Little Pink Starfish

Seven days had passed since the assembly of the Noble Council. In a chamber of the castle of Dias, a girl sat.

She couldn’t stop trembling.

The anxiety churned in her body, so intense she felt nauseous, barely holding it back.

Perched on the bedding, the girl sat motionless, frozen in fear. The maids around her glanced over with concern, but none could find the words—no one said a thing.

“…Hh…”

The girl sobbed softly, shaking.

Her normally tied-up light brown hair was messy, her dress wrinkled all over. If her mother were to see her treated like this, she would surely go mad.

But she had just been told that she would never have to worry about that again—ever.

The girl’s mother, Maderina Rassem Veil, had taken her own life in prison.

The girl—Doriana—stared blankly at her hands.

She had only come with her mother to watch the knights’ matches. How had things come to this?

The day after the match, her mother suddenly told her they were leaving the castle. Confused, she got into the carriage just as instructed—only to be brought back by the Black Knights.

Upon arrival, she was confined to this room and told of her mother’s arrest for plotting to kill royalty. She also learned that the third prince, Asher, had fallen unconscious.

She couldn’t believe it.

Doriana denied it, insisting her mother could never do such a thing—but the maid had only looked back at her with pity.

Unconvinced, she had cried and begged to be let out. Then, a man she recognised entered the room—a Black Knight she would never forget from the night of the ball, where he had escorted Asher: Ward Brown. He was a well-known handsome man among the nobility. Doriana vividly remembered her shock when she saw him in person that night with Asher.

There was no trace of his usual frivolous smile. Ward’s face was solemn as he began calmly listing Maderina’s crimes.

—Conspiracy with Marquis Clark.
—Kidnapping of beastkin.
—Slave trafficking.
—Attempted murder of royalty.

Even as Doriana collapsed, sobbing and screaming “Lies!” Ward only looked straight at her.

“It’s cruel, but… you should prepare yourself.”

Those words, spoken as he turned to leave, froze Doriana.

She knew full well what happened to the family of someone who plotted regicide. As a noble, she couldn’t pretend not to. But it was something she thought could never, ever happen to her.

Her blood ran cold. She couldn’t grasp what was happening and collapsed where she stood. No way… It can’t be true. She refused to think about what might happen next. She had spent five days clinging to hope, praying the misunderstanding would be cleared up and she would be freed.

But two days ago, that hope was shattered. She was told Maderina had taken her own life.

────Leaving Doriana behind.

Fighting down the nausea and tears, Doriana covered her face with both hands.

She couldn’t think.

Why had this happened?
Why, why?

“…Excuse me. It’s time to get ready…”

She had no idea how much time had passed when an older maid’s voice came from behind her.

“…G-get ready…?”

“We cannot present you before the royals in such a state. Hot water will be brought shortly.”

At the word “royals,” Doriana’s breath caught. She wasn’t prepared. She didn’t even understand what was going on. And yet now she would be dragged before them.

And judged.

────Judged for the weight of her mother’s sins… with her own death.

More tears spilled, and Doriana finally screamed. Though she was of age, sixteen was still just a girl, and her cry made the maids grimace. Fearing she might become hysterical, they carefully held her down.

But Doriana didn’t struggle.

Because she knew. Even if she cried, screamed, or resisted—it would change nothing.

She understood. But the grief and fear still forced the cries from her throat.

The sudden death of her beloved mother—
And the truth she couldn’t admit:

I don’t want to die.

The maids washed her and dressed her in a plain gown. Her hair was simply tied up, and her tear-stained, snot-covered face was wiped clean. But even then, the tears wouldn’t stop.

Her whole body trembled with fear. Even breathing was hard.

Seeing her like that, the maids wore strained expressions. As the elder maid began to speak again, the guards finally arrived, and the door resounded with a knock.

Among the guards were beastkin. Doriana, unable to meet their eyes, cast her gaze down. If what her mother had done to beastkin was true, she couldn’t expect their forgiveness.

She wished she could vanish. Hunched over, she was led down the corridor. Though she kept her head lowered, she could feel the stares piercing into her.

She held back tears and forced herself forward, step by step. Two guards stood at the door to the chamber. Once they confirmed her identity, the door slowly opened.

“Doriana Veil, brought forth.”

Countless eyes turned toward her.

Beyond the assembled high-ranking nobles sat the royal family. Doriana knew she would never again be counted among such nobles. She would no longer be permitted to bear the name Veil.

It felt like an invisible wall loomed before her, stopping her from moving forward. But with a push from behind, she somehow made it to the lone chair in the centre, trembling all the way.

She didn’t raise her head. She couldn’t.

The gazes pierced through her, threatening to tear her apart.

“…Hh.”

Someone gasped. She didn’t know who—but her head snapped up instinctively toward them.

Gazing at her were deep, gemlike blue eyes. He had been unconscious—yet now clearly awake.

Those eyes looked at her with concern and sorrow, seeing her clearly.

Upon seeing the third prince, Asher, Doriana whispered without thinking:

“…You’re safe…”

It was a word of relief. From the bottom of her heart.

The first time she danced at a formal gathering, it had been with Asher. It had been such an honour—though she had embarrassingly run off midway, something she still regretted. When the truth was first revealed, she had worried for her mother—but of course, she’d also worried for Asher.

Seeing him safe and well, she had felt genuinely happy. But—

“What do you mean by that? Are you saying it would’ve been better if Prince Asher hadn’t survived!?”

A nobleman she knew—one who had greeted her with a smile not long ago—now glared coldly as he spoke.

“N-no! That’s not what I meant…”

“Then you did know about your mother’s crimes?”

The nobles looked at Doriana like she was filth, condemning House Veil with harsh words. In that despair, Doriana’s eyes found one man.

Her fiancé, chosen by their families. They had only met a few times, and barely spoken. Yet now, that man looked at her with concern.

“But… Count Dasmond’s precious son almost married the daughter of a traitor.”

“Had they married, it would’ve stained the family name. I imagine the Count was deeply alarmed.”

“What a shame—he had just formed ties with a ducal house.”

Count Dasmond, the man in question, didn’t even flinch. But he also refused to look at Doriana.

At that moment, the crown prince Samuel raised a hand, silencing the room.

“Silence. Doriana Veil—take your seat.”

As instructed, Doriana sat. Her heart pounded so hard she thought it might burst.

“You already know this, but your mother, Maderina, was imprisoned for treason… and two days ago, she took her own life.”

Her mother’s death was spoken aloud once more.

Her body trembled. Cold sweat poured from her.

“Did you assist your mother?”

“No!”

She answered immediately, but the nobles scoffed. Still, Doriana pleaded desperately.

“I-I can’t believe… my mother would do such things… I still can’t… my mother, she…”

Why had she died?
Why had this happened?

Those were the questions Doriana herself wanted to ask.

She clenched her fists and fought back tears. She knew she wasn’t in a position to demand answers—but she couldn’t help it.

“Did she… leave anything… f-for me…?”

“I heard she left a letter addressed to Queen Angela…”

All eyes turned to Queen Angela. She furrowed her brow, hesitated, and shook her head.

“S-she said nothing… about me…?”

Doriana felt as if the ground beneath her collapsed. Her mind went blank. She couldn’t hear the murmurs of the nobles.

Ah… So her mother hadn’t cared about her. Not even the slightest concern for what would happen to her.

“Please wait!”

Clatter—the sound of a chair falling, and everyone turned to the voice.

“She has done nothing wrong.”

“Isaac!”

Count Dasmond barked, as if to scold the young man who had risen.

“Silence!”

“Forgive me, Father.”

“Wait! Isaac‼︎”

Isaac, Count Dasmond’s son—and Doriana’s fiancé—stepped forward protectively.

Doriana stared wide-eyed at the unexpected action.

“I beg your pardon. But she had no part in this. None at all—I swear it. Her mother’s crimes were grave, yes. But her father, the late Duke Veil, fought and died beside His Majesty in the war against Murofsa.”

“Isaac, that’s enough!”

“…Calm yourself, Count Dasmond.”

Queen Angela’s calm voice silenced him. She nodded, smiling gently at Isaac.

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again. The children are not to blame.”

The nobles stirred. Most had hoped for Doriana’s execution. Unless someone paid the price, their own ties to Maderina would bring their reputations crashing down.

With the nobles’ standing already weakened, another scandal would further erode trust from both royalty and commoners. They needed someone to carry the guilt and be executed publicly.

And now that Maderina Rassem was gone, that role had fallen to her daughter, Doriana.

“Queen Angela, what are you intending?”

“Exactly what I said.”

“All members of a traitor’s family must be executed.”

“Father, what are you—!”

Isaac shielded the trembling Doriana with his body.

As if displeased with his son’s actions, Count Dasmond stood—when the king, Augustine, spoke.

“The one who should be punished is already dead. And as your son said—I haven’t forgotten Duke Veil’s service.”

“But Your Majesty, what if this girl seeks revenge against the royal family? We can’t let her live…”

“I won’t let her do any such thing! Your Majesty!”

“Isaac, I told you to be silent!”

As the two argued, Doriana looked at Isaac in disbelief. Why would a man she had barely spoken to defend her like this?

Then Samuel spoke.

“There’s no proof she intends revenge, is there, Count Dasmond?”

“But still—”

“Punish on suspicion alone, is it? Then shouldn’t several of the nobles here also be punished? The Duchess had many friends.”

At Samuel’s words, several nobles visibly paled.

“That’s entirely different.”

“How? And if we do execute Doriana Veil—then, should someone later target the royal family, who do you think will be suspected first, Count Dasmond? Your son seems rather taken with her.”

Count Dasmond fell silent, one brow twitching. Then he turned his gaze to Asher.

“Are you going to let her go with your usual ‘merciful heart’, as during the public trial?”

Many nobles resented Asher for showing leniency to the beast raiders during their trial. They clearly believed he had intervened again now.

All eyes turned to Asher, who stood tall, meeting Count Dasmond’s gaze. Then, exhaling softly, he turned toward Doriana.

“She is… like me—a victim.”

The words were spoken slowly.

Looking into his eyes, Doriana couldn’t hold back her tears.

She curled in on herself, crying silently. The image of a sorrowful, broken girl filled the room.

In the end, Doriana was spared execution.

But she would not go unpunished. She was to leave her home in the Veil territory and enter a convent.

The nobles were visibly dissatisfied—but none dared oppose it directly, not even Count Dasmond. The nobles slowly left the chamber, until only Doriana, Isaac, and Count Dasmond remained.

Though she expected to be escorted away by guards, Doriana was puzzled why the others hadn’t left.

Just then, Samuel spoke.

“Thank you for your cooperation, Count Dasmond.”

Doriana’s eyes widened.

“I’m honoured.”

Count Dasmond bowed slightly, a faint smile on his face, utterly different from before.

“If I can serve the royal family in any way, I will do so gladly.”

“Enough with the creepy grin. You don’t mean it.”

“What are you saying, Prince Samuel? My son and I are loyal to the crown.”

Isaac bowed with a smile.

“Like father, like son,” Samuel muttered, exasperated. Count Dasmond’s grin deepened.

Seeing them now speaking so casually, Doriana was stunned.

“The other nobles won’t make any rash moves. And if they do, they’ll approach me first. I’ll report anything suspicious.”

“I’m counting on you.”

“Isaac, let’s go.”

“Yes, Father.”

Just before leaving, Isaac took Doriana’s hand, kissed it gently, and smiled.

“Our engagement remains. Once things settle, I’ll come for you at the convent.”

“Ah, um…”

And with that, the two left the room, leaving Doriana behind with the royal family.

Surrounded by knights, Doriana shrank into herself.

Then, Asher addressed her kindly.

“I didn’t want to bring you out in front of everyone like that. I’m sorry for frightening you.”

“Prince Asher…”

“I never intended to have you executed. That’s why I asked Count Dasmond for help, to set up a formal questioning. Without it, the other nobles wouldn’t have accepted it.”

Doriana couldn’t understand why he was apologising. She couldn’t believe he had never intended to kill her. Nor why Count Dasmond had gone so far to save her.

“Cooperation… Why would Count Dasmond…?”

“I’ve asked him to serve as your guardian. He’ll manage the Veil estate from now on as well.”

And with those words, Doriana understood.

They did it for the land. That’s why her fiancé, whom she barely knew, had acted out such a convincing little play.

“So that’s why… he said he’d come for me.”

She laughed bitterly. Seeing this, Asher furrowed his brow and tried to speak—but fell silent, and instead offered her a box.

“There was a dress as well, but… it’s no longer in a state to be given. This was prepared by the Duchess for your engagement.”

Taking the box and placing it on her lap, Doriana stared at it.

With trembling hands, she slowly opened the lid—and stopped.

Inside was a pure white hat, decorated with vibrant floral ornaments.

“…What colour… was the dress?”

She asked in a faint voice.

“It was a lovely sky blue.”

She had begged her mother for a white hat and a sky-blue dress for her engagement.

Her mother had said, ‘Those colours don’t suit you.’

‘You need brighter ones,’ she had said with a big smile.

Doriana had been a little disappointed, but thought anything chosen by her mother would be fine.

‘The colour’s a surprise for later,’ she’d said, smiling gently.

Her mother had always been strict… and kind.

Tears streamed down her face.

“Why… Mother… why did you…”

Why had she left her behind? Did she really not care what would happen to Doriana?

Collapsing from her chair, she knelt on the floor, sobbing.

Asher gently placed a hand on her trembling shoulder.

“The carriage you were in was headed to the port. It seems the Duchess was preparing to take you out of the country. Investigations showed that a vast fortune had been arranged to be left to you.”

He gently helped her sit up and looked directly into her eyes.

“She was trying to save you…”

“Even so… she left me… knowing what would happen… she still…”

At last, Doriana couldn’t hold back any longer. She burst into tears like a child and clung to Asher.

Her pitiful wailing echoed through the room—and did not stop for a long, long time.