Shadow's Oath

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Chapter 94: A Request (1)

Ram had prepared the meal and brought it over, but since Damion only said, “Just a moment,” without giving any further response, he had no choice but to wait idly inside the tent.

Damion was writing a letter.

The sound of his pen scratching against the paper echoed noisily within the tent.

After finally putting down his pen, Damion murmured in a low voice,

“I don’t think I’ve ever put this much effort into writing so politely, even when addressing my father.”

Without waiting for the ink to fully dry, he rolled up the letter and placed it in a case.

“Summon a messenger. Not one from Vadio’s side—one from General Terdin’s.”

“Is this a confidential matter?”

“Not exactly confidential. It’s just to inform them, as I discussed with General Terdin, that I will be returning with Charlon tomorrow. However, technically speaking, it does go against the royal decree. I need to ensure there’s no room for misunderstanding. It must be precise, and above all…”

Tapping the letter case lightly with his finger, Damion continued in a subdued tone,

“…I must appear obedient to my father. He distorts and exaggerates everything. So, I can’t give him the slightest opportunity to do so.”

Ram went outside to summon a messenger while Damion hastily finished his meal.

It was the fastest he had ever eaten.

“Your Highness, the messenger is here.”

As soon as the messenger called from outside the tent, Damion dropped his food and ran out.

He quickly handed over the letter.

Just as the messenger was about to roll it up and place it in the case, Damion gestured.

“Wait, give it back.”

He snatched the letter, unrolling it again.

The messenger froze in place, hand outstretched, as Damion meticulously reviewed the contents once more.

Satisfied, he handed it back.

“Now you may take it.”

As the messenger rolled it up again and placed it in the case, he glanced sideways at Damion.

“Shall I seal it now?”

“Yes. I’m counting on you. But let me make one thing clear—you don’t need to rush.”

“Isn’t this urgent?”

“It is urgent, but don’t handle it hastily. Deliver it safely, as if you were carrying an egg.”

“Uh… understood.”

Whether he fully grasped the meaning or not, the messenger left the camp at an ambiguous pace, heading south.

Damion watched his retreating figure for a long while, prompting Ram to speak.

“Please finish your meal, Your Highness. The soup has already cooled quite a bit. Should I bring a fresh one?”

Damion ignored the question and spoke his own thoughts instead.

“For some reason, the Count is determined to kill Jedrick. He’s pursuing him relentlessly, as if he holds some deep grudge.”

“Wait a moment, Your Highness.”

Ram surveyed the surroundings and listened carefully.

There was no one eavesdropping.

“You may continue.”

Damion went on.

“That means we can’t leave Jedrick in that village if we want to protect him. Simply imprisoning him won’t stop Count Vadio. He could declare at any moment that he’ll be executed.”

“Is there anywhere in the north where Count Vadio’s influence wouldn’t reach?”

“What if we send him to either Nak or Olmon? The Ehodins of those villages are there, so through them… What were their names again?”

“Nak’s Ehodin is Meios, and Olmon’s Ehodin is Rocher.”

“Yes. We’ll ask one of them to take him in… What do you think?”

“It wouldn’t be much different from keeping him in Elum. Those two villages are allied with Elum, so Vadio could go there whenever he wanted. With a single command, he could have Jedrick brought back.”

“It would at least be inconvenient for him. And Vadio isn’t the type to bother with inconveniences.”

Damion pondered for a moment before continuing.

“Olmon is farther away, right? We’ll summon Rocher, the Ehodin of Olmon, and have him imprison Jedrick there. But in reality, we won’t actually imprison him. Then, if Vadio tries anything, we’ll release him immediately and claim he escaped.”

Ram remained silent, deep in thought.

Noticing this, Damion spoke.

“Don’t hesitate to share your opinion. I won’t be offended.”

Ram hesitated before replying.

“Why not ask the elders?”

“The elders? Who do you mean? Ikarum?”

Damion’s tone turned sharp, but he immediately waved his hand dismissively and apologized.

“Sorry, that was a mistake. I just can’t help reacting that way when I think about him. Go on. I promise I won’t be upset.”

Following his instruction, Ram spoke.

“There is an elder named Sao. He has always appeared to be quite close to Jedrick, and he knows more about the tribe’s laws and Geron’s customs than anyone else. In fact, it was Sao who swiftly invoked Elhorn’s rules to have Jedrick imprisoned before Vadio could take action. If you discreetly let him know that Your Highness personally requested his help, he will surely find a way to save Jedrick.”

“That’s an excellent idea.”

Damion clapped briefly.

“Then, what do you think of this? I need your opinion on another matter.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Tonight, I will propose to Charlon.”

Ram found himself speechless once again.

Damion spoke without organizing his overflowing thoughts, letting his words spill out.

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“It’s a bit sudden, I know. But when I think about it, we never had a proper engagement ceremony. We didn’t even exchange rings. Father pushed it on us so suddenly that there wasn’t time to prepare. That’s why I want to make it clear that this isn’t just a political decision—it’s my choice. That would be the right thing to do, wouldn’t it?”

Ram tried to maintain his usual neutral expression, but despite himself, he stuttered.

“I… I don’t really… know much… about these matters. Actually… I have no idea… what needs to be prepared… or what customs… are followed for a proposal. I’ve never seen one before.”

“I’ve never done it before either.”

Damion chuckled as if joking, but Ram didn’t laugh.

“Then, go to Charlon and inform her of the situation. Tell her I will visit her ‘tonight.’”

As soon as he spoke, Damion shook his head.

“No, no, no. It’s better not to say anything. It’ll be more fun to surprise her. Got it? Don’t tell Charlon anything—just go and observe the situation.”

“What do you mean by observing the situation…?”

“I want you to see if the atmosphere is right for me to propose tonight.”

Ram hesitated, looking troubled.

“I’m not sure I understand what kind of atmosphere would be right for a proposal.”

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

Damion stared at Ram for a moment before speaking in an apologetic voice.

“Right. I suppose you wouldn’t understand why I’m acting like this. Olga just died a few hours ago, and you were the one who ended her life… And now I’m asking you to do this…”

Ram wanted to say that wasn’t the issue, but he couldn’t.

Because if that wasn’t it, then what was?

He had no answer to that question.

Damion sank into thought and muttered to himself.

“This is a sad event for Charlon, and for me as well. That’s exactly why I need to propose. I want to tell her to think about the future and move past the sorrow of the past. I want to begin my proposal with that—by saying that because of this, we must push forward even more.”

Ram knew that Damion wasn’t someone who acted on impulse.

He was also not someone who committed rude acts without hesitation.

Even now, the prince was making an effort to explain himself and convince Ram, despite having the authority to simply command him.

He was the kind of person who would say “sorry” to someone who had no choice but to obey.

Damion was a good person.

A kind of person Ram had never seen before, never even imagined could exist.

And that was precisely why every single word he said pierced Ram’s heart.

“Just go and see what kind of expression Charlon has, who she’s meeting—probably Rusef—and what they’re talking about. Then report back to me exactly as you see and hear. To Charlon, just say that I was worried and sent you to check on her and see if she needed any help.”

Ram always tried to respond clearly and decisively whenever the prince gave an order.

There was nothing he couldn’t do.

But this time, he couldn’t give a confident answer.

Misinterpreting his hesitation, Damion spoke again.

“If it’s difficult for you because of some issue, you can always tell me—”

“No, my prince,”

Ram quickly interrupted.

“I’ll go at once.”

As he left the tent, there was one thing Ram hadn’t been able to say.

He hadn’t had the opportunity, and he wasn’t sure if he should say it at all.

Ram had Olga’s medicine for Charlon.

It was when General Terdin had ordered him to leave the village.

Since it was on the way and wouldn’t take long, Ram had stopped by Olga’s house.

He hadn’t expected to return to Elum Village again, so he made sure to pick it up.

As Olga had said, on the innermost bookshelf, the third shelf, there was a glass vial containing a black liquid.

It was about the length of a thumb, and even before opening the cork, he could smell violets and burnt charcoal.

Did Olga know exactly what was wrong with Charlon and prescribe the medicine without an examination?

Had Rune foreseen this situation and prepared it in advance?

Or was it simply one of many pre-made remedies, like those sold by herbalists?

More than anything, would this medicine really heal Charlon?

Or was it another trap?

Ram couldn’t decide.

And he hadn’t had a chance to give it to her.

But now that he had the opportunity to go, he hesitated.

Should he give it to her?

As he gripped the vial he had left in his tent, Olga’s words came back to him.

‘Even as she told me where to find the medicine, Olga spoke as if Charlon wouldn’t take it…’

Ram decided to leave the choice to Charlon.

Charlon’s tent was at the far end of the camp, opposite the encampment.

He hadn’t been told the exact location, but he could find it easily by following the sound of voices.

There was no need to sharpen his hearing.

Rusef and Charlon were outside, engaged in a fierce argument loud enough for the entire camp to hear.

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