As he delivered the parchment bundle with the dead's identities to the priest, Barcas turned his head to look at me. I quickly dropped my gaze.
I felt humbled in my naked self in the summer sun, and I couldn't hold my head up.
"It seems that Her Highness the 2nd Princess needs urgent medical treatment, so please skip the entrance procedure."
The Taren mage stopped in front of Barcas and said respectfully.
When he didn't get an answer, I raised my eyes again to study his expression. Barcas, with faint wrinkles between his brows, stared intently at my face.
Did it seem strange that a woman who was making a fuss just by being touched by someone else was quiet?
Barcas looked at my face, dissecting his narrowed eyes, and slowly lowered his gaze.
A cold gaze lingered for a moment on my back and the hand that wrapped around my clump, then descended to my limp calf under my skirt. As if he had noticed a dark red stain on the bandage, the chasm between his brows deepened.
Immediately, an Investigative glance flew at the mages of House Taren.
The wizard added softly, as if ignoring it.
"His Majesty will understand that the 2nd Princess is heading straight to her residence."
"Yes. Let's take her away."
Instead of him answering, a clear voice suddenly gave an answer.
I turned my attention to the direction from which the sound came, and my face hardened when I saw Ayla leading a group of maids across the cluttered clearing.
She stood beside Barcas, looking down at her pitifully.
"She's been on a hard journey with her body, so it's best to get treatment and rest as soon as possible."
With a sympathetic, lukewarm look. I gritted my teeth. My face turned red with humiliation.
If I hadn't been able to lift a finger, I would have dug out her eyes mercilessly.
Whether she knew I was seething inside or not, Ayla, with a gentle smile, placed her hand on Barcas's forearm.
"I will tell you well."
Then she turned gracefully and urged Barcas.
"Now, let's just go in. His Majesty is waiting for you."
The man who was standing motionless slowly moved his legs. I, who was looking at the back of his head in a daze, lowered my eyelids.
The mages passed through the main palace and entered a large garden of flowers. Soon, a magnificent and ornate structure engulfed me.
I felt as if I was being sucked into the bowels of a giant monster.
In an instant, wizards crossed the marble hall and climbed the stairs to the second floor, stepping into Senevere's study. Then he opened the secret door between the bookshelves and walked through the narrow, dark hallway. Soon, Senevere's lab was revealed.
My brow furrowed at the smell of strong perfumed oil and herbs that disturbed my head.
"Lay her down here."
The wizard crossed the lab in an instant with a wide stride, and he swung open the door next to the display case.
I had visited this place many times, but I had never entered this room. The man who picked me up stepped inside and set me down on the bed in the middle of the room.
I looked around with anxiety in my eyes.
The neatly organized room was full of strange tools that I had never seen before.
After examining them, I turned my attention back to the two wizards. They were lined up with equipment on the table, which I didn't know where they were being used.
I wonder if this is how a call feels when it enters the slaughterhouse. The nape of my neck was wet with cold sweat. If it wasn't for the spell, I would have screamed.
"I will examine the wound first."
One of the mages sat down on my leg.
I felt my skirt rise upwards and stiffened my body.
The man unbandaged it with a businesslike hand, clicked his tongue lightly.
"Your condition is worse than I thought."
He added as he gently palpated my knees with an icy hand.
"I think it would be a problem if the bones were clumsily attached. If you let the wound heal like this, her nerves will become paralyzed and she will never be able to use her legs."
"What is the clumsy skill of human wizards..."
The mage grunted softly and picked up a small knife from the table.
"Is there anything else? I'll have to guess it again."
Suddenly, a rough sob burst out of my tight throat.
The wizard saw my face turned blue, lowered the cotton cloth he wore around his crown, and lifted the corners of his mouth.
"You don't have to worry about that."
It seemed to be a reassuring act, but I felt my blood run cold. It was more like a fish imitating a human expression than a human smile.
The man kept chattering.
"It will be difficult to get it back to exactly the same as before, but at least we will make it easier for you to walk."
I pursed my lips with difficulty.
Drop It.
If I can't be the same as before, there's no reason to endure this process.
I wanted to shout like that, but only a rough sob leaked out of my mouth.
The man raised his cotton cloth again and gave instructions.
"I think it's better to burn the sleeping weed."
The wizard, examining the equipment on the table, placed a small brazier by my bedside and burned a bundle of dried herbs.
I immediately stopped breathing. However, it could not last long. As I breathed in the smoke with a feeling of suffocation, my vision instantly became far away.
I struggled to pull away the veil of whiteness with my eyes tight, but soon I fainted.
***
Raindrops fell on the lake.
I realized I was dreaming. The scenery of old memories was unfolding in front of me.
Fourteen-year-old Thalia was crouching beneath a large, beautiful tree, staring at the grey surface of the water pouring down from the rain.
By my side, Barcas, drenched in rain, approached.
"Is the game of hide and seek over?"
I glared at him with a venomous look.
He had scoured the palace grounds, and his clothes were unkempt, and his hair was all in a mess. But my mood didn't get any better.
I reached out and grabbed a handful of muddy lumps and threw them at him.
"Go away! I don't want to see people like you!"
An ugly stain appeared on his ornately embroidered velvet uniform, but Barcas didn't blink an eye.
Seeing his calm expression made me even more enthusiastic. I continued to throw the mud balls.
"Get out! Go to Ayla!"
"I want to do that, but it's like a chimney."
After a short sigh, Barcas bent one knee beside me.
"I'm bound until Your Highness is 16 years old."
I glared at him with a sullen face.
I felt like I was about to cry. To hide it, I squeezed my eyes and twisted the corners of my mouth in a shallow way.
"It's so horrible that I have to see your face for two more years. I feel like I'm going to throw up just thinking about it."
"..."
"I hate it the most in the world. It's creepy. It's disgusting."
"Have you done it?"
"I didn't do everything. I smell horses on you."
His eyebrows rose slightly.
I squinted and lowered my eyes. As he spent his childhood in a monastery, he was obsessed with cleanliness.
He always smelled like fresh soap. I'm sure you're well aware of this fact, so you're well aware that my criticism is more like a Sainte's house.
But instead of pointing it out, Barcas tucked the coat in one hand over my shoulder and straightened himself.
"The rest of the criticism will be heard in the palace. Wake up. Your lips turned purple."
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