I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 11

Schedule: Wed and Sun

Chapter 11

“In the Topaz Room, Your Majesty.” A slow smile curved Cornelia’s red lips. Her gaze fell upon the bloodstained bedding, undeniable proof of consummation. “Dispose of that.”

A maid swiftly removed the fabric with tongs and tossed it into the fireplace. “Now that they are officially married, they’ll need a palace.”

Tap, tap, tap. Her red nails drummed against the armrest. Countess Elvira looked up, meeting Cornelia’s gaze as a wry smile touched the empress’s lips.

“What shall we do?” The empress let out a breathy laugh. “Give them the Emerald Palace.” A brief, hollow chuckle, followed by a tight-lipped smile, flitted across Countess Elvira’s face.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” The Countess bowed her head. The Empress tilted hers, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. “What was that girl’s name again?”

“Irenea.”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. They all die off so quickly, it’s hard to keep track.” A ripple of stifled laughter went through the attending ladies-in-waiting. Cornelia laughed languidly. “I wonder how long this one will last. Who knows? Perhaps she’ll even take my place.”

The ladies-in-waiting struggled to find an appropriate response, and the Empress, seemingly already bored, waved them away. As Countess Elvira backed away, Cornelia called her back. “Tell her I’d like to have tea with her sometime soon.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.”

***

It wasn’t until evening that I finally found respite from the day’s events. My nerves were frayed, and the constant stream of people questioning me had left me utterly drained. The only comfort was the news that Her Majesty had arranged accommodations for me. I considered it a blessing, at least until I saw Emerald Palace, where I was to live.

I stared at Countess Elvira, the Empress’s confidante, who had escorted me to this desolate place. She looked me up and down, her expression a mixture of amusement and disdain. “Please understand, this was all rather sudden.” She added, almost as an afterthought, that it had been difficult to find suitable lodgings for me.

Emerald Palace, tucked away in the deepest recesses of the palace grounds, was a secluded, neglected structure. Its exterior was bleak, a testament to its long years of disuse. Even as Flores’s unwanted lady, I still had standards. Thanks to the Duke’s wealth, I had grown accustomed to well-maintained estates. The shabbiness of Emerald Palace was, to put it mildly, a shock.

The gardens, if they could even be called that, were more akin to a wasteland. Overgrown weeds and gnarled, withered thorn bushes filled the space. I couldn’t help but sigh.

“Please, come inside.” The main doors of Emerald Palace, untouched for years, finally groaned open with an ominous creak, thanks to the combined efforts of several servants.

“My apologies, Your Highness. The preparations are…incomplete.” Countess Elvira offered me a smile, devoid of any genuine remorse. Her face was now an unreadable mask. I interpreted her “incomplete preparations” to mean that everyone was at a loss for what to do with me, now that I had unexpectedly survived.

The interior was even worse. The air was musty, as if a family of rats had taken up residence. Dust lay thick on every surface, and cobwebs clung to the corners. Frankly, I wanted to flee.

“Are the accommodations not to your liking, Your Highness?” Countess Elvira asked, seemingly gauging my reaction. I laughed inwardly. “No, they’re quite lovely. However…” I let my words trail off, lifting my chin with a touch of arrogance. Countess Elvira waited expectantly.

“However?”