Chapter 39
----------------------------------------------------------------- Translator: Diva Chapter: 39 Chapter Title: No More Trouble -----------------------------------------------------------------
Barkas arrived at the carriage in a flash and dropped her onto the seat as if tossing her aside.
Talia rubbed her throbbing buttocks and glared at him with eyes full of indignation. But when she saw his harshly set face, she froze. Barkas looked down at her, his expression showing his patience had reached its limit, and ground out,
"I warned you not to cause any more trouble, didn't I?"
Her hesitation lasted only a moment before Talia shot him a defiant glare.
"Why should I listen to you? Who the hell do you think you are anyway?!"
"Better than a princess in name only."
A cold sneer curled at Barkas's lips.
Talia surged to her feet in a burst of anger. She wouldn't be able to stand it unless she slapped that arrogant face of his.
But Barkas was a step faster. He leaned over her, pinning her arms in place, and looked down at her with impassive eyes. His dry gaze, devoid of any pity, swept over her bloodied cheek and the neck that was surely bruised black.
A weary sigh escaped his lips, as if he were utterly fed up.
"Do you really not understand why you're throwing such a tantrum? No one here will actively protect you. If His Highness the Crown Prince sets his mind to it, no one can guarantee your life."
"Why do you even care?"
Talia snapped sharply.
"Wouldn't you be the most relieved if I just disappeared from this world?"
"I can't deny that."
Even though she'd expected that answer, Talia felt a pain like her heart was bleeding.
He continued in a calm, almost cruel tone.
"But I can't let you jeopardize His Highness the Crown Prince's position. So if you want to harm yourself, at least do it with your own hands."
Talia forced back the heat rising in her eyes.
He slowly straightened up. The sharp edges of his face were now masked by the stern visage of a knight. He added in a businesslike tone,
"For now, I'll summon a healing sorcerer. Tend to your wounds and get some rest."
Talia's response was to grab a goblet from the floor and hurl it at him. The silver cup struck his chest and clattered to the ground. Barkas shot her a cold, disgusted look before stepping out of the carriage.
Talia slammed the door shut. The tears she'd desperately held back finally spilled down her cheeks. Afraid her sobs might leak out, she clamped a hand over her mouth. The sob caught in her throat tightened her chest. She wanted to just suffocate right there.
* * *
Atop Ulgram Hill stood only a white temple, said to have been built by Emperor Darian to commemorate Osiria's independence.
Pilgrims stopped before it, gazing up at the majestic structure gleaming pure white with awe-filled eyes.
Even after the long passage of time, the temple was preserved almost perfectly.
They fell into religious ecstasy as they scanned the prayers carved into the walls and the statues of various heroes. But the Crown Prince seemed utterly unmoved by the relic left by his ancestor.
Gares dismounted from his saddle with a lazy leap and scanned the arched entrance with bored eyes.
"So this is the second holy site?"
"Yes, Your Highness,"
one of his attendants replied in a tense voice.
The servants knew full well that his mood had been in the gutter since yesterday, so they all wore cowed expressions, stealing glances at him. Only Barkas maintained his usual composed demeanor.
"There are no resident priests here. We'll prepare the ritual ourselves."
Barkas said as he approached the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince whipped around, glaring at him with eyes laced with strange hostility.
"Then quit dawdling and get on with it."
No sooner had he given the order than the attendants parked the carriages near the temple and began unloading the baggage. The late-arriving attendants of the First Princess and Second Princess joined in.
While the soldiers swiftly erected tents, the servants unpacked incense burners, holy platters, silver pitchers, and candelabras for the ritual from the chests and polished them until they gleamed. Once the basics were set, the maids helped the Crown Prince and First Princess with their preparations.
Edric, watching the scene from a short distance away, approached the carriage where Talia was holed up. It was about time to urge her to prepare for the ritual if she was participating. But for some reason, the words wouldn't come.
He stared at the firmly shut door and scratched the back of his head roughly. The image of the Second Princess from the night before made his stomach churn.
He let his raised arm, meant for knocking, drop limply and glanced at the Crown Prince's tent set up nearby.
While servants hauled out a large bathtub in front of the tent, filled it with water, and lit a fire beneath it, the Crown Prince lounged in a chair, sipping wine leisurely. The sight left a bitter taste in Edric's mouth.
'He beat my little sister half to death, and he doesn't feel the slightest guilt.'
He'd heard rumors that the Crown Prince had laid hands on the Second Princess, but he hadn't imagined it was that bad.
Edric clenched his fist, recalling the sight of that frail, slight woman struggling as a man the size of a mountain punched her face and choked her neck. It was a good thing Knight Sheerkhan had been nearby, or a tragedy might have unfolded.
Edric looked down at his sweat-slicked palms and turned away.
Talia Roem Guirta would no doubt stubbornly refuse to participate in the ritual anyway. No need to waste his energy.
As he swallowed a heavy sigh and started toward the temple, a rattling sound came from behind him.
"Hey, you."
Edric whipped around in surprise and widened his eyes at the sight of Talia standing at the carriage entrance, arms crossed. The woman, wearing her usual haughty expression as if nothing had happened, stepped down and jerked her chin at him.
"Fetch the maids."
"...Pardon?"
She shot an irritated glare at him as he blinked dumbly.
"Are you ugly, stupid, and deaf now? I'm getting dressed for the ritual—bring the maids this instant!"
Stunned by the unprecedented outburst, Edric turned and gathered the maids assigned by the Empress.
For some reason, seeing Talia bossing them around with such vigor brought a sigh of relief. The healing sorcerer had cleanly mended her wounds last night, but after going nearly a full day without eating and enduring such an ordeal, he'd worried she might fall ill.
'Good, she seems fine.'
Of course. She'd barely escaped with her life and still mocked the Crown Prince without a hint of submission. She wouldn't break that easily.
Edric let out a wry chuckle, then ordered the servants to fetch water and commanded his men to don their uniforms impeccably. With the Second Princess finally willing to take part in the imperial ritual, he intended to serve her properly as her guard knight.