Chapter : 3
When Elfreda suddenly stopped in confusion, Marchioness Magnum walking ahead turned around.
“Is there a problem?”
She must have clearly heard it too. Yet her calm attitude made Elfreda feel even more confused.
“I heard what the maids just said, Marchioness Magnum.”
“I’m not sure what you mean. I didn’t hear anything.”
Marchioness Magnum answered calmly, then looked back at the maids.
“What did you say?”
The maids shook their heads with innocent expressions.
“We didn’t say anything, Head Maid.”
“Yes. Perhaps the princess misheard?”
“She must be tired from the long journey. Maybe she imagined it.”
Their dismissive voices made it clear they were mocking her. Marchioness Magnum looked at Elfreda as if to say see?
Elfreda looked around in disbelief, but all the maids of Machi wore the same expression.
The attendants and guards who had come with Elfreda had already been separated from her under the excuse of “medical inspection.” There was no one here who could confirm she had not imagined things.
For a moment, she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
At the same time, her father’s last warning came back to her.
“No matter what happens, endure it as much as you can and behave properly. If you give them even a reason for war, it will become a disaster.”
If her grandfather—the war-mad conqueror known for bathing in blood—heard those words, he would have burst out of his grave.
Elfreda’s father had become emperor three years ago as the only son of the first Emperor Gunnar, despite opposition from nobles and concerns from the royal branch families.
They argued he was not as brave, wise, or capable as Gunnar, and unfit to continue the empire’s glory.
He knew how people viewed him, so he tried to avoid anything that could harm imperial authority. While he avoided direct conflict with Machi due to the dangerous and uncertain outcome, he also did not want to appear cowardly like his father. So he focused on governing instead of war.
Because of that, his warning made sense.
But even without that warning, I wouldn’t have been able to react anyway.
Elfreda silently endured the hostility directed at her.
Makaeri had formally apologized for past conflicts, but it was only a formality. No one expected the deep resentment between the nations to truly disappear.
Once the attendants from Makaeri returned home, this kind of treatment would be normal.
That was exactly why reacting angrily or trying to discipline the maids would not benefit her.
She would have to see and rely on these same people every day. Even if she replaced them, they would all likely act the same. And there was no guarantee the King of Machi would even allow such changes.
In the end, anything she did to protect herself would only trap her further.
So…
“…Princess.”
She would have to survive like she was already dead.
At Marchioness Magnum’s voice, Elfreda turned her head. The woman looked at her with faint curiosity, as if wondering how she would respond.
After swallowing her dry fear, Elfreda gave up.
“When will I meet the King?”
At her tired voice, a victorious smile appeared on Magnum’s lips.
She pretended to think for a moment.
“Well… His Majesty is a very busy man. You will hear from him when the time comes.”
Her careless tone was almost cheerful as she continued walking.
It became painfully clear again—everyone in this country hated her.
With a heavy heart, Elfreda arrived at Thames Palace.
After bathing and unpacking her small belongings, there was nothing left to do.
She decided to sleep early.
Maybe I’ll feel better after sleeping.
But even after lying down, sleep did not come. The room felt unfamiliar.
After an hour, she considered getting up, but worried the maids might disapprove, so she stayed still.
The palace was quiet because the queen had gone to bed early.
Loneliness surrounded her, but in a foreign land, it felt deeper and heavier.
With her eyes closed, Elfreda imagined her future.
I’ll try to be kind to everyone. I’ll smile. I’ll speak gently. I’ll try not to be hated too much.
While thinking this—
A cold chill passed through the darkness behind her closed eyes.
Then came footsteps.
Slow. Heavy.
Elfreda assumed it was a maid bringing a candle.
But the footsteps were too heavy for a maid—and they were coming closer.
Her body stiffened with an unexplainable tension.
A voice in her head told her to open her eyes—but another instinct told her not to.
Pretend to be asleep.
Her hidden hands began to tremble under the blanket.
—shrrrk
A sound she could no longer ignore brushed her ears.
Elfreda bit her lip tightly, eyes shut.
She could no longer pretend she didn’t know.
They’ve come to kill me.
From the first day I stepped into this land—someone in Machi who hates me has come.
Cold killing intent pressed against her throat.
Should she scream? Open her eyes?
Or would she be dead before she could even speak?
Warm tears slipped down her face.
I don’t want to die.
Then… should she beg?
Say she would do anything if they spared her?
That thought became her only hope.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
A faint candle flickered in the darkness.
And there he was.
A man in a black mask, pressing a sword against her throat.
Elfreda forced herself to speak calmly.
“…Please spare me.”
Her calm voice seemed to surprise him.
She took a shaky breath and pleaded again.
“If you spare me… I will do anything you want.”
“What I want is only the extermination of barbarians.”
The word “extermination,” spoken as if she were nothing more than an insect, made her breath catch.
There was no escape.
The man raised his sword.
Elfreda closed her eyes again.
“Ghk!”
A sharp scream.
A heavy body collapsed.
Warm blood spilled across her chest—but it was not hers.
She opened her eyes trembling.
“…Ah!”
The man who had just tried to kill her now lay dead in front of her, blood pouring from his body.
The heat of his blood soaked the air around her, making her entire body shake.
Tears fell uncontrollably.
Through her blurred vision, she saw something bright.
A golden light.
A sun.
When she blinked, it was still there.
“You were lucky.”
A man spoke while wiping blood from his shining golden hair.
His voice was calm—almost indifferent.
Elfreda looked at him.
He was tall, even as she lay down looking up at him.
Deep green eyes stared down at her coldly.
His sharp nose looked like it had been carved from stone.
His lips were delicate, almost painted.
He looked like a painting on dark velvet.
“Finding another bride would have been troublesome.”
His words revealed who he was.
Elfreda struggled to breathe, barely holding onto consciousness.
She forced out one last sentence.
“…Thank you… for saving me.”
Perhaps it was not what he expected.
He gave a faint, amused laugh.
And with that face, Elfreda finally closed her eyes completely.
Strangely certain that the man who saved her would not kill her.
Even though—
this man might be the one who hated her more than anyone in the world.
