Chapter 20 – Stay Where I Can See You (2)

Alicia stared blankly at the rose stuck in the vase.

The rose, trimmed without a thorn, was brought by a servant this morning.

After that day, Cabellenus sent Alicia flowers every day.

‘I really don’t know what he’s thinking.’ 

Alicia carefully touched the rose with her finger.

The morning dew on the rose fell to the floor.

Everyone murmured that Cabellenus fell in love with Alicia.

Everyone was curious about what kind of tricks she pulled and said that the ferocious man chased anything in a skirt.

However, the reality was completely different from the rumours.

Cabellenus did not embrace Alicia.

After several nights, his interest seemed to have cooled down, and recently he had not even tried to touch her.

Even if nothing else changed, it was inevitable to feel nervous.

Cabellenus told Alicia he did not value her, but that was a contradiction.

Cabellenus valued everything and calculated by weighing it.

It was strange that only Alicia was excluded from the rule.

“The scent is wonderful. As expected, His Grace loves you a lot.”

“Is it love?”

“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dropped these things off, right?”

Alicia could not help but wonder what the maid’s intention was when she opened the box and pull out the comb.

The comb made of hand-carved ivory was extremely expensive.

Even Elena had to pester her father, who deeply loved her, before finally receiving one.

[T/N: Elena was the “most beautiful” princess of Neinstein mentioned in chapter 4.]

Alicia wanted to say that it was a great favour to be gifted with such precious things.

‘But was it really love?’ 

Elena had done the same thing to her doll.

She was the only princess who had a porcelain doll and brushed the doll’s hair every day.

She would be satisfied with decorating the doll with pretty clothes and accessories.

Cabellenus’s actions resembled more of Elena’s behaviour rather than love.

If he loved her or at least considered her as a woman, he would want to hold her.

Especially if the other person was a slave who should not be treated like a normal human being.

Consideration to slaves was an irrelevant word.

If you wanted to take it, you take it. Otherwise, you can just throw it away.

‘If it’s like this, it’s better to be hugged.’ 

It was not that she hated good hospitality.

Rather, if she was always being treated excessively, she was worried that she would make a mistake one day and cross the line.

Alicia closed her eyes tightly.

Above all, Cabellenus would not remain here forever.

He was the ruler of Schwarhan.

At present, he was only temporarily staying in Neinstein for post-war rehabilitation, but eventually, he had to leave.

‘As expected, I better get my mind together.’ 

After Cabellenus left, a new ruler would come, and Alicia would have to live accordingly.

It would be difficult to live as a slave if she got accustomed to the ridiculous treatment she was experiencing.

She could not let her guard down and had to be prepared to adapt to the coming future.

*Knock, knock.*

“The seamstress has arrived.”

The focus returned to Alicia’s eyes, which was bleary until the sound of a knock broke her thoughts.

Today was the day the seamstress came.

“Time seemed to have passed so quickly. Should I tell them to come in right away?”

“Yes, please.”

Alicia nodded softly.

Getting fitted for clothes once a week had become like an annual event.

Cabellenus did not allow Alicia to wear the same clothes more than once.

“Again, it’s a new seamstress.”

The maid whispered in a voice small enough to be heard only by Alicia.

Alicia laughed awkwardly.

It was not a day or two that the seamstress changed.

After Cabellenus seized power, Neinstein began to return to Blanche.

Tired of King Neinstein’s tyranny, the people regarded Cabellenus as a hero and began to imitate him.

Instead of Neinstein’s original design which focused on bringing out the original style of the material, they wanted to wear Blanche’s clothes.

However, Blanche’s clothes, which required a wider variety of ornaments and fabrics, and a lot of sewing, required considerable skill. Hence several seamstresses were forced to work on a single piece of clothing.

Many seamstresses were required to keep up with Cabellenus’s demands.

“Hello, Princess. It’s an honour to meet you.”

“There’s no need to be so polite. I’m not a princess.”

Alicia shook her head firmly.

Since Neinstein was destroyed, Alicia could no longer be called a princess.

The maid called Alicia a ‘lady’ because she knew that.

“Then how should I call the princess?”

“I think, ‘lady’ is sufficient.”

Although Alicia knew that the title was undeserving for a slave, there was no other expression available.

“Yes, I see. Lady. Then, can I measure your body shape first?”

The seamstress approached with a smile.

It was cumbersome to be measured every time a fitting was required, but it was necessary.

Her body shape frequently changed as she was gradually gaining more weight from the increased meals.

“Should I stand up?”

“Yes. If you hold your arm up, my assistant will measure you.”

At the gesture of the seamstress, the assistant standing behind her moved.

Without much thought, Alicia raised her arm and gave her back to the seamstress’s assistant.

She could not help but feel that whenever she was fitted for clothes, it was very cumbersome.

“Why’s there still no progress?”

“…….”

Alicia’s body stiffened at the familiar voice behind her.

“Don’t move. And don’t be nervous and send the maid out quietly.”

The voice was low and she felt something sharp through the fabric.

It was a blade.

When she realised that, she got goosebumps all over her body.

“……Kerry, I’m sorry, but can you bring me some water?”

Alicia asked without turning her head toward the maid.

“Water?”

“I’m thirsty. Please do me a favour.”

“Okay, I’ll get it right away.”

The maid, who knew nothing, nodded without a second thought and stepped outside.

The man had commanded that Alicia should never be left alone. But there was already a seamstress and her assistants in the room.

It would not matter if she was away for a while.

The maid was eager to win Alicia’s favour.

“Finally, I can speak comfortably.”

Alicia could hear a snicker behind her, but she still had a blade on her back so she could not turn around.

She clenched her teeth and stared at the seamstress.

Seeing that the seamstress was not surprised, she realised that they were in the same league with Velita.

“What are you doing?”

“That’s what I want to ask you. Why is that demon still alive?”

Velita voice deepened as if she was laughing.

“You already know that I was going to try to assassinate him.”

“Don’t you mean that you didn’t intend to kill him from the beginning?”

The tip of the dagger pressed harder into her waist.

Alicia swallowed her dry saliva.

“I can’t do that when my mother’s in your hands.”

“Lies.”

“The same is true for you who lied.”

“What are you talking about?”

“That necklace. It wasn’t made from my mother’s blood, was it?”

At that time, she was caught off guard and could not think properly.

However, after taking the time to think about it, the answer was obvious.

Her mother was not alive.

“That’s not true.”

Velita pretended to be calm, but her voice showed unease.

“My mother died before my eyes. She’ll never come back alive.”

Alicia’s voice trembled.

It was impossible to forget the way her mother had prayed anxiously while covered in blood.

It was a mother who dragged her tattered body like a rag and cried like a beast but desperately prayed for the life of her daughter.

“She’s alive. She’s special, so how can she be killed so easily?”

“Because I’m here.”

“…….”

“My mother’s strength was lost when I was born.”

Would it have been okay if she had not been born?

If it had, she would still have power and would not have died that way.

Alicia clenched her teeth to hold back her tears that wanted to burst out.

“You always throw it away when it becomes worthless. That why my mother, too, left me that way.”

“……You, from the start, didn’t plan to kill him.”

Velita’s voice rang low.

“Give up the assassination. That person–”

“Person? Are you kidding me? He killed your parents! It’s not a person. It’s just a monster! It’s a demon!”

Velita shouted in anger.

“Parents? Who are my parents? For me, my parent is the only mother who gave birth to me. Both King Neinstein and the queen are the same to me.”

“No matter how low blood is mixed together, how can you say that–”

“You are wrong!”

*Ji-iiiik—*

Alicia turned roughly, tearing the clothes that were caught on the blade.

The flesh exposed was scratched, but it did not hurt at all.

That was not what really hurt.

“You filthy mongrel–!”

“Shut up. If you say that to me one more time, I’ll rip your mouth off.”

Without hesitation, Alicia grabbed the dagger held by Velita and threw it to the floor.

Blood dripped from the cut hand, but it did not matter.

Neither the wounds on the waist nor the wounds on the hand hurt.

“No way, your strength…….”

Velita stepped back hurriedly.

Her pale face was stained with fear.

“Is that important now?”

Alicia laughed emptily.

The power has been lost long before.

If she had the power from the beginning, she would not have let her mother die like that.

“I don’t understand. How, after regaining that power, you didn’t do anything until Neinstein became like this? A princess like you, could’ve killed that demon, right?”

“Why should I?”

“Why? No reason’s needed. You’re the princess of Neinstein.”

When necessary, they made her a princess, and when her value fell, she became a filthy mongrel.

Alicia distorted her face.

Those eyes that looked at her so naturally with expectation disgusted her.