Translator: Nox

Chapter 18

As she passed the Main Palace, Talia saw the servants, recognizing her, hurriedly press their foreheads to the ground. She wondered if they were terrified that the notoriously ill-tempered second princess might start a scene.

Passing the maids who wore expressions of pure shock at her unannounced appearance, Talia stepped into the Empress’s Palace, which was decorated more lavishly than any other fortress in the Imperial Palace.

At sunset, Senevia usually enjoyed dinner with the Emperor at the Main Palace or spent time quietly in the Empress’s Palace. Talia guessed today would be the latter.

As she expected, Senevia was resting inside a secret workshop located behind her private library.

Descending into the basement through an entrance tucked between the bookshelves, Talia was met by the dizzying scent of various herbs, the intense aroma of fragrant oils, and a faint smell of smoke that tickled her nose.

Inside the spacious room, where violet particles seemed to float in the air, medicine bottles filled with all sorts of alchemical ingredients and various experimental apparatuses were scattered about. Beside a roaring fireplace, books written in the languages of myriad races were piled high.

It was a cluttered scene, almost unbelievable for the room of a mother who usually dealt only with the most precious and luxurious of things.

However, Talia crossed the room with practiced ease and walked toward the desk where Senevia sat. Her mother was leaning back in a chair heavily layered with velvet cushions, scanning a parchment scroll.

At the sight of Senevia not even acknowledging her presence, Talia felt her insides burn as if she had swallowed a coal.

Talia leaned over the desk and spat out through gritted teeth, “Asros came to see me a moment ago.”

Only then did those deep blue eyes fly toward her. Talia continued cynically.

“According to him, I am to be married soon.”

“I hadn’t realized Asros took such an interest in you,” Senevia said nonchalantly, setting down the parchment.

Seeing her mother focus only on her brother until the very end, Talia felt a sudden impulse to grab nearby objects and hurl them. She gripped her skirts, barely suppressing that violent urge.

“Why do I have to hear the news of my own marriage through him? And what is this about me participating in this pilgrimage! Just what kind of scheme are you plotting?”

“A scheme? That is rather unpleasant to hear.”

Senevia exhaled a small sigh and rose from her seat. For a moment, Talia was captivated by the elegant grace of her mother’s movements, but she quickly glared at Senevia’s face—where a soft smile flickered—with eyes full of suspicion.

Senevia spoke cheerfully, her voice like that of an innocent young girl.

“It is about time you got married. A marriage proposal came in from a suitable partner at the right time, so I simply set things in motion.”

“Is that ‘suitable partner’ that snake-like man, Therian or whatever his name is?”

Talia twisted her lips, recalling the man with the slick, greasy impression who had escorted her at the banquet.

“I assume he’s a man you’ve personally vetted inside and out, Mother?”

“If you are asking whether Therian can perform his duties as a man… yes. He possesses quite excellent talents in that department. If you wish, he will serve you with a willing heart.”

Talia had thrown the words out to mock her mother’s history with men, but when an even more horrific counterattack returned, she completely lost the composure she had been struggling to maintain. Every word Senevia spoke felt like a spider crawling over her skin.

Talia screamed as if letting out a shriek.

“I don’t need a disgusting man like that! I’d rather bite off my tongue and die than let a man like him lay a hand on my body!”

“Oh dear…”

Senevia cupped one cheek and sighed as if in pity.

“Then I shall look for another groom. In fact, I was just narrowing down a list of other suitable candidates.”

She pointed to the parchment she had left on the desk. Talia shuddered as she recognized several of the men’s names written there. They were all fanatical followers of Senevia.

Was this woman planning to make one of the men who lusted after her into her daughter’s husband?

Fury and fear boiled together in a sickening brew in her gut.

“I don’t want to get married! Don’t start pretending to care now; just leave me alone like you always have!”

“Does that mean… you refuse any man who isn’t the heir to Duke Siyeokan?”

Struck suddenly in her most vulnerable spot, Talia turned pale and recoiled.

The corners of Senevia’s mouth curled as she flicked her venomous tongue like a viper.

“If you wanted him that badly, you should have used any means necessary to take him. I kept that man by your side for seven long years. What on earth were you doing all that time?”

She shook her head as if Talia were pathetic.

“Now, the man you wanted will become another woman’s property in a few months. Are you just going to stand by and watch that happen?”

Talia’s shoulders trembled violently. It was chilling to realize that Senevia had been seeing right through her all along.

Watching her daughter’s pale, stricken face, Senevia donned the mask of a benevolent mother once more. She continued in a sweet, coaxing tone.

“Talia, I planned this solely for your sake. To offer my precious daughter a way out of her current miserable situation.”

Long, white fingers brushed softly against Talia’s cheek. It felt like a white snake slithering over her skin. Talia froze, her body stiff as if paralyzed.

Senevia peered into her daughter’s terrified face and whispered as softly as a feather.

“You have two paths. One is to use any means necessary to seize the man you want, and the other is to become a slightly less miserable loser.”

Her mellow voice stuck to Talia’s ear like thick, viscous sap.

“I took the former path and gained everything I desired. But if you lack the ability to do so, pretending to be as happy as a winner by choosing another partner you can be reasonably satisfied with is also a way. It’s a bit pathetic, but if you’re going to be a loser anyway, isn’t it better to at least save your pride?”

Talia jerked away from her like an animal escaping a trap.

Senevia offered her daughter a gentle smile.

“This trip is the last chance I am giving you. Think carefully about which path you will choose.”

Talia shot a defiant look at her before fleeing the laboratory. A cheerful laugh, like the chirping of a bird, followed her like a shadow. That sound clung to her mind and would not disappear for a long time.

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In the end, Talia found herself setting out on a journey with the half-siblings who loathed her.

Because the Empress’s Palace provided all the manpower and equipment needed for the trip, there was nothing she had to worry about personally. Senevia had even tried to attach her own private soldiers and high-ranking mages as guards.

However, this was scrapped due to Gares’s fierce opposition. The Crown Prince was already incensed enough at having to travel with the half-sister who was a thorn in his side. There was no way he would obediently follow an order to bring the Empress’s subordinates along.

According to rumors, Gares had personally gone to the Emperor and engaged in a heated argument to have Senevia’s orders rescinded. It worked out well for Talia. She had zero desire to spend her time surrounded by her mother’s fanatics.

‘For my sake? Don’t make me laugh…’

Talia glared at the servants moving luggage onto the carriages, picking at a hangnail.

There was no way Senevia would go through such trouble for her sake. She must have some other ulterior motive.

With suspicious eyes, she scrutinized the servants sent from the Empress’s Palace.