PRU | Chapter 1.2

His Majesty had to save such a world, and for that, he, along with all those individuals, animals, and plants under His Majesty’s rule, had to willingly offer their lowly bodies to His Majesty. Even if their status was as noble as could be.

Watching Jaehwan read a book, awkwardly pick up an apple, drop it, and throw it away in that natural sequence, Alestia thought. His fingers were white and thin. His language acquisition was also very fast, and his way of thinking showed that he had been well educated. But he was obedient. If told to learn letters, he learned them. If given a book, he read it. If told to eat, he ate. If told to wash, he washed.

Alestia thought about that gap. Arrogant and submissive. But Apene was Apene. Where he came from, what his former status had been, who he was, those things were not important to Alestia, or to anyone on this continent. No matter how obedient he was, disobedience toward His Majesty was one of the unforgivable things.

“Apene, there is something you need to know.”

Jaehwan closed the book he had been reading. Alestia had started staying closer to Jaehwan these days. Back when he was first learning letters, three times a day. She had brought meals, served Jaehwan, and when Jaehwan finished eating, she had gone right back out. But now, after bringing breakfast in, she left the remaining remains to the other maids and stayed with Jaehwan almost all day.

That did not particularly change Jaehwan’s daily life. Jaehwan thoroughly ignored Alestia. No, he wanted to ignore her. So he behaved as usual, not leisurely, but not hurried either.

There was a lot to learn here too. Jaehwan immersed himself in new things to learn. Fewer illustrations, smaller letters, harder content. As knowledge filled up, his head emptied like an idiot. If he read on like that step by step, he would think of the books he used to read and feel as if he could go back home. Whenever Jaehwan was swept up in such happiness, Alestia would answer no again. But still, that was how it was.

“Now we should prepare for the rite.”

“Rite? For what?”

“The marriage, Apene.”

“Are you serious? I’m a man.”

“Being a man is irrelevant.”

“But I, I don’t want to…”

“Unfortunately.”

Alestia also completely closed the book she had been reading.

“Apene. We didn’t want Apene either. We wanted someone a little more… larger-boned and manly. But unfortunately…”

“If you didn’t want me, you could just send me back.”

“Apene, that is difficult. Besides, His Majesty has already made a promise. With Apene.”

“With me?”

“No. Another Apene.”

“Another Apene? What is Apene? Are there more Apenes?”

“So, to answer one by one, yes. Apene is not a word that refers only to you.”

Alestia fell silent for a moment, as if wondering how she should explain this, then pulled the words out.

“So, Apene has several meanings, but first and foremost it means a foreigner. Someone who came from another place. The number of Apenes we have currently confirmed, including the Apene here now, is four. But the Apene His Majesty promised is one. He is now in the territory of the wolf. And a normal Apene, in fact, is not something we call and bring here.”

“Pardon?”

“This is entirely the will of god Kala, who sends the chosen one. For the king of each generation, Apene can become the king’s most loyal retainer, or a partner. How to use him is up to the king. The Apene who received the promise of our king, the Red Lion, must have nothing at all to do with our king, as the partner of the gray wolf Kalliyayene. But unfortunately, there are things that human power cannot help with, Apene. Such accidents happened often. His Majesty had trouble accepting that. So what was devised was you, Apene.”

“Me?”

“Yes, His Majesty was granted permission by the Black Dragon Pwition, who governs the gate to this world, to call you here. Of course, this did not conflict with the will of god Kala either. That was how you could be called. There were many sacrifices involved, but that will be mentioned later. It was a success to call you from the same place as the Apene who had received the promise with the help of the Black Dragon Pwition’s power, but well, you are not a similar Apene. That is probably why you angered His Majesty. It might even be better to make the Black Hawk Mountain the king’s Apene. Putting aside any backlash.”

Alestia seemed to have added that as her own joke, but Jaehwan was truly not happy. Another Apene? And a similar person? In the end, when he put those words together, it meant this.

He had come as a substitute for someone else. Jaehwan just laughed. In the end, this state of affairs could not be anyone’s joy, and its usefulness had disappeared. Who, exactly, was all of this for? If even the king who had called him was not happy. Why, was there such humiliation?

“Then, since I’m not the same, send me back.”

“No. Apene.”

“Send me back.”

“No.”

“Send me back.”

“No.”

“Why? Why not!”

Jaehwan shouted, and Alestia also leaned forward in her chair and shouted.

“No, no, no! Didn’t I just say it? His Majesty must carry out the promise!”

“What is the promise?”

Alestia leaned back in her chair again, as if tired.

“The king formally made a promise to the Apene who became the partner of the gray wolf. That he would marry his Apene. The king’s promise is powerful. If it is not kept, the price comes back to the king.”

“T-that’s that person’s problem. You can just call a new one. A new Apene,”

“Apene, remember. God gives only one chance.”

“Ah, please.”

Please just send me back. Please… Jaehwan said. Please. Alestia answered, thinking him foolish. Apene, the chance given by god is only once. Seeing Jaehwan, who was dumbfounded, Alestia still had some pity for someone who had come to an unknown world, so she advised him.

“But, Apene. Promises always have loopholes. His Majesty did not say he would make you his betrothed. So it is definitely a concubine, so be happy, foolish Apene who is throwing away the wealth given to you. When the king takes a betrothed, all concubines must leave the palace, and if you do not wait for that, you can leave the palace if His Majesty permits it. With a bit of property and a marriage match.”

Jaehwan whispered.

“Is that something to be happy about?”

“Yes. If I were you, I would gladly jump at it. Of course, since Apene is Apene, you will have to be managed by the palace. You will also have to attend court. Serving His Majesty in either way is Apene’s duty.”

“Will His Majesty allow it?”

“More than anyone else, gladly.”

Jaehwan strained to look outside. But the window in this room, with its latch, only showed the garden directly in front. In the distance, what he could see was forest and sky. Different. Different. Different.

When he had tried hard to look at the sky at night, the moon of this planet had been one, like Earth’s, but this place called the capital had a sky more overflowing than anywhere on Earth.

The reason he guessed this place was not Earth was the words he had never heard anywhere, in all of the West, the miracle that had suddenly awakened him, the maids, the servants, the foolish system, the acts of annihilating the individual, and the acts of welcoming it…

But the grammar he could vaguely guess at, those faces somehow resembling Earth’s white people, fruits, birds, flowers, grass, tables, beds. The commonalities and differences were this many. Perhaps even his own life, which did not proceed according to his will.

The god of this place did not save him. Jaehwan realized. The god of this place existed for them. God Kala, who mercifully gave the king one chance. God took everything from him with the one chance given to the king. In truth, he did not know whether all of that had even existed.

The god, whose gender he did not even know, swung a cruel sword because he was not one of its people. He would never become that being’s young subject, male or female. His name was forever Apene. Forever a foreigner. Whatever the arrangement of the god, the merciless scale always ennobled only its own people.

“They won’t look for me again, will they?”

“Of course.”

“Then what am I supposed to do?”

“Ah, Apene, it is a relief that you understand even now.”

It’s a relief. It’s a relief. Alestia muttered. Jaehwan felt somehow like an idiot. It was because her tone sounded like, You can’t even understand this easy thing.

“We will find Apene’s talent. His Majesty said he would marry Apene, but it is only natural that you will eventually be dismissed from the palace. Of course, that is the thought of Count Olga and me. In any case, even if you are dismissed from the palace, you must contribute to this kingdom. Yes. Apene, your ability is tied to His Majesty’s fame as well, so you will definitely do that. So, for now, probably… looking at Apene’s body, it seems insufficient for becoming His Majesty’s escort knight.”

Alestia scanned Jaehwan’s body and went on.

“Then we test until we can find at least one talent among scholar, priest, mage, sorcerer, and the like. At the very least, you seem to have enough aptitude to be a scholar. It is fortunate that we learned even that much, but… There are many scholars, Apene.”

“What do you mean by many?”

“When I say many, to be exact, it is a title that anyone can easily speak of. Until Apene produces groundbreaking research results, you will not be able to avoid criticism that you are incompetent.”

“Then should I look for it in something else?”

“Yes. That is very difficult, in truth.”

That is why you have to work hard. Alestia said. Jaehwan was only chewing over words like priest, mage, and sorcerer with a sense of alienation.

“And as for the marriage, there is actually nothing to prepare.”

“Why?”

“The concubine has no political power whatsoever. And a concubine is nothing more than the residence of His Majesty’s partners before His Majesty receives a true partner. Besides, His Majesty has all authority over the concubines, and no one can say anything about that. Therefore, the whole wedding is to choose an auspicious day, set up the bridal chamber, and have Apene wait for His Majesty.”

“Is that fortunate?”

“Yes. Since that auspicious day has only one week left.”

“I see.”

All fortune, then. Yes. Fortune.

“You seem to like history books and philosophy books. Should I bring you more?”

“Ah, can you bring science-related ones now too? Or do you have books about the job I will have?”

“Yes. Of course, Apene.”

“Then, thank you.”

“Yes, perceptive Apene.”

In the end, there was nothing he could do. Jaehwan held the book in his hands. He had to accept it.

“Do all Apenes have abilities?”