“B-But…” Maxi stammered, hesitant.
Though she had attended the occasional social function at Croyso Castle, it had always been under her father’s watchful eye. They all ended the same way, with Maxi retiring to her room early. Naturally, this meant she had limited experience socializing with the other nobles, her knowledge of court etiquette coming only from books. She had no conversational or social skills to speak of, not to mention her impediment. Cold sweat broke out on Maxi’s back as she imagined herself stuttering like a fool among the haughty nobles of the kingdom.
In the end, she went with the same excuse she always used. “I-I do not like…loud gatherings….”
The princess sighed and gave her a resigned look. “I wanted it to be a surprise, but I suppose I must come clean. The truth is, the Duke of Croyso arrived at the castle this afternoon along with the other nobles from the north. You will be able to see him if you attend this evening’s banquet.”
A chill ran down Maxi’s spine as her heart plummeted. She ducked her head to conceal her expression, her heart pounding as she felt the old terror creep back.
“M-My father is here?” she croaked. “Does he…know that I-I’m here?”
“I’m sure His Majesty would have told him. The duke probably hasn’t come to see you yet because he has been accompanying my father since he arrived,” the princess replied brightly, mistakenly assuming that Maxi was upset with the Duke of Croyso for not coming to see his own daughter.
Maxi suppressed a sardonic smile. She knew that her presence here meant nothing to her father. No, it was incorrect to say that he would be completely disinterested. She shrank into herself when she recalled how he had threatenedher if she ever besmirched the Croyso name.
The Duke of Croyso had always disliked introducing Maxi to the other nobles. The man had kept her hidden away out of fear that the world would discover that his own flesh and blood was an inferior being. If she were to embarrass herself in front of Wedon’s nobility, her father would certainly make his fury known.
Maxi tried to come up with an excuse to avoid the banquet. “I-I would love to attend…but I’m afraid I-I am too tired today. I-I think…it would be better to see him alone tomorrow.”
Agnes immediately frowned with concern. “Is the exhaustion still quite severe?”
“I-It is not that serious…but I fear that h-he would worry…if he saw me so sickly….”
The princess nodded, convinced by her stammering excuse. “I understand. Then you should rest. I’ll ask the healer to bring you your tonic.”
When the princess left the room, Maxi hid under the blanket and curled her shivering body into a tight ball. What excuse could she give to avoid seeing him tomorrow as well?
On second thought, her father might be the one to come up with reasons not to visit her. There were countless nobles in the capital with whom he needed to foster connections. He would have no time to spare on someone like her.
Maxi desperately clung to that hope. She did not wish to see him again. Her last memory of him was still raw in her mind. His voice as he spoke of the fate that awaited if she brought shame to the family, his murderous eyes, and the cane threatening to strike at any moment…Maxi shuddered.
She reassured herself by remembering that she hadmanaged to avoid a divorce as her father had wanted, which should have been sufficient to satisfy him. She then desperately tried to banish all thoughts of the Duke of Croyso from her mind.
Her hopes were dashed the very next day. In the morning, Maxi received word that the Duke of Croyso was waiting for her downstairs in the drawing room. He had come to the princess’s residence to see her.
Maxi froze when she heard the news. Princess Agnes wore a disconcerting look that Maxi had never seen on her before. It was clear that the princess had talked to the duke already.
“Your father was…visibly distressed when I told him that you were unwell,” said the princess. “He demanded that I let him see you immediately.”
“H-He did?” Maxi blinked, hardly believing her ears.
Princess Agnes looked equally uneasy. She irritably swept up the golden locks that had come loose and dangled on her forehead. As she anxiously studied Maxi’s face, her scrutiny reminded Maxi of a knight gauging the strength of a weapon.
As if to confirm Maxi’s resolve, the princess squeezed her hands and said, “The knights managed to calm him down, but…he is not in good humor. Do you think you’ll be all right meeting with him?”
Maxi’s expression grew troubled. Just what had her father done for the princess to have such a reaction? She knew that he was not the kind of man who would ever lose his composure in front of the nobles. After all, he had perfectly played the part of a benevolent and indulgent father. Though he violently flogged her in front of the servants, he would press his cold lips to her cheek like a doting parent in public. Thatwas the kind of man he was. She wondered what had gotten him so agitated.
Full of fear, Maxi cleared her throat. “May I ask wh-what made my father…so angry?”
“Well, clearly he was upset because of what you’ve been through, and…”
Agnes swallowed dryly and looked down as if she did not know how to continue. Maxi almost laughed at the absurdity of the notion. Her father would not have batted an eye had he been told that she had died a gruesome death in the monster attacks.
It was possible that he was not angry but simply keeping up the charade. No doubt he was obliged to call on her to maintain his image.
Her tension easing a little, Maxi got out of bed. She should be able to bear ten minutes with him. After all, had she not endured him for twenty-two years?
She steeled herself. Since the Duke of Croyso cared greatly for appearances, she did not think he would strike her while she was under the princess’s protection. She was a Calypse now, not a Croyso, she reminded herself. Her father could no longer treat her as he pleased.
