The Abandoned Princess’ Secret Bedroom - Chapter 22
Chapter 22
***
***
“It’s hot.”
Llewelyn patted her neck. The burning sensation on the back of her neck made it feel as if the sleeping brand had awoken. Fortunately, the heat felt weak, so it seemed that there was still time before it reawakened. Llewelyn, who was writing to Ernell about the stigma, sighed.
She didn’t want to go to the king’s birthday banquet.
If Pamela herself had prepared a dress, it meant that she had something planned. Being treated worse than a maid in front of maids was tolerable. But it was still difficult to tolerate being treated that way among nobles.
Besides, Almondite would also be at the banquet.
“… Let’s be patient.”
Llewelyn touched the stinging wound on her cheek. She needed some medicine. As soon as she pulled the string, her door opened. She was shocked that a maid had come so quickly, but after seeing who it was, Llewelyn frowned.
“Did I ever tell you to come in?”
“You are not permitted entry!”
A man’s sharp voice was heard as Almondite forced his way inside.
“Let him go.”
Llewelyn blinked and the escort released Almondite’s arm.
“Princess.”
“Leave us.”
The knights nodded at Llewelyn’s words. As the knights left, Almondite quickly sat across from Llewelyn. The way he expressed his anger was elegant. Instead of shouting, Almondite spoke in a subdued voice.
“Why didn’t you contact me right away?”
“… What are you talking about?”
“I’m telling you why I’m here. There’s no other reason the Red Knights suddenly took charge of your escort, right?”
At Almondite’s words, Llewelyn asked, puzzled. “Why do I have to tell you anything?”
“Llewellyn.”
“… I forgot that there are many eyes and ears in the royal palace. I need to change my maids.”
Almondite clenched his jaw.
“I’m talking about you being attacked in the middle of the royal palace.”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
“Nothing to do with me? Are you…”
“…”
“Llewellyn.”
His tone of voice suddenly took on a cold chill. It was the first time she knew that a voice calling her name could be so cold, full of anger and resentment.
“What is that wound?”
“… It doesn’t matter, it’s common.”
“It doesn’t matter? Did you know that even if you only had a scratch on your finger, the maids’ necks would have been blown off by Queen Delphina*?”
[E/N: Llewelyn’s mother]
“That sounds unusual.”
“You grew up precious. I wonder how much we…”
His voice trembled slightly. Llewelyn didn’t want to accept the emotions that those words made her feel. It was as if she was trying to run away from those deep emotions.
She quickly distracted herself with other thoughts. What should she do with this wound? Being a spectacle was disgusting. Just then, Llewelyn turned her head and widened her eyes. What? Llewellyn felt she must have seen it wrong, but she knew she was seeing it right.
Almondite was crying. He had a dull expression on his face, but his eyes were red and the corners of his eyes were moist.
Llewelyn was so startled that she couldn’t say anything. Was he really crying? As soon as she realized that he was crying, she, too, felt like doing the same. What was he crying about? Who was he to sympathize with her? She wanted to let out her tears, but she clenched her teeth and struggled to contain her emotion.
“Is it sad to see me now?”
“…”
“I can’t afford to watch you cry. I want you to leave.”
It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford it, but that she couldn’t bear it. Almondite stood up at Llewelyn’s words. But instead of leaving, he suddenly grabbed Llewelyn’s hand.
“Alman!”
Llewelyn pulled back. As if she wanted to be buried in the sofa, she pressed her head into the chair. Her beautiful turquoise eyes shone as if they were sucking him in.
“…Llewellyn. My dear ‘Queen’.”
“…”
When Llewelyn’s eyes widened, he kissed the back of the hand he was holding. A warm feeling spread across her wrist. It felt different from the feeling of Asmodeus’s brand. It felt reverent and bizarre.
“You…”
It wasn’t harassment or even sexual contact. He continued to kiss Llewelyn’s hand as if it were some kind of holy ritual.
“I have already decided to go to Hell, Llewelyn.”
Tears welled up in Almondite’s eyes. The tears that flowed down his cheeks were shining like diamonds, not water. They were almost flowing over his lips.
“So, I’m not going to leave you like this.”
“…”
“I will keep my promise.”
Crying was not an expression of weakness. Still, how did this man express his emotions that even his tears were cold and hard like jewels?
“I will hold your hand.”
The crying man announced his decision.
“How the hell did this happen?”
Llewelyn sighed again. There were more and more annoying people around her. Seeing Tristan’s worried expression, she said.
“Mother disciplined me. You don’t have to worry about it.”
Tristan was at a loss for words. Who knew the royal family would be so childish? The Queen hurt her stepdaughter’s cheek.
It was a warning against keeping the Red Knights under her command, but Llewelyn ignored it. She didn’t want to worry.
Llewelyn’s biggest ally, her mother, was executed, and Pamela’s biggest ally, her half-brother the Duke of Brion, was suppressing a rebellion.
There was no elegant strategy in a game that had already been lost. Only childish bullying remained.
Llewelyn sighed. It was painful to see Tristan like this. Her virtuous self-esteem continued to suffer.
“Is this common?”
Llewelyn did not answer Tristan’s question. Instead, she spoke of something else.
“Sir, I want to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“What was it that you were going to give me last time?”
“Ah…”
Tristan seemed to remember. Llewelyn’s attempt to change the subject was successful.
“You said you like animals.”
“What?”
“A baby bird…”
“Huh? A bird? A baby bird?”
Why a bird suddenly? And was ‘baby bird’ a suitable word for that man to even say?
“I… sir. But why did you get me a baby bird?”
“Didn’t you say you like animals?”
Llewelyn kept her mouth shut. Her heart was pounding out of her chest. ‘Because she likes it.’ For Tristan, that was a natural reason.
“Tristan, Do you like me?” Llewelyn suddenly asked, and Tristan’s eyes widened. He furrowed his eyebrows in a look of displeasure. She politely apologized.
“Sorry. I accused you so suddenly.”
“… No.” Tristan raised a hand to stop her. She felt really offended. An awkward silence passed. Tristan looked at Llewelyn and said. “I will pause the escort for a while.”
“Yes.”
The escort was significantly reduced because it was so unpleasant to her. He bowed politely and left. Her attempts to divert attention from the wound on the cheek were successful, but now she was embarrassed. She was trying to keep her distance, but were they becoming too close?
Llewelyn wiggled her fingers, thinking deeply about the banquet the next day. Did she really have to wear that dress?
Just thinking about it made her feel bad. After all, they wouldn’t be clothes that fit her body type, since they were Pamela’s. As she sighed, a polite knock resonated through the room. It was Tristan again.
He hesitated with a shy expression on his face. “Princess.”
“Why are you here again?”
What was wrong with her escort? At that moment, Llewelyn heard a chirp.
“Huh?”
Tristan brought out what he was holding behind his back. It was a small cage.
“Uh… What is that?”
“It’s a bird.”
“Yes. I know that.”
The appearance of the bird was unusual. It was clearly a baby bird, smaller than Llewelyn’s fist, but its eyes were sharp.
“This… So is it a hawk?”
“No. This is Horus.”
“Horus?”
“It is a bird handled by the Zakat people. It is difficult to deal with because of its ferocious nature.”
“…”
“According to legend, they are said to be descendants of the golden raven.”
Llewelyn watched the bird in the cage.
“Uh… Sir Jayad.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“How can I handle such a ferocious bird that the mighty Zakat struggle to handle?”
“…”
Tristan didn’t answer. It was clear he had not thought of that until now, and Llewelyn was rather embarrassed. Wasn’t Tristan a smart warlord? Why did he keep acting like this? Like he wasn’t thinking?
“That… I will teach you.”
“Do you know how to handle them?”
“Yes. I have before.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
