Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 67

5

Grand Duke Hagail collapsed, blood streaming from his forehead. The butler hurried over, attempting to support him, but his small frame staggered under the weight.

“I’ll take him,” Eirik said, taking Grand Duke Hagail from the butler and following his lead.

“This isn’t a living room, is it?” Eirik asked, puzzled, as they entered a room with a bed placed conspicuously in the middle, overlooking the garden. The room was bare, save for the bed.

“Is this a common occurrence for the Grand Duke?”

“Look at the walls. The stains won’t come off anymore,” the butler replied.

Eirik surveyed the room’s stained walls and sighed. “You’ve had a tough time.”

“There’s only me to serve the Grand Duke, so it’s exhausting.”

There were no other attendants in the mansion. But there was something more urgent than the Grand Duke’s miserable living conditions that Eirik needed to address, so he left the Grand Duke’s residence without delay.

***

Miesa stared blankly into space.

“Young madam, if you can’t sleep, shall we take a walk in the garden?” Gella suggested, trying to engage her.

Miesa barely heard her.

“Shall I carry you? You’ve never been out in the garden at night, have you?”

“……”

“Young madam, please, look this way. The Margravine sent over lots of sweets.”

“It’s not that…”

“Pardon?”

“I… actually…”

“Are you speaking to me?” Gella asked, puzzled. Miesa shook her head, then suddenly nodded as if something was broken.

“Young madam, how about we—”

The bedroom door burst open. Footsteps hurriedly approached and stopped beside the bed. But Miesa couldn’t turn her head.

“You can leave now,” Eirik ordered.

“Oh, you’ve arrived, young master!” Gella exclaimed, visibly relieved before quickly exiting the room.

Miesa felt anxious. If she had known he was coming, she would have pretended to be asleep. She wasn’t prepared to face him again, and now she was tearing at the sheets nervously.

“Miesa.”

Eirik was out of breath, having rushed over.

“……”

She parted her lips but couldn’t speak. It was too frightening and embarrassing to converse with him.

“Look at me.”

He reached out, gently turning her head. Startled, she met his eyes, noticing his red face and throbbing veins on his forehead.

Why is he angry? Did I do something wrong? Or maybe there’s something I don’t know about—

“Why don’t you ever talk to me?”

There were too many things left unsaid to guess what he meant.

“Break something, scream if you must,” he said. “Just don’t stay silent.”

His unexpected words made her eyes widen in surprise. Eirik, who was always so composed, was now dressed more shabbily than the gardener.

“Tell me what I need to do to make you open up to me,” he pleaded, unusually agitated. Miesa blinked, trying to process his words.

“Do I need to bring you the king’s head?” he asked.

Miesa froze, as if pierced by an ice pick.

“I can’t just let the one who hurt you die peacefully—”

“N-no, I-I…!” Miesa stammered with all her might. “I… just…”

Seeing her wide-eyed and trembling, Eirik stopped short.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”

“I…”

“Miesa, please, calm down.” Eirik reached out to her but hesitated. “Take a deep breath. Slowly.”

“……”

“I won’t raise my voice again. I’m sorry.”

Eirik thought she was frightened because he had yelled.

“Damn it.”

Unable to stand seeing her shaking, he pulled her into his arms. “Why are you afraid of me? You know I would never hurt you.”

“I…”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. I just—”

Eirik patted Miesa’s back, trying to soothe her with his deep, calming voice. “It’s just… all of this has been so frustrating. I was more angry at myself for being angry at you.”

“……”

“But I still don’t know what to do because you never tell me anything.”

Miesa, who had been frozen with her mouth open, took a deep breath.

“Miesa, tell me what you want and what you don’t want.”

“……”

“I’ll listen to everything. Just say it.”

His words eased the tension that had gripped her. As her body relaxed, she wavered, and Eirik held her close.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have acted like that towards you.”

He whispered apologies as he hugged her, and slowly, Miesa’s shock began to fade.

“It’s… it’s okay,” she managed to say, finding it easier to speak now that her body had relaxed. Her pronunciation was still clumsy, but she could talk.

“That’s a relief. It doesn’t have to be today, but whenever you’re ready, just tell me.”

But Miesa felt an urgency. She couldn’t miss this opportunity. Pushing against his chest, she looked him in the eye.

“No, you can’t,” she said, struggling to move her stiff lips. “No, don’t even think about it.”

He waited for her to continue, but…

“Rebellion… such a useless… thing.”

Eirik felt as if he’d been struck.

“What did you say?”

“Don’t. Just don’t.”

He couldn’t understand. How could he stand by and do nothing after everything that had happened, after all the pain and suffering?

“They… they’re all dead,” Miesa said, as if explaining something self-evident. “None… none of them survived.”

“…Miesa?”

He was puzzled, but she seemed frustrated.

“All… all of them. They’re all dead.”

“Miesa, wait. Let’s—”

“I don’t… want you to die. I…”

“……”

Eirik hugged her tightly. Clinging to him desperately, Miesa finally managed to speak.

“Live.”

The two held each other in silence for a long while. Once Miesa had calmed down, Eirik excused himself to take a bath.

When he returned to the bedroom, freshly bathed and dressed, he found Miesa mumbling to herself.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Miesa?” Eirik called softly.

Startled by Eirik’s sudden appearance, Miesa quickly composed herself and spoke more clearly. “I’m sorry I didn’t say it properly back then.”

“I’m sorry for pushing you,” Eirik replied gently.

He hadn’t imagined the horrors she had endured. The misunderstandings born from their inability to communicate had tormented both of them. Realizing this once more, Eirik felt his heart grow heavier.

Even as he stood there, Miesa was trying to explain something. “Tilberg… thank you for not showing me… your dead body. That’s… it.”

Eirik sighed deeply as he sat on the edge of the bed, understanding dawning upon him. “Don’t drive me crazy. Just tell me something, anything.”

“Crazy? Because I didn’t say anything?” she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

She seemed more composed now, even opening her eyes wide in response.

“My wife has become a child again,” Eirik said with a slight smile. “Anyway, are you feeling better now?”

He extended his hand to her. She cautiously reached for it, an awkward smile forming on her lips. It seemed that was all the practiced words she had left.

“Miesa, speak comfortably,” Eirik encouraged.

“I… I’m okay,” she said, though it sounded like she was mimicking someone’s words.

Eirik watched her silently. But judging by the tone, it didn’t seem like she was imitating anyone.

“I apologize for causing you concern,” Miesa added, trying to sound formal.

“Why are you suddenly speaking like that?” Eirik asked, puzzled.

“……”

Miesa’s face turned red. Realizing his mistake, Eirik quickly corrected himself, pulling her hand gently. “I mean, why are you suddenly using that refined tone?”

“You said I seemed like a child… and you told me to use honorifics before…” she explained hesitantly.

“That was a long time ago. And you’ve been using them appropriately since then,” Eirik said reassuringly.

He had never expected this level of formality. Seeing her face redden even more, Eirik felt puzzled.

“I wanted to show only the good parts… the good sides…” she continued, her voice trembling.

“To whom?” Eirik asked softly.

“To Gella, to my husband… not using such language…” Miesa confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Embarrassed, Miesa hesitated before shaking her head. “Then, I thought I’d stop.”

Determined to understand, Eirik decided to dig deeper than before. “Why did you change your mind?”

“If I act too… too much like a normal person, if I get used to living like one, I’ll keep… getting found out,” she said, her voice filled with fear.

Her words pained Eirik deeply, but all he could manage to say was, “So, you prefer living like this?”

“Yes,” Miesa replied with a sad smile, an awkward smile playing on her lips, lifting one corner unnaturally. She lowered her voice, speaking bluntly. “‘There’s nothing wrong with being a woman who just plays with shoes.’“

“Who told you such a thing?” Eirik asked, anger flashing in his eyes.

His mind flashed back, realizing he might have once said something similar. “My mouth seems to be the problem. Of course, it’s true that whatever you choose to play with is fine.”

Eirik gave a bitter smile and hugged her tightly. “By the way, may I call Gella in?”