“Her Highness is really beautiful, isn’t she”
“I’ve never seen anyone sparkle like that before I thought she was a fairy stepping out of the water”
“Are all Silvanans like that I knew they were small but are all of them like that You saw her yourself Her Highness is special”
“I thought Silvanans were short and fragile but I guess that was prejudice When there’s someone like Her Highness”
“Did you see how Prince Tarkan treated Her Highness I’ve never seen His Highness like that before”
The court ladies’ chatter drifted over the wall.
The maids from the Silvanus Empire heard it and clenched their fists.
“What’s so great about that worm who was treated like vermin”
“I’m worried the princess won’t know her place here”
“It’s savage level for him to call her beautiful after seeing her filthy state”
“Her Highness’s face is somewhat pretty but she’s hardly a great beauty in Silvanus”
“Right We can admit she’s a bit fair to look at but not enough to cause a fuss At best slightly above average”
“In that barbarian kingdom they must lack real beauties”
“What standards They rave about that dimwit as if she were gorgeous”
The maids sneered and snorted.
“But that monster they call the prince was quite… ahem, different from what I expected”
They pictured Tarkan.
His broad shoulders and taut back muscles the ease with which he lifted Aristine.
Honestly the Silvanus knights next to him looked like novices.
It wasn’t just his physique but his cool gaze long nose bridge slightly thin lips and pronounced jawline.
“Haah”
Just recalling him made them sigh without realizing it.
His predatory look sent shivers down their spines even from a distance.
A dangerous man.
Yet all the more attractive for it.
But to think he would wed that sewer rat princess
“He doesn’t suit that filthy princess”
“Exactly We’d be a far better match”
“He’ll probably tire of her soon Anyway she’s been locked away alone for over ten years No wonder there’s something off about her”
“As ladies-in-waiting we must treat His Highness well since he’s serving our princess”
“Indeed with devotion hehe”
Their laughter rang out.
As they mocked her, Tarkan’s voice called out behind them.
“Your Highness”
One of the Silvanus knights appeared at a trot. The maids snapped to attention.
“Did you hear”
The knight looked grave. The maids frowned.
Had that idiot princess gotten lost again and caused an accident?
They’d give her a proper lesson if so.
“What is it”
“The princess met with the King of Irugo”
“What”
But the scandal far exceeded their expectations.
“Now”
“We must go at once”
They needed an excuse to follow.
The knight shook his head.
“They already met and returned. She’s now speaking alone with that monster of a barbarian. They’ve cleared the area—I don’t think we can enter”
The maids’ faces drained of color.
“Surely not”
“It’ll be fine, won’t it”
Rosalyn smirked and shook her head.
“What could go wrong It’s that idiot princess”
“Right The royals who came to watch surely complained of a dirty woman and she was summoned”
“So her talking alone with Prince Tarkan must mean”
“He’s scolding her after humiliating her enough”
They relaxed into smug smiles. The more she earned Tarkan’s wrath, the more they would stand out.
“I hope His Highness teaches her a lesson She’s so inept”
“He must be exhausted dealing with her We should send tea later as thanks for his effort”
They grinned contentedly.
After tea, Tarkan personally escorted Aristine to her room.
“Your Highness”
As the door opened and Aristine appeared, the knight inside shouted.
“Where have you been wandering that you return so late You must behave in Irugo……”
He fell silent when Tarkan stepped forward beside her.
“Prince Tarkan”
The knight’s voice trembled. He looked ashamed and glared defiantly at Tarkan.
“Did I mishear”
Tarkan looked down and murmured.
“Your Highness’s matters are none of your concern This is Silvanus business”
Such words from a mere knight to a foreign prince were unheard of. Aristine thought it astonishing he could still put on bravado.
Did he not realize how ridiculous that was
“It’s my bride’s affair”
Tarkan approached the knight step by step. With each step, the knight fought the urge to retreat.
Though unarmed and calm, Tarkan exuded an overwhelming pressure.
“We don’t need dogs that defy their lord”
With a crack the knight’s face turned away. Unable to withstand Tarkan’s strength, he collapsed grotesquely to the floor.
Ah refreshing Aristine thought indifferently from behind Tarkan.
“What… what”
Tarkan pressed his boot gently on the knight’s head.
“I am a knight of the Great Silvanus Empire”
He spat out in a last defiant gasp.
“Ah, right”
Tarkan eased the pressure. Relief washed over the knight’s face.
He gritted his teeth inside. I will formally protest this outrage. But instead Tarkan said:
“It’s best to leave the fate of my bride’s dog to her”
What will you do
Tarkan’s eyes asked.
Aristine realized: whatever she decided, he would abide by it. Yet he watched, curious or expectant, for her choice.
A faint smile curved her lips.
“Your Highness”
The knight barked at Aristine, as though asking what to do next.
“Order him to remove his foot”
Even that would be gratitude, yet he still barked at her.
But the knight’s courage shattered. Tarkan pressed harder, crushing his nose bridge until blood spattered.
The knight could not utter another word, though he glared at Aristine from his foul position. His look said clearly: ‘Why aren’t you stopping him, you idiot princess’
It amazed Aristine that his brain still worked in this moment.
They had underestimated her because she had kept silent so long.
〈But she’s pretty and has a fine figure〉
〈She’s filthy now but will be lovely once cleaned〉
〈She’s to marry that barbarian monster—won’t she be grateful if fine knights like us show her kindness〉
As they moved to Irugo, the knights joked about her.
Aristine stepped forward and placed her hand on Tarkan’s arm. He flexed his muscles in surprise.
Oh firm, she thought curiously.
The knight relaxed, believing Aristine had interceded. She smiled warmly like a gracious goddess.
“Husbands and wives are one in spirit”
Her voice was soft and melodic.
“First, step on him”
Her next words lacked mercy. A flicker of amusement crossed Tarkan’s face.
He bared his teeth in a low laugh and said to her:
“As my bride wishes”
His golden eyes gleamed darkly, his voice a lazy purr.
Hmm, a man who thrills at trampling others
Aristine subtly backed away a step from Tarkan.
Indeed a pervert.
‘It’s clean now’
Aristine thought as she eyed the glossy floor.
Moments ago the floor had been spattered with blood.
I wonder how his nose and teeth fared
His strike had seemed effortless yet the knight had writhed like a fish before losing consciousness and being taken to prison.
That was for the best. A man like that shouldn’t marry—it’s a service to humanity.
She dropped the thought of the knight lightly.
She felt elated. Securing an alliance with Tarkan had been her first goal in Irugo. Or rather, her first goal in life after years of confinement.
Achieving it felt exhilarating.
He also seemed a decent match for a political marriage. He hadn’t scolded her for eating all the scones.
I hope we can have tea together again
Raspberry compote, blueberry compote—each had its own charm. With clotted cream, the flavors deepened. She looked forward to trying other jams.
They had said she was going to her death. But she felt lucky to be in this political marriage.
“Your Highness”
A loud call made Aristine look up. The maids were shrieking her name.
“What”
“Why didn’t you answer after calling so many times”
They muttered that perhaps her head was strange—hardly a private whisper.
“Can you understand what dogs bark”
At her sudden question a maid scowled.
“Of course not Why, does Your Highness understand them”
“After being locked away alone for over ten years I guess you learn to understand them”
“Aren’t you speaking with dogs because no one spoke to you Perhaps you’re on their level”
They burst into mocking laughter.
“Dogs at least understand humans and know to sit when told and wait when told”
Aristine murmured slowly.
“You’re worse than dogs”
“What did you say”
“Were those words for us”
They could not believe the princess, usually so meek, spoke thus. Their faces turned ashen with rage.
“At first I didn’t know what the barking was but the more I heard the more I thought it wasn’t even as good as a dog”
Aristine rested her chin and crossed her legs lazily.
They could not fathom this situation. After learning that one of the Silvanus knights had been beaten and imprisoned by Tarkan, they had expected to reprimand her. Instead…
Something was off.
They fought the urge to back away as they glared at Aristine.
“If His Majesty the Emperor learns of this”
“What if he does”
Aristine smiled softly. That smile felt like mockery and their cheeks flushed red.
In the empire she’d been beneath them all. She’d lacked a single maid and never had a proper budget. She’d eaten like a beggar.
Even a court official who pitied her secretly allocated funds so she could eat, but did not let her have them—they went to the maids’ families instead. Technically not a crime since the official erred by using palace funds without the Emperor’s knowledge and they merely righted that wrong.
Thus they grew up believing whatever belonged to the princess was theirs. She was inferior, they more noble.
Yet now the idiot princess laughed at them.
Enraged, Rosalyn stepped forward and shouted.
“Have you forgotten His Majesty’s commands If he knew of this behavior what would he say Don’t forget your duty Your Highness”
The maids had always held the reins over her.
They should have.
Moments ago they still had the leash.
“My duty”
“Have you forgotten”
Rosalyn sneered. The princess’s role was to spark a war More precisely…
“To die isn’t it your role”
Husband is secured now I’ll just make money