Lovers Beyond the Mirror

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Chapter 4 – Lady Looking In The Mirror (4)

Inside Perkin Hall, there was a strange confrontation.

The form in which the nobles of Rajen and the people of Chaitun were precisely divided in half. Seriana, who entered the hall, couldn’t help but tremble at the sight pouring out from both sides at once.

‘Which way should I go…?’

In fact, she didn’t even have to worry about it.

Nevertheless, Seriana was now a princess of Rajen, and she was a bride-to-be who had not yet become a person of Chaitun. It was right to move toward the direction where the nobles of Rajen were gathered.

Still, Seriana hesitated.

It was because she knew all too well how the nobles of Rajen looked at her.

There, her mother, standing in the midst of the noble group, glaring at herself, tied her feet.

Elaire wasn’t one of the ignorant people, so she’s not going to come up to Seriana today and share personal stories. Her mother coveted the throne, but she, too, trembled in fear when she heard that the border had been broken in three days by the warriors of Chaitun.

‘So, today will be fine.’

Those who had the power to rush across the border to the Capital of Rajen at once reached out their hand, and the powerless Rajen took it humiliatingly.

Instead of stopping the war that had begun unilaterally, it was Seriana that was handed over in return.

Originally, what they wanted was a princess of Rajen.

She doesn’t know what their purpose is, but they could have defended their country in exchange for passing on a princess, so it wouldn’t have been a bad thing for her.

However, the only Princess of Rajen, Lumius, was a problem.

She was such a beloved princess, and she knew well that she was loved.

‘Because I am here now because of the princess who shouted that she would hang herself by the neck if she was to be a savage’s bride.’

Thanks to that, Seriana was tied to him, who she had only been watching through the mirror, and tears filled up with sorrow.

She was the King’s illegitimate child, though she was the daughter of a County, a child that the King does not recognize…

She was the subject of gossip for all she lived until now.

Though the King could not send her beloved daughter, so he adopted his illegitimate child as his adopted daughter and added her name to the royal genealogy.

‘I have no expectations, I will never cry.’

Seriana gathered her heart with all her efforts and began to move slowly in the direction where the nobles of Rajen were gathered.

First, she has to be there.

People from Chaitun on the other side will be watching, so it might be okay for today.

“Look at that, that woman’s daughter actually wore a tiara.”

“Shh! Quiet! If those barbarians find out, it’s war again!”

“Because she resembles her mother, and her face is definitely smooth.”

“Then, what are you going to do? She has no expression. Would a barbarian be satisfied with that woman who was like a doll?”

“Why? If he’s not satisfied. So, you’re going to go to the barbarian’s bedroom?”

“Oh, no, what a joke? Oh, ho, ho.”

Vulgar jokes came and went about Seriana.

In the meantime, gossip about Elaire was a bonus.

Elaire was the most beautiful flower of the social world. Seriana considered her mother pitiful, but when she saw her smiling surrounded by flattering nobles, she had no choice but to turn away by biting the inside of her mouth.

“Seriana.”

“Princess Lumius.”

“Why are you talking like that between sisters?”

Lumius smiled as she raised Seriana that habitually bent her knees and grabbed her as she was about to greet. The Princess, with pale purple hair a little darker than Seriana, stood facing her, twinkling her blue eyes that resembled the king.

“The people of Chaitun are watching, sister.”

The cold hands of Princess Lumius, who came close to her, clasped her arms closely, made Seriana tremble.

Understanding what it meant, the beautiful forehead of princess Lumius twitched slightly.

“Smile, Seriana. Shouldn’t the savages see us as good sisters?”

“Yes…”

Led by Princess Lumius, she came to stand near the end with the Rajen King and Queen.

As if they had been waiting, the two people who sat with friendly faces greeted Seriana with a happy expression.

That smile would be sincere.

Because, as an illegitimate child who was like a thorn in the eye or they did not even care about its existence, Seriana was able to protect their beloved daughter Lumius and protect the precious Rajen. Perhaps today, they will forgive her no matter what she does.

Perhaps, that was what Elaire was aiming for…

Her eyes looking at Seriana from afar were quite bitter.

She couldn’t pretend not to know, so she bowed her head, and Crown Prince Gyro, who was standing opposite her, approached and whispered in a low voice.

“Raise your head. You became a princess according to your wish.”

“Such a wish…”

“Whether it’s your mother’s wish or yours, half of it has come true. We don’t want to stand side by side with you like this either, so don’t stand like you’re in the face of death and smile.”

Although he was born separated for a year, Lumius and the twin-looking Gyro licked their lips and pushed her.

“When the music starts, Lumius and I will have our first dance.”

“Yes.”

“Hide out of the reach of people in moderation. The day you make a mistake, it’s all over.”

“Yes.”

It was such a welcome remark.

It was difficult for Seriana to stand here with the royal family.

She had followed her mother and was forced to follow her until she became the adopted daughter of the royal family. She didn’t want to stand in the spot where everyone’s eyes were focused.

After the King’s heartless welcome, the performance began.

When Crown Prince Gyro and Princess Lumius stepped out into the center of the hall, everyone’s eyes gathered.

The two began to take the steps slowly as if they were enjoying the gaze.

For Seriana, that time was an opportunity.

She retreated quietly from the gaze of the King and Queen, who would pretend not to know her movements, and Seriana hid herself on the nearest terrace.

There would be no one looking for her.

She thought she could hide until a suitable signal came, and Seriana carefully closed the door to the terrace.

Seriana thought she moved carefully so that no one noticed, but there were eyes watching her. It was the place where the Chaitun’s party gathered, and among them, they were at the top of the table.

Vaisha, who was reclining on a large sofa completely different from Rajen’s, and two men and women standing as though escorting him, seemed to have been watching Seriana from beginning to end.

“Is that my Ranua? She is beautiful.”

A woman with dark skin tone and long black hair tied together, with her black eyes resembling obsidian twinkling, asked a question.

“My Ranua.”

“I’m going to be her servant, so what’s wrong with calling her my Ranua.”

“Because she’s not your Ranua yet.”

“And, already yours? You have a different reaction than usual.”

One of Vaisha’s eyebrows twitched at her mischievous words. And Kayan, noticing this, stopped Chiarin and glanced around.

“The Princess is gone, but no one cares.”

“It must have been because she was shy and avoided a lot of places, or there was something we didn’t know about.”

Chiarin listened to Kayan’s words.

Her face, which had been smiling a while ago, had turned cold. However, as if familiar with her showing the sudden difference in temperature, the two men continued their conversation with insignificant faces.

“Tell Jyakam to hurry up. I don’t like to sit still and get slapped in the back.”

“Yes, Kudra.”

“By the way… How long do they want me to stand like a caged beast?”

Vaisha’s amber eyes turned towards the large pillars surrounding the banquet hall.

To be precise, he was looking at the shadow of the pillar, which had become darker under the bright light.

“You don’t have to worry about stupid things that don’t know they’re prey.”

“It’s because it bothers me like fire ants riding on my body.”

“Then, should I kill them?”

“You were the one who nagged me so that I shouldn’t cause trouble for Ranua, Chiarin.”

“Oh my, did I…?”

As she read the signs of the hounds on the Rajen side hiding in the shadows, Vaisha, who lightly snorted, got up from his seat.

Not only the hounds who were paying attention to his sudden movement, but also the Rajen nobles could feel the tension in their bodies.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s frustrating.”

“Be patient.”

“Chiarin, Kudra can move wherever he wants. You know.”

“Ha, Kayan, my love. I know you are a faithful servant of Kudra, but the groom before the wedding should take care of himself.”

“There is nothing in this Rajen that can harm Kudra.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Have fun in moderation.”

Leaving behind the love fight between the two, Vaisha began to leave the place.

Anywhere without this stench would be nice.

“If possible, would it be better to smell like flowers?”

Vaisha’s footsteps were heading towards the terrace where Seriana had disappeared.

Meanwhile, Seriana, who hid herself in the most corner of the terrace, was gazing at the garden of the royal castle over the railing. The maze-like garden created by the King’s favorite gardener was often used as a place for the King to have secret meetings with his lovers.

Of course, the secret meeting with Elaire must have happened many times there.

“I thought of something I didn’t really want to think about…”

Seriana was trapped in that maze when she was young. It was covered up as a prank of little children, but Seriana knew.

It was the work of Crown Prince Gyro. She knew where his grudges began.

Countess Elaire Fjord, the flower of the social circle, before she married the Count was Elaire Millet. She was only a Baron’s daughter, but as soon as she debuted in the social circle with her beauty, she was the woman in the eyes of the king.

She made her debut at the age of sixteen, and since then, she had taken over the social world as the King’s lover, and she was greedy.

She didn’t have contraception, where it would be essential to any one of the King’s concubines.

Of course, the King didn’t care, so Seriana came in a few months after she warmed the King’s bed.

[ Erase it now! ]

[ Your Majesty and my child! It’s our child! How could you say such a thing! ]

When the King found out that she was pregnant, he was very angry.

He insulted Elaire for not using birth control properly and urged her to dispose of the child immediately.

Nonetheless, Elaire did not give up on her child.

Seriana didn’t think she would have done that for affection for her child. She thought Elaire believed she needed proof that she had the love of the King, wishing it to be her own power.

And, Elaire did not refute any such rumors.

[ So, do you want to have the child? ]

[ Forgive me, Your Majesty. But, I cannot give up on your beloved child. ]

The King, who had been screaming to dispose of the child, finally softened his heart when he saw Elaire dripping with tears on her pitiful face.

He seemed a little moved by the way she was trying to protect her own child.

However, Rajen had a tradition of monogamy, so it was a country that did not officially recognize concubines. Searching for a way, the King came up from the provinces, promised Count Fjord, who had not yet had the strength to claim in the Capital, and hurriedly married his concubine to him.

Seriana was born as the Count’s daughter.

Elaire gave birth to the King’s child, and from that day on, she publicly coveted the position as Queen.

A woman who dares to covet his mother’s place…

Crown Prince Gyro could not have forgiven it.

“It was scary.”

She said that from that day on, in a place where she was surrounded, she couldn’t even breathe. If she hadn’t seen Vaisha through the mirror, she would probably have gone crazy.

“You were hiding in this place. Like a rat.”

Seriana, who had closed her eyes to erase the unpleasant memories, hurriedly opened her eyes at the sudden sound of a voice.

It was because she heard a familiar voice.

“…Lucardo.”

“Why is my adoptive mother’s precious daughter hiding here? To avoid the eyes of that damn barbarian?”

It was Lucardo, the eldest son of Count Fjord and the adopted brother of Seriana. His steps toward her seemed unstable, probably from drunkenness.

“Did you drink?”

“What are you going to do with a question like that?”

She tried to avoid Lucardo approaching her with a staggering pace, though Seriana’s place was the most corner of the terrace.

She shrugged her body, feeling goosebumps at the touch of the cold stone on her back. Lucardo’s hand quickly flew out and grabbed her by the hair.

“Kyaak…!”

“You are wagging your tail in front of the barbarians just like your mother!”

Her scalp was pulled tight and tears welled up.

A scream was about to explode, but she clenched her teeth and endured it. If this fuss was known now, the people of Chaitun would notice that she was a fake.

…Then, her marriage to Vaisha would never have happened.

She had to stop that.

“Don’t mistake the color of your hair. You’re just that whore’s child. Do you understand?”

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The humid, hot wind that smelled of foul liquor touched Seriana’s cheeks.

Seriana, who had been enduring her pain, stiffened her body, startled by the look of Lucardo’s face approaching before her. His breath, which was getting hotter and hotter, and his eyes glistening with desire, was disgusting.

“This is an unexpected scene.”

And, at that moment, the voice of salvation, which had never been granted to Seriana, reached her.

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