Chapter 58
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 58
Thalia stiffened, the shock hitting her like a physical blow.
The woman turned around with practiced elegance and continued, "Her Majesty the Empress has commanded that Your Highness be adorned to perfection, fit for an audience with the Emperor. Please, cooperate."
She gave a slight nod to the maids. The four in the front row, carrying various garments, approached the bedside.
Thalia recoiled sharply. "All of you, get out. I have no intention of meeting that man."
"Refrain from such sacrilegious remarks."
The woman’s voice, previously soft and supple, suddenly turned as sharp as frost.
"Regardless of your status as an Imperial Princess, I cannot tolerate such reckless talk regarding His Imperial Majesty. I will overlook it this once, but see that you are more careful in the future."
After a brief flinch, Thalia’s eyes sharpened with a keen, bitter edge. "And if you don’t overlook it, what then? Are you going to run and tell the Emperor?"
"I wouldn’t put it past me," the woman replied coldly.
Thalia let out a dry, hollow laugh. "Is that so? Then run to the Main Palace right now and tell him! Tell him that the insolent Second Imperial Princess is screaming that she doesn’t want to see his damn face!"
Crack!
A stinging pain flared across the back of her hand. Thalia looked up at the woman in utter bewilderment.
The woman, who had just struck her with a slender switch, stared back with eyes like ice. "The authority Your Highness enjoys originates from His Imperial Majesty. I cannot overlook such blasphemy."
"How dare… How dare you…" Thalia trembled violently, the words catching in her throat.
Looking down at her with an indifferent gaze, the woman began walking toward the door. "Her Majesty the Empress gave strict orders to bring Your Highness before the Emperor by any means necessary. Do you truly wish for us to resort to more forceful measures?"
The woman whispered the threat as she threw the door wide open. Thalia’s breath hitched. Lined up in the hallway were soldiers belonging to the Empress’s palace.
The woman observed Thalia’s pale face as if savoring the sight before continuing softly. "There is no need for us to cause a scene. If Your Highness cooperates, this will be over quickly."
The message was clear: comply, or be taken by force.
Thalia clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white. Her eyes burned with a surge of humiliation. At this moment, if Senevia were standing before her, Thalia felt she could have driven a dagger into the woman’s heart.
Did she really have to trample Thalia’s last shred of dignity like this? She felt as though she could never, ever forgive that woman for the rest of her life.
"Now, hurry and wash Her Highness."
At the Head Maid’s command, two maids leaned over the bed. Thalia shoved their hands away roughly.
"Don’t touch me!"
Startled by the shrill scream, the maids scrambled back as if avoiding a shower of sparks, looking worried that she might seek retribution later. Noticing their hesitation, Thalia took on a more overbearing tone.
"I’ll leave the bathing to my Nanny. All of you, get out of my room."
The woman looked down at her with contemplative eyes before finally letting out a sigh of resignation. "Very well. However, you must leave the dressing to me. I will not compromise on that."
The Head Maid led the others out. A moment later, the Nanny rushed into the bedroom. She was someone who had always hurt Thalia with her thoughtless words, and yet, the moment Thalia saw her face, she felt like crying out of sheer relief.
Thalia buried her face in the Nanny’s shoulder as the older woman approached to support her. Unaware of Thalia’s crumbling heart, the Nanny was simply delighted.
"You heard the news from the Head Maid, didn’t you? His Majesty asked for you! He must be worried sick after hearing that you were injured."
Thalia let the Nanny’s chatter go in one ear and out the other as she struggled to stand. A stinging pain shot up through her bones. A surge of anger rose within her.
What did they mean, I would be able to walk without issue?
Her maimed leg couldn’t even properly support her own weight. Thalia gritted her teeth and dragged her aching leg behind a partition. As she stumbled and lowered herself into the marble tub, the Nanny poured warm water over her.
Soaking in the lukewarm water, Thalia looked down at her leg. The reddish-purple scar looked like a bloated earthworm. When she began to trace it with her fingertips, the Nanny slapped her hand away.
For a moment, a wave of sorrow washed over her, but Thalia pulled her hand back without a word. She was afraid the Nanny might get angry and leave the room.
"Now, tilt your head back so I can rinse your hair."
Following the instructions, Thalia leaned her head against the tub. Finally, once the soap was completely rinsed from her body, she staggered out. The Nanny dried her off and helped her into new undergarments and a petticoat.
"There. The Head Maid will take care of the rest."
As the Nanny left the room with a look of relief, the Head Maid returned with the other maids. Thalia silently endured the gaze that swept up and down her body as if she were being graded.
The woman circled her once before clapping her hands. "Braid her hair and put her in the clothes we prepared. I will choose the jewelry myself."
Soon, dozens of fingers began moving busily around her. Thalia felt as if she were being tortured, forced to endure being handled like a doll. Three or four maids repeatedly dressed and undressed her, while others braided her waist-length hair into intricate sections and pinned it up.
The Head Maid, who had watched the entire process with a discerning eye, finally nodded. "This will do."
The maids immediately stepped back. Thalia looked up at the Head Maid with exhausted eyes. The woman draped a pearly silk cape over Thalia’s shoulders and turned toward the entrance.
"It is time to go."
After a moment’s hesitation, Thalia left the room. She wanted to walk as naturally as possible, but her leg, dulled by nerve damage, would not move as she commanded. With every uneven step, she felt the soldiers’ eyes on her. She wanted to crush every single one of those eyeballs.
Suppressing her humiliation, she stepped out of the Annex Palace to find a carriage waiting. A strange man in armor stood beside it.
Did the previous knight quit?
The face of the man who had annoyed her throughout her journey flickered through her mind, but she soon decided it didn’t matter. He was just a personal guard; they were swapped out every season anyway.
Thalia boarded the carriage with an indifferent expression. The Head Maid, who boarded after her, spoke in a stern voice. "His Imperial Majesty will be discussing a matter of great importance today. Please, refrain from any behavior that lacks etiquette."
"What is this ‘matter of great importance’?"
"I do not know."
"Then how do you know if it’s important or just trivial nonsense?"
The woman clamped her mouth shut, her patience finally reaching its limit. Thalia turned her gaze away and looked out the window. Before she knew it, the carriage had left the Annex Palace garden and was racing across the vast grounds of the Imperial Household.
Watching the scenery blur past, Thalia massaged her knee, which had already begun to throb. Despite the thick cushions, the slight vibrations of the carriage made her joints ache. Wiping away the beads of sweat forming on her brow, she desperately swallowed the pain.
After some time, the carriage finally came to a halt. Stumbling outside, Thalia winced at the sight of the wide plaza drenched in white sunlight. Today, the area in front of the Main Palace was unusually crowded.
"His Majesty is waiting. Let us go," the Head Maid urged.
Thalia bit her lip and began to walk. The sight of people recognizing her and whispering invaded her vision. Trying her best to ignore them, she attempted to pass those blocking the entrance, but a soldier stopped her.
"You cannot pass through here right now. I am sorry, but please use the side door—" The soldier gasped as he belatedly recognized her face.
Thalia glared at him with a frigid gaze. "Who do you think you are blocking?"
"M-my apologies, Your Highness!" The soldier scrambled out of the way.
Thalia passed the people who were awkwardly bowing their heads and entered the building. Her entire body was drenched in sweat from the effort of trying to hide her limp. Despite her efforts, it wasn’t working.
She scanned the surroundings out of the corner of her eye. Just then, a massive cage placed on one side of the hall caught her eye. Thalia’s eyes widened at what lay inside.
"…What is that?"