Don't Tame the Tomboy - 26. Turandot's Test
26. Turandot’s Test1Turandot is an opera by Giacomo Puccini; it tells the story of Princess Turandot, who decrees that any suitor must solve three riddles to marry her, or face execution
“My life? O-Of course! For you, I’d stake this measly life anytime!”
Ivan stuttered nervously while beating his chest as he made his bold declaration.
In truth, Katya was Ivan’s first love.
Though his feelings for her were genuine, after being humiliated by the nine-year-old Katya, his desire to possess and conquer her had ignited.
Making this untameable tomboy known as the ‘Villainess of the South’ into his obedient woman was Ivan’s life’s greatest goal and dream.
Upon learning that even the Grand Duke had proposed to her, his gambling debts no longer mattered.
Nikolai was someone who made Ivan feel extremely inferior.
His dazzling appearance as if crafted by the gods themselves, and a stature that overwhelmed all northern men.
And above all, along with his absolute power, he was literally ‘strong’ — stronger than any man in Hersen could hope to defeat.
In the war between males, it was always the strongest who won and claimed the desired female.
When he had tried to show Katya the difference in strength that only men possessed while she was bucking like a wild colt, he himself had been grabbed by the collar and dragged to the window frame by an even stronger opponent, unable to resist.
Most shameful of all was showing such a cowardly and weak side to Katya.
He could accept losing to anyone else, but he wanted to prevent losing her to Nikolai who had given him such a sense of defeat.
“Really? That’s good then. So I’ve prepared a test to prove both of your feelings. Before we begin the test, please sign here first.”
Katya handed them both a pre-prepared pledge document.
In summary, it stated that regardless of who the final winner was, they would accept the results and not raise objections or issues afterward.
After both suitors signed, she reached out from her seated position to pull over the trolley the butler had brought earlier.
Then she moved two teapots and two teacups from it onto the table one by one.
Nikolai and Ivan watched in confusion as she poured tea separately into the two cups.
“The rules are simple. Whoever drinks all the tea first passes.”
“That’s easy!”
As Ivan reached for a teacup, Nikolai sharply grabbed his hand.
“It’s not fair to cheat before we even start.”
His grip was so strong it felt like the bones in the back of his hand would break.
Nikolai quickly released his hand, mindful that Katya was watching.
Even after being released, Ivan writhed and acted like he was in agony.
Though he hadn’t used much strength, seeing him shake his hand as if his bones were crushed was irritating.
“Now, everyone please calm down. This isn’t a speed test. You should listen to the rest of the explanation before drinking.”
Ivan, who had been groaning and moaning, finally closed his mouth and listened to Katya’s words.
“One of these two teapots contains poison. I managed to obtain a difficult-to-get ingredient used as death penalty poison in the Eastern Continent. It’s a poison that dissolves your esophagus the moment you drink it.”
“What are you saying! So one of us will die?”
“That’s why I asked — do you love me enough to stake your life? If those feelings are real, shouldn’t you be willing to drink even poison?”
“T-That’s…!”
“Of course, you’re free to forfeit without drinking. However, as written in the pledge, that means giving up on me and never proposing again.”
Ivan tightly closed his mouth and stared at the two teacups on the table.
He knew Katya had a harsh personality, but how could she think of poisoning her own suitors?
Recalling the explanation about dissolving the esophagus, his jaw trembled, making his teeth chatter involuntarily.
But he couldn’t just give up on her like this.
If he found the courage to face death, he might be able to have her.
The odds were fifty-fifty.
Katya inwardly clicked her tongue watching Ivan rack his brains.
She had devised this test planning to reject both of their proposals.
Actually, it was something she had wondered about when reading romance novels.
Whether love that stakes one’s life, like a knight charging alone at monsters to save a princess trapped in a tower, really existed in this world.
‘Even His Highness probably doesn’t love me that much.’
At that moment, Nikolai unhesitatingly picked up one of the teacups.
Having lost the initiative, Ivan took the remaining cup.
While Ivan was hesitating, neither able to put down nor drink from the cup in his hands, Nikolai drank his tea in one gulp.
Both Katya and Ivan stared at him with startled rabbit eyes at the Grand Duke’s action.
Having quickly emptied his cup, Nikolai set it back down on the table with a clack.
“So does this mean I win?”
“T-This is fraud! Katya, you conspired with His Highness, didn’t you? They were both just plain water from the start, right? His Highness knew everything!”
At those words, Katya snatched the cup from Ivan’s hands and poured its contents onto the table.
Hisssss–
The moment the tea touched it, the white tablecloth began steaming and dissolved away.
Watching this scene, Ivan jumped up with a shriek, afraid even a drop might splash on him.
“You’re insane! To try feeding someone something like this! Katarina, you’re a witch! A villainess!”
The indignant coward ranted madly before bolting out of the reception room without looking back.
The remaining Katya and Nikolai’s eyes met.
“Aren’t you scared too, Your Highness? Of someone this wicked?”
“I think you’d make a perfect Grand Duchess for the Bloody Grand Duke, don’t you?”
Katya couldn’t help but smile at his unchanged attitude.
She finally decided to confess everything to him.
“Actually, Ivan was right. There was never any poisoned tea from the start. I thought both of you would give up if I just said so.”
“Then what happened to the tablecloth?”
Katya grabbed the tablecloth and tore it.
It had a different texture than fabric.
“It’s a custom-made paper tablecloth. That’s why it dissolved in the tea. The steam was just because the tea was hot.”
Nikolai burst into laughter at the unexpected answer and guffawed.
She truly was a woman who always exceeded expectations.
He was right.
There wouldn’t be another woman like her anywhere in the world.
Katya was one of a kind.
“What if it really had been poison?”
“I told you. I’d gladly die for you.”
“I must be crazy.”
“As long as you don’t get tired of me. Even better if you like me.”
Katya shook her head helplessly at another sudden confession without warning.
“Weren’t you dumbfounded earlier?”
“About what?”
“This wasn’t even a Grand Duchess selection test. I dared to conduct a husband selection test with Your Highness as a candidate.”
“It was fun. Though I didn’t like who I was taking the test with.”
“Right. He doesn’t compare to Your Highness in any way.”
Nikolai’s lips curled up to his ears at the natural praise from her mouth.
“Which aspects had particularly large gaps?”
Though she felt pressured by him obviously fishing for compliments, Katya soon confessed,
“Especially in terms of looks, it’s complete domination. Your Highness’s face is perfectly my type.”
“Oh? Then I should maintain my beauty even more carefully. Until you’re hopelessly captivated.”
“How could you get any more handsome? They say those who already have want even more.”
“I’ve heard I’m handsome so much in my life that my ears are calloused to it, but hearing it from you is more thrilling.”
Nikolai said with a smile spread across his face.
Though he had been completely fooled about the poisoned tea, his gaze as he looked at her remained unchanged and gentle.
Seeing him willingly drink what he thought was poison to win her, Katya made her decision.
“I’ve decided. Let’s get married.”
“What?”
“That offer where I can return you after living for a year — is it still valid?”
“Of course. You can return me anytime.”
While Nikolai was overjoyed at her acceptance of marriage, there was still something weighing on his mind.
He held Katya’s hands and carefully asked.
“Are you sure you won’t regret this? I’m warning you in advance, a year might be a difficult journey. The Grand Duke’s house is much more frightening than you imagine.”
It wasn’t something a groom should say to his beloved bride.
He wanted to tell her only optimistic and romantic things, like how their future would have endless flower fields with rainbows and warm sunshine.
But he couldn’t deceive her.
Nikolai thought it would be fine, or rather better, if she changed her mind now.
When she, who had been like an impenetrable fortress, accepted him, he felt happy but also afraid.
Afraid that everything surrounding him might now put her in danger too.
“But if anyone gives you trouble, I won’t let them get away with it, no matter who they are.”
“Even if it’s your family, Your Grace?”
“Do as you usually do. The Grand Duchess has that right. You’ll be of the highest rank in the Grand Duchy alongside me.”
“Me?”
Only then did Katya realize what position she had accepted.
The sovereign’s consort was called the mother of the nation.
Even if it’s just for a year, can I really do this?
“Husband and wife are one. Since you’re my bride, naturally our positions are equal. Disrespecting you is the same as disrespecting me — they’d deserve to lose their heads.”
“You’d behead them?”
“Why do you think I’m called the Bloody Grand Duke?”
“You’re not just using me as an excuse to kill people you already dislike, are you?”
Nikolai smiled again at Katya’s words.
“Trust me and do as your heart desires.”
“Can I be tyrannical if I don’t like something?”
“Be it tyranny or misconduct. I’ll be your fence — feel free to be as unruly as you want within my protection.”
It was a vow to be her reliable protector in any situation.
Just hearing those words made Katya feel less afraid about the future.
“I shall obey your command. With Your Grace’s expectations, I’ll become a very ill-mannered Grand Duchess.”
“See, I told you I chose my bride well.”
They were truly a perfect match.
