Chapter 66
Chapter 66
“Um….” At that moment, a profound sense of satisfaction washed over me. It was deeply moving that Cesar, my Cesar, had gotten angry on my behalf. He’d even realized I was hurt emotionally, even though I hadn’t been physically harmed. I felt so proud of him. My sweet boy had defended me!
“Those… awful…” Cesar’s eyes turned cold as he thought about them again. His brow furrowed; his anger clearly hadn’t subsided.
“No, no matter how angry you are, you can’t.” I almost praised him, barely suppressing a smile. This was a time for discipline, not encouragement, yet I couldn’t help but feel amused.
“Can’t?”
“No, it would cause serious trouble.”
I tried to sound stern, but the levity in the air was undeniable. I had to distract myself with dull, boring thoughts to keep my lips from twitching. Governess Imelda’s worn, drab stockings, the head lice I’d found in the butler’s wig, the terrifying stain on my attic wall shaped like a face that often haunted my nightmares… ugh.
“A-Are you alright?” Delphina, hesitant until now because of the tense situation, finally spoke.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“Goodness, what happened here?” Delphina rushed over, nearly in tears, and helped me to my feet.
“It’s alright, don’t cry.” The situation was dire, but that was all I could say.
“Those knights, I never liked them.”
“I know.” As Delphina brushed the dirt from my skirt, I dwelled on the knight-captain’s words, “Perhaps if His Highness the First Prince himself were to relay this… but would such a thing even be possible for our, our, barely articulate prince?”
I glared in the direction the knights had disappeared. Thanks to them, I knew exactly what I needed to teach Cesar. Well, I had planned to teach him anyway, but now I had even more motivation.
“They’re truly infuriating.”
“Indeed. How dare those villains treat Her Highness the Crown Princess with such disrespect! May they be cursed!”
Delphina burst out, surprising me with her vehemence. I had always thought of her as meek. I couldn’t help but smile. So many people were defending me today. It made me feel… not so bad.
“Let’s go back.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” I took Delphina’s hand.
“Cesar, let’s go.”
“Okay.” I reached for his hand, too. His hand was warm in mine.
***
“Shamshir, come here.”
The sleek tiger stretched languidly on the marble pillar before gliding down onto the carpet. With each movement, the muscles rippled beneath its striped fur. Cornelia had raised the creature since it was eight months old, and it obeyed her every command. It was a wedding gift from the Sultan of the Southern Continent when she became Empress. “Shamshir” meant “noble beast” in the Southern Continent’s language. The noble beast purred, rubbing its head against her hand. Countess Elvira watched silently.
“So, what is it doing?” The subject was omitted, but the Countess knew exactly who Cornelia meant.
“Her Highness the Crown Princess has been… uneventful.”
“Is that so?”
Cornelia smiled, a hint of surprise in her expression. Behind her, two servants stood nervously, holding Shamshir’s meal—fifteen chickens and eight rabbits a day. The tiger wouldn’t tolerate anyone but the Empress, and the servants trembled, fear evident in their eyes. It was impossible to tell whether the Empress’s enigmatic smile stemmed from the anticipation of Shamshir’s meal or from the news she had just received.
“Anything else?”
“His Highness the First Prince had a… disagreement with the Knights.” Elvira dryly recounted how the Knight-Captain of the Second Division of the White Rose Cross, the Empress’s own knights, had been severely injured by the First Prince, nearly to the point of death.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.