Your Cruelty

 

The beautiful yet foolish princess often forgot things and was slow to respond, but one had to understand her. Leah inwardly looked down on her mistress and, brazenly enough, sometimes let it show.  

 

[Honestly. What would you do without me?]  

 

She thought the foolish princess wouldn’t understand even if she insulted her outright.  

 

Leah brushed one side of Daphne’s hair over her chest with a gentle touch and added in an amused voice:  

 

[Without me, you wouldn’t be able to do anything, would you?]  

 

Cool air brushed against one side of Daphne’s nape. Her lips momentarily tensed with unease, but Leah continued speaking, oblivious:  

 

[Your hair being so silky, your skin softer than the petals of a delicate flower, your flesh exuding a sweet honey-like scent…]  

 

Leah’s gaze swept over Daphne’s entire figure. As befitting a member of the Thessalia royal family, she was dazzlingly beautiful today as well, from head to toe, capable of captivating anyone regardless of gender.  

 

[…Possessing such a perfect body—all of it is thanks to me, Leah, isn’t it?]  

 

But what good was the goddess’s shell?  

 

[Oh, you’re absolutely right, Leah.]  

 

The princess couldn’t even read or write; she was so foolish.  

 

[What would I have done without you? I’m always grateful to you.]  

 

In the end, she was destined to be sent to a man who would roam the desert on horseback for the rest of his life, dying young. At that moment, Daphne suddenly turned to Leah, her face radiating a serene smile.  

 

[You’re such an easy one to deal with.]  

 

Leah froze.  

 

[…Pardon?]  

 

[Ah, silly me. I meant comfortable, not easy. How lacking I am.]  

 

[…Oh my, such things could never tarnish you. You are Thessalia itself.]  

 

[Hmm, thank you.]  

 

Daphne smiled innocently, turning away once more.  

 

…What incarnation of a goddess? How could a life be this tragic?  

 

Leah sometimes found a peculiar satisfaction in dwelling on Daphne’s flaws and misfortunes.  

 

My foolish princess knows nothing, and today, too, she will hand me the most precious of her jewels.  

 

[For your kindness and effort every day, this is all I can offer you.]  

 

Look at this. Surely, the princess’s smile that just felt strangely fierce—it must have been my imagination.  

 

[Oh, it’s so beautiful. I’ll treasure it forever, Princess.]  

 

Leah whispered with a face full of delight, as if deeply moved.  

 

The foolish woman, inwardly mocking Daphne.  

 

[I’m glad you like it.]  

 

Daphne smiled back at Leah.  

 

The foolish woman, inwardly mocking Leah.  

 

She’s still clueless, as always.  

 

Daphne avoided exposing her nape for a while, making various excuses. The marks left by an enemy soldier who had subdued her in the forest were still visible on her neck.  

 

Fortunately, the marks were on the back of her neck, which could be hidden with her long hair, but there had been some awkward moments. Even though Tisbene had told her that morning that no traces remained, she couldn’t help but tense up when Leah lifted her hair.  

 

And fortunately, her foolish maid seemed unaware of anything.  

 

After all, Daphne’s relative freedom to leave the palace was thanks to Leah.  

 

Every night, after confirming that Daphne and Tisbene were asleep, Leah would eagerly visit her lovers scattered throughout the palace. Being as liberal as any noblewoman of Velarez, she didn’t discriminate—princes, palace guests, soldiers, or servants, all were fair game. Because of her, Daphne’s nights were free, and her days started late.  

 

Before Leah, there had been multiple maids in the annex who often changed. If a maid was too perceptive or clever, Sione would intentionally find fault and dismiss her. Sione particularly liked greedy, jealous, and foolish Leah. Eventually, Leah became the only maid in the annex.  

 

[When you come back from seeing your brother, won’t you read me a book?]  

 

[Again?]  

 

Leah replied with a tone of annoyance, to which Daphne cheerfully responded:  

 

[I can’t read without your help, can I?]  

 

In Velarez, princesses weren’t educated. The only things they learned were singing, basic instruments, and weaving as a pastime. Maids were taught to read books and write letters on their behalf. Velarez princesses existed solely to be foolish and beautiful.  

 

However, Sione secretly accumulated knowledge and taught Daphne. Thanks to Sione, both Daphne and Tisbene could read and write. They understood and spoke the common language of the Inacos Union.  

 

But this had to remain a secret from others. Especially now, when the princess’s marriage had become a matter of military strategy, it was more convenient for the princess to appear foolish.  

 

So, Leah. What would I do without you?

 

Daphne smiled even more brightly at Leah.  

 

You think I’m an idiot. Please, keep thinking that and stay complacent.  

 

Daphne hadn’t learned much, but she remembered everything Sione had taught her. At the very least, she believed herself to be smarter than Leah.  

 

[Hmm? I have nothing to do if you don’t read to me.]  

 

Leah let out a brief sigh and answered with a resigned expression.  

 

[Then, just a little bit.]  

 

Daphne smiled softly, expressing her gratitude. It was a pleasing, melodious sound.  

 

[Your Highness, it’s all done.]  

 

Shortly after, Leah held up a mirror in front of Daphne. As the slender line of her neck was reflected in the smooth glass, Daphne instinctively touched the nape of her neck.  

 

[Is something bothering you?]  

 

[…Not at all. It’s nothing.]  

 

Occasionally, the moment she locked eyes with the man in the forest resurfaced in her mind. The man, with his overly striking presence, and their brief conversation. Everything about it felt surreal, to the point she initially wondered if it had been a dream. However, Tisbene’s scream at the sight of her neck had confirmed it was no dream.  

 

His decision not to kill me must have been… nothing more than a whim.  

 

That she returned unharmed that day could only be explained as divine intervention. If the man she encountered hadn’t been so unnervingly unhinged, who knew what might have happened? The thought made Daphne dizzy as she closed her eyes for a moment, then reopened them.  

 

Looking at it now, it really does feel like nothing ever happened.  

 

The marks the man left on her neck were now completely gone. She decided she could consider it a thing of the past. Except…  

 

The problem is…  

 

In her rush to flee the forest, she hadn’t gathered the herbs she needed.  

 

If she went back to the forest and encountered that man again, would he let her go a second time? She couldn’t be certain.  

 

What should I do about the herbs now?  

 

Just then, Leah’s tiresome chatter interrupted her thoughts.  

 

[You look beautiful again today, Your Highness.]  

 

[…That’s a relief.]  

 

Daphne muttered as she gave a sharp smile. Once again, Leah failed to notice the expression.  

 

***  

 

Jeffrey had a keen interest in Daphne, the “next in line”.  

 

Lately, his impatience seemed to have grown, as he summoned Leah daily to inquire about Daphne’s condition. As a result, Leah’s day often began with inspecting Daphne’s bed. Even that wasn’t enough for Jeffrey, as he summoned Daphne herself for a regular audience once a week.  

 

Jeffrey’s room had once belonged to King Bathion during his time as a prince. Jeffrey particularly liked the rectangular garden visible from the room’s windows. Modeled after the “Sunlit Isles” where the Thessalian royal family often spent their summer holidays before the war, the garden served as a frequent venue for Jeffrey to host guests and nightly secret soirées.  

 

It was just as Daphne stepped into the garden.  

 

[……….]  

 

She caught sight of a woman crossing the central courtyard, accompanied by just one maid, like a ghost. The woman quickly disappeared into the building, making it difficult to see her clearly, but her blonde hair suggested she was likely Merina of Serenho, Jeffrey’s wife. From what Daphne recalled, Merina was around the same age as herself.  

 

Silver hair, violet eyes, and pale skin, thought to be gifts from Enna, the deity, were traits often preserved in Velarez through close familial marriages. But the war had changed many things. Velarez no longer had the luxury to prioritize bloodlines.  

 

In Merina’s case, she had been sent to Velarez along with the Serenho army at a very young age, just before the war began—at the tender age of ten. Thus, she became Jeffrey’s wife. Unfortunately, Jeffrey showed little interest in his young bride. And that remained unchanged even as Merina grew into a proper adult. 

 

***

 

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