TFM 59

Chapter 59

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“It seems the court mages have acquired another monster.”

The head maid, who had been quietly following her, replied with a sigh.

Talia stepped forward, as if drawn by some force. At that moment, the creature, whose body was shrouded in pitch-black wings, raised its head.

Talia flinched and hunched her shoulders.

On the massive body of a monstrous bird, covered in dark brown feathers, sat the head of a human woman.

However, it looked less like the face of a living human and more like a corpse that had been pieced together.

As she stared blankly down at the pale face, through which blue veins shone, a foul, arsenic voice reached her ears.

“Do you feel a sense of shared misery?”

Talia startled and turned her head.

Gareth, dressed in a red doublet, was standing right behind her.

With a sneer on his lips, he continued slowly.

“A woman’s face on a monster’s body… Doesn’t that remind you of anyone?”

His narrowed eyes traced down her body, resting on the legs hidden beneath the hem of her dress.

Her half-brother’s smile grew even wider.

“I hear you’ve been left with a rather gruesome scar… Still, unlike that monster, you’re lucky enough to be able to cover yourself up.”

In that instant, a liquid as bitter as bile rose up in her throat.

Talia turned and slapped the cheek of the Crown Prince, who stood before her.

Right beside her, she heard the sound of a pig being slaughtered. It must have been the head maid, who had been following her like a jailer, biting her lip. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a fleeting glimpse of the woman falling backward.

Regardless, Talia raked her brother’s bronze-colored face with her fingernails, the bruises still fresh.

Four bright red scratches appeared, running from the corners of his eyes to the tip of his chin. But it wasn’t a wound deep enough to satisfy her.

She reached out again. Seeing this, the guards rushed over and grabbed her arms from both sides.

Talia thrashed about like a trapped animal. But she couldn’t break free.

Tears welled up from her helplessness. With bloodshot eyes, she glared at her half-brother.

A sturdy build and a perfect physique.

No. It was no longer perfect.

Seeing the blood trickling down his face, Talia burst out laughing.

“Say that again. I’ll make sure you never laugh again. I have nothing left to lose. So, I’m not afraid of anything.”

Gareth, who had been clutching his cheek and staring at her with wide, dazed eyes, twisted his face into a chilling grimace.

Immediately, a rough hand grabbed a handful of Talia’s hair.

He seized the hair the maids had spent hours braiding and yanked it brutally, as if he were going to snap her neck.

“How dare you… how dare you, of all people, lay a hand on my face?”

His blood-stained face flushed an absurdly bright red.

Talia cackled even louder.

She could see the sanity slipping from her brother’s eyes.

He grabbed her face with his other hand and squeezed with enough force to crush her bones. Even as the pain threatened to split her skull, Talia did not stop laughing.

Just then, a strong hand suddenly intervened and pulled Gareth away from her.

Talia collapsed to the ground as if she’d been knocked over. As the pressure that felt like it would split her skull vanished, her blurred vision cleared, and a familiar silhouette came into focus.

Talia blinked dazedly, then abruptly sat up. The sound of her heart pounding violently felt as if it would tear her eardrums.

With trembling hands, she hurriedly pulled her skirt down to her toes, when a suppressed voice reached her from beside her head.

“Ha, yes, it’s about time you showed up.”

Gareth, who had roughly shaken off the hand gripping his wrist, ground his teeth. His deep green eyes blazed black like the flames of hell.

“So you’re going to betray me because of that woman, are you?”

“………………His Imperial Majesty ordered me to bring Her Imperial Highness the Second Princess here.”

“You always come up with excuses like that………………!”

“I shall answer Your Highness’s question after I have paid my respects to His Majesty.”

At Varkas’s cryptic words, Gareth’s blood-stained face contorted in agony.

A chilling, grinding sound escaped from between his clenched teeth.

Grinding his teeth so hard his jaw nearly shattered, Gareth suddenly grabbed the future Grand Duke by the shoulder and growled.

“Fine. I’m looking forward to seeing what answer you come up with.”

With that, he pushed through the crowd and walked out.

After watching his retreating figure for a moment, Varkas lowered his gaze toward her.

Talia felt the hairs on her entire body stand on end.

In those abyssal eyes that always made her feel infinitely small, she saw a reflection of her own utterly wretched self. It felt as though those eyes were shattering her into pieces.

Talia placed her trembling hands on the floor. As she struggled to steady her wobbly legs and pull herself up, she felt a firm hand supporting her back.

She startled and pushed his body away, which had come right up to her face.

“No, don’t…!”

But her feeble resistance was easily ignored.

Varkas slid his arms under her knees and lifted her up lightly.

Talia swallowed her scream and pulled her skirt down, afraid her legs might be exposed. Even after confirming that the long hem covered her toes, her anxiety did not easily subside.

Clutching the hem of her skirt tightly, she managed to utter a barely audible voice.

“I’ll, I’ll walk on my own, so put me down.”

Varkas didn’t respond.

Talia swallowed hard. His silence made her feel as if her throat were being squeezed.

“I said put me down!”

As she raised her voice slightly, she felt a faint tightening in the arms wrapped around her.

Lifting her head, Talia realized he was holding something back and fell silent.

Varkas fixed his gaze straight ahead and spoke in a subdued voice.

“I’m sure you don’t want to draw any more attention. If you can just bear with me for a moment, you’ll be spared the humiliation of stumbling under their gaze.”

Talia, who had been staring blankly at his face, darted her eyes and scanned her surroundings.

She saw dozens of pairs of eyes, wide with shock and horror.

She bowed her head deeply, as if to hide from those gazes. A faint sigh escaped from the top of her head. Feeling tears welling up again, Talia clenched her teeth.

“Just hold on a little longer.”

Whispering softly, he quickened his pace.

Soon, the massive doors leading to the Emperor’s audience chamber appeared before them.

The chamberlain standing guard in front of them gaped in astonishment at the sight of Varkas, who had appeared carrying the Second Princess in his arms.

Ignoring his reaction, Varkas gave a slight nod.

“We have come at His Majesty’s summons. Open the door.”

As the chief chamberlain hurriedly flung the door open, a vast, brightly lit hall and a golden throne came into view.

Talia raised her head and looked toward the seat of honor.

A man with a massive frame, as if sculpted by power, was gazing down at a parchment document with a bored expression.

Senevere, who had been sitting beside him and whispering something, tilted her head slightly and fixed her gaze on her. An elegant smile spread across her beautiful, pearl-like face.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

Only then did the Emperor’s gaze lock onto her.

Talia moistened her parched lips. She could feel his gloomy eyes scanning her body from head to toe. Unable to bear the shame any longer, Talia struggled, flailing her arms and legs.

“Let me down now.”

Ignoring her cry, Varkas strode purposefully toward the throne.

She looked up at him with a bewildered expression. She had absolutely no idea why this man was acting this way.

Was it really acceptable for him—Ayla’s fiancé—to behave like this in front of the Emperor?

As she glanced nervously back at the head of the table, a reproachful voice pierced her ears.

“I heard there was no problem with your walking, but…….”

Talia flinched, her shoulders tensing, and before she knew it, she blurted out an excuse.

“I just tripped on the way here; Lord Shiokan simply helped me up.”

Then, pushing firmly against his chest, she managed to make Varkas—who had been standing as still as a statue—finally let her go.