Free Web Novel“It seems the court mages have purchased another monster.”
The head maid, who had been quietly following behind her, answered with a sigh.
As though drawn by something, Talia approached the cage.
The creature wrapped in black wings slowly raised its head.
Talia flinched and hunched her shoulders.
The massive body of a monstrous bird, covered in dark brown feathers, had a human woman's head attached to it.
Yet it looked less like a living woman and more like a corpse stitched onto another body.
As Talia stared blankly at the pale face threaded with blue veins, a fishy voice, like rotting seafood, reached her ears.
“Do you feel a sense of kinship?”
Talia whipped around.
Gareth stood directly behind her, dressed in a crimson doublet.
A mocking smile curved his lips as he spoke lazily.
“A woman's face attached to a monster's body... Doesn't it remind you of someone?”
His narrowed eyes traveled down her body and stopped upon the leg concealed beneath her dress. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
The smile on her half-brother's face deepened.
“I heard the scar is absolutely horrific... Though unlike that monster, you at least have the luxury of hiding your body.”
At that instant, something bitter as bile surged up her throat.
Talia spun around and struck the exalted Crown Prince across the face.
Someone nearby let out a sound like a pig being slaughtered.
It was probably the head maid who had been shadowing her like a jailer. At the edge of her vision, Talia vaguely saw the woman staggering backward.
She paid no attention.
With fingernails still stained from bruising, Talia raked them across Gareth's bronze face.
Four vivid crimson lines appeared from the corner of his eye to his jaw.
It was not nearly enough.
She raised her arm again.
The Imperial Guards rushed forward and seized her from both sides before she could strike a second time.
Talia thrashed like an animal caught in a trap.
No matter how violently she struggled, she could not break free.
Tears burst from her eyes in helpless fury.
She glared at her half-brother with bloodshot eyes.
That perfect body.
No.
It was no longer perfect.
The moment Talia saw blood trickling down his face, she burst into laughter.
“Say it again. Go on. I'll leave you with a face that can never smile again. I have nothing left to lose now. That's why I'm not afraid of anything.”
Gareth stared at her in stunned disbelief, one hand pressed against his cheek.
Then his expression twisted into something terrifying.
A rough hand seized her hair.
Grabbing the carefully braided hairstyle that had taken hours to create, he yanked hard enough to feel as though he intended to snap her neck.
“How dare you... How dare a thing like you lay a hand on my face?”
His blood-smeared features flushed a furious red.
Talia laughed even harder.
She could see reason draining from his eyes.
His other hand clamped around her face.
The pressure increased until it felt as though her bones would shatter.
Even through the agony that threatened to split her skull apart, Talia did not stop laughing.
Then suddenly, another powerful hand intervened and pulled Gareth away from her.
Talia collapsed to the floor.
The crushing pressure vanished.
Her blurred vision cleared, and a familiar silhouette entered her sight.
Blinking vacantly, Talia suddenly jerked upright.
Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might rupture her eardrums.
With trembling hands, she hastily tugged her skirt down to her feet.
Above her head, a restrained voice spoke.
“Ha. Right. It was about time you showed up.”
Gareth violently shook off the hand gripping his wrist and ground his teeth together.
His dark green eyes burned like black flames from hell.
“So you've finally decided to betray us because of that woman?”
“...His Majesty ordered me to escort the Second Imperial Princess.”
“You always hide behind excuses like that—!”
“Your Highness's question will be answered after we have paid our respects to His Majesty.”
At Varkas's cryptic reply, Gareth's bloodstained face twisted into something grotesque.
A dreadful grinding sound emerged from between clenched teeth.
Gareth ground his jaw so hard it seemed liable to break before grabbing the future Grand Duke's shoulder.
“Fine. I'll be looking forward to hearing that answer.”
Then he shoved through the crowd and stormed away.
Varkas watched his retreating back for a moment before lowering his gaze toward her.
Every hair on Talia's body stood on end.
Within those abyss-like eyes that always made her feel small beyond measure, she saw her own miserable reflection.
It felt as though those eyes were tearing her apart piece by piece.
Talia pressed a trembling hand against the floor.
As she struggled to rise on shaking legs, a firm hand supported her back.
Startled, she shoved at the chest that had suddenly come so close.
“D-Don't...!”
The feeble resistance was ignored.
Varkas slid an arm beneath her knees and effortlessly lifted her into his arms.
A scream died in Talia's throat.
Terrified that her leg might be exposed, she immediately tugged her skirt downward.
Even after confirming that the long fabric completely covered her feet, the anxiety refused to fade.
Gripping the hem tightly, she forced out a weak voice.
“I-I can walk myself. Put me down.”
Varkas did not answer.
Talia swallowed.
His silence felt suffocating.
“I said put me down!”
When she raised her voice, she felt the arm holding her tighten slightly.
Looking up, Talia realized he was suppressing something.
She immediately fell silent.
Without taking his eyes off the path ahead, Varkas spoke in a low voice.
“I assume Your Highness has no desire to attract further attention. If you can endure me for a little while longer, you may at least avoid the humiliation of staggering beneath all those gazes.” ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Talia stared at him blankly before glancing around.
Dozens of eyes stared back at them, wide with shock and disbelief.
She lowered her head as though hiding from those gazes.
A faint sigh drifted over the crown of her head.
Another wave of tears threatened to spill over.
Talia bit down hard on her teeth.
“Just endure it a little longer.”
After whispering those words, he quickened his pace.
Soon, the enormous doors leading to the Emperor's audience chamber appeared before them.
The chief chamberlain guarding the entrance gaped openly when he saw Varkas carrying the Second Imperial Princess in his arms.
Ignoring the reaction, Varkas gave a small nod.
“His Majesty summoned us. Open the doors.”
The chamberlain hurriedly obeyed.
As the doors swung open, a vast hall flooded with brilliant light came into view, along with the golden throne.
Talia raised her head.
A massive man who seemed carved from power itself sat upon the highest seat, studying parchment documents with a bored expression.
Beside him sat Senevier.
She had been whispering something into his ear when she tilted her head and looked toward Talia.
An elegant smile bloomed upon ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) her pearl-like face.
“So you've finally arrived.”
Only then did the Emperor's gaze settle upon her.
Talia wet her dry lips.
She could feel those gloomy eyes slowly examining her.
Unable to endure the shame any longer, she struggled in Varkas's arms.
“Put me down now.”
Ignoring her demand, Varkas continued striding toward the throne.
Talia looked up at him in confusion.
She could not understand what this man was doing.
He was Aila's fiancé.
Was it truly acceptable for him to behave this way in front of the Emperor?
She looked nervously toward the throne again.
A reproachful voice cut through the air.
“I was told there was no real difficulty with your walking...”
Talia stiffened.
Without realizing it, she immediately began making excuses.
“I stumbled on the way here. Lord Siorcan merely helped me.”
Then she firmly pushed against Varkas's chest.
Only then did Varkas, who had been standing as motionless as a statue, finally set her down.
