I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 27
Chapter 27
Regardless, Cesar buried his face in the back of my hand again. After several attempts, leaving numerous bite marks… In the end, I had to plead and beg again. “Let’s stop now, okay?”
I tried reasoning with the beast that was consuming me, even crying. Only after countless attempts to coax and soothe him did it finally end.
***
I pulled the bell cord, and the maids who had withdrawn quickly returned. Cesar, however, still clung to me, refusing to let go. But it was time to go. So, I began to persuade him. “I need to change now. I’ll be quick.”
“Mmm.” I thought he would throw a tantrum and refuse to let go, but thanks to the blood, he was now obedient. He sighed deeply and released his grip on my waist. One of the maids, observing this, drew a screen and prepared my clothes.
“As simple as possible, please.” I chose the dress with the fewest embellishments. I had a feeling it was best not to stand out too much.
I kept my makeup and accessories simple. If I tried to stall even a little, Cesar would complain loudly. The problem was my injured hand. It would be mostly hidden beneath the folds of my skirt, but it was a mess, covered in Cesar’s bite marks.
It was public knowledge that I had injured my hand the previous night and received treatment. But I was hesitant to show it to others. It would be troublesome if this wound became a source of further problems. I glanced at the maid’s face through the mirror, but she didn’t seem to notice the injury.
I surreptitiously glanced down at my hand. It was gruesome. It hardly looked like the hand of a princess, or even an ordinary woman, so mangled was it. “Prepare some gloves.”
“Shall I assist you with them?”
“No, just bring the gloves.” I had to conceal it. From the eyes of others. Especially from the Empress’s eyes. Since it was daytime, I wore short, light-colored lace gloves to cover the wounds. I would have to be careful not to remove them.
“Cesar, I’ll be back soon.”
“No.” And as expected, Cesar grabbed me as I tried to leave.
“I can’t help this.”
“…No.” What should I do? Could it be that he needed more blood?
“You are troubling Her Highness.” Mercedes skillfully coaxed Cesar. But Cesar… Oh dear, with his lip stuck out a mile, he didn’t seem to understand at all. “I will stay with His Highness until then.”
“Mmm…” A sullen expression appeared on his face. He seemed displeased with the prospect of me being gone.
“I’ll be right back.” But it was time to go. I repeated my promise to return several times before I could finally head towards the Moonstone Palace, where the Empress resided.
The scorching sun beat down mercilessly on my head. My breath caught in my throat, and sweat poured down like rain. It was terribly far. It made me realize just how remote the Emerald Palace was, tucked away in the furthest corner of the vast palace grounds.
My exhausted legs were already throbbing with pain. Eventually, I had to practically limp, dragging my feet, but none of the knights or servants who accompanied me as escorts even glanced my way. “Ha…” I had chosen a simple outfit anticipating this. It was definitely the right choice. The season was still early spring, but the air was already stiflingly hot.
I finally reached the Moonstone Palace when the sun was high in the sky. This was where the highest-ranking woman in the imperial palace resided. From the entrance, its splendor set it apart from other palaces. A structure of white marble and gold in an organic combination. Crystal glass embedded throughout reflected the sunlight, emitting a milky, brilliant, and beautiful halo of light. It even appeared sacred.
“Her Highness, the Princess, arrives.” A servant announced my arrival, and I saw Empress Cornelia languidly seated on the golden throne in the audience chamber.
The Empress, with her fiery red hair elegantly styled, wore a red dress that complemented her hair color. She wore a headdress studded with alternating rubies and pearls, and a hairnet woven with gold thread.
Around her neck hung a necklace with a motif of white roses entwined around a wooden cross, a symbol permitted only to the Empress. I straightened my trembling knees. Trying not to limp on my weary legs, I walked forward. But it wasn’t easy. I heard stifled giggles from the Empress’s maids.
