TFM 18

Chapter 18

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Sponsored by Virginie. Thank you ❤️ (2/2)

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As she passed in front of the palace, Talia saw the servants who recognized her hurriedly bowing their heads to the ground. Perhaps they were afraid that the infamous second princess would start a fight.

Talia walked past the maids, who were staring at her in shock at her unexpected appearance, and entered the empress's palace, which was more lavishly decorated than any other palace in the imperial palace.

At sunset, Senevere would either enjoy a banquet with the emperor in the main palace or spend quiet time in the empress's palace. Talia assumed it would be the latter today.

As she had expected, Senevere was resting in her secret study, located behind her private library.

Talia descended into the basement through an entrance between the bookshelves and was greeted by the dizzying scent of various herbs, the strong smell of perfume, and the faint smell of smoke tickling her nose.

The spacious room, filled with particles of purple floating in the air, was littered with vials containing various alchemical ingredients and experimental tools. Next to the large, blazing fireplace were stacks of books written in various languages.

It was an unimaginably chaotic scene, unlike the elegant and luxurious room one would expect from her mother.

However, Talia walked across the room with familiarity toward the desk where Senevere was seated. She was leaning back in a chair with a thick velvet cushion, flipping through a parchment scroll.

Seeing her ignore her, her stomach burned as if she had swallowed a ball of fire.

Talia leaned over the desk and spoke through clenched teeth.

“Asros came to see me a little while ago.”

Only then did the deep blue eyes finally turn toward her. Talia continued coldly.

“He said I’m going to get married soon.”

“I didn’t realize Asros was interested in you.”

Senevere set down the parchment and spoke indifferently.

Seeing her mother paying attention only to her younger brother, Talia felt an urge to throw things around. She clutched the hem of her skirt and barely suppressed her violent desire.

“Why should I find out about my marriage through that child? And what about the fact that I’m participating in this pilgrimage? What kind of scheme are you cooking up?”

“Scheme? That’s an unpleasant word to hear.”

Senevere sighed softly and stood up. For a moment, Talia was captivated by her mother’s graceful movements, but then she looked at her mother’s face, which was softened by a gentle smile, with a wary gaze.

Senevere spoke cheerfully in a voice as innocent as a young girl's.

“It’s about time you got married, isn’t it? I just proceeded with the matter because a marriage proposal came at the right time from the right person.”

“Is that suitable partner some snake-like creature named Serian or something?”

Talia twisted her lips, recalling the slick-looking man who had escorted her at the banquet.

“Of course, he’s a man my mother has thoroughly vetted, right?”

“If you’re asking whether Serian is capable of being a man… yes, he is. That man has exceptional talent in that area. If you wish, he will gladly serve you.”

When the even more horrific counterattack came back at her for mocking her mother’s romantic history with the slimy snake, Talia completely lost the composure she had been barely maintaining. Each of Senevere’s words felt like spiders crawling across her skin.

Talia screamed out in horror.

“I don’t need such a disgusting man! I’d rather bite my tongue and die than let him touch my body!”

"Oh, my..."

Senevere clutched one cheek and sighed with a look of pity.

“Then I’ll try to find another suitor. I was already compiling a list of suitable candidates anyway.”

She pointed to the parchment on the desk. Talia recognized a few of the men's names written there and shuddered. They were all Senevere’s fanatical followers.

Was she really planning to marry her daughter off to one of the men who desired her?

Anger and fear boiled up inside Talia, mingling together.

“I don’t want to get married! Stop pretending to care now and just leave me alone like you always have!”

"Does that mean… you don’t want any man other than the heir to the Duke of Sykan?"

Talia, suddenly struck at her weak point, turned pale and took a step back.

Senevere curled her lips and spoke with a venomous tongue.

“If you wanted him so badly, you should have done whatever it took to get him. I kept that man by your side for seven long years. What on earth did you do during that time?”

She shook her head disapprovingly.

“The man you wanted will soon belong to another woman in a few months. Are you just going to sit back and watch that happen?”

Talia shuddered. The fact that Senevere could see so clearly into her heart sent a chill down her spine.

Senevere, who had been staring blankly at her pale daughter's face, put on her kind motherly mask again. Then, in a gentle tone, she continued speaking.

"Talia, I planned this solely for your sake. To show my precious daughter a way out of this miserable situation."

Long, white fingers gently brushed her cheeks. It felt like a white snake slithering across her skin. Talia stiffened her body as if paralyzed.

Senevere stared intently at her terrified daughter’s face and whispered softly, like a feather.

"You have two paths before you. One is to obtain the man you desire by any means necessary, and the other is to become a slightly less miserable loser."

Her soft voice clung to her ears like sticky sap.

"I chose the former and got everything I wanted. But if you don't have the ability to do that, another option is to choose someone else who will satisfy you and pretend to be as happy as the winner. It's a bit pathetic, but if you're going to be a loser anyway, isn't it better to at least save your pride?"

Talia hurriedly pulled away from her like an animal escaping a trap.

Senevere gave her daughter a gentle smile.

"This journey is the last chance I'm giving you. Think carefully about which path you'll choose."

Talia, who had been glaring defiantly at her, fled the laboratory as if escaping. A cheerful laugh, like the chirping of birds, followed her like a shadow. The sound lingered in her mind for a long time, refusing to fade.

***

In the end, Talia set off on the journey with her step siblings, who hated her with a passion. 

Thanks to the empress's palace providing all the necessary manpower and equipment for the journey, she had nothing else to worry about. Even Senevere had offered to assign her personal soldiers and high-ranking mages as escorts.

However, this was met with fierce opposition from Gareth. The crown prince was already furious at the prospect of having to take his step-sister, who was like a thorn in his side, on the journey with him. There was no way he would willingly obey the order to take the empress's subordinates with him.

According to rumors, Gareth personally went to see the emperor to revoke Senevere’s order, leading to a heated argument. This was good news for Talia. She had no desire to be surrounded by her mother's fanatical followers.

‘For my sake? Don't make me laugh………….’

Talia glared at the servants moving the luggage onto the carriage and picked at the skin around her fingernail.

Senevere wouldn't go to such trouble for her sake. There must be another motive at play.

Talia scrutinized the servants sent from the empress's palace with a suspicious gaze.

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*TL’s note: Sevenere wanted to marry her daughter off to her old lovers, lol. The woman is something else.