This love is like a curse (57)
Талия резко выпрямила спину, словно в неё ударила молния.
The woman turned gracefully and continued:
“Since you must appear before the emperor, Her Majesty ordered us to bring you into proper form.” Прошу вас, окажите нам содействие.
She waved her hand softly, and four maids approached the bed, holding clothes in their hands.
Талия резко отпрянула назад.
- Get out. I'm not going to date this person.
“Refrain from blasphemous statements,” the woman’s voice, previously soft, suddenly became icy and sharp, like a blade. “You may be a princess, but even you are not allowed to speak about His Majesty in such a disrespectful tone.” This time I'll close my eyes to it. Но впредь будьте осмотрительнее.
Талия лишь на миг съёжилась от сурового тона, но тут же бросила гневный взгляд.
- And if you don’t close your eyes, then what? Пожалуешься своему великому императору?
— Почему бы и нет, — холодно отозвалась женщина.
Thalia chuckled.
- Is it true? Well then, run to the main palace and tell him: the obstinate second princess, without a drop of education, is screaming that she doesn’t want to see this vaunted face!
В тот же миг на тыльной стороне ладони вспыхнула боль.
Ошарашенная Талия с изумлением уставилась на женщину. She had just hit her with a thin twig and was now looking at her with an icy gaze.
— Ваша власть как принцессы происходит от его величества. Я не могу оставить безнаказанным такие дерзкие речи.
— Ты… Ты посмела… — Талия задрожала от ярости, не в силах продолжить.
The woman looked at her tiredly and headed towards the door.
“Her Majesty has urgently ordered that you be brought to court, regardless of what means will have to be used for this.” Неужели вы хотите, чтобы мы прибегли к силе?
С этими словами она распахнула дверь.
Thalia froze when she saw the guards from the Empress's palace in the corridor.
The woman, as if enjoying her pale face, continued softly:
- There is no need to lead to conflict. Если вы будете сотрудничать, всё быстро закончится.
In other words, if she does not submit voluntarily, she will be forcibly dragged into the palace.
Clenching her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, Talia felt tears of humiliation welling up in her eyes.
If Seneviere were in front of her now, Thalia would probably plunge a dagger into her chest.
Did she really decide to trample her completely, destroying even the last shred of dignity?
No, she will never, never forgive her.
— Приготовьтесь омыть её высочество — велела старшая служанка.
The two girls leaned over the bed, but Talia abruptly pushed their hands away.
- Don't you dare touch me!
The maids recoiled from the scream, as if from a flame, with frightened faces - it was clear that they were afraid of revenge.
Realizing that they were hesitant to act, Talia took advantage of the moment and spoke with even more arrogance:
- The nanny will do the bathing. And all of you, get out of my room.
The woman looked at her with a thoughtful expression, then sighed heavily.
- Fine. But leave the preparations for the meeting to me. This is non-negotiable.
After that, she led all the maids out of the room.
A few minutes later, the nanny hurried inside.
The same one who hurt Talia more than once with her tactless words.
And yet, as soon as she appeared, a wave of relief surged through Thalia, squeezing her throat painfully.
She pressed her face against the shoulder of the nanny, who came to support her.
She, not understanding anything, spoke cheerfully:
“Did you hear what the head maid said?” His Majesty personally wished to see you! He must be worried when he finds out that you are injured!
Thalia, listening to her chatter with half an ear, struggled to get out of bed.
The pain, which radiated to her very bones, forced her to grit her teeth.
And yet, what infuriated her most was the words of others.
How dare they say that I can walk?
Her crippled legs could barely support her own weight.
Talia gritted her teeth and, dragging her aching leg, walked to the screen and stood behind it.
She hobbled slowly into the marble bathtub, and the nanny doused her body with warm water.
Submerging herself in the warm water, Thalia looked down at her feet. The reddish scars looked like swollen worms.
When she started to touch them with her fingertips, the nanny slapped her on the back.
For a moment, a wave of resentment washed over her, but Thalia pulled her hand away without further ado - she was afraid that the nanny would get angry and leave.
“Now I’ll rinse your head, throw it back.”
She obediently laid her head on the edge of the bathtub, and the nanny poured a large jug of warm water on her.
Finally, when all the foam was washed off her body, Thalia staggered out of the bath.
The nanny brought a large towel and wiped the water off her, then helped her put on clean underwear and a petticoat.
“The head maid will do the rest.”
When the nanny finished her work and left looking relieved, the head maid returned, leading the servants.
Talia silently withstood the gaze with which she appraisingly examined her from top to bottom.
The woman walking around her in a circle finally clapped her hands and said:
— Braid her hair and put on the prepared dress. I will choose the decorations myself.
Dozens of fingers immediately began to fuss around Thalia...
She endured, feeling like a victim of torture - the servants treated her like a doll.
Several maids put her clothes on and off again and again, while others braided her long hair into several braids and put them up.
The head maid, who was strictly observing the process, nodded after a while.
- Enough.
The maids who were straightening her clothes immediately retreated.
Thalia looked with tired eyes at the woman, who threw a pearl-colored silk cape over her shoulders and turned to the exit.
- It's time to go.
After a moment of thought, Thalia left the room. She wanted to walk as naturally as possible, but her numb legs did not obey.
With every uneven step she felt the soldiers' gazes on her. She wanted to crush them all.
Holding back her humiliation, she left the palace. There was a carriage in front of the garden, and next to it was an unfamiliar man in armor.
Has the old knight left?
The face of the annoying man during the journey flashed in her memory, but soon she stopped caring. The knights were changed every season - it was time for a change.
Talia sat down in the carriage with an indifferent expression. The head maid followed, her mouth sharply opening to give a stern warning:
“Today the Emperor intends to announce something important.” Please refrain from indecent words and actions.
- What is this “something important”?
- I don't know.
“Then how do you know whether it’s important or not?”
The woman was silent, apparently patience was running out.
Thalia looked away from her and towards the window. The carriage had already left the garden and was rapidly crossing the vast grounds of the imperial palace.
She nervously looked at the rapidly changing landscape and fidgeted with her knee, which was already beginning to ache.
Despite the soft cushions, the slight vibration of the carriage pierced my bones. Wiping away the meager drops of sweat, she swallowed the pain.
Soon the shaking stopped and the carriage stopped.
Thalia walked out staggeringly and frowned when she saw the wide square filled with sun.
There were unusually many people here today. She was looking at them with concern when the head maid approached and nudged:
- Your Highness, they are waiting for you. Let's go.
Thalia pressed her lips together and walked away.
She heard the whispers and shudders of those who recognized her, but tried not to pay attention.
When someone tried to stop her at the entrance, a stern voice was heard:
— The passage is closed. Please use the side entrance...
The soldier, suddenly recognizing her, inhaled sharply and retreated. Talia looked at him with a cold gaze:
-Who are you to stop me?
“I-I beg your pardon, your highness.”
She walked past, her body wet with sweat - she tried to hide her awkward gait, but she failed.
Looking around furtively, she noticed a huge cage in one of the halls. When I looked inside, my eyes opened wide:
-...What is this?