Thya's Point of View
※※※
In the end, Daisuke's little joke didn't just leave me with aching ribs—it also earned me yet another lecture from Hov. A long, tedious, and overly dramatic lecture. Apparently, my lack of "caution" was to blame for everything, or so he claimed in that infuriatingly condescending tone of his. Honestly, how was I supposed to predict that someone hurling me against a wall would lead to such a mess? It's not like I asked for it. Either that bastard is a lot stronger than he looks, or my body is still as fragile as glass. Knowing my luck, it's probably both.
And as if the whole ordeal wasn't humiliating enough, Hov didn't hold back in reminding me—again—that my recovery was still far from complete. As though the pain radiating through my body wasn't already proof enough of that.
"Thya, Thya, Thya," Hov sighed heavily, his voice brimming with exasperation as he redid the bandages wrapped tightly around my torso. His hands moved with the precision of someone who had done this far too many times, but the disapproval in his eyes was impossible to miss. "If you keep acting recklessly like this, you're going to end up in a worse state than you already are. Do you have any idea what that means? You'll be bedridden for weeks—no, months—and completely dependent on others to get by. Is that what you want? Do you have any idea how much harder it'll be to recover if you keep pushing yourself like this?"
I shifted uncomfortably under his piercing gaze, swallowing hard and trying not to look too guilty. "No, Hov," I muttered, attempting to sound at least somewhat repentant, though my tone came out more defensive than apologetic. "I'll be careful. I promise." My gaze flickered to the side for a moment before I added under my breath, "But for the record, it wasn't my fault, okay? That bastard didn't even give me a warning—he just came out of nowhere and did this to me."
My voice grew louder as frustration bubbled to the surface, my temper slipping through the cracks. "Seriously, Hov, I hate him so much. Every time I think about him, I just—" I clenched my fists, feeling the heat rise in my chest, "—I just feel desperate to see him suffer." A slow, mischievous smirk crept across my face as I leaned back against the chair. "And when it happens, it's going to be because of me. It's going to be my fault. Deliberately."
Hov clicked his tongue in disapproval, shaking his head as if I were a particularly unruly child. "Tsk, tsk. And how exactly do you plan to do that, Thya? You do realize this whole situation seems designed to make you miserable, don't you?"
"That just gives me more reason to do it," I shot back, my jaw tightening with determination.
"Of course it does," Hov muttered under his breath, but I ignored him entirely and pressed on.
"Exactly! He wants to break me. To humiliate me. That's the whole reason he dragged me into this ridiculous trial in the first place," I said, spitting out the words as though they left a bitter taste in my mouth. "He thinks I'll fail spectacularly, that I'll embarrass myself so badly I'll end up on my knees, begging him to free me from this nightmare." My voice rose with every word, my fury growing sharper and more focused. But then, a new thought sparked in my mind, and a vicious laugh escaped my lips—dark, hollow, and full of promise.
"But do you know what I think?" I asked, my eyes glinting with a dangerous sort of amusement. "I think he's underestimated me. What do you think will happen if his precious little plan backfires and I end up proving that I'm not just competent, but the perfect candidate to become his Queen?"
Hov's expression shifted, his concern deepening into something resembling disbelief. "Thya," he said slowly, carefully, as though he were treading on thin ice, "that wouldn't just be a blow to him—it would be a slap in the face to his entire family. You do realize that, don't you?"
"I don't give a damn," I replied without a moment's hesitation. The words came out sharper than I intended, cutting through the air like a blade. "What difference does it make? I'm going to die next year anyway," I added, forcing a sarcastic chuckle past the lump in my throat. "Might as well have a little fun before the clock runs out, right? If I can shut everyone up and prove my worth before my deadline, it'll be worth it."
Hov's frown deepened, his brow furrowing as he stared at me with the kind of worry that made my skin crawl. "And how, exactly, do you plan to do that? To become the best candidate for Queen, I mean? It's not as easy as you're making it sound."
"That's a great question," I said, giving myself a moment to think. "What were the exams they gave the girls while I was stuck in here recovering?"
Hov crossed his arms, tilting his head as he began to list them off. "Let's see. Dressing codes, manners, respect, masking emotions, artistic aptitude, intelligence tests, baking skills, general knowledge…" His gaze met mine, steady and unwavering. "You know, things like that."
I nodded, my confidence unwavering. "If that's all, then I can do it."
Hov raised a skeptical eyebrow, his doubt written all over his face. "I don't mean to be rude, Thya, but… you don't exactly strike me as the 'perfect Princess' type."
I grinned, unfazed by his skepticism. "That's because I never wanted to be seen as the perfect Princess," I explained, my voice firm and resolute. "Why waste my time on something no one ever cared about? They made up their minds about me a long time ago, decided who I was and how they'd treat me. I could never change that, no matter what I did. So, why try? It pissed me off, so I chose to rebel against it. But here's the thing: just because I never wanted to fit that mold doesn't mean I can't. Believe me, Hov, I have the education and the skills to play the part perfectly if I want to."
Hov blinked, momentarily taken aback by the fire in my voice. "Alright," he said finally, a hint of curiosity creeping into his tone. "But you'll have to fake respecting the Crown Prince if you want this to work."
I let out a low chuckle, my smirk widening into something almost predatory. "That won't be difficult at all. In fact, it'll be fun. He's expecting me to be disrespectful—especially now, after what he did to me. If I act properly, if I play the role of the ideal Princess, it'll infuriate him. Watching him squirm will be worth every second."
Hov laughed softly, shaking his head in a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "You're one of a kind, you know that?"
"Oh, I know," I said, my tone brimming with amusement. "Just take care of my health, Hov, and I'll do the rest. I'll make sure I stand out among all those insufferable girls he's gathered here. By the time I'm done, everyone will see that I'm the best choice. The choice they'll never truly have. The entire kingdom is watching, and I'll make them want me as their Queen. It'll be like taking candy from a baby," I added, my triumphant smile widening.
"You're terrifying when you're like this," Hov said, though his voice carried more admiration than fear.
"Why, thank you," I replied with a genuine smile. "I'll make the entire kingdom love me, then, at the last moment, I'll refuse to be Crown Princess. When I die next year, they'll be stuck with the runner-up—the girl who was never the best choice in the first place. And everyone will know it. Honestly, I feel a little bad for whoever ends up in second place, but only a little. If it's someone who hates me, I'll feel no guilt at all."
Hov stared at me for a long moment, his expression a mix of awe and unease. But he said nothing more. He didn't need to. My mind was already made up.