The surviving princess {Liskook}

Chapter 11

“What’s going on?”

It was Jungkook. Having just finished his afternoon training and hearing that his mother and wife had headed to the greenhouse, he hurried over. Upon hearing the scream, he practically burst through the door.

He hesitated for a moment upon seeing his wife sprawled on the ground. This was not just a simple abnormal behavior. She looked like she had seen the God of Death, her large eyes wide open, barely able to stifle a scream.

“Damn it,” he muttered, quickly surveying the situation as he strode over to his wife. “Lisa, dear.”

Lisa, who was barely able to breathe, reached out her thin arms upon hearing his voice. Jungkook knelt and gathered her in his arms. Trembling, she burrowed into his embrace like a chick finding its mother.

Her frail hands clutched his clothes so tightly that her knuckles turned white. It felt strange—she clung to him so desperately despite barely knowing who he was after only spending a few weeks together.

“What happened?” he demanded.

Ji won could only shake her head. Then, the royal maid suddenly interjected.

“The princess is afraid of birds. It must be the sight of that bird that frightened her.”

Unlike everyone else, who was too shocked to react, Mrs. Maleca spoke with irritating indifference. Even the usually composed Ji won raised her voice.

“It seems like more than just a fear of birds.”

Edil joined in, exasperated, “And why didn’t you tell us this? What’s the point of you coming to the mansion if you don’t share such critical information?”

Mrs. Maleca pursed her lips in irritation. “We bathe and dress the princess every day. It’s just one thing I forgot to mention, and now you’re all over me.”

With no point in arguing further, Ji won glared at Mrs. Maleca. The maid carrying the birdcage tried to hide it behind her skirt, while others exchanged uneasy glances.

Seeing no reason to linger in this chaos, Jungkook stood up with Lisa in his arms. “I’ll take her and calm her down.”

He left without waiting for a response.

Was that why she refused the quail?

In the bright sunlight, Lisa’s face was still pale, her tear-streaked face pitiable. Jungkook gently murmured, “There won’t be any more birds on the table. And we’ll make sure there are none in the greenhouse either.”

He quickened his pace toward the mansion, fearing another encounter with a bird. Just then, her thin hand tugged at his clothes.

“…Ah, ugh…”

Lisa waved her other hand toward the garden as if wanting to go there. After a moment’s hesitation, Jungkook asked, “Are you sure? There might be birds in the garden too.”

She trembled but stubbornly waved her hand toward the garden.

Thinking it over, Jungkook realized she had spent most of her days indoors except for the one time his mother took her to the chapel. She must have been feeling stifled.

Thankfully, the hunting grounds and the knights’ training kept most birds away from the garden. And if one did appear, he could always throw a stone at it. He adjusted his direction and carried her to the garden.

Sitting on a bench in a secluded corner, he placed her on his lap and examined her face. Her eyes and nose were red, her clear, wet blue eyes briefly met his before looking away.