Talia’s spine snapped straight as if struck by lightning.
The woman turned gracefully and went on.
“Her Majesty the Empress has commanded that Your Highness be dressed to perfection, so that you are fit to be received by the Supreme Sovereign of the Empire. Please, cooperate with us.”
She made a slight gesture. The four maids at the front, bearing various garments, stepped toward the bed.
Talia drew back sharply.
“All of you, get out. I have no intention of meeting a man like that.”
“Refrain from such insolence.”
The woman’s soft voice turned as keen as a frost-covered blade.
“Imperial Princess or not, I will not tolerate such reckless talk regarding His Majesty the Emperor. I shall overlook it this once, so mind your tongue hereafter.”
Talia flinched, then narrowed her eyes.
“And if you don’t overlook it, what will you do? Run and tell your great Lord Emperor?”
“I certainly could.”
The woman spoke without warmth.
Talia let out a dry, cracked laugh.
“Really? Then go run to the Main Palace right now and tell him! Tell him his ill-mannered Second Princess is screaming that she has no desire to see his precious face!”
A sharp, stinging pain cracked across the back of her hand.
Talia stared up at the woman in stunned silence.
Lowering the slender switch in her grip, the woman looked down at her with icy eyes.
“The dignity Your Highness enjoys as a princess comes solely from His Majesty the Emperor. I will not permit such disgraceful remarks.”
“How dare you… How dare you lay a hand on me…!”
Talia could not finish. Her whole body shook with rage.
Watching her with detached coldness, the woman walked toward the door.
“Her Majesty the Empress gave strict orders to bring Your Highness before His Majesty by any means necessary. Do you truly wish for us to resort to force?”
She whispered the threat as she threw the door wide open with one hand.
Talia’s breath caught. Soldiers belonging to the Empress Palace were lined up along the corridor.
As if savoring the pale dread on her face, the woman looked her over quietly before speaking again, her tone smooth.
“There is no need to make this unsightly. If Your Highness complies, it will all be over soon.”
The warning was unmistakable: if she resisted, they would drag her out by force.
Talia clenched her fists until the knuckles turned white, tears of humiliation scalding her eyes.
If Senevier were standing before her now, she would have driven a dagger into the woman’s heart.
Did she truly have to strip away Talia’s last shred of pride like this?
She would never, ever forgive her for as long as she lived.
“Hurry now. Wash Her Highness clean.”
At the Head Maid’s order, two maids leaned over the bed.
Talia struck their hands away.
“Don’t touch me!”
Startled by the sharp scream, the maids scrambled back like people dodging flying sparks, visibly terrified she might retaliate later.
Seeing them shrink back, Talia pressed her advantage.
“Nanny will bathe me. All of you, get out of my room.”
The Head Maid studied her for a moment, then gave an exasperated sigh.
“Very well. But you will let me dress you. I will not yield on that.”
With that, she ushered the other maids from the room.
Moments later, Nanny came scurrying in.
She had always wounded Talia with her thoughtless remarks, yet the moment Talia saw her face, an overwhelming relief brought her to the verge of tears.
Talia buried her face in Nanny’s shoulder as the woman came to support her.
Blind to her inner anguish, Nanny beamed with pure joy.
“You heard the Head Maid, didn’t you? His Majesty has summoned you! He must be so worried after hearing you were hurt.”
Talia let the chatter pass over her as she struggled to stand, a deep ache shooting through the bone.
Fury flared inside her.
What was that nonsense about walking without trouble? Her mangled leg could barely even bear her own weight.
Gritting her teeth, Talia dragged her aching limb behind the folding screen.
As she stumbled and eased herself into the marble tub, Nanny poured warm water over her.
Soaking in the warmth, Talia looked down at her leg. The reddish-purple scar looked like a bloated, ugly worm.
When she picked at it with her fingers, Nanny gave her back a sharp slap.
Sorrow surged, but Talia pulled her hand back in silence, terrified Nanny might lose her temper and leave.
“Now, lean your head back so I can rinse your hair.”
Talia leaned back against the rim as told, and Nanny tipped a large pitcher, dousing her with warm water.
Once every trace of soap was washed away, Talia staggered out of the tub on unsteady legs.
Nanny wrapped her in a large towel, dried her down, and dressed her in fresh undergarments and a petticoat.
“There now. The Head Maid can see to the rest.”
Nanny bustled out with a light step, her task finished, and the Head Maid returned with her retinue.
Talia stood quietly beneath her appraising, grading gaze.
The woman circled her several times before clapping her hands at the maids.
“Braid her hair up and dress her in the gown we brought. I will select the jewels myself.”
Dozens of hands fell to work at once.
Talia endured it in silence as they handled her like a doll, every touch feeling like torment.
Three or four maids put garments on her only to strip them off again, while the rest plaited her waist-length hair into elaborate braids and pinned them in place.
After watching the entire spectacle with a critical eye, the Head Maid finally nodded.
“This will suffice.”
The maids smoothing her skirt stepped back immediately.
Talia looked at the Head Maid with exhausted eyes. The woman draped a pearl-colored silk cape over her shoulders and turned toward the door.
“It is time.”
After a brief hesitation, Talia walked out. She tried desperately to move naturally, but her numb, scarred leg refused to obey.
With every lurching step, she felt the soldiers’ eyes on her. She wanted to gouge out every single one of them.
Swallowing her humiliation, she stepped outside the Separate Palace. A carriage stood waiting before the garden, guarded by an unfamiliar knight in armor.
Had the last one quit?
The face of the knight who had irritated her throughout their journey flashed through her mind.
It hardly mattered, she decided. He was just another guard they rotated out with the seasons anyway. It was about time for a change.
Talia climbed into the carriage, her expression aloof. The Head Maid sat opposite her, lips pressed thin, before speaking sternly.
“His Majesty the Emperor will discuss a matter of grave importance today. You must mind your conduct and speak with proper decorum.”
“What sort of ‘important’ matter?”
“I am not privy to that.”
“Then how do you know whether it’s important or just trivial nonsense?”
The woman shut her mouth, her patience clearly wearing thin.
Turning away from the Head Maid, who was pressing her temples, Talia looked out the window.
Before long, the carriage left the gardens of the Separate Palace behind and rolled swiftly across the vast imperial grounds.
Watching the scenery rush by with growing unease, Talia rubbed her knee, which had already begun to throb.
Even through the thick cushions, the rattling of the carriage jarred the deep joints of her leg. She wiped away the cold sweat and swallowed the pain in silence.
After some time, the carriage slowed to a halt.
Stepping down unsteadily, Talia squinted against the bright, pouring sunlight of the wide plaza.
A remarkably large crowd was gathered before the Main Palace today. As she looked out at them with hollow eyes, the Head Maid urged from her side.
“His Majesty is waiting. Come.”
Biting her lip, Talia began to walk.
She could see people noticing her, their hushed whispers drifting into earshot. Trying to pay them no heed, she moved toward the entrance, only to be stopped.
“You cannot pass through here right now. I apologize, but please use the side door…”
The guard who had hurried forward to block the way caught his breath as he finally recognized her face.
Talia fixed him with a freezing glare.
“Do you know who you are barring?”
“F-Forgive me, Your Highness!”
The guard scrambled out of her path.
Past the onlookers offering clumsy bows, Talia entered the hall.
Her whole body was slick with sweat from the effort of concealing her limp, though she could tell it was futile.
She glanced warily at the crowd around her out of the corner of her eye. Just then, an enormous birdcage resting on one side of the hall caught her attention, and her eyes widened at the sight within.
“…What is that?”
END