Translator: Nox

Ch#61

The gossips were quick to wag their tongues.

While the incident involving the Second Princess was unfortunate, many voices rose to argue that it was unjust to pin the entire responsibility on Sir Varkas. Under normal circumstances, shouldn’t the matter have concluded with the punishment of the Second Princess’s personal knight?

Above all, this decision completely disregarded the position of the First Princess.

Though their engagement was born of political interest, the two had shared a bond since childhood. While their official engagement took place three years ago, their practical betrothal had spanned over a decade.

Many poured out criticism at the measure that unilaterally tore the two apart. And everyone agreed that behind the Emperor’s unreasonable judgment, the Empress’s influence must have been at work. It was an open secret that she was engaged in a power struggle to make her young son the next Emperor.

“What do you think will happen to the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Si’eikan family?”

A maid stirring a pot with a ladle turned to ask the healing mage dispatched from the Empress Palace.

The middle-aged magician named Marisen frequently visited the Main Palace and was well-versed in all sorts of rumors. She replied nonchalantly as she finely chopped a bundle of fresh herbs with a knife.

“Who knows… If Sir Varkas truly breaks his engagement with the First Princess and marries the Second Princess, we should consider the firm alliance between those two factions effectively over.”

“Then the Si’eikan family might turn to support the Second Prince?”

Marisen looked skeptical.

“Knowing Sir Varkas’s temperament, I wonder if he would change his stance so easily.”

“Why not? The Second Prince is much better than that rogue Crown Prince.”

At the maid’s reckless remark, the healing mage shot her a stern look of warning.

“You’d better watch your mouth. No matter how restricted the access to this place is, the Imperial Palace has ears even in the walls.”

The maid pouted. However, she must have been frightened deep down, as she began looking around restlessly.

Watching her, the healing mage let out a short laugh before returning to her chopping. Whatever happened to the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Si’eikan family had little to do with her. She kept her ears open to rumors for her own protection, but fundamentally, she had little interest in anything outside her duties.

Marisen placed the rare herbs she had struggled to obtain into a small pot and worked the bellows. Before long, the Mandrake Sap began to bubble, and a thick herbal scent wafted through the kitchen.

Once the herbs had steeped sufficiently, she placed the jar on the windowsill to cool. Suddenly, a gruff voice echoed from outside.

“Is no one here!”

The maid, who had been sweating profusely while shoving firewood into the furnace, jerked her head up in surprise.

“Was someone scheduled to come?”

“I wasn’t told anything…”

Marisen leaned out the window to check the entrance of the Separate Palace. Through the thick bushes, she saw a line of figures draped in flowing robes. At a glance, they didn’t look like people sent from the Empress Palace.

Frowning at a bad premonition, Marisen pushed the maid toward the back door.

“I’ll go out. You go to the Empress Palace and call the guards.”

Currently, the only people in the Separate Palace were three or four maids, the Second Princess’s Nanny, and Marisen herself. Because the Second Princess was exceptionally picky about people, they didn’t even have a proper guard stationed there. If those people intended harm, there was no way for them to stop it.

Realizing this, the maid quickly slipped out of the kitchen.

Marisen waited until the maid was far enough away before crossing the hall and opening the front door. At the entrance of the Separate Palace stood two men in military uniforms and three women who appeared to be nobles.

Scanning them with wary eyes, Marisen spoke cautiously.

“How may I help you?”

“I have come to see Thalia Roem Guirta.”

The woman standing at the very back spoke as she stepped forward.

Recognizing her face, Marisen gasped. Standing before her was the woman with the highest status in the Empire after the Empress. Marisen quickly bowed her head.

“I greet Her Highness, the First Princess.”

“Spare me the formalities and lead me to the girl.”

Aila Roem Guirta urged her, her voice laced with fatigue.

Marisen lifted her head and, after a brief hesitation, carefully voiced her refusal.

“I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but the Second Princess has not yet fully recovered her health. If you could visit again at a later date…”

“Are you worried I might harm my own sister?”

The Princess’s voice suddenly turned cold.

“Your loyalty is commendable, but you seem to forget who you are addressing. I am not making a request. I am giving an order.”

“…”

“If you understand, lead the way at once.”

Frozen like a mouse before a snake, Marisen eventually turned around.

Throughout the walk to the room, the First Princess did not utter a single word. Constantly checking her reaction over her shoulder, Marisen swallowed hard as they approached the bedroom door.

It had been several hours since the incense was lit, so the Second Princess should be awake by now. However, she was deeply worried whether her patient, who was as frail as could be, would be able to handle this overbearing visitor.

“The rest of you wait here. I will go in alone.”

Upon reaching the end of the hallway, the Princess gave firm instructions to her attendants and then cast a high-handed look at Marisen. Under the silent pressure to announce her arrival, Marisen hesitantly knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, you have a visitor. May we come in?”

But no answer came from within.

Could she still be asleep?

After a moment’s hesitation, Marisen gently pulled the doorknob. Inside the room, the pungent smell of herbs mingled with a thick, sweet scent, like fruit on the verge of rotting.

Marisen frowned at the dizzying fragrance, then started when she saw Thalia sprawled on the bed like a corpse. Rushing to the bedside, she placed a hand under Thalia’s nose and was relieved to feel a faint breath.

Her relief was short-lived, however, as she noticed the state of Thalia’s legs beneath her hiked-up skirt. It seemed she had torn off the bandages and clawed at her scars again; her skin was covered in red scratches.

Exhaling a heavy sigh, Marisen placed her hand on Thalia’s leg and cast a simple healing magic.

At that moment, a gaunt hand reached out and grabbed her wrist. Marisen flinched and turned her head, catching her breath as she met a pair of misty blue eyes.

The unfocused pupils wandered aimlessly through the air. Following that minute movement, the deep blue irises wavered like ripples. It was an eye that scattered one’s mind, much like the smoke the Princess inhaled every day.

“…Who said you could just come in.”

Thalia parted her lips, which were encrusted with dried blood, and let out a metallic, yet beautiful voice.

Finally snapping out of it, Marisen quickly pulled the blanket up to cover Thalia’s legs.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. A guest insisted on seeing you…”

As Marisen straightened up and gestured toward the door, Thalia’s gaze followed immediately. Marisen could feel the Second Princess’s fragile body go taut with tension.

Staggering as she pushed herself upright, Thalia glared at her half-sister with wary eyes.

“What brings you to such a humble place?”

“I came because I wanted to talk.”

The First Princess stepped into the room, staring silently at her sister’s sickly face before turning to Marisen.

“Leave us for a moment.”

Marisen, pushed back by the First Princess’s overwhelming presence, hesitantly moved out of the bedroom. Just as she was about to close the door, the sight of the two sisters born of different mothers burned into her eyes.

Unlike Thalia Roem Guirta, who looked as if she might shatter at any moment, Aila Roem Guirta glowed brilliantly with life. For some reason, the contrast left a bitter taste in Marisen’s mouth.

After staring at Thalia with shadowed eyes for a moment, Marisen finally closed the door with a heavy sigh.