The Princess's Doll Shop - Chapter 54

“…What?”

What did she just hear? Kathia blinked blankly. She questioned whether or not her ears were working properly just now.

This was the first time she’d ever heard about her biological father.

Kathia had never asked about him even once. She was curious, of course, but she didn’t want to upset her mother nor put her in an awkward situation.

It seemed as a matter of course that Hannah deserved the very best, so she must’ve chosen the most suitable person to marry, and that was how Kathia was born.

But, why?

How could this happen…

How come this unfair and unnecessary tragedy never ended?

What did we do so wrong? Is it because we’re simply extras? Because a happily ever after ending would never be found in this world? Or is it because we’re just insignificant beings in this world?

Her head was swamped with endless questions. Then, Kathia had thoughts that she shouldn’t have thought of and didn’t have previously.

‘How can mom possibly love me?’

No, from the beginning, mom…

“Kathia?”

Kathia stood up, startled by Hannah’s call. What a mess. Hannah’s worried face and voice were engraved in her mind.

Concerned with the terrified look on Kathia’s face, the Commander of the Palace Guard approached and asked her. Am I alright?

“Are you feeling alright?”

Most certainly not.

It felt like her fear of the truth of the world was crashing down on top of her.

It couldn’t be more miserable than Spiritus, the dragon who was used and then abandoned.

The ground underneath her gave way and she felt like she was plunging endlessly in a bottomless pit. Kathia clamped her ice cold hand over her mouth.

“Kathi—”

“I think I’m going to throw up.”

While mumbling that, Kathia dashed out from the prison underground. She heard Hannah’s voice urgently calling her, but Kathia didn’t bother to turn around.

‘I think I’m going to throw up.’ As soon as she escaped the prison on the lower floor, she actually puked her guts out. She continued to empty the contents in her stomach.

As if to flush out all the blood in her body.

“Your Majesty!”

Madam Murphy, who was waiting for Kathia at the entrance, ran towards her.

A passing silhouette was suddenly in front of Madam Murphy, who was running towards Kathia.

In that instant, her cold body was enveloped in warmth. Kathia noticed herself collapsing into his arms.

It was a face she knew, but it took awhile for her to realize who it was. It was because his hair and eyes were an unfamiliar color.

Looking at his seemingly calming, dark brown hair above, she noticed how much more golden it shone.

“…Sorry.”

I should be the one who apologises and cries. It looked as if his throat was tightening out of empathy.

‘Sorry for what?’ She was about to ask, but she couldn’t move her lips. Instead, she just wanted to get some sleep. Without hesitation, Kathia closed her eyes.

She wished to not be awakened for a long, long time.

* * *

Her wish of not wanting to wake up for a while was ambiguously granted. Kathia slept a full day’s worth before waking up.

As if in a trance with that gaze, she found Madam Murphy, smiled, and said, “I’m hungry. I’d like to eat.”

At that moment, Madam Murphy felt that Kathia’s world had turned upside down.

But yet again, she didn’t know what to do for her.

She could only do as Kathia wished and ordered other maids to promptly bring her foods that were easily digestible.

Kathia quickly finished off the creamy soup, bread, and salad.

Unlike her usual picky self, she ate quite a lot.

And as soon as the maids started clearing her empty dishes, she bolted towards the bathroom.

“Urgh—!”

As she was gripping onto the edges of the sink, retching, Kathia thought what a waste it was.

The soup, bread, salad — all of them — were prepared by the maids in the imperial kitchen using the highest quality ingredients.

When she was younger, her main meals consisted of watery soup without many ingredients. On top of that, they would dilute it even more to last for a few more days.

When Hannah seldomly received a handsome amount for doing laundry, she would buy Kathia cotton candy from the store on the corner, and that was the most indulgent treat for her.

And… And.. How was it again?

What did I mainly do to pass the time? What did the shack we used to live in look like? What was the name of that kid with the disheveled hair who used to be made fun of for being poor?

The frowning Kathia shortly gave up pondering about it.

She could vaguely recall the broad strokes of her life back in those days, but she couldn’t clearly remember the details.

She could recollect every detail of the plot of a novel she read in her previous life, yet she couldn’t for those years of living in poverty and struggling with Hannah; it seemed odd.

She was just happy.

There were only memories of happiness.

So happy, like she prayed for an eternity to God for the life she is living.

Thinking back, she knew nothing but her mom, maybe that’s why she was able to be so happy.

As she gagged, Kathia’s body lurched again. There was nothing left to come out, but the dry heaving didn’t cease.

Instinctively, it seemed like tears had formed. But no matter how much agony she was in, there were no signs of tears streaming down her fair cheeks.

Truthfully, ever since she woke up from her deep sleep, flashbacks of Hannah striking the Prince down with a fire iron swarmed her thoughts relentlessly.

Back then, the rage from the suppressed memory that erupted like a volcano may have been a part of her past lives’ sorrows. Thinking about that, her heart felt heavy, as if being crushed by stone, and she felt frustrated.

Kathia pounded her chest with her fist, she pounded it so hard it could leave bruises. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t be able to breathe.

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