Breeding Season - Chapter 67
If they didn’t crush her now, their footing here might become unstable.
With that thought, Nicoletta and Daphne were about to lash out again.
However, before they could say anything, Siren swiftly continued speaking.
Without stammering, without shrinking back as she once did. Without gauging their reactions.
“I never sold out my country. I was taken just like you. The reason I’m treated better than you is because I married the king. And given my current status, isn’t it only natural that I receive better treatment than you?”
Her cold voice no longer held the fear it once did.
In fact, strangely enough, Siren didn’t feel afraid at all.
Was it because, for the first time in her life, someone had stood up for her?
If she let herself look pathetic again here, it would be an insult to those who had defended her.
That, she couldn’t allow.
“It’s tragic that innocent people lost their lives on the way to the South. But you can’t claim that’s my responsibility. When have you ever treated me as a princess, and now you want to talk about my royal duty?”
“……”
“I don’t recall ever being treated as royalty in that country. So how could I possibly be expected to protect you?”
Sophistry answered with sophistry.
Irrationality met with irrationality.
This was nothing more than a battle of words, a meaningless power struggle.
Yet, knowing that, Siren still chose to fight back.
For the first time in her life, she was standing against those who had tormented her.
‘My heart is pounding.’
Yes, these were the words she had longed to say for so long. She had always wanted to look her tormentors in the eye and defy them.
‘Just once in my life, I wanted to do this… My wish has come true.’
Now, they had a choice to make.
If they wanted to hold her responsible for Wilkeron’s downfall, then as nobles, they had to show proper courtesy to royalty. If they refused to do so, then they were just prisoners like her—but even then, they could never be her equal.
She was the conqueror’s diet.
She was his wife.
‘Ah, it’s not even a choice, is it?’
No matter how they twisted it, things would never go their way.
They could no longer oppress her, ignore her, or mock her as they had before.
Not here. Not in this scorched land.
“This isn’t Wilkeron, Lady Brienne. Whining and throwing tantrums won’t solve everything here. You have to protect your own life.”
“That…!”
Was this truly the same monster Siren she knew?
Nicoletta was momentarily at a loss for words. Clenching her fists, she trembled with rage.
A monster not knowing its place—this was wrong.
Something that was supposed to be beneath her feet had suddenly risen up and was looking down on her. That was simply unacceptable.
‘How can I put her in her place? How can I…!’
The answer didn’t take long.
There was one thing she knew, something no one else in this land did—Siren Wilkeron’s secret.
What if she threatened to reveal it?
‘Would you still dare to look down on me then?’
Nicoletta was certain.
If they saw those horrifying scales, no one would stand by Siren’s side.
Just like in Wilkeron, everyone here would turn against her.
“Does it not matter if your secret is revealed? Seeing how boldly you act in front of me.”
And yet, for some reason, she was still using honorifics.
That alone stung Nicoletta’s pride, making her snap sharply.
“If you apologize to me even now, I might be willing to bury that secret.”
Come now, go ahead and beg.
Siren had always been powerless before her “secret.”
Nicoletta had no doubt it would be the same this time.
“Haa.”
…But what was this reaction?
“I wonder how long you plan to keep acting so childishly, Lady Brienne. I believe I just told you—this is not Wilkeron. Do you still think this is the Wilkeron high society?”
Her stern tone, as if telling her to stop being so immature, made Nicoletta’s cheeks flush red.
The secret!
She had always been terrified of it being exposed. So why was she suddenly pretending otherwise?
‘No, that’s not it. The reason I feel so disgusted is…’
Yes, it was because she was pretending to be a princess.
By status, she was one, but she and Angelique were worlds apart.
So why was she suddenly acting as if she were a real princess? As if she were something special!
“I’ll reveal everything! Let’s see if you can still walk around with your head held high then…!”
The fear she felt as she was dragged here. The lips and fingertips split open from hardship. Her swollen feet. And yet, no one cared for her.
Her fear grew by the day, and now she was being told to marry a barbarian warrior. If not, she would have to become the princess’s lady-in-waiting.
