<h4>Chapter 92</h4>


    Damia Lineu Porcana was suffering from a fever. Her body was cold from being plunged into the stormy ocean, but her head was burning hot. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids wouldn''t lift. It felt as if a ghost was pressing down on her. Her consciousness drifted endlessly into the past.


    Where did it all begin?


    On the day the Porcana twins were born, the royal castle was abuzz with joy. It was a cause for celebration. There had been no heir for a long time, and many were worried. It was thought that Harmatti, the king''s brother and a coteral rtive, would seed to the throne. Then, the twins were born.


    The queen died ofplications from a difficult childbirth and did not live to see the twins grow. However, the king felt more joy than sorrow. After all, a queen was merely a tool brought in to bear the king’s children. If the king wished, numerous lieges were willing to offer their daughters as his new queen.


    "The bloodline of the royal family!"


    The twins strongly inherited the Porcana royal blood. The king had light brown hair and brown eyes, but the twins prominently disyed the family''s characteristics.


    "Damia Lineu Porcana!"


    The daughter of Porcana, Damia. She was a model of the lineage with bright blonde hair and blue eyes. She became the firstborn, having arrived moments earlier than her twin.


    "Varca Aneu Porcana!"


    The son of Porcana, Varca. Hecked golden hair but had deep blue eyes. He was the future heir to the throne.


    The king was delighted and cherished the twins, granting their every wish. Although theycked a mother, the twins grew up without any shortage.


    "Varca."


    Eight years old? Nine? It was around that age. Damia adored her little brother. Being twins, Varca was like her other half.


    "Pretty."


    Damia said, dressing Varca in her clothes.


    "O-okay."


    Varca looked awkwardly at the skirt he was wearing. He was unable to refuse his sister''s persistentpliments, so he couldn''t bring himself to take it off.


    Varca did whatever Damia said. Damia wasn’t just an older sister by title. She truly seemed a few years older.


    If Damia was the sun, Varca was her shadow and the moon. In reality, Damia was known to be active, assertive, and clever. In contrast, Varca appeared passive and dull.


    "The teacher ising today. Sister."


    "It’s okay. I''ll talk to himter. Let''s just go to the garden and y today. Just the two of us, without the maids."


    Damia pped her hands andughed. Her smile, especially the way her eyes crinkled, was radiant. Who could refuse such a smile? Varca was no exception.


    "I''ll put a flower in your hair."


    After reaching the garden, Damia picked a flower and ced it in Varca''s hair. To any onlooker, they would seem more like sisters than siblings. It wasn’t quite the level of Damia, but Varca also inherited the royal beauty. Once he grew up, he would certainly be a handsome royalty.


    "You look good, Varca."


    Damia pped and stroked Varca''s hair. Varca looked anxiously at the sun as it was setting. He had already missed so many sses.


    "Sister, I have swordsmanship training this evening. That teacher is strict and scary. I heard he used to be an instructor in the Imperial army."


    "Varca, you don’t need to learn any swordsmanship. I’m going to protect you."


    Damia hugged Varca from behind. Her blonde hair tickled his nose.


    "I will protect you, Sister. I-I am the man," Varca stammered.


    "That doesn''t matter. You''re my little brother. Listen. Varca, you and I are one. I read in a book; that twins are one soul split in two. When we die and stand before Lou, we''ll be one again. We''re originally the same being."


    For Varca, these were difficult words toprehend. So, he simply nodded at his sister''s words.


    Varca hadn''t yet read the Sr doctrine. He was still stumbling over letters. People said Varca was a yful durd. It wasn’t that his learning progression was particrly slow, but beingpared to the clever Damia and often skipping lessons for y certainly made it seem so.


    "Father is here."


    Varca looked up and spoke. The king, draped in a cloak embroidered with gold, strode across the garden. His tightly closed lips gave him a stubborn look.


    "What is this, Varca? I heard you skipped your sses all day. And I also heard that this isn’t the first time you’ve done so."


    It was a stern tone. As Varca hesitated, Damia stepped forward.


    "I dressed him. And I asked him to y. Varca just followed my words."


    The twins were the kin he was so desperate for. The king cherished his hard-won heirs, and he especially indulged in all of Damia’s wishes.


    The king frowned. Varca was wearing women''s clothes. What would other lieges think? The future ruler of this country in women''s clothing? How much would the nobility and knights, who unt their masculinity, mock him?


    <i>p!</i>


    The kingid his hand on Damia to strike her. She fell from the force. Shocked, Varca''s eyes widened.


    "Varca, take off that dress immediately and go to where your swordsmanship teacher is waiting for you."


    The servants grabbed Varca''s hands and dragged him away.


    "...that hurt."


    Damia said in a calm tone as she rose, holding her cheek. Her blue eyes were not clouded by fear, unlike Varca, who seemed scared even though he wasn''t even the one hit.


    <i>''It would have been better if the twins were brothers.''</i>


    Damia had a strong character, even as a child. How great would it have been if she were a boy?


    "Damia, you can do whatever you want. You can act like a tomboy, go to the library, and read as many books as you want, as you possibly can."


    The king''s tone was gentle. He caressed Damia''s reddened cheek.


    "I''m already doing that, Father."


    "No matter how smart you are or what you do, you are a princess. For the royal family and this country, you''ll have to marry someone you don''t even know. That is indeed a tragedy. That''s why, until then, I will do everything I can for you. You are smart enough to understand what I mean. But Varca is different from you. He''s a man and will be the king after me. He needs education and discipline to develop the stature of a ruler. That is what is truly good for Varca."


    The king shared the harsh reality. He believed Damia, praised by her tutors as brilliant, would understand. Other children took three days to learn what she mastered in one.


    Damia understood the king''s words. Sheprehended it too easily, feeling the brutality of reality. She realized her future was already determined.


    A fate of being sold to an unknown man. Such was the purpose of the existence of a princess.


    The king''s distant gaze pierced Damia''s heart. It would have hurt less if it wasn’t so obvious that the king loved his daughter, but the king cherished both twins immensely.


    Damia, now sixteen years of age, had a body more than capable of fulfilling a woman''s role. Her voluptuous breasts and hips were all ready to bear children.


    Damia opened her eyes from her feverish state, vividly recalling that day.


    "No, you dumbass, you''re wrong. If both dice show the same number, you roll again. And bet double the money. Or just settle with the numbers that came up."


    Damia weakly opened her eyes. Beyond the curtains, two people were present in the room.


    Urich and Pahell, sitting opposite each other at a table, were gambling with dice. Urich was exining the rules to Pahell.


    "I’m telling you, you never said that before. Did you just make that up?" Pahell inquired in a disgruntled voice.


    "Geez, you really think I''d lie about something like this? Anyway, I''m rolling again."


    Urich shook the dice in his hands and tossed them lightly as if he were spraying them onto the table.


    "Would you look at that, this is what I’m talking about." Urich clenched his fist.


    "Ugh."


    Pahell groaned at the dice. Urichughed and flicked his finger. Several gold coins changed hands in an instant.


    It was a tranquil moment. Three days had passed since Urich''s return. It didn’t take Urich too long to fully recover his strength.


    <i>‘He really is close to Varca.''</i>


    Damia murmured, watching them beyond the curtain. Urich and Pahell talked without any formality. It was a sight unimaginable for a barbarian and a royal.


    "Varca. Are you there?" Damia softly called her brother''s name.


    "Sister!"


    Pahell sprang up and rushed to the bed. He parted the curtain and firmly grasped Damia''s hand.


    "It''s been a while," Damia spoke with dry lips.


    "Here''s some water."


    Pahell brought a cup of water to the bed. After wetting her lips, Damia looked alternately at Urich and Pahell.


    Urich watched from behind as Damia and Pahell reunited. Their exchanges of concern and greetings were sweet and warm.


    ''Hmm.''


    Urich crossed his arms and stepped back. He decided it was best to leave the siblings alone.


    "I wish you''d speak to me casually like before. Soon when you be king, I too will have to address you formally."


    "No, Sister. Nothing will change from before," Pahell said as he shook his head.


    "Seeing that you returned safely... puts my heart at ease."


    "It''s all thanks to you, sister. The knight you assigned me was extremely loyal. Sir Phillion is the knight of knights who would even sacrifice his own life for me."


    Damia was also the first to suggest the n to seek help from the Imperial army.


    "By the way, that man calls you Pahell."


    Pahell nodded.


    "He''s used to the name I used as an alias."


    "I just want to rest a bit more. Could you leave me alone for a while?"


    "Of course. Once you have recovered enough to walk on your own, I will have you sent to the royal castle. The battlefield is no ce for a woman. Though I wish to apany you, the war may drag on. I cannot afford to be absent from this war."


    Pahell stood up and spoke. Damia faintly opened her eyes to look at him. She remained silent, not saying a word.


    <i>''Sister has awakened safely.''</i>


    Stepping outside the tent, Pahell gazed at Harmatti Castle. The only thing left to end all of this was the fall of the castle.


    * * *


    As autumn wasing to a close, a military council was convened. Nobles andmanders gathered in one ce. In the expansivemand tent, more than ten men were present.


    <i>Step, step.</i>


    Pahell was thest to enter themand tent. Nobles parted to either side, bowing their heads. It marked the arrival of the young king, set to seize the power of Porcana.


    <i>''Rumors really are unreliable.''</i>


    In themand tent, there were nobles who had never seen Pahell before the civil war. They looked at the prince, who was clearly different from the rumors. His blue eyes were as cold as ice. There was no trace of a frivolous prince anywhere.


    "Please, take your seats."


    Pahell said, sitting at the head of the meeting table first. Only then did the other nobles, carefully observing, take their seats.


    <i>''He escaped as a fugitive and returned from the empire to im his throne.''</i>


    It was a fascinating story. It quickly removed the tag of a powerless prince. Although there were criticisms about bringing foreign powers into domestic politics, Porcana had been a vassal state anyway. The criticisms didn''t stick to the victorious prince.


    "Death to Harmatti!"


    "Death!"


    The nobles eximed.


    The young lords and nobles were especially favorable toward Pahell. The disy of a young prince outsmarting his cunning uncle resonated with them. Such incidents weremon in the noble world and could happen to these young nobles anytime.


    <i>''Who would have thought Varca couldmand the nobles like this? What in the world happened on his journey?''</i>


    Damia watched Pahell from the back of the meeting room. As she observed the proceeding of the meeting, she could feel the extent of Pahell''s influence in the tent full of nobles.


    "Well? What do you think? Proud, aren''t you? He’s different from when you left the royal castle, right?"


    Urich, who had been quietly observing the meeting, approached Damia and spoke. He, too, had participated in the meeting but hardly spoke. He mainly just observed.


    <i>''That barbarian!''</i>


    Some nobles'' eyes quickly turned. They werepeting against each other to show how loyal they were to the prince, and each of them wanted to impress Damia at the same time. The fact that Urich the barbarian approached her so easily did not sit well with them.


    <i>''He''s getting ahead of himself just because he saved the princess.''</i>


    Jealousy was overflowing. Many of the nobles were already smitten by Damia''s beauty.


    "What do you mean by that, mercenary?" Damia sharply retorted.


    "Well, when I first saw him, Pahell was an idiot. Couldn''t tell shit from dirt, just blundering around."


    "That is insolent," Damia snapped back.


    "Insolent or not, it''s true. But you know..."


    Urich looked down at Damia with his yellow eyes, slowly moving his lips.


    “You, our princess here, as I see it, seem to have a good sense of judgment. From what I’ve heard from Pahell, you''ve read a lot and are quite smart. And, surprisingly, you were the one who came up with the n to borrow the Imperial army''s power and get Pahell out of the royal castle."


    His words were sharp, and his gaze was piercing through Damia.


    "...So, what?"


    "Just be careful."


    Urich said to Damia and then turned his eyes back to the meeting. Damia''s pupils repeatedly dted and then contracted.


    "We have a contact that came from inside the castle. Someone is willing to open the gates for us. It is my cousin, Sir Camilron," a noble said.


    "That man is a knight of Harmatti! We cannot trust him," another noble countered.


    "Loyalty is important for a knight, but Harmatti is a traitor and unworthy of loyalty. Moreover, the knight couldn''t bear to see the starving citizens die. That''s the news a deserter brought."


    The deserter who brought the news was dragged to the tent. He swore in Lou’s name that the news that he brought wasn''t a lie. The nobles argued back and forth.


    "The citizens inside the Harmatti Castle are practically my own. If they are suffering, it''s only right to seize the castle as soon as possible."


    Pahell broke his silence. With his words, the nobles fell quiet.


    "We will immediately reorganize the army, Prince."


    An imperialmander spoke. With the leader''s decision to attack, even the opposing nobles held their tongues. Instead, they mored to lead the vanguard, wanting to impress Princess Damia with their bravery.


    "...I will ry that to the inside contact."


    The noble who proposed the n nodded his head.


    <i>‘In a week, we will attack them.''</i>


    The nobles stood up and left themand tent. They each prepared their armies. This battle might very well be thest of the civil war. In other words, this was thest chance to earn glory. The camp''s activity noticeably increased.