The Forgotten Field Chapter 86

Talia could no longer suppress her boiling anger and snatched up a pillow, throwing it at him.

“Then say what you want to say! Stop making my blood dry up!”

The feather-filled sack struck the back of his head with a dull thump. Varkas, who had been opening bottles from the shelf and checking them one by one, cast a cold glance over his shoulder.

Talia shrank her neck and pressed herself tightly against the headboard. She tensed, waiting for whatever retaliation might co, but after letting out a quiet sigh, Varkas knelt beside the bed.

“Give your hand.”

Talia only blinked blankly.

He pulled her hand toward him and held it up to the light. The skin of her palm was swollen and red.

Clicking his tongue, Varkas poured a sticky liquid over her hand. The burning sensation made Talia reflexively pull her arm away, but with her wrist firmly caught in his grip, she could not move at all.

She glared at him irritably.

“What are you doing?!”

“It works well on bruises.”

Replying curtly, Varkas spread the dicine evenly over her palm.

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

“I-it's fine now.”

“Stay still.”

His voice, lower than usual, ran down her spine.

She looked at him uneasily before lowering her eyes again. He slowly traced the faint lines carved into her palm.

Is this really treatnt?

The way his fingers persistently followed every line of her hand felt oddly unsettling.

“You've bruised your wrist.”

Suddenly, his voice dropped another note.

Talia swallowed with difficulty through her constricted throat.

She had no idea why her insides had suddenly shrunk in fear.

Sneaking glances at him, she finally put more strength into her arm and pulled free from his grasp.

“That's enough, so get out of my room.”

Turning her back on him, she lay down—

Only to find herself spun around again.

Startled, Talia looked up at him.

Bending over her, Varkas asked in a tone that sounded almost like an interrogation.

“Why did you co to the banquet today?”

She twisted her face.

So that was why he was so angry.

Sending him a poisonous glare, she asked mockingly,

“Why? Am I not allowed to go to a banquet?”

“......”

“You said it yourself. You said I'm the highest-ranking person in this castle. Then why do you want locked up like a prisoner?”

“......You were the one who avoided appearing in front of people.”

“And do you really not know why I avoid it?”

Suddenly, the resentnt she had buried deep inside rose to the surface.

Shoving his shoulder roughly, Talia wrapped both arms around her knees and glared at him accusingly.

“It's because I've beco this miserable thing!”

A dark shadow crossed his eyes.

Like a moneylender demanding repaynt, she barked at him.

“But even if I find myself shaful, you mustn't. Even if I choose to hide myself, you shouldn't try to hide too!”

The tendons stood out in his throat.

His face was one of soone desperately gathering his patience.

That expression, the one that showed him swallowing everything down and enduring her, twisted her insides even more.

Talia grabbed the remaining pillow and swung it at him. Varkas slightly narrowed one eye. Smacking him repeatedly with the pillow, she hurled accusations.

“You ask why I went to the banquet? I went because I wanted to hear what they were saying about behind my back! I need to know what they're saying about my treatnt if I'm going to find a way to survive! That's why instead of dressing up in gowns, I wrapped myself up in robes like a rat and crawled in there!”

He caught the flying pillow and shoved her back onto the bed.

The rough movent tore the thin fabric, and white feathers scattered everywhere.

Panting heavily, Talia stared at the feathers drifting down like snow.

Holding her wrists down against the bed, Varkas looked at her with darkened eyes. His suppressed voice poured over her face.

“I understand exactly what you an.”

Taking a deep breath, Varkas slowly continued.

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

Talia felt every hair on her body stand on end.

She did not know whether it was because of the fate awaiting her or because of the man before her.

Removing a strand of hair stuck to her cheek, he continued softly.

“So until then, behave yourself.”

Keeping her mouth tightly shut, she glared at him with bloodshot eyes.

Several feathers settled onto his shoulders. Brushing them away with a light motion, Varkas slowly stood up.

Soon, the sound of the door opening and closing echoed through the room.

Talia stared blankly at the place he had left behind before pulling the blanket all the way over her head.

* * *

After the brutal welcoming ceremony, a heavy tension settled over Laedgo Castle.

The maids, who had once acted stiffly around her, now behaved as though they were walking on thin ice, while the guards held their breath and lowered their eyes whenever she stepped outside.

Apparently, so ridiculous rumor had spread that anyone who treated the Second Imperial Princess carelessly would incur the wrath of the future Grand Duke.

It was a misunderstanding born from the death of the retainer who had insulted her.

That monstrous man had rely paid the price for challenging the heir of the Grand Ducal House, but Talia had no intention of correcting their mistaken assumptions.

It was safer to be feared than to appear easy prey.

If one foolishly bent over trying to earn the goodwill of others, they would only end up with their head crushed beneath soone's foot.

That was the lesson she had learned over many years.

“I don't need attendants, so stop bothering and get out.”

Turning a page, Talia waved one hand arrogantly.

The maids standing by the door exchanged troubled looks.

Normally they would have retreated imdiately, but seeing them stubbornly remain in place, Talia sharpened her voice.

“Didn't you hear tell you to leave?”

“Your Highness, the succession ceremony will be held this afternoon.”

The head maid spoke with a solemn expression.

Talia's eyes widened.

“Already?”

Varkas had told her the ceremony would take place within a few days, but she had never imagined he would hold it before even a week had passed.

Her face drained of color as she lowered her feet from the bed.

“Where is Varkas right now?”

“The Young Lord is currently eting with the High Priest who will preside over the succession ceremony. Once the details of the ritual have been finalized, the ceremony will begin imdiately.”

Talia raised the corners of her eyes.

“And you're only telling this now?!”

“It was the Young Lord's orders that Your Highness not hear about it until the day itself.”

The head maid spoke with a sigh.

Talia grimaced.

She could easily imagine what he had been thinking when he gave such instructions.

He probably thought I'd hide or run away.

Whenever faced with sothing she hated, Talia had often vanished without a trace.

This ti was no exception.

Overco by the urge to flee imdiately, she looked out the window.

Seeing this, the head maid spoke gently, trying to soothe her.

“There is still ti, Your Highness, so there is no need to be so anxious.”

Talia glared at her irritably before muttering in a sowhat deflated voice,

“What am I supposed to do?”

“We have prepared the traditional attire of the East for Your Highness.”

The head maid let out a small sigh of relief and stepped aside.

Monts later, several burly servants entered the room carrying piles of brightly colored garnts embroidered with elaborate patterns.

“The attire of the East is unfamiliar to the maids from the central region, so for this occasion, we hope Your Highness will allow us to attend to your preparations.”