After wetting his lips with his tongue, the Imperial Prince nodded and mumbled again, as if acting under the influence.
“Of course it is. Oh, yeah, and that punk… What was his name? In any case, he with that eye disease from the South Palace won’t even bother coming to any events, so don’t bother.”
What’s he saying? Who’s that again?
Kathia didn’t care what rubbish the prince was spitting out. It’s just that, she smiled a lot in hopes he wouldn’t kill her off when he gets throned.
“In any case, my bad for not getting a present suited for my sister’s coming of age. What should I do to make amends?”
“I’m happy just seeing you.”
“You have a beautiful heart, just like your face, Sis.”
The Imperial Crown Prince stroked Kathia’s hair with a seedy smile. UGH, this is sickening.
Kathia, who had grit her teeth while smiling back, dropped his hand and turned around as soon as the music ended. She wanted to bathe so badly, scrubbing her hands and body.
As the atmosphere at the banquet became murkier, it ended rather quickly.
The emperor couldn’t stand the prince, so he exited first and even Kathia, who should’ve been the center of attention at the banquet, gave an excuse of getting drunk off the champagne and followed suit.
At least the aristocrats greeted Kathia and Hannah, wistfully. That seems to be the only positive outcome for today.
Kathia and Hannah saw many people and left a good impression on them, so shouldn’t the probability for them to turn into some dumped corpses be lowered?
After leaving the doorstep of the banquet hall, trying to have some positivity, she felt a large stare from behind.
While the Second Consort and the Crown Prince were conversing, they were looking towards Kathia. Next to them, the Second Prince stood around, looking uneasy.
What? I don’t know what that was, but there’s a feeling of discontentment. Kathia wrapped her arm around Hannah and left in a rush.
“Ugh, how tiresome.”
As soon as they returned to the detached palace, Kathia laid in bed, recollecting today’s events. How should I put it? It was like a dream in many aspects.
It wasn’t a completely good dream, nor a nightmare; today was surely something strange.
“My dear. What present should I give you for your birthday?”
Hannah asked right after cleaning herself up. Kathia clung onto her mom’s waist, her pleasant fragrance wafting.
She was endlessly thankful to Hannah, for not judging her for today and what’s to come.
“As usual, the cake you always bake will do.”
Hannah always baked a cake by herself for Kathia’s birthday every year. It was their own passed-down tradition and promise.
In the past, long ago, when they had hardly anything to eat, somehow Hannah got precious butter and cream for Kathia, by any and all means.
“But still… Isn’t today particularly special? Tell me if there’s anything you want.”
“Something I want?”
“Yes, anything.”
A special birthday? Something I want? Whatever I wanted?
Kathia shouldn’t have been persuaded by this sweet talk. She shouldn’t have been in this state of victory, just because she was welcomed by the aristocrats.
It’s enough to just be with mom. She should’ve been satisfied with the fact that she had a magnificent party at least once.
“Truthfully, I do have something that I want. For the longest time…”
What Madam Murphy said was indeed correct. Greed is like pouring water into a broken jar. If you gain one thing, you’ll soon wish to have another.
“I would like to have a doll.”
Also, greed is like sand in your hand; if you try to have two at once, you end up losing the one you already had. Back then, Kathia didn’t know what was to come.
***
“A doll?”
“Yes, here, I’ll explain what a ‘doll’ is.”
There is a price to pay for everything, even if not knowing what is about to come. Kathia used body language to explain what a doll was.
Made from a variety of materials, they come in many shapes and sizes, but it’s typically a toy based off of people or animals and is generally made with cloth as well as stuffed with cotton.