Chapter 30

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 31

Chapter Title: Star Festival and the Ashen Wolf (3)

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"No way. That person entered the Grand Duke's Palace on their own two feet, bold as brass."

"That person? Hmm... I've heard there's a brand stamped on the intruder's shoulder. Word is spreading that His Grace has been bewitched by a slave and keeps them attending him at night."

No way. It was probably just her wild imagination running free.

Elledrun suppressed the urge to snap back and spoke softly instead.

"Madam, it's best not to say things that could lead to misunderstandings. Our esteemed guest at the Grand Duke's Palace bears no such brand. Someone must have mistaken the shadow on their shoulder for one."

"Hmm... They didn't seem like an esteemed guest... The staff at the Lily Palace who have to attend to that person are all grumbling..."

Elledrun kept smiling as she summoned a maid and instructed her to fetch the palace chefs, maids, and servants.

Elledrun turned to the gathered staff.

"Do you all have complaints about serving the Grand Duke's esteemed guest?"

The quick-witted head chef stepped forward.

"Not at all. The guest is so kind and wonderful—we're all serving them with our whole hearts."

"That's right. So kind and beautiful."

"It's our honor to serve the guest."

Elledrun had heard that after Roxiana healed the victims of the contamination, the attitudes of the Lily Palace staff had completely changed.

After dismissing the staff, Elledrun addressed the Tibran Countess.

"Does that answer your question?"

"A woman, then. What exactly is that woman's relationship with His Grace that she's occupying the Lily Palace for so long?"

"That's rude, Madam. His Grace ordered silence on the matter, and here you are digging into it. Are you defying him? Shall I report this to His Grace?"

The Tibran Countess, having learned nothing, flushed red and purple with anger. Carrie couldn't even lift her head at her mother's vulgar behavior.

"Hmph! We'll see if those words hold true."

"What we'll be watching is your attitude, Madam. Think twice before you speak next time. If those vulgar, lowly imaginings in your head spread as rumors, I'll report every detail of this conversation to His Grace."

I can't just die like this.

I have to retrieve my family's corpses from that well.

Once she had a goal, Roxiana couldn't bear staying cooped up in her bedroom any longer. She was ready to do anything for her family.

It would be great if she could use her powers to help Floyd, but right now, there was no place that needed them. She couldn't very well pray for more people to collapse from demonic energy.

'How can I make the Grand Duke want to help me?'

-"A woman's weapon is her beauty, Princess. You don't need to wield a sword—just seduce a man, win his heart, and he'll become your sword for you."

That was what Elise had told her, back when Roxiana trailed after her brothers begging them to teach her swordsmanship whenever she had time.

-"So, Princess, forget learning the sword. Learn how to win Lucas's heart instead. Use these hands to caress not a blade, but Lucas himself."

Roxiana wanted to ask her.

Did you use those methods to win Lucas's heart? Did you wield him as your sword against my family?

She tamped down the surge of emotion. This wasn't the time to dwell on past relationships and fuel her rage. She needed to focus on what she could do. She couldn't remain an unwelcome guest in the Lily Palace, idle and helpless.

Elise had offered all sorts of advice on winning a man's heart, but Roxiana had always brushed it off, so few ideas came to mind.

'Oh, right—one thing. She said to get drunk, pretend to wander into his bedroom by mistake, and lie waiting on the bed.'

It was so absurd she couldn't even laugh.

She couldn't imagine herself dressed provocatively in his stark bedroom, which lacked even curtains.

So Roxiana decided to stick to what suited her: honest work. She changed into comfortable clothes, rolled up her sleeves, asked the maids for directions, and headed to the laundry.

Laundry and cleaning were slaves' jobs by rights. Tasks for those branded as such. The maids at the laundry were shocked.

"Princess, you can't do this here."

"We'll handle the laundry just fine."

Ah, so there's nothing for me to do here either.

Roxiana wilted a bit but didn't leave. Instead, she crouched down at the laundry and watched the maids work.

Soaking large bedsheets in water, scrubbing them vigorously with soap, stomping them with their feet, then rinsing in clean water—it looked tiring, but not complicated.

After watching for a while, she quietly grabbed some nearby laundry and dunked it in the water. The maids' lips twitched like they wanted to stop her, but they fell silent at her determined expression.

Roxiana soaped up the sheet and was about to stomp it when she realized her dress hem might get wet, so she hiked her skirt up to her knees, tied it there, and went to work. Exposing her legs wasn't ladylike for a noblewoman.

'But I'm no noble anymore, so it doesn't matter.'

Stomping the soapy bedsheet was far harder than she'd thought. The water was freezing in the cold weather. Her feet went numb, unused muscles screamed. She nearly tripped a few times when her foot caught in the fabric.

The grueling task demanded her full focus, leaving no room for stray thoughts.

Father, Mother, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, little brother. My kingdom. And Lucas and Elise.

All the thoughts that had darkened or bloodied Roxiana's mind were driven out by the laborious work.

She suddenly recalled a late night when she'd slipped out of her room to the garden and run into her father. He was startled to see his daughter out so late but soon smiled and held out his hand.

-"Your old dad's having trouble sleeping. Will you keep me company?"

Roxiana adored her kind but busy father, whom she rarely saw, so she happily took his hand and walked with him.

He led her to the open lot beyond the stables. After sending everyone away, he picked up a haphazardly placed axe and began chopping firewood.

Roxiana watched wide-eyed, fascinated by this new side of her father. Thunk, thunk—the axe strikes. Crack—the wood splitting. She delightfully savored sounds she'd never heard before.

Only after a long while did he set down the axe, sat beside her, and wiped his sweat.

-"Unfamiliar work is tough, as expected."

-"Father, why are you doing this?"

-"Sometimes when my mind's crowded, hard labor tires the body and clears the head. It peels away worries bit by bit until I'm fresh, sleep deeply, and regain strength to face them again."

She'd thought it was deep talk back then. She hadn't understood or cared to.

She'd just burst out laughing at his messy pile of split logs, and loved how he stroked her hair as she giggled.

Just a simple memory she'd forgotten—until her body ached now, bringing it vividly back.

-"Roti, your dad will support you to live happily without a care, but if some huge worry ever hits, try what Dad does: chop wood, do laundry, some unfamiliar chore. It'll pull you from painful thoughts, even briefly."

-"Will that give me answers?"

-"If not, so what? At least you'll be so worn out you'll sleep dreamless that night."

Will it really work like that, Father? But tonight, I want to dream. I want you, Mother, my siblings to visit me there.

To lose myself in a dream where nothing happens, no one dies, and never wake.

I don't want to think or worry. I'm not strong like you, Father, or resolute. Just a foolish, weak woman raised protected, who couldn't even save her family.

The despair that the hard work had briefly banished now blackened Roxiana's heart again. As tears threatened and she bit her lower lip—

"Who the hell told the Princess to do this?"

A furious voice boomed.

The maids bowed their heads and shrank back. Roxiana halted her busy feet on the laundry and turned.

Beneath the pouring sunlight strode a massive beast shining red like another sun, crossing the laundry yard in huge steps. He stopped before her, looked around in disbelief, then grabbed her forearm.

"Tell me—who ordered the Princess to do this crap?"

His glaring eyes swept the maids, blazing as if he'd crush anyone they pinned it on. The maids paled as if about to faint, heads bowed even lower.

"No one."

At Roxiana's calm voice, Floyd shifted his gaze from the maids to her. She lifted her head to meet his eyes squarely.

"No one ordered me, Your Grace. But someone has to do it."

Floyd wrinkled his nose.

"And that someone isn't you, Princess."

"Healing people doesn't work, joining subjugations doesn't work, and now even laundry? Then what am I supposed to do?"