I Tamed the Slave Male Lead Chapter 1

So, all of this began three months ago, on the final day of the Crown Princess selection process held at the Imperial Palace.

After the doctrinal examination that lasted throughout the morning was over, there was a brief break before it was time for the public competition in court etiquette.

In the banquet hall, where crystal chandeliers cast a dazzling glow, observers made up of members of the imperial family and high-ranking nobles gathered in small groups, waiting for the Crown Princess candidates to enter.

“The first event of the court etiquette competition is tea and refreshment etiquette. Each candidate, please enter the hall in turn.”

The chamberlain’s stern voice rang throughout the banquet hall, and the beautifully adorned candidates entered one after another.

Since most of the observers were either related to the candidates by blood or had close ties with them, they nodded approvingly at the candidates’ beauty and expressed their satisfaction.

“…Though I suppose there’s one candidate who particularly stands out. Or perhaps I should say she’s particularly irritating to look at.”

When someone muttered under their breath, mocking laughter erupted here and there in agreement.

Their gazes turned toward the petite young lady who had entered last among the candidates.

She was about half a span shorter than the other candidates, and her emaciated figure made even her custom-made dress look ill-fitting and childishly frail. Her crow-black hair and pallid complexion also stood out immediately against the healthy peach-colored cheeks of the other young ladies.

“The Imperial Family is practically the face of the Empire. How can the Empire’s authority possibly remain intact if the Crown Princess looks so shabby and impoverished? It’s absurd, tsk.”

“Isn’t it remarkable enough that the Count’s family even put forward a candidate for Crown Princess?”

“Well, the House of Count Maiona is undeniably a prestigious family. Besides, the young lady’s father fought on the front lines his entire life and died in battle…”

“Her father’s achievements are one thing, but even so, Lady Arabella herself is severely lacking in ability.”

“I agree. Doesn’t she always look like she’s barely holding on? She looks as though she could collapse at any moment.”

“I’ve also heard that it isn’t simply a matter of poor health.”

“Then what is it?”

“Well, you know how the Maiona family has an unusually high number of people who die young? Some people even call it ‘the Curse of the Maiona Family’…”

“But Count Maiona was one of only three Swordmasters of his generation, and an unparalleled warrior who boasted an undefeated legend.”

“And what good does that do? Just look at Lady Arabella. With a body that frail, could she even bear healthy imperial heirs?”

“Shh, enough. Her Majesty the Empress is here, after all.”

Only after talking loudly enough for the Empress to hear did they finally fall silent, pretending to restrain themselves. Then they began openly cheering for the candidates whose success would benefit their own families.

Meanwhile, whether or not Arabella noticed the hostile gazes being directed at her, she spent the entire time staring blankly at the refreshments table.

In a corner of the banquet hall, in the area where the servants were gathered, Arabella’s maid Becky stood quietly cheering her mistress on in her heart.

Hang in there, my lady! You’re doing great!

Although her mistress was notoriously difficult and prickly by nature, seeing her sitting alone among the other young ladies, each as beautiful as a flower, made Becky feel sorry for her.

But what is she staring at so intently? Somehow, she even looks strangely determined.

Just as Becky tilted her head in confusion, the chamberlain finally announced the beginning of the evaluation in his dry voice.

“From this moment onward, the candidates are to enjoy the refreshments in accordance with imperial etiquette and decorum.”

Pourrr.

The imperial servants soon poured tea into each candidate’s cup before stepping away. The candidates lifted their teacups elegantly, using poses they had practiced countless times. Arabella did the same.

From appreciating the aroma to sipping the tea and setting down the cup, every one of her movements was flawless.

Now it was time to choose and eat a refreshment. Arabella’s hand, holding a silver fork, moved toward the plate without hesitation.

What is my lady choosing?

Just as Becky craned her neck, curious to see, Arabella selected a caramel-colored cookie, swallowed it in one bite, and wiped her mouth with a napkin.

Chew, chew.

She chewed the food in her mouth with an expressionless face. Then, at some point, her expression seemed to twist, and Becky tilted her head in confusion.

Cough.

Arabella suddenly grabbed the napkin, covered her mouth, and began coughing and choking.

Gasp! Could she have choked?

As Becky anxiously watched her mistress, the situation rapidly deteriorated.

Thud.

Arabella jerked violently before collapsing sideways as though in a seizure.

“…My lady!”

Becky wasn’t the only one who was shocked. The banquet hall instantly descended into chaos, with screams and shouts erupting from all directions.

Cough, cough! Gak! Gasp!

Arabella curled up like a shrimp, suffering terribly. Seeing her choking as though she might stop breathing at any moment, the chamberlain shouted at the top of his voice.

“A doctor! Fetch the imperial physician! She can’t breathe!”

“My goodness! What on earth happened?”

“Could there have been something wrong with the food?”

“Then what about the other candidates? Are the other candidates all right?”

An uproar broke out everywhere as people rushed to each candidate to check their condition, turning the banquet hall into complete chaos.

“What are we going to do, my lady!”

But the only person who rushed to Arabella was her maid, Becky. Everyone else either stood at a distance, claiming they dared not lay a hand on a noble young lady, or covered their faces with fans and whispered among themselves.

Not knowing what else to do, Becky shook her mistress’s body as she lay collapsed on the floor.

“My lady! Lady Arabella! Please wake up!”

The maid’s desperate cries failed to reach her mistress’s ears. Arabella convulsed with her bloodshot eyes rolled back. The skin of her face and arms rapidly swelled into a grotesque shape, while foam gathered around her mouth. Seemingly unable to breathe, her chest heaved violently, and every time it rose and fell, her entire body twisted horribly.

At the horrific sight, the people surrounding her stepped backward. Even Becky was too frightened to touch her any longer.

In the end, no one came to help her.

No one.

Several suffocating minutes passed, yet the physician still did not appear. Arabella writhed in agony as though she had been thrown into a red-hot iron cauldron, until at some point, her breathing stopped and her body went limp.

“My laaady!!”

Becky screamed, trembling as she struggled to believe what had just happened before her eyes. At that moment, someone lifted her up and pushed her back. The physician, who had been nowhere to be seen until now, had finally arrived—of all times.

“…She has passed away.”

“Gasp!”

“How could this happen!”

“Oh, my goodness…”

At the physician’s declaration of death, several faint-hearted noblewomen staggered, and the banquet hall was instantly transformed into the scene of a horrific tragedy.

Yet, apart from one maid, not a single person mourned her death.

Soon afterward, imperial servants brought a white cloth to cover her and a stretcher to carry the body away.

But then, by unfortunate coincidence, one of the servants’ hands slipped, causing the body wrapped in the white cloth to flip over and fall onto the floor.

Thump.

“How dreadful.”

The noblewomen watching covered their noses with handkerchiefs and shook their heads. It was almost as though they could already smell the stench of decay rising from the corpse.

But then—

twitch.

The white cloth suddenly moved.

They must have imagined it.

That was what everyone desperately tried to tell themselves.

But then something even more astonishing happened.

A pale-blue hand suddenly emerged from beneath the white cloth and flung it completely aside.

“Eek!”

The imperial servants stumbled backward, nearly falling on their backs. But then an even more horrifying sight unfolded before their eyes.

Cough, cough! Gak!

The corpse the physician had just pronounced dead was moving on its own.

Not only that, she was sticking her fingers down her throat, desperately trying to vomit out whatever was inside!

Perhaps because it wasn’t working, Arabella suddenly thrashed about before abruptly springing to her feet.

“Eek!”

Pushing through the people who were faint with terror, she frantically grabbed a chair and began slamming her solar plexus against the backrest with all her strength.

Thud! Thud!

At last, something soft and mushy shot out of her mouth and landed on the floor.

Cough, hack… Hah, hah.

Only then did the corpse—or rather, the woman—begin breathing heavily as though she had finally survived. She suddenly looked around the room.

“Aaaah!”

One noblewoman who made eye contact with her fainted outright.

Amid the pandemonium, Arabella, the very person responsible for all this chaos, stared blankly at everyone and murmured,

“…Who are you? Where am I?”