WMEEM Ch 2

Man and Man

Tarega frantically covered my back, still bare from the salve.

[Tarega] "Who are you? You can't just barge in here!"

Her voice bristled with hostility. Instinct told me these men were not sent by Raff.

Who are they to trespass like this? There should be guards outside.

The gray-haired man tilted his head and inspected me with cold detachment.

[Batizo] "Is this the fake princess?"

He knew my moniker. Then again, everyone in Calyx knew it. They all called me the late Emperor's bastard, the "fake princess."

Yet the sheer height of both men signaled they were not from Calyx. The people of Calyx, men and women alike, were notoriously short. While exceptionally tall individuals existed on rare occasions, none matched the imposing presence of these two.

I had no idea how to handle them, so I gripped Tarega's hand and forced myself upright. An involuntary groan escaped my lips as agonizing pain flared across my back, making the gray-haired man wince.

Irritated by their uninvited presence, I crossed my arms over my slipping dress to shield my chest and glared at him.

[Celeste] "Intruding upon a princess' private quarters demands an immediate introduction. Who are you to commit such insolence?"

Though denied a royal education, I understood proper decorum. Fake or real, I remained Calyx's sole princess, and their intrusion was an open insult.

[Batizo] "What a wretched little place."

The gray-haired man's tone bled arrogance.

[Celeste] "Save your judgment for later. I ask again: who are you, and why have you barged in here?"

The man's brow furrowed in distaste.

Just then, the dark-haired youth stepped forward from his silent reverie.

[Terkan] "This is His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Batizo of Kellinev. His Majesty, the Emperor of Calyx, directed us here. Please forgive our sudden intrusion without prior notice."

Despite his youthful appearance, he spoke in a refined tone and bowed politely at the waist.

Emperor of Kellinev? Where was it again?

Batizo. The name sounded distantly familiar.

Raff gave them directions here? What kind of empire...

Just as I strained my memory, realization struck.

Ignorant as I was, Tarega had spoken of him often. Batizo Kellinev was a tyrant whose infamous reputation echoed across the entire continent. He ruled the Kellinev Empire, realm of the Black Winged Tribe, as a man who cared for nothing except bloodshed.

That monster stood before me.

On closer inspection, he certainly fit the description of the Black Winged Tribe. His massive build alone confirmed his Kellinev lineage. However, while royalty of the Black Winged supposedly possessed hair as black as pitch, his was a dull gray.

I wondered briefly if he was an impostor, but dismissed the thought. No sane person would impersonate Batizo unless they craved death. Besides, Raff himself had directed them to my annex.

I quickly lowered my head and corrected my posture before my hesitation became an offense.

[Celeste] "Emperor Batizo, great leader of Kellinev... Please forgive my rudeness in failing to recognize you. I am Celeste, Princess of Calyx."

I offered the formal greeting with a trembling voice, intentionally omitting the customary blessing: May the grace of the gods be with your land.

I had heard Batizo despised religious pleasantries above all else.

Even amidst the terror, my mind raced with questions about his presence.

[Celeste] "Forgive me for being unable to invite you inside."

I expressed sincere regret for forcing the Emperor of Kellinev to stand on an unshaded lawn.

[Batizo] "I have no intention of stepping inside anyway. Terkan, fetch her yourself. I will go on ahead. Coming here was a mistake."

[Terkan] "Understood, Your Majesty. I will handle it. Please proceed."

Batizo turned on his heel and walked away. Perhaps because he was my first foreign visitor, his broad shoulders appeared unnaturally massive.

[Terkan] "Greetings, Your Highness. I am Terkan, in the service of His Majesty Emperor Batizo."

The youth stepped closer and offered a polite, expressionless greeting. Accompanying his Emperor to a distant land meant his status was far from ordinary.

[Celeste] "A brief introduction."

[Terkan] "You may call me Terkan. Speak freely with me."

[Celeste] "Just Terkan?"

[Terkan] "I hold no title, nor a family name."

Yet the elegance radiating from him was hardly that of a mere servant.

What is he, then?

He stepped closer and raised his hand. Pale, ghostly fingers hovered above my head and traced gently down my hair. It was not a stroke, but a strange, deliberate gesture.

He plucked something from my locks.

[Terkan] "This was stuck."

He showed me a leaf before letting it fall to the grass. As he leaned in, a distinct fragrance drifted toward me, a rich, heavy floral scent that lingered in the air.

Terkan exuded a bizarre aura. He possessed jet-black hair that shimmered blue where sunlight struck, paired with skin so pale it bordered on translucent. Unlike the heavily built Batizo, Terkan was tall, lean, and graceful. Beneath his dark bangs, ruby-red eyes swept over me in a rapid glance before locking onto mine.

Then, he offered a smile. The gentle, radiant warmth spreading across his expressionless face made him look like an entirely different person.

Wait…

A faint pattern emerged just beneath his left eye. When I focused to inspect it, my eyes met his again. Instead of looking away, Terkan held my gaze with relentless intensity.

What a strange man.

He wore a gentle smile paired with eyes that burned like a predator's. His gaze carried a luminescent authority, one belonging to someone of far higher standing than myself. It might have been an illusion, yet I felt entirely subordinate beneath his stare.

While I was distracted by analyzing Terkan, Batizo's earlier words resurfaced in my mind.

[Celeste] "Wait... Is there somewhere I am supposed to go with you?"

[Terkan] "There is a banquet at the imperial palace tonight."

[Celeste] "A banquet?"

Cut off from the world outside my annex, I rarely knew when imperial events took place.

[Terkan] "It seems you were unaware."

[Celeste] "I have no need to know everything."

Only after speaking did I recall Raff's mention of a banquet from this morning, though I chose not to correct myself.

[Terkan] "Or perhaps no one bothered to inform you, Your Highness."

He spoke nonchalantly, a smile gracing his lips as if he knew precisely how powerless I was in Calyx.

Has my pitiful reputation spread even to foreign empires?

Still, I had not expected him to state it so bluntly. His master, Batizo, was an Emperor, but for this servant to look down on me... The gaze I felt earlier was no illusion.

[Celeste] "And why does this banquet involve me?"

[Terkan] "Your Highness is expected to attend."

[Celeste] "You know my circumstances well enough."

He knows how I survive in Calyx.

The warm smile vanished from his face, replaced once again by absolute apathy.

[Terkan] "Yes, those are your circumstances. Emperor Batizo's circumstances are different. His Majesty wishes for Your Highness to accompany him to the banquet."

Batizo wants me to attend the banquet with him? And Raff agreed?

Having never set foot in a palace banquet, I felt a whirlwind of emotions surge through me: excitement, fear, and sheer confusion over why Batizo wanted me there, let alone why Raff permitted it.

Only this morning in the dungeon, Raff had declared he would sever my ankles and exile me. Had something changed since then? Questions consumed me.

Yet curiosity could wait. What mattered most was that an opportunity was unfolding. If there was any chance to walk out of this imperial palace whole, I would seize it.

Terkan cast a subtle glance over my dress and shook his head, offering a silent evaluation of my ragged attire.

The imperial court provided me with only the bare minimum, making my gown no different from a servant's rag. Worse yet, the back was stiff and stained with dried blood.

[Terkan] "I will send someone with a proper dress. Change into it, and I will return to escort Your Highness before the evening banquet begins. Until then."

[Celeste] "Wait."

I called out to him as he turned to leave.

[Celeste] "Did Raff grant permission?"

I asked to confirm. Within these walls, Raff was absolute.

A smile returned to Terkan's face, cold and fleeting this time.

[Terkan] "His Majesty Emperor Raff's permission was never required. This is Emperor Batizo's command."

[Celeste] "...Very well. See you later."

I balled my hands into fists as I watched Terkan walk away.

Batizo was a man even Raff couldn't touch. And that man had sought me out. A sliver of hope flickered in the dark.

---

My eyes widened at the dress Terkan sent.

Honestly, I had not trusted either of them. Though entering my guarded annex proved their status to an extent, attending a royal banquet seemed too absurd to believe.

This dress shattered my doubts completely. It was so breathtakingly lavish, fitting for imperial royalty, that I questioned whether I could pull it off.

As Tarega unpacked the gown, she suddenly gasped and lifted a delicate, sheer garment.

[Tarega] "What is this?"

The fabric was smooth and silky. Feeling such exquisite texture for the first time made me envy the royals and nobles who wore it every day.

[Tarega] "It looks like an undergarment because of the lace, but it's far too short and thin for a chemise... Ah, the actual undergarment is right here."

Tarega inspected the sheer piece from every angle. She tilted her head in confusion for a long moment before arriving at a conclusion.

[Tarega] "Your Highness, I believe this was made to conceal your wounds."

Now that she mentioned it, the main gown featured a low-cut back, mirrored by the inner slip.

Though my wounds would be wrapped in bandages, the bare style would leave them exposed. Wearing this thin lace layer underneath would create an intricate, layered look, making the coverage appear intentional.

Given the impossibility of tailoring a gown on short notice, it was a clever solution.

Was this Terkan's idea? Or Batizo's?

Both had seen my wounds, so it could have been either. Regardless, it didn't matter. The dress fit as though it had been custom-tailored for me.

The wounds on my back throbbed, but swallowing another painkiller made the agony manageable.

[Tarega] "Heavens... You look absolutely gorgeous!"

She clapped her hands in awe.

[Celeste] "I want to see too..."

Without a mirror, I couldn't verify her praise.

Remembering the quiet pond in the courtyard, I stepped outside and stared at my reflection in the water. Even in the murky reflection, I looked entirely transformed.

[Tarega] "A bit of cosmetics would make you even more breathtaking, but you are already stunning as you are."

She whispered from beside me.

[Tarega] "Whether intended or not, this dress complements your fine golden hair and eyes brilliantly."

[Celeste] "Does it?"

I had always loathed my golden hair, a trait unique to me among the imperial family, but listening to Tarega, I thought I looked lovely today.

[Tarega] "Someone as fair as you, trapped in an isolated annex and beaten day in and day out..."

She sniffled.

Tears welled in my own eyes at her weeping, but I forced them back. I had no luxury to cry just yet.

---

The sun dipped below the horizon, yielding to the moon. Lively chatter filtered over the courtyard walls, and vibrant lights painted the darkening sky.

The banquet had begun.

As I tried to calm my racing heart, Terkan arrived. Dressed in formal attire different from his daytime clothes, he approached and bowed.

He possessed a strikingly different presence than he had under the sunlight. Moonlight suited him far better, as if he belonged to the night itself. The dark stillness of the evening made Terkan both formidable and breathtakingly radiant. He possessed an enigmatic aura.

Though personally, I didn't mean that as a compliment.

[Terkan] "His Majesty Emperor Batizo has already proceeded to the banquet hall."

I nodded briefly at his words.

As I stepped out of the annex, my chest swelled with quiet pride, a stark contrast to the pitiful creature dragged to slaughter whenever I previously left these walls.

The guards' eyes darted anxiously. Watching those who once looked upon me with pity or contempt struggle to process the scene brought a dark satisfaction. It was almost enjoyable.

The path leading to the banquet hall was so dazzling I couldn't tear my eyes away. Having lived in the palace for over a decade without properly seeing the imperial gardens, I was left spellbound by their grandeur.

[Terkan] "Your Highness, royalty expresses admiration in silence."

[Celeste] "..."

I stared at him in annoyance at the absurd reprimand, having not uttered a single sound.

[Terkan] "Maintain a dignified composure. Your lips should remain sealed unless you are speaking or dining."

I had no response to that. I lacked the knowledge to argue whether he was right or wrong.

[Terkan] "Keep your lips closed even when smiling."

His didactic tone irked me, so I offered only silence.

As we neared the hall, the crowd thickened.

Nobles who recognized me froze, whispering among themselves. Some glared, while others stared in sheer shock. Even those who failed to notice me initially were forced to turn by Terkan's imposing height.

Every eye was anchored upon us.

Because it was my first time amidst such a crowd, panic mounted as the murmuring intensified and countless gazes pierced through me.

My shoulders hunched instinctively. My heart hammered against my ribs, making steady breaths impossible. I forced strength into my trembling legs, but to no avail.

Everything was a first: a lavish gown, high heels, crowds, blinding lights, and grand music.

Dizziness washed over me.

[Terkan] "Keep your spine straight."

He spoke in a low voice while staring straight ahead. Instinctively, I turned to look at him.

[Terkan] "Don't look at me."

I stopped my head from turning.

[Terkan] "Imperial dignity stems from confidence."

[Celeste] "..."

[Terkan] "Don't show a stiff expression either. Raise the corners of your lips slightly, just enough to be perceived."

Swallowing my panic, I adjusted my lips as he instructed.

[Terkan] "Don't become the prey they desire. Show them a composure so resolute it borders on brazen."

The prey they desire.

Just as it had always been, the weaker I appeared, the more brutally they would tear me apart. In this vast imperial palace, Tarega was my only ally.

I straightened my spine. Had I been alone, I would have fled into the shadows, but his presence anchored me.

Why is he doing this?

It was undoubtedly Batizo's command.

Then why is Batizo doing this? Curiosity about a fake princess? Or does he want something from a powerless girl like me?

Batizo matched my imagination perfectly: a terrifying existence whose mere presence commanded fear. Yet the fact that even Raff cowered before him amused me.

As we stepped into the banquet hall, an attendant announced us with a reluctant voice.

[Attendant] "Her Highness, Princess Celeste!"

I am actually attending a banquet.

An inexplicable thrill surged down my spine.

Among the sea of turning heads stood Raff, his face contorting in rage as he gulped down his wine.

I walked forward and stopped directly before him. I offered a formal greeting, straightened my posture, and met his eyes.

Raff glared at me and forced out his words, syllable by syllable.

[Raff] "I hope you enjoy yourself tonight."

I caught every single syllable, savoring his humiliation.

Exhilaration filled me. If I could, I would have laughed right in his face. Instead, I turned away, saving that joy for another day.

In the distance, Batizo sipped his drink and gestured for me to approach. As I walked toward him, Terkan leaned in slightly.

[Terkan] "Propose to His Majesty Emperor Batizo."

Propose? Surprised, I nearly turned my head, but I recalled his warning and kept my gaze fixed ahead.

[Terkan] "It is your only way out of Calyx."

He spoke as if reading my innermost thoughts.

This time, I couldn't help myself. I turned to face him directly.

A proposal is nothing I can't do. But why tell me this now?

[Celeste] "What if he rejects me?"

[Terkan] "Then you must make an offer he can't refuse."

[Celeste] "I have nothing to offer."

[Terkan] "I have given you the path. The rest is up to Your Highness."

His ruby eyes settled into a chilling, unreadable gaze.

---

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