TFM 20

Chapter 20

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Talia couldn't contain her rising anger and raised her hand once more. Immediately, there was a sharp slap, and a stinging pain spread across her palm.

Talia had expected to be stopped this time as well, but was startled and shrank her shoulders. However, the person who had been slapped remained expressionless.

"I shall consider this payment for the sin of laying hands on Your Highness’s body."

He tapped his smooth cheek, which showed no trace of the slap, with the tip of his rough finger.

"But I have no intention of tolerating your childish behavior any longer. Remember that I am no longer your personal knight."

Then he stepped out of the carriage and closed the door.

Talia leaned back in her seat and remained motionless for a moment before looking out the window.

Varkas was nowhere to be seen, having left his post. Instead, she saw servants unloading trunks from the carriage and a foolish knight urging them on.

She wanted to rush out immediately and teach those who had disobeyed her orders a lesson, but if she did, Varkas would not stand idly by. He never tolerated cruelty toward his subordinates.

The memory of the day when she had hacked at the hair of the maid who had buried her face in the coat Varkas had left behind, and the icy gaze he had fixed on her, made her fingers curl involuntarily.

Talia nervously pulled the curtain shut. Then, clutching her burning palm, she curled up tightly on the seat.

How long had she been like that? The sound of a trumpet signaling the start of the journey rang out, and the carriage slowly began to move. It seemed that the journey that would surely become a lifelong nightmare was about to begin.

Talia gazed at a single ray of light seeping through the window for a moment, then pulled the curtain even tighter. She sank into the dim darkness, lost in the thought of how wonderful it would be if this procession led to hell.

If they were all to enter the grave together like this, and everything were to end, there would be nothing more joyful than that…………….

***

The royal procession was to follow in the footsteps of Darian, the first emperor who founded the Roem Empire, winding along the Silviska River, which flowed northward, then westward, and then northward again.

This continent was once divided into ten kingdoms: Wedon, Dristan, Balto, Gwyn, Osiriya, Rivadon, Arex, Valis, Dumnos, and Sykan… During this period when the continent was divided into ten kingdoms, Darian Roem Guirta, a member of the Gwyn royal family, fled the invasion of the Balto Kingdom and migrated to the central region, where he became the adopted son of his maternal uncle, Prince Valender, the leader of the Osiriya tribe.

Later, Darian unified the various tribes of Osiriya and gathered powerful supporters from each country to launch a movement to unify the ten kingdoms. After 20 years and dozens of wars, he achieved the great feat of unifying the ten kingdoms into one and building a vast empire.

The grand procession that began at the imperial palace was a sacred ceremony that traced his footsteps and introduced the descendants of the great emperor to the people, thereby spreading the prestige of the imperial family. Therefore, the scale of the procession was unbelievably splendid and magnificent.

Led by the crown prince seated on a huge golden horse, about 100 members of the imperial guard carried flags embroidered with the imperial crest and marched vigorously through the city center, followed by a carriage carrying the first princess, Ayla Roem Guirta, and her guard.

Citizens who had gathered in the streets to see the descendants of Darian erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

The Roem Knights, who had carried on centuries of history and tradition, led the procession with solemn expressions, wearing pristine white battle uniforms embroidered with the imperial crest over armor made of orichalcum, known as the "metal of the gods." To their right, infantrymen carrying silver shields engraved with the guard's crest marched in steady rhythm.

The citizens' excitement grew even more intense at the soldiers' disciplined march. Women gathered along the roadside scattered colorful flower petals toward the knights, and minstrels sang songs blessing the descendants of Darian.

As if in response to the citizens' cheers, the First Princess opened the window and revealed herself. The crowd erupted in a collective gasp.

Could there be anyone in the world more suited to the position of princess than Ayla Roem Guirta?

She had the graceful and upright posture of a lily, clear skin with a pinkish hue, lustrous dark brown hair, and large emerald-colored eyes...

People stretched their necks like giraffes to get a better look at her lovely appearance. Some were so captivated that they followed the carriage. If it weren't for the guards surrounding her, the first princess's carriage would have been completely surrounded by enthusiastic citizens.

Those consumed by intense excitement showered the lovely princess with endless blessings.

However, when a carriage that was so extravagant it was almost garish appeared behind it, the festive atmosphere suddenly grew quiet, as if someone had poured cold water on it. The knights looked around with tense expressions.

Those who had been shouting at the top of their lungs just a moment ago were now quietly holding their breath and whispering to each other. It seemed that they had realized that the infamous second princess was sitting in the carriage.

The crowd that had gathered on the street slowly backed away, their eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and hostility. Some made signs of the cross or spat on the ground. The knights sighed bitterly. Such reactions were not surprising. There was no one among the citizens of the capital who had not heard of the cruel nature of Talia Roem Guirta.

The emperor's illegitimate child, who had caused turmoil throughout the empire since birth, continued to stir up trouble even after becoming the official princess, causing a commotion in the capital.

Numerous servants who worked in her palace were beaten to a pulp and driven out, and among them were even those who met a violent end. Naturally, the people of the empire could not help but view the Second Princess with cold indifference.

"Why not draw back the curtains and greet the people?"

Unable to bear it any longer, the guard knight, Edric Rubon, approached the carriage and cautiously suggested. However, there was no response from inside.

He glared at the thick curtains covering the windows with disapproval.

The Second Princess had been holed up inside the carriage since the procession began, not even showing her face. It seemed she was thoroughly upset over the altercation with Lord Shiokan.

He swallowed the sigh that rose to his throat.

‘If she just showed her face a little, people's reactions would be different…’

In some ways, she seemed like a woman who lacked common sense.

If she were just a little more charming, there would be more than a few men willing to give her their liver and gallbladder, but Talia Roem Guirta acted as if she had decided to be hated. She was so sharp-tongued that she drove those around her crazy, and even her beautiful appearance, which she had inherited from her mother, lost its luster.

How many guards had left because they couldn't stand her terrible temper? Sir Shiokan, who had stayed by her side for seven years, seemed like a saint in comparison.

‘It doesn't seem like she's been easy to deal with all this time……………….’

Recalling the sight of his superior tossing the Second Princess into the carriage like a piece of luggage, Edric turned his gaze forward. Among the knights marching in orderly formation, the figure of Varkas, with his black hood pulled deeply over his head, was faintly visible.

That man seemed to be thoroughly fed up with Talia Roem Guirta as well.

In a way, it was surprising. How much mischief had she caused that this stoic man, who was so loyal to the imperial family, would resort to such extreme actions?

If Edric hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he never would have believed it. Perhaps the Second Princess had a natural talent for provoking others' hostility.

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