Irene replied in a gentle voice, as though she were choosing her words with exaggerated care:
"It's true that my father takes his position and duties very seriously, but he isn't that strict as a father."
Lucas couldn't restrain his curiosity this time. He didn't hide the sharpness in his voice as he replied:
"If your father isn't as strict as you claim… then what explains the marks on your back?"
Silence fell between them.
Why is he bringing this up again?
Irene was annoyed with herself.
I shouldn't have lowered my guard so easily. I should've kept Sally by my side from the beginning.
She replied with restrained agitation:
"You didn't suddenly start caring about me. I already told you—I was mischievous as a child. That was my fault. My father has nothing to do with those scars. Besides, they're very old… I barely remember what happened back then. So please, forget this subject."
Those scars were never just marks on her skin.
They were memories Irene had tried to bury in the graveyard of her sorrows.
The sound of sticks striking flesh. Her screams. Her pleas for mercy. The days when her small body could no longer endure the pain. She struggled to forget them… but now they were rising again, with cruel clarity.
The scars remained etched into her body because of the servants' arrogant negligence in treating her wounds properly—until her small body reached a point of surrender, where she no longer felt pain… because she had grown accustomed to it.
She would stand like a lifeless corpse, merely waiting for the punishment to end.
And by sheer luck—or misfortune—that became the reason her stepmothers stopped beating her, choosing instead to starve her and lock her up for the most trivial reasons, as though they were trying to get rid of her by any means necessary.
Lucas stared at her in disbelief.
What could a little girl possibly do to deserve punishment like that? No… this isn't punishment. This is torture.
Irene Iscard… who are you really? The more I try to understand you, the stranger everything becomes. A girl who appeared out of nowhere, and suddenly became my wife without warning.
Is there something you're trying to hide?
Both of them were so deeply lost in their thoughts that they arrived at their destination without realizing it.
Lucas got down first, then approached to help Irene descend gently. The atmosphere between them was awkward—heavy.
But Lucas broke it suddenly:
"Why are your feet so small? You look like a ten-year-old child."
An irritating smile curved Irene's lips as she replied:
"My feet aren't small. You're just excessively tall."
She walked ahead of him, deliberately ignoring him.
The mayor's wife approached Irene with a fabricated smile:
"Oh, Princess… did you enjoy the scenery along the way?"
"Yes, it was truly beautiful."
Another lie.
Irene barely remembered anything; her thoughts had been scattered because of someone at that moment.
Georgina said:
"It's absolutely enchanting. I adore horseback riding there."
She studied Irene closely, then took her hand.
"Shall we go, Princess?"
Irene felt uneasy, but nodded.
The training camp was vast—imposingly so. It was Irene's first time entering such a place, despite her husband being the commander of the army.
She despised everything related to weapons and war—especially blood—but she was skilled at hiding her emotions throughout the tour.
They stopped at the archery training ground, in front of a highly skilled soldier.
Irene observed him and noticed something odd. After a brief analysis, she spoke aloud:
"Yes… that soldier is left-handed."
Everyone turned to look at her.
The mayor asked in astonishment:
"And how did you know that, Your Highness?"
Irene felt slightly embarrassed for speaking out loud without realizing it.
Ah… I really hate it when this happens.
She replied calmly:
"Although he's skilled, the tilt of his body and the movement of his left hand are more fluid than his right. He struggles to aim with his right hand… it might be easier for him to use his left."
The mayor suddenly spoke and ordered the soldier to shoot with his left hand, as the princess suggested.
Without any warning, the soldier struck the target with perfect precision.
Once… twice… three times.
A stunned silence spread through the area.
Georgina turned to Irene:
"Oh my God… you were right, Your Highness. You're truly amazing. Do you practice archery by any chance?"
Irene replied:
"Ah—no, I don't. I'm not good at it at all… I just noticed it unconsciously."
The mayor said:
"That's wonderful. I'm amazed by your sharp observation and intelligence, Your Highness. What do you say—would you like to try shooting an arrow yourself, just once?"
Irene asked in surprise:
"Excuse me?"
She looked at Lucas, who was staring at her, then nodded as if telling her: Do it.
She stepped forward into the field. The mayor ordered the soldier to show her how to aim.
The soldier approached, bowed respectfully, thanked her for helping him, then straightened—and stared at her face for longer than necessary.
Irene found his gaze strange.
Lucas, who had been watching, intervened with his rough voice:
"You—what are you staring at like that?"
The soldier flinched:
"I didn't mean to—sorry! I'm just grateful to the princess. My apologies."
Irene ignored the incident.
The soldier began explaining how to hold the arrow. She followed his instructions calmly.
From afar, whispers rose among the soldiers about the unique beauty of the Iscardian princess—not just in that moment, but throughout the entire tour.
Lucas grew deeply irritated.
He didn't like those looks. He felt a genuine urge to tear their eyes out, but instead cast a single sharp glance that made them avert their gazes immediately.
Should I have told her to stay in the palace? Why am I so irritated? Is it because she doesn't seem aware of what's happening around her? Or because she ignores it? Or is it because she's—ugh, I have a headache.
Lucas pressed his head, pained by the headache.
But behind them, someone was burning with even greater fury.
Georgina Ghafarli.
She stared at Irene with her true face—one filled with hatred.
Disgusting… How can a princess wear such simple, ugly clothes? And barely any makeup at a formal invitation! Is this because she's merely the illegitimate daughter of a maid? No—I'm certain she does this deliberately, to belittle us. How dare you, you mixed-blood wretch… Just thinking that you belong to Iscard makes me sick. But I must mind my position as the mayor's wife and tolerate your presence in my home.
The Ghafarli family was among the oldest noble merchant families, but they had suffered greatly after the war and lost much of their influence.
— — —
Irene tried to aim for the first time, but failed to steady the arrow.
The soldier stepped forward:
"Forgive me, Princess—your hand position is incorrect."
He suddenly grabbed her hand.
"Lift it a little higher… and place your finger like this as well…"
He felt a shadow behind him.
Turning around, he found Lucas standing directly behind him.
"Remove your hand… before I break it."
The soldier backed away in terror:
"I'm sorry! I was just trying to—"
"Who gave you permission to speak? Get away. Leave now—before you lose your life."
The mayor intervened angrily:
"Didn't you hear what the prince said? Hurry!"
The soldier retreated, thinking:
I'm finished… I'll die a virgin before ever getting married. Her hand was so soft… I lost my focus and went too far without realizing it.
Irene didn't understand what had happened.
She said calmly to Lucas:
"Lucas… why are you making such a fuss? He was just trying to show me what to do."
He finally turned to her.
Stepping forward, he took her hand and aimed the arrow himself—striking the target with astonishing precision.
It was a scene like a painting.
The mayor and everyone applauded.
"Excellent!"
Irene looked at him in astonishment.
He said in a low, sharp voice:
"Are you naïve… or are you pretending to be?"
"What?"
He stepped away from her.
Georgina approached with a smile:
"Oh my… you two are the perfect couple. I truly envy you, Princess."
Irene laughed lightly to play along.
The tour ended, and they returned to the starting point.
_________
Hi everyone i hope you enjoy the chapter let me know yr feedback