Governor’s Bride - Chapter 2

More than 40 years have passed since Ramedes discovered land beyond the glorious ocean that was too beyond the reach of other nations. At first, the land which was too far away emerged as a hot topic after the war between Ramedes and its surrounding countries ended.

Ramedes did not win nor lose the war. In other words, it was now a country full of veterans that had been injured during the war with no new land or resources and were now useless. More and more people also flooded the capital along with soldiers. Before long, the capital city of Ramedes had a constant stream of accidents.

The front of the court was noisy with criminals that had been dragged in and the judge there would simply knock on the wooden hammer as they made judgement with cold eyes. The screams and cries that were dragged out echoed in the court like a song.

Prisoners poured in constantly and the chaos in the country continued. Prisons across the country were reaching its limits due to the influx of criminals. There were even situations where 5 people were supposed to sleep whilst standing up in what was meant to be a solidarity room.

Eventually, Ramedes had to find a new solution. They decided to send those overflowing prisoners to Saul, the land that had been left untouched as it was far away. Rather than just killing them, it would be better to use them for manual labour.

Quickly, the decision regarding prisoners was finalised as no one disagreed to it. The Prisoners who were moved out of the prison were smiling even as they boarded the ship. They had no idea where they were headed but they just enjoyed the fact that they were finally out of the crowded prison.

However, once the voyage has lasted past 10 days, the once wide smiles on their faces slowly disappeared. Then, the word “Saul” popped out from someone’s mouth.

“We’re not… going to Saul, are we?”

“No way! That’s the devil’s land. Once you go there, you can never come back!”

Soon, the ship erupted in screams. Saul goes by many names. The land of demons, the land of the cursed pagans, and the new colony of Ramedes. The prisoners knew what it meant to be sent there.

Everyone born in Ramedes hopes to one day die in the land he was born and raised so they would be blessed with the mercy of God and the memory of his acquaintances. But what if they were to go to Saul? There, they would wander around aimlessly in the land of the dead, there was no mercy of God.

A cry to not go to the devil’s island sounded on the ship. Those who could not overcome their fears quickly bit their tongue. Fear of the unknown significantly increased among the prisoners onboard.

Tens of thousands were sent to the various colonies after the first prisoner transport ship arrived in Saul’s land. And died there. Using their bones as stepping stones, more prisoners’ quarters were built with walls surrounding it to resist attacks by natives. Above it, the Ramedes flag fluttered in the wind.

Saul now has two cities managed by Ramedes. On the land, barracks, harbours, homes and even shops were built on a land full of stones and trees. However, even though they now had a place to live, there was still something that the city was desperate for. Women.

The colony was full of male prisoners and soldiers as they had sent prisoners that were capable of surviving the long voyage and rapid colonisation.

Upon realising the outburst of complaints, Ramedes decided to send the families of female prisoners and soldiers to the colonies.

Almost immediately, a woman disappeared from Ramedes’ prison. As soon as the court passed the rule, female prisoners had to board the ship to Saul without being able to enter the prison even once. Even so, women were still lacking there.

Why are they still short on women despite having sent enough female prisoners? Ramedes questioned the letters received from the colonies. The Royal Family soon found out why.

More than half of the female prisoners died while crossing the ocean of glory. The sun’s heat that burns the skin, diseases carried by unknown insects, and the insufficient food and water. Above all, the sailors on the ship did not leave them alone. Some women had also jumped into the sea on their own accord because they could not stay up all night.

In the end, the Ramedes Royal Family offered to help the captains of the ships pay the cost of transportation on different terms. Save the women and bring them to Saul. The number of gold coins they receive will be based on the number of survivors.

The captain of the Baiyan ship smiled. The sailors chosen were also all who had no interest in women. They were all even forced to take vows that they would not participate in sexual intercourse until all the crew members have disembarked.

‘Usually, they didn’t need to do something like this.’

The captain’s eyes were fixated on one of the women on the deck. The last woman on the deck was covered with a soft white veil, signalling the highest quality. The woman who is the ‘special cargo’ of this ship.

The captain’s throat moved slighty as he swallowed some saliva while looking at the woman.

“Now send the prisoners back to their seats.”

When the captain issued the order, the crew moved quickly. The female prisoners went back down to the bottom floor of the deck, grumbling as if they were sad for not being able to stay in the sunlight that they had seen after a long time. After a while, the captain approached the woman wearing a veil when the deck was empty again.

“Lady Deertes, the prisoners are gone, so you can take off your veil now.”

The captain omitted the words ‘for the both of us to see’ from his sentence.

“…”

“The sunshine is good for you. Come on.”

It was not a suggestion, but a compulsive decision made by the captain. The woman, called Deertes, hesitated for a moment and slowly lowered the veil on her face.

The wind from the continent blew her long platinum blonde. The blonde owner was staring at the ground with dark green eyes.

Her face, avoiding the curious gaze of the sailors, was red with shame. The captain’s eyes carefully scanned her facial features.

Her blemish-free skin almost seemed to be glowing under the sunlight. She had small dark red lips that were located below her narrow nose.

On top of that, the captain’s eyes were especially drawn to her chest and slender waist. Perhaps it was because of the long voyage, but the clothes that loosely fitted her did not cover the lines of her body.

Unlike the other prisoners, the thought of the body hidden beneath the expensive cloth made his lower half heat up.

Soon, Deertes turned her head to face the captain. The moment he encountered her green eyes that seemed to contain startlingly deep intensity. He swallowed his saliva, his head already dizzy.

Deertes Evelyn Russell.

Everyone on the ship could not even call her given name.

The beautiful forest fairy who was worshipped by all as the noblest lady in the whole of Ramedes just a few months ago, was now sitting in a boat which transports prisoners.

Not one man in Ramedes did not know the name ‘Deertes’. Even if they did not know the name, they knew the legend of the forest fairy.

There is a legend in the dense forests of Ramedes. A forest fairy who walks amongst the trees, one who wraps moonlight around her body, one who falls asleep in the forest pond.

One day, the forest fairy met a human who had entered the forest. The forest fairy, who had never before then seen a human male before, followed him into the human world. She lived in the human world for all of her life and only went back to the forest when she died.

The forest fairy remained in the forest, but her children stayed in the human world, and that was the legend which is said to be the beginning of Count Russell.

As with all legends, they are simply just beautiful lies made of humans’ imagination turned flesh. However, the reason why most people are still enthusiastic about the legend of the forest fairy, is due to the fact that there was still evidence remaining which supports the existence of the forest fairy.

The forest fairy is said to have beautiful platinum blonde hair and green eyes that glowed brightly in the moonlight. Throughout the history of the Russell family, such children were born occasionally. Children with platinum blonde hair and green eyes of their ancestors, the forest fairies.

However, if it were simply just that, the legend would not have been passed down from one mouth to another, but could have only been found only in old books that had already long faded. After all, such legends about her ancestors were given by nobles go back to as far as myths of Genesis.

Hundreds of years ago, the Russell family’s tale of the forest fairy gained a lot of traction and attention. This is because the forest had opened the way for Count Russell, who had blond hair and green eyes, when he fled to the forest after losing the battle. At that time, Count Russell said he was surprised and had entered the forest with his men as if it were natural.

Afterwards, the enemy was not able to catch him as they were not able to pass through the forest that hand grew back almost instantly. And after a few months, the Count and his men returned from the forest. Yet to them it seemed like they had only been in the forest for a few hours, they could not feel the flow of time at all.

Some people went crazy, saying it was a lie. Soon after, the legend of the Forest Fairy spread to poetries and paintings. Now, it has become the most famous legend in Ramedes. Since then, whenever a new successor was born in the Russell family, people’s attention would be drawn to it. Will there be a child with the blood of a forest fairy again?

And Deertes was the descendant of a blond, green-eyed forest fairy born into the Russell family after 80 years.

When Count Russell held her hand and walked into the palace as soon as Deertes could walk, everyone who saw them thought the same thing. Perhaps, it is only when Deertes closed her eyes for the last time will all the praise in Ramedes finally be poured elsewhere.

And as the people expected, Deertes grew up to be beautiful. In the year of her debut, many nobles from far away territories flocked to the Royal Palace to see her.

When they met her, her hair was glittering brightly under the moonlight and her clear, vibe eyes reminded them of summer’s green forests.

Many people asked for her to showcase the power of a forest fairy but Deertes would only politely answer, “Unfortunately, I do not have the power of my ancestors.” No one noticed at that moment that Deertes glanced at Count Russell.

Deertes’ name increased in popularity day by day. Even Serene, who has blonde hair, green eyes, and was born to Count Russell, Deertes’ name was more well-known and the pride of Ramedes. That was at least until Count Russell was arrested for conspiring.