CL Chapter 17

“Don’t be confusing.”

 

Charlotte mulled over the words Leo had thrown at her before leaving.

 

It wasn’t difficult for her to recognize the innate kindness hidden within his cynical tone.

 

“…You fool.”

 

After everything she had put him through, had he really been shaken just because she looked a little disheveled?

 

Charlotte could only stand there, dumbfounded, as she noticed a fragile sprout that she had thought was filled with nothing but hatred.

 

This was why. Because she knew Leo Carthenon was this kind of person, she couldn’t bring herself to reveal the truth.

 

If the betrayal of the past ended up having a justifiable reason, then Leo would surely…

 

Charlotte recalled the hands that had frantically clutched at the tips of her shoes as he knelt on the ground, the anxiety that had tangled in his grip.

 

She muttered to herself.

 

“But I’m still your princess… I can’t bear to see you kneeling before me again.”

 

It was both a resolution and a wish.

 

Like stepping on a sprout doomed to wither anyway, Charlotte pressed the tip of her foot into the ground, then grabbed a candlestick and headed toward the source of all this chaos, the dressing room.

 

She lit several more candles, and as the flames spread, the darkness that had filled the dressing room retreated slightly.

 

Satisfied with that, Charlotte stepped toward the full-length mirror, her reflection dimly illuminated in the flickering glow.

 

Holding her gaze steady, she reached for the dress she had fastened so tightly herself. One by one, she undid the buttons and loosened the knots.

 

Before long, the dress lost all support and slipped from her shoulders, crumpling to the floor without resistance.

 

A thin slip, revealing every curves of her body, was all that remained.

 

When she cast that aside as well, the body she had kept hidden was laid bare in the mirror’s reflection.

 

It was a body with little to admire, shown without the slightest distortion. Even more shabby than the dress Leo had criticized.

 

But what was truly shabby was…

 

Charlotte gazed at herself in silence before slowly turning. She bit her dry lips, hesitating for a moment, then twisted her head to glance over her shoulder.

 

Once again, the mirror, incapable of lies, forced her to confront reality.

 

Just above her shoulder blades, as if wings were about to sprout, a cluster of stark black letters was engraved into her skin about the half size of a child’s palm.

 

 

[Slave]

 

 

It was the trace of branding.

 

 

 

⚜︎ ⚜︎ ⚜︎

 

 

 

Mia de Ignator.

 

A beautiful younger sister was born.

 

Charlotte was overjoyed, not knowing that her name would become a curse to her.

 

Light brown hair, eyes reminiscent of golden wildflowers, the baby in the cradle bore a striking resemblance to their father.

 

Despite being young herself, she gazed at Mia with fond admiration.

 

Charlotte, having inherited every feature from her mother, thought it made for a perfectly balanced family.

 

She reached out, wanting to touch the baby’s soft, plump cheek.

 

But before she could even make contact, her mother struck her hand away with a sharp force.

 

The sting spread through Charlotte’s small hand, and she looked up in shock, eyes round with disbelief. Her mother’s brows furrowed terrifyingly.

 

“She’s just a baby. You mustn’t touch her carelessly.”

 

The reprimand was curt and firm.

 

“…Yes. I’m sorry.”

 

Charlotte apologised, clutching her reddened hand.

 

From that day on, without knowing why or how, Charlotte found herself losing everything.

 

First, it was her room. In the cold Ignator palace, Charlotte’s room, once known as the “Angel’s Cradle” for its brilliant sunlight, was given to Mia.

 

Next, it was her nanny and maids, Then, her personal knight. One by one, everything was taken from her and handed to Mia.

 

Her mother and father stripped her of them all, dressing it up with the noble word sharing. They severed her hands and feet without hesitation.

 

“Because you’re the older sister.”

 

“You’re her big sister, Charlotte.”

 

“What wouldn’t you do for such an adorable little sister?”

 

“Isn’t that right?”

 

With words as fragile as paper, they gradually reduced Charlotte’s world.

 

It was as if their love for Mia had to be proven by making Charlotte poorer.

 

By the time there was nowhere left for Charlotte to stand, she finally understood.

 

This wasn’t sharing. It was theft.

 

And the thing Mia had stolen from her wasn’t just her belongings, it was her parents.

 

Charlotte had become an orphan.

 

There was nothing left in the palace that she could call her own.

 

Except for Leo.

 

This time, she would not let anyone take him from her.

 

But Mia, of course had to take even that.

 

“Sister Lotti!”

 

Mia always appeared whenever Charlotte and Leo sat together for tea.

 

She would call Charlotte’s childhood nickname one nobody else in the palace ever called and plop herself into a seat, at a table meant for two without asking permission.

 

“Let me play too!”

 

She beamed, innocent and bright, without a trace of malice.

 

If this had only happened once or twice, Charlotte might have dismissed it as just another one of Mia’s whims.

 

But she had lost count of how many times it had occurred.

 

Mia never sought Charlotte out except when Leo was there.

 

It was obvious, Mia had fallen for him.

 

Charlotte knew it instinctively.

 

Eleven years old, The perfect age for a first love. After all, Charlotte had fallen for Leo when she was eleven, too.

 

“Mia.”

 

“Yes, sister?”

 

“No.”

 

“What…?”

 

“I said no. Leo and I have things to discuss alone. Go back.”

 

Mia looked stunned, as if she had never imagined anyone could refuse her. Her big, bright eyes quickly filled with tears.

 

Charlotte felt ashamed of herself for being so petty toward her younger sister, especially in front of Leo.

 

But she forced herself to keep her head high, pretending not to care, waiting for Mia to leave. In the end, Mia stood up and ran away, crying.

 

It was the first time Charlotte had ever won against Mia.

 

But she had no time to savor the victory. As soon as Leo left, Charlotte was summoned by her mother.

 

Her mother was furious.

 

She ordered the head maid to bring out a cane. But the one who was beaten was not Charlotte, it was the maids who served her.

 

Charlotte, who had sworn never to bow, was forced to lower her head and beg Mia for forgiveness.

 

“I’m sorry, Mia. I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. Just this once, please?”

 

And still, the beating did not stop.

 

Mia clung to their mother, trembling all over, crying that Charlotte had scared her.

 

One of the maids, too weak to stand after the punishment, shot Charlotte a look of pure hatred as she was dragged away.

 

All she had wanted was to keep Leo.

 

Her one remaining treasure.

 

But the only thing she had managed to hold onto…

 

Was everyone’s hatred.

 

From that day on, rumors about the jealous, wicked First Princess of Ignator began to spread.

 

That she was envious of her younger sister, and abused her maids, she even drowned in greed and luxury.

 

A story different from reality changed into fact and followed Charlotte, No matter how much she struggled, they clung to her like an unshakable shadow.

 

Charlotte’s heart, exhausted from long-term discrimination, was slowly reaching its limit. Her nerves became increasingly sensitive, and there were many days when she could not sleep even at night.

 

One day, the throbbing pain in her head became unbearable, and she summoned the royal physician.

 

He came reluctantly, unable to outright refuse a princess’s summons. barely examined her before making his diagnosis and dismissed her suffering.

 

“Your Highness, you’re simply being oversensitive.”

 

That was all.

 

There was no place for her to vent her frustration.

 

Her heart pounded, her breaths came short even when she did nothing at all.

 

But she couldn’t tell Leo.

 

He already had enough burdens of his own as heir to the Cartenon family.

 

More than anything, she didn’t want to be his burden.

 

She wanted to be the graceful princess he always saw her as.

 

But even that was a luxury she couldn’t afford.

 

She realized it the day Mia’s affection for Leo became painfully clear.

 

“Sister, Leo seems like a really kind person.”

 

Mia said with an extremely shy face.