"Ah, Prince Albenovic..."
"Whatever you say to my fiancée is the same as what you say to me. I know that Your Highness Princess Lena, who is well versed in etiquette, is not unaware of this."
I stared at Brandt, who was standing with his back to me. I couldn't feel the fluctuation of emotion just by his voice. However, his calm tone made the listeners feel cold.
"Prince, I'm not like that..."
"My honor in the presence of Your Highness the Honorable Princess Lutensbach is only a trivial matter."
Brandt suddenly bowed down.
"If my fiancée is at fault, I will accept the insult on her behalf and receive the punishment of Your Highness the Princess."
At first glance, it sounded like a condescending tone to his superiors, but no one knew that there was a thorn in the content.
I covered my mouth with my hand in surprise.
Yes, that man was my fiancé. It was natural for him to wrap his fiancée in his arms. Why didn't I realize this reasonable reasoning? I was prejudiced against him just because of the bad memories of that day. Maybe it was a misunderstanding at that moment...
Brandt's dignified back looked different.
But even so, I couldn't understand what Princess Lena believed in and plotted a plot in front of Brandt. Brandt doesn't seem to be the kind of person who can sneak away from others. It was like the words of an arrogant and immature Princess who had only grown up among people who asked her if she was coming from the Imperial palace.
Cornered, Princess Lena rolled her eyes and screamed as she had done to me.
"Prince Albenovic, you're too much for me!"
That's always wrong.
"This is all done for Albenovic. If the lady who will soon become the Princess of the palace is acting arrogantly, ignoring the laws of the palace, do you mean that you should leave her alone as the only Princess of the empire?"
Brandt's head turned at an angle.
Princess Lena, who was in desperation, sputtered her mouth and protested.
"What is wrong with educating the laws of the palace for a lady who was raised by a lowly mother and knows nothing, and the lady persecutes me, and the Prince also rebukes me?"
There was nothing that she could not say.
It was annoying that she kept boasting about being 'the only Princess in the empire', but the insulting words about Edita's mother made me feel hot inside. Even though it wasn't my mother, I felt sick to my stomach as if my mom had been insulted. I couldn't just let it go...
"It seems that Your Highness, the Princess, has made a misunderstanding that is difficult to understand. Everyone here saw Prince Albenovic humble himself for the honor of Your Highness, the Princess, and you said that he rebuked you, which made me feel embarrassed. Of course, since I was the only Princess in the Empire, it seems that I did something that criminals would not even imagine."
Princess Lena's face turned earthy as she looked at me with eyes that asked, "Why are you interrupting here?"
"And isn't it Your Highness the Princess who insulted His Majesty with conspiracies? It is not a matter of the law of the palace, but of the law of Ludenbach."
Brandt turned to me. He looked a little surprised. I continued without paying attention.
"And you keep saying lowly, but half of my blood was given to me by His Majesty the Emperor, that is, my father. By the way, isn't Your Highness the Princess the granddaughter of my father?"
I thought this was a bit childish, but I couldn't help it. For an ignorant woman, the best way was to respond ignorantly.
"Oh, look! It is very vulgar to speak."
It's vulgar again. How can that be a person, not a wall?
"This marriage is clearly a disgrace to justice. Even though it is His Majesty's blood, there is no dignity because of the mother's blood that has no way of knowing where it came from. This is why unions that do not fit the status have been strictly disposed of since ancient times. Aren't you afraid of what the future holds for the Prince?"
The Princess couldn't stand talking and was about to say another thing, but Brandt took a step forward without saying a word.
"Your Highness Princess Lena, knew that Lady Edita would become Her Royal Highness the Princess. Your Highness must not have forgotten the imperial tradition of strictly disposing of unions that do not conform to your status, and you will surely do so. I am afraid of what the future of the Albenovic family will be."
Princess Lena, who had been repeating the phrase "the only Princess in the empire' became contemplative when the words she was most reluctant to hear came out of Brandt's mouth.
If the head of the empire's most popular family were to marry the only direct Princess favored by the Emperor, the power of the family would be enormous, not to mention the power of the family. In other words, he should stop being cocky and take care of himself.
The icy declaration left not only the Princess but also the nobles speechless. They were barely breathing with their little mouths closed, which were chirping like sparrows.
Soon, someone from Young Ladies greeted me briefly and left without saying a word. Starting with that, the other young girls left Princess Lena's side one by one.
It was the weak Young lady who remained until the end who took Princess Lena, who couldn't move. I thought that Young lady was also very pitiful.
"Please understand that I am now officially greeting you."
Brandt greeted me. It was a much more polite and angular greeting than the greeting he had given to Princess Lena.
"Thank you for your help."
I also paid the most attention to greetings I have ever made.
Looking at him in the bright noon sun, Brandt was still dressed in dark clothes, but he looked dignified and dignified. Perhaps because he was the man who helped me, he even looked like a knightly hero from a medieval classic. The black clothes, which at first felt like mourning clothes, now have a design that is closer to a military uniform than a mourning uniform.
"You have nothing to thank me. I just said what I should have said. For my honor."
Brandt replied in a soft tone. The smooth voice was surprising.
"After all, as your reputation suggests, your education and attitude are outstanding!"
Madam Marie said with a smile, her mouth torn. Then, to my surprise, Brandt smiled shyly at Madame Marie! I was shocked by that smile that really didn't suit him.
He is also a human being, so it is natural for him to cry and laugh, but for me, who had a blunt and dark first impression, Brandt's smile, and even the shy smile, was really difficult to adapt.
To make matters worse, Brandt looked at me with that expression.
"Did you go out for a walk?"
His expression and voice became softer. I looked at his face and realized that Brandt wanted to take a walk with me.
I didn't particularly like Brandt, but he helped me, and since he had a likable face and was my fiancée, I thought it would be better to accept his request.
I smiled brightly.
"No, I don't. I'm going to go to the palace again."
Ugh! Ugh! Why am I doing this? It's crazy!
I had overlooked that I was a mother and a solo that had matured for many years.
The iron wall of algorithms embedded in my body was blocking me from putting my thoughts into action. Madame Marie was looking at me with dismay, but I couldn't turn back.
"I'll take you to the palace."
"It's okay. I can go alone."
Once I put on a booster, I couldn't turn it off in the middle!
Seeing Brandt's face darken rapidly, I wanted to cry.
***
02. Duke Albrenovic
Looking at the map of the Saint Rejean Palace spread out on the table, Madam Marie said in a dying voice.
"The East Palace, where the lady walked, is a palace located on the east side of the Saint Rejean Palace. It is used as a place for banquets and noble receptions, and it faces the Liesel Garden on the side... You know Liesel Garden, right? The same place where Lady kicked out your fiancé..."
How can our Madam Marie be so elegant?
It was the first time I wanted her to openly ask me why I did that.
My terrible iron wall in the Liesel garden made Madame Marie seem to be heartbroken. That's because as soon as I cast the iron wall, Brandt said. "See you next time," and went like a knife. Thanks to this, Madam Marie also saw the stiff eyes hidden under Brandt's affectionate and awkward smile.
I'm dull if it's an iron wall, and I'm incredibly aware of that.
I was as blind as Madam Marie was about what I would do if I married that person in the future. What it looks like if you don't have rice will chew stones...
'No. I'm the biggest problem with being a tronclad fence in front of my fiancé.'
When I finished my self-reflection, I really wanted to cry.
While Madam Marie and I were both struggling, the maid announced someone's visit. It was a messenger from the Emperor.
"His Majesty has ordered. Lady Edita shall have luncheon tomorrow at the Villa with Prince Brandt of Albenovic."
"What?"
Madam Marie and I shouted at the same time and jumped up from our seats. The difference was that I was embarrassed and Madame Marie shouted with joy.
The messenger grinned as if he knew it would be at the violent reaction of the two women and left.
Why are you laughing? I didn't mean it that way!
"Hey, what happened to this? Is Prince Albenovic taking revenge on me?"
"What are you talking about, Lady. The Duke liked the lady."
The Interpretation of a single event could be so different.
"In the garden. It's unlucky to have lunch tomorrow all of a sudden. What should I do?"
"No matter how much... His Majesty did not arbitrarily order two men who were not formally betrothed to have luncheon. Perhaps His Highness the Duke Albenovic personally requested it."
"It's still awkward, but asking me to have lunch together is a declaration of war, a declaration of war!"
"What do you think? It's because he likes the lady enough to risk awkwardness."
Madame Marie ignored my anxiety and hurriedly called the maids and told them to prepare to adorn me tomorrow. She hummed and walked out of the room, saying that she would prepare a luncheon tomorrow. I could only envy the positive Madame Marie.
I was alone and was wondering whether it was better to lie down on the table and cry or cry under the blanket on the bed.
I heard a tapping sound from somewhere. I turned my head to the source of the sound and was shocked to find Stefano Russell outside the window.
He climbed onto a thick tree with branches by the window of my room on the second floor, looked at me, and smiled. Surprised, I opened the window wide.
"Your liver is really big."
Stefano said what I had to say.
"Is that what Lord Stefano is going to do now? What are you doing here?"
"I came here because I was curious about what the lady who did such a big thing was doing."
I was disgusted by him smiling without raising an eyebrow, even though he was smiling.
"What are you talking about when you say my liver is big? Did I fight with Princess Lena?"
"You are betrothed to Duke Albrenovic."
His eyes, which had been widened by the unexpected answer, soon subsided. It was only natural that he, one of the gang that kept me in check, disapproved of Prince Albrenovic's engagement to me.
"You're here to spy on me again?"
"I'm a little sad that you only know now."
In this case, shouldn't you pretend to be a little surprised? I thought I was caught off guard!
"My nanny said that. Watch out for you and Princess Lena."
"Why did Madam Marie tell the story of everything Lady knows all over again?"
That's what I remember.... Huck!
On the contrary, I was the one who was caught off guard and panicked. Fortunately, Stefano was looking under the tree, so he didn't see my surprised face. I pressed my hand on my pounding chest and stared at him with my eyes down.
"Did Madame Marie change her strategy? That's why you quarreled with Her Highness Princess Lena in broad daylight in the presence of people?"
"Princess Lena got into a fight first. She said it was lowly to me."
Stefano looked up at me with pity.
"Her Highness Princess Lena has always been like that. But Lady was always careful and careful with your words. It's not that you didn't hit it because you didn't know how to bump into it."
"It's okay if only I were scolded. But do I have to stand still even though she insulted Madam Marie and my mother?"
As I continued to speak, I cried. Stefano leaned his back against the tree without answering. It was amazing to see him not losing his balance, and his intense emotions calmed down.
I leaned forward a little and asked quietly.
"Are you really a servant who goes in and out of the villa to keep an eye on me?"
"For the sake of our family, it can't be helped."
This time, too, he confesses so easily that it is futile. I barely suppressed the desire to grab him by the collar and shake him.
"That's an excuse."
"What about Lady? Didn't you betroth Duke Albrenovic as soon as Baron of Orleans died?"
Stefano's eyes were relentless as he looked at me.
"My father and Albrenovic decided on their own. You saw it. I couldn't say anything on the spot."
"Then will you live alone for the rest of your life, as Your Highness Princess Lena and Prince Fabio said?"
"..."
I was speechless by the sharp question.
I really hated that. I had been forced to live in abstinence, but I could not live in abstinence in the future.
Seeing that I couldn't answer, Stefano sighed.
"Everyone is just acting for their own benefit. Neither the lady nor I."
His meaningful words fell heavily on my chest. The air around me also became heavy.
"You should continue to live like that. That's how the lady survives."
The worries that had been piling up little by little suddenly tightened my heart with all my might. I let out a hot sigh without realizing it.
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