Ash-colored Despair (14)
Thalia couldn't contain her seething anger and grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
- If you have something to say, say so! Stop fraying my nerves!
The bag filled with feathers hit the back of his head with a resounding pop. Longboat, who was checking the contents of the medicine bottles, cast a cold glance at her over his shoulder.
Thalia immediately drew her neck in and pressed her back against the head of the bed. She tensed, not knowing what kind of retaliatory blow would come. Longboat sighed heavily and dropped to one knee by the bed.
- Give me your hand.
She just blinked in confusion, but he himself grabbed her palm and brought it to the light. The skin on the palm is swollen and red.
Longboat clicked his tongue and poured a viscous liquid onto her hand. Thalia twitched from the burning sensation, but he held her wrist tightly, not allowing her to escape.
She stared at him, looking annoyed.
- What are you doing?!
- Ointment. “For bruises,” he answered in a dry, indifferent voice, and carefully smeared the medicine over her palm. The strange touch made Thalia curl her toes. Every time his long, cold fingers ran over the swollen skin, a tingling sensation spread through his arm. Thalia felt her ears burning and pulled her hand.
- Enough already!
- Sit still.
His deep voice, quieter than usual, sent shivers down her spine. She looked at him with concern, then lowered her eyes. Longboat slowly ran his finger along the thin lines on her palm.
Is this really a treatment?
His hand traced every line too carefully, almost obsessively, and there was something strange, disturbing about it.
“There’s also a bruise on my wrist.”
His voice suddenly became dull, almost ominous. Thalia swallowed, feeling her throat go dry. Why did it suddenly become so scary?
She glanced at him warily, then jerked her hand out of his grip.
- That's enough. Get out of my room.
She turned her back to him, about to lie down, but the next moment she was sharply turned back.
Thalia looked up in confusion. Longboat hovered over her, leaning his hands on the mattress, and asked coldly, almost with pressure:
- Why did you come to the hall today?
Her face twisted with anger. So that's what pissed him off so much. Looking at him with eyes full of venom, Thalia muttered through her teeth:
- What, I can’t?
He said nothing.
“You yourself said that I am the most important thing in this castle.” So why should I sit like a prisoner?
-...You yourself avoided people.
“You really don’t understand why?!”
Suddenly, the suppressed resentment burst out. Thalia pushed him roughly on the shoulder and, wrapping her arms around her knees, glared at him accusingly.
- Because of this! Because of what I've become!
A shadow deepened in his eyes. She attacked him like a moneylender demanding a debt.
“I may be ashamed of myself, but you have no right!” I can hide, but you don't have to hide me!
The veins in his neck were tense and he looked like he was having a hard time holding himself together. This painfully collected gaze, frozen in patience, tormented her even more from the inside.
Thalia grabbed the last pillow and hit him hard in the face. Longboat narrowed his eyes slightly, but did not move away. She hit him a couple more times with the pillow, shouting accusations:
- Why do you think I was sitting there? I wanted to hear what you were whispering about me behind my back! I need to know what they're talking about so I can find a way to survive! That's it! That's why I put on this pathetic cloak instead of a dress and snuck in there like a rat!
He intercepted the flying pillow, leaned on it and pressed it into the mattress. The rough movement tore the fabric, and white feathers scattered in all directions.
Talia, breathing heavily, watched as those feathers slowly circled around her. Longboat pinned her wrists to the bed and leaned towards her with a dark, reserved look. His strangled voice sounded right above her face:
“I understand perfectly well what you want to say,” Barkas took a deep breath and slowly added. “We will hold an inheritance ceremony in the coming days.” There I will formally introduce you as the Grand Duchess of the East.
Talia felt small hairs stand on end all over her body. She herself did not know why exactly - from the upcoming fate or from the man standing in front of her.
He gently brushed away the stray strands of hair from her cheek and quietly continued:
“So until then, stay calm.”
She glared at him with reddened eyes. Several white feathers fell on his shoulder - Longboat lazily shook them off with a slight movement of his hand and slowly straightened up.
Soon there was the sound of a door opening and closing.
Talia looked into the void for a long time, to where he had just stood, and then pulled the blanket up to her forehead.
* * *
After that brutal welcoming ceremony, a heavy, sticky anxiety hung over Raedgo Castle.
The usually impudent maids now walked around Thalia as if on ice, and the guards froze and lowered their eyes every time she appeared.
Apparently, rumors had spread that anyone who dared disrespect the Second Princess would incur the wrath of the future Duke.
It was a misunderstanding caused by the death of one courtier who dared to insult her. That monstrous man had paid for challenging the heir to the ducal house, but Talia did not dissuade them from their mistaken opinion.
It's better to be the one who is feared than the one who is laughed at. If you try to buy someone else's favor, you will be crushed. She learned this rule a long time ago and forever.
- I don't need a servant. Don't interfere here and get out.
Thalia flipped through the book and waved her hand lazily.
The maids standing at the door exchanged awkward glances. Usually they would immediately retreat, but this time for some reason they remained in place.
Thalia raised her voice, which rang with cold steel:
- What, you didn’t hear? I said - get out!
“Your Highness, the inheritance ceremony will take place this afternoon,” the head maid said with desperate determination.
Talia widened her eyes.
- Already?!
She, of course, heard from Barkas that everything would pass in the next few days, but she didn’t think that everything would happen so quickly - not a week had passed!
Her face turned pale and she swung her legs off the bed.
- Where is Barkas?
“His Lordship is now in audience with the high priest, who will lead the ceremony.” As soon as all preparations are completed, everything will begin immediately.
Thalia narrowed her eyes and squinted.
- Why are you telling me about this only now?!
“There was a direct order from his lordship - not to inform you until the very day of the ceremony,” the head maid breathed.
Thalia's face twisted. She immediately understood what was behind it.
Of course... He thought she would run away or hide again. Thalia actually had a habit of disappearing when she encountered something unpleasant. And now the desire to escape overwhelmed her. She glanced out the window, but the head maid, as if having predicted her thoughts, spoke quietly, reconcilingly:
“There’s still time, no need to worry so much.”
Talia's eyes flashed angrily, but immediately went dark and muttered tiredly:
- What should I do now?
— We have prepared a traditional oriental outfit for you.
The head maid stepped aside in relief. Strong maids immediately entered the room, carrying in their hands a pile of luxurious robes embroidered with bright patterns.
“Girls from the midlands are unfamiliar with this style of clothing, so this time let us help you get dressed.”