Chapter 361: Good Riddance (1/2)

The Bohemian Princess known as Veronika continued to weep into Berengar's tunic for some time as the young Monarch consoled her. While this was ongoing, Dagmar, the former Queen of Bohemia, glared at her daughter and Berengar with an intense fury.

What Berengar had just proclaimed greatly diminished her perceived rights as the mother of Veronika, and more importantly, as Queen of Bohemia. She refused to believe that her time as royalty had come to an end, despite all evidence pointing to the contrary.

However, with Berengar's royal guard eying her closely, she could not make a move on the man who had usurped power in her family's lands. As such, she was forced to watch the intimate display between Berengar and Veronika while stewing in her hatred.

Veronika had wept for nearly thirty minutes; by the end of it, she had no tears left to cry despite her sorrowful state. Berengar had consoled the girl during this entire time. He could only imagine the horrors she was forced to endure as a person with heterochromia in the medieval period.

As such, he took pity on her; after all, there was a special place in his heart for pretty and broken things.  After a while, Berengar began to wipe the now dried-up tears from the girl's eyes before reassuring her that she was safe under his protection.

”Veronika, was it? Do not worry; you will not suffer abuse or humiliation so long as you are my ward. If anyone dares to do so, they will be strictly punished.”

When Berengar said this, his gaze shifted from Veronika to her mother with a chilling stare that warned the harsh woman. Evidently, she understood Berengar's intent because her vicious glare immediately faltered as she succumbed to the oppressive presence of the Austrian King.

After saying this, Berengar attempted to break away from Veronika's grasp; however, she quickly gripped his sleeve with a frightened expression. She had someone to confide in for the first time in her life, and she was afraid to let him go.  As such, she summoned the courage deep within herself to ask the young monarch the question that resounded throughout her mind.

”What will happen to me now?”

Berengar instantly gazed down upon the girl who was latched onto his sleeve like a lamprey, utterly refusing to let him go. A warm expression appeared on his face as he petted the girl's head before reassuring her that he would not leave her behind in Prague.

”You are now my ward, which means I will bring you back to Kufstein, where I will look after you until you come of age, after which I will marry you off to a man fitting to be your husband.”

Veronika grimaced when she heard the last part; she truly feared what kind of depraved man would want to marry a freak like her. However, she bit her tongue in silence and nodded her head slowly. After a while, her silence was interrupted by her mother's shrieks.

”You can not take my daughter away from me without some compensation! The damage you and your ilk have caused to my realm is something you must pay for!”

Berengar immediately felt compelled to backhand the woman, just what position did she think she was in? Her very survival was because Berengar was merciful towards women and children. He immediately approached the former Queen with a grave expression in his eye.

Being a tall man himself, he towered over the petite woman, so much so that she was deathly frightened by the sight of the enraged King from the west. Berengar raised his hand in the air, prepared to strike the woman, which caused her to flinch instinctively. After thinking about it for a few seconds, Berengar lowered his hand before shouting at the woman and her arrogance.

”Just who do you think you are to make such demands of me? Your Husband is dead; your sons have shared his fate. The army of Bohemia is decimated, and it is solely because of my good graces that you stand here capable of making such outrageous statements. You no longer have any authority here, and it is time you learned your place. In the words of the ancient Romans, Vae Victis!”

Veronika gazed at Berengar with shock; nobody she knew ever had the gall to stand up to her mother before; not even her father would speak to her in such a bold manner. However, Berengar's following statement startled her even more and immediately caused her to blush.

”If not for the sake of your precious daughter, who you have so brazenly tormented in front of me, then I would have been far crueler in the way I have handled your insolence! Be grateful that I have stayed my hand; however, dare to provoke my ire further, and I will not be so kind in the future!”

Veronika hid behind Berengar, though he was a stranger he had done the unthinkable and shielded her from her mother's abuse. This fact had made the young girl instinctively trust him. Upon seeing Berengar defend her monstrous daughter so brazenly; Dagmar could no longer contain her fury and disgust thus she began to lash out at Berengar verbally.

”You find my freak of a daughter to be precious? What kind of sick pervert are you!?! It is true what they say; you must be the devil incarnate to find a monster like her to be attractive!”