"Let go of me!"
Talia kicked him in the shin. But her brother wasn't foolish enough to fall for the same trick twice. Gareth dodged her attack swiftly and twisted her arm with a cruel grip, laughing shamelessly right in her face.
"I can't believe it… The royal family's little troublemaker actually has feelings for that Eastern nobleman!"
Talia looked up at him, her eyes wide with terror. It felt as though all the blood in her body had frozen. She quickly tried to compose her expression.
"Don't talk nonsense. Who would—"
"You're right, it is nonsense. That a bastard like you would dare covet the heir of Grand Duke Sheorcan!"
Delighted to have finally caught his despised sister's weakness, Gareth laughed so hard his entire body shook. He gripped her chin roughly, his breath heavy with the stench of alcohol washing over her face.
"Blood doesn't lie, does it? I guess that vulgar whore's instincts for stealing other women's men didn't skip a generation."
Talia glared up at him with blazing eyes. Gareth smirked down at her viciously, then shoved her away with a sneer.
"You'd better wake up from that ridiculous dream. Varkas is far above your reach—"
"You seem to be forgetting something, brother. The blood in my veins isn't only that of a vulgar whore… it's also the blood of a man who cheated on his pregnant wife with a young girl."
The smile vanished from the Crown Prince's face in an instant.
Looking straight into his now-twisted features, Talia spoke slowly, her tone biting.
"Come to think of it, that scoundrel's blood runs through your veins too, doesn't it?"
His muscular body went rigid with tension. She knew she should stop—knew that saying any more could be dangerous—but she refused to let him walk away holding all the power over her. Mimicking his earlier sneer, she leaned forward.
"Since you've uncovered my secret, perhaps I should uncover one of yours."
A faint flicker of unease crossed Gareth's eyes. Seeing it, Talia's lips curved coldly as she leaned closer to whisper in his ear.
"There's a quiet rumor among the maids… that His Highness the Crown Prince only seeks out women with dark honey-colored hair and sea-blue eyes at night."
The color drained from Gareth's sun-browned face. Talia smiled wickedly at his ashen expression.
"I think I know who the woman from your first night as a man was. Want me to guess?"
His whole body convulsed as if struck by lightning. She knew that if she didn't stop now, he might really kill her—but as always, she listened to the demon whispering in her ear.
"There's no need to tremble so much. I'm a good little sister, after all. I'll keep your secret safe… though it does seem that His Highness inherited His Majesty's blood quite strongly."
Before she could finish the last word, a heavy blow snapped her head to the side.
Talia collapsed to the floor, clutching her burning cheek. Her vision spun, her head throbbing as if she'd been struck by lightning. As she tried to rise, Gareth lunged on top of her and wrapped his hands around her neck. Her eyes bulged as she struggled for air.
She fought back desperately—scratching at his arms with her nails, kicking his body with all her might—but her weakened body was far too frail. Like a fish flopping helplessly on land, her limbs soon went limp.
Then, suddenly, the crushing pressure around her throat vanished.
Talia gasped violently, twisting as she sucked in air. Through tear-blurred eyes, she saw Varkas gripping Gareth's arm.
Expressionless, like a man wearing a mask, Varkas looked down at her briefly before turning his gaze on Gareth.
Gareth was still glaring daggers at his half-sister, his face twisted with fury and humiliation. His pathetic attempt to play the victim almost made her laugh—indeed, she couldn't help but let out a weak chuckle between coughs.
Gareth's face turned crimson with rage.
"You damn bitch—!"
But his fist never reached her.
Varkas seized Gareth's thick, muscular arm as if it were a child's wrist and glared sharply at Talia. His expression suggested he was disgusted that she could still provoke her brother even after nearly being strangled to death.
"Escort Her Highness the Princess to her quarters," he ordered the Royal Guard who had rushed over, pale-faced.
The knight immediately stepped forward to support her, but Talia shoved him away and staggered to her feet. She brushed the dust from her skirt with deliberate calm, as if nothing had happened.
Watching her with burning eyes, Gareth shouted at Varkas,
"Let me go this instant!"
"Enough!"
Aila, who had been standing a short distance away, raised her voice sharply. It seemed to be the first time she'd ever seen her younger brother act so violently—her face had gone completely white.
"What in the world are you doing? You are the Crown Prince of this Empire! How dare you behave so disgracefully—!"
"Stay out of this!" Gareth roared, sounding more beast than man.
Aila flinched back in shock. The brother who had always acted like a gentle puppy toward her now bared his fangs.
Talia, watching, sneered.
"She's right, sister. Stay out of our business."
Aila's emerald eyes flashed coldly as she glared at Talia, but when her gaze fell on Talia's bruised and swollen face, she froze. Talia touched her injured cheek lightly and gave a crooked smile.
"It's nothing—just a little sibling quarrel. Isn't that right, brother?"
The sound of Gareth grinding his teeth filled the air.
Talia took a step closer to him despite the knight's attempt to block her path. Looking up into his dark green eyes, she whispered mockingly,
"After all, we're close enough to share secrets, aren't we?"
His face flushed scarlet, as if about to explode. He looked as though he wanted to tear her apart with his bare hands—but unwilling to risk his secret being exposed, he finally muttered through clenched teeth,
"…Take your hand off me."
Varkas, who had been watching quietly, released his grip. Deep red marks stood out starkly against Gareth's tanned skin. Gareth rubbed his arm, glaring with pure hatred at both Varkas and Talia before turning sharply and storming toward the camp.
Talia couldn't help but snicker at his retreating back—until she felt that cold, cutting stare. She straightened instantly, erasing the smirk from her lips.
Varkas was watching her, his expression unreadable as ever. But in those icy eyes, Talia could clearly see disgust and fury.
He grabbed her arm firmly and gestured to the knight.
"Escort the First Princess to her tent."
Then, giving a curt nod to the still-frozen Aila, he led Talia away through the trees like a prisoner being dragged to her cell.
Her face twisted with rage.
No matter what anyone said, she was a Princess of the Empire. A mere servant of the Crown had no right to drag the Emperor's daughter around like a dog.
Talia yanked her arm violently.
"You insolent fool! Unhand me at once—!"
And then, suddenly, her feet left the ground. She screamed as Varkas hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack of grain and strode through the rows of tents, ignoring the shocked gazes of those around them.
Her face burned red as she struggled and kicked like a furious animal, pounding his back and shoulders with her fists, but no matter how hard she fought, Varkas didn't even flinch.
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