Chapter 13

"Isn't dying your role!"

Dying and giving Silvanus a pretext to violate the ceasefire agreement.

That is precisely Aristine's duty.

"Understood, then hurry up—"

"There's a misunderstanding."

Aristine's indifferent voice cut Rosaline off.

"This is Irlugo, not Silvanus."

At these words, Rosaline flinched.

She stood there, stunned as if she had been hit by a hammer.

When Rosaline didn't respond, the other maids stepped forward.

"Ha! You're acting so high and mighty just because of that!"

"I was worried, but I didn't expect you to be this clueless."

"Even if this is Irlugo—"

"Clearly worse than a dog. The way you can't even figure out how to behave—"

The emotionless voice cut the maids' words short.

Aristine, with her palm pressed to her cheek, scanned the maids.

"I believe in only keeping trained dogs in the house. What should I do?"

The maids shuddered when their eyes met Aristine's vivid purple irises.

Could the princess ever look at them like that?

They couldn't recall; they had never even made eye contact with the princess.

The maids, oppressed by an invisible pressure, exchanged glances.

"What usually happens to wild animals that aren't kept—"

Aristine's face remained expressionless as she muttered, neither angry, nor amused, nor interested.

This only made the maids more uncomfortable.

"Either they become prey, or they are eaten by predators."

The outcome is the same either way.

"Princess!"

The maids, unable to withstand the pressure and fear, shouted more forcefully.

"I will report this to His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Think carefully about what will happen then!"

"Did you not see the reaction of the Irlugo royal family? You must be mistaken if you think they would like someone like you here."

"You're really stupid."

Aristine muttered, feeling disgusted.

She had been so obedient, but her judgment seemed to have declined.

She was only focused on the fact that someone who had been looking down on her was now standing up to her.

'Well, whatever.'

Aristine had formed a strong partnership with Tarkan.

This meant she could now act freely in the palace.

Dealing with these people was becoming tiresome.

Perhaps it was time to show these fools the reality.

Just then,

"Arf, arf!"

Rosaline, who had been unusually quiet, knelt at Aristine's feet and barked like a dog.

"Miss Rosaline?!"

"What are you doing?"

The other maids' voices of shock rang out sharply.

Rosaline's face, red with shame, looked up at Aristine with the most innocent eyes she could muster.

Like a dog looking at its owner.

"Oh my."

Aristine's eyes widened, but she soon smiled.

She knew from her imperial gaze that she should remain calm and composed in such moments.

What truly surprised her was Rosaline's sudden change in attitude, not the dog imitation.

Aristine, who had spent most of her formative years alone, thought differently from others.

Just as she believed a hungry person might eat dirt, she understood that someone desperate might imitate a dog.

"How cute."

Aristine deliberately scratched Rosaline's chin.

Rosaline's face turned even redder, but she obediently accepted the gesture.

"There's a dog mixed in with the group."

Aristine's voice was gentle and soft, like a loving owner.

Rosaline, feeling ashamed, did not change her kneeling position.

She didn't care that the other maids were looking at her as if she were insane.

Her life was more important.

This is not Silvanus; it's Irlugo.

At this realization, Rosaline's mind snapped back to reality.

She had thought that since Aristine had been so obedient, she could do as she pleased in Irlugo.

"But if the princess has been hiding her claws all this time—"

All the maids were from families with no ties to Irlugo.

They had laughed and mocked Aristine, but their own situations were not much better.

They were here to monitor a disgraced princess in an enemy country, a position that noble ladies from prestigious families had avoided.

In reality, they were all from insignificant families in the empire.

Families that found joy in embezzling the small budget left for the princess by the palace manager.

They had tormented and ignored the princess to feel superior and forget their own insecurities.

But now the situation had changed.

"A knight was dragged away after being hit by Prince Tarkan, they said."

Dogs that bite their masters are not needed.

Aristine had said she only kept trained dogs in the house.

What would happen if she was cast out by the now-revealed Aristine?

'Then I have no choice but to become a dog.'

Rosaline had been the one who had tormented Aristine the most.

Insults and ridicule were the least of it; she had mixed gravel into her food, trampled her torn clothes with muddy feet, and given them to her.

Just a moment ago, she had shouted that dying was Aristine's duty.

Now, being nice wouldn't change anything.

'When you do it, do it thoroughly.'

"Arf, arf."

Rosaline barked obediently as Aristine touched her.

"Such a cute, affectionate dog."

Aristine looked down at Rosaline with satisfaction.

Just yesterday, or rather this morning, Rosaline had looked down on Aristine.

But what about her own state now?

Was she better off than the once-mousy princess?

Shame made her teeth grind involuntarily.

But Rosaline tried to relax her jaw.

Aristine was scratching her chin. If she made a sound, Aristine would notice.

Then this humiliating dog imitation would be for nothing.

'I can't let that happen!'

Rosaline opened her eyes as wide and meekly as possible and rubbed her face against Aristine's calf, wrapped in soft fabric.

"Are you crazy—"

"Ah—"

The other maids took a step back from Rosaline.

She didn't care what they thought, but seeing them avoid her like she was filth made her eyes flash with anger.

Her rage, unable to be directed at Aristine, turned towards them.

As if reading her thoughts, the dog's owner commanded in a singing tone.

"I want you to grow into a hunting dog."

Rosaline's emerald eyes widened.

A hunting dog.

It was perfect.

"Arf!"

'Yes, if I'm going to be a dog, I'll be a hunting dog that can tear the throats of prey in one bite.'

Her first prey was right in front of her.

Just moments ago, they had laughed and chatted with her.

But the way Rosaline looked at them was cruel.

'How dare they look at me with those eyes, unable to judge the situation?'

Her teeth ground together, like a dog growling.

Rosaline no longer hid this sound.

The hunting dog would hunt as its master wished.

She would tear and tear and tear until all the prey was caught.

After that, only one thing would remain.

Aristine.

'My final prey will be you.'

Rosaline smiled humbly at Aristine.

She could imitate a dog as much as needed.

In the final moment, imagining Aristine begging for her life at her feet.

No matter how much Aristine pleaded, barked, crawled on all fours, or even ate dog food—

'I will never forget this day...!'

Aristine removed her hand from Rosaline's head.

Noticing that her inner thoughts might have been revealed, Rosaline flinched, but Aristine spoke calmly.

"Let's see your hunting skills first."

* * *

Steam rose from Tarkan's bare back like a mist.

Sweat droplets trickled down his deeply indented spine.

He opened his eyes, which had been closed.

A light like a beast's gleamed in his golden eyes.

Tarkan swung his sword horizontally, the blade's trajectory forming a crescent.

His long, black hair swayed with his movements, like a beast's mane.

Nothing changed in the surroundings until he sheathed his sword.

This was because the stone statues were all at least twenty paces away from him.

They were out of reach of his sword.

However,

Crack!

With a loud noise, the distant statues split in two and fell.

"My lord."

Durante, who had been watching from outside the training ground, approached and handed Tarkan a towel.

"It's time for the meeting. Everyone is gathered."

Wiping the sweat from his thick neck, Tarkan nodded and headed towards the meeting hall.

"Your Majesty."

"My lord."

"Welcome, Your Majesty."

Tarkan acknowledged the greetings of his advisors with a nod.

They were all excellent warriors.

"We will start with the report on the disposal of the beast corpse we captured yesterday."

As soon as Tarkan took his seat, the advisors began their reports without preamble.

Their lord disliked wasting time.

The meeting dragged on.

"…So, I think we should conduct a large-scale purge before winter. We have been neglecting the plains while fighting Silvanus, haven't we?"

Silvanus.

At the mention of this, the warriors, who had been discussing the beasts, all thought of one person.

"By the way, what kind of person is the princess?"

"I couldn't get an answer from Durante no matter how much I asked. What a boring guy."

"The problem is the opposite with the ones under Durante. They act recklessly, saying they like the princess."

"Really, to like a princess from Silvanus. Does that make sense?"

"She is to be your lord's bride. Be careful with your words."

Durante, who had been watching, quietly interjected, but it had the opposite effect.

"What does a Silvanus person have to be careful about! We don't know what their intentions are!"

The meeting hall, which had been proceeding smoothly, suddenly became noisy.

Warriors who acted faster with their swords than with their words.

It was only natural that it would come to this.

Tarkan watched for a moment before speaking.

"Jaclen."

The meeting hall, which had been like a battlefield, instantly quieted at the low voice.

"Yes, my lord."

Jaclen was an excellent warrior but also an even more excellent strategist.

Despite his muscular appearance, he was the only civil servant in the room.

"Why didn't you report that the princess had been confined? It's a simple fact that could be found with a little investigation."

Jaclen flinched under the reproachful golden eyes.

But he felt wronged.

"I did intend to report it, my lord."

"Intending to report is not important. What matters is whether you actually reported it or not."

The low reprimand sounded like thunder to Jaclen.

He felt even more wronged.

"I did tell you, but you didn't listen, saying it wasn't necessary."

Tarkan fell silent.

Recalling his memory, it seemed he had done that.

He had thought that the princess, coming for a political marriage from Silvanus, only needed to fulfill her minimal duties and be kept alive for peace.

His father, Nefter, wanted more than just the end of the war through the political marriage.

He also intended to use the princess's lineage to compensate for Tarkan's political weakness, having a commoner mother.

Knowing this, Tarkan had refused to learn about the princess.

Her background could not possibly affect him.

Tarkan had never once been ashamed of his blood.

The idea that a woman's noble blood was needed to get closer to the throne was ridiculous.

His father must be underestimating him.

'Or, is he trying to push me into the position of heir by any means?'

He wanted to eliminate every reason others cited for Tarkan's unsuitability and make him the heir.

The reason for this was simple.

Tarkan himself did not want the throne.

He neither rejected nor desired it.

Tarkan had not made up his mind.

He had no interest in political struggles or the throne.

But his half-brother Hamir would cut off everything related to Tarkan the moment he became king.

Now, one more person had been added to the list of things Hamir would cut off.

The brilliant silver hair, rarely seen among the dark-haired Irlugo people.

The noble eyes like the dawn sky.

The image of the woman flashed in his mind.

Even so, Tarkan had not made a decision.

He couldn't let go of the idea that there might be another way.

"Still, I had submitted a report for you to see before the princess arrived. But—"

Jaclen, feeling uneasy at Tarkan's thoughtful expression, reported on his meticulous work.

"But?"

"You said it was good kindling and burned it."

"That's not all."

Large tears welled up in Jaclen's eyes.

"Forget the husband, I'll just make money."