Chapter 65
“How can this place be called a royal castle?!”
“Shh, lower your voice, my lady!”
“There’s no garden… no maids. I heard there were slaves, but they didn’t even assign me one. How am I supposed to live here from now on…?”
A murmur in Wilkeron’s language echoed before a group of women emerged.
Though their shades of blue varied slightly, all of them had blue eyes—Wilkeron women.
Leading the group was…
‘Nicoletta Brienne. And the one beside her trying to soothe her is Daphne Carmore.’
Both were Angelique’s friends and her loyal hands and feet.
Whenever Angelique desired something, they acted on her behalf.
“Wait a moment, look over there.”
As they silently observed the surroundings, it wasn’t long before Nicoletta also spotted her.
“Isn’t that… the monster?”
“Huh? Oh… wait, you’re right.”
“Thought so.”
A mischievous smile spread across Nicoletta’s face as she recognized Siren.
In truth, Nicoletta was under an immense amount of stress.
Sixty-six women had originally been selected for their “blue eyes.”
Yet, more than half had died on the journey here.
Some had tried to escape and, by sheer misfortune, encountered the infected. Others had fallen ill or perished in accidents.
‘I can’t die here. Not like this—not in vain!’
Quick-witted as she was, Nicoletta figured out within just two days what she needed to do to survive.
She stole food from the other women, never wandered where there was no escort, and always chose the safest-looking spot to sleep. She remained constantly by Daphne’s side.
There was nothing else she could do. Other than reaching the South alive.
But then… What was this?
‘Look at that—she’s wearing better clothes than I am. And her complexion looks even healthier. She must be getting decent treatment. There’s even someone nearby who looks like a maid.’
Unbelievable.
Bloodline aside, she was a monster. An outright monster.
Did they know that and still coddle her like this?
Nicoletta had never forgotten the day she poured water over Siren on Angelique’s orders.
How could she forget that disgusting, repulsive creature’s wretched appearance?
“A monster like you… You seem to be enjoying yourself here.”
Without hesitation, Nicoletta strode up to Siren, hurling insults as naturally as ever.
“A royal who lost her country and couldn’t even protect her own people—what right do you have to walk around with your head held high? You should have just bitten off your tongue and died.”
She jabbed at Siren’s chest, and soon, Daphne joined in.
“She’s right. Even when that so-called circlet was placed on us, shouldn’t you have done something to protect us?”
This wasn’t about holding Siren accountable.
Neither of them believed, even for a moment, that she could have done anything.
They had simply been looking for a place to vent their frustration—
And she was the perfect target.
“What’s all this now? While we’re being treated like this, you’ve been receiving all the fine treatment alone—adorned with jewelry and everything?”
“Ha! Isn’t it obvious? She sold the country to my husband. That’s why she was the only one who survived in the banquet hall. Am I wrong?”
Or go ahead and refute it if you can.
Nicoletta glared at Siren, eyes wide with hostility.
The first to react with outrage was Pamilla.
“Excuse me! I don’t know who you are, but that was way out of line!”
In truth, Pamilla knew little about the human world. She had never lived among humans.
The Saam estate was Pamilla’s entire world, with only Jin and the occasional visits from Yasamin making up the extent of her connections.
As a result, Pamilla never particularly feared humans.
Fear usually stems from memories traumatic enough to cause it.
She had no such memories—so there was nothing to fear.
“Apologize to Madam!”
Stepping forward boldly, Pamilla shoved Nicoletta and shouted furiously.
“This desert rat is right. Why blame her for the country’s downfall? Was she the king? As far as I know, she was only a princess.”
The next to step in was Chris, who had been struggling to contain his anger for a while now.
Unlike Pamilla, he understood humans. He simply disregarded them as a species.
He had initially kept quiet because he found no value in engaging with them, but as their words grew increasingly insolent, he had been debating how best to snap their necks.
Then Pamilla had jumped in, prompting Chris to add his own words.
“You’re not upset because she’s happy—you’re upset because she looks better off than you. But isn’t that only natural? You’re not a princess, after all.”
Chris had struck at the very difference in status that Nicoletta was desperately trying to ignore.
The truth was, Nicoletta had admired Princess Angelique since childhood.
She had wanted to be a princess herself, but at best, she was only the daughter of a count’s family.
Such a disparity in status was insurmountable. All she could do was serve at the side of the beautiful Angelique.
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