‘At times like that, it would be better to just laugh it off, even if he touched your rear, and let it slide.’

That knight probably hadn’t intended to do anything serious, like assaulting her. In a place with so few women, seeing a maid had likely just prompted him to play a prank. If she had simply gone along with it and smiled, it would have made things easier for both of them. Malyn thought this as she returned to the table, intending to dive back into

‘The Thorn Princess’

‘The king feared the knight. Because the knight had victo…’

She couldn’t even guess how to read the next word or what it meant, but she ran her finger along the text, trying to focus on the story.

Or at least, she tried to.

If it hadn’t been for the crashing sound she heard again – another loud clatter, echoing from outside.

Malyn raised her head quickly. Maybe it was because she hadn’t closed the window – the raw sound from outside came through all too clearly.

“You, you’re not even that pretty, and yet you dare to raise your head and talk back to me. I was going to be nice, but maybe I’ll just snap your scrawny neck like a twig and hang you in the stables…”

Malyn rose from the table and returned to the window. Layla lay on the floor, either knocked down or pushed, with the stable hands gathered around her, just watching and not helping. The knight, breathing heavily with anger, stomped his metal boot, spurs clanking loudly. Then he went further – kicking Layla in the side as she tried to pick up her dress and get to her feet. Malyn could see her gasp, inhale sharply, but she didn’t scream – not once.

“What are you doing there?”

All the eyes below the window opened at once. About six people were now staring directly at her, and Malyn almost gasped, covering her mouth. She hadn’t realised she’d been talking out loud through the open window. But instead of pulling back, she forced herself to speak again.

“I told you to take care of my horse a while ago, so what are you still doing here? I need you here, I need to ask you something, so come inside immediately.”

The knight was also looking up at her, and his unease was obvious. The distance between the window and the floor wasn’t far, so he could see her easily. While knights often looked down on maids, the fact that this maid’s mistress was watching the whole scene made him uneasy.

Malyn, who had been about to stand up, instead locked eyes with Layla, who was also looking up at her. The sunlight cast shadows across Layla’s face, obscuring the blue of her eyes. Without another word, Malyn turned away. The noise outside had stopped.

“What is it that you wish to ask?”

Despite being knocked to the ground, Layla returned to the library with her calm demeanour fully restored. She stood with her head held high, her appearance immaculate, not a speck of dirt on her. Malyn rested her chin on her hand and stared at Layla before pointing to the book.

“Here.”

“….”

It was the part Malyn had gotten stuck on. Layla approached and glanced at the book.

“I don’t know.”

“…Succession.”

“What does it mean?”

Layla looked down at her for a moment before answering.

“It means to inherit something that belongs to someone else.”

“Ah.”

Malyn made a sound of recognition. She could read the sentence now.

‘The knight was a distant relative of the king, and some people said he should inherit the title when he returned after defeating the dragon…’

Malyn traced the words with her finger, savouring the meaning now that it made sense. Layla, watching her, spoke again.

“Do you have anything else you’re curious about?”

Malyn looked up at Layla. There was no trace of emotion on her face. Where was the Layla whose ears were burning red with anger? Malyn had expected Layla to mock her, but in truth Layla rarely showed her emotions openly.

‘She must be laughing at me inside.’

Malyn suppressed the urge to grumble. She still didn’t understand why she had intervened earlier. But now that her struggle with difficult words had been revealed, there was no point in pretending otherwise. Finally, Malyn spoke.

“If I have more questions, I’ll ask them, so stay here.”

“…Alright.”

Layla initially sat at a considerable distance from Malyn, perhaps sensing that her presence might make Malyn uncomfortable. However, it didn’t take long before Layla ended up sitting right beside her. The story grew increasingly complex, prompting Malyn to keep calling on Layla for assistance. After a few trips back and forth, Layla eventually pulled up a chair and settled in beside her.

‘The knight hated and despised the princess. The knight, who had defeated the dragon, had no interest in the king’s throne and instead wanted to experience a wonderful…’

Malyn paused, her finger stopping as she traced the words. Layla spoke up.

“Adventure.”

“Ah, adventure.”

“…wanted to continue having adventures. The knight, standing in front of the castle made of thorns…”

* * *

Malyn didn’t get a chance to finish her book that day. Anessa had entered the library unexpectedly, announcing that the king had summoned her. Malyn looked out of the window. Though the sunlight had begun to yellow, there was still a long time before sunset. If he wanted to spend time with a girl in the middle of the day, there were surely other women he could choose. She wanted to sigh, but in Anessa’s presence she held back and simply closed her book as she rose.

Before going to the king, Anessa quickly untangled Malyn’s hair and braided it back. In the mirror, Malyn saw Layla standing silently behind her, as usual, with a few loose strands of hair falling forward. Malyn spoke.

“Anessa, could you teach her to do her own hair while I’m away?”

“Me?”

Anessa glanced back at Layla, who looked startled, her eyes wide. Malyn smiled slightly and spoke to Anessa.

“She comes from a good family in Dion, so she’s used to having others do her hair every day. Since she doesn’t know how to style it herself, she’s often looked down on because of it.”

“Ah…”

Anessa hesitated for a moment. It was fleeting, but obvious – she didn’t like the idea at all. And with good reason: Layla didn’t fit in well with the other ladies-in-waiting. Layla had begged Malyn earnestly to allow her to have a room separate from the others, and she barely spoke. Even when the maids asked her for help, she would just go, work quietly and leave without a word. To them, she probably seemed like a foreign maid, acting all high and mighty.

“Then maybe later…”

“…I’m sorry.”

It was Layla who interrupted Anessa. Layla, unusually determined, looked at Malyn in the mirror and said firmly, “I didn’t know you were interested in such things.”

“Of course, I don’t want my personal maid being kicked around by the knights.”

“Kicked around by the knights?”

Anessa looked slightly surprised. Layla’s ears blushed at the words – she clearly didn’t like having her humiliation talked about in front of others. Malyn thought as she looked at Layla’s reflection in the mirror. There was a short silence before Anessa stepped awkwardly between them.

“I can show you how to braid it later. I’ve always wanted to help you with your hair anyway. And a touch of make-up would make you look even more beautiful…”

But Layla shook her head.

“Please do it in the evening.”

“In the evening? But in the evening…”

“I will stand guard outside the princess’s chambers.”