Ch#87
She stared at the heap of discarded clothes before dropping her gaze to her legs, hidden beneath the folds of her skirt.
As soon as she had opened her eyes early that morning, the Nanny had assisted her with a bath, and a healer had been summoned to re-wrap her bandages. She would not allow them to see her scars.
Biting her lip, Thalia eventually gave a curt nod.
“Do as you wish.”
With her permission granted, the maids set up a folding screen in the center of the room. Thalia stood behind it like a cow being led to slaughter. A young maid approached her, slipped off her thin robe, and began undoing the buttons of her summer dress one by one. Soon, the shapeless gown that had shrouded her body slid to the floor.
Thalia noticed the maid suddenly catch her breath and reflexively looked down at her chemise. Through the thin fabric, the silhouette of her twisted leg was faintly visible. Feeling her ears burn with humiliation, she snapped at the girl.
“Don’t just stand there staring! Get it over with!”
The frozen maid hurriedly brought over the new garments. Unable to watch the clumsy fumbling any longer, the Head Maid pushed the girl aside and personally helped Thalia into a milky-white silk dress.
The thin fabric, delicately pleated, flowed over her body like mist. Over this, the Head Maid layered a translucent, grayish-blue overgarment and wrapped a lavishly embroidered sash around her waist.
The belt, woven from double-layered silk, was adorned with jade, topaz, and small animal-shaped ornaments. After tightening it to define her waistline, the Head Maid draped colorful cords finished with metal bells and tassels over her hips.
The adornment did not end there. Various gems strung on thin gold wire were layered around her neck and wrists, and large earrings engraved with the motif of a golden bird were hung from her lobes.
She felt like a jewelry display case. She wondered if this gaudy attire was truly the traditional dress of the East. As she furrowed her brow in suspicion, the maid helping her into a deep blue silk coat with wide sleeves let out a breathy gasp.
“You look just like the legendary Tiramere.”
“Tiramere?”
When Thalia narrowed her eyes at the unfamiliar word, the maid paled and clamped a hand over her mouth. The suspicious reaction caused Thalia’s mood to sink. Is she making a fool of me?
Perhaps they were mocking her, taking advantage of the fact that she knew nothing of their ways.
She pressed for an answer.
“What is that? Why did you stop talking?”
“Tiramere is, well…”
“Tiramere is the spirit of the earth who governs the seasons.”
The Head Maid spoke as she pulled the front of the silk coat diagonally and secured the voluminous fabric with a brooch.
“The ancient Easterners believed they were the descendants of Tiramere. She is considered the most beautiful and noble of all the spirits of this land.”
Thalia looked at the Head Maid’s calm face with wary eyes.
“Then you could have just said that. Why did she turn pale?”
“Brisa likely feared Your Highness might misunderstand and think we actually believe in such legends as truth,” the Head Maid replied, straightening up after arranging the front of the coat to drape naturally. “The stories of Tiramere are merely old folklore passed down through generations. I hope Your Highness does not doubt our devotion.”
Thalia stared intently at the Head Maid’s stiff expression. A faint tension hung over that long, horse-like face. There was no way to tell if she was acting this way because she was lying, or because she feared being branded a heretic.
Thalia turned her head to face the mirror she had been avoiding. On the smooth surface surrounded by deep shadows, a face that bore a haunting resemblance to her mother’s stared back.
However, over those exquisite features, there was a gloomy, ashen shadow instead of the explosive vitality Senebier possessed. Eyes that looked famished as if craving something, a gaunt face, and a wretched frame that fell far short of Senebier’s perfectly balanced, voluptuous body…
Suddenly, Gares’s mocking voice echoed in her ears.
‘A woman’s face attached to a monster’s body…’
The face that seemed a clumsy imitation of her mother’s contorted miserably. It was painful to look at her own broken, unfinished self.
She turned away sharply.
“If you’re finished, move! How long are you going to keep fussing over me?”
When she roughly brushed away the hands styling her hair, the maid standing behind her flinched and retreated.
The Head Maid let out a small sigh.
“I must place the coronet on you. Please bear with us just a moment longer.”
A waiting maid immediately brought forward the Gold Coronet. After placing it on her head, the Head Maid coiled Thalia’s long tresses upward and secured them with a jade-studded ornament.
When the grooming was finally complete, the maids stepped back and bowed respectfully.
“We shall now escort you to the Grand Duke’s quarters.”
The Head Maid began walking toward the door. Thalia watched her for a moment with eyes full of anxiety before following behind.
Dozens of soldiers were waiting in the hallway. As she stepped cautiously between them, the sound of her limping gait echoed through the air.
She tried her best to walk naturally, but as always, her stiff leg betrayed her will.
She held her head high, struggling not to let her shame show on her face.
After walking for some time, the Head Maid came to a stop.
“It is this room,” she said, pointing to a large door across from the stairs.
It seemed the Grand Duke’s quarters were located on the same floor. Relieved that she didn’t have to navigate stairs, Thalia approached the large mahogany door.
“I have brought Her Imperial Highness,” the Head Maid announced respectfully.
A solemn voice answered from within.
“Enter.”
The Head Maid obeyed immediately. As the maids threw open both sides of the door at once, a spacious room filled with vassals was revealed.
Thalia stiffened her spine as she met the dozens of pairs of eyes fixed upon her. Men dressed in formal attire were staring at her with expressions that looked almost shell-shocked.
Suddenly, a chill ran down her spine.
Is there something wrong with the way I look? She glanced down at her outfit. Perhaps they had dressed her poorly just to make her a laughingstock. They might have lied about it being traditional Eastern clothing and dressed her like a court jester.
She glared at the Head Maid as if she wanted to tear her face apart. Then, fearing her leg might be visible through the fabric, she lowered her eyes again.
She saw nothing but the folds of her pleated dress. But from the front, the shape of her mangled leg might be showing through.
Cold sweat trickled down her back. Thalia’s eyes darted around, looking as though she wanted to flee at any moment.
Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps approached. Startled, Thalia snapped her head up and her eyes widened as she saw Varkas standing before her.
He was dressed in attire similar to hers. A black silk tunic with a subtle luster, a belt with intricate gold embroidery, and a wide coat draped diagonally flowed gracefully along the lines of his solid frame.
Thalia scanned him as if mesmerized, then looked up when she felt his warm fingers touch her chin.
His large earrings with blue gemstones and a necklace heavy with topaz sparkled in the sunlight.
In that moment, her heart skipped a beat.
It was the first time she had seen him wearing so much jewelry. Was he not a man whose usual attire was more ascetic than that of a priest?
Dressed so luxuriously, Varkas looked less like a knight of the Roem Empire and more like the ruler of an ancient, savage tribe.
“Are your legs in pain?” Varkas asked in a heavy, low tone as he studied her intently.
Finally snapping out of it, Thalia brushed his hand away and took a step back. She felt as though he could hear the frantic pounding of her heart.
“I—I’m perfectly fine.”
She tried to feign composure, but her cheeks burned as if they were on fire. His blue eyes settled on her flushed face.
Varkas frowned and reached for her forehead.
“Do you have a fever again…?”
“I told you I’m fine!”
