TSMMT Ch 14

Princess Ionia

Princess Ionia's blatant disregard would daunt anyone, but Dianna gripped her skirt, offered an infuriatingly elegant bow to the guests, and claimed her designated seat.

Whispers erupted among the crowd at her composure. The Princess still scowled. She fought to hide her state, but anxiety consumed her.

Ionia the pants-wetter.

Dianna knew the reason. In her past life, this rumor circulated openly throughout high society. She recalled the gossip. Supposedly, the Princess made that exact mistake during a birthday party when she was very young, and today marked that very day.

[Ferdinand] "She can't even control her bladder. How disgusting. A princess who wets herself is utterly ridiculous."

He carried deep shame for his only younger sister. Princess Ionia suffered from a bladder disorder due to the trauma of a near-fatal assassination attempt. High-stress situations triggered an instant urge to use the restroom.

[Noble] "Please don't criticize the Princess too harshly."

[Ferdinand] "She became like this after an assassin nearly killed her before she turned ten. She fears men, and she can't even use the restroom properly like a normal human. Can you understand my absolute embarrassment?"

[Noble] "Your Highness."

[Ferdinand] "She brought this upon herself because she lacks the courage to ask for the restroom. Not all children suffer from such stupidity."

Regardless, Princess Ionia rarely appeared in social circles, likely hyper-aware of the rumors. Whenever she attended, the label of "pants-wetter" followed her everywhere.

Terrified that people would mock her intense fear of men and her frequent restroom visits, the ten-year-old girl endured the relentless mockery of being a pants-wetter until the fall of the Panborough Kingdom.

Cruelty defined that fate.

Dianna also lived as a trophy of the Lodbrog Kingdom, enduring every form of ridicule. She understood the sheer horror of such boundless mockery.

Dianna offered polite answers to the questions directed at her while studying the Princess. She refrained from forcing a conversation. The Princess would undoubtedly snap and reject any advances anyway.

Observing the Princess' extreme urgency, she flashed a bright smile.

[Dianna] "Your Royal Highness. My gift is rather massive, so it requires viewing outside. Would you mind accompanying me?"

In truth, the birthday gift consisted of an opal headband encrusted with the Queen's favorite gems. No massive gift existed.

The Princess' eyes sparkled. Her deep timidity prevented her from admitting her urge to use the restroom in front of the crowd.

[Noble 1] "Oh my, what kind of gift did the Duke family prepare?"

[Noble 2] "I wonder the same!"

[Noble 3] "If the Princess wishes, we could all go together……"

If Princess Ionia invited them along, Dianna's claim would expose her as a liar. Cold sweat slicked her back. Fortunately, the Princess spoke.

[Ionia] "The Duke of Brienne sent this item personally. I shall inspect it first."

Blatant disappointment washed over the noblewomen. A few cast sour glances at Dianna for leading the Princess away. Stepping in late and isolating the Princess looked highly improper.

Yet Dianna was only twelve years old. She offered a pure smile.

[Dianna] "I prepared a separate gift for everyone, so let us look at it together later!"

Living as a child offered the distinct advantage of receiving forgiveness for minor shortcomings. An overly mature demeanor would trigger aversion, but no one could harbor genuine anger toward a beaming child. This applied even more to a girl who lost her mother less than six months ago.

The noblewomen with daughters laughed softly, yielding to the child's charm.

[Noble 4] "She is still just a child."

[Noble 5] "Indeed. She looked quite mature when she entered the ballroom."

[Noble 6] "Managing the entire estate alone must take a heavy toll on her."

Instead of heading straight to the restroom, Princess Ionia kept monitoring Dianna's reactions. Dianna spoke without further delay.

[Dianna] "Your Royal Highness, where is the restroom?"

[Ionia] "Huh?"

[Dianna] "I urgently need to use it."

[Ionia] "I will guide you!"

The Princess' complexion brightened. She quickened her pace. However, her footsteps ceased shortly after.

[Ionia] "Uh…… oh. Wait, what?"

Dianna widened her eyes. Princess Ionia suddenly froze, her body trembling violently. Before she could assess the situation, the Princess stared down at her skirt with a pale face. Crisis struck.

[Ionia] "What do I do?"

[Dianna] "……."

[Ionia] "Oh, no!"

Moisture seeped onto the floor where the Princess stood. Failure arrived too quickly. Dianna let out a quiet sigh.

Having soiled herself right in the hallway, the Princess began to sob. Just as the weeping threatened to spiral out of control, Dianna raised her voice.

[Dianna] "Don't cry!"

[Ionia] "But I……."

[Dianna] "Lift your skirt before it gets wet! It is fine, you only need to change your undergarments."

Fortunately, the hallway remained empty, allowing them to handle this discreetly. Dianna turned around.

[Dianna] "Someone come here, please."

The Princess' royal guard undoubtedly trailed behind them. Dianna searched for the guard, and a figure emerged from behind a pillar. Fortunately, a female knight stepped forward.

[Knight] "What happened? Why is Her Highness weeping…… oh."

The knight understood the situation instantly.

[Dianna] "This is the situation. Forgive my bluntness, but you must fetch fresh undergarments. Also, bring a cloth to clean this up."

Fortunately, the knight proved to be a seasoned veteran.

Princess Ionia sniffled, watching Dianna deliver calm instructions.

[Knight] "Shall I summon the maids to assist with her clothes?"

Dianna shook her head at the knight's suggestion.

[Dianna] "No. We must keep the circle of knowledge as small as possible to prevent rumors from spreading. Don't worry, I will assist her. We will wait in the restroom. Please hurry."

The knight nodded. Dianna grabbed the hand of the sobbing Princess and led her to the restroom.

To Ionia, today marked the absolute worst day of her life. Ruin found her. Everything she fought to conceal lay exposed.

[Ionia] "What do I do? Everyone will know I am a pants-wetter, hiccup!"

[Dianna] "Remove your clothes. We can't let the dress get soaked."

[Ionia] "My…… Mother. Mother will……."

As the Princess broke into fresh tears, Dianna gripped her shoulders and shook her firmly.

[Dianna] "Your Highness, pull yourself together. Continuous crying will leave marks on your face!"

[Ionia] "But I……."

[Dianna] "I promise to keep this an absolute secret. We can resolve this easily."

[Ionia] "Sob!"

[Dianna] "Stop crying. I made mistakes and wet the bed when I was little too. A single accident means nothing. Princess, wipe your tears."

She spoke with firm authority, forcing Ionia to nod. The knight returned with the fresh undergarments right on cue.

[Knight] "My Lady. The hallway clean-up is complete."

[Dianna] "Understood."

Only Ionia required attention now. Dianna offered a brief apology before removing her garments. Ionia watched her without even blinking.

Dianna showed immense skill in undressing her, ensuring her movements remained gentle to avoid causing discomfort. Despite the urgency, Dianna's deliberate pace offered the Princess a sense of security.

Though the situation carried immense embarrassment, the clean-up concluded perfectly. Dianna helped Ionia back into her dress. As she meticulously checked for any wrinkles, Ionia spoke.

[Ionia] "Thank you."

[Dianna] "If you wish to avoid frequent restroom visits, merely pretend to drink your tea. Alternatively, eat salty snacks on purpose."

[Ionia] "……Okay."

[Dianna] "Most importantly, utilize your servants when urgency strikes. Invent an excuse, like the Queen calling for you or an urgent matter requiring your attention. Honestly, asking to use the restroom a few times is perfectly fine. Bladder urgency is nothing to feel ashamed of."

[Ionia] "Okay."

The Princess answered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, lowering her gaze.

Observing her crimson cheeks, Dianna took her handkerchief and wiped away the remaining tears.

[Ionia] "Sister……."

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Ionia] "You feel like an older sister……."

Dianna lost her words, unsure how to respond. Ionia blushed deeply, realizing she had behaved like a vulnerable child rather than a princess.

[Ionia] "Lady Brienne. I owe you a massive debt."

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Ionia] "I always repay my debts."

Dianna pondered the offer for a moment, then spoke with an awkward expression.

[Dianna] "I do have one request."

[Ionia] "What is it?"

Ionia replied with wide, sparkling eyes. Dianna adopted a sheepish look.

[Dianna] "Well, the massive gift from my father never actually existed. Could you help cover that up gracefully?"

Reality struck Ionia. Right, they had allegedly left to inspect a massive gift from Duke Brienne.

[Ionia] "Did you lead me outside knowing about my distress from the very beginning?"

[Dianna] "As I mentioned, I recognize such plights instantly because I experienced similar hardships myself."

[Ionia] "I see……."

Ionia nodded, her eyes shining with admiration.

Dianna adjusted a slightly crooked ribbon on the Princess' dress, prompting her to duck her head in embarrassment. The Princess looked shy but entirely relieved.

What a relief.

Dianna smiled. The pitiful Princess who hid away from a lifetime of mockery ceased to exist.

---

The morning after returning to the estate, Duke Brienne summoned Dianna.

Pinched at the bridge of his nose, the Duke raised his gaze.

[Duke] "What exactly did you do, Ann?"

[Dianna] "Pardon?"

[Duke] "What sort of massive gift did our house allegedly present for the Princess to speak so highly of it?"

[Dianna] "……."

[Duke] "Rumors claim the Brienne family offered a priceless treasure. Even the Queen refuses to deny it."

[Dianna] "……."

[Duke] "In fact, she sent a reward to you through me, praising our grand gift."

He extended a wooden box. Dianna opened it. A blue diamond brooch rested amidst beautiful lavender flowers. In the language of flowers, lavender symbolized silence. The Queen had gifted this brooch and the flowers as an explicit command to maintain absolute discretion.

[Duke] "Won't you explain the meaning behind this to me?"

[Dianna] "I can't reveal the details."

She resolved to hold her tongue even if her father decided to punish her.

Studying her resolute gaze, the Duke let out a heavy sigh before a satisfied smile pulled at the corners of his lips.

[Duke] "Superb work."

[Dianna] "……."

[Duke] "Magnificent work, Ann!"

[Dianna] "……."

[Duke] "Whatever the actual cause, rumors state our ducal house presented a legendary treasure. Everyone will imagine the rarest wonders in the world. I welcome such a misunderstanding."

[Dianna] "I am glad to hear that."

[Duke] "Even the Queen, who harbored deep contempt for us, personally delivered a reward. It appears you resolved a crisis for the Princess."

He rose from his chair and stroked her hair.

[Duke] "I instructed you to do well, but this exceeds all expectations. You managed to surprise even me."

[Dianna] "……."

[Duke] "You inherit your father's blood."

[Dianna] "……."

[Duke] "Very well. I shall grant you that slave as a reward."

Dianna suppressed a strong urge to scream with delight. Guiscard belonged to her now. No one would subject him to floggings anymore.

[Duke] "However, keeping a slave entirely by your side will invite nasty gossip. Therefore, he must still perform household chores. He needs to assist around the estate to some degree. Furthermore, I reserve the right to utilize him whenever necessary."

[Dianna] "Yes, Father!"

She nodded vigorously. Witnessing her enthusiasm, a smile touched the Duke's lips.

[Dianna] "Ah, will you grant me the key to his restraints as well?"

[Duke] "Pardon?"

[Dianna] "The key to his shackles."

[Duke] "Dianna. I granted you the right to employ that slave, not outright ownership. That request is impossible."

Securing Guiscard raised her hopes of acquiring the key to his restraints, but the task remained daunting. She let out a heavy sigh.

---

Requested by one of our lovely readers, I hope you enjoy it. If you do, please consider supporting the author on Naver Series and Kakaopage.