Ch#59
59
“The court mages seem to have purchased another magical beast.”
The head maid, who had been following quietly behind her, answered with a sigh.
Thalia stepped toward it as if drawn by something. As she approached, the creature, which had its body wrapped in pitch-black wings, lifted its head.
Thalia flinched, her shoulders hunching.
Atop the body of a massive bird covered in dark brown feathers sat the head of a human woman. However, it looked less like the face of a living person and more like parts of a corpse stitched together.
As she stared down at the pallid face, where blue veins were visible beneath the skin, a fishy, rancid voice—reminiscent of rotting meat—reached her ears.
“Do you feel a sense of kinship?”
Thalia whipped her head around.
Gares, dressed in a red doublet, stood right behind her.
A sneer played on his lips as he continued slowly.
“A woman’s face on a monster’s body… Doesn’t it remind you of someone?”
His narrowed eyes traveled down her body, lingering on the legs hidden beneath the folds of her dress.
Her half-brother’s smile deepened.
“I heard you were left with a truly hideous scar… At least you’re lucky enough to be able to hide your body, unlike that monster.”
In that instant, a liquid as bitter as bile surged up her throat.
Thalia turned and struck the exalted Crown Prince across the cheek.
A sound like a stuck pig squealed from beside her. It was likely the head maid, who followed her like a jailer, foaming at the mouth in shock. Out of the corner of her eye, Thalia caught a glimpse of the woman falling backward.
Regardless, Thalia raked her nails—still bruised from her ordeal—down her brother’s bronze-skinned face.
Four bright red gashes appeared from his eye down to his chin. Yet, the wounds weren’t as deep as she would have liked.
She reached out again, but the guards rushed over and seized her arms from both sides.
Thalia struggled like a trapped beast, but she couldn’t break free.
Tears of helplessness burst forth. With bloodshot eyes, she glared at her half-sibling.
A sturdy build, a perfect body.
No. He wasn’t perfect anymore.
Thalia burst into laughter as she saw blood trickling down his face.
“Say it again. I’ll turn your face into something that will never be able to smile again. I have nothing left to lose. And because of that, I’m not afraid of anything.”
Gares, who had been staring at her with wide eyes while clutching his cheek, twisted his face into a terrifying grimace.
An instant later, a rough hand snatched her by the hair.
He grabbed the hair that had been braided up over several hours and yanked it violently, as if he intended to snap her neck.
“How dare you… How dare a creature like you lay a hand on my face?”
His blood-stained face turned a ridiculous shade of crimson with rage.
Thalia cackled even louder.
She could see the reason leaving her brother’s eyes.
He gripped her face with his other hand, applying pressure as if he meant to crush her skull. Even through the head-splitting pain, Thalia did not stop laughing.
Just then, a powerful hand suddenly intervened, tearing Gares away from her.
Thalia collapsed where she stood. As the pressure that felt like it would split her skull vanished, her blurred vision cleared, and a familiar silhouette burned into her retinas.
Thalia blinked blankly for a moment, then scrambled to sit up. The sound of her violently pounding heart felt like it would burst her eardrums.
With trembling hands, she hurried to pull her skirts down to her toes, when a suppressed voice drifted down from above.
“Ha, right. It was about time you showed up.”
Gares roughly shook off the hand gripping his wrist and ground his teeth. His dark green eyes burned black, like the fires of hell.
“You’re really going to betray us for that girl?”
“……His Majesty the Emperor ordered me to bring the Second Princess to him.”
“You always have those pathetic excuses—!”
“I shall provide the answer to your question after I have had my audience with His Majesty.”
At Varkas’s cryptic words, Gares’s blood-stained face contorted hideously.
An eerie, grating sound echoed from between his clenched teeth.
Grinding his jaw as if it might break, Gares grabbed the future Grand Duke by the shoulder and growled.
“Fine. I look forward to seeing what kind of answer you give.”
With that, he shoved through the gathered crowd and stormed out.
Varkas watched his retreating back for a moment before looking down at her.
Thalia felt the fine hairs all over her body stand on end.
Reflected in those abyss-like eyes that always made her feel infinitely small was her own wretched appearance. Those eyes felt like they were tearing her to pieces.
Thalia pressed her trembling hands against the floor. She forced strength into her shaking legs and struggled to stand, but then she felt a firm hand supporting her back.
Startled, she pushed away from his body as he moved closer.
“D-Don’t……!”
However, her feeble resistance was easily ignored.
Varkas slid his arm beneath her knees and lifted her effortlessly.
Swallowing a scream, Thalia tugged at her skirt, terrified her legs might be exposed. Even after confirming the long fabric covered her to her toes, her anxiety did not fade.
Clutching the hem of her skirt tightly, she forced out a small, trembling voice.
“I-I can walk on my own. Put me down.”
Varkas did not respond.
Thalia swallowed hard. His silence felt like it was strangling her.
“I said put me down!”
As she raised her voice slightly, she felt the arms around her tighten faintly.
Thalia looked up and, realizing he was suppressing something, fell silent.
Keeping his gaze fixed forward, Varkas spoke in a low, heavy voice.
“You wouldn’t want to draw any more attention than this. If you can endure me for just a moment, you can avoid the humiliation of stumbling under their collective gaze.”
Staring blankly up at his face, Thalia moved her eyes to scan their surroundings.
She saw dozens of pairs of eyes, wide with shock and horror.
She lowered her head as if hiding from those gazes. A faint sigh fell over the crown of her head. Thalia bit her lip, feeling as though she might burst into tears again.
“Please bear with it for a moment.”
He whispered softly and quickened his pace.
Soon, the massive doors leading to the Emperor’s audience chamber appeared before them.
The Chamberlain standing guard there gaped at the sight of Varkas arriving with the Second Princess in his arms.
Ignoring his reaction, Varkas gave a slight nod.
“I have come at His Majesty’s summons. Open the door.”
The Chamberlain hurriedly threw the doors open, revealing a vast, brightly lit hall and a golden throne.
Thalia lifted her head to look toward the seat of honor.
A man of massive build, looking as if he were carved from power itself, was looking down at a parchment document with a bored expression.
Senebier, who had been whispering something by his side, tilted her head and stared at her. An elegant smile spread across her beautiful, pearl-like face.
“You’ve finally arrived.”
Only then did the Emperor’s gaze fix upon her.
Thalia moistened her parched lips. She felt his somber eyes slowly scanning her entire form. No longer able to bear the shame, Thalia began to squirm in Varkas’s arms.
“Put me down now.”
Varkas ignored her cry and strode toward the throne.
She looked up at him with confused eyes. She had no idea why this man was acting this way.
Was it really all right for him, Aila’s fiancé, to behave like this in front of the Emperor?
As she checked the seat of honor again with a tense gaze, a rebuking voice pierced her ears.
“I heard there was nothing wrong with your ability to walk……”
Flinching, Thalia’s shoulders stiffened, and she reflexively stammered out an excuse.
“I just tripped on the way here, and Lord Si’eikan was merely helping me.”
She then pushed firmly against his chest, and Varkas, who had been standing as still as a statue, finally set her down.
