DYBAR - Chapter 98 < The Moment That Ignites Doubt >

DYBAR - Chapter 98 < The Moment That Ignites Doubt >

Do Your Best And Regret

“If it’s Katanta, isn’t it ‘the’ Katanta?”

"Shh, there you are. Your voice is too loud."

It was as if a light had come on in her previously blinking vision. 'Katanta' was mixed in the secret conversations of nobles.

That' Katanta. 

How on earth do nobles know Katanta?

The Princess confirmed that the rumor that I stayed in Katanta for a while last month did not spread.

The Princess's heart sank. The Princess swallowed hard as her breathing became rougher.

She had to stay calm. She had to get rid of them before their existence became ingrained in the minds of the nobles.

But, how?

Maybe he was overloaded, but her lips were only trembling and she couldn't say anything. Her mind went blank.

It was a time when the gaze towards the Princess took on an increasingly strange look.

"I see you, Her Royal Highness."

The Princess lifted her head. The low voice that appeared as if it were salvation was Jade Madeleine. A member of the Madeleine duchy, an imperial faction, and vice-captain of the Imperial Knights.... 

The Princess regained her dignity in an instant. She then looked at Viscount Katanta as if she was half-heartedly pleased.

"Nice to meet you. Viscount, and Madam."

Viscount Katanta was not surprised by the Princess's suddenly changed expression, and the Princess smiled elegantly and spoke to Jade Madeleine

"You came just in time, Lord Madeleine. Could you please guide these people to the living room? These are people I've known for a while in the past...."

The Princess smiled embarrassedly and looked around her. Only then did the nobles seem to understand and smile at Viscount Katanta.

At every banquet, there were always lower-ranking nobles who showed off their friendship with the Princess and swaggered around. This time it seemed like they were idiots.

The Princess was relieved to see the nobles' changing gaze. At the same time, she felt uplifted that she had built such a solid foundation of support.

It seemed that Viscount Katanta immediately recognized the change in the nobles' eyes.

The Viscount's mouth trembled in frustration. Although his beaten body was in pain, he found it difficult to get his words out in this atmosphere.

Nevertheless, his words of courage were ignored by the princess.

"Your High....."

"Viscount, It was nice to meet you. It must have been tiring to come this long way, so let's take a little rest. Sir, I would also like to thank you in advance."

It was so easy for the Princess to sway the public opinion of the social world in front of her opponent, who was nothing, to the point where she lost her temper. Especially if she has a helper.

She was still calm and noble. The sight of her was enough to erase the sensitive image that had disappeared onto the balcony with Olivia a moment ago.

Soon, ridicule towards her poured down like daggers.

"It seems like that was just a rumor."

"That's right. Since Her Highness the Princess does all kinds of good deeds, even country bumpkin nobles like that come to visit. He was taken away once before."

"Ah, but the Baron did at least bring an invitation. Does that person bring an invitation or something?"

"Oh, no way. How can you enter this banquet hall without an invitation?"

"We'll have to check."

The situation was neatly sorted out. The Princess smiled awkwardly, but she did not stop the nobles from speaking.

It bothered her a little that the Marquis Ribeorn and other noble ladies did not step forward to clean up the messy atmosphere, but she thought nothing of it.

If they want to attend the banquet, just quietly contact her. Why are they making such a big deal out of it?

The Princess looked at the Viscount and the Viscountess with her noble eyes.

She seemed to be so embarrassed that she ran away, but for some reason, the two of them didn't move, their faces turning pale.

Did they freeze?

The Princess deliberately looked around her, hoping that Jade Madeleine would clean it up quickly. And she gave a malicious sneer towards the Grand Duke and Olivia standing on the other side.

There was no crisis for her.

As long as the empire continues to prosper, she will establish herself as a dignified Princess.

It looks like they just tried to humiliate her with the petty threats of the abandoned mine and Olivia.

In her clear mind, great thoughts came to mind. If she abandons the abandoned mine and the Grand Duke and marries a wealthy suitor, the Prince of the Kingdom of Welton or the Prince of the Kingdom of Orang. Not only would it avoid the Emperor's wrath, but it might actually act as a better hand.

The Princess glanced in the direction where the foreign delegation. As she smiled elegantly, the nobles on the delegation lightly bowed to the Princess.

It is the union of the Franz Empire, which dominated the hegemony of the continent, and a wealthy kingdom. At best, it would be no match for the likes of Vikander.

If no one was there, she wanted to burst into laughter. If her mother knew, she would praise her for how much of a Princess she is.

Looking at the red eyes of Grand Duke Vikander, whose true intentions were unknown, the Princess spat in her heart. She then turned her gaze to Olivia next to him.

After Grand Duke Vikander, who insulted her, was next, it was Olivia standing over there.

When she saw her expressionless face, the shame from before came flooding back to her.

If the Grand Duke was gone, it would not be easy for her to do so.

The Princess's bright blue eyes once again looked at Olivia with vigor. She seemed to be watching from a distance as if she were watching an opera.

Olivia had been nothing more than a sight to behold not long ago.

Meanwhile, two servants approached to break up the atmosphere.

"Viscount Katanta, and Viscountess. Please accompany us for a moment. Could you please show me her invitation?"

It was a happy ending.

The Princess looked at the attendants with a thoughtful face. Her benevolent smile was enough to win the favor of the nobles. Everything went back as she had hoped.

"For a moment.."

The Princess reflexively paused at the low voice. The only person who would interfere with this situation should be the Grand Duke.

But it was too close to be the Grand Duke's voice. The Princess raised her head in disbelief. Soon, her sea-colored eyes watered with astonishment. I heard,

"I went with them as their guarantor."

Why is that man now saying,

"Ah, vice-captain, are you speaking directly?"

The attendant stammered in confusion. And when Jade Madeleine nodded his head, the Princess could not believe this situation unfolding before her eyes.

"What is this?"

She had to say something, but her tongue was stiff. Jade Madeleine looked at the Princess with an indifferent face.

"As a vice-captain loyal to the imperial palace, these two people and I entered the banquet hall together to eliminate any misunderstandings. Viscount Katanta. It is said that Her Highness the Princess personally invited them to the summer banquet due to the relationship they had last month."

The Princess gasped with her pale face as the voice echoed through the banquet hall.

No longer should the nobles remind her of 'Katanta'. The Princess hurriedly called to him.

"That can be true. Sir, no, Lord Madelaine."

Madeleine, his family has gained strength.

Jade paused for a moment at the threatening call not to forget his family, which is the imperial faction. The Princess did not miss the moment of his hesitation, and her eyes flashed.

Then one step, and another. She walked towards him. A very deliberate and subtle voice was directed at Jade.

"You must take responsibility for whatever you say here. This place...."

"..."

"...It's not just a place for nobles of the Franz Empire, right?"

"..."

"Of course, I don't think that the Duke of Madeleine, the head of the imperial faction, would say anything unfavorable to me, the Princess. I think the Duke of Madeleine would do the same, right?"

The Princess, who had been whispering as if she was having a secret conversation, smiled brightly and took two steps back. 

As if the one they had trusted was Jade Madeleine, both Viscount Katanta trembled.

The Duke of Madeleine, a staunch loyalist of the Emperor faction, was this. He could not betray her as a Princess in front of so many nobles.

"...Whether it is or not, as 'Madeleine, I will pay the price for what was dishonorable."

So, when Jade started speaking again. The Princess blinked as if she had been hit in the back of the head.

Jade's eyes were looking into the distance as he spoke in a monologue. He didn't even have time to pay attention to each and every strange word.

Banquet hall. Because the low voice that resonates is saying that he will fall in love with the Princess.

"I don't know if you know, but the rumor that Your Highness went to the Viscounty of Katanta instead of going to the Vikander territory has already spread."

"What......!"

The Princess swallowed in vain and rolled her eyes.

How did she cover the Grand Duke's mouth...! Who would have thought that Jade Madeleine would do this? 

The sight before her eyes turned pitch black. Her fingertips went cold and tingled in embarrassment. She could only make noises due to her suppressed breathing. The Princess couldn't say anything.

There was nothing she could do while looking like a noble Princess.

Someone had to stop Jadr Madelaine. Strangely, no one came forward today, not even the Marquis of Libeorn and her playmates.

Until a little while ago, people around her were watching her. The nobles who surrounded her and praised her, as if they had glue on their mouths, none of them came forward. 

Feeling helpless washed over her like a tidal wave. When she was left alone, receiving dagger-like stares, the Princess just shook her head.

Meanwhile, Jade continued speaking without any hesitation. 

"Isn't this an absurd thing to say to Your Majesty, who has always devoted himself to the Empire? So, how about clearing up the misunderstanding here?"

"Oh, Sir Madeleine!"

A sharp voice interrupted Jade. The Princess looked at Jade with her earnest eyes.

She couldn't tell what those grave amethyst eyes were thinking. He became quiet as if water had been poured on him.

In the banquet hall, where the music had suddenly stopped playing, the Princess looked at Jade Madeleine desperately as if she was hanging on a cliff.

The abandoned mine was destined to end in the Emperor's wrath. But this was a burial within the social circle herself.

If it turns out that the Princess, who was revered as a Saint when she came as an envoy from another country, is in fact incompetent and unable to properly carry out the orders given by the Emperor.

A shiver ran down her spine and her vision became dim. Cold sweat ran down her slim back. Just thinking about it felt like the world was falling apart.

Even in her imagination, the Princess could not withstand all the criticism.

Without realizing it, she clung to Jade Madeleine in a weak voice.

"Sir! Think of the Duke of Madeleine. Don't forget his pride in being loyal to the Imperial family."

It was a signal to please stop talking. When Jade Madeleine closed his mouth for a moment as if hearing her earnest heart.

The Princess raised her head and saw clearly. She realizes that the one he was looking at was Olivia Madeleine. The red eyes next to her sparkled with interest, leaving an afterimage of her.

Jade Madeleine turned his head towards the Princess again and raised one side of his lips as if he were laughing.

The Princess felt a strange goosebumps.

The Princess looked at Jade Madeleine, Olivia, and the Grand Duke without even being able to catch her breath. It was then that her aspen-like, trembling gaze turned again to Jade Madeleine's quivering lips.

"Lord Madeleine! How dare you frame Her Highness, the Princess of the Empire, like this, without any evidence!"

It was the Duke of Elkin. He took a step forward and became the center of the banquet hall, shouting at Jade Madeleine.

"The Lord will have to take responsibility for what he said. Not even the Duke of Madeleine will be able to avoid the responsibility placed on your family!"

At the same time, a thunderous anger gripped the banquet hall.

"What is happening again?"

It was the appearance of an Emperor.

***

"Your Majesty, they must be severely punished! How dare he rely on the kindness of Her Highness the Princess through a strange friendship!"

"It's a conspiracy! We truly only spoke of the honor of serving Her Majesty the Princess!"

"Stop-!"

A lion-like roar enveloped the banquet hall. Everyone was shocked by the Emperor's anger and bowed their head.

The Emperor looked down at the nobles below the podium with furrowed brows. The Princess, who should always be elegant and superior, was struggling at the center.

Something unexpected happened at the banquet. Why on earth was there a rumor that the Princess only stayed at Viscount Katanta without stopping by Vikander's territory?

The Emperor took a wheezing breath and looked at everyone with envious eyes.

The matter about the Princess and the abandoned mine was a matter for later. The reason this scandal was created was that the nobles dared to challenge the authority of the Princess and the imperial family.

He is also the second child of the Madeleine Duchy, which is an imperial faction.

Irritated anger was directed at Jade Madeleine and the Duke who could not stop him. Meanwhile, among the nobles who could not even make eye contact, the Grand Duke was seen with exceptionally sparkling red eyes.

The Emperor tightened his grip on the throne. His teeth were chattering, but he had to quickly resolve the situation.

"I don't know what caused the loud noise. Are you sure that the Princess stayed at Viscounty Katanta?"

If it was a trembling mess, he could get rid of it as much as he wanted. The banquet is over.

"Ha."

A small sound erupted in the quiet banquet hall.

It was clearly a mockery.

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