novelraw Chapter 81
Chapter 81
81~ Vigilance~
"Princess Mo...?"
Maid Ling entered carrying a plate of breakfast and asked.
As if frightened by her, the little Princess hid under the blanket, leaving only a small gap to observe her. Only after seeing it wasn't the Empress did she relax somewhat...
"Princess Mo, are you alright?"
Maid Ling lifted a corner of the blanket, wanting to check on the little Princess's condition, but was swatted away by a hand from inside the blanket.
"Don't touch me!"
The little Princess shouted.
"Princess..."
The little Princess still vigilantly stared at her.
Ling: "..."
She couldn't imagine what exactly the Empress had done to the little Princess to make her become like this...
Your Majesty... why was this necessary?
Being stared at by the little Princess like this, Ling had no choice but to abandon the idea of examining her body and placed the breakfast on the table.
After walking just a few steps, she suddenly noticed the clothes on the floor... or perhaps it would be more appropriate to describe them as strips of cloth...
After Maid Ling left the bedroom, the little Princess waited a little while. After confirming Maid Ling had completely left, she poked her head out.
It was food...
How many days had it been since she last ate a proper meal? However many days she had been tormented was how many days she hadn't eaten properly.
She walked down from the bed trembling. The moment her feet touched the floor, a wave of weakness spread from the soles of her feet. She nearly fell flat on the ground and hurriedly steadied herself by holding onto the edge of the bed.
Arriving at the table, the iron chain connected to the shackles on her feet had almost reached its limit, just barely allowing her to sit on the stool.
One end of the iron chain was connected to the leg shackles, the other end was attached to the bed frame.
Not caring about anything else, she ate the food in big mouthfuls, completely lacking even a trace of how a princess should behave. All the princess etiquette she had once learned was completely lost at this moment...
"Ugh..."
As she ate, she suddenly felt truly wronged. Why did she have to be the one who was tormented?
"Hah..."
The little Princess slightly adjusted her mindset...
Adjust my ass!
These past days she had been continuously tormented, tormented all the way until last night before it finally stopped. She had truly broken down. Even having lived two lives and experienced society's harsh lessons, she couldn't help but break down...
She couldn't understand. Things had been fine on the day they departed, so why did they become like this after returning...
"..."
She climbed back into the blanket again, curling her entire body up under the covers and gradually falling asleep...
...
...
"Click~"
With the sound of the bedroom door opening, the little Princess under the covers was immediately startled awake.
"How's your recovery?"
"..."
The little Princess chose to pretend to continue sleeping, not wanting to respond to the Empress's question.
Seeing the little Princess had no reaction at all, the Empress walked over and gripped part of the silver chain exposed outside.
"Mm mm..."
"Get up."
The Empress commanded.
Her originally powerless legs moved out of her control, trembling as they tried to stand up.
"..."
"Don't look at me with that expression..."
The little Princess didn't want to speak and closed her eyes.
Since you don't want me to look at you, then I simply won't open my eyes, okay? Are you satisfied?
"Mo..."
She felt she was somewhat strange. Why would she do this to the little Princess? It was a bit odd...
"Have you played enough? If you've played enough, could Her Majesty the Empress please give me a quick end?"
The little Princess said to the Empress somewhat weakly and listlessly.
She had truly been tormented to her limit these past few days, driven nearly insane by the endless torment. It hadn't stopped once. Now even a breeze brushing against her body felt like... it just made her feel sick and want to vomit.
She really, truly felt sick and wanted to vomit just looking at the Empress now. She was about to throw up even the breakfast she had just eaten this morning!
That sliver of goodwill she had originally held toward the Empress had completely collapsed, not a trace left. If she weren't restricted by this disgusting Pet Contract, she probably would have already taken out that scroll to give the Empress a perm.
The Empress released the restraints on her and gently picked her up, walking toward the bathroom.
The bathtub was filled with hot water. The Empress placed her in it. After releasing her hands, the little Princess's entire body directly sank to the bottom of the tub.
After helping the little Princess up to lean against the bathtub, the Empress washed her hair.
"I'm sorry..."
"..."
The little Princess didn't want to talk.
What did apologizing to her now mean? To mock her? If that was the case, then congratulations, you're great, your goal has been achieved.
"I'm sorry, I don't know why these past few days..."
"...Heh, am I really that cheap in your eyes?"
"..."
The Empress didn't know what to say.
That strong possessiveness in her heart had dissipated considerably. After gradually becoming clearheaded, she suddenly realized she seemed to have made some mistake...
An apology, then lowering her attitude and casually giving some goodwill, in the Empress's eyes, was she really that cheap?
The little Princess bit down hard on her teeth, unable to stop herself from sobbing.
The Empress didn't know how to comfort her and could only gently pat the little Princess's back...
"Don't touch me!"
The little Princess couldn't control her emotions anymore. While bathing, she continuously cursed, using nearly all the profanity she knew from both her lives. The Empress could only listen silently until the little Princess was tired of cursing, until her tears had nearly run dry before stopping. Combined with the fatigue from being tormented before, she leaned against the bathtub and gradually fell into unconsciousness.
"..."
...
...
"Your Majesty..."
"Ling...?"
The Empress looked up, stopping the pen in her hand from reviewing memorials.
"Is Princess Mo alright?"
"...She hates me."
"I see..."
Maid Ling didn't know what advice to give either. She had only come to confirm the little Princess's current state.
This time the Empress had truly gone too far, almost driving the little Princess insane. Maid Ling had a deep understanding of this point.
When she went to deliver breakfast this morning, the little Princess's vigilance was a distrust toward the Empress, and indeed toward everyone.
"...I don't know what happened..."
She didn't quite understand herself why she became like that. Clearly when she was in the carriage, she had already been trying her best to restrain herself...
"What do you think I should do?"
The Empress rarely took the initiative to seek advice from Maid Ling.
"This..."
She didn't know either. She hadn't experienced these things, and she didn't know what state the little Princess had been tormented into during this time.
"...Forget it. Ling, go rest."
The Empress propped up her chin in thought. She no longer had the mood to continue reviewing memorials. Her mind was full of thoughts about what to do, and why she couldn't control that sick possessiveness and desire for control...
Her head ached a bit. She had no choice but to leave the rest for the Council to handle. She needed to return to the bedroom.
Upon returning to the bedroom, as expected, the little Princess was vigilantly staring at her.
The Empress placed the pastries in her hand by the bedside, picked up a piece and tentatively offered it to the little Princess. The result was the plate with the pastries being kicked to the floor by a foot from inside the blanket.
"Xiyan made these for you."
So what? Weren't you the one who had Xiyan make them and brought them over?
"Mo, come out."
The Empress had no choice but to try commanding.
Sure enough, as soon as she used a command, the little Princess could only obediently follow her orders and crawl out...
Looking at the little Princess's face full of disgust, the Empress suddenly felt heartache. This was an expression the little Princess had never shown in front of her before...
What exactly have I done...?