"It looks like the court mages have bought monsters again."
The handmaiden, who had been quietly following her, replied with a sigh.
I stepped in front of him as if drawn by something. Then, the creature wrapped its body with its dark wings raised its head.
I hunched my shoulders.
On top of the body of a large monster covered with dark brown feathers, the head of a human woman was attached. However, it looked more like a corpse stitched together than a living human face.
As I stared down at his pale face with blue veins, I heard a fishy voice in my ear like a rotten fish.
"Do you feel sorry for the same sickness?"
I jerked my head away.
Gareth, dressed in a red doublet, was standing right behind me.
He continued slowly, with a sneer on his lips.
"The face of a woman on the body of a monster... Who doesn't think of that?"
His narrowing eyes ran down my body and rested on my legs hidden by the hem of my dress.
My half-brother's smile became even darker.
"I heard that you had a very horrible scar... Still, I'm glad you can cover yourself, unlike that monster."
At that moment, a bitter liquid like bile flowed back.
I turned and slapped the Supreme Prince on the cheek.
I heard the sound of a pig plucking right next to me. It must be the sound of the handmaiden who followed me like a jailer biting the crab foam. At the end of my vision, I could vaguely see her falling backwards.
Whether or not I did, I scraped my brother's bronzed face with my blood-bruised fingernails.
Four lines of bright red comb appeared from the corner of his eyes to the tip of his chin. However, it was not a big enough injury to be satisfied.
I stretched out my arms again. Seeing this, the guards rushed to me and grabbed me from both sides.
I writhed like a beast caught in a trap. But I couldn't get out of it.
Tears burst into tears with helplessness. I glared at my half-brother with bright red bloodshot eyes.
A perfect body with a sturdy physique.
Do you know? It wasn't perfect anymore.
I laughed as I saw blood dripping down his face.
"Say it again, I'll make you a mug you'll never laugh again. I have nothing to lose now. So, there's nothing scary about it."
Gareth held his cheek and looked at me with dumb eyes, his face contorted eerily
Soon after, a strong hand grabbed her by the hair.
He grabbed the hair that had been braided for hours and pulled it violently, as if it would break my neck.
"Dare... How dare you put your hand on my face?"
His blood-stained face was ridiculously red.
I chuckled even louder.
I could see my reason leaving my brother's eyes.
He grabbed my face with his other hand and gave me a bone-crushing force. Even in the pain of my head exploding, I didn't stop laughing.
Then, a strong hand burst in and pulled Gareth away from me.
I slumped down as if I were going to collapse. As the pressure of splitting the bones disappeared, my blurry vision became clearer, and familiar silhouettes penetrated into my retina.
I, who had blinked in a daze, immediately jumped up to my feet. The violent beating of my heart shattered my eardrums.
As I hurriedly pulled down the hem of my skirt to my toes with trembling hands, I heard a suppressed voice at my bedside.
"Ha, yes, it's about time for you to show up."
Gareth roughly shook off the hand that gripped his wrist and gnashed his teeth. His dark green eyes burned black like the flames of hell.
"You are going to betray us because of that?"
"...His Majesty the Emperor told me to bring Her Royal Highness the Second Princess."
"You're always making excuses like that...!"
"The answer to your question will be posted after your audience."
Barcas's inexplicable words made Gareth's blood-stained face cringe miserably.
An eerie sound came out of his clenched teeth.
Gareth, who was gnashing his teeth as his jaw shattered, immediately grabbed the next Grand Duke's shoulder and growled.
"Yes. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of answer they will come up with."
Then he made his way through the crowd and went outside.
Barcas stared at him for a moment, then lowered his gaze to me.
I felt the fluff all over my body shrink.
Above the abyss-like eyes that always made me infinitely smaller, I reflected my miserable self. It seemed to tear me apart.
I pressed my trembling hands on the floor. As I struggled to stand up with my trembling legs, I felt a firm hand support my back.
I pushed his body away from me.
"Ha, don't do it...!"
But that feeble rebellion was simply ignored.
Barcas slipped his arm under the popliteum and lifted me lightly.
I swallowed my screams and pulled my skirt down, fearing that my legs would be exposed. Even when I saw that the long hem covered my toes, my anxiety didn't go away.
I clutched the end of my skirt tightly and let out a creepy voice.
"I'm going to go with my feet, so get me off."
Barcas didn't say anything.
I swallowed dryly. I felt strangled by his silence.
"I want you to get off!"
As I raised my voice a little more, I felt a faint force in the arm that wrapped around me.
Raising my head, I realized that he was holding something back, so I kept my mouth shut.
Barcas spoke in a subdued voice, keeping his eyes fixed on the front.
"You don't want to attract more attention than this. If you can endure me a little, you will be able to avoid the humiliation of stumbling under their gaze."
I stared blankly up at his face, then rolled my eyes to look around.
I saw dozens of pairs of eyes, widened with shock and astonishment.
I bowed my head as if to hide from the gaze. A faint sigh poured down the top of my head. Tears were about to burst out again, and I gritted my teeth.
"Just be patient."
He whispered softly and walked faster.
Soon, a huge door leading to the Emperor's throne room appeared in front of him.
The chief chamberlain, standing in front of him, opened his mouth when he saw Barcas, who appeared with the 2nd Princess in his arms.
Ignoring his reaction, Barcas nodded lightly.
"I have come at the call of His Majesty. Open the door."
The chamberlain hurriedly opened the door, revealing a vast and brightly lit hall and a golden throne of power.
I looked up at the throne.
A towering man who seemed to have been molded by power looked down at the parchment document with a tired expression.
Senevere, who had been sitting beside him, whispering, tilted her head at an angle and stared at me. A graceful smile floated over her beautiful face that shone like a pearl.
"You're finally here."
It was then that the Emperor's gaze fell on me.
I moistened my parched lips. I could feel the gloomy eyes scanning my figure. Unable to bear the shame any longer, I struggled with my limbs.
"Get off now."
Barcas ignored my cries and strode in front of the throne.
I looked up at him with confused eyes. I couldn't figure out why this man was doing this.
Is it okay for Ayla's fiancé to show this in front of the Emperor?
As I looked at the throne again with a nervous look, a reprimanding voice penetrated my ears.
"I heard that there is no problem with walking..."
I flinched, my shoulders stiffened, and I unknowingly made excuses.
"I fell on the way, and Lord Sheerkhan helped me."
Then I pushed his chest against me, and Barcas, who stood as hard as a statue, finally let me go.
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