Chapter 1.2

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“What to do, my lady?” Rosalyn said to Aristine, her red lips twisted. “These are the only clothes that you could change into.”

Even though her voice sounded apologetic, her eyes were joyful.

By Rosalyn’s side, the other maids giggled and waved the clothes agreeably.

They were more rags than clothes.

The maids, who saw Aristine speechless, were even more delighted.

“So what if it is dirty?”

“But I can’t simply give my honorable lady this servant’s old and worn dress.”

“I don’t care about this type of thing so it doesn’t matter.”

“I guess so. Look at the clothes you are wearing, after all. I don’t even know how it smells.”

“But these clothes were originally yours,” Aristine said. Rosalyn grabbed the clothes out of other maid’s hand and threw them on the floor.

She was trampling on the clothes, but the difference wasn’t even noticeable because it was already so dirtied with soil and dust. Aristine looked down at the damp fabric.

So this is all they can do.

She wanted to laugh.

I can take care of this myself.

Aristine snatched the clothes away and turned around.

The maids were left behind as she headed toward the carriage.

“What-“

“Oh my god.”

As they had wished, Aristine had agreed to wear what they had given her, but somehow it felt like they were the only ones ridiculed.

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When Aristine entered the carriage, she drew the curtains and shed her heavy dress.

This was the dress that was prepared for the marriage, and she should have taken it off only on the night of her wedding. After wearing it for the last fifteen days during this terrible carriage ride, though, it had become so ugly that it was unrecognizable compared to its original state.

The delicate and weak fabric was quickly destroyed. She would never be able to wear it again.

Aristine sewed herself a dress with the clothes that the maid had trampled all over. Compared to that frustrating wedding dress, this dirty thing was actually much more comfortable.

The maids had sarcastically commented about it being more comfortable, but they weren’t wrong.

At the most, all they can do is step on the clothes.

Even if she were afraid, she would not admit it to anyone else.

They even did such a great job of it too. 

“Originally, I was going to stay quiet until I got to Airugo,” Aristine said to herself.

However when she saw that maid’s malicious intent to pour hot water on her, Aristine suddenly changed her mind. It was necessary for her to stop this type of harassment now. If she didn’t resolve this type of incident right now, the maids would continue to be difficult until they arrived in Airugo.

If it weren’t for the King’s Presence, I would definitely have been burned.

Therefore, that maid should reap what she had sown.

It was all psychological warfare, anyway.

There was no way that the princess could possibly have poured the water on purpose.

It was an accident.

The bride cannot oppose us. 

It’s only a few words, so we can still ignore it. 

At least, that is how Aristine thought their thought processes were going right now.

Unconsciously, though, she was being extra cautious.

I am afraid.

The maid who was about to splash hot water on Aristine had more than half her face covered in burns.

It was a mild burn and could still be treated in Airugo, but at the moment her face was swollen like a black and red balloon.

They will look at that type of face everyday, and the wound will shrink sooner or later. Since none of them ever thought twice about it, they never thought that they themselves could get hurt while harassing others.

It was then that I realized for the first time that I could get hurt.

Even if the bullying itself has naturally becomes more hesitant.

I really doubt that I can get out of this safely and without any grudges.

Their current harassment efforts were positively cute compared to what they had done so far: splashing hot water, stepping on her feet, badmouthing her, trampling her clothes. Aristine wasn’t hurt by it, she could still handle this.

Aristine wasn’t ashamed by her ragged clothing.

At the very least, I should have been more mindful. I didn’t think that I would need to bring my old clothes.

Aristine, who had lived in exile for most of her life, owned only old and shabby clothing.

Even if the maid didn’t trample it, this dress was still inappropriate for the bride blessed by priests and the great gods.

Then again, this wasn’t an actual marriage. It was a political marriage between the two countries, nothing more.

She was not important enough that the Emperor would use his name to prepare more than one set of clothes.

I know what the Emperor is thinking: for me to be as unkempt and messed up as possible by the time we arrive at Airugo.

They would arrive with a splendid carriage and grand offerings, the guards in shining armor and the maids in beautiful dresses, providing a spectacular contrast against what would come next.

A maiden with the appearance of a rat would walk out among them.

He would think this appearance a perfect match for those barbarians.

The royal servants and guards, the extravagant party, and the expensive gifts, they were all there to show off the strength and wealth of Silvanus.

The Emperor wanted to mock Airugo.

Unlike the Barbarian Kingdom that truly wanted to end the war, the emperor was just making time to prepare for another battle.

I don’t care how Aristine is treated in Airugo, so it doesn’t matter.

I think that this marriage is splendid.

Perhaps out of courtesy I can demand something from Airugo.

Well, there must be something that I can ask from Airugo.

The Emperor was truly a fool, Aristine thought.

He really thought that everything would flow to his accord.

Your daughter who did not attain the King’s Presence.

The child that you mercilessly abandoned.

The idiot that was ignorant of the world’s affairs.

You can use it as you like and dispose of it later.

I want to get nice clothes and wash them as I please, Aristine mused. She flopped down.

Let’s continue to mingle with these clowns until we arrive.

Counterattacking is no fun if you get hurt too.

It must be done at unexpected moments.

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A month after Aristine departed from Silvanus, at the West Gate of Airugo.

“What do you think that person is like?”

Even if no one said it explicitly, you would know who everyone was talking about.

At this moment, there was only one person could make people of Airugo and the subjects of Tarkhan ponder so.

Aristine, the princess of Silvanus, the woman that was to marry their prince.

“The Silvanus are all treacherous and full of cunning.”

“They are all cowards and weaklings.”

“Perhaps the princess will be so stunned by our appearance that she will faint,” they said.

The party that was to greet the princess was made up entirely of warriors.

This was the custom of Airugo; it was how they welcomed their honorable guests.

But one cannot say that there was no spiteful intent in this current time either. It was a good thing, then, that the Silvanians would not tremble, piss themselves, or faint when they saw these warriors.

“Shut up,” The man at the front commanded. He had short hair and a scarred face.

Over the sound of the chattering crowd, they could hear the arrival of the Silvanus mission from afar.

“Why on earth would anyone use a horse-drawn carriage instead of a portal?”

Getting shot a glare from his superior, the grunting warrior shut his mouth.

Soon enough, the obnoxiously-luxurious envoy appeared before them.

“Can you even fight with that thing?”

“I don’t think these people have ever carried a sword.”

“It’s for decoration, I suppose.”

The warriors wanted to laugh at the knights’ shining armor.

All the maids were gorgeous, but they did not spare a glance toward the Airugan warriors even once, their faces full of arrogance and contempt.

At this point, the Airugan warriors could already predict what sort of person their princess was.

It’s obvious that the final boss would carry the same sentiments as their servants.

Soon the most colorful carriage, decorated with gold, ivory, and topaz, was opened.

Then, a person appeared —

“Huh?”

“What is this?”

The stern and well-disciplined warriors of Airugo were so shocked by the small woman dressed in such old and shabby clothing that they’d involuntarily opened their mouths.

“That’s the princess …?”

There was practically no difference between this person and a servant next door.

The clothes were not only dirty but tattered.

Her face was unwashed, and from head to toe she was covered in dust and dirt, not to mention that her hair was caked in grease.

“This… this is really unexpected.”

“Ha! How dare they try to deceive us!”

In the mid of the splendid envoy stood the peasant-like princess.

The meaning of this was clear.

“Those deceitful Silvanians.”

“How can they send someone so dirty …?”

“Is it that insulting to be married to our prince?”

“No, but the attitude of the servants toward the princess is rather strange…”

“Do not let your guard down and be quiet. Even if we do not know what this princess is thinking, at least one thing is clear. Her target is our prince.”

Instantly, the scarred man’s words caused the eyes of the warriors to sharpen like the blade of a scorching sword.

……….

Well, this is good.

Aristine looked around with such a thought.

When she got down from the sparkling carriage like a dirty duckling, the Airugians on standby were dumbfounded.

Seeing their expressions, the great Silvanus empire could not hold back and laughed.

Their guffaws hardened the Airugans’ hearts.

Obviously, this was a fake marriage. Aristine had thought they would protest, but fortunately nothing of the sort happened.

She was glad about this.

A fuss over my appearance would be no good. This was within Aristine’s expectations. What mattered to her was their feelings about her becoming the next Airugan princess consort.

She noticed how the Airugans quickly hid their embarrassment and continued to watch Aristine with the same expression as before.

They’re very wary of me.

Aristine quietly walked forward.

I came here to marry as I please.

This was most definitely not the mood of welcoming a new bride.

It was a little sad to meet the eyes of lions and to know that they see you as some sort of enemy assassin.

Can you even become an assassin?

She remembered the Emperor’s order.

〈 Kill Tarkhan. 〉

The voice that had whispered in her ear was like a horrifying snake slowly crawling over her skin.

〈 Even if you believe yourself too weak to do so, put a knife through his heart or poison in his cup 〉

The Emperor believed that Tarkhan was why his troops were thwarted at every turn and why the Airugans still refused to bow down before him.

He was not wrong by any means.

After all, in every battle that Tarkhan was present for, Silvanus was forced to retreat.

As such, the Emperor had grown furious with Tarkhan, whose head was still raised high against him.

He had lifted Aristine’s face with and inspected it carefully.

〈 You are worthless to me, but do what you can with your useless existence. 〉

A sarcastic and wicked smile spread across the Emperor’s lips. It was a vulgar proposal indeed.

〈 Good for you. For years, you were never considered a noble lady despite my blood running through your veins. I wonder if you suit the taste of those dirty barbarians? Such indecently grotesque people will naturally go together, after all.〉

At such a moment, only the Emperor would speak such frivolous thoughts.

〈 If you succeed, I will acknowledge you and perhaps admit you as my daughter. 〉

It was such a big reward that Aristine was almost afraid to receive it.

I don’t want to be recognized as your proud daughter, she thought.

When he seized Aristine’s jaw, the emperor had handed her an ampoule of poison.

Its cool, hard surface reminded her of death.

That vial was currently tucked away in Aristine’s carriage.

Although the emperor may have ordered her to kill Tarkhan, the truth was he doubted that Aristine would ever succeed.

He didn’t care if I tried and whether I succeeded or not.

No matter the outcome of her attempted assassination, her violating the treaty would probably spark a new round of conflicts between the two countries, though it would come as no surprise in this period of fragile peace.

I may be stupid, but you did really think I would take your word and give them poison?

It was a deadly substance, granting instant death with but a single swallow.

Aristine kept her mouth shut as she stood before the delegation.

Within the royal family, she had seen the power of a confident and relaxed smile.

I am tired of it.

It was much better to be doubting and shrill.

A middle-age man came to her. He was a man with short hair and scars.

Is this the man? Aristine wondered.

Tarkhan, her husband to-be.

The idea of him was not so terrifying once she met him face-on, and the atmosphere between them was good.

Aristine went through her personalities and decided on one to use here. She would avoid offending him and she would survive.

“Welcome, your Majesty. Please come this way.”

His voice was also fine..

Above all, it was quite refreshing to be given respect despite her appearance, the state of which was in no way respectable.

But wasn’t he being too polite? Speaking that way, it was as if he were her inferior.

“I am Durante, the one who will be your guide,” the scarred man immediately offered.

“Nice to meet you, Lord Durante.”

Aristine greeted Durante and quickly took stock of the crowd that had been watching her from the very beginning. But she could not find anyone who looked like the Prince of Airugo, and Durante seemed to be the highest rank among the warriors there.

I thought that Tarkhan and I would meet at the Gate of the King.

“Where is my husband?”

“He’s on a hunt, your highness.”

Ah… The man went hunting when he was supposed to meet his wife?

This was a sign of a bad marriage.

She understood her husband’s intentions. He was trying to break Silvanus’s spirit with this coldness. And in addition, my hopes as well.

Unfortunately, Aristine was a despicable woman. She had gone through too much to be defeated this easily.

Her lips opened slowly, and she said, “It seems my prospective husband is very shy.”

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