The Princess Is Going On Strike

Translated Novels

"Are you hurt somewhere?"

"No."

"Then why all of a sudden…?"

To ask why I was suddenly doing this… I looked away from her confused eyes. Well, my father Olden is a crazy and selfish person. I was afraid of making the wrong choice in front of him.

"Sigh, I want to sleep more."

I want to take a break now. After Nanny Obera left the room, I took off my cramped mask. Even when I was sleeping, the mask that I wore everyday felt as uncomfortable as ill-fitting clothes. Or maybe it was because it was inconvenient.

I took off my mask and opened the window. A cool breeze blew into my room that was on the 4th floor of the house but I could barely register the wind on my face. In that memory that seemed like a dream, I took off my mask and yelled at people. I cursed people as horribly as I could.

It didn"t feel accurate to call what I experienced earlier a dream or reality. However, the unpleasant anger that I felt was stuck in my heart. It was so strong that I couldn"t get rid of it.

I slowly turned my body away from the window.

“Huh?”

What was that strange pearly thing in the window? Something feels different… I looked at the window again. My face was reflected from the gla.s.s but it wasn"t exactly accurate. I gently pinched my face with my hand. Slowly, slowly. Warm skin touched the tip of my fingers. There was nothing else and I didn"t know what to make of it.

I pursed my trembling lips and turned towards the mirror. I rushed to one that was hanging on a wall and looked at myself. What I saw…

“Is the spot …?”

I touched my face with my fingers, there were no spots covering my face. I would like to have been mistaken, but I kept looking at the small gla.s.s mirror that reflected my image.

"Ah…"

I wanted to say something, but nothing came out of my mouth. The spot on my face that had always given me h.e.l.l. The face with red eyes and spots covered since birth were a symbol of evil to others. People who have seen my face would never fail to scorn me because of these spots, but the thing that has tormented me in the past have disappeared.

"Why?"

For a moment, my joy gave way to doubts. Why did the spot disappear all of a sudden? What did I do? I haven"t used any magic or medicine. No matter how hard I tried to fix it, nothing worked so I thought I would live like this for the rest of my life… I was naturally embarra.s.sed to have it disappear so suddenly. 

I felt that I was going to be sick as my whole body trembled, then my hands felt empty.

‘Seves Ruddin"s ring is gone. 

Seves Ruddin, he was a centuries old sage who asked me to carry the ring with me at all times because it will protect me. Of course, the ring had no special ability or any magic inside of it. It was supposed to be similar to a charm.

I wondered where I left my ring as I ma.s.saged my other fingers. The ring always stayed on me even when I"m taking a bath, so why is it missing now? Where is it?

I went back to bed and lifted my pillow, but the ring wasn"t there. Where the h.e.l.l did it disappear to?

‘You are wrong."

A scene came to my mind of the moment right before my death. In the end I hated him, scorned him and said he was wrong… So did he take the ring? Or was it really a just a charm? I took a breath and tried to adapt to my new situation.

First, I don"t know what exactly happened, but it seems like I returned to the past because Nanny Obera is still alive. Second, the spots on my face and my ring are missing. Those are what I know with certainty.

What else is there. Another change…

While I was pondering, I heard loud and violent footsteps. I sighed at that familiar sound and quickly put my mask on. The door immediately pushed open.

"Aeryl!"

I was a very foolish person before to the point I was desperate for my father to call me by my name and not curse it. This man who was the head of the Brixia family and the one who I wanted to receive love from and be recognized, was looking at me in anger.

I faintly bowed.

"What brings you here?"

"What are you doing? Are you sick?"

"Yes. I"m not feeling well…"

“I am surprised that even monsters like you can get sick.”

Was the man who insulted his daughter without a hint of remorse really considered a father, I wonder? 

People have considered Olden, the head of the Brixia family, a considerable humanitarian. A man who wasn"t seduced by authority and a man who treated people with warmth. Their opinions were far from the truth. 

He was arrogant and insane who hid his incompetence by taking from others. He was lucky he didn"t have to fight for his position because he didn"t have any brothers, because if he had, he wouldn"t have been the head of the Brixia family because he lacked the ability. 

If you evaluate such a man as a great duke, I will laugh at you behind my mask.

"I am human."

"It"s not my preference to hear you complaining in the morning. You know what your father wants from you, so why are you disobeying me?"

I stared at him. Right, I once tried to do everything to be recognized by this man. But sadness, sickness or even pain… Not even a fragment of what I endured touched him. He never smiled at me and only saw me as a tool. A burden.

Nevertheless, I thought that someday he would acknowledge me, but…

After 24 years, I realized that it was nearly impossible. 

In return for believing in her family, the foolish Aeryl Frey Brixia died.

Now, I don"t want his love anymore.

"Get ready quickly. Sir Belfort will be arriving sometime soon.”

He took a step forward and pointed his finger at me. His finger went a little below my eyes and came back up.

"This banquet must go well, so do not even consider taking that off of you."

Banquet? A thought burst into my head.

Sir Belfort often visited the mansion and Olden"s displeasure with me was common so I don"t know exactly what time it was but… The man who never lifted a finger for me, finally helped me today.

7 years ago, Olden who usually left me behind, took me to a banquet for the first time. I was excited over the dress and accessories I was able to wear and of course, I wore a pretty mask too. The young 17-year old me finally thought that she was recognized by her family, but that was a delusion.

I balled my fists tightly and immediately tried to hold back any indecency and anger behind my mask. I couldn"t get anger right now. I can"t blow my only opportunity. 

“Right. Then I"ll give you an overview.”

I followed him with my eyes as he bent back and gave out an arrogant laugh while leaving the room.

I wanted to strip away his false incompetent mask.

I got dressed and waited in front of the drawing room. I had to follow a rule that I couldn"t come in until called.

To other people, my existence was considered a nightmare, a symbol of a monster, and soon a demon. Even in my family, I was not considered a human. The former d.u.c.h.ess had 1 son and 2 daughters who Olden was proud of, and I was the only child left alone to be slaughtered.

The only thing I was able to appreciate now was the knowledge I learned in order to survive. And Olden needed that knowledge.

Olden would often claim my knowledge as his own or used them for his children. He would say he would take me in as his daughter for it. That little girl who was pleased by those words now felt cursed. Her dream was only a dream.

At the age of 17, a drunken Olden took off my mask during my first banquet and I was made a laughing stock to be mocked like a monkey at a zoo. I was stupid to think that guy actually appreciated me.

"Come in."

I heard a voice through the door. After I grabbed the handle and turned it, I saw Sir Belfort and my father sitting down. Looking at the two, I hid my feelings behind my mask.

Now, no more getting worked up.

"You"ve arrived, Lady Aeryl."

Belfort got up from his seat and greeted me.

Belfort was a young, excellent knight who was known to be gentle and polite, but in reality, he had little interest in others.

After glancing at him with my eyes, I greeted him and sat on the other side.

Olden, who was sitting across from me, glared at me. I scoffed at him behind my mask, which didn"t look out of place.

Do you think I"ll be scared? The 17 year-old Aeryl, who would have trembled before you, no longer exists.

"As a matter of fact, I said that we didn"t need to call Lady Aeryl here, but you came here yourself. I heard you were sick… is your body okay?"

"It"s okay."

He nodded at me with dull eyes. Perhaps his question was just a formality.

He then turned his gaze to Olden and opened his mouth with a pale smile.

"So, let"s get straight to the point. This is an important issue that needs to be dealt with quickly."

"I agree. It seems that the reason we meet here today is that there is a problem with the soldiers" military boots?"

Translator: Cenetta

Proofreader: Arie Bee

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