It’s Sunny But I’m Depressed Chapter 26

Chapter 26: An Old Desire (1) 

 

The door to the office burst open as Otter stormed in. Iago, buried in a pile of documents upon his return to the palace, looked up in surprise. It was unlike Otter to enter without knocking.

 

“Otter? What brings you here…?”

 

“I found it!!”

 

Otter shouted, eyes gleaming with excitement.

 

‘Why is he so worked up again? This feels ominous…’

 

“Is it about that ‘Make the Priestess Cry’ plan again?”

 

Iago asked, eyeing Otter with a wary expression, wondering what he might say this time.

 

“I told you before, I’m done with that plan.”

 

Otter, seeing Iago’s doubtful expression, urgently exclaimed.

 

“Even though all previous plans failed! This time, it will surely succeed!”

 

“What is it this time?”

 

Iago asked nonchalantly, flipping a page of the document.

 

“The priestess isn’t someone who cries easily. You know that by now.”

 

‘It’s not that she doesn’t cry; she can’t…’

 

Iago hesitated, his hand poised over the seal. He recalled the image of Elena’s face, always on the verge of breaking yet never shedding a tear.

 

‘I wanted to hold her tight.’

 

And he did. For the first time, he embraced a woman, her body so different from his own—surprisingly small and soft, without a hint of muscle.

 

‘Her white skin was so smooth… Ah, what am I thinking?’

 

Otter, watching the silent Black King anxiously, suddenly clenched his fist and shouted.

 

“Romance, love, marriage!”

 

Thud. The seal slipped from Iago’s hand and hit the floor with a thud. He felt as if his heart had made a similar sound, dropping inside him.

 

“Otter! What on earth… what are you suddenly talking about!”

 

In this diligent space where he conducted state affairs! His heart pounded, and he felt his face flush with heat. Iago covered his reddened cheeks with his large hand. Caught up in state affairs and his role as the Black King, he had never shown his true feelings to anyone.

 

Thus, he had never experienced romance. Of course, Otter was equally clueless about love. The words had come from Andre.

 

***

 

“Ah, Andre!”

 

It was an afternoon when Elena, having eaten a hearty porridge, had fallen into a deep sleep.

 

“Yes, Lord Otter. What brings you to the palace again?”

 

Andre, usually so kind, greeted him with an unusually cold demeanor. Clearly, he was still upset about the priestess being left in the desert. But Otter had no time to worry about that now. He spoke with urgency.

 

“Didn’t you mention… ‘romance’ earlier?”

 

“I did.”

 

Andre replied, turning his back. Otter grabbed his thick arm anxiously, pleading.

 

“Don’t go! I… I have something to ask you.”

 

“Ask me?”

 

Andre, inherently kind, couldn’t refuse and reluctantly asked.

 

“Lord Otter wants advice on romance?”

 

‘That can’t be right…’

 

Andre shook his head internally, looking down at the thin, pale lord. His keen instincts had never failed him before. And according to those instincts, Otter had no one he fancied. As expected. Otter, worried Andre might leave, clung to his sleeve and spoke earnestly.

 

“No. It’s about His Majesty the Black King.”

 

“Ah…”

 

Andre, unable to hide his discomfort, shot back.

 

“You’re saying this because I mentioned things were tense between you two? Lord Otter, why do you keep being mean to the priestess?”

 

Andre placed his hands on his hips and declared firmly.

 

“No matter how much you dislike the priestess, you have no right to stop two young people from falling in love!”

 

“No, not at all! It’s the opposite, Andre!”

 

Otter waved his hands frantically.

 

“What?”

 

“I want to help them get along! To fall in love!”

 

“Oh my.”

 

Andre let out a melodious exclamation. Clearly, Otter’s words had quickly soothed his anger. He was never one to stay angry for long.

 

“What a noble thought from you, Lord Otter?”

 

Andre asked, eyes sparkling, and Otter awkwardly avoided his gaze. It was clear Andre had taken a liking to the priestess. Being naturally kind, he must have easily grown fond of her, alone in a foreign land.

 

‘If Andre knew about the plan to make the priestess cry, he’d never cooperate.’

 

Otter awkwardly rolled his eyes and explained.

 

“Well, she suffered in the desert because of me. Even if she asks for punishment, I doubt she’ll be punished. So… I want to atone.”

 

“Oh. How considerate.”

 

Andre smiled gently. Prickling. Otter clutched his heart in agony. It felt as if someone had poured thumbtacks into his heart. Ever since he decided on the ‘Make the Priestess Cry’ operation, he felt like this almost every day.

 

‘At this rate, I’ll die before making the priestess cry.’

 

But even if it meant his death, he’d do anything to save the kingdom of Lihu from turning into a desert! Resolute, Otter pleaded earnestly.

 

“So please, Andre, help me! I… I’m…”

 

Otter hesitated, unable to continue. It was somehow embarrassing to admit to Andre that he’d never experienced romance. He’d never been ashamed of it before.

 

“You’re not used to this sort of thing.”

 

Andre said, indirectly calling him a ‘romance fool,’ and Otter nodded.

 

“Y-yes, that’s it.”

 

“If it’s about that, don’t worry!”

 

Andre placed his hands on his hips again and declared confidently.

 

“Romance! Love! Marriage!”

 

Andre laughed and boasted.

 

“I’m an expert in that field!”

 

“Well, that’s reassuring.”

 

“I’ll help! Let’s make sure they can’t help but fall for each other within three months!”

 

Even to the point of causing a scandal? He only intended to make them fall in love, not go that far.

 

‘But I should pretend to agree so Andre will cooperate.’

 

Otter reluctantly nodded.

 

“Y-yes… Then I’ll come by tomorrow. Let’s plan together.”

 

Having achieved his goal, Otter bid farewell and headed back to the door.

 

“But.”

 

As Otter walked away with a relieved expression, he suddenly turned and asked.

 

“Yes?”

 

“…How did you know I’ve never been in love?”

 

***

 

“Hoho. Just… a man’s intuition, perhaps?”

 

Otter recalled Andre’s evasive response.

 

‘No. This isn’t the time for idle thoughts.’

 

Otter shook his head vigorously and shouted at Iago.

 

“There’s an easy way to make a woman cry, isn’t there? We’ve been overthinking it.”

 

“W-what is it?”

 

“Make her fall in love.”

 

Otter said meaningfully.

 

“What? How is that a way to make a woman cry?”

 

Iago asked, clearly confused. Then, with a serious face, he added.

 

“Otter. I have no intention of making the woman I love cry. I want to make her smile and, when the world is too harsh, give her a reason to feel life is worth living.”

 

“Your Majesty, that’s an idealized view of love. Novels and reality are quite different.”

 

Otter shook his head knowingly. Iago quickly retorted.

 

“How would you know? You’ve never been in love either!”

 

“Well… ahem.”

 

Otter cleared his throat awkwardly.

 

“And I can’t do that. I’m not confident.”

 

Iago said, thinking of Elena’s face. Unlike other women who blushed at the sight of him, she always seemed indifferent. Sometimes, she even looked sleepy.

 

‘Is Elena bored with me?’

 

“No confidence? How can you say that!”

 

Otter exclaimed, excitedly facing the downcast Iago.

 

“That decadent face! That dangerously alluring physique!”

 

Otter continued, sounding like a fool.

 

“I came up with this plan because of you, Your Majesty. If someone feels nothing seeing you, they must be impotent or asexual!”

 

“Who said that?”

 

Iago asked, puzzled, and Otter clamped his mouth shut.

 

“Hoho. Just don’t tell His Majesty or Lady Elena that I’m involved, okay?”

 

This was because Andre had asked to keep it a secret.

 

“Anyway!”

 

Otter crossed his arms and declared confidently.

 

“Even in novels, love isn’t all sweet.”

 

“What? So, what, make her fall in love and then dump her?”

 

“Not necessarily that harsh…”

 

Otter quickly became sullen and trailed off. Could there really be someone who would seduce and then abandon someone like that? Neither could imagine such a villain existing.

 

“Well, anyway, people in love become sentimental easily. If they date and fight, won’t the priestess cry?”

 

“Date!”

 

Iago blushed to his neck and shouted again.

 

‘D-date? Elena and me?’

 

Her white face and soft hair… Those eyes, like lemons or honey, looking up at him as she lay in his arms.

 

‘Oh? We’ve already hugged.’

 

It was to prevent hypothermia, but still. Such trivial details had already vanished from Iago’s mind.

 

‘We’ve hugged. Does that mean we should get married?’