Chapter : 56
The opening ceremony lasted over an hour, an endurance test for delicate young ladies. To avoid the scorching sun and to have a chance to change clothes, Haillet discreetly stepped away for a moment.
After changing her dress, three maids attended to her, retouching her makeup and re-styling her hair.
“My goodness, Princess. You’re absolutely beautiful!”
One of the maids, showering her with praise, handed Haillet a mirror. Haillet stared at the reflection. Her golden hair cascaded in waves, shining like melted honey, and her sapphire-like eyes were captivating enough to mesmerize anyone at first glance.
“Someone might not find me that beautiful,” Haillet muttered, the words bitter in her mind as a certain irritating man flashed across her thoughts. A man who wouldn’t even blink, no matter how close he got.
“Who would ever refuse the Princess? Everything good in this world belongs to you,” said her nanny, patting Haillet’s shoulder fondly. Haillet rested her head against the hand and, in a spoiled tone, asked,
“What should I do, Nanny? There’s something I really want, but I just can’t seem to get it.”
“Could it be…?”
Though she expressed it like an object, the longtime familiarity between them allowed them to understand each other perfectly. Haillet dismissed the maid and lifted her head.
“It’s exactly that, Count of the Frontier.”
Even if there were several counts, the title ‘Count of the Frontier’ belonged to only one person in the country. Her nanny frowned slightly and cautiously spoke.
“…That man doesn’t have a good reputation. He’s said to be barbaric, irreverent, and devoid of chivalry.”
“That’s not entirely false. But seeing him in person… he’s very…”
Haillet fell silent for a moment, recalling his annoyingly perfect features. Slightly arched eyebrows, silver-gray eyes, a straight nose, and lips stubbornly pressed together. His black hair, which people once whispered was the color of a demon, suited him perfectly. The problem, however, was the words that came out of his mouth.
“Princess, do you have no pride?”
It angered Haillet that such a face, perfectly suited to her taste, would dare to ignore her. This was impossible. Any man in the palace, after a few attempts at seduction, would kneel and beg for her love. Curtis Russell should have been no different.
“Very much?”
“I want him.”
Haillet murmured as she bit her nails. Pride? The pride wounded before still remained intact. She planned to repay him, perhaps even more than he inflicted, but ultimately, she had to have him. That was the only way to quench the thirst that had been building.
“So you sent a telegram to Sir Otis.”
“Nanny.”
Her nanny disliked Derek Oravi. In truth, few liked Derek Otis, the king’s first illegitimate child and a notorious libertine. Outwardly, they respected him due to his royal connection, but the moment no one was watching, all pretense vanished.
“I know. I know how ill-behaved Sir Derek is. My former maid was even impregnated by him and was eventually dismissed.”
“That’s not the end. He impregnated a young lady of noble blood and didn’t take responsibility. The poor girl was expelled from her family and died giving birth to a fatherless child in a convent.”
“That… really?”
The story was worse than expected. Haillet placed her hand over her left chest and lowered her gaze.
“Don’t worry, Nanny. Sir Derek is just a tool. A tool to fulfill my wish. Once it’s done, he’ll be sent straight to the territories.”
“In my opinion, Princess…”
Her nanny, holding Haillet’s hand firmly, spoke seriously.
“It seems the Count of the Frontier already has a lady in mind. The woman seated next to him at the opening ceremony is said to be his mistress.”
“….”
“You should reconsider…”
“Nanny!”
The princess cut off her nanny’s words with a sharp voice, rising impatiently from her seat.
“I don’t care about her. The maids say she shares the same bed, but judging by the bedding the next morning, it seems they don’t actually sleep together.”
“This is the royal palace. You can’t judge by just two days.”
“He hates her. She’s just a tool to him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have looked at her like he could kill her.”
During the opening ceremony, when he held her close for a moment, the gaze he cast at his mistress was still icy. When another man sat near that woman, he seemed ready to strike through the mask. There wasn’t time for conversation because he got up immediately. It wasn’t jealousy—it was something twisted, dark, and sinister. Almost like hatred.
“Maybe he deliberately keeps a mistress to delay marriage.”
Haillet’s nanny frowned at this.
“Love comes in many forms, Princess. You never know unless you see what’s in his heart.”
The man did not only love a woman with sweetness and tenderness. He also loved with a burning desire and hatred. If the former was a flame slowly igniting over time, the latter was a fire that could only be extinguished after reducing both him and his counterpart to ashes. If that fire spread, no one could escape its sweep.
“That man is dangerous, Princess. Let go of him. There must be someone more suitable for you. Please, heed this nanny’s words…”
“Nanny.”
The earnest plea was cut off. The princess rejected her nanny’s hand and stated firmly,
“I am the princess of this country. No one can refuse me. I’ll tame him.”
“Princess!”
“But… Nanny has a point. If he truly cherishes that mistress, she could be an obstacle.”
An unexpected complication. Haillet’s excitement calmed, and she hardened her expression.
The gypsy troupe’s play ended amid a grand applause. Curtis, who had watched the play with arms crossed in boredom, rose from his seat. Roxana followed, taking his offered hand. At that moment, Hans, who had been keeping a distant watch, approached.
“Your Highness. Regarding tomorrow’s jousting tournament, you summoned all participants.”
“Jousting tournament?”
Roxana reacted a step ahead of Curtis, furrowing her brows.
“You’re not in condition to participate.”
Her injuries from the ambush were fortunately not fatal, but not fully healed either. Participating in the dangerous tournament could result in severe injury or death.
It’s dangerous, Roxana’s heart sank. She lifted her heels to whisper to Curtis, who lowered his head.
“Use an excuse to refuse, Curtis.”
“I’ve already promised the king. If I break it, I’ll be completely in his disfavor.”
“And if you get badly injured…”
“Wouldn’t that be good for you? If I die, you’re free.”
Even a single word from him felt like a dagger to the chest. Roxana, stunned, glared at him, while Curtis turned to Hans and gave orders.
“I have Shylo. Keep an eye on Roxana.”
“Understood.”
Hans bowed respectfully and extended his hand to Roxana.
“There is a resting area for the ladies. I will guide you.”
“No jousting.”
Roxana desperately tried to stop Curtis as he walked away, but Hans calmly intervened.
“Your Highness, with an injury like this, you won’t be seriously harmed in the tournament.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I was by your side during the mercenary days.”
The mercenary days—a past Roxana could hardly imagine for Curtis. A proud noble rising from the depths of hell.
“You escaped with a blind sister with nothing, wandered across the country with the gypsies, and gradually gathered and led people, forming a formidable mercenary organization.”
“….”
“Therefore, I trust Your Highness. I hope the lady will trust you as well.”
Hans’s eyes reflected years of trust and devotion. Roxana, seeing this, eventually gave a faint sigh.
“…I see. Understood.”
A brief silence passed. Hans, feeling awkward, changed the subject.
“I heard from the maid that you barely had breakfast. Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“There are light refreshments in the resting area. Let’s go, so you can quench your thirst as well.”
Hans offered his hand again, and this time Roxana accepted.
