The source of the noise was an unfamiliar servant. Since it was a face she had never seen before near the Queen’s palace, Sophia hardened her expression and spoke in a reproachful tone.
“What is this? This is where Her Majesty the Queen is. Where are you making a fuss?”
The embarrassed servant lowered his face, his face turning pale.
Erdene made a light gesture to Sophia to leave her alone and urged her to answer with silence. The servant said,
“I, I, I have something to say to Miss Fiddler...”
Sophia, who had stepped back slightly, furrowed her eyebrows slightly. Erdene and Sophia’s eyes met.
“To me? What are you talking about?”
The servant stammered.
“Um, right now, the Marchioness Fiddler is... fighting with other people. No, rather than fighting...”
“My mother?”
The servant’s shoulders hunched even more at Sophia’s sharply raised voice.
A fight, and other people? It was a word that was hard to understand even after hearing it.
“Your Majesty, I’ll go and find out what’s going on.”
Erdene shook her head at Sophia’s words.
“No, I’ll go with you. I need to know exactly what’s going on.”
Unlike usual, Sophia’s face was clouded with anxiety. Her restless and hurried steps also seemed impatient.
As soon as she passed one corridor, she could tell where the source of the commotion was.
The moment she heard the voice of the Marchioness Fiddlers, who couldn’t control her anger, Sophia’s steps became even faster.
Erdene looked at the Marquis and the four other nobles standing in her way.
There was a young man, two middle-aged women, and a woman of about the same age as Montiel Zelma, who she had scolded so harshly the last time.
The Marchionne Fiddlers were holding onto the hem of her dress and blushing as she shouted at them.
“How dare you insult me like this? Viscountess, I am truly disappointed in you!”
A middle-aged woman who was reprimanded by her snorted and waved her fan frivolously as if it were a joke.
“Disappointed, Marchioness? I don’t know what disappointment is. I was just stating the truth, and if you call that disappointment, does that mean I am lying?”
“What is this? This is where Her Majesty the Queen is. Where are you making a fuss?”
The embarrassed servant lowered his face, his face turning pale.
Erdene made a light gesture to Sophia to leave her alone and urged her to answer with silence. The servant said,
“I, I, I have something to say to Miss Fiddler...”
Sophia, who had stepped back slightly, furrowed her eyebrows slightly. Erdene and Sophia’s eyes met.
“To me? What are you talking about?”
The servant stammered.
“Um, right now, the Marchioness Fiddler is... fighting with other people. No, rather than fighting...”
“My mother?”
The servant’s shoulders hunched even more at Sophia’s sharply raised voice.
A fight, and other people? It was a word that was hard to understand even after hearing it.
“Your Majesty, I’ll go and find out what’s going on.”
Erdene shook her head at Sophia’s words.
“No, I’ll go with you. I need to know exactly what’s going on.”
Unlike usual, Sophia’s face was clouded with anxiety. Her restless and hurried steps also seemed impatient.
As soon as she passed one corridor, she could tell where the source of the commotion was.
The moment she heard the voice of the Marchioness Fiddlers, who couldn’t control her anger, Sophia’s steps became even faster.
Erdene looked at the Marquis and the four other nobles standing in her way.
There was a young man, two middle-aged women, and a woman of about the same age as Montiel Zelma, who she had scolded so harshly the last time.
The Marchionne Fiddlers were holding onto the hem of her dress and blushing as she shouted at them.
“How dare you insult me like this? Viscountess, I am truly disappointed in you!”
A middle-aged woman who was reprimanded by her snorted and waved her fan frivolously as if it were a joke.
“Disappointed, Marchioness? I don’t know what disappointment is. I was just stating the truth, and if you call that disappointment, does that mean I am lying?”
The Marchioness’s face turned even redder.
The young man next to her smiled slyly and took the Viscountess’ side, adding,
“That is true. Viscountess Baster is right. Marchioness Fiddlers, isn’t it true that you are no longer in a position to walk around the palace with such authority as you used to? His Majesty is turning a blind eye to you out of old loyalty.”
“Shut your mouth! What does a young rascal know?”
“Why are you speaking informally? If you think you can run around the palace like you used to, you’re mistaken. Where did the woman who used to offer her daughter to His Majesty...”
At that moment, Marchioness Fiddler raised her hand. Her palm was just before slapping the young man’s cheek.
“Mother!”
Sophia’s sharp voice resonated through the wide hallway.
Marchioness Fiddler flinched as if she had been whipped and turned around.
Her eyes shook as if there was an earthquake when she found her daughter.
The four other nobles who had been chasing Marchioness Fiddler tried to sneak away.
The moment Sophia ran and grabbed Marchioness Fiddler’s arm, they also turned around.
“Stay there.”
However, Erdene’s voice appeared and grabbed their ankles.
The nobles exchanged awkward glances, then looked back at Erdene with expressions of having swallowed the bitter medicine, and bowed politely.
“Your Majesty, I see you.”
“Your Majesty, how are you?”
Erdene looked down at them, who were bowing their heads deeply as if they were laughing, and then turned her gaze to Sophia.
The countenance of the Marchioness Fidlers had turned almost as black as a person who was dead.
Her lips were quivering with contempt and embarrassment.
Erdene stared at her blankly, then quickly turned her gaze to Sophia.
“Sophia.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Sophia’s voice was also gloomy as she responded.
Erdene saw the fingertips of the Marchioness tremble as she held her hand tightly, and gently stroked Sophia’s shoulder.
“Take your mother and go back to the palace first.”
Sophia looked at Erdene’s face for a moment, then looked at her mother’s face again. Then she shook her head, slightly raising her chin with a determined expression.
“No, Your Majesty. I will stay here. I also want to know what happened.”
Marchioness Fidlers glanced down at her daughter.
Erdene nodded, looking into Sophia’s unwavering eyes.
Why would she want to be in this situation? Why wouldn’t she be ashamed? But Sophia doesn’t run away from such situations. That’s how she was very similar to Erdene.
Erdene said nothing more and turned her eyes to the four nobles who were mocking Marchioness Fidlers.
Their eyes were colder and bluer than the frozen lake.
“Who will come forward and tell us what you’ve been doing here?”
The four nobles twitched their small, pursed lips, looking around.
It was obvious why no one dared to speak. Erdene didn’t gloss over the obvious reason.
“Is it your hobby to gather together and make fun of one person?”
They looked as if Erdene had poured filthy water on their faces.
But no one answered right away.
It was partly because Erdene was right, but also because they were afraid of what might happen if they said the wrong thing.
Like Montiel Zelma and his father.
“Did you swallow honey?”
Erdene’s tone became harsher. The face of the young-looking woman standing on the far right turned pale with fear.
Erdene did not know it, but she was Reni Harrow, the daughter of Baron Harrow, who had once been Montiel Zelma’s constant companion and had been the one to whisper all sorts of gossip to her. It was she who had collected and exaggerated the gossip about Erdene, both true and false.
Then the only man of the four—he was Reni Harrow’s brother—gathered up his courage and spoke.
“I don’t know why Your Majesty is protecting that woman.”
The young man next to her smiled slyly and took the Viscountess’ side, adding,
“That is true. Viscountess Baster is right. Marchioness Fiddlers, isn’t it true that you are no longer in a position to walk around the palace with such authority as you used to? His Majesty is turning a blind eye to you out of old loyalty.”
“Shut your mouth! What does a young rascal know?”
“Why are you speaking informally? If you think you can run around the palace like you used to, you’re mistaken. Where did the woman who used to offer her daughter to His Majesty...”
At that moment, Marchioness Fiddler raised her hand. Her palm was just before slapping the young man’s cheek.
“Mother!”
Sophia’s sharp voice resonated through the wide hallway.
Marchioness Fiddler flinched as if she had been whipped and turned around.
Her eyes shook as if there was an earthquake when she found her daughter.
The four other nobles who had been chasing Marchioness Fiddler tried to sneak away.
The moment Sophia ran and grabbed Marchioness Fiddler’s arm, they also turned around.
“Stay there.”
However, Erdene’s voice appeared and grabbed their ankles.
The nobles exchanged awkward glances, then looked back at Erdene with expressions of having swallowed the bitter medicine, and bowed politely.
“Your Majesty, I see you.”
“Your Majesty, how are you?”
Erdene looked down at them, who were bowing their heads deeply as if they were laughing, and then turned her gaze to Sophia.
The countenance of the Marchioness Fidlers had turned almost as black as a person who was dead.
Her lips were quivering with contempt and embarrassment.
Erdene stared at her blankly, then quickly turned her gaze to Sophia.
“Sophia.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Sophia’s voice was also gloomy as she responded.
Erdene saw the fingertips of the Marchioness tremble as she held her hand tightly, and gently stroked Sophia’s shoulder.
“Take your mother and go back to the palace first.”
Sophia looked at Erdene’s face for a moment, then looked at her mother’s face again. Then she shook her head, slightly raising her chin with a determined expression.
“No, Your Majesty. I will stay here. I also want to know what happened.”
Marchioness Fidlers glanced down at her daughter.
Erdene nodded, looking into Sophia’s unwavering eyes.
Why would she want to be in this situation? Why wouldn’t she be ashamed? But Sophia doesn’t run away from such situations. That’s how she was very similar to Erdene.
Erdene said nothing more and turned her eyes to the four nobles who were mocking Marchioness Fidlers.
Their eyes were colder and bluer than the frozen lake.
“Who will come forward and tell us what you’ve been doing here?”
The four nobles twitched their small, pursed lips, looking around.
It was obvious why no one dared to speak. Erdene didn’t gloss over the obvious reason.
“Is it your hobby to gather together and make fun of one person?”
They looked as if Erdene had poured filthy water on their faces.
But no one answered right away.
It was partly because Erdene was right, but also because they were afraid of what might happen if they said the wrong thing.
Like Montiel Zelma and his father.
“Did you swallow honey?”
Erdene’s tone became harsher. The face of the young-looking woman standing on the far right turned pale with fear.
Erdene did not know it, but she was Reni Harrow, the daughter of Baron Harrow, who had once been Montiel Zelma’s constant companion and had been the one to whisper all sorts of gossip to her. It was she who had collected and exaggerated the gossip about Erdene, both true and false.
Then the only man of the four—he was Reni Harrow’s brother—gathered up his courage and spoke.
“I don’t know why Your Majesty is protecting that woman.”
Sophia bit her lip. Then Erdene said,
“Say it again.”
“Yes?”
“Say it again. Did you say ‘that woman’? What’s your name?”
Said the man with the long, freckled nose who frowned.
“Ruston Harrow, Your Majesty.”
“Harrow... Baron Harrow. Yes, I vaguely remember. It’s the first time I’ve heard of such an ill-mannered and shameless son.”
Ruston’s face—along with that of Reni, on the far right—blushed.
“What... are you talking about?”
“Do you not know who you just casually referred to as ‘that woman’? The mistress of the Marquis of Fiddler’s, and by age and rank she is one of your superiors. You’re a young, freckled boy, and you’re learning and using only arrogant and insolent behavior. Apologize to her right now.”
Ruston Harrow’s cheeks twitched. He was indeed young, but... about the same age as Erdene.
If he had been a little smarter or had been more perceptive, he would have noticed the murderous intimidation that radiated from Erdene’s body.
Or, if he hadn’t, he would have pretended to lie down flat.
Unfortunately, Baron Harrow had been busy teaching his son all sorts of insolence and had not had time to teach him how to read other people’s minds—especially those he absolutely could not disobey.
Ruston Harrow lifted his prominent nose and said,
“Didn’t she get kicked out of the capital for being rude to the Queen? Why are you protecting her?”
At that moment, Reni, who had been clinging to the middle-aged woman—the Viscountess Baster—went behind her brother and whispered.
“Brother, stop.”
“You go away.”
Ruston pushed Reni away. Reni Harrow stumbled back to her seat, making a sound like a sick chick.
In Erdene’s eyes, it was a farce. What was unforgivable was that... it was not funny at all.
“Ruston Harrow.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Are you interrogating me now? How dare you?”
Ruston’s face turned pale only then.
“I’m not interrogating, I’m stating the truth...”
“Whether it’s true or not, it doesn’t matter. I am the Queen of this country, and as Queen, I gave you an order. An order to apologize to the Marchioness of Fiddler’s. But you don’t even pretend to follow my order, instead, you hold your head up and ask me again. If that’s not an interrogation, then what is it?”
“Your Majesty, there is a misunderstanding...!”
Ruston Harrow’s rebuttal was cut off. At the same time, his sister, Reni, screamed, this time in a louder voice.
“Ugh!”
Erdene, who had grabbed Ruston by the collar, glared.
“I hate people who make me give the same order twice.”
“Say it again.”
“Yes?”
“Say it again. Did you say ‘that woman’? What’s your name?”
Said the man with the long, freckled nose who frowned.
“Ruston Harrow, Your Majesty.”
“Harrow... Baron Harrow. Yes, I vaguely remember. It’s the first time I’ve heard of such an ill-mannered and shameless son.”
Ruston’s face—along with that of Reni, on the far right—blushed.
“What... are you talking about?”
“Do you not know who you just casually referred to as ‘that woman’? The mistress of the Marquis of Fiddler’s, and by age and rank she is one of your superiors. You’re a young, freckled boy, and you’re learning and using only arrogant and insolent behavior. Apologize to her right now.”
Ruston Harrow’s cheeks twitched. He was indeed young, but... about the same age as Erdene.
If he had been a little smarter or had been more perceptive, he would have noticed the murderous intimidation that radiated from Erdene’s body.
Or, if he hadn’t, he would have pretended to lie down flat.
Unfortunately, Baron Harrow had been busy teaching his son all sorts of insolence and had not had time to teach him how to read other people’s minds—especially those he absolutely could not disobey.
Ruston Harrow lifted his prominent nose and said,
“Didn’t she get kicked out of the capital for being rude to the Queen? Why are you protecting her?”
At that moment, Reni, who had been clinging to the middle-aged woman—the Viscountess Baster—went behind her brother and whispered.
“Brother, stop.”
“You go away.”
Ruston pushed Reni away. Reni Harrow stumbled back to her seat, making a sound like a sick chick.
In Erdene’s eyes, it was a farce. What was unforgivable was that... it was not funny at all.
“Ruston Harrow.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Are you interrogating me now? How dare you?”
Ruston’s face turned pale only then.
“I’m not interrogating, I’m stating the truth...”
“Whether it’s true or not, it doesn’t matter. I am the Queen of this country, and as Queen, I gave you an order. An order to apologize to the Marchioness of Fiddler’s. But you don’t even pretend to follow my order, instead, you hold your head up and ask me again. If that’s not an interrogation, then what is it?”
“Your Majesty, there is a misunderstanding...!”
Ruston Harrow’s rebuttal was cut off. At the same time, his sister, Reni, screamed, this time in a louder voice.
“Ugh!”
Erdene, who had grabbed Ruston by the collar, glared.
“I hate people who make me give the same order twice.”
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