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Chapter 200: Eyes of a Dragon and the Human Heart (64)

It might have been a sort of intuition. Woken by the chaotic wind banging against the window frame, the Imperial Princess got out of bed with an uneasy gaze.

The once eye-catching light gray eyes had long lost their vibrancy. The recent series of events had been enough to shatter the mind of the girl who had just recently come of age.

First, she survived a life-threatening crisis. 

In the process, the head maid who had taken care of her since her childhood passed away. Her escort knights also died, and Cien and Irene were the only survivors.

The deaths of carefully chosen close aides were not merely a matter of profit and loss. As a human, Cien, too, could not help but have her mind completely shaken.

However, even in the mud, flowers found a way to bloom.

Despite the bleak situation, Cien found a new hope.

That was none other than Ian. He was the only person who treated her with sincerity in a world full of falsehood and deceit.

However, despair still remained. The ‘new hope’ was the same person Cien had treated coldly and harassed all along.

She might have been better off if she had only harassed him.

Unfortunately, Cien did not only harm Ian but also his family. And those who had sided with the Imperial Princess and criticized Ian all along made her a scapegoat. 

The ‘Dragon’s Eyes’ could read all human emotions.

Whenever she faced the surges of hatred and enmity, Cien would feel suffocated, and nightmares from her childhood resurfaced. The more this happened, the more Cien became obsessed with his presence.

Not long ago, she even started to take on the role of serving those women around Ian, including the Saintess.

At first, the Saintess seemed somewhat reluctant, but later, people around her, including herself, were willing to make the Imperial Princess do all sorts of menial tasks just to see how much Cien could endure.

Of course, Cien did everything.

She had no choice if that was the only way to stay by Ian’s side.

However, that period was limited.

Ian would soon wake up. Her happiness and sadness would be decided depending on how the awakened Ian treated Cien.

Since they had conducted the ritual yesterday, there might be signs of him gradually regaining consciousness by today.

Hence, Cien became even more anxious, biting her thumbnail several times. Her trembling eyes revealed her anxiety.

Please, give me a chance to be forgiven.

Just in case, Cien dressed up after a long time. It was to look at least a bit presentable to the newly awakened Ian. 

After two hours of preparation, the Imperial Princess finally left her room.

With somewhat tense steps and a deep sigh, it didn’t take long for her movements to stop as she steeled herself. 

It was on the desk in the lobby on the first floor.

The space where the mail was organized by servants every morning. There was one unfamiliar letter, and without much thought, Cien turned away.

Only then did the sender’s name come to her view.

‘Ria Percus,’ Ian’s younger sister.

Cien’s hand began to tremble. Of all times, why did this letter arrive now?

However, there was no option not to read it in the first place.

Cien slowly opened the envelope while holding her breath, revealing neatly written lines inside.

The light gray eyes quickly scanned the contents of the letter.

—-

To. Her Imperial Highness Cien, the Fifth Daughter of the Imperial Family, blessed with the noble blood of the Dragon.

Your Imperial Highness.

I, Ria Percus, the unwavering loyal subject of His Majesty the Emperor and the youngest daughter of the Percus family, send my greetings through this letter. I sincerely hope Your Imperial Highness has been faring well during this time.

I understand that official and personal affairs may have overwhelmed you, and you may not have had the time to pay attention to even a quiet rural estate. That’s why I am writing this letter.

Recently, the Percus territory has not been doing well.

Of course, this is entirely due to my mismanagement.

This was because numerous documents were pressuring us for debt repayment on the trading company I was operating. Although I had mentally prepared myself, the gap between expectation and reality is wide and deep.

As the trading company employees, who felt like family, lowered their heads, it felt like my heart was dropping along with them.

It didn’t take a long time for bankruptcy to be certain. The meager trading company in the rural area couldn’t handle the debt, and I believe I did my best within my means.

You may wonder why I inform you of news unrelated to Your Imperial Highness.

In truth, I recently heard an unverified rumor. It was about incidents between Your Imperial Highness and my foolish older brother.

My older brother, in some aspects, tends to be foolish and single-minded, lacking the proper wisdom. Frankly, it is hard for me to believe he is involved in such a dreadful conspiracy.

As with most rumors, I thought there was likely some exaggeration.

Nevertheless, with the limited information available, I find myself compelled to question my older brother’s loyalty. Additionally, while this may not be directly linked to the aforementioned rumor, I am curious as to why debt collection has suddenly focused on our trading company.

Perhaps Your Imperial Highness, in your generosity, could understand the situation and offer some assistance.

Nobles of the Empire were bound to reciprocate what they received, be it resentment or kindness.

As a noble of the empire, I have dutifully adhered to the golden rules of repaying resentments with resentments and kindness with kindness.

Needless to say, this commitment holds even greater significance for the Imperial Family.

If my older brother has extended even a small favor to Your Imperial Highness, I believe that Your Imperial Highness will reciprocate with the same kindness.

Despite being a foolish older brother, he is also someone I deeply cherish in my heart.

Should my older brother have shown any disrespect towards Your Imperial Highness, I humbly seek your forgiveness.

Though our trading company faces bankruptcy, I remain alive. Nevertheless, I, Ria Percus, am willing to offer my life in my older brother’s stead.

As Your Imperial Highness desires, you may choose the fate of this subject’s life.

For my older brother, I will bark and crawl if needed. Even if I end up being sold to some brothel, I will not voice any complaints.

To me, it seems that this would be simpler than bankrupting an entire trading company.

I beseech Your Imperial Highness’s benevolence and would willingly kneel to implore that you graciously spare my older brother from repercussions.

One irreversible decision is sufficient. I will address this matter separately with my older brother.

I earnestly hope Your Imperial Highness will consider my loyal advice, and with that, I will conclude.

From. Your faithful vassal of the Imperial Family, Ria Percus.

—-

After reading the letter, the Imperial Princess kept her silence. 

Throughout the reading, the writing revealed the tenacity of a girl who had penned the letter. The skill with which she consistently ridiculed the Empire’s Imperial Family indicated her extraordinary temperament.

Certainly, it was justifiable to consider her disqualified as a merchant.

No matter what, provoking a member of the Imperial Family was beyond reason. Even if her trading company was bankrupt and she might not be in her right mind, her attitude was closer to reckless bravado than courage.

Nevertheless, the Imperial Princess couldn’t speak for a while.

The resentment evident in each line, coupled with the refined prose, penetrated the Princess’s retina, stabbing into her mind.

Each word became an arrow and the Imperial Princess’s optic nerves felt like they had turned into strings.

With each paragraph, Cien’s eye corners trembled. As it reached the part where the girl humbled herself, seemingly unexpectedly, Cien was on the verge of hyperventilation.

The word ‘brothel’ struck her particularly.

A few days ago, there was a girl who spoke those words while cackling.

‘If your face is half-decent, you don’t have to worry about eating. Even nobles are welcome in the brothel…’

Unbelievable.

If possible, Cien wanted to rush in and tear that mouth apart. How could someone casually utter such rude words?

The phrase ’repaying resentments with resentments’ resonated in her mind. Cien’s complexion turned pale. 

Feeling dizzy, Cien staggered backwards.

The letter fell to the ground, but she paid it no mind. As if possessed, Cien left the Verlata Pavilion and walked aimlessly.

Originally, she should have headed to the temple.

However, she couldn’t summon the courage to do so now. The girl’s words lingered in her mind as she blankly moved her feet.

‘One irreversible decision is sufficient. I will address this matter separately with my older brother.’

She said it was irreversible and would address it separately.

Would Ian, when he woke up, understand Cien, who had troubled his younger sister?

That was right. It was an irreversible decision from the beginning.

She couldn’t seek forgiveness.

Everything was a result of the choices Cien had made.

So, the Imperial Princess plunged into the crowd, simply praying she could escape anywhere.

However, when she suddenly regained her senses and looked around.

The world around her, filled with enemies and evil, made Cien gasp for breath.

There was nowhere to escape.

The prolonged accumulation of fatigue and wounds had caused Cien’s mind to shatter.

She could no longer endure it.

Suddenly overcome with nausea, Cien retched. Beating her chest for a while, even after retching, nothing came out.

Someone approached to support Cien, but she screamed frantically.

“…Don’t touch me!”

Nevertheless, everyone was the same anyway. 

They all displayed enmity while pretending otherwise on the surface. Cien was sick of it. It was a sight she had seen countless times.

She had been struggling to escape from it since her childhood nightmares. Yet, eventually, she ended up in this place again. Cien could never take a single step away from that time.

Unable to contain her frustration at that point, Cien shed tears.

She thought things had changed, but they hadn’t. She thought she could change it, but it was a futile delusion.

She didn’t know how long she had cried in the midst of the crowd, but a hallucination started to play out before Cien’s eyes.

A man approached through the crowd. 

Black hair, golden eyes.

Without a doubt, it was Ian Percus.

With trembling hands, Cien reached into his arms and cried. Ian listened to Cien’s lament without saying a word. 

It was such a heartfelt scene.

She couldn’t even remember what was said properly. After all, she perceived it as a dream. Therefore, it felt natural.

So, Cien’s memory of that day started with this question.

“…You’re willing to do anything as long as you can be forgiven?”

Cien nodded frantically.

Certainly, she mumbled something about the honor of the Imperial Family or the ethics of nobility, but she cared about nothing more. Tears streamed down Cien’s face as she pleaded with Ian.

The man sighed and slowly supported Cien.

And then the next moment.

The sound of cartilage being crushed echoed.

Suddenly feeling pain, Cien snapped to her senses.

What in the world had just happened?

Blood spurted out. Overwhelmed by the shock, Cien fell backwards. The dilated, light-gray eyes traced sharp silver streaks in the direction they were facing.

The situation was clear.

There was a blade dug into Cien’s shoulder.

It was a hatchet.

It had shattered Cien’s shoulder joint.

Naturally, it brought tremendous pain.

Collapsed, Cien screamed in agony, caught off guard by an unexpected pain.

“Heugh, ugh…Kyaaack!”

Seeing that sight, Ian threw an unsympathetic remark.

“Well then, why don’t you take a few hits.”

It happened on the central avenue of the academy.