Blinking vacantly, Talia suddenly jerked upright.
Her heart pounded so violently she thought it might rupture her eardrums.
With trembling hands, she hastily tugged her skirt down to her feet.
Above her head, a restrained voice spoke.
“Ha. Right. It was about time you showed up.”
Gareth violently shook off the hand gripping his wrist and ground his teeth together.
His dark green eyes burned like black flames from hell.
“So you've finally decided to betray us because of that woman?”
“...His Majesty ordered me to escort the Second Imperial Princess.”
“You always hide behind excuses like that—!”
“Your Highness's question will be answered after we have paid our respects to His Majesty.”
At Varkas's cryptic reply, Gareth's bloodstained face twisted into something grotesque.
A dreadful grinding sound emerged from between clenched teeth.
Gareth ground his jaw so hard it seemed liable to break before grabbing the future Grand Duke's shoulder.
“Fine. I'll be looking forward to hearing that answer.”
Then he shoved through the crowd and stormed away.
Varkas watched his retreating back for a moment before lowering his gaze toward her.
Every hair on Talia's body stood on end.
Within those abyss-like eyes that always made her feel small beyond measure, she saw her own miserable reflection.
It felt as though those eyes were tearing her apart piece by piece.
Talia pressed a trembling hand against the floor.
As she struggled to rise on shaking legs, a firm hand supported her back.
Startled, she shoved at the chest that had suddenly come so close.
“D-Don't...!”
The feeble resistance was ignored.
Varkas slid an arm beneath her knees and effortlessly lifted her into his arms.
A scream died in Talia's throat.
Terrified that her leg might be exposed, she immediately tugged her skirt downward.
Even after confirming that the long fabric completely covered her feet, the anxiety refused to fade.
Gripping the hem tightly, she forced out a weak voice.
“I-I can walk myself. Put me down.”
Varkas did not answer.
Talia swallowed.
His silence felt suffocating.
“I said put me down!”
When she raised her voice, she felt the arm holding her tighten slightly.
Looking up, Talia realized he was suppressing something.
She immediately fell silent.
Without taking his eyes off the path ahead, Varkas spoke in a low voice.
“I assume Your Highness has no desire to attract further attention. If you can endure me for a little while longer, you may at least avoid the humiliation of staggering beneath all those gazes.”
Talia stared at him blankly before glancing around.
Dozens of eyes stared back at them, wide with shock and disbelief.
She lowered her head as though hiding from those gazes.
A faint sigh drifted over the crown of her head.
Another wave of tears threatened to spill over.
Talia bit down hard on her teeth.
“Just endure it a little longer.”
After whispering those words, he quickened his pace.
Soon, the enormous doors leading to the Emperor's audience chamber appeared before them.
The chief chamberlain guarding the entrance gaped openly when he saw Varkas carrying the Second Imperial Princess in his arms.