TFM 58

Chapter 58

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Talia straightened her back as if struck by lightning.

The woman turned gracefully and continued speaking.

“Her Majesty the Empress has ordered that Your Highness be dressed to perfection, so as to be worthy of an audience with the Sovereign of the Empire. I humbly ask for your cooperation.”

She then gave a light wave to her maids. The four maids standing in the front row approached the bed, holding garments.

Talia stepped back behind the curtain.

“Everyone, leave. I have no intention of meeting that sort of person.”

“Please refrain from such blasphemous remarks.”

The woman’s gentle voice suddenly turned as sharp as an icy blade.

“Even if you are a princess, speaking recklessly about His Imperial Majesty is unacceptable. I will overlook this once, but please be careful in the future.”

Talia’s shoulders had been slumped for only a moment before her gaze hardened.

“And if you don’t turn a blind eye, what are you going to do? Are you going to report me to His Majesty the Emperor?”

“There’s nothing I can’t do.”

The woman replied coldly.

Talia let out a dry laugh.

“Is that so? Then run to the palace right now and tell him this: the insolent Second Princess is screaming that she doesn’t want to see your smug face!”

At that moment, a searing pain shot through the back of her hand.

Talia looked up at the woman, her face a blank of shock.

The woman, who had struck her with the slender cane she held in her hand, glared at her with an icy stare.

“The authority you enjoy as a princess stems from His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. Such slanderous remarks cannot be tolerated.”

“How dare you… how dare you speak to me like that…”

Talia couldn’t finish her sentence and began to tremble uncontrollably.

The woman, who had been looking down at her with a disdainful expression, turned and walked toward the door.

“Her Majesty the Empress has expressly ordered us to bring Your Highness to His Imperial Majesty’s safety by any means necessary. Do you wish for us to resort to force?”

The woman, who had spoken in a threatening tone, flung the door wide open with one hand.

Talia held her breath at the sight of soldiers from the Empress’s palace lined up in the hallway.

The woman, who had been quietly observing Talia’s deathly pale face as if admiring it, continued softly.

“There’s no need for us to get into a heated argument. If Your Highness cooperates, this will be over in a moment.”

It meant that if she refused to cooperate, they would force her compliance by any means necessary, even if it meant using force.

Talia clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her eyes stung with humiliation.

If Senevere were standing right in front of her at this very moment, she felt she might drive a dagger into her heart.

Was she really supposed to let her last shred of dignity be so ruthlessly trampled upon in this manner?

She felt she would never, ever be able to forgive that person.

“Now, go on and wash Her Highness thoroughly.”

As soon as the head maid gave the order, two maids bent over the bed.

Talia roughly pushed their hands away.

“Don’t touch me!”

Startled by her shrill scream, the maids scrambled back as if dodging a hot coal. They looked worried that she might take revenge on them later.

Noticing their hesitation, Talia adopted an even more authoritative tone.

“I’ll leave the bathing to my nanny. So, all of you, get out of my room.”

The woman, who had been looking down at her with a pensive expression, soon let out a sigh of resignation.

“Very well. However, you must leave the dressing to me. I cannot compromise on this.”

The head maid immediately led the maids out.

A moment later, the nanny rushed into the bedroom.

She was the one who had always hurt her with her thoughtless words. Yet, the moment Talia saw her face, she felt such relief that she nearly burst into tears.

Talia buried her face in the nanny’s shoulder as she came to support her.

Unaware of Talia’s inner turmoil, the nanny was simply overjoyed.

“You heard what the head maid said, didn’t you? His Majesty is looking for you! He must be worried after hearing that you were injured.”

Talia let the nanny’s chatter wash over her as she struggled to push herself up from the floor. A tingling pain shot up through her bones.

A surge of anger welled up inside her.

What did she mean, that she’d make her walk without a hitch? Her mangled leg couldn’t even properly support her own weight.

Gritting her teeth, Talia dragged her aching leg behind the screen and stood there.

As she staggered and pushed herself into the marble bathtub, the nanny poured warm water over her body.

Soaking in the lukewarm water, Talia looked down at her leg. The reddish-purple scar looked just like a swollen earthworm.

As she touched it with her fingertips, the nanny slapped her on the back.

A wave of sorrow washed over her, but Talia withdrew her hand without a word. She was afraid the nanny might get angry and storm out of the room.

“Now, I’ll rinse your hair, so please tilt your head back.”

As she leaned her head back against the tub as instructed, the nanny tilted a large pitcher and poured lukewarm water over her.

Once the soap had finally been thoroughly rinsed from her body, Talia staggered out of the tub.

The nanny, who had brought a large towel, dried her off and dressed her in fresh undergarments and a petticoat.

“Now, the head maid will take care of the rest.”

Once the nanny had finished her duties and left the room with a look of relief, the head maid returned, leading a group of maidservants.

Talia silently endured their gaze as they scanned her from head to toe, as if grading her.

The woman, who had been circling around her, eventually clapped her hands at the maidservants.

“Braid her hair and dress her in the clothes you’ve prepared. I’ll choose the jewelry myself.”

Immediately, dozens of fingers began flitting busily around her.

Feeling as if she were being tortured, Talia silently endured as they treated her like a doll.

Three or four maids repeatedly dressed and undressed her, while the rest set to work braiding her waist-length hair into several plaits and pinning them up.

The head maid, who had been watching the entire process with a stern expression, finally nodded after a long while.

“That will do.”

The maids who had been adjusting her attire immediately stepped back.

Talia looked up at the head maid with weary eyes. The head maid draped a jade-colored silk cape over her shoulders and turned toward the entrance.

“It is time for you to go.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Talia stepped out of the room. She wanted to walk as naturally as possible, but her numb legs wouldn’t obey her will.

With every uneven step, she could feel the soldiers’ gazes pouring down on her. She wanted to crush every single one of those eyes.

Suppressing her humiliation, she made her way out of the palace and saw a carriage waiting in front of the garden. Standing beside it was a stranger clad in armor.

Had the previous knight been dismissed?

The face of the man who had pestered her throughout the journey flashed through her mind.

But soon, she felt it didn’t matter. After all, the palace guards were replaced every season. It was about time for a change.

Talia climbed into the carriage with a bored expression. The head maid, who boarded after her, parted her tightly pursed lips and spoke in a stern voice.

“Today, His Imperial Majesty will address a matter of great importance. Please refrain from any behavior that might be considered disrespectful.”

“What’s this ‘matter of great importance’?”

“I don’t know either.”

“Then how do you know if it’s a matter of great importance or just some trivial nonsense?”

The woman clamped her mouth shut. It seemed her patience was finally running out.

Talia turned her gaze away from the woman rubbing her temples and looked out the window.

Before she knew it, the carriage had left the palace gardens behind and was speeding across the vast imperial grounds.

Watching the rapidly passing scenery with a sense of unease, Talia rubbed her knees, which had already begun to ache.

Even with the thick cushions, the carriage’s subtle vibrations seemed to pierce her bones. Wiping away the beads of sweat forming on her forehead, she desperately tried to swallow the pain.

How long had she been like that? The jolting carriage finally came to a halt.

Staggering out, Talia frowned at the sight of the vast structure bathed in blinding sunlight.

In front of the main palace, there were an unusually large number of people swarming about today. As she gazed at the scene with a gloomy expression, the head maid approached and urged her on.

“His Majesty is waiting. Let’s go.”

Talia bit her lip and began to walk.

The sight of people who recognized her flinching and whispering among themselves filled her vision. Trying to ignore it, she attempted to pass the guards blocking the entrance, but someone stopped her.

“You cannot pass through here now. I’m sorry, but please use the side entrance…”

The soldier who had hurriedly blocked her path belatedly recognized her face and gasped sharply.

Talia glared at him with a cold stare.

“Who do you think you are, blocking my way?”

“I’m—I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

The soldier scrambled to step aside.

Talia walked past those who were awkwardly bowing to her and entered the building.

She was drenched in sweat from trying so hard not to let her unnatural gait be noticed. Despite her efforts, things didn’t seem to be going her way.

She glanced sideways to gauge the reactions of those around her. Then, a massive birdcage placed in one corner of the hall caught her eye. When Talia saw what was inside, her eyes widened.

“………………What is that?”