Blood Moon Rising Over The Plains - Chapter 6: The End (2)

After that, Temujin continued to defeat the soldiers in rapid succession. Truly, my worries were unfounded, and there was not even the slightest threat to me.

“Khan—!”

Horses galloped towards Temujin, who had been rampaging for a while. On them were his subordinates, including Buka, each with their own weapons such as swords and bows, sitting upright.

“Hoo, I was just coming with a message from the [Prince], but fortunately, the Khan found him first.”

“[Prince]?”

Temujin’s face twisted at Buka’s words. He glanced at the [Prince], who was still rolling on the ground, and the [Prince] flinched and trembled at Temujin’s glare.

“Ah, not that [Prince], but Odobo. The 3rd [Prince].”

“O, Odobo?”

The [Prince] rolling on the ground reacted to the name ‘Odobo’.

“T, that bastard, too…! B, betrayal… He was a traitor. Long ago!”

“It’s a wise choice. Wouldn’t it be better to become a [Vassal State] than to be [Annihilated]?”

Buka grinned and jumped off his horse. Buka, who had jumped easily from the horse as tall as a person, approached the [Prince] and took out a long rope.

“Ugh, do, do you know who I am! Sa, save me! Someone, save me!!”

[Prince] took a breath and dragged his leg, stepping backward, but the already collapsed soldiers couldn’t possibly react to [Prince]’s words. Buka smirked, raising one corner of his mouth, and shrugged.

“Don’t worry. I’ll treat you as the noble [Prince] deserves, as you wished. Aren’t you the Second [Prince] of this Golden Empire?”

His attitude didn’t seem to match his words about treatment. I watched Buka bind [Prince] onto the horse. Lying on the horse’s back, his arms and legs fixed and tied to the horse’s belly, he looked like a hostage to anyone.

Hmm. No, should I call him a prisoner in this era?

“But what’s with the Khan not killing him? Having a wife has given him some leeway—”

“He can’t die comfortably. Keep him alive with all his limbs intact.”

As Buka finished tying up [Prince] and remounted his horse, a rough voice, like a growling beast, scattered around from above, creating a chilly atmosphere.

“…Yes.”

Buka’s voice seemed somewhat subdued, almost like a sigh.

“Let go, let go! Do you think you’ll get away with this?! Soon, Father Emperor will—!”

Watching [Prince], who was struggling with his bound body while shouting in a frenzy, Temujin pressed the back of my head, blocking my view.

Soon, [Prince]’s rough cries disappeared, and a muffled “mff mff” sound faintly came, as if a cloth had been stuffed in his mouth.

“How’s the [suppression] going?”

“The Golden Empire has already been surrounded by the rear guard. Not even an ant can get out of the castle.”

“What about the secret passages?”

“The 2nd unit of Huchite has been deployed.”

“How much has been [subdued]?”

“We’ve completed up to six inner palaces so far.”

“How many royals have been captured?”

“Last I heard, there are three princesses.”

“Then this one [Prince] is all we have. What about the Emperor?”

“Still searching.”

At Buka’s answer, Temujin narrowed his brows. I rolled my eyes, still with his hand pressing the back of my head, and then strained to lift my head.

“Phew.”

My face, flushed from being buried in the warmth of the thin clothes, quickly cooled as it met the cold night air. Temujin lowered his face to my ear and whispered in a small voice.

“Why are you trying to see something unpleasant? Just keep your eyes closed until it’s over.”

“Can find—”

“Shh.”

Temujin put his hand over my mouth, but unfortunately, my voice was a little louder. Especially since a woman’s voice echoed among these burly men, it would have been even more audible to them.

“Did you just say something?”

I rolled my eyes, my mouth blocked by his large hands that seemed to grasp both my cheeks. Buka’s gaze alternated between me and Temujin.

“…I told you not to talk.”

Temujin sighed as if he had a headache. But it was already too late. Even that young [Prince] knew it.

“Why were you hiding the fact that she was talking?!”

At Buka’s shout, I inserted my hands between Temujin’s large hand and my face. As I struggled to lower his hand, Temujin reluctantly let go.

“Temujin told me not to talk.”

“Khan! …No, more than that, you just said the Khan’s name…”

“Can’t I say his name?”

I tilted my head and asked Temujin.

“Speaking informally to the Khan…”

Buka kept making senseless noises, not knowing what the problem was. I tilted my head again, questioning Temujin.

“What’s it to you if I allow her to call me by my name? Do you think you’re above me?”

Temujin glared at Buka, his face contorted in a terrifying manner. Buka shook his head frantically with a startled expression.

“Of course not! Not at all! What does it matter if she calls you by your name or speaks informally! Haha! Yes, please, call him as you wish!”

At the flustered words, Temujin nodded and looked down at me.

“There’s absolutely no problem.”

“Uhm, yeah.”

Buka’s reaction was strange considering that, but that wasn’t important right now. I resumed the story I had been interrupted from.

“That Emperor— mff!”

I widened my eyes as his hand blocked my mouth again.

“Shh, I told you not to. You can’t say that.”

Ah, that. As I pursed my lips, Temujin carefully removed his hand.

“Uh-huh, but [Prince] saw it. Map, too.”

“…”

Temujin’s face turned coldly. Then he looked back at [Prince], who was bound on the horse. Oops, [Prince] wasn’t his name. I grabbed Temujin’s cheeks, turned him towards me, and shook my head.

“No. That little [Prince]. I thought [Prince] was his name.”

“Ah, Prince Odobo. This is troublesome. We’ll talk about him later…”

“Lost, so, went to find.”

At my answer, Temujin stopped talking and suddenly looked at me with a surprised face.

“…Yes, you’re doing something really lovely. I’ll have to reward you later.”

“So, troublesome? You know, I heard bad words. I’ll help. So, punish them.”

I wanted to say this too.

“Bad words?”

“Yeah. The man who was with him said he used soldiers and beggars as playthings. And also, the Emperor said. He said he would taste me before doing everything. He told them to take me to his room.”

Once I started talking, the words somehow became longer. I chattered, saying everything that came to mind.

“…Hoo.”

Temujin smiled, stretching his mouth wide as if it would tear. I smiled brightly in Temujin’s reliable embrace.

“Wow, tell? To Khan, no, wow…”

For some reason, Buka kept exclaiming as he looked at me.

***

“Gather everyone to one side! Whether they’re palace maids or soldiers, everyone!”

It was truly amazing to stand in the most splendid palace where I was first dragged and look down below. In fact, if I wanted to, I could go even higher, and I’ve seen many taller buildings than this.

Maybe it’s because there are so many people down there.

The people who were gathering noisily were all tied up with ropes and made to kneel on the floor. I stretched my arms out on the wooden fence, leaning my upper body on it.

Having changed from thin clothes to gorgeous clothes, and with my body free from shackles, I felt naturally elated.

The dawn sky was already covered in sunlight. Time was already 6:41 AM. I thought the war would last a long time, but it ended earlier than expected.

I was quietly watching the people tied up below and Temujin’s subordinates guarding them when a strong arm wrapped around my waist, and my body was pulled back.

“It’s dangerous to hang on such a place.”

“Can fly—”

“Shh. I told you that’s a secret, right?”

“Yeah, I will.”

I wanted to tell him that there was nothing to worry about, but it seemed that Temujin prioritized keeping it a secret. I nodded and entered the palace, held in Temujin’s arm. He seemed to have made it a habit to hold me like this whenever he saw me.

It was only for a short time, but he really hated me disappearing from his sight. When I was next to him, I was always in his arms. The shackles were also removed, so there was no need to hold me anymore.

I was carried into a room by Temujin. Inside the room were Buka, the young [Prince], and the soldier I had seen in front of the prison. Ah, I should ask this.

“Young [Prince], what’s your name?”

“Impertinent…!”

As soon as the soldier grabbed the hilt of his sword, Buka and Temujin moved. Blades, which I didn’t know when they had drawn, were close enough to cut the soldier’s neck and hands at any moment. Seeing the blood actually flowing, it seemed that what they were doing was not wrong.

But I don’t think I did anything wrong…? I turned to the young [Prince], unable to hide my embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know many words.”

“No. Iwi! What kind of rudeness is this!”

The young [Prince] shouted at the soldier.

“But.”

“I apologize, Khan. Please forgive my subordinate’s rudeness. His loyalty is just too excessive…”

“Isn’t it too [foolish] to just leave a subordinate who commits rudeness without knowing the lord’s will, let alone helping?”

Temujin snorted and put strength into the hand holding the sword. The blade aimed at his neck went deeper, and more blood flowed down than before. No, I’m the one who did something wrong, what are you doing!

I urgently slapped Temujin’s shoulder.

“No! Tsk!”

To make up for my lack of vocabulary, I imitated the parents I had seen in the village sometime, and Temujin’s face softened.

“…Well, sometimes it’s the virtue of a lord to have a broad mind and show mercy to subordinates who make mistakes.”

“…”

As Temujin put away his sword, Buka, who was gathering his senses, turned to Temujin as if he was dumbfounded.

“Ahem, you asked for my name just now, right? My name is Odobo, the 3rd [Prince] of this Golden Empire.”

Odobo politely made a fist and bowed his head. I was wondering, but [Prince] did mean Prince after all.

“I’m Yeo— mff!”

“There’s no need to introduce your name.”

“But…”

“More than that, we have to catch that guy before he escapes, right? I didn’t know he wouldn’t come out even if we searched this much.”

“Uh-huh.”

Even if they were surrounding the imperial palace, they didn’t know where there might be a hole. I nodded and called Noah in Korean.

It was easier for me to talk to Noah in Korean. And Temujin told me to pretend that I could handle everything alone. Even if it wasn’t this method, only I could use it anyway because the master recognition was only for me.

“Noah.”