeness. I am Estevan De Garnet of the Kingdom of Qavlov. I am the General-in-Chief of the Military of the Kingdom and at the same time the Crown Prince.”
Darya almost wanted to laugh because of all the resemblance. Her name, Daria Roachim, and his name Estevan. And he is also identical to that person whom she once loved dearly. Remembering that time she held him in her arms before his last breath…
“I see,” Daria curved her lips admitting that she felt relieved that he seems to be living well in this world. “… you’re the Crown Prince.”
‘I hope that your situation is not the same as before.’
On the other side, Estevan’s heart pumped so fast seeing the lady’s expression towards him. She was supposed to be scared for her life. She was supposed to be shocked. She was supposed to grieve because of her misfortune. But why does she look bothered and is even calmed around him? And what is with that look in her eyes as if… as if she knows him. This is clearly their first time meeting as she is from an enemy country.
Estevan put aside his worries and immediately proceeded to his task. He drove away all attendants to talk to her in private. He was seated beside the bed to watch her while she was just sitting on the bed where she was confined.
“I assume that you have the grasp of your situation now. But to formally make it clear to you, you have become a captive of the Kingdom of Qavlov and you are to disclose the military positions of your country.”
Looking unbothered, Daria replied, “Are you telling me to betray my country?”
“You do not have a choice.” The prince scowled.
“Rather than exposing the military strategies of my country, why do you not try to strengthen your kingdom’s military and use unreadable techniques?” She looked into his eyes and upon seeing the expression she expected, she smirked and proposed, “I can help you but I have a condition.”
Estevan was silent for a while until his face calmed down and he grinned. “You sure are confident with that little brain and weak body of yours? The Lendomn Republic made a dumb decision to send women to the battle field—”
“Do you not need this woman’s information to recover your loss to the Lendomn Republic, your highness? The Kingdom of Qavlov must have forgotten that those weak women in the battlefield have defeated thousands of your soldiers.”
The Crown Prince was silent for a moment, realizing the power this woman held. He does not see it, he never knew about her, but he could feel something from this woman. Her eyes… her speech… It is as if she has had too much experience.
Cannot retaliate, the Crown Prince spoke, “What is your condition?”
A small grin shaped on Daria’s lips. “In exchange with my military strategies, your highness has to promise me the highest nobility once the Kingdom of Qavlov’s victory in the war is declared.”
When the deal was made, two years later, the victory of the Kingdom of Qavlov shocked the whole world as they became the most powerful Kingdom in the world. They not only conquered the Lendomn Republic but also signed alliances from different Kingdoms and countries which allowed them to have the most powerful military forces.
“Long live the new King!”
Cheers for King Estevan echoed to the streets while the parade was on-going. Daria, as a former Emperor, felt nostalgic of the people’s view and the festival in the town. When Estevan was crowned as the new King, her new name was also all over the noble circle because of her fame in the business industry. Her fame caused her to gain many competences in the other nobles especially the high ranking nobles. However, they have no idea that she is the ‘military strategist’ behind the victory of the newly crowned King.
During the grand banquet held for the new King where all nobles were gathered and were waiting for the arrival of the new King, gossips about the new aristocrat were all over the place. She is mostly criticized for her poor family background and is called ‘the aristocrat of the poor’.
Amidst this noisy environment, they were silenced upon hearing the announcement of the arrival of the King and what caused an uproar was the noble woman beside him.
“His majesty, King Estevan De Garnet, with Countess Dariaviche Pablovoch.”
This was a shock to the nobility as many noble women could not process that the woman they were looking down on was actually the woman that the King chose to partner in his grand banquet. It is not just because they felt like their pride was tampered but this is a blatant announcement that the King is considering this new Countess to be the future Queen. Since when did they meet that the two of them looked comfortable with each other as if they have known each other for a long time?
“Ah,” there was a grin on Lady Daria’s lips. “It seems to me that I have offended a lot of noble women, your majesty.”
“Are you worried? I am at your back.” King Estevan glanced at her.
She hummed and looked at the disgust on the faces of those women. “I suppose that there will be troubles coming after I marry you, your majesty.”
King Estevan chuckled with the statement ‘I marry you’. It does not feel right for a man to hear a woman saying that statement but he is not offended at all. It felt natural to him.
“I assume that you are proposing to me, my lady.” King Estevan stopped his tracks before the throne and looked at her side with a gentle smile. “Is this a sign that we are to take oath to the altar for an eternal union of our hearts?”
“Your majesty,” she looked into his eyes. Seeing that unconcerned look in his eyes, she could only feel happy. “… there are plenty of beautiful flowers in this garden but are you picking the one that has blooming petals but has poisonous thorns?”
King Estevan was silent for a moment while he thought about what those words mean. Sometimes, he could feel that his lady is from another dimension. He could not reach the depths of her eyes and the pit of her heart. Sometimes, he thought that she had gone through so much in her life but it was not enough. It was as if she had been living in many lives because of the vastness of her knowledge and her outstanding abilities. Because of all these abilities, is she telling him that she is a poisonous flower with thorns? Is she going to betray him— No, he had seen all her sincerity within two years. He had seen her immeasurable abilities and she had seen his vulnerabilities. Like their hearts are being chained to each other. Like their souls are entangled together. How could he think ill of her?
His eyes gradually softened and his hand naturally reached to touch her face. “If hurting is the only way to pick the poisonous flower, the pain would not matter for someone desperate to have it. I shall endure the poison that will spread through my body and I shall take care of that flower as long as my feet can stand,” he caressed her cheeks with his thumb, “…as long as my hand can reach, my fingers can move, my eyes can see, and my voice can be heard.” He leaned closer to her face so the tips of their noses could touch.
“So may I have the consent of this young Countess to be my bride, my Queen, and my eternal rest?”
Daria could not help but giggle because of how he looked so excited to hear her answer. She touched her forehead to his’. “You have my consent, your majesty.”