Gossips eagerly competed to wag their tongues.
There were not a few who raised their voices, saying that although it was unfortunate that the Second Princess had met with disaster, it was not proper to place that responsibility on Sir Siarkan.
According to principle, they said, should it not have ended with punishing the Second Princess’s exclusive guard knight?
Above all, this was a decision that did not consider the First Princess’s position at all.
Although it was an engagement based on political interests, the two had built a connection since childhood.
Their official engagement had taken place three years ago, but in effect, their betrothal period had lasted well over ten years.
Many people poured out criticism over the measure that unilaterally separated the two of them.
And everyone agreed that behind the Emperor’s unreasonable judgment, the Empress’s influence must have played a powerful role. It was an open secret that she was engaging in political strife to make her young son Emperor.
“What do you think will happen to the relationship between His Highness the Crown Prince and House Siarkan from now on?”
The maid stirring the pot with a ladle asked, turning to the healer dispatched from the Empress’s Palace.
The middle-aged sorcerer named Marisen frequently went in and out of the Main Palace as well, so she was well versed in all kinds of rumors.
As she finely chopped a bundle of fresh medicinal herbs with a knife, she answered indifferently.
“Well… If Sir Siarkan truly breaks his engagement with the First Princess and marries the Second Princess, then in effect, we should consider the firm alliance between the two factions over.”
“Then House Siarkan might turn to supporting His Highness the Second Prince?”
Marisen put on a skeptical expression.
“Considering Sir Siarkan’s nature, I wonder if he would really change his position so easily.”
“Why? His Highness the Second Prince is much better than that Crown Prince, who’s like a good-for-nothing.”
At the maid’s careless remark, the healer sent her a stern warning look.
“You had better watch your mouth. No matter how limited the people coming and going here are, in the Imperial Palace, even the walls have ears.”
The maid stuck out her lips sulkily.
However, perhaps she was frightened inside, for she needlessly looked around.
Seeing that, the healer let out a small laugh and resumed her cutting.
Whatever happened to the relationship between the Crown Prince and House Siarkan had little to do with her.
She kept her ears open to rumors for self-preservation, but fundamentally, she had little interest in anything outside her own duties.
Marisen placed the rare medicinal herbs she had obtained with difficulty into a small pot and pulled the bellows.
Before long, mandrago sap began bubbling, and a rich herbal scent spread throughout the kitchen.
Once the herbs had steeped sufficiently, she placed the jar on the carriage and let it cool, when a rough voice suddenly came from outside.
“Is no one here!”
The maid, who had been sweating profusely as she shoved firewood into the furnace, looked up in surprise.
“Was someone supposed to come?”
“I haven’t received any notice…”
Marisen stuck her head out the window and looked toward the entrance of the detached palace.
Between the dense bushes, she saw people standing in long, flowing robes. At a glance, they did not seem to be people sent from the Empress’s Palace.
Frowning at an ominous premonition, Marisen pushed the maid toward the back door.
“I’ll go outside and check. You go to the Empress’s Palace and call the soldiers.”
At present, there were only three or four maids, the Second Princess’s nanny, and herself, the healer, in the detached palace.
Because of the Second Princess, who was exceptionally picky about people, they could not even keep a proper guard stationed there.
If those people tried to do harm, there was no way for them to stop it.
The maid, who understood that well, quickly left the kitchen.
Marisen waited until the maid had gone far enough, then crossed the hall and opened the front door.
At the entrance of the detached palace stood two men in military uniforms and three women who appeared to be nobles.
Marisen looked them over warily and carefully opened her mouth.
“What brings you here?”
“We have come to see Thalia Roem Ghirta.”
The woman standing at the very back walked forward as she spoke.
When Marisen confirmed her face, she gasped. The woman with the highest status in the Empire after the Empress was standing before her eyes.
Marisen quickly bowed her head.
“I greet Her Highness the First Princess.”
“You may dispense with the formalities. Just guide me to that child.”
Ayla Roem Ghirta pressed her in a voice tinged with fatigue.
Marisen raised her head, hesitated for a moment, then carefully expressed her refusal.
“I am sorry, Your Highness, but the Second Princess has not yet fully recovered her health. If you visit again at a later date…”
“Are you afraid I might harm my younger sister?”
The Princess’s voice suddenly turned cold.
“Your loyalty is admirable, but it seems you do not know whom you are dealing with. I was not making a request. I was giving an order.”
“……”
“If you understood, then lead the way.”
Marisen, frozen like a mouse placed before a snake, eventually turned her steps.
All the way to the room, the First Princess did not say a single word.
Marisen, who kept glancing at her mood over her shoulder, swallowed dryly as she looked at the bedroom door drawing closer.
Several hours had passed since the incense was lit, so by now, the Second Princess should have awakened.
But she was deeply worried whether her patient, weakened as much as one could be, could deal with this imposing visitor.
“You all wait here. I will go in alone.”
When they reached the end of the corridor, the Princess gave a firm instruction to the attendants following her, then sent Marisen an overbearing look.
Under the silent pressure telling her to announce her arrival quickly, Marisen hesitantly knocked on the door.
“Your Highness, a guest has come to see you. May we enter?”
But no answer came from inside.
Could she still be asleep?
After hesitating for a moment, Marisen carefully pulled the doorknob.
Inside the room lingered the sharp scent of herbs and a thick sweetness like that of fruit just before it rotted.
Marisen frowned at the scent that made her head dizzy, then startled when she found Thalia lying limp on the bed like a corpse.
She hurriedly ran to the side of the bed and placed her hand under Thalia’s nose. Fortunately, she could feel a faint breath.
Her sigh of relief lasted only a moment. Beneath the skirt hem that had rolled up to her thighs, she saw legs in a terrible state.
It seemed she had once again unwrapped the bandages on her own and torn at the scars, for the reddish skin was full of scratch marks.
After letting out a heavy sigh, Marisen placed her hand on Thalia’s legs and cast a simple healing magic.
At that moment, a bony hand reached out and grabbed her wrist.
Marisen flinched and turned her head, then unconsciously held her breath when she met those misted blue eyes.
The unfocused eyes wandered aimlessly through the air.
Following the subtle movement of that gaze, the deep blue irises rippled like waves.
They were eyes that scattered a person’s mind, like the smoke the Princess breathed in every day.
“…Who said you could come in as you please?”
Thalia parted her lips, where blood scabs had dried, and released a beautiful voice mixed with a metallic rasp.
Only then did Marisen snap back to her senses and quickly pull the blanket up to cover Thalia’s legs.
“I am sorry, Your Highness. A guest insisted on seeing you…”
As she straightened herself and gestured toward the door with her eyes, Thalia’s gaze immediately followed.
Marisen could feel the Second Princess’s fragile body tense sharply.
Thalia, who staggered as she raised her upper body, glared warily at her half-sibling.
“What brings you all the way to such a shabby place?”
“I came because I wanted to talk.”
The First Princess stepped into the room, silently looked down at her younger sister’s visibly sick face, then turned her head toward Marisen.
“Leave us for a moment.”
Pushed by the First Princess’s oppressive presence, Marisen hesitantly moved out of the bedroom.
Just as she was about to close the door, the sight of the sisters born from different wombs pierced her eyes.
Unlike Thalia Roem Ghirta, who looked as though she might shatter into pieces at any moment, Ayla Roem Ghirta was shining brightly with vitality.
For some reason, the contrast left a bitter taste in her mouth.
Marisen gazed at Thalia for a moment with shadowed eyes, then soon closed the door with a heavy sigh.
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