Lyset’s Room

“Lyset, so, have you eaten? Have you had your meal?”

“Yes, I ate well. A servant brought me some very lavish food. They said it was from tonight’s banquet.”

“I’m sorry. I should have brought you to the banquet hall with me. But that would have been too sudden a change for everyone.”

“Of course. Even I am dumbfounded by everything that happened today.”
Christoph looked at the table and chairs.

“May I sit?”

“Of course! It’s yours, so naturally.”

“No, this room and everything in it is yours, Lyset. It’s only natural that I ask for permission.”

“No, please treat me casually, Lord Christoph.”

“Then, Lyset, would you sit beside me for a bit?”

Lyset hesitated, then approached Christoph, pulling a chair to sit beside him. As she sat, a sweet, floral fragrance rose, teasing Christoph’s senses.

“Is the room comfortable?”

“Yes. As you can see, it’s far too grand for me. The clothes, the furniture…”

“That’s not true. My mother and everyone in the castle already recognize and treat you as my woman. Mother probably put in quite a bit of effort, didn’t she?”

“Ah, Duchess Unsette.”

“Yes. That’s her title now, starting today.”

“She told me to call her ‘Dowager Duchess’ in formal settings. It’s quite daunting. But she talked to me a lot while showing me this room. I think she rather likes me.”

“Contrary to what others might expect, Mother is quite a bold person. Though it’s tiring if you get on her bad side. Haha.”

“Be the quiet wind that lets the eagle named Christoph soar.”

“Hm? What does that mean?”

“It’s what Lady Unsette told me. Be the quiet wind. And be the great tree where that eagle can rest.”

“That’s very like Mother. But, Lyset, I want you to be the freest person in this castle.”

“Why is that?”

“Because you’re the woman of Christoph Lisberget, the ruler of this duchy.”

With those words, Christoph pulled Lyset by the shoulder.

“Oh, Lord Christoph.”

Their lips naturally met. They explored each other’s tongues, tasting the sweetness within. Lyset’s sweet breath left Christoph in a blissful daze.
His hand naturally wrapped around Lyset’s waist.

“Tell me honestly. Yesterday, was it alright?”

Lyset’s face turned bright red.
“That, that sort of thing…”

“Tell me. I need to know so I can love you more warmly and comfortably.”

“It was, it was good. Ah!”

Before she knew it, the hand around her waist was caressing her back. Christoph’s lips brushed her neck and the exposed curve of her upper chest.

“Oh, haa. Lord Christoph, it’s so gentle. I like it.”

“Lyset, if it’s okay, shall we go to the bed? I want to hold you again.”

“Oh…”

Lyset thought of her body, still aching. But the memory of the overwhelming joy and radiant pleasure that followed was even greater.

“Hold me, Lord Christoph.”

And so, Lyset took Christoph’s hand and led him to the bed. With a flushed face, she lay down first.

Christoph smiled at her beautiful blue eyes, filled with a mix of fear and anticipation.
“I’m still clumsy, but I’ll do my best to bring you joy.”

“Your coming to me like this, that’s my joy too. And to think I can fully hold you within me—it already makes me so happy.”

Christoph slowly removed his ceremonial robes. Still shy at the sight, Lyset covered her face with both hands.

“Ah!”

Before she knew it, Christoph, lying beside her on the bed, pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers.

“Oh, Lord Christoph… what should I do? I’m scared. I’m afraid.”

“Remember yesterday, Lyset. We want each other, and we find great joy in each other’s bodies.”

At Christoph’s words, the strength in Lyset’s arm, holding his hand, faded.

Soon, Lyset let out a feverish moan and turned her head aside. Her hands, tightly gripping the bedcovers, showed how much her body was burning.

A sweet time flowed between them again, more skilled than yesterday, and all the more absorbed in each other.

Feverish breaths, rough moans, and ceaselessly clashing lips. In this moment, neither thought of today’s chaos or tomorrow’s campaign. They only clung desperately to this fleeting moment.

“Lyset…”

After their act of love, Christoph, lying beside Lyset, stroked her beautiful black hair.

“Lord Christoph…”

“Will you whisper that you love me?”

“I love you, Lord Christoph.”

“And I you.”

Lyset’s eyes, turned to the side, shimmered with a bluish light. But Christoph couldn’t see that glow.

“Please.”

“Please?”

“Please become the king of Nordenheim, at the highest place. Open the kingdom of the gods, a new kingdom, with me.”

It was a strange thing to say. Startled, Christoph lifted his face to look at Lyset.

But Lyset continued to murmur.

“Behold the time when all duchies fall and the great tower rolls in the dust. The new shall become old, and the old shall become new, for all shall perish and begin anew.”

‘This is surely…’

A forbidden ancient prophecy came from Lyset’s lips. Christoph tilted his head in confusion, but as Lyset regained her senses and smiled at him, he smiled back and embraced her again.

“I’m so happy, Lyset.”

“So this is what happiness feels like.”

“Yes, such happiness.”

“Lord Christoph.”

“Yes?”

“I have no regrets about this happiness. No matter where I’ve lived or what I’ve waited for with what heart, this happiness now makes it all worthwhile.”

“That’s moving. Is it that much?”

“It brings me such joy that you and I are the ones to fulfill the prophecy. If I had lived without knowing this, I would have regretted it so much.”

The word “prophecy” came up again. Christoph made a curious sound, looked at Lyset, and quietly embraced her delicate shoulders.

Tears of joy from Lyset’s cheeks dampened the pillow.

A little later, both dressed, they sat on the bed, embracing and continuing to kiss.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, Christoph released his arms from around Lyset.

“Lyset, will you accept this?”

Christoph took a ring from his finger. It was a gold ring symbolizing a lord, engraved with the crest of the Nastrand Duchy, filled with silver.

“This, this…”

“This is literally a token that you are my woman and signifies that you hold a status equal to mine in this castle. Of course, it doesn’t grant you actual power, but with this ring, no one will dare treat you carelessly.”

“Oh, but is it alright for me to accept something so symbolic?”

“You must. Absolutely.”

As Lyset reached for the ring with trembling hands, Christoph grabbed her hand and slipped the ring onto her fair finger himself.

Lyset quietly gazed at the ring on her hand, then stood and opened her old box to retrieve the bone necklace.

“Lord Christoph.”

“Yes?”

“This is a necklace I made when I was very young and have worn until now. I didn’t wear it constantly in the convent, but when you saw me on the hill, I wore it every time I offered praise to God Olrun.”

“I see.”

The ancient divine runes carved on the bone’s surface. Christoph looked at it with interest.

Of course, Christoph knew well how dangerous it was in this era without it being said. But the joy of Lyset’s complete trust in him was greater.

“This is all I have to give. Will you accept it?”

“Of course. It’s the first gift from you. I’ll accept it gratefully, Lyset.”

Christoph smiled and reached for the necklace. But then, Lyset grabbed his hand.

And slowly, Lyset herself placed the necklace around Christoph’s neck.

Amid the cheerful clinking sound, Lyset tucked the necklace inside Christoph’s clothes to keep it hidden.

“It may not be fitting to the status of a duke, but please think of me. Surely, this necklace will be of great help someday.”

“Yes. If it’s from the one I love, I’ll never take it off.”

“Thank you so much for saying that, Lord Christoph…”

Christoph patted Lyset’s body and slowly stood up.

“I want to lie beside you like this and wake to tomorrow’s morning sunlight. How wonderful it would be to kiss your forehead as your face glows in the sunlight streaming through the window and greet you in the morning.”

“Lord Christoph… please don’t say things that stir longing in me, who will be alone for a while. I already know.”

Tears had welled up in Lyset’s eyes. Christoph, too, suppressing a pang in his heart, forced a smile and stroked her beautiful black hair.

“But I must return for tomorrow’s dawn campaign. I probably won’t sleep because of you, but there’s much to prepare. At least you should rest well. Alright?”

“How can you ask that? I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all either.”

“Hahaha, my angel. I believe your deep sleep will ease my fatigue. So you must sleep well. Have sweet dreams.”

As he stood and opened Lyset’s door,

Whoosh!

Lyset approached from behind and hugged Christoph’s back.

“O God Olrun, though all be according to your will, please grant Lord Christoph fortune and victory…”

His clothes were warmly dampened by Lyset’s tears.

In the reluctant farewell, Christoph forced a smile and embraced Lyset.