TFM 86

Chapter 86

***

Unable to contain her boiling anger, Talia grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him.

“If you have something to say, just say it! Don’t keep me in suspense!”

The cloth bag filled with feathers struck the back of his head with a thud. Varkas, who had been opening the medicine bottles on the shelf and checking their contents one by one, shot her a cold glance over his shoulder.

Talia hunched her shoulders and pressed herself tightly against the headboard. She was on edge, not knowing what kind of retaliation might come her way, but Varkas let out a small sigh and knelt down beside the bed.

“Give me your hand.”

Talia blinked blankly. He then pulled her hand toward him and held it up to the light. The skin on her palm was red and swollen.

Varkas clicked his tongue in disapproval and poured a sticky liquid onto her hand. The burning sensation made Talia reflexively pull her arm back. But her wrist was held firmly, so she couldn’t move an inch.

She glared at him with irritation.

“What are you doing?!”

“It’s a medicine that works well on bruises.”

Varkas replied in a gruff tone as he spread the ointment evenly across her palm.

That strange sensation made Talia curl her toes. Every time his long, elegant fingers rubbed her swollen skin, a tingling sensation spread through her. Feeling the heat rise to her ears, she twisted her arm.

“Th-that’s enough.”

“Stay still.”

His voice, lower than usual, sent a shiver down her spine.

She stared at him with a look of anxiety, then lowered her eyes again. He slowly traced the faint lines etched into her palm.

Was this really treatment?

The way his fingers persistently caressed each line felt strangely erotic.

“You have a bruise on your wrist.”

Suddenly, his voice dropped a notch. Talia swallowed hard, her throat tightening.

She had no idea why her stomach had suddenly clenched.

Glancing sideways to gauge his reaction, Talia pulled her arm free from his grip with a little more force.

“That’s enough. Get out of my room.”

She turned her back on him and lay down, but then her body snapped back around.

Talia looked up at him, her face flustered. Varkas, leaning over her, asked accusingly.

“Why did you come to the banquet hall today?”

She twisted her face into a grimace.

So that was what had made him so angry after all. Talia, shooting him a venomous glare, asked sarcastically.

“Why? Am I not allowed to go to the banquet hall?”

“….”

“You said it yourself. That I’m the highest-ranking person in this castle. So why do you want me to be locked up like a prisoner?”

“………You’re the one who’s been reluctant to appear before people.”

“Don’t you really know why I’m reluctant?”

Suddenly, the pent-up resentment she had been suppressing deep within her heart reared its head.

Talia shoved his shoulder roughly, clasped her hands around her knees, and glared at him accusingly.

“It’s because we’ve ended up in this mess!”

A deep shadow fell over his eyes. She shouted at him like a loan shark demanding repayment.

“But even if I’m ashamed of myself, you shouldn’t be. Just because I’m hiding myself doesn’t mean you have to hide too!”

The veins in his neck stood out. His face showed he was scraping together every ounce of patience. That expression, struggling to hold back his anger, cut even deeper into her heart.

Talia snatched up the last remaining pillow and swung it at him. Varkas slightly furrowed the corner of one eye. She pelted his face with the pillow, one blow after another, as she hurled her accusations.

“Why did I come to the banquet hall? I wanted to hear what you lot were saying about me! I need to know what’s being said about being your wife, so I can figure out a way to survive! That’s why, instead of dressing up in a gown, I wrapped myself up tight in a robe like a rat and snuck in!”

He caught the flying pillow and shoved her onto the bed. Under his brutal grip, the thin fabric tore, sending snow-white feathers scattering in all directions.

Talia gasped for breath as she looked up at the feathers swirling like snowflakes.

Varkas, who had seized her wrists and pinned her to the bed, fixed her with a dark gaze. A strained voice poured out from his nostrils.

“I understand exactly what you mean.”

Taking a deep breath, Varkas added slowly.

“We will hold the succession ceremony within a few days. At that time, I will formally introduce you as the Grand Duchess of the East.”

Talia felt the hairs on her body stand on end. She had no way of knowing whether it was because of the fate that awaited her or because of the man standing before her.

He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and continued softly.

“So, just stay put until then.”

She glared at him with bloodshot eyes, her lips pressed tightly together. A few feathers settled on his shoulder. Varkas brushed them away with a light touch and slowly stood up.

Soon after, the sound of the door opening and closing echoed through the room. Talia stared blankly at the spot where he had been standing, then pulled the blanket up over her head.

***

After the brutal welcoming ceremony, a heavy tension began to hang over Raedgo Castle.

The maids, who had previously been stiff and formal, now moved with the caution of someone walking on thin ice, and the guards held their breath and lowered their eyes whenever she stepped out of her chambers.

It seemed a baseless rumor had spread that treating the Second Princess with disrespect would incur the wrath of the future Grand Duke.

It was a misunderstanding born of the fact that a retainer who had been rude to her had lost his life. That monstrous man had merely paid the price for challenging the heir to the Grand Duke’s house, but Talia made no effort to correct their mistaken belief.

It was safer to be feared than to appear easy to handle. If one tried to curry favor by fawning over others, one was bound to have one’s head trampled on. That was the wisdom she had acquired over many years.

“I don’t need any attendants, so stop bothering me and get out.”

Talia flipped through the pages of her book and waved one hand away haughtily.

The maids standing by the door exchanged awkward glances. Under normal circumstances, they would have retreated immediately, but as they stood their ground, Talia sharpened the edge of her voice.

“Can’t you hear me telling you to leave?”

“Your Highness, the succession ceremony is scheduled for this afternoon.”

The head maid spoke with a solemn expression. Talia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Already?”

She had heard from Varkas that the succession ceremony would take place within a few days, but she never imagined they would attempt to hold the ceremony in less than a week.

Lost in thought, she stepped down from the bed.

“Where is Varkas right now?”

“The Young Master is currently meeting with the High Priest who will preside over the succession ceremony. Once the final arrangements for the ceremony are settled, the ceremony is scheduled to begin immediately.”

Talia raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you only telling me this now!”

“The Young Master gave instructions not to let this reach Your Highness’s ears until the day of the ceremony.”

The head maid said, as if sighing.

Talia’s face twisted in frustration. She could guess what had prompted him to issue such an order.

He probably thought she’d hide or run away. Whenever she faced something she didn’t want to do, she had a habit of vanishing without a trace. This time was no exception. Overcome by the urge to flee at any moment, Talia gazed out the window. The head maid spoke in a gentle tone, as if trying to soothe her.

“There’s still time, so there’s no need to be so anxious.”

Talia glared at her with a nervous look, then muttered in a subdued voice.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“We’ve prepared the traditional Eastern attire for Your Highness to wear.”

The head maid let out a small sigh of relief and stepped aside. Immediately afterward, burly servants entered the room carrying piles of colorful garments adorned with elaborate embroidery.

“Since this style of dress is unfamiliar to the maids of the central region, we would appreciate it if you would allow us to handle your dressing this time.”

***

https://ko-fi.com/doraaaaatls