Breaking the Cage (7)
Larissa was alarmed.
‘Okay, sure, I deserve to die. If that’s how she planned–to kill me slowly by poisoning the food–I would’ve gladly swallowed it, I’d be happy dying in front of her, vomiting blood. But not Paulina. What sin does she have?’
And even if Paulina were found guilty, Larissa couldn’t bear the thought of Paulina’s suffering or death.
“Mom, let’s have breakfast!” Paulina grabbed her mother’s sleeve with her tiny hands and shook it. Larissa’s expression softened. ‘Oh, why is she so enthusiastic about eating in the morning?’
As she held her eager daughter close, she shot Edith a dagger look. In response, Edith swiftly scooped a spoonful into the bowl, already expecting Larissa’s reaction.
She put a spoonful of corn porridge into her mouth and savored it. After demonstrating the taste test, Edith swallowed the porridge before asking calmly, “Is this sufficient?”
It was probably better to not press any further. If she did, Edith might run to Larissa and force-feed her.
Besides, Larissa shared the same sentiment with Edith. If Scarlet wanted revenge, she would come to Larissa and kill her firsthand rather than using poison.
A bullet in the forehead or a sword piercing the body would be a more fitting end for her.
Larissa got up gently with Paulina in her arms as her plump legs swung back and forth. Excitement brimmed from her body at the thought of having breakfast with her mother, mostly forgetting the horror from the night before.
‘Ah, how I wish I were a child too.’ Larisa envied her daughter. At the same time, she slightly eased her guard against the woman before her.
Children were simple and easy to forget, yet they were also the most perceptive and recognized those who would do them harm.
Knowing at least the person before her wouldn’t harm her and her daughter immediately gave her a slight sense of relief.
Larissa sat down at the table. Edith’s eyes never leave them which bothered Larissa a bit. However she endured it because she feared that she might regret snapping at Edith.
She seated Paulina in the chair next to her and took a spoon, tasting the porridge herself.
She waited with the spoon in her mouth. There was no pain throbbing her lungs, nor strange taste scratching her tongue. Larissa quickly concluded that there was indeed no poison. Furthermore, it tasted better than she anticipated.
Seconds later, Larissa’s stomach growled. As the noblewoman who was fixated on pride she felt unnecessarily embarrassed, making her face turn intensely red.
Edith stared at Larissa’s exquisite face, flushed with red hue. She could see why the Commander failed to bury the past and came all the way here.
Because her beauty was enthralling.
Those eyes, nose, and lips–features everyone would die for. From the snow-white skin to the dazzling blonde hair and sky-blue irises reminiscent of a spring day, truly the epitome of beauty in this kingdom.
It left a sour taste in Edith’s mouth even more. She disliked that she was a noble, disliked that she was so beautiful, and even more disliked her skin, eyes, and blonde hair–all of it–because of their light colors.
Those who kidnapped Edith’s kin from her homeland and sold them in the slave market discriminated against their dark skin and gave them hideous nicknames.
‘Yet you call us barbarians, who among us is actually the barbarian?’
While this haughty noblewoman might not bear direct responsibility for the suffering of Edith and her kin, Edith hated her nonetheless. Especially because of the Commander.
On the other hand, Larissa, oblivious to becoming the target of ever-growing resentment, focused on her own and her daughter’s meal.
Despite the seemingly maddening hunger after tasting the food, Larissa prioritized feeding Paulina first, as her daughter’s empty stomach took precedence.
Although typically noblewomen haven’t personally fed their own children, she discreetly helped the nanny take care of her daughter behind her husband’s back, hence she was well versed at taking charge of Paulina’s meals.
Edith continued to watch until the end. By the time the meal was finished, Larissa had somewhat grown accustomed to Edith’s presence. Well, it wasn’t a big deal since she just ignored her.
MoonStar 
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