In response, I raised the corners of my eyes.
I had no way of knowing if he was just casually arguing because he was tired of arguing, or if he just said he didn't care about how he dressed.
I, who looked at his expressionless face as if dissecting, immediately looked stunned.
"Sometimes I feel like I'm going to burst when I'm with you."
He didn't react to the sudden dispute.
I became more and more anxious with the prolonged silence.
I pulled the blanket up to my chin and turned to the other side.
"Get out now.'
"I'll even see you take the medicine."
"I'm not going to drink it, so get out."
"I'll take your medicine and make sure you're okay before leaving."
"I said I don't drink it!"
I looked back at him with a sullen face, and his pale eyes shimmered with gold.
He pulled a chair beside the bed and spoke slowly.
"If you continue to be stubborn, I'll force you to drink."
I stared at him blankly.
Suddenly, the memory of the first night of marriage ran through my mind.
I still couldn't tell where my dream started and where my reality started, and the confusing memory recurred vividly in my mind.
I wonder if Barcas remembers what happened that day.
Sweat dripped down my throat.
Unable to endure the strange tension in the room, I turned my words awkwardly.
"Have you been drinking?"
"A little."
He leaned against the back of his chair and said nonchalantly.
I, who had been staring at him, snapped back in a more prickly tone than usual.
"If you're drunk, you should wash and sleep, so why are you drunk in someone else's room?"
"I didn't drink to the point of getting drunk. They held a grandiose welcome ceremony, so I just put it together a little bit."
He replied dryly and unwieldedly dragged the ornament from his arm and placed it on the shelf.
I stared at him and asked a question cautiously.
"What do you say I didn't even show my nose?"
"Someone says something to you."
Suddenly, his brow wrinkled.
"Your Highness is the highest person in the city. There is no one here that you need to look out for."
"Someone said they noticed. I just asked because I was curious."
I glanced at him with a grudge.
A man who had never treated me as a Princess said such a thing, and I was a little surprised.
Just as I was thinking about telling you to do well, I heard a knock on the door.
"My lord, I have brought you medicine."
"Come in."
Soon, the door opened, and a small maid entered the room.
Taking the vial from her hand, Barcas sent the maid away again.
I looked nervously at the vial in his hand.
My stomach tightened strangely.
As I struggled to pass saliva down my throat, he waved the vial in front of me.
"Please drink it."
I looked at the small blue vial and his face.
If I don't drink this, will you kiss me like that night?
My heart tightened with a sudden thought.
Confused and averting his gaze, he leaned over and asked low.
"Are you not going to drink it?"
My face burned like fire.
If I refused to drink like this, I felt like he would reveal everything in my heart.
I snatched the vial with trembling hands.
"Hey, I can drink it."
I opened the cork and poured the essence of the strong herb into my mouth.
A bitter liquid ran through my esophagus, as if my tongue was going to burn.
I coughed up a nagging cough with tears in my eyes. It was the most bitter medicine I had ever taken.
"What kind of medicine is this?"
"It is a medicine made by a healer of the Sheerkan family."
He poured me a glass of cider from the shelf and said.
"From now on, the healer here will be in charge of you."
I, who had taken the glass and gulped down the sweet liquid, glared at him in dismay.
"Who's at will? I already have a dedicated therapist. A high-ranking sorceress trained in House Taren has been... me all this time."
"At best, the healer did nothing more than burn the Sleeping Herb and cast a healing spell. That won't make you feel better for the rest of your life."
My eyes stood sharp.
Currently, the healer who takes care of me is a skilled person carefully selected by Senevere.
Do you think that a shaman of the Khan people, who can only perform ancient arts at best, can compare to a sorcerer of the Taren family? Or is there another plan?
I, who had been glaring at him with a suspicious expression, immediately snapped at him.
"I don't like it. I will be cured by a sorcerer of the House of Taren. How can I trust the people here? I'm sure everyone hates me..."
His mouth hardened.
"Why do you think so?"
"Do you think I'm stupid? The Sheerkan family supports the Crown Prince. I know they can't push Ayla away and feel good about me marrying you."
I sneered coldly.
"Who knows? They try to poison me."
"Talia Roem Sheerkhan."
A soft voice scratched my eardrums eerily.
I shrugged ny shoulders.
The warning in his low voice, rather than the different surnames behind my name, froze the accident.
He added stiffly.
"I'm determined to accept all of your complaints. But don't cross the line."
His cold voice made me cry.
I threw the goblet I was holding at him.
"Who took my tumulsion and appeased me?"
The sticky cider soaked his chest.
A terrible silence descended.
After letting out a long breath, Barcas slowly pulled himself up.
I was frightened and hid in the corner of the bed. Barcas shook his head.
"Why are you doing something so scary?"
I blushed with shame.
He gently brushed off the liquid dripping down his chest and added softly.
"No matter how much you lose your temper this time, it's useless. Tomorrow, a new healer will monitor your condition."
"I definitely said no!"
He didn't even pretend to listen and walked toward the bedroom door.
I raised my voice against my back.
"You liar! I was the highest person in the city! But why do you do whatever you want?"
"I don't know about anyone else, but you have to listen to my husband."
Barcas stopped at the doorway, turned to me, and spoke like a child.
"I listen to you, too."
Then he took off his loose coat and draped it over one arm.
I opened her mouth in a daze.
He tugged at the doorknob and calmly added.
"Stop sleeping now. You will need to rest for a few days to get rid of the lingering pain."
I came to my senses and threw the pillow away, but he had already left the room.
I looked down at the rolling cloth on the floor with a blank expression, and soon fell limp on the bed.
Why? I felt unjustified that I was being bullied because of this marriage, not him.
***
The next morning, I woke up relatively refreshed.
Perhaps it was because I had slept almost all day, and my legs hurt less than usual.
I got out of bed, rubbing my eyes, and looked up at the bright blue sky outside the window, then rang the bell.
After a while, a middle-aged woman with a stern face and a young maid who looked much younger entered the room side by side.
"Hello, Your Highness. I apologize for the delay in greeting."
The older woman spoke first.
"My name is Areta, and who is in charge of the maids of this castle. This is Brisa, the exclusive maid who will serve Your Highness in the future."
The woman tugged at the maid's arm, and a girl named Brisa shook her head in a hurry.
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