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“Lara!”
Not long after lunch ended, Tatyana arrived without warning and grabbed my face in her hands. Scanning the area with a tense expression, she let out a sigh so deep her shoulders seemed to slump.
“My goodness… thank goodness, my little kitten. You’re still standing. You haven’t seen anything yet!”
“What’s wrong?”
After pressing her temples as if fighting off a headache, Tatyana warned me with a look more serious than ever.
“Listen to me carefully. This is no joke, Lara. For your own sake, you must never meet that man, Valentin!”
Hmm, if I wasn't mistaken, I felt like I'd had a similar conversation with Ivan yesterday.
“Why?”
“Sigh. That madman has prepared some utterly… utterly absurd gift, calling it a present…”
“I’m asking you what on earth that gift is.”
“It might not be that unsightly. Don’t scare her too much, Tanya.”
Just as I thought I might finally get an answer, a third party intervened. Vasily, who had followed her in, chimed in, causing Tanya to narrow her eyes into slits.
“‘Not that unsightly’—is that really all you have to say? Do you think this is a matter of aesthetics? If he really prepared what Ivan said… that’s an act of violence. He should be kicked out the moment he sets foot in the Imperial Palace!”
“You’re overexcited, Tanya. Lara is no longer a child. Have you forgotten that Lara played a significant role even after the public prayer service? Lara is entitled to face it.”
“Sigh. That’s exactly why I’m saying this is no time to be talking about ‘entitlement’!”
I looked at Ivan, who had just entered the room, as if asking if he had anything to add, but he merely stood there with his arms crossed, silent. Amidst the strangely agitated brothers, I quickly raised my hand to seize the turn.
“Now that everyone has calmed down, it’s my turn, right? I have one important question. So, what exactly is this gift Valentin prepared for me?”
Three pairs of eyes turned toward me, but that was all. Tatyana, who had been staring at me with sharp eyes, looked back at Vasily.
“…Fine, brother. Then how about this? Before that lunatic arrives, we let Lara decide for herself whether to receive the gift of that complete madman or not. Above all, isn't the opinion of the party involved the most important?”
“That is not incorrect.”
“Let’s agree that if she refuses, we send that man back. At the very least, the gift. Do you agree?”
It was quite irritating to see them negotiating amongst themselves while leaving me out, but I was satisfied as long as I could find out what they were so afraid of.
However, despite her confident attitude, Tatyana hesitated to speak. Her expression suggested she didn't even want to let the words "Valentin's gift" touch her tongue. In her stead, it was Ivan, who had been quiet the whole time, who spoke.
“It’s a decapitated head.”
At first, I thought I had misheard.
“Libertan’s head. I heard he’s been longing for the moment to offer it to you since long before he was captured alive.”
Then, I wondered if it was some kind of macabre joke. But looking at Ivan’s face, which lacked even a trace of a smile, I realized it was no joke.
‘Really? For real?’
Why on earth would he do such a thing?
Tatyana snorted, her face saying there was nothing more to see.
“You heard, right? A madman’s mad gift. Nothing but a repulsive thing.”
“…For once, I agree with Tanya. Valentin crossed the line, brother. Frankly, does it even matter whose part it is or where it came from? The problem is the reason for bringing that thing as a gift.”
“I believe you visited Valentin from time to time, Ivan. Was there anything different from before?”
“Well. Valentin was always ruthless toward the rebels. I don’t think he was particularly more cruel toward Libertan…”
“I’m fine with it.”
The brothers' gazes snapped back to me. Every single one of them looked at me with disbelief.
I couldn't believe it either.
Libertan’s head?
Truly, it was a creative and bizarre gift I had never once imagined in my entire life. Above all, the very logic of packaging a part of a human body as a ‘gift’ was something unthinkable for an ordinary person. Perhaps for a lunatic like Libertan, but still.
Therefore, I surmised that Valentin's gift would not be a conventional one.
“It’s been the first time Valentin has given me a gift… since that small flowerpot. Given his personality, I don’t think he’d give something for no reason. So, I’ll receive it and ask him the reason myself.”
“Lara. Just how beautiful, kind, and virtuous—like an angel of God—do you intend to be? You can refuse the gift and still ask the reason!”
“I’m not afraid. In fact, this is perfect. I’ll receive the gift, confirm the contents with my own eyes, and then grill Valentin on how this kind of gift relates to the reason he never contacted me after making an important promise…”
As I spoke, my anger began to rise, and my voice threatened to pierce through the ceiling.
“There is no relation, Your Highness.”
It was the sweet voice I had longed for in my dreams.
Turning my head instinctively, I saw a man standing before me, possessing a steadfast presence as always.
However, his slightly longer silver hair and skin that seemed paler than six months ago made me feel the passage of time that had elapsed between us. After slowly scanning the room, his eyes met mine, and he bowed with a soft smile.
“My apologies. The door was open, and it seemed you were having an important conversation, so I entered quietly. I did not realize I was the topic of discussion.”
Valentin.
‘My Valentin has returned!’
Overwhelmed with joy, I felt as if I could jump into Valentin's arms right this second. I truly did, but the moment Valentin placed the mysterious box he had brought onto the table, my legs froze stiff.
‘…It’s big.’
I suppose it’s a natural instinct to unconsciously gauge the size of a human head.
I recalled the vague image of Libertan’s appearance in my memory. A head that was neither particularly small nor large. Anyone could see it would fit snugly inside that box. It was certainly large enough for a severed head to fit. Probably…
“I am sorry for being late, Your Highness.”
His voice sounded bittersweet.
“…Valentin.”
“I will offer no excuses for disappointing Your Highness. But I swear, it was not out of contempt for you, nor did I harbor any sinister intentions. It simply took some time to move forward.”
Sometimes, the resentment held deep in one's heart melts away like snow at a few short words of apology and comfort.
But not today. Today, I could not fully concentrate on Valentin's words.
“Take this horrific box away this instant, Count Valentin.”
Judging by the reactions around me, I wasn't the only one unable to concentrate.
“Take that disgusting thing and get out of Lara’s room right now! At the very least, leave the object behind and go about your business. Even if she permits it, I cannot. Absolutely not!”
Valentin replied with a face that showed not a hint of being affected.
“As willful as always. Princess Larisa’s life belongs to Princess Larisa. Stop being tactless and step aside.”
“Do you not realize who is being tactless right now?”
“Right, Valentin. No matter how I think about it, this isn't right, so get a grip. What on earth do you take Lara for?”
This time, Valentin looked slightly surprised.
“I did not expect Prince Ivan to refuse as well.”
“Hey, I’m the one who didn't expect this. You aren't the kind of person to cross the line like this, are you?”
The line. Valentin's gaze toward Ivan became utterly cold. It was a look of intolerance. For a brief moment, he looked back at me, and I glimpsed a question and a sense of disappointment, as if asking if I felt the same.
Was this a tacit declaration that he would sulk if I refused Libertan’s head? But no matter how I thought about it… wasn't there something strange?
“I suppose it cannot be helped.”
With a sigh, Valentin rubbed the back of his neck, and for some reason, he seemed quite nervous.
As I thought… something is definitely strange. Is the thing in that box really Libertan’s head?
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