When Beauty Destroys The BL World

Chapter 94~The Tale Of The Past III~

Since that night, Dacia hadn't spoken a word.

She remained in her chamber like a lifeless doll, her gaze vacant, her spirit absent. The light in her eyes had gone out, like a flame snuffed out by cruel wind. Days passed. Then weeks. The palace moved on without her.

Not that anyone noticed.

The servants walked past her as if she weren't there. Some even muttered behind her back.

"A wife unwanted by her husband... what use is she?"

"The crown prince won't even share a meal with her."

"She must've done something disgraceful."

No one served her food or drink unless Libby begged. No one asked if she had eaten. No one bowed when she entered. She had become invisible, despite the title of Crown Princess weighing heavily on her shoulders like chains.

Only Libby remained.

Libby, with her warm hands and tired eyes, who knelt beside Dacia one morning and whispered gently, "Please eat, milady... You haven't touched anything since yesterday."

Dacia didn't answer. She just stared out the window as though the sky might somehow swallow her whole.

Libby bit her lip. "He's wrong to treat you like this," she said quietly. "You're still his wife. You deserve-"

"I deserve nothing," Dacia whispered, the words dry like sand against her tongue. "Nothing at all."

When the day came for her to visit her family, she went alone. She had send a message to crown prince through his assistant....hoping, praying he would accompany her. But no.

He had not answered. Not a nod. Not a word.

Dacia knew then, that he was ignoring her. As to put a shame on her.

So she left alone.

No carriage bearing the royal crest. No escort from the palace knights. Just a simple ride, dressed plainly, as if she were no more than a forgotten guest.

When she arrived at the duchy, her father's eyes turned cold the moment he laid eyes on her.

The grand hall was quiet. Too quiet.

"You came alone?" the Duke asked.

Dacia stood there, unable to meet his gaze. "He... he was busy."

"Liar," her brother scoffed from the corner, arms crossed. "You mean he didn't want to come."

Slap!

Her head jerked sideways. The sound rang loud in the chamber, louder than her own breath.

The Duke, enraged at her failure, struck her across the face. His pride had been tarnished-his daughter shamed, his name mocked in whispers across noble circles. A princess in name only, unwanted and unloved by the crown prince.

"You are useless," he spat. "You have humiliated this family," he growled. "Do you know how the other nobles laugh at me behind closed doors? The Duke, whose daughter is so unloved, she couldn't even keep her husband's attention for a single night."

"I tried..." Dacia whispered, barely able to hear her own voice.

"You tried?" he sneered. "Then try harder. Seduce him. Bear him a child. Do something. If you can't win his heart, I'll disown you! I won't have a disgrace in my house."

Her younger brother, the young lord, looked at her with disdain-no sympathy, only cold judgment.

Dacia stood frozen.