"—Which room will be mine? At least you could tell me that.
—You can go to the one right next to this one.
—Are you doing this to keep me under control? The walls of this palace are very thin, and there's glass in the door. That's why Sebastian can easily hear and understand you whenever you call out to him. So you'll hear every step I take.
—I didn't design this place for myself. Your father gave it to me as a gift. I guess he wants to watch us. Anyway, it doesn't matter to me. I've never needed privacy or anything like that before, neither I nor my servants. We're happy to hear each other.
—I won't go there.
—That's the only empty room. By the way, the door doesn't close...
—"Give me another room."
—"There are no other rooms. I'm a young aristocratic man living alone. Why would I need another room?"
—"No other rooms in this huge mansion
—"Everywhere else is a library. I have a huge library. I love to read."
—"I'll sleep in the library."
—"Mices will crawl all over you."
—"There's another room. Yours. Could you at least exchange a room with a decent door for me, as a token of your hospitality?"
—No. I'm not that hospitable. Besides, you wouldn't like my room. Never mind my room. It's not nice anyway. And even if it were nice, I wouldn't give it to you.
—I can decide whether the room is nice or not.And if it is, I'll move in.
—You can't.
—But my father gave you this house as a gift. So I have a right to it, don't I?
—We gave him a manor house when he came to Siena. So he could stay comfortably. But if he cared enough about us, he would have given us a house without mice and with soundproof walls.
"—If you won't give me your room, then I'll take it. I'll stay with you. —We won't even fit. I don't fit in my own bed.
—I can see the lie in your eyes. —By the way, our contract said you wouldn't even sleep next to me. Since we've talked, if we break even one of these clauses, it'll all be canceled. You can't allow that, can you? —Who said we'd sleep next to each other? In that case, I'll be in your room in the mornings, then I'll go to my own room when I get sleepy. Besides, if this agreement is such a problem… (I picked up the feathered pen and dipped it in ink. Then I crossed out the part about us not sleeping next to each other…)"There, it's done. Are you happy? Besides, it won't be a problem since I'll be sleeping on the couch anyway.
—This is a document, Almila. You can't cross it out.
—I already crossed it out.
—You trust me a lot, I see.
—You don't seem like the kind of man who would try to do anything to me. You're the Azelian I trust most in this house. But you're also an Azelian. You're the best of the worst. I'd rather be here than in a place where even the door isn't locked.
—Thanks for the compliment, I guess.
—You'll have to get me pillows and things like that. You can get me clothes too. I didn't bring any belongings with me. If I'm going to live here for 3-4 years, I'll need clothes. Bring whatever you like. I'm not very picky about fashion." Sebastian rolled his eyes. And then he left the room.
I, on the other hand, felt like I'd won a battle. I couldn't bear the thought of being listened to 24/7 by the others. Everything was clearly visible through the glass in the door, and it didn't even close; a maid must have come in every hour or two. I couldn't even get dressed comfortably. That's how strangers are, they always put you in such difficult situations. But unlike Victor, I'm not shy at all. My perspective on life has changed so much since that fall from the cliff. I'm not afraid of people anymore. They all have a bad side, and I'm not ashamed of them because I can easily see it." To Victor,
"—Why did you go to so much trouble to watch me? The maids are checking on me everywhere. Even now."
—"I didn't give them that order, Sebastian… We shouldn't let him see you. He must have spread the word to everyone. Everyone knows you're a princess. You may have guessed it, but everyone here is an Azelian. Even if I tell them not to, they'll keep you in their sight."
—Even if you yelled at them about it, would they continue to do it?" I don't think so.
—I won't yell at them. Should I do that for a foreign woman?
—If you can't even do that for your wife, you're a complete coward.
—I don't trust my wife. She doesn't trust me. That's the extent of our relationship. Look, it's all written in this contract.
—Yes. I married the greatest enemy of my kingdom. I betrayed my kingdom. You made me betray my kingdom. You will pay me for this, one by one. Although it seems like you've won in this agreement, the bill will come out in the end.
—I'm going to work.
—Hold on there. I told you about my past, why I ascended to the throne, didn't I? You didn't.
—My people have suffered for a very long time, Almila.
—Your people are causing my people to suffer. —No matter what I do, your people will always seem superior in your eyes, and my people will always seem more noble in mine. It's not worth the effort to argue you over this.
—I will prove that my race is superior, Victor. You will only see that it's not so in my eyes.
—Show me if you can. When people are in a bad enough situation, race or lineage no longer matters in the world. It's the logic of a beggar, begging for money from everyone… When desperation enters the picture, all people are the same. Pride, reputation, or honor disappear.
—Even in my most desperate moment, I will not abandon them! I will not abandon my proud and honorable people!"
—"Believe me. You won't act that way when that time comes."
"—Don't talk so knowingly. I know you secretly accuse me of never having suffered. You haven't suffered either. The Stormwell family lived a wealthy life for many years. It's still not known that you're an Azelian, is it? You sold your true selves for prestige! —We sold our souls to protect our people.
—You dishonorable b*stard!
He got angry; he wasn't used to being sworn at.
I said to him,
—Take me to your room.
—First an insult, then an order? You surprise me.
—What? Are you the type to take offense at being called a dishonorable b*stard?
—I'm just a respectful type.
—Why? Being called a dishonorable bastard isn't that rude. If you don't consider yourself dishonorable, you don't even need to take offense.
—Maybe not being called a dishonorable bastard is less rude, hm? Have you ever thought about that, Almila?
—No.
Victor sighed. He led me to his room, a little hesitant.
He definitely had something to hide in his room, which is why he'd been so cautious about it from the start.
Then, as he opened the door, I saw what he was hiding.
It was covered in paintings and canvases. "Do you paint?" I asked. "I'm not very good at it, but I try my best." he said.
"They're quite beautiful."
"—I'm not really a fan of showing off. Besides, I only started a few years ago."
—"They're very successful for a few years
you must be naturally talented. Why did you start so late? I heard that nobles have the right to education in every aspect."
—"They said I held too many people's lives in my hands to be a painter."
—"What does that mean?"
—"A painter can't be a commander. My family needed a commander, not a painter. Since I was little, I've been drawing things on handkerchiefs and anything else I could find that could be painted. But… I only bought myself paint after I turned 18, secretly from my family."
He said. I fell silent. I felt a little sorry for him. Then it occurred to me that he was an Azelian, so I didn't need to feel sorry for him. Victor had a huge bed. I was normally going to sleep on the sofa, but at that moment, I made a sudden decision to lie down on the bed and pulled the blanket up to my head.
Victor watched me lay down on his bed. He couldn't say anything. He had lost his bed. He accepted defeat. He picked up his pillow and went to the couch. He lay down on the couch and fell asleep.