Translator: Nox
Chapter 26
26
Gares, who had been observing his half-sister’s profile with a suspicious gaze, suddenly felt a surge of irritation at himself for paying so much attention to the every move of such a trivial creature. He turned his head away.
What did it matter what was going on inside that head of hers? She was an existence he would erase from this world forever the day he ascended the throne. He only had to endure her until then.
As if to blot out his sister’s bothersome presence, he gulped down his potent wine.
Talia brought the wine to her lips, feigning an expression of boredom. When she noticed her fingertips trembling faintly, she immediately set the glass down. Struggling to look as natural as possible, she hid her hands beneath the table and moistened her parched lips.
The spot where Barkas had touched her burned as if it were on fire. This was despite the fact that his bare skin hadn’t even brushed hers. It felt as if the sensation of his hard knuckles, felt through the cold leather of his gloves, had seeped deep into her skin.
She forced strength into her shoulders, which kept trying to shrink back, and rubbed her sweat-dampened palms against her skirt. She could feel the moisture-laden fabric clinging to her skin.
In an instant, a sense of frustration washed over her. The dress she had chosen specifically to provoke Gares’s anger now felt like it was strangling her.
Her exposed shoulders and spine prickled. Even though she knew perfectly well that the man couldn’t possibly be looking at her, her nerves were taut to the point of pain.
Talia desperately suppressed the urge to glance over her shoulder to see where he was looking. Thanks to years of acting, she could manage a composed expression, but she could do nothing about the sweat slowly breaking out across her skin.
Feeling the thin scrap of fabric sticking to her like a viscous liquid, Talia bit her lower lip. Choosing this dress had been a truly stupid mistake.
“Is the food not to your liking?”
Talia flinched at the sudden voice. A young monk seated across from her was staring at her intently.
Had they said he was the Abbot? Talia gave a deliberate shrug.
“It is quite meager compared to the food I eat at the Imperial Palace.”
At her indifferent remark, the monk’s face contorted slightly.
She turned her head away sharply to signal him to leave her alone and picked up a small piece of cake. If she pretended to eat something, he wouldn’t bother her with useless conversation. With that thought, she pushed the dry morsel into her mouth and chewed mechanically. It felt like swallowing a sponge.
She suppressed a gag and took a sip of wine. Then, noticing several monks surreptitiously watching her with persistent gazes, she frowned. Their greasy stares felt more nauseating than the oily food.
She abruptly stood up from her seat.
“This banquet is disappointing. I shall return to my room and seek sleep.”
Gares sent her an annoyed look. Normally, she would have thrown a few more barbs to get under her brother’s skin, but she felt as if bile were about to rise in her throat and couldn’t bear to stay a moment longer.
She quickly exited the hall. Stepping out of the space filled with the smell of grease, alcohol, and burning candles, her churning stomach seemed to settle slightly.
Taking a deep breath, Talia brushed back the cold sweat from her forehead and walked down the hallway with light, quiet steps.
She felt the cold night air sweep down her spine. Wrapping her arms around her gooseflesh-covered skin, she hurried her pace.
Sometimes, she didn’t know why she was doing this. What was the point of causing trouble by putting herself on display for people to stare at?
“The Crown Prince simply cannot tolerate your existence. At times, it seems he finds you even more unacceptable than he finds me.”
Senevia’s voice, murmuring with satisfaction once upon a time, drifted through her ears.
It must have been the day of the memorial service for the late Empress Bernadette.
Gares had completely lost his mind when he saw her enter the hall, led by her mother’s hand.
The nobles, horrified to see him screaming and strangling the young princess, had tried to stop him, but the Crown Prince wouldn’t budge. It had taken two knights rushing in to finally pull him off her.
Once freed from that vicious grip, Talia had crawled to her mother’s feet and curled into a ball. Senevia had wrapped her arms around her as if to protect her.
For a brief moment, she felt like crying with relief, but then Talia saw a flash of satisfaction cross Senevia’s face.
It was probably from that day on that she began to provoke Gares every chance she got.
Her reputation, which was already at rock bottom, plummeted to the worst possible level, but she didn’t care. The Crown Prince’s reputation would take a hit too, and that would make her mother happy.
A hollow laugh suddenly escaped her lungs. It was ridiculous how, even in this state, she was struggling so desperately to earn even a handful of affection from that woman.
Even if she dragged the Crown Prince’s honor through the dirt, Senevia would never love her.
Her mother loved no one. Not the Emperor, and certainly not Asros, whom she seemed to dote on so much.
To her, everything was merely a tool or a means to an end. Perhaps because Talia knew that all too well, she continued to repeat these actions. If she couldn’t prove her usefulness, she would truly become nothing to her mother…
“Princess.”
Talia was startled out of her thoughts by the sudden voice.
Turning her head, she saw a dark silhouette standing tall in a corner of the dimly lit hallway. Realizing it was the monk who had been watching her so persistently in the banquet hall, Talia’s body went rigid.
Did he follow me?
She cautiously scanned her surroundings. Not a single soul was visible in the long corridor leading to the garden. The realization that he had followed her silently until she reached a secluded spot made her skin crawl.
“What business do you have?”
Talia forced a dignified tone, trying her best not to show any sign of fear.
Fortunately, her bluff seemed to work, as the monk hesitated. She shot him a piercing glare, hoping he would turn around and flee.
“I asked what your business is.”
“I-It’s because of what you said earlier…”
The monk stammered.
She narrowed her eyes.
“What did I say?”
“I mean… earlier, at the banquet…”
As the man shifted uncomfortably, his freckled face flushed bright red, and he cast suggestive glances at her.
Talia braced her legs to keep from backing away. If she showed weakness, the opponent was bound to grow bolder. She lifted her chin arrogantly.
“I have no idea what you are talking about. If you have no specific business, I shall be on my way.”
“Y-you said… you wanted to live up to the Crown Prince’s expectations…”
The man blurted out.
Talia, who had been turning toward the garden, froze and looked back at him. Surely, he hadn’t followed her because of the provocative words she’d spat back at Gares when he warned her not to play around with the priests?
A chill ran down her spine, as if she’d been doused with cold water.
