Volume 7 part 2
Volume 7 part 2
Princess Anna sat gracefully on a large chair in the center of the lavish room, lifting her chin with elegance. It was the same prideful attitude she always used to conceal her wounded pride during the time of Drewbury’s second wife.
The maids suddenly forced Daon’s head down, and she silently lowered herself to her knees.
“I’ve never had to share anything in my life. There’s never been a thing I couldn’t have,” Princess Anna said, her voice beautifully articulated. “But, out of the mercy of my heart, I won’t kill you. Still, a warning is in order.”
Daon raised her head with indifferent eyes. At the princess’s feet was a low table, prepared with several embroidery needles laid out in a row. The thin needles glinted like fish scales in the candlelight.
After a moment of staring at the needles, Daon locked eyes with Princess Anna, her gaze icy and deep.
Annoyed by the look, the princess’s lips tightened. Noticing her displeasure, the maids harshly forced Daon’s head down again.
“Bring her closer,” Anna commanded sharply.
The maids dragged Daon like luggage and placed her in front of the princess. Daon stared blankly at the carpet, then shifted her gaze, first to Anna’s jeweled shoes, then to the immaculate lace of her dress, and finally to the thin needle in her white hand. Echoes of Ixor’s voice rang in her ears.
‘Do you love me?’
Of course she loved him. But she couldn’t afford to be greedy. If you desire too much and obsess, you ruin the other person, just as she had once doomed her entire family for herself.
Princess Anna looked as thrilled and satisfied as a child pulling legs off an insect. The maids tightly gripped Daon’s wrists and spread the skin between her thumb and index finger.
A cold, foreign sensation slowly crept under her skin. A chill ran down Daon’s spine as the needle pierced her flesh—but she didn’t make a sound.
“You wretched girl.”
Enraged, Anna yanked out the needle and picked up another, tapping it thoughtfully against her lips.
“Where should I poke next, hmm? I once played with a monkey… soft flesh hurts the most.”
Daon slowly lowered her eyelashes, then opened them to meet Anna’s eyes for the first time. The princess’s beautiful pupils gleamed with excitement.
Smack!
Princess Anna struck Daon across the face. As she raised her hand to hit again, a maid quickly intervened.
“Please, not where it’ll show!”
Anna, furious, jabbed the bloodied needle into the maid’s shoulder. The maid screamed and fell backward. Enraged, Anna leapt up.
“I know that!” she yelled.
Other maids rushed over to fan the princess, whose face was flushed with anger. She threw down the needle and gave a haughty command.
“You got a wooden horse from Ixor, didn’t you? The one with wings. I want it. Bring it to me.”
After a moment of quiet, Daon refused.
“No.”
“What?”
“That belongs to me, Your Highness.”
Her calm voice was sharp as a blade. Princess Anna stared in disbelief.
A slave, staring down a royal and refusing a direct command?
Even the maids froze in shock. One maid hesitated before moving, and the others quickly followed her lead, pouncing.
They yanked Daon’s hair violently. She closed her eyes. Her carefully braided hair unraveled, and her skirt was stepped on and ripped with a harsh tearing sound.
“That red thing, bring it here,” said Anna suddenly, sipping tea from the sofa.
Daon’s eyes flew open. Anna was pointing at the sachet tied to Daon’s petticoat, which had come loose and was now being handed over to her.
“Please give it back.”
Daon said instinctively. She knew she should stay calm, but the moment the sachet was taken, her mind went blank.
Seeing her reaction, Anna smiled triumphantly. A victor’s smile.
She turned the sachet in her hands, then opened it.
“Herbs? Rosemary? Hmm… Nothing special.”
“Please, Your Highness,” Daon pleaded.
“No.”
“Please…”
“Just herbs? Oh, wait, there’s something.”
Daon immediately stood up, but the maids forced her back down. Anna used a small silver scissor to cut through the lace and spilled the dried rosemary onto the table. A ring fell out with a clink.
Even at a glance, it was a stunning, dignified red diamond ring.
Anna narrowed her eyes and picked it up.
“Wait… This red diamond… Isn’t it Ixor’s mother’s? A keepsake?”
Her voice trailed off, and her expression turned cold.
A keepsake from his mother?
Daon stared blankly at the ring in Anna’s hand. The uniquely designed red diamond sparkled like scattered fragments of light. Suddenly, she remembered the wedding night, when Ixor offered her a drink and made a vow.
‘In this place where no logic can intrude, I, Gwin Ixor Malkuth, pledge eternal love to Daon…’
He had proposed to her long before that vow—by giving her his mother’s ring.
She heard a faint cracking sound. It felt like her heart had fractured. Dizziness followed, and a deep ache bloomed in her chest. Daon braced herself against the cold stone floor with both hands.
A maid tried to distract Anna with a suggestion.
“She probably stole it. Slaves usually have sticky fingers.”
Anna’s eyes snapped sharply toward the maid.
“Are you saying Ixor is an idiot?”
“What?”
“He’s not the kind of man who wouldn’t notice losing his mother’s keepsake.”
The room tensed at Anna’s biting tone. Everyone held their breath, unsure how the princess would react.
Knock knock.
A sudden knock startled everyone. Only Daon and Anna remained still, glaring at each other.
“Let them in,” Anna ordered coolly.
A maid entered and whispered something.
“The guest has arrived, Your Highness.”
Anna put the ring back into the sachet and tied it tightly. Then, with poised dignity, she gave Daon an order.
“Get dressed. You’re coming with me.”
“Your Highness, that belongs to me.”
Daon demanded its return, staring coldly at Princess Anna. Realizing Daon wasn’t just an ordinary slave nor an easy opponent, Princess Anna clenched her teeth in anger.
“Fix your appearance right now.”
“Please return it.”
“You want your sachet and ring back? Then you must never reveal our relationship to anyone. You’re smart enough to understand that much, aren’t you? If anyone catches on, even by chance…”
Princess Anna dangled the sachet slightly, as if threatening her.
“I’ll burn the sachet and toss the ring into the moat.”
Since the moat had been connected to the river, once thrown in, it would be lost forever. Daon straightened her posture, sat upright with grace, and began calmly undoing her hair to rebraid it and tidy her clothes, under the watchful eyes of the handmaids encircling her.
When she was finished and looked up coldly, Princess Anna continued with a sweet smile.
“I was wondering how I’d spend the winter in such a remote castle, but what a delightful surprise—you’ll be my entertainment. Until my engagement ceremony, you’ll keep me company like today.”
“…”
“Come running when I call, like the wind.”
“When will you return my sachet?”
“On the day of the engagement ceremony.”
Daon replied in a calm tone, not even blinking.
“Do you swear that on your father, His Majesty’s name and honor?”
“What did you say?”
Clatter!
Tea spilled onto the floor, and the jeweled silver cup rolled with a sharp sound. Princess Anna slammed the table and stood abruptly, making the frightened handmaids drop to their knees, trembling and pressing their foreheads to the floor.
Despite the scene, Daon stood her ground, unshaken.
“I will reclaim both items. So promise me.”
Princess Anna, catching the quiet menace in Daon’s eyes, involuntarily stiffened her shoulders. Then, as if ready for a fight, she smiled faintly. Looking down at Daon with a sneer, she answered.
“Fine. I promise.”
***
The wind was biting, a sign of a harsh winter. After leaving Princess Anna’s chambers, Daon shivered in the cold and leaned against a wall. The needle-pricked spot ached, and her joints felt frozen.
Dizzy from severe anemia, she steadied herself on the wall, breathing heavily. When she barely opened her eyes, a mist had blurred her vision.
“Came crawling in ‘cause you’ve got a death wish?”
Suddenly, Ixor’s voice rang out. Daon narrowed her eyes, confused, and walked slowly along the dark wall. Ixor sounded angry. What had happened?
A strange premonition washed over her as her ankle felt a chill, like a ghost brushing past. But it wasn’t just the winter night—it was instinct warning her. A creeping fear wrapped around her legs, growing with every step toward the castle gate.
She continued walking with a calm, cold face. On either side of the tall gate, bright torches blazed like daylight. The gate being open at night meant an important guest or urgent matter.
Come to think of it, Anna had mentioned a guest earlier.
She stopped. Far ahead, she saw Ixor’s back blocking the gate, his stance tilted and emanating deadly intent. Following his gaze, she slowly turned her head…
Flinch.
Her entire body froze unconsciously. She even stopped breathing.
Zelgirk.
While Ixor had turned his head to command his men, Zelgirk, who had been flaunting his arrogance, recognized her.
Grinning wickedly, he flashed his teeth and gave a mocking nod. The gleam in his small eyes mirrored the thrill of a hound spotting its prey.
As if dodging his filthy gaze, Daon moved behind the wall, her face expressionless. Goosebumps prickled across her skin.
Plop. Drip, drip.
Cold winter rain began to fall with a faint sound, creating small holes in the snowbanks. People rushed inside to avoid the sudden downpour. Red lights flickered on in every castle window, and thick wooden shutters slammed shut.
Daon stood still against the wall, staring into the darkness for a long time. Slowly tilting her head up, she saw black storm clouds fighting above the Orlank sky.
Just a few days ago, the snow had been pristine white. Now, after a single storm, all that remained was muddy sludge.
Of course—
Happiness was short. Pain was long.
No… She had to stay cold and steady. The more shaken she was, the more she had to hold firm. But her thoughts kept drifting to her painful past, making it hard to control her emotions.
“Hoo…”
With a sigh, she sat down against the wall with a composed face.
Zelgirk was here.
He wouldn’t leave after just a day or two—he was Anna’s guest. Her heart felt like it might burst.
Fear, rage, and despair boiled inside her. Clenching her frozen hands, she crushed her skirt in her fists.
“Training your endurance out here, lady?”
Suddenly a voice startled her. She looked up to find Ixor standing over her, shielding her from the rain with a grin. His wet hair clung to his face, he’d clearly been searching for her for some time.
He didn’t ask what she was doing. Instead, he crossed his arms above her head like an umbrella, creating a small, warm space just for the two of them.
“That *****. You saw he came, right?”
“Yes.”
“Zephar once carved a nice club. I think it’s time to use it.”
Daon chuckled softly. Ixor gently placed his hand on her shoulder to keep her from getting wet, then slowly rubbed her chilled shoulder. His touch was gentle, filled with affection.
Daon closed her weary eyes. His warmth melted the frost on her skin. She wasn’t as cold anymore.
Still…
Was this happiness? Or sorrow? She didn’t know.
Soaked in rain and mist, she whispered a confession.
“I can’t remember my family’s faces anymore.”
“…”
“When too much time passes without seeing someone, even the ones you loved most… you forget them, don’t you?”
Ixor too, one day—she’d forget his face. No matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t recall his hair color, eye color—nothing. He’d fade like a ghost in her memory.
Ixor replied lightly.
“That just means you’ve accepted it’s okay to forget. You can’t hold onto the past forever.”
“…”
“When the present is joyful, the past becomes blurry. I’ve lived a noisy life. So many things happened every year. But since I met you, the past’s been fading. Must be ‘cause I like being with you more.”
“Even the past you wish you could keep?”
“If they really loved you, wouldn’t they want you to be happy?”
Ixor spread his hands casually.
“Letting go doesn’t mean erasing. It means releasing. For your family—and for yourself.”
“Releasing…”
“Releasing. Not erasing memories, but freeing emotions. Strange?”
“No.”
She smiled faintly and asked,
“If you become happier, will you let go too?”
“No.”
Without hesitation, Ixor replied firmly, his tone serious.
“I’m a selfish man. I’ll never erase you or let you go.”
“…”
“We promised, remember? I’ll be the one to collect your body.”
Yes. We did.
A warm pulse stirred in her heart, and she smiled softly. He slipped his hand under her knees and lifted her effortlessly.
“Let’s go back in. It’s cold and rainy, you need to warm you up with body heat. How about a bath together?”
“Just a bath?”
“Just a bath. I promise.”
When she gave him a skeptical look, having been fooled before, Ixor confidently claimed innocence—but cheekily crossed his fingers behind her back. Daon laughed brightly and tilted her head up.
The winter rain poured like ice. She blinked slowly and then saw the third-floor window open. Inside, Zelgirk was leaning far out, watching them.
He stared hard at Daon, then raised his severed right arm and pointed at Ixor. Slowly, he drew his hand across his throat.
A death threat.
Then Zelgirk disappeared behind the window.
“How was today?” Ixor asked in a cheerful voice.
Daon gently wrapped her thin arms around his neck and replied, just as warmly,
“It was very good.”
