Barcas, who was stepping onto the step, looked at me carefully with his narrowed eyes.
A fine diagonal line appeared between the straight eyebrows.
Without even having time to figure out why, he strode up onto the carriage, picked up the cloak that had fallen to the floor, and draped it over my shoulders. Then, as if it were a given, he tried to hug me.
I was startled and shoved his shoulder hard.
"I can walk on my own two feet!"
The pain in my knees was starting to return as the medicine wore off, but I shouldn't have any trouble walking around for a while.
I threw aside the billowing cloak and stepped out, careful not to reveal my scar.
Then a strong hand grabbed my shoulder.
"You're going out dressed like that?"
A wedge-like gaze was cast down.
I, who had been shrugging my shoulders, lowered my gaze to examine the state of my clothes.
It seemed as if the straps of my dress had come undone while I was sleeping, revealing my bare shoulders and arms. And that wasn't all. The deep neckline stretched down to my sternum.
I blushed and hurriedly pulled up the top of my dress.
Barcas, who had been silently watching my undignified appearance, sighed softly and put his coat around my shoulders again. This time, I did not refuse.
He tied the knot tightly all the way to the neck, then lightly picked me up and carried me out.
I felt like a well-packaged doll.
No. It wasn't that cute. He was just showing pity to a cripple who couldn't even walk properly.
I stabbed him in the heart with my cruel words.
Rather than letting him take every last bit of my heart away, I thought it would be less painful to dig a hole with my own hands.
"Sir, what should we do with the messenger from the east?"
Just as he reached the threshold, one of the men lined up near the entrance spoke to him.
I caught a glimpse of his face through the gap in his cloak. The man with the bear-like build and the sharp eyes of an eagle was also glancing at me.
"Do I have to give instructions on everything like that?"
He spoke coldly, pulling the cloak up over my head...
"Give him a place to live and assign someone to take care of him. Let's meet tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises."
Then, without even listening to the man's answer, he strode into the building.
As he walked across the wide hall and up the stairs, I tried to piece together the pieces of information I had gathered in her head.
Many seemed concerned that this marriage would strain relations between the Crown Prince and the House of Sheerkhan.
He was probably busy cleaning up the mess while Senevere was preparing for the wedding.
He must have had to appease Gareth, who was gnawing at his teeth with betrayal, and explain to the conservative nobles, including Marquis Oristain, that he had not turned his back on them.
Despite such efforts, people seemed unable to accept the sudden change of bride.
In a way, it was natural. Even I was suspecting that this situation might be someone's malicious prank.
"I will call someone to attend to you."
Barcas, who had entered the room, said as he placed me down on a long velvet chair.
I looked around the cozy bedroom, then back at him.
Barcas was unbuttoning his robe with one hand and pulling on the string hanging next to the bed to call a servant. My stomach clenched at the sight.
I shouted in a new voice.
"I don't need the maid!"
Barcas looked back at me over his shoulder and narrowed his eyes.
I avoided his gaze and lowered my eyes.
"Call a nanny."
"It's getting late. I'll bring her tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises, so please bear with me for today."
I immediately glared at him with a fierce gaze.
"I won't let anyone take care of me except my nanny. Since you brought me here without permission, take responsibility for me and bring me back!"
His blue eyes took on a cold light.
I clenched my fists so hard that my bones cracked.
He was a man who had already decided how much patience he would have for me each day. I thought he might just throw a tantrum and leave.
But it seemed that he still had his quota for today, so he walked to the door and called over a servant.
"Right now, send someone to the villa and bring one quarter dwarf."
"Huh? Right now?"
"Yes. Send the one with the fastest feet."
Barcas closed the door again in front of the bewildered servant and gave me a sharp look as if asking if I was satisfied.
I avoided his eyes.
Barcas let out a long breath, picked up a gown from the shelf, and handed it to me.
"Please keep that on until someone comes to serve you."
I immediately took it, draped it over my dress, and demanded in a cracking voice.
"You, you should go out now. I'll be left alone until the nanny comes."
"This is also my room."
In that moment, my eyes started spinning and my palms became clammy with cold sweat.
I clenched my tightly shut and moistened my parched lips.
"Well, then I'll go out. Please show me to another room."
"Your Highness."
He put one hand on my shoulder.
I barely raised my head and saw deep shadows cast over blue eyes.
"You were the one who said you would get married."
I looked up at his expressionless face with wide eyes.
So, you're staying here? With me?
My stomach churned with fear.
I looked down at my aching knee.
I remembered Senevere's gaze as she looked down at my scar. My mother's dark eyes, as if looking at something disgusting, soon changed into Barcas' silver-blue eyes.
Before I could control it, a tangled mess of words came out of my mouth.
"Then. Then, I'll just cancel. How can I share a room with you? I just got married to... to torment you. You married me because the Emperor told you to. You don't want to be with me either. So, let's just pretend it never happened..."
"Thalia."
He sat down on his knees in front of me, cupped my cheeks, and brought his face close to me.
I looked into his eyes as if I were being held captive.
A pale face, soaked in cold sweat, was reflected in his beautiful eyes, which were sprinkled with silver shards. A voice that sounded like it had been scratched by something flowed out of his mouth.
"I won't do anything to you."
"..."
"It's only for tonight. I've already bribed the priest, but I can't shut all the servants' mouths. At least for the first night, we have to share a bedroom."
With that calm attitude, my heart, which had been pounding awkwardly, found its rhythm again.
I nodded, biting my lip.
After confirming that I had calmed down, Barcas slowly sat up.
I followed his movements with eyes that were still wary.
He took off his rain-soaked top and sat down on a chair by the window in a thin shirt. His normally neat and tidy body was now sagging with fatigue.
A heavy sigh stretched out across the room.
After a while, servants came with trays containing drinks and food.
I managed to mechanically shove a piece of bread into my stomach. Instead of sleeping pills, I drank a glass of strong moonshine.
As the alcohol took effect, the stiff muscles relaxed and the pain subsided.
I poured more wine into my golden goblet and drank.
After I drank a few more glasses, Barcas, who had been letting me do whatever I wanted, snatched the bottle away from me.
"Please stop drinking now."
I sat up in my chair to retrieve the bottle of wine.
But my already weak legs were in a state of meltdown due to the alcohol.
I staggered as if I had no bones. Barcas snatched my limp body up and laid me upright on the bed.
Even though I was half-conscious from the alcohol, I checked the hem of my skirt.
Barcas, who had been looking down at me with shadowy eyes, pulled the blanket over my shoulders, then walked to the window and opened the curtains.
The sunset, which had deepened from crimson to purple, flooded over him.
I blinked slowly, watching the shoulders that drew a strong line turn copper-colored.
Even in the scorching sunlight, he looked chillingly cool.
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