Chapter 76
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Hurrying back, he had spotted Naila and Edith. He shouted. Naila froze, and he grabbed her wrist.
Startled, she shrieked and irritably shoved Perry’s hand away.
“Even if you are a Desert Guardian, we are candidates for Prince Kazaniel’s consort! You cannot treat us this way!”
“You were about to harm Edie with what you’re holding!”
At Perry’s furious outburst, Naila lifted her chin defiantly and spoke with unshaken confidence.
“What are you talking about, Sir Perry? We accidentally spilled cactus spines, and I was just carefully removing them one by one so Miss Edie wouldn’t get hurt!”
“What…!”
Outraged by Naila’s absurd claim, Edith tried to step forward. But the two other candidates moved in front of her, nodding in agreement with Naila and beginning to fabricate stories.
“That’s right. Miss Naila was removing them by hand, one by one, even though she risked pricking herself.”
“And you’re terrifying such a kind woman without any evidence. How awful.”
In an instant, they had twisted the narrative, painting Naila as the kind one and Perry as the aggressor. Edith was so dumbfounded she couldn’t speak.
She looked at Perry with eyes full of silent protest, but his expression told her his hands were tied. He had no choice but to let them go.
As they claimed, these women were precious candidates who might one day become Kazan’s princess consort. There was only so much he could do.
“I’ll handle the cactus spines. You may continue on your way.”
“Yes, Sir Perry. Please do take good care of Miss Edie.”
All trace of their earlier hostility vanished. Naila and her entourage smiled their practiced, artificial smiles and swept past Edith and Perry.
Unable to accept the humiliation and injustice of what had just happened, Edith bit down hard on her lip.
In the deathly quiet palace corridor, she watched silently as Perry carefully removed the spines embedded in her skin, her expression grim.
* * *
Perry escorted Edith to her room. He instructed the attendants to carefully help her change, avoiding the spines still clinging to her clothes, and to apply ointment to the scratches on her skin. Then he stepped out briefly.
As the attendants assisted her, Edith felt the melancholy that had been gnawing at her since earlier begin to consume her bit by bit.
All this suffering, and for what? Because of rumors linking her to Kazan. Yet the man himself, too busy to even meet with her, had just coldly turned away when she needed him most. That, more than anything, was unbearable.
She had looked at him like a drowning woman grasping at a rope—and he had looked away.
‘How could he just ignore me like that?’
The attendants had long since finished applying the ointment and left. But Edith, drowning in a sense of injustice and betrayal, finally broke down and wept alone in her room.
When Perry returned, bringing refreshments in an attempt to soothe her, he was so startled by the sight of her standing there, silently crying, that he nearly dropped the tray.
“Edie, why are you crying? Are the spines that painful?”
“You and Mr. Kazan are both so cruel. You’re the only two people I can trust here…!”
She wiped at her tears, but her face kept growing wetter.
“Why do I have to be harassed like this when I have nothing to do with any of them!”
“Calm down, Edie. Haa… I never imagined the rumors would have such a strong effect on a mere guest.”
He tried to soothe her, then finally offered words that might truly calm her down.
“I will make a request to Prince Kazan.”
“Really? How?”
“If His Highness directly tells them that you have absolutely nothing to do with the matter of the princess consort, it should help. I will ask him to do so.”
“You mean it? Thank you, Mr. Perry…”
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Edith momentarily forgot the stinging pain and hugged Perry tightly, smearing ointment all over him in the process.
* * *
Day 6.
Originally, she had planned to endure just one more day and then leave the kingdom. But Perry had promised to make his request to Kazan. If the situation improved, perhaps she could simply stay here after all.
Edith gazed out the window, hoping that Perry would deliver his message soon and that Kazan would clear up this misunderstanding with the candidates.
The desert kingdom had an abundance of shade, designed to escape the harsh daylight sun.
Wide, sprawling rooftops. Curtains of fabric stretched into awnings.
Looking down from her window, she could catch glimpses of people passing between the awnings and rooftops.
‘Who’s that?’
The woman walking with elegant strides, her long black hair tied up high, was unmistakably Tisha.
She appeared to be speaking with someone hidden beneath the eaves, facing them.
Edith watched Tisha’s movements, almost unconsciously. Tisha seemed to flinch back, as if in fear.
Then she turned and tried to flee the spot quickly. But she felt Edith’s gaze, lifted her head, and looked up.
Their eyes met.
Startled, Edith ducked swiftly below the window frame.
‘Ah… did she see me? Please don’t let this be another misunderstanding.’
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