Walter was convinced that his wise and cool-headed superior had ultimately fallen for the trickery of that wicked woman.
It was unclear what the woman had done.
She probably used her pretty face as a weapon to dazzle Kishian.
Although she was an ugly and dirty woman on the inside, her face was quite acceptable.
'...I can't leave it like this.'
He couldn't just stand by and watch his respected superior and former colleague, Kishian, fall for that woman's tricks again.
If a woman betrayed you once, there's no reason why she shouldn't betray you a second time.
This time, he will take off the mask and reveal her true face. He will expose her hidden intentions and put an end to them.
Walter repeated his pledge over and over again, his fists clenched so tightly that they would break apart with determination.
***
Preparing for the hunting competition also became my job.
At first glance, it seemed like Kishian was passing the bothersome work on to me, but I didn't hate it.
It was because I felt like he trusted me enough to entrust me with family affairs.
I still couldn't tell if he really trusted me or if this was just a trick to reassure me.
Still, I wasn't in a bad mood, and since I was given the job, I didn't want to handle it sloppily.
So, I diligently carried out small tasks such as selecting a location, promotion, and checking application forms.
It was when I looked through the list of confirmed participants that something a little disconcerting happened.
"Hmm...?"
I saw a very familiar name on the list.
Rodrick.
I stared blankly at the name.
I was wondering if it was the man I knew.
It may be someone with the same name, but if it's the man I know...
Knock knock.
I put down the list at the sudden knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
"I have come to carry out His Highness the Grand Duke's orders. May I come in?"
"Come in."
Although it was an unfamiliar voice, I allowed him to come in first since he said he had come on Kishian's orders.
After a while, the door opened slowly and a fairly tall man came in.
Silver hair and blue eyes. It was a face I had definitely seen before.
'He's the man I saw the day I was pushed by the maid at the pond. He followed Kishian. Are he one of the knights who follows him?'
This man was definitely there when I got soaked after being pushed by the maid.
Since I only knew the face, I asked the basic questions.
"What's your name?"
"This is Walter."
"Yes, Walter. What orders did the Grand Duke give you to come here?"
Walter looked at me with his blue eyes.
No, it was more like glaring rather than staring.
I could read a faint glimmer of contempt deep in his eyes.
I thought it was just a mistake, but soon I heard a hint of displeasure and contempt in his voice.
"His High Priest the Grand Duke has ordered Your Highness s escort. From now on, I will escort Your High Priest from morning to night."
"Escort you say? I'm only going to stay in the mansion anyway, so why would I need an escort?"
"Wouldn't it be necessary? To prevent you from being pushed by the maid and falling into the pond like last time."
As expected, this man was looking down on me.
It was clear to me that he was trying to hurt my pride by mentioning the incident where I fell into the water.
But why?
I could guess the reason right away without having to think deeply about it.
'It must be one of two things. Either he has bad feelings towards the royal family and doesn't look kindly on me, even though I'm a Princess... or he thinks I betrayed Kishian.'
Didn't the head maid also show hostility toward me, thinking that I was a traitor?
If this man was one of Kishian's close associates, then there was a high possibility that it was the case.
Anyway, it wasn't good. It was called an escort, but in reality, it was like having an extra pair of eyes following me.
"Thank you for your concern, but tell the Grand Duke that I don't need an escort."
"..."
"All the maids who were rude to me were kicked out. And the head maid is locked up in the basement, repenting her sins."
"..."
"You are someone I don't need."
I told him honestly, without needing to beat around the bush.
As expected, a tiny crack appeared in Walter's cold expressionless face.
He opened his mouth, revealing his anger little by little.
"Do you think you have the authority to give me orders?"
"...What?"
"I am a knight of His Highness the Grand Duke. Since His Highness has ordered me to be your escort, I will do so. Even if you deem me unnecessary."
It was a response that felt quite insulting.
His master is Kishian and he ordered him to guard me, so doesn't that mean he doesn't care what I bark.
Cheeky...
I wanted to slap his cheek like I did to the maid, but hitting that hard face seemed like it would only hurt my hand.
That said, there were still ways to hurt him.
I could immediately think of a way to inflict more pain than swinging my hand.
"Walter."
I got up from my seat, calling his name softly.
Walter's body twitched slightly.
He seemed to be trying not to show that he was nervous, but his expression eventually hardened as I approached him.
"...What's going on?"
"I have some secret advice for you."
As I said this, I came within arm's length of him.
After that, I placed my hand on his shoulder, which had become tense with tension, and whispered in his ear.
"Yes, since you have been given the order, you should guard me well. And at the same time, it would be good to keep a close watch on me as well."
“Oh, wha...?"
He asked in a nervous voice, stammering.
I gave a faint smile to Walter.
"Yes, keep a close eye on me. I might cause great harm to someone precious to you."
"...!"
Walter's composure was shattered in an instant.
He turned his body in an instant Iike lightning and grabbed my wrist.
The blue eyes that had previously held only a faint glimmer of contempt were now burning with vivid anger.
Walter gripped my wrist tighter, glaring at me with those sizzling eyes.
"...What are you planning?"
"Well?"
"If you dare to talk nonsense to His Highness the Grand Duke..."
"That depends on your attitude."
My wrist, which was caught by him, felt like it was going to break, but I continued to warn him without showing it.
"Don't be so cocky. I'm the wife of someone you hold so dear. That means I'm sitting very close to him. Close enough that I can easily reach out and touch him."
"...Are you threatening me now?"
"It would be more appropriate to call this a warning rather than a threat. I'm not trying to get anything out of you."
"..."
"I just want to live a safe life as a Grand Duchess. But if you push me like that... I'll have no choice but to show my claws. Be careful so that doesn't happen."
Walter's once neat face was now colored with all sorts of emotions.
I was worried he might say something presumptuous again, but that didn't happen.
Bang!
He expressed his displeasure by slamming the door rudely and leaving.
I wondered if I had overstimulated him, but my regrets didn't last long.
It didn't suit my temperament to just sit back and endure it.
I let out a long sigh to calm my mind and started to focus again on the work I had put on hold for a while.
***
Fortunately, Walter hasn't been in my sight since this morning.
So I was able to erase that slightly unpleasant experience with him from my memory.
I could have just forgotten about it.
If only Kishian hadn't brought up the topic of Walter to me when I returned to the bedroom after finishing work.
"I heard you had something to do with Walter today."
I let out a small laugh as I watched Kishian ask in a suggestive tone.
"Did he tell you that?"
"He reported that he thought you were plotting to harm me."
Judging from the light tone of his speech, he didn't seem to take Walter's report too seriously.
I also nonchalantly responded to him.
"That's right. I told him directly. I told him to be careful because I might hurt the Grand Duke."
"Why did you have to say that? Was Walter being annoying?"
"Your Highness, don't you know from what you've seen before? Some of those who serve you still can't accept me."
Kishian's expressionless face hardened.
I continued speaking, looking into that face.
"The head maid was like that, the maids who followed her were like that, and so was Walter."
"..."
"That's why I did it. If I didn't warn him so sternly, there's no way Walter wouldn't start acting as arrogant as the head maid."
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