Chapter 11

She was stunning, so impossibly beautiful it was almost unreal. Her hair, a cascade of soft golden waves, was unadorned, left loose around her pale face. She wore no dress, but well-fitted riding trousers and a sharp-cut jacket. Her skin was bloodless, as if she hadn’t seen the sun in weeks, but her eyes burned with an emotion Dianne couldn’t place.

The bow resting in her hand was no ornament. It was worn with use, marked by the grip of her fingers.

If she hadn’t looked so strikingly unlike the Emperor, Dianne might have believed she was some spirit of the forest.

“Who are you?”

The girl– no, Her Highness, Princess Elphenlira of Catalos, spoke.

Her voice was cold enough to freeze the air between them. It was hard to believe this icy tone had belonged, just moments ago, to the one singing that sorrowful song.

Dianne carefully pushed through the bushes, stepping out into the clearing where the princess stood. If she crossed the stream in a single jump, she might just reach her before she could flee.

Stopping at a respectful distance, Dianne dipped into a deep curtsey.

“It is an honor to meet you. I am Dianne Ortenza, summoned by His Majesty the Emperor to serve as Your Highness’s governess.”

But even after a long moment passed, the princess gave her no command to rise. Dianne, unable to hold the position any longer, hesitantly lifted her head.

The princess was watching her with eyes cold as frost. Even though they were nearly at eye level, Dianne felt as if she were being stared down from a great height.

‘I’m doomed.’

She knew, without a doubt, that this meeting would not end well. The girl before her, so beautiful she seemed otherworldly, radiated hostility from every pore in her body.

The princess finally spoke, her voice laced with mockery.

“A governess? Don’t make me laugh. What could you possibly teach me?”

A flare of temper sparked in Dianne’s chest, but she was not stupid enough to show it. She’d anticipated the princess would be difficult, and she’d practiced for this moment, running through every scenario in her head.

Forcing a gentle smile, she replied smoothly, “…If Your Highness would allow me the chance, I could show you.”

The princess clearly had no such intention. In a single, fluid motion, she leapt onto her horse’s back. It was graceful, quick, and effortlessly commanding.

From atop the white steed, her gaze turned even colder and more contemptuous. Dianne couldn’t help but think of the Emperor. The resemblance was uncanny, but where his expression had been warm and endlessly kind, hers was cruel and closed-off. It was almost eerie, seeing such different emotions worn on the same face.

The princess began to turn her horse, and Dianne began to panic, so she called out,

“I understand that Your Highness has no desire to attend lessons, but I have my own circumstances as well.”

“Your circumstances are of no concern to me.”

“My ‘circumstances’ happen to be a direct imperial command. Does that concern you?”

There was a flicker, just the slightest crack in the princess’ icy facade. But Dianne had no time to enjoy her small victory. The princess leaned forward, whispered something to her horse, and in the next instant, the animal reared up and shot forward.

Dianne couldn’t even scream. She stood there stunned, helpless, as the enormous beast charged at her like a tsunami.

“Miss Ortenza! Get down!”

If she hadn’t crouched on instinct at the sound of that shout, she would’ve been crushed beneath the horse’s hooves.

As she curled tightly into a ball, the horse leapt over her, then pawed at the ground, whinnying in agitation. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her trembling shoulders.

It was Sir Reussen. His eyes flashed with outrage and disbelief as he looked up at the princess seated atop her steed.

“Princess Elphenlira, what in the world are you doing?”

Still half cradling Dianne, Sir Reussen didn’t bother to hide the fury in his voice.

“His Majesty brought her here especially for you. And you dare to threaten her like this?!”

Despite the sharp rebuke, the princess didn’t flinch. Her gaze, burning cold with rage, remained fixed on Sir Reussen, as if Dianne—shaking like a leaf in his arms—didn’t even exist.

Dianne’s legs were weak, but she refused to collapse. Gritting her teeth, she forced strength into her toes and stayed upright. The fear was real, but even greater was the humiliation.

The princess spoke in an icy tone.

“If you’ve got a problem, go run to His Majesty. Isn’t that what you’ve always been best at?”

“Princess Elphenlira!”

“And while you’re at it, tell him this. I will never get married.”

Her teeth clenched with fury.

“Tell him to just kill me instead and send my corpse to Arathos in a dress!”

With that, the princess wheeled her horse around. Dianne and Sir Reussen could only watch as she disappeared into the forest, leaving a storm of silence in her wake.

Cold sweat trickled down Dianne’s spine. Her vision blurred, her stomach roiling like she was seasick.

Pressing a hand over her mouth, she fought back the urge to retch. Sir Reussen patted her back gently, concern etched across his face.

“Are you all right, Miss Ortenza?”

“…Do I look all right to you?”

“I don’t know if this will comfort you, but… Her Highness is an exceptional rider. Even if you hadn’t moved, you likely wouldn’t have been hurt.”

Dianne shook off his hand and staggered to her feet. Her cheeks burned, not from fear, but from the shame of having been seen so powerless. But more pressing than embarrassment was something else entirely.

She looked Sir Reussen straight in the eye and said,

“So it’s not that the Princess refuses the lessons. She just doesn’t want to get married.”

“…”

“That’s why she’s been running away like this. I understand now what His Majesty meant when he said he couldn’t ‘do anything about her.’”

Sir Reussen let out a heavy sigh.

“…His Majesty isn’t the kind of man who would drag someone to the altar against their will.”

“If he were the kind of man who could, do you think he would?”

Sir Reussen wore a contemplative look for a moment. Then, finally, he gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“That, I couldn’t say.”