Relieved sighs burst forth all around the room. They were cut short as Riftan promptly added, “But it’s a different story if the duke refuses to let go. I will only back down this once. If the duke strikes first, I will retaliate.”

“You needn’t worry about that,” said the princess. “His Majesty will not tolerate anyone disrupting the current order, and that applies to the Duke of Croyso too. The king does not want his vassals sowing further discord. We have made this clear to the duke as well.”

For a fleeting moment, a feral smile crossed Riftan’s face. “And was he willing to obey?”

Princess Agnes nodded solemnly. “The duke does not wish to sour his relationship with the royal family. If Anatol pulls back, we will intervene if he tries to cause another dispute.”

Riftan looked far from reassured. His lips twisted in a regretful expression, and he shot to his feet. He strode over to Maxi, who had been frozen in place by the mind-boggling exchange, and pulled her arm as he addressed the princess.

“Seeing as you’ve achieved what you wanted, I see no reason for you to remain here any longer.

You may leave now.”

It was a blatant dismissal of the king’s envoys.

Maxi looked up at Riftan with a flustered expression. “R-Riftan…”

The princess’s reply was tinged with bitterness. “We’ll leave as soon as our horses are rested enough for the return journey. I hope you won’t mind us intruding on your hospitality a little longer. ”

Riftan shot her a glare before turning and marching down the corridor. Maxi did not get the chance to get in a word as Riftan led her up the stairs. Just then, she heard Rosetta call out behind them.

“Wait. ”

Riftan paused before the stairs.

“I wish to speak with my sister before I leave,” said Rosetta, gliding over to them.

Maxi’s face grew still. What did they have to talk about? Rosetta approached at her usual languid pace, but it felt as threatening as though she intended to crush Maxi.

Sensing Maxi’s uneasiness, Riftan blocked Rosetta’s path. “And what exactly do you have to discuss with her?”

“It’s just a sisterly chat.” Rosetta raised her chin tauntingly. “Are you worried that I might harm her? You don’t need to be. I wish to leave this castle unscathed.”

Heat rose in Maxi’s cheeks at Rosetta’s mocking tone. The embarrassment of hiding behind Riftan out of fear of her younger sister pricked at her. She tugged on his sleeve to dissuade him and took a tentative step forward. “I-I… wish to speak with her too.”

Riftan’s lips thinned in discontent.

Maxi hastily added, “D-Don’t worry. Rosetta…”

No words came to mind as she went to reassure him. Maxi looked at her sister as though she were seeing her for the first time. Except for Rosetta’s conceited way of talking, what else did she know about her sister?

At Maxi’s hesitation, Rosetta said primly, “Won’t you show me your garden? I find it rather stifling in here.”

Her eyes scanned the hallway. Though Maxi felt offended, she forced a smile on her lips and nodded. Riftan went to say something before stopping himself and reluctantly letting go of her hand.

“Don’t stay out too long. The wind is cold,” he mumbled gloomily.

The icy look he directed at Rosetta seemed to warn her of the consequences that awaited if she were to do anything foolish. Rosetta, however, remained unperturbed. Maxi shot Riftan a reassuring smile and descended the stairs with her sister.

Outside, the harsh autumn sunlight stung her eyes. Rosetta’s light brown hair shimmered faintly silver in Maxi’s blurred vision. Even in her modest attire, Rosetta was as beautiful as an angel. Maxi was unconsciously intimidated by her sister’s beauty.

Throwing a glance at the knights behind them, Rosetta whispered to Maxi, “I want to talk to you privately.”

Maxi regarded her sister warily before turning to address Sir Elliot. “S-Sir Elliot… I need a moment with my sister.”

The knight looked guarded as he glanced at Rosetta. “We’ll wait for you up here, my lady,” he said, nodding. “Please call us if you need anything.”

When the knights backed away, the two women climbed down the steps to the garden, awash with golden hues. Rosetta remained quiet for a long time even as the knights grew distant. What was it about this mysterious topic that made her hold back? Maxi grew tense. It was only as they reached a corner of the garden that Rosetta finally spoke.

“The Croyso knights found our father immediately after you left. He was treated before it was too late, and I’m told he will be just fine.”

Maxi’s whole body grew rigid as Rosetta’s lips curled into a wicked smile.

“But I think they may have set his broken jawbone incorrectly, as he has trouble articulating his words now. The damage might be permanent.”

Seeing the evident pleasure on Rosetta’s face sent Maxi’s head reeling in confusion. Backing away, she regarded her sister as though she were a stranger.

“I-I… don’t know… what you’re getting at.”

“But of course. You’ve never really tried to get to know me after all.”

Maxi recoiled at Rosetta’s biting tone.

All traces of a smile vanishing from her face, Rosetta said flatly, “Don’t take it the wrong way. I don’t resent you for never showing any interest in me. I didn’t ask for your time to whine about something so childish.”

“Th-Then why…?”

Rosetta remained silent for a moment before saying calmly, “I think Father is secretly communicating with the other nobles. He undoubtedly has no intention of overlooking this matter.”

Maxi felt the blood drain from her face. A gust of arid wind swept past. She hugged her forearms as they broke out in goosebumps.

“W-Why? What on earth i-is he…?”

“I don’t know the details. The beating must have been quite a shock. He confined himself in his room for a while, but then he began calling for his vassals to take letters all over Wedon. He might be pretending to obey the royal commands, but I think he’s secretly planning something.

I’m sure he intends to carry it out once I’m married into the royal family.”

Her lips twisted in irritation, but her face quickly regained its usual indifference as though none of this really mattered to her.

“I’m simply letting you know. When the time is right, you should warn your husband to be prepared.”

“W-Why… didn’t you speak of this b-before? If you had—”

“Your husband would not have acquiesced. After all, it would be more expedient for him to deal with our father with force at the outset,” Rosetta replied coldly. “But I don’t want a war to send our kingdom into turmoil. Even I have a person or two I wish to protect.”

“I-I also don’t want a war… but…”

Maxi forced a gulp. Although it was the truth, she hated the thought of Riftan being caught in a difficult situation even more.

Rosetta watched Maxi’s ashen face with a bemused expression. “Do you love him?”

Her uncharacteristic sentiment momentarily stupefied Maxi. She could not fathom Rosetta’s intentions in asking such a question. When she remained silent, Rosetta gave her a spiteful smile.

“It won’t work out. It’s beyond your capabilities.”

The certainty in her sister’s remark made something lurch in her chest. It was no mystery that Rosetta thought little of her, but her blatant expression of it made Maxi’s blood boil.

Her face flushing in anger, Maxi raised her voice and said, “R-Riftan… ch-cherishes me. For a long time now, h-he has—”

“I didn’t say he was the problem. You are. You will never be able to love another person.”

Rosetta’s retort was cruelly calm. As though pricked by a thorn, Maxi’s hand flinched.

“A-And what makes you think…” she said, shaking her head to say that she found the accusation absurd, “you know me well enough to say those things? You know… nothing about me. You said that I n-never bothered to get to know you, but the same g-goes for y—”

“But I do know you.”

Rosetta’s conviction temporarily left Maxi speechless. They had never been close. She could not fathom the reason behind her sister’s certainty.

Regardless, Rosetta continued in her detached manner, “I am probably the only person in the world who understands you.”

“S-Stop this nonsense.”

Maxi bristled at her sister’s arrogance. Her face crumpling in anger, she retorted, “Y-You? U-Understand me? How c-could you… when you’ve been showered with… p-praise and affection… all your life? No, you know nothing—”

“Affection?” Rosetta’s face twisted coldly. “Do you truly think that Father is capable of loving another soul?”

“H-He has always been p-proud—

“Father considered me useful. He did not love me.”

‘You, at least— ^I‘

Maxi pressed her lips together. She could not bring herself to finish the sentence.

With a disdainful scoff, Rosetta said, “Yes. Unlike you, I was never beaten.”

The contempt in her voice made Maxi’s face burn. Yet, Rosetta did not laugh at her expense. After gazing down at the dried grass on the flowerbed with a forlorn expression, Rosetta said wryly, “The year I turned ten, Father made me watch as he whipped you.” Maxi was stunned.

“Th-That’s not possible. H-He never struck me… w-with you in the room.”

“The room with the mirror… had a small partition on one side. Father opened it… and made me watch. ”

It felt like all the air in her lungs had been squeezed out. Her sister had seen her being beaten like a beast. Maxi covered her mouth with a trembling hand, humiliation washing over her. Though she had assumed that Rosetta undoubtedly knew of their father’s treatment of her, she had never once thought that her sister would have personally witnessed her crawling on the floor.

Rosetta watched with a vacant expression as Maxi staggered from the shock.

“Father wanted to show me the fate that awaited those he deemed useless. He called me to the adjacent room whenever you were punished. And as he intended, watching you being whipped like an animal terrified me. I had nightmares every night. I thought that I would get the same beating if I failed to be perfect. That next time, it could be me being summoned to that room. Father had no purpose for useless beings. I… made every effort to meet his expectations. I never once let my guard down.”

Her lips twisted into a strange smile. “In retrospect, he might have punished you more harshly to set an example for me. So I would never dare to disobey or rebel against him…”

Maxi racked her brain to remember a ten-year-old Rosetta, but her memories felt shrouded in mist. The image imprinted in her mind was of a perpetually beautiful, perfect, and haughty Rosetta.

And yet, Rosetta had also been a defenseless child desperately trying to protect herself. The moment the realization hit, Maxi was able to see her sister as clearly as though a veil had lifted. The delicate frame, the forlorn eyes… Standing before her was a young girl three months shy of nineteen.

“I have witnessed all the torment you were made to suffer. I know how your spirit was crushed…

I know how powerless women are, and how cruel and heartless men can be…”

Her sister’s voice felt like a faraway echo. After glancing up at the sky, Rosetta lowered her gaze once more.

“I know I’ll never be able to truly love someone, nor will I be able to trust completely. It would be impossible even if I wanted to. Something in my heart prevents it, like it’s broken. I doubt, test, and eventually push away all who approach me. If I’m like this… how much worse must it be for you?”

“1-1…”

Maxi staggered as if she had been forced into a corner. She looked down at the floor as her face crumpled. Their shadows stretched out from their feet, tall and scraggy, like dead trees. A chill crawled down her spine.

Rosetta spoke again, this time with the graveness of delivering a prophecy. “It can never work out. Your relationship will eventually fall apart.” ‘Y-You’re wrong. I am… different from you.”

Her words sounded unsure even to her own ears.

“You were unable to trust that man when it truly mattered,” Rosetta blandly pointed out, “and you will continue to do so. Whenever your heart grows weak, you will be plagued with doubts. We are twisted that way.”

“1-1…”

A needle-like sting scratched at Maxi’s throat. Resistance to the future her sister painted came surging up from the depths of her heart, and she clutched at her skirt.

“I-I am… going to change.”

She spoke with conviction as if to pour out and lay bare this feeling inside her. Rosetta’s gloomy eyes told her that she thought it was an impossible feat.

Maxi squeezed her eyes shut. “I am going to change!”

A fierce gust blew past, rustling the dried leaves still clinging to the trees.

After quietly watching the shaking branches, Rosetta muttered skeptically, “Then I wish you luck. ”