Chapter 12

Chapter 5. I know he's a pervert, but...

"Isn't the princess really beautiful?"

"I've never seen anyone who shines so brightly. When she came out of the water, I thought she was a fairy."

"Is that true for all Sylvanians? I knew they were small, but are all Sylvanians like that? I've seen her myself. The princess is especially unique."

"I thought Sylvanians were short and weak, but maybe that was a prejudice. There's someone like the princess."

"Have you seen how Prince Tarkan treats the princess? I've never seen His Highness act like that!"

The chattering of the palace attendants drifted over the wall.

The maids from the Sylvanian Empire clenched their fists at the voices from beyond the wall.

"What's so great about a woman who was treated like trash?"

"I'm worried the princess won't understand her place here."

"To say she's good even after seeing her dirty appearance is just the level of a barbarian."

"The princess's face is somewhat pretty, but in Sylvania, she's not that great a beauty."

"You're right. I admit she's somewhat pretty, but it's definitely not to that extent. If we have to be precise, she's just a bit better than average."

"Maybe there are so few beauties in the barbarian country."

"Indeed. That's why they make such a fuss over a fool like her."

The maids laughed mockingly.

"By the way, that monster we heard about, the man, was quite... hmm, different from what I expected."

The maids recalled Tarkan's appearance.

His broad shoulders and tightly packed back muscles, the way he effortlessly lifted Aristine.

To be honest, the Sylvanian knights standing next to him looked like mere boys.

It wasn't just his physique. His cool, long eyes, straight nose, slightly thin lips, and prominent jawline.

"Ha..."

Just thinking about it made her sigh involuntarily.

His fierce gaze made her shiver even from a distance.

A dangerous man.

But that made him even more attractive.

And yet, he was the husband of a meek, insignificant princess!

"He doesn't suit that beggar princess."

"You're right. We're better."

"He'll lose interest in the princess soon. She's been locked up alone for over ten years. She must be crazy."

"Well, as a maid serving the princess, I should serve her husband well too."

"Of course, with all my heart, hehe."

The maids' laughter echoed loudly.

Just as they were mocking and licking their lips, a Sylvanian knight ran up to them.

"Lady!"

The maids straightened up at the sight of the knight.

"Did you hear?"

The knight's expression was serious. The maids frowned.

Did that clueless princess wander around and cause an accident?

If so, they would give her a severe scolding.

"What happened?"

"The princess met King Ailugo!"

"What?!"

But the princess's actions far exceeded their expectations.

"R-right now?"

"We need to follow her quickly..."

They needed to chase after her, using the excuse of assisting her.

But the knight shook his head.

"She has already met him and is now talking alone with that barbarian monster. The area is surrounded, so we can't get in."

The maids' faces turned pale.

"Surely..."

"It should be fine, right?"

At that, Rosaline laughed and shook her head.

"What could happen? The other party is that clueless princess."

"You're right. She was probably called by the king because some visiting nobles reported that a dirty woman had come."

"So talking alone with Prince Tarkan..."

"She must have embarrassed him, and he's angry now."

The maids' faces relaxed and they smiled.

The more Aristine displeased Tarkan, the more they could stand out to him.

"Hehe, I hope His Highness teaches the princess well. She's so lacking."

"It must be tiring for him to deal with such a woman. I'll have to make some tea for him later. Our princess owes him a debt of gratitude."

The maids smiled contentedly, more relaxed than before.

* * *

After finishing their tea, Tarkan personally guided Aristine to her room.

"Princess!"

The door opened, and as soon as Aristine appeared, a knight inside the room shouted.

"Where have you been? Why are you so late! When we arrive in Ailugo, you must—"

The knight, who was about to scold her, fell silent when he saw Tarkan standing next to Aristine.

"T-Tarkan Highness..."

The knight's voice trembled involuntarily.

He seemed embarrassed and ashamed, clenching his jaw and glaring at Tarkan defiantly.

"Did I hear you wrong?"

Tarkan looked down at the knight and muttered softly.

"Highness, ignore him. This is a matter of Sylvania."

A common knight shouldn't speak to a prince of another country like that.

Aristine was amazed that he could still put on airs while trembling.

Does he not realize how ridiculous he looks?

"Yes, it's my bride's matter."

Tarkan approached the knight.

Thud, thud.

With each step Tarkan took, the knight tried to suppress his instinct to back away.

Despite Tarkan's unarmed and slow approach, an overwhelming presence radiated from him.

"I don't need a dog who bares its teeth at its master."

Smack!

As Tarkan finished speaking, the knight's face turned sharply to the side.

He couldn't resist Tarkan's strength and fell clumsily to the ground.

'Ah, that feels good.'

Aristine thought indifferently as she watched from behind Tarkan.

"What... what..."

Tarkan pressed his foot firmly on the knight's head.

"I am a knight of the Sylvanian Empire!"

The knight shouted in defiance.

"Oh, right."

Tarkan's foot relaxed, and relief spread across the knight's face.

'How dare he touch a knight of the great empire... I will formally protest this.'

The knight gritted his teeth in anger.

But Tarkan's words were different from what he expected.

"Since he's my bride's dog, it's best to leave the decision to his master."

What will you do?

Tarkan's eyes asked.

Aristine realized that he was willing to accept whatever decision she made.

But he was also observing what decision she would make.

Interest or expectation.

Aristine's lips curled slightly.

"Princess!"

The knight barked at Aristine. His eyes asked what she was doing.

"Tell him to get his foot off!"

He was scolding Aristine even though he should be begging.

But the knight's momentum didn't last.

Tarkan pressed his foot harder. Blood spattered as the knight's nose was crushed.

The knight couldn't say another word.

But it wasn't fear of Tarkan that silenced him; his attitude toward Aristine remained the same.

Proof of this was that even with his head pressed to the ground, he glared at Aristine.

His gaze was clear.

'Why aren't you stopping this! You stupid princess!'

It was amazing that he could think this way even at this moment.

'Did I seem too easy to handle because I was quiet all this time?'

'Even though she has a pretty face and a good figure, she's still a bit dirty. But she's not too bad after a wash.'

'She's marrying a barbarian monster, so she should be grateful that someone like us finds her pretty.'

The knights exchanged such ridiculous jokes about Aristine during the journey to Ailugo.

Aristine approached Tarkan and placed her hand on his arm.

Surprised, the muscles under his skin twitched.

'Oh, he's so solid.'

Aristine looked at his arm with curiosity.

Thinking she was trying to stop Tarkan, the knight relaxed.

Aristine smiled at him.

She looked like a benevolent goddess.

"Couples are one heart and one soul."

Aristine's voice was soft and gentle.

"Let's start by stepping on him."

But her next words were merciless.

Was it a hallucination? A pleased expression appeared on Tarkan's face.

Aristine looked at him in surprise.

It wasn't a hallucination.

Tarkan grinned, showing his teeth, and said to Aristine.

"As my bride wishes."

His golden eyes, like those of a predator, glinted darkly, and his voice was low and lazy.

'Hmm, someone who enjoys stepping on others...'

Aristine subtly moved a step away from Tarkan.

'So he is a pervert.'

* * *

'The floor is clean now.'

Aristine thought absentmindedly as she looked at the shiny, spotless floor.

Just a moment ago, it was covered with blood.

'I wonder if his nose and teeth are okay.'

His nose was broken, and two front teeth were missing, making it hard for him to get married.

Tarkan didn't seem to use much strength, but the knight jumped around like a fish and eventually lost consciousness, being taken to the dungeon.

'Not getting married is probably for the best for humanity.'

Aristine easily dismissed the thought of the knight.

She felt really good.

Forming an alliance with Tarkan was her first goal after arriving in Ailugo.

No, it was her first goal in life after being locked up for so long.

Achieving it made her feel great.

Moreover, he seemed to be a decent husband for a political marriage.

He didn't say anything about her eating all the scones.

'I'd like to have tea with him again.'

Both the raspberry and blueberry compotes had their own unique charm.

Adding clotted cream made the flavors even richer.

She wanted to try other jams if there were any.

Everyone said she was going to her death, but honestly, Aristine was glad she agreed to the political marriage.

"Princess!"

At the loud call, Aristine looked up.

The maids had been calling her for a while.

"What?"

"What do you mean, 'what'! I called you several times, and you didn't even respond...!"

She muttered, "As expected, she's crazy..."

Though it was a mutter, it was meant for Aristine to hear.

"Can you understand a dog's bark?"

Aristine's sudden question made the maid frown.

"Of course not. Why, can you, Princess?"

"Being locked up alone for over ten years, I guess I can understand it now."

"Since no one would talk to you, did you talk to dogs? Well, your level is similar."

The maids burst into laughter.

"Hmm, but dogs can understand human speech and read the situation, sitting when told and waiting when asked."

Aristine mumbled slowly.

"You're worse than dogs."

"What, what did you say?!"

"Did you just say that to us?"

They couldn't believe the always obedient princess was speaking like this.

The maids' faces turned pale with anger.

"At first, I couldn't understand where the barking was coming from, but after hearing it so much, it seems you're not even as good as dogs."

Aristine rested her chin on her hand and crossed her legs lazily.

The maids couldn't understand what was happening.

After hearing the knight's report about Aristine's private meeting with Tarkan, they received the rest of the palace tour.

During this, they heard that a Sylvanian knight had been beaten by Tarkan and taken to the dungeon.

They were going to confront Aristine about this...

'Something's off.'

Aristine's reaction was unusual.

The maids, trying to suppress their urge to step back, glared at Aristine.

"If the Emperor hears about this...!"

"So what if he does?"

Aristine laughed softly.

Her laugh sounded like mockery, making the maids' faces turn red.

Aristine had always been below them in the empire.

She was confined and couldn't even have a single attendant, and she ate like a beggar because she didn't receive a proper budget.

She lived a much worse life than the noble ladies who were her maids.

Not only that.

When a palace manager, feeling sorry for Aristine, secretly allocated a budget for her to eat well, the stupid princess couldn't even benefit from it.

The maids' families had intercepted the budget.

It wasn't a crime.

Technically, the manager who secretly used the palace budget without the Emperor's knowledge was the criminal.

Their families had just corrected the wrong.

Even though they put the money in their own pockets without informing the Emperor.

Because of this, they had grown up thinking that anything the princess had was theirs.

What the princess enjoyed was what they would enjoy, and they were more noble than the incompetent princess.

But now, this clueless princess was mocking them!

Rosaline, overwhelmed with anger, stepped forward and shouted.

"Have you forgotten the Emperor's words! What will he say if he knows about your attitude now! Remember your place, Princess!"

The maids held the leash to keep Aristine in line.

They should have.

They were sure they held the leash just a moment ago.

"My place?"

"Have you forgotten?"

Rosaline sneered.

Aristine's role was to be the spark of war. Precisely—

"Isn't your role to die?"

"Since you can't be a wife, you should try to make some money."