Episode 14. D-day 97 (1)
Princess Sienna’s collapse was sudden. Just like a doll with its strings cut, her body fell backward without any warning.
“Your Highness.”
If Percy hadn’t calmly caught her, she would have fallen to the ground helplessly.
Normally, the villainess would mock, saying that she was faking it to garner sympathy, but today, that was not possible.
Sienna’s limp body was curving in various directions. There are very few people in the world who can feign unconsciousness to such an extent.
‘Why did she have to collapse now?’
‘And in front of Duke Stewart!’
The maids’ faces turned pale. In truth, Princess Sienna had fainted like this not just once or twice.
Due to irregular meals and insufficient food, her body was as light as a doll. The rough treatment she received from the Emperor and the crown prince only made her condition worse.
Even if the palace physician took care of her, there was no one to provide her with medication. She always suffered silently.
If she had just said what she wanted or didn’t want, or asked for help when she needed it… But the foolish princess seemed to think that everyone in the world lived by being pushed around.
She acted out against the maids, who were no more than foolish servants. The maids who came under the princess, who couldn’t even offer a little help, enjoyed the situation and freely ignored the princess.
But why did she suddenly collapse like this, especially now when she was being questioned by Duke Stewart?
‘What on earth happened? What kind of relationship does she have with Duke Stewart?’
“He seem affectionate.”
“She may look weak, but she’s wicked. There’s no need to treat her well.”
With each word they spoke, Percy’s pupils grew colder and colder.
If these had been Percy’s subordinates, they would have turned and fled the moment Percy’s lips curved into a smile. He rarely smiled, and when he did, it was almost never for something good.
“…You don’t seem to understand a word I’m saying.”
Before becoming the commander of the Imperial Knights, Percy had been the leader of the Northern Army. Although it was undoubtedly the Emperor’s favor that had brought him to the capital after only two years, it was also a warning that he should not accumulate any more military power.
It was because they feared what would happen if his “ability” were to be added to military might. Percy stomped his foot once. In that moment, with an inexplicable force, the door slammed shut, and the curtains fell over the windows with a whoosh.
“W-What is this?”
“Lord Duke Stewart!”
Even amid the maids’ screams, Percy spoke slowly with a lethargic voice.
“But to me, she’s a person of significance. You don’t need to meddle in Princess Sienna’s affairs any longer.”
Now, I was the one who would take care of every detail of her life. Percy turned his head, as if he were being haunted by a ghost. The maids, however, had something to say. Especially when their lives were at stake.
The maid who had spoken first earlier stepped forward to Percy with determination, her voice cold.
“Don’t even think that such a violent act will be forgiven just because you’re Duke Stewart!”
That was her final word. Blood spurted out and her frail body collapsed to the ground.
Only after her scream did they realize what had happened. No one here had seen this before. It was natural that they didn’t know. Percy’s ability was a secret even from the emperor himself.
In other words, everyone here was a target for summary execution as Percy saw fit.
Realizing this, they began to plead desperately.
“My father won’t stand for this if you don’t stop!”
“Do you think you can dispose of nobles without trial and still be safe?”
All of their words fell on Percy’s ears like the wind. Percy’s response was leisurely, almost as if he were genuinely curious.
“I wonder what will happen if you don’t just stay quiet.”
Percy’s answer was languid, even relaxed, like someone going for a stroll. But the words he uttered were sinister one by one.
“The crime of insulting the imperial family is originally punished with summary execution. You should be grateful you won’t be humiliated by having your crimes recited in front of a crowd.”
“Your Highness!”
The desperate ones now started to plead desperately.
“Please spare us!”
“I didn’t participate in the abuse! It’s all their fault.”
“I’m innocent. No, we haven’t even been assigned to this palace for a few days!”
They weren’t very creative. If they were going to die anyway, they should at least curse like that woman. Who knows, maybe I’d find it amusing and spare them.
– She may look weak, but she’s wicked. There’s no need to treat her well.
When I recalled those words, my lips curled up again. It had been a while since I laughed like this. No, maybe it was the first time.
“Please, spare me! I didn’t do anything wrong. I was just watching silently.”
One of the maids tugged at Percy’s clothing. He felt no sympathy whatsoever. Percy tilted his head.
“Would you be satisfied if I just blinded you then?”
“Eek!”
One by one, they fell, and now there was only one maid left. She crawled backward desperately, inching closer to Percy, looking at him with terrified eyes.
“Why? Why all of a sudden?”
Her shivering, panicked state, not understanding the situation, made her seem quite pitiful. But Percy’s heart remained as cold and unmoved as ever.
“Because it’s amusing.”
Percy realized this clearly now. She was the only person who could amuse him by being in his embrace.
“And you are not amusing.”
So, it was goodbye to all of them.
❀❀❀❀
The memories of trauma I received as a penalty were sticky and irritating.
I floated through the air, glimpsing Sienna’s past like peering into someone else’s dream.
‘Maybe around eleven years old.’
Young Sienna was so lovable that I wanted to pinch her cheeks. She had red hair adorned with pink ribbons, resembling a doll.
And those who tormented her looked like very naughty children.
No, they were indeed naughty children. No matter the reason, bullying someone together was a bad deed.
– She called me ‘sis.’
I sighed and tapped my chin. Were these her plump younger siblings?
‘They’re just called sisters. No, even less than sisters.’
Young Sienna was a bit naive. She followed them like a puppy, drawn to the sweet smiles when they called her “sis.”
And they pushed her into a pit. It was a hole they had left behind after failing to dig a well.
‘They found such a place easily.’
Aren’t princesses supposed to have something to do? How did they even know about such a hole?
– Please, spare me! Please!
Sienna spent nearly four days trapped there. Her fingertips, which had tried to climb the dirt walls, bled, and dehydration set in.
