Chapter 6

It was as if the sunlight lingered only on that silver hair.

Contrasting sharply with Tarqan's black hair, it appeared even more vivid.

‘Could it be...’

She tried to deny it, but in this situation, it was obvious who the owner of that silver hair was.

"Why are you just standing there? Why don't you come in?"

The king asked the three people who had stopped in their tracks.

Only then did they regain their composure and move towards the tea table.

The closer she got to Aristine, the more her heart churned with a foreboding she tried to suppress.

It was a scene she hadn't expected, but there was nothing strange about it.

She reassured herself several times.

‘It's just silver hair. There are black, red, and blonde hairs in the world, so there can be silver hair too. It's just ordinary silver hair.’

But the color and shine of the hair were far from ordinary.

It was a color that seemed to exude the fragrance of flowers just by looking at it.

‘R-right. She must have always had silver hair. I thought it was a dull, ashy gray like dust. That makes sense. She must have washed her hair. Just her hair...’

‘Right. No matter how clean she got, her face wouldn't become beautiful.’

As they whispered to each other, their shoulders, which had shrunk, became bold again.

They were embarrassed by their flustered state, so they approached Aristine with venom in their mouths.

"I came to see Father, but it seems the famous princess is here too."

"I was surprised to see someone I didn't expect."

That was their excuse for stopping.

"It's an honor to meet you in advance. As the princess of the Thousand-Year Empire, I expected you to be as noble and intelligent as your lineage suggests."

"Brother, just be honest. You were expecting how beautiful she would be. The Sylvanus royal family is famous for its handsome men and beautiful women."

"Haha, it's quite obvious, isn't it? Tarqan, you're really lucky."

The reason they were excessively praising Aristine was simple.

To lift her up high, only to bring her down even lower.

"The Sylvanus royal family has the oldest bloodline. A noble blood that combines beauty and intelligence..."

Princess Faellamien, the First Princess, was walking towards the tea table with a smile when she stopped upon seeing Yenikarina's face.

Yenikarina was smiling as usual, but her lips were subtly stiff, and her complexion was slightly pale.

‘Why is the one I like the most...’

Something was off.

The unease she had suppressed since seeing Aristine's back earlier was now swelling within her.

It had grown so large that she couldn't suppress it anymore.

Something was definitely wrong.

The moment she sensed this, Aristine turned to look at them.

The silver hair swayed, revealing a small face.

Mysterious violet eyes under long lashes, smooth white cheeks like cream, and sweet lips like sugar cookies.

Unlike the strong-featured Irlugons, her slender neck and limbs looked like those of a fairy.

‘Is this the ragged princess I saw earlier...?’

An involuntary sigh escaped her lips.

She had expected Aristine to be clean, wearing a beautiful dress and heavily made up.

But she thought it would only be to that extent.

The Aristine she had seen earlier was not just dirty and filthy but also repulsive.

No one could have imagined that such a beauty, one who could captivate people at first glance, was hidden within.

‘They said she looked like a palace mouse?’

‘I didn't know either!’

Silent conversations were exchanged loudly.

"Who are you?"

Aristine's lips parted, and her voice sounded almost surreal.

There's a difference between admiring beauty and having that beauty react to you.

"I... I am Prince Marten of Irlugon. It's an honor to meet you, Princess."

Marten, who had always been fond of women, introduced himself, entranced by Aristine.

He didn't notice that Aristine's manner of asking who they were was like addressing a subordinate.

‘That guy must have his brain between his legs, not in his head.’

Faellamien frowned and dramatically opened her fan.

"I am Princess Faellamien. This time, I'll let it slide, but be more careful with your words next time."

She laughed sarcastically, as if finding the situation absurd.

"Who are you? You don't look like a palace attendant who came to serve us."

"Exactly. As a princess of Sylvanus, don't you know basic etiquette?"

Princess Stalina, the Fourth Princess, glared at Aristine with a look of disbelief.

Despite their open criticism and disregard, Aristine's expression remained unchanged.

Not only was there no change, but there was no reaction at all.

This made Faellamien flinch.

She had clearly attacked, and her attack had been accepted without any counter, yet she felt no impact. Instead, she felt uncomfortable.

After a moment of awkward silence, Aristine spoke quietly.

"I think you misunderstood me..."

"Misunderstood? What exactly did I misunderstand?"

It was a ridiculous excuse, fitting the rumors of her stupidity.

Faellamien, ready to rebuke Aristine, smiled.

"I wasn't asking who you are. I was thinking to myself, 'Who were they?' because I felt like I had seen you somewhere before."

"......"

Upon hearing Aristine's response, Faellamien was speechless.

She felt a sting and half-covered her face with her fan.

‘I didn't expect her to remember my face so accurately in that chaotic moment...’

Faellamien and Marten had been among the royals who had gawked at Aristine when she first arrived at Tarqan's palace.

‘It can't be, can it? She must just think she's seen me somewhere because we passed by each other.’

She had already mocked the princess once.

If she pretended not to recognize her and then got caught, it would be embarrassing.

‘Especially in front of Father.’

She couldn't afford to give Father a reason to scold her.

The more she pushed, the more disadvantageous it would be for her, so she had to keep quiet.

‘No, she can't be doing this on purpose. They say she was exiled and didn't receive proper education, so she probably doesn't know how to speak tactfully.’

Faellamien calmed her stinging heart.

‘She must have just asked out of familiarity. But just in case...’

Tarqan chuckled, amused by Faellamien's attempt to pretend she didn't notice and fan herself.

It was funny to see the always proud First Princess unable to speak.

‘I didn't expect this to happen.’

Aristine was the legitimate heir of the Sylvanus royal family, which had lasted for a thousand years, and possessed the most noble and precious blood.

Tarqan had expected her to despise him for being born to a lowly mother.

Even his half-siblings, who shared half his blood, looked down on him.

Aristine, if anything, was expected to be even more disdainful.

Of course, he had considered the possibility that she might not be, upon meeting her.

‘Indeed...’

Despite leading many people, Tarqan was used to handling everything himself.

He thought Aristine's actions would not benefit him.

But if she continued to provide such entertaining scenes, his opinion might change.

"Hah! What a variety of excuses. How do you talk to yourself like that? You don't admit your mistakes and only make excuses. I'm starting to doubt if you're really royalty."

Princess Stalina, the Fourth Princess, snorted and glared at Aristine.

"Oh, right. You were the one who couldn't even be treated as a princess, weren't you?"

Stalina, smirking, looked at Aristine, who was staring at her intently.

"Why? I was just talking to myself."

Faellamien wanted to bang her head at her clueless and stupid sister.

Her sister had just caused another incident.

‘It's okay. If she doesn't really remember, it's not a big deal.’

She maintained her composure, thinking.

‘Besides, the Empress sent us to torment the princess...’

It might even be for the best.

As long as Aristine didn't remember seeing her and Marten.

‘How could she remember? There were so many people, including the attendants, and it was such a chaotic situation. She didn't even make eye contact with me.’

Still, Faellamien subtly observed Aristine.

Aristine's expressionless face gave no hint of anger, making it impossible to guess her thoughts.

"Prince Marten."

Aristine ignored Stalina and called out to Prince Marten.

Stalina's face turned red with anger.

In contrast, Marten looked at Aristine with a dreamy expression.

"Have we met before?"

Aristine's violet eyes, a mix of blue and red, were like the universe.

Even her elegant, slender eyebrows curved into a smile.

Marten nodded involuntarily.

"Yes... I think we have. No, I'm sure we have. I've been to Sylvanus before..."

Marten, suddenly flustered, started rambling about things no one had asked.

"It's an honor that you remember me, Princess. Well, I do have a face that's hard to forget. Haha!"

Of course, Marten had never met Aristine in Sylvanus.

But how could a man say no to such a beauty who claimed they had met before?

‘I'm much better than that Tarqan guy, after all!’

Marten felt superior in his delusion.

"I don't think so. I feel like I met you somewhere else, not in Sylvanus."

Aristine smiled and stared at Marten.

"Haha, where? In a dream? Did we meet in a dream? I think so too. Hahaha!"

Faellamien wanted to cover Marten's mouth.

‘She definitely remembers seeing me and Marten at Tarqan's palace!’

Now it was certain. She was doing this on purpose.

‘...I heard she was uneducated and had gone mad from being exiled.’

But in reality, she was far from it. She was frighteningly intelligent.

‘She's just letting us know she holds the cards without using them.’

It would be better if she used the cards.

In the current situation, Faellamien had to keep a close eye to prevent Aristine from using them.

She glanced at her father.

He didn't seem inclined to intervene.

But.

‘He's looking at the princess with interest.’

Faellamien pressed her lips together.

‘Even if Father is pretending not to know about the incident at Tarqan's palace, the moment it comes out of the princess's mouth, the story changes.’

The king would no longer be able to pretend he didn't know.

It might end with a small punishment, but...

‘Father is clearly curious about how the princess will act.’

If Aristine produces a satisfactory result, he will definitely take her side.

‘I need to protect myself.’

The best thing would be for Aristine not to create a situation where she uses her cards.

Just as she thought this, Stalina spoke.

"What are you doing, flirting with another man in front of your fiancé? You're really vulgar, even after being told so many times."

"Stalina!"

Faellamien raised her voice to cut her off.

Stalina, surprised, looked at Faellamien.

The always gentle older sister scolding her in front of her siblings, except for Tarqan.

"Princess, she was just asking a question. To call it flirting is ridiculous. What do you see with those eyes of yours?"

"But, sister, she was... tailing..."

"Still saying that?! People see what they think they see."

"What? Sister, what are you saying...?"

"Go on, say it."

Stalina, taken aback by the low, challenging tone, closed her mouth.

"Even when I point out your mistakes, you don't admit them and question me?"

Stalina lowered her head without a word.

Seeing this, Faellamien clicked her tongue.

‘This should prevent any more incidents here.’

Although she had been harsh, it was a success if it silenced Stalina.

"Use this incident to reflect on your usual behavior and repent."

Stalina pressed her lips tightly.

She was angry, hurt, and frustrated.

It was hard to believe that Faellamien was scolding her.

Wasn't she the kind sister who always let her get away with minor transgressions?

‘Why is she...’

"Stalina."

Faellamien urged her.

Stalina clenched her fists. She couldn't keep being stubborn with Faellamien so angry.

"...I understand. I will repent, Your Highness, First Princess."

Despite feeling wronged, Stalina bowed to Faellamien.

* * *

‘A clean shot.’

Tarqan felt like applauding.

Aristine had hunted her enemies with such precision that it was beyond praise.

And she did it without lifting a finger, just by standing there.

Even Tarqan, who was only interested in hunting monsters and had no interest in human politics, found it thrilling.

To him, Aristine was an excellent hunter.

If this were the Monster Plains and she had captured a monster, he would have wanted to recruit her on the spot.

Tarqan's golden eyes swept over Aristine's profile.

Where did such aggression hide in her delicate and slender face?

The more he looked, the more enigmatic she became.

Forget being a wife, I just want to make money.