I Tamed the Monstrous Prince - Chapter 58
Chapter 58
Mercedes gritted her teeth. No matter how much she dug at the soil, the face of that impertinent girl kept appearing in her mind. Her needlessly pretty features, the deceptively gentle curve of her eyes, and the red lips that uttered such venomous words—it all disgusted her.
“I know your kind.” That pretty face had likely beguiled Cesar. Her innocent, kind son had simply fallen for her tricks. That’s what women like her always did.
She had to protect him. She had to protect Cesar from such wickedness. She would do anything for that.
“…Do you know what I’ve done?” she muttered, then startled herself and looked around. Thankfully, no one was there.
Mercedes slowly rose. Dirt was caked under her fingernails, and grains of sand stung the tender skin between her fingers. But such pain was nothing. Soon, a serene smile graced her lips.
“Yes, how could you possibly know?” She pictured the girl’s face contorting in pain. That pretty little face… it would all be the same once it rotted.
“You don’t need to know.” A chuckle escaped her lips. Peace returned to her, like spring flowers bursting into bloom.
***
Noise. A rasping sound grated on her ears. It didn’t take long to realize it was her own breathing. She tried to move her fingers, but her body wouldn’t respond. Along with the gasps, she heard the sound of water. A damp, humid sound. Hot streams trickled down her cheeks, a sticky wetness like tears.
A rumbling crash violently shook the ground. Was it truly thunder? The sky had been so clear just moments ago.
She saw a glass lampshade roll away. Ah, that was the sound of shattering glass.
Suddenly, her breath hitched. An intense pressure constricted her throat. Her vision blurred, as if shrouded in fog. Everything was dark, like a black veil had been drawn over her eyes.
Something hot churned within her. It felt like molten lava was melting her insides. She coughed, a difficult, rattling cough, and something surged up and out.
Blood. Dark red blood poured endlessly.
“Why must I marry such a monster!”
Was this punishment for her outburst at the start of the wedding ceremony? But what had she done so wrong? It was undeniable, however, that the groom who appeared at the wedding was a horrifying sight. Those scales, those dreadful claws… How could I, the only daughter of the Peregrino marquisate, be forced to marry such an imbecile!
A burning sensation consumed her. Pain. So much pain. Her insides felt like they were dissolving. In the encroaching darkness, only the crimson pool remained vividly clear. She knew it was the sight of her life ebbing away.
Who, who could have done this to her? What went wrong? She groped for memories. She hadn’t had a drop of water since yesterday because of the tightly laced corset.
No, wait. The cannoli. The one that woman gave her. She ate it. The sweet she’d been offered, with the insistence that she must be hungry.
It had been strange from the beginning. That sugary voice…why hadn’t she been wary? She hadn’t seen the darkness hidden within those gentle eyes.
Something gurgled up and spilled from her lips. Something black and melted kept flowing.
Agony. Pain. It’s so hard. Anyone, please, stay with me. I’m lonely. Cold, cold. So cold. Help me, save me…
Then, someone took her hand. Who? Who is it? The warmth from their touch brought a flicker of comfort. She tried to open her eyes, but her heavy lids felt glued shut.
A flood of memories surged. She instinctively knew this was the fabled life flashing before her eyes.
