This love is like a curse (19)
Talia could not stand the surge of anger and raised her hand again. Soon there was a resounding slap, and a burning pain spread across the palm.
She was sure that she would be stopped this time too, so she shuddered and reflexively pressed her shoulders. However, the victim himself only looked at her serenely.
“Consider that with this I paid for the audacity with which I dared to touch your Highness’s body,” he tapped his gloved fingers on his smooth cheek, on which there was not even a trace of the blow. “But I no longer intend to tolerate your whims.” Let me remind you, I am no longer your knight.
With these words, he climbed out of the carriage and slammed the doors behind him.
Talia remained seated, pressed against the back of the seat. She didn't move for a while, then looked out the window. The longboat has already left. He was nowhere to be seen - only the servants unloading the carts and her stupid knight hurrying them along.
She had an unbearable desire to jump out and teach a lesson to those who dared to disobey her orders. But if she had done this, Barkas would definitely not have ignored it. He did not tolerate cruelty towards his subordinates.
Her fingers clenched at the memory - on the day when she cut the hair of the maid who dared to press her face to his cloak, Barkas looked at Thalia with an icy, inhumanly cold gaze.
Thalia tugged at the curtains in irritation. Squeezing her burning hand, she curled up on the seat.
Some time passed, and soon the horn sounded, signaling the beginning of the journey. The carriage slowly moved away. A journey that is sure to turn into a lifelong nightmare is about to begin.
Thalia stared at the thin sliver of light coming through the crack in the window for a moment, then pulled the curtains tighter. And, plunging into the twilight, she imagined how good it would be if this procession led them all straight to hell.
If they all ended up in the grave together... If it all just ended... Nothing else could make her happier.
* * *
The procession was to follow in the footsteps of Roem's first emperor, Darian, moving from north to west, then north again, along the winding banks of the Silviska River.
At a time when the continent was divided into ten kingdoms - Uedon, Drystan, Balto, Guin, Osiria, Libadon, Arex, Vallis, Dumnos and Siekan - Darian Roem Girtha, Prince of Guin, fled Balto's invasion of the central lands and was adopted by his uncle, Duke Wallender, leader of the people of Osiria [1].
Darian later united the numerous tribes of Osiria into a single entity and gained the support of influential supporters throughout the land. He launched a widespread movement to unite the ten kingdoms. Twenty years and dozens of wars later, he achieved an incredible goal - he united ten kingdoms into one powerful empire.
The procession, which began from the imperial palace, was a sacred ritual that repeated the path of Darian and demonstrated to its subjects the greatness of the dynasty. Therefore, it was distinguished by a truly unimaginable scope and splendor.
At the head of the column, riding on a huge golden horse, rode the Crown Prince. He was followed by about a hundred Imperial Guardsmen with flying banners emblazoned with the Empire's coat of arms. Behind them is the carriage of the first princess, Ayla Roem Girtha, accompanied by her personal guard.
The crowd gathered in the streets greeted the descendants of the great Darian with enthusiastic shouts.
The Order of Roem, with its centuries-old history and traditions, walked with unshakable dignity. The knights were dressed in shining armor made of orichalcum, a metal known as a gift of the gods, over which were worn snow-white uniforms with the emblem of the empire. To their right moved infantry with silver shields decorated with the coat of arms of the guard. Their steps were coordinated and synchronized.
The march of the soldiers caused an even greater uproar in the crowd. Women gathered at the roadsides threw flower petals towards the knights. The bards sang songs glorifying the descendants of Darian.
In response to the cheers, the first princess opened the carriage window. The crowd gasped.
It is unlikely that anyone could compare with Ayla Roem Girta in how much she corresponded to the image of a true princess. Slender posture, like a lily, delicate skin with a slight pinkish tint, thick dark brown hair shining in the sun, and large emerald eyes...
Residents craned their necks to get a better look at her beautiful face. Some, as if hypnotized, followed her carriage. If she hadn't been surrounded by guards, the enthusiastic crowd would probably have completely surrounded her.
People continued to shower blessings on their beloved princess.
But when an incredibly luxurious, almost defiantly bright carriage appeared, the festive atmosphere instantly gave way to icy silence. The knights looked around warily.
Those who just a minute ago were screaming with delight were now whispering, muffled voices. Apparently, they guessed who was inside - the infamous second princess.
People hastily retreated, casting glances at the carriage in which curiosity and hatred were mixed. Some crossed themselves, others spat on the ground. The knights only sighed bitterly. This reaction was quite predictable.
There is not a single person left in the capital who has not heard about the cruel character of Talia Roem Girta.
The illegitimate daughter of the emperor, who excited the entire empire from birth, even after her official recognition as a princess, did not stop causing scandals, keeping the capital in suspense.
There were many servants who were kicked out of her palace, mutilated, and some even died under mysterious circumstances. Naturally, the people of the empire looked at the second princess with icy contempt.
“Would you be so kind as to pull back the curtain and greet the people?” — Unable to bear it, knight Edric Lubon carefully approached the carriage with a proposal. However, not a sound came from inside.
He stared with a dissatisfied look at the window, tightly curtained with heavy fabric.
From the very beginning of the procession, the second princess did not even appear outside, barricading herself in the carriage. It seems that the scene with Sir Siekan left an indelible mark on her.
Edric could hardly hold back the sigh that rose in his throat.
“At least she has a good face... If she had deigned to show herself at least a little to people, look, the reaction would have changed...”
In some ways she was surprisingly clueless.
If she had been a little more friendly, there would have been many men ready to tear out their hearts for her. But Talia Roem Girtha seemed to deliberately act as if she was determined to be hated.
She tormented everyone around her with such fury that even her impeccable beauty, inherited from her mother, paled against the background of the rest. How many knights failed because they could not stand this terrible temper? Sir Siekan, who had been by her side for seven years, seemed almost like a saint.
“Although it’s unlikely that he endured all this humbly...”
Remembering how his boss literally threw the second princess into the carriage like a bag of things, Edric turned his gaze forward. Through the even rows of marching knights, he could hardly discern the figure of Longboat, walking in a black hood pulled up to his eyes.
It seems that he is already fed up with Thalia Roem Girtha. In a way, it was even amazing. What needs to be done to bring such a person to such a person who previously seemed to be a model of devotion and self-discipline?
If he had not seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed it.
Perhaps the second princess really had an innate talent for provoking hostility and hostility in those around her.
Note:
1. From the short story “Under the Oak”:
After the fall of Roem, seven kingdoms arose: Whedon, Balto, Drystan, Osiria, Saikan, Arex and Libadon.
Key characters and events (to refresh your memory, but without spoilers for those who have not read):
- Whedon: Maximilian, Riftan, King Ruben, Agnes and others.
- Balto: Licht Breston.
- Drystan: Duke Cross received part of Drystan's lands through his marriage to Maxie's mother. Bessmore Castle. Liena Mor Torben.
- Osiria: Kuachel Leon.
- Arex: Adolf, a military leader who was persuaded by Licht Breston to launch an unauthorized attack.
- Libadon: Sejour Arena.
Vallis and Dumnos are not mentioned in the novella. Guin appears briefly; he once owned part of Balto's lands.
As for Saikan and Siekan, the short story "Under the Oak" mentions Saikan, while the Forgotten Meadow features Siekan. In the original, both names are similar in spelling, but different.
The approximate location of the lands can be found in the map, which is in the pinned commentary to the short story “Under the Oak”.