Translator: Nox

Chapter 22

As his robust body, glowing pale in the lamplight, filled her vision, Talia’s tongue felt as if it were glued to the roof of her mouth, refusing to budge.

She swallowed hard, her eyes slowly tracing down his form.

Having likely just washed away the dust from the march, his faint blond hair was a shade darker than usual, dripping with water. Droplets glistened white against his sculpted shoulders and the broad expanse of his back.

Talia followed the trail of a water droplet as it slid down the taut contours of his muscles, before flushing crimson and hastily snapping her gaze upward.

His loosely tailored trousers were also soaking wet, clinging tightly to his long, powerful legs.

It was the first time she had seen him in such a vulnerable state since she was fourteen, back when she had spitefully ordered him to walk into a lake.

Talia moistened her parched lips, struggling to gather the shattered fragments of words in her throat.

Then, a dry laugh sounded from right beside her.

“To hear the words ‘hierarchy’ come out of your mouth… Even the dogs would laugh.”

At his mocking tone, her embarrassment receded like the tide, replaced instantly by irritation. She glared at him with sharp eyes and let out a scoff.

“Hierarchy exists specifically so that superiors can hold it over their inferiors. And you knights are in a position where you must obey me, a member of the Imperial family. So, make sure your subordinates know exactly whose orders take priority—unless you want to be lashed for lèse-majesté.”

Barkas, who was sliding his arms into his shirt sleeves, shot her a gaze as cold as ice.

Talia’s body went rigid. Through long experience, she had learned exactly how mercilessly this man could use his tongue once he decided to speak, despite his usual dreadful silence.

She watched his mouth intently, as if guarding against a venomous snake that might strike at any moment, but Barkas simply picked up the robe hanging on the wall. Without sparing her a single glance, he walked straight out of the tent.

Staring blankly at his retreating back, Talia immediately chased after him. She wouldn’t have been this angry if he had hurled cruel words or cast a heated glare her way. But being ignored, treated like a common pebble on the side of the road, was something she couldn’t tolerate.

Catching up to him in an instant, Talia raised her voice.

“You won’t be satisfied until you’ve let everything I say go in one ear and out the other, will you?”

At her ringing voice, the soldiers busily moving supplies stopped in their tracks and turned to look at them.

Yet Barkas didn’t even pretend to hear her. Seeing him walk ahead in silence as if she weren’t worth dealing with made the heat rise to the top of her head.

Talia grabbed his sleeve with a rough tug. Perhaps not wanting to suffer the indignity of having his clothes torn in front of the servants, Barkas finally came to a halt.

Facing that arrogant face, Talia spat out every word as if chewing them.

“How much have you been looking forward to this? You must be so relieved that you don’t have to follow a loathsome girl’s orders anymore. Is that why you won’t even pretend to listen to me?!”

“The words have to actually sound like words for me to even make a show of listening.”

He coldly retorted, callously prying her fingers off his sleeve.

Talia swept her teeth together. She felt a surge of humiliation as he brushed off his shirt as if something filthy had touched it.

Perhaps it would be better if this man disappeared from the world. Then she wouldn’t have to feel this miserable.

Shooting him a hostile look, Talia suddenly let out a harsh laugh.

“My words don’t sound like words to you? Then should I speak in the language of beasts, like your barbarian ancestors did? Would you understand me then?”

Shocked by the excessive insult, the complexions of the servants watching them anxiously turned pale. But Barkas merely looked down at her in silence. Facing that frigid face, Talia continued to babble.

“I can mimic a horse’s neigh if you’d like. I’m sure you’d understand that much better. You like horses more than humans, anyway.”

“Talking to a horse would indeed be better than dealing with you,” Barkas said mockingly.

“I can actually communicate with my stallion better than with you. At least he doesn’t bore me to death with constant whining.”

Talia’s shoulders trembled with indignation. Seeing this, Barkas twisted his lips into a smirk of disbelief.

“You flush red at a single counterattack, yet you never hesitate to gouge at someone else’s weak spots… Do you act out like this because you believe others can’t be as despicable as you?”

She shot him a venomous look. Her throat swelled with the urge to refute his words immediately.

What do you know about me?

Who else in this world knows the despicability of humans better than I do? It’s because I know all too well how ruthless people can be that I decided to be cruel myself. If I don’t trample them first, they’ll trample me.

But laying out those words in detail would do nothing but expose her own weaknesses.

She took a step back and assumed a detached expression, as if she hadn’t just been screaming moments ago.

“I didn’t come here to engage in such useless bickering. As I said before, I want to move my campsite elsewhere. Give the order to the knights to pack up immediately.”

Barkas took a long breath, as if gathering his patience.

“I have no intention of dancing to your whims. Stop wasting your breath and go back to rest.”

“I’m not asking to move the entire camp! Why can’t I?”

“I am under no obligation to explain every single one of my decisions to you.”

“I am the Emperor’s daughter! If I demand it, you ought to obey—!”

“That’s enough.”

Suddenly, a deep shadow loomed over her.

Talia flinched, her shoulders shrinking back. Barkas, having discarded even the most basic formalities, whispered coldly into her face.

“I’ve already exhausted the day’s worth of patience I had for you. If you’ve come this far, you should know when to save it for tomorrow.”

Despite his harsh tone, the face looking down at her was nothing short of noble. He was a man who never lost his dignity, even when sharpened by anger. That quality of his made her feel all the more wretched.

“Escort the Princess back to her quarters.”

Straightening his posture, he gave the order to the knights standing nearby. Those who had been silently watching the confrontation immediately obeyed.

“This way, Princess.”

Talia shot a sharp look at the knights blocking her path before turning her gaze back to Barkas.

He was already some distance away. Staring fixedly at his back as he walked away with effortless grace, Talia ground her teeth.

That man didn’t even ask why she wanted to move the campsite. He probably didn’t care about her thoughts at all.

‘I really wish he would just die.’

She felt ridiculous for having made such a fuss out of fear that something might happen to him.

He was a man who would belong to another woman once this journey ended anyway. A man who would never be hers… What did it matter if she saw his corpse tomorrow morning?

Talia turned away sharply.