Chapter 9. It's weird not to see her anymore
***
"Princess. Rest easy."
Trisha had slept soundly here last night, waking up refreshed for the first time since she'd felt Aaron's energy. Tanya walked up to her, who was still dusting the bookshelves in the study today, and whispered softly, "You're so cute.”
She was dusting, too, as all the maids. Of course, she wasn't doing this out of fear that people would come to check on her unannounced. Being in the dust, she could think of nothing else.
It was the best way to move her body without thinking about it, even though it never seemed to end, but it would end eventually.
Still, after a few hours of hard work, the corner of the study was clean enough to make it worthwhile. It was barely enough, but she was proud of herself. Taking a break, Trisha and Tanya began to explore a little further back. They deliberately avoided the spot where they'd bumped into the Wolf King, where it had been so neatly kept.
Bookshelves lined the walls on three sides, crammed with countless volumes. The volume was staggering. The smell of old books wafted through the dust.
On the other side of the room, several thick tapestries with large paintings hung, presumably to block out the drafts from the windows, but the cold air still seeped in here and there, making Trisha’s fur coat open. It seemed to get colder the further in she went. She was about to turn away, worried, when she heard Tanya's voice.
"Princess. Look at this."
She stepped over to Tanya's bookshelf. For a moment, she couldn't help but be surprised.
There was a large pillar. It was thick and tall, like five men could reach it with their arms outstretched, and there was a painting around it. Trisha couldn't take her eyes off the painting. It was overwhelming.
"Wow. This white wolf... it's huge. It's bigger than all ten of the soldiers combined. It's terrifying to look at... but it's not going to show up here, is it?"
At Tanya's words, Trisha realized that the painting was of the god Lamu, whom they believed in; she had heard of him, but never before had she seen him in a painting like this. Slowly, she circled the pillar and admired the painting of a giant white wolf, all in one. It was not only ferocious and wild, but it also conveyed a sense of immense power over humans.
If a mere painting could inspire this much fear, the real thing must be enormous. She cleared her throat and turned her attention to Tanya, who was still tense.
"The original paintings were meant to be more exaggerated."
The paintings hanging in the palace in Izef had also been painted larger, more menacing. This one would be the same. It's pretty much true of all palace paintings. Tanya looked a little relieved at her words.
"It's a very good painting, though."
She started walking again, and Tanya, who had been squirming in front of the painting, quickly followed.
It was a peaceful moment until, a few moments later, someone pushed open the study door and entered.
"Who is this Princess Izef?"
Trisha, hidden by a bookcase, moved toward the source of the voice.
As she approached the doorway, she saw a noblewoman with several handmaidens. From her luxurious dress, her carefully coiffed hair, and the arrogance that radiated from her body, it was clear at first glance that she belonged to a very high family.
As she silently and wordlessly approached her, her eyes swept over her, and they didn't seem to be favorable.
Still, she wasn't particularly curious as to who this person was, since she had nothing to do with her.
"I am Corneline Havilt, second daughter of the Duke of Havilt."
There was a subtle disregard in her polite voice. It was strange.
Trisha tilted her head to the side slightly at the young lady's words, wondering what brought a Duke’s daughter here.
Hmph.
A sigh escaped from the woman’s mouth unexpectedly. The way she shook her head slightly, it was clear that she was above everyone else.
Even if Trisha was a princess of a vassal state, she was still a royal princess of a kingdom, and this was her attitude?
In an instant, Trisha became deeply suspicious of the hierarchy of this Tasar nation.
As everyone held their breath, she saw the initial sharpness fade from the woman’s gaze as she stared at Trisha, and she wondered what this meant.
Corneline smiled wryly. She'd been a little nervous about the newcomer to the palace after only a few days, but there was no reason to be, so she looked at her with a more forgiving gaze.
The other two princesses bowed as soon as they gave their names. It was clear that they all knew what was going on in the palace as soon as they entered. The Havilts were a powerful family, second only to the king. She was the next Empress, and she had the full support of His Majesty the King. And yet, this Princess of Izef was an uninformed fool. That was to say.
An uninformed princess.
With Princess of Yoner’s beauty under constant scrutiny, the arrival of another princess was not to be welcomed, but it seemed that such concerns could be put to rest. She didn’t look that intimidating.
Corneline’s gaze softened as relief washed over her as this Princess was the least of her concerns out of the three princesses.
"I'm in charge of the royal Palace and the princesses. I will make room for you soon, and we can talk at length then, princess."
The words were polite, but Trisha could only stare in disbelief as the young lady continued to try to gain the upper hand. What was the point of such a position? It wasn't a very good seat, that was for sure. What she didn't understand was what right a noblewoman had to manage a royal palace and its princesses.
Another low sigh escaped her lips.
"It looks like you have a lot to learn, Princess, but don't worry about that, that's my job."
Trisha's expression as she looked at the woman, who had returned to her arrogance, was the same as the first time. She was going to teach her? What was there to know?
Corneline felt a flicker of irritation at the Princess’s unreadable, grave expression, but she managed to suppress it, and even smiled slightly at the non-threatening woman. This was just the beginning.
Leaving the princess standing stiffly at the end of the line, Corneline turned graciously. It was safe to say that she had used up her generosity for the day.
Trisha looked at the closed door and let out a small sigh of her own. First the two princesses, then this young lady. This is going to be more trouble than I thought, she realized with a sigh.
She needed to walk a bit.
Restraining Tanya from following her, Trisha walked quietly out of the study.
The cold air didn't bother her much. The sunlight reflected off the white flakes of snow here and there, dazzling her, and she walked steadily through it until she reached the courtyard.
Even though it wasn't snowing, it was still freezing cold, and the place was empty. She was glad to see that. She didn't want to encounter too many other people.
She approached the giant tree that stood in the center of the courtyard, but up close, its thick bark was peeling and lifting, as if it were diseased. She didn't know how long it had been standing here, but she felt sorry for it. At this rate, it might not survive.
She wondered why she could see herself superimposed on this giant tree.
Suddenly, Trisha gently placed her warm hand on the trunk of the giant tree. Just in case... If she had a new ability like Aaron's....
But no matter how hard she tried to force her hand to share the warmth, it didn't work. If only Aaron were here, he could fix it. Trisha ran her hand gently down the trunk of the giant tree.
***
Thankfully, the luncheon was slowly coming to an end. It had been longer than he'd expected.
"You've seen so many pretty girls, I'm afraid you've never seen anything like the Princess of Izef."
Said Roman, his usual stern tone.
"Nonsense, you're too busy fighting wars to see any women. You're too ignorant to realize it."
Rute’s words, meant to be funny, now sounded boring to Kalos's ears.
The topic of conversation was wrong.
Barely back from luncheon and back in his office, he shook off the grumble: the princess was an insignificant person, not worth mentioning, except that she was the biological daughter of his father's enemy, Queen Catherine.
Pressing a hand to his tired eyes, Kalos approached the window.
Ha! His mistake.
It's weird that she's not there.
He'd gotten so used to this that it was more odd not to see her now than it was absurd.
What the hell was she doing in the frozen courtyard? What was she doing under that dying tree?
He wondered. The thoughts in his head.
No, it's not. It's a ploy to keep him on his toes with her unpredictable behavior. Thinking that no one would notice.
Now he was halfway annoyed.
Ha!
Everything was offensive. Everything about her.
With a sneer on his face, Kalos boldly turned away from the window.
***
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