Chapter 9

…Much more docile? Than whom? Than Sione? The urge to truly kill Joffrey surged within her. Her head spun dizzily as if with tinnitus, and the surrounding sounds felt distant. A reckless thought crossed her mind: was there any need to live like this?

Just when she felt like she might actually do something rash, Joffrey suddenly stood up. And, raising his glass high, he declared in a loud voice,

『Equilla has decided to represent Bellares in the duel.』

The banquet hall was instantly swept up in a festive atmosphere. The cheers and applause that filled the hall brought Daphne fully back to her senses. Daphne stared blankly at the people cheering, convinced of Equilla’s victory.

『…….』

Somehow, everything felt excessively surreal. Joffrey’s clear voice rang out above her.

『You will soon be the wife of the greatest warrior, Daphne.』

The days she had struggled, risking danger to escape the castle, suddenly seemed ridiculous.

So easily.

『The day he, no, Bellares wins will be your wedding day.』

And he whispered that Equilla would take her with him on the day he returned to Lazan territory, as if it were a joyous and glorious occasion.

『You will be very busy starting tomorrow.』

Daphne forgot to smile.

💎

After the marriage was abruptly decided, Daphne slept longer than usual. Curled up under the covers, all day long. Powerless, as if she had lost her will to fight. Her head was pounding. Thisbene hovered around her older sister, who wouldn’t get out of bed.

The detached palace became incredibly busy. The servants, including Rhea, didn’t have time to care for the princesses as usual. An unusually large number of people were coming and going. They dared to glance at the princess’s bedroom and whisper amongst themselves.

『So, who is representing Inacos in the duel?』

『What if they send out that ‘black monster’?』

『The ‘bloody murderer’?』

『Oh dear. If he’s the one chosen for the duel…』

『What’s there to worry about? Equilla is ‘Equilla’. He’ll win no matter who the opponent is!』

『I can’t believe the war will be over tomorrow.』

Among the vague whispers that grated on her nerves, one thing in particular stuck in Daphne’s ear.

『So, when will Princess Daphne return?』

Daphne felt Thisbene, who was sitting by her bedside like a doll, flinch. Daphne, who had been buried under the covers all day, finally poked her face out. Thisbene’s eyes widened as she met Daphne’s gaze. Her expression was a mixture of worry and relief.

She was a pretty child, no matter how you looked at her. Such a pretty child, but Daphne hadn’t been able to care for her properly since Sione’s death. Looking back, she regretted that lost time. Daphne smiled faintly and opened her arms towards Thisbene. Thisbene familiarly rested her head on Daphne’s arm and clung to her waist.

Daphne liked that Thisbene, unlike herself, had an innocent, girlish side. She hugged the small body clinging to her tightly. Thisbene was smaller than her peers, both in height and build, due to frequent illnesses.

Daphne, deliberately trying to distract Thisbene from the outside noises, began to tell her old stories. Daphne herself didn’t know many stories, so they were ones she had told countless times, but Thisbene seemed content just listening to Daphne’s gentle voice. Thisbene, who had been quiet all along, suddenly asked,

『Do we really have to leave tomorrow?』

『…If Equilla wins.』

Thisbene was silent again for a long time.

『…But you said we would never be separated.』

Daphne couldn’t answer, as the small voice seemed filled with resentment and sorrow. She just repeatedly stroked Thisbene’s long hair. After a while, Thisbene asked again,

『What if Equilla loses?』

Equilla’s defeat. It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about it.

『…Then, for now, I can stay by your side. But the war will continue…』

Actually, a part of her kept hoping for his defeat.

『I wish he would lose.』

『…….』

Daphne’s hand, which had been moving mechanically, stopped. She lowered her head, searching for Thisbene’s face. But because Thisbene’s head was bowed, Daphne couldn’t see her expression. Daphne murmured, somewhat dazed,

『If the war continues, something like this will happen again anyway.』

『…Still, I wish he would lose.』

『…….』

『I wish he would die, so he can’t take you away.』

Muttering in a barely audible voice, Thisbene buried her face deeper into Daphne’s chest. Daphne’s front became lukewarmly damp.

Me too. Daphne’s lips parted slightly.

‘I wish that too.’

No matter what happens to this city, I just wish Equilla would die. She moved her lips a few times but couldn’t make a sound.

Soon, Thisbene’s body seemed to relax, and Daphne felt regular breaths against her small back. Daphne carefully laid Thisbene down and gazed at her sleeping face for a while. Seeing her reddened eyes made Daphne’s heart ache.

『…….』

Daphne, quietly watching her, impulsively sat up as if possessed. Then, she got out of bed and started walking quickly down the hallway. The servants, busily moving about the detached palace, looked at the princess hurrying alone with curious gazes, but they couldn’t abandon their tasks. It wasn’t the first time a princess on the verge of marriage had become restless.

Daphne stopped abruptly in front of a room. Inside, she could see several chests that Rhea and the servants had brought in earlier. They were gifts to be given to Equilla before the duel began tomorrow. Perhaps because more chests were yet to arrive, the surroundings were cluttered, and there was no one around at the moment. She felt a strange sensation, as if everyone had vacated the area just for her.

Daphne approached the chests. A sword, helmet, shield, and ornaments made by artisans caught her eye. Rhea had shown them to her one by one earlier. Among them, one thing in particular caught Daphne’s attention. It was a bridle made of high-quality leather. A luxurious item with small jewels embedded in the elaborate seams.

The duel tomorrow was none other than a mounted battle.

…If the bridle breaks and he falls… what are the chances of him dying?

Daphne held the bridle, thinking such thoughts. Her eyes instinctively searched for something hard and thin that could damage the seams. She spotted a short dagger that seemed to fit her hand. There was no hesitation until she grasped it.

‘If Equilla loses, I don’t have to leave tomorrow. If he dies…’

But then, she couldn’t easily make a move.

Was this truly the right thing to do?

『Now it’s really just the two of you. You have to protect This.』

Sione had asked for only one thing. If this dreadful war could end with a single victory, with her marriage…

‘At least Thisbene wouldn’t have to marry Equilla.’

But immediately after, Joffrey’s voice urged her on.

『We will eventually save them, Daphne.』

…Go to hell. The moment she raised the dagger impulsively, fueled by her resentment towards Joffrey, as if forgetting her brief hesitation,

『Princess? What are you doing here alone?』

Suddenly, Rhea’s voice came from behind her. Daphne turned around, her shoulders shaking like someone caught stealing.

『Just, bored.』

Thisbene’s flustered voice followed. Daphne quickly put down the dagger and went into the hallway where she heard their voices. Rhea and Thisbene both turned to look at Daphne at the same time. Rhea frowned, looking back and forth between Daphne and Thisbene.

『Goodness, Princess Daphne. I told you to stay in your room quietly today because it’s a very busy day.』

『It’s just that, the things you showed me earlier… they were so beautiful that I wanted to see them again, so…』

『Please, both of you, go back to your rooms now. I really don’t have time to look after you today.』

『Yes, I’m sorry.』

Her startled heart was still racing. Daphne tried to smile as usual. Thisbene stared at Daphne and then glanced back at the room Daphne had run out of.