This love is like a curse (17)
Talia walked past the main palace, and the servants, recognizing her, pressed their foreheads to the ground in horror. Are they afraid that the notorious second princess will cause a scandal?
Ignoring the frightened faces of the ladies-in-waiting, shocked by her sudden appearance, she entered the Empress's palace - the most luxurious of all the castles of the imperial palace.
By sunset, Senevier usually dined with the emperor or rested in her chambers. Thalia was sure that today was the second case.
As expected, the mother was in her secret workshop behind her personal library. Descending the passage between the bookshelves into the basement, Talia felt the intoxicating smell of herbs, the pungent aroma of oils and a light smoke tickling her nostrils.
In the spacious room, filled with a purple shimmer, bottles with alchemical components and all kinds of instruments for experiments were placed everywhere, and books in the languages of different races were piled up near the blazing fireplace.
The room looked so disorderly that it was difficult to believe that this was the domain of her mother, who surrounded herself with only luxury.
However, Thalia crossed the room as usual and approached the table where Senevier was sitting. The Empress, leaning back in a chair with a velvet cushion, was looking through a parchment scroll and did not pay the slightest attention to her daughter.
Seeing such a reaction, it was as if a fire flared up in Thalia's chest. Leaning over the table, she hissed through clenched teeth:
“The Astros just came to see me.”
Finally, the empress's dark blue eyes slid towards her. Talia continued with a sneer.
“This child said that I would soon be married off.”
“I didn’t know that Astros was so interested in you,” Senevier noted indifferently, putting the scroll aside.
The fact that she continued to pay attention only to her brother made Thalia want to knock over everything on this table. Squeezing the hem of her dress, she could hardly contain the impulse.
- Why do I learn about my own marriage from this child? And what is all this nonsense about pilgrimages? What are you up to?
- “Planning”? What a rude word,” Senevier sighed tiredly and stood up.
Her impeccably graceful movement could hypnotize, but Thalia immediately became wary, looking at her soft smile.
-You have reached marriageable age. The right offer came from the right person at the right time, so I just let it happen.
— Suitable? You mean that little serpent Serian?
Thalia grimaced, remembering his oily face at the banquet.
“Of course, this is the man whom mother checked so carefully?”
“If you’re asking whether Serian is capable of fulfilling a man’s duties...” Senevier nodded with a slight grin. - Yes, yes. He is quite skilled. He will be glad to serve you.
Thalia completely lost her composure, which she had barely managed to maintain, when her words, intended to condemn her mother's exploits, were met with an even more terrible counterattack. Senevier’s words were like spiders crawling across her skin.
“I don’t need this disgusting man!” I'd rather bite my tongue off than let him touch me!
“That’s how it is...” Senevier touched her cheek with feigned sadness and sighed quietly. - Well, let's find another groom. I was just looking through the list in search of another suitable candidate.
She pointed to the scroll on the table. The girl recognized several names and shuddered: they were all mad admirers of her mother.
She wants to give her daughter to one of her henchmen?
Fear and rage intertwined together.
- I don’t want to get married! No need to suddenly pretend to care - just leave me alone, as always!
“So... you don’t want anyone other than the heir of Duke Siekang?”
Thalia turned pale, as if she had received a blow. She slowly began to retreat.
Senevier grinned and said to her daughter in a poisonous voice:
“If she wanted him so much, she had to get him at any cost.” I kept him close to you for seven whole years. And what have you done during this time?
She shook her head in disdain.
“The man you wanted so much will become the property of another woman in a few months.” And you just let it happen?
Talia shuddered and her shoulders shook. She was chilled by the realization that Senevier had seemed to see right through her all this time.
The Empress silently watched her daughter's white face, and then put on the mask of a loving mother again. Her voice sounded soft and soulful, as if trying to lull her to sleep:
“Talia, I did all this just for you.” To show my precious daughter a way out of her miserable situation.
Long snow-white fingers gently slid across the cheek. It seemed as if a pale snake had crawled across my skin. Talia froze, as if paralyzed.
Seneviere peered intently into her frightened face and whispered softly, like a feather:
- You have two options. The first is to get the man you want at any cost. The second is to accept defeat... but at least make it less humiliating.
Her velvety voice stuck to the ears like thick tree sap.
“I chose the first path and got everything I wanted.” But if you are not capable of this... you can always choose someone easier - and pretend to be as happy as the winner. Yes, it’s a pity... but if you’re still destined to lose, isn’t it better to preserve what remains of your pride?
Talia pulled back sharply, like a hunted animal escaping from a trap.
Senevier smiled affectionately:
“This journey is my last gift to you.” Think carefully about which path to choose.
Talia gave her a look full of hatred and ran out of the workshop. A cheerful laugh, like a bird's chirping, followed her. He pursued her, eating into her consciousness.
* * *
In the end, Thalia did go on a journey with her half-brother and sister, who hated her.
With the imperial palace providing everything she needed, from food to people, she didn't have to worry about anything. Moreover, Senevier wanted to provide her with personal guards from her soldiers and high magicians. But Gareth resolutely opposed this.
The Crown Prince was already furious that he had to take his hated half-sister along on the trip. He was not going to put up with the presence of the empress's people.
According to rumors, in order to cancel Senevier’s order, Gareth even personally came to the emperor and staged a real verbal duel. For Thalia, this was for the best - she herself did not want to be among her mother’s fanatical followers.
"For my sake? Don't be ridiculous..."
She irritably pulled off a hangnail on her finger, glaring at the servants loading things into the cart. No, Senevier would not start all this just for her sake. There is clearly another, much more insidious calculation hiding here.
She looked with suspicion at the servants sent from the empress's chambers.