“Why are you laughing?”
Brentian felt wronged, thinking that Grenada was taking his words lightly.
"It's not just a rumor. I can hear the sound of metal clashing inside the doll. There must be something dangerous hidden inside. Don't listen lightly, and be careful. I don't know what the Princess might do..."
Granada cut off Brentian's words.
“Brentian, haven’t you seen the lady’s body?”
"Yes...?"
“Even if she charged with all her might, wielding a blade like that, no one in Ronheim could stand against her.”
"Granada, even though she looks like that, she's actually Idelian. Contrary to appearances, she might have hidden agendas, so it's best to be careful..."
Granada doubted whether Chloe could stab a man with her thin hands and arms, which seemed to have no muscle whatsoever.
Stabbing a person requires more strength and skill than you might think.
With Chloe's strength, it would be difficult to penetrate someone's muscles, let alone bones.
Chloe, who doesn't even know how to lift a bath basket, has no strength, so who on earth can she physically attack?
'Then she won't even be able to cut a carrot.'
Grenada kept thinking about that the whole time she was washing her.
'There must have been people serving at the Arrental Palace. Why on earth is she so skinny?'
She was so worried that she thought she might be sick.
She patted Brentian on the shoulder.
“You think too much and you miss what’s really important.”
"Ah..."
Brentian let out a sigh of relief.
He's heard that somewhere before.
It was the same in Lhasa and Granada, and he couldn't understand why people said that he was overthinking things when he looked at himself.
Brentian was furious and fired at Granada.
"Let me also say something. Granada is too weak for those who appear weak. You seem to be fooled by the Princess's appearance and seem to take lightly the fact that she carries Idelian royal blood."
He got so excited that he ended up saying things he shouldn't have.
“Do not forget who murdered the one you served. The Idelian royal family is our enemy.”
“...”
Granada looked at Brentian without saying anything.
Brentian, who met those calm gray eyes, belatedly realized, "Oh no."
But the water was once spilled.
Granada said calmly.
"How could I ever forget? With every step I take on this prosthetic leg, I relive that day's events more vividly than anyone else."
Her wrinkled eyes turned slightly red.
She swallowed several times as if her throat was choking.
"Don't think that just because your wounds hurt, someone else's hurts less. Everyone's own wounds hurt the most."
“...I was reckless about that. I apologize.”
“Yes, I know.”
She soon returned to her rigid, expressionless face and straightened her posture.
“And by the way, even if the parents are murderers, there’s no guarantee that the children will become murderers too.”
“The children of criminals are much more likely to become criminals themselves.”
“I wonder if the same results would be achieved under conditions where branding on his forehead and finger-pointing were strictly controlled.”
“...Anyway, it won’t hurt to be careful. I clearly warned you.”
Brentian spoke in a slightly stern tone and then disappeared.
There were many people in Ronheim Castle who, no matter how mature they usually acted, couldn't hide their childish side in front of Granada.
Alex, who had been keeping his mouth shut and observing the two people's expressions, nodded to Granada and followed Brentian.
'I need a place to take out my treasure and hide it.'
I looked at the teddy bear and the cushion seriously.
Alex and Brentian must have noticed something fishy inside.
'Where can I hide my treasure without anyone knowing?'
The employees at Ronheim Castle hated me, and I couldn't trust my maids, so it was a difficult situation.
While I was in deep thought, Granada came back.
I watched her closely, hoping to get some clue as to what Brentian might have said to her.
But Granada didn't show any sign of it and just put on my pajamas and dried my wet hair thoroughly.
I looked at Granada, who was silently combing my hair, through the mirror. Granada, who I thought was absorbed in combing my hair, spoke.
"If you have a question, ask it confidently. If you've been offended, speak up confidently. You have the position to do so."
“...!”
How can you be so honest about something like that?
Her gray eyes met mine directly through the mirror, and I awkwardly looked away from the mirror, pretending not to notice anything.
She spoke again firmly.
“Don’t avoid eye contact and clearly state what you want.”
“Uh, I’m sorry.”
I felt a pang of anger and apologized, but she spoke sternly to me again.
"It's not good to apologize for something that doesn't need to be apologized for. It spoils the maids."
“Ah... I see.”
She was right. I was determined not to overdo the apology, but here I am again.
'It's difficult for people to change.'
I asked them to train the maids, and they said they were training me.
Granada put down her comb and asked.
“So, what do you want to ask?”
I was hesitant to talk about Brentian to her, a fellow Ronheimer, but I felt like I would get in trouble if I didn't, so I had no choice but to bring it up.
I was scared of her.
“Viscount Creep...”
But when I actually brought up Brentian's name, I was confused about what to say.
Does Brentian find my doll suspicious? Does he dislike me? Does he doubt me?
'I can tell just by looking at it, so why would I ask?'
When I hesitated, Granada nodded as if she understood.
Instead of pushing me further, she spoke her mind.
"The Viscount was rude. I made that clear to him, so it won't happen again."
I was taken aback. Was that what she said when she went outside?
Granada's expression was firm.
Looking at her unwavering appearance, I decided that she wasn't lying.
Even though it was my first time seeing her today, I could tell for sure that lying wasn't for her.
“Thank you.”
"He doesn't trust you, Madam. Every single action of yours must be suspicious. As you know, just over a dozen years ago, we lost countless precious people to the Arrental army."
“...”
“I don’t think I need to explain at length what I’m talking about.”
“I understand well.”
"Great."
I felt it from the moment I first saw her, but I was surprised by Granada's bold personality, which made her say such harsh words to my face.
"For that reason, it's inevitable that Viscount Creep would be wary of you, Madame. It's his job to quickly recognize and prepare for any threats to Ronheim. However, today's actions were indeed rude, so I hope you'll receive an apology someday."
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Granada nodded. Then, seemingly turning around, she turned back towards me.
“By the way, can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Did you hide a weapon inside that doll?”
I looked back at Granada with wide eyes.
“Weapons? Did Viscount Creep misunderstand that much?”
I waved my hand, feeling a little relieved that I hadn't been caught hiding treasure, but rather had been misunderstood.
“That’s not true. I don’t even know how to handle weapons.”
Granada nodded as if that was enough.
“From now on, I will not allow anyone to touch the things you treasure, Madam.”
“Thank you.”
"I'm going to take my leave now. If you need anything, just pull the rope next to the bed. Yes."
I lay down on the bed, covered with a blanket.
My head was in a mess.
'What will life be like here from now on?'
The journey was full of relief and hope.
Relief at finally being free from Kavala and Andrea.
I was certain that Andrea would never be able to endure the arduous journey to Ronheim.
The hope that we can start anew.
But the tiresome label of being the Idelian Princess stuck with me.
'I can't get everyone on my side. But at least if I'm going to survive here, I have to erase the Idelian name from my mind.'
It would be no use asking Callius to make sure people don't misunderstand me.
'I must impress upon the people here that I am no longer the Princess of Idelian, but the Marchioness of Rodrian.'
After spending a few days with the Ronheimers and listening carefully, I realized that calling me Princess was not a title of respect, but rather a title that implied they would not recognize me as the Marchioness of Rodrian.
I thought and thought again about what I had to do to be accepted by them and be called the Marchioness of Rodrian.
But before I could figure out a good way, a soft, thick blanket lulled me, exhausted from the travel, to sleep.
It was a sweet, sweet sleep. It had been a long time since I slept in such a nice bed.
I fell into a deep sleep.
Then suddenly, in my sleep, I saw an ominous red light flashing across my chest.
'Hmm? What is it?'
I rubbed my eyes in surprise and looked again, but there was no light anywhere except the fire in the fireplace.
Did I have a dream?
I was so sleepy that my eyelids felt heavy.
I didn't think much of it and went back to sleep.
But after that time, I couldn't sleep at all throughout the night.
Brentian felt wronged, thinking that Grenada was taking his words lightly.
"It's not just a rumor. I can hear the sound of metal clashing inside the doll. There must be something dangerous hidden inside. Don't listen lightly, and be careful. I don't know what the Princess might do..."
Granada cut off Brentian's words.
“Brentian, haven’t you seen the lady’s body?”
"Yes...?"
“Even if she charged with all her might, wielding a blade like that, no one in Ronheim could stand against her.”
"Granada, even though she looks like that, she's actually Idelian. Contrary to appearances, she might have hidden agendas, so it's best to be careful..."
Granada doubted whether Chloe could stab a man with her thin hands and arms, which seemed to have no muscle whatsoever.
Stabbing a person requires more strength and skill than you might think.
With Chloe's strength, it would be difficult to penetrate someone's muscles, let alone bones.
Chloe, who doesn't even know how to lift a bath basket, has no strength, so who on earth can she physically attack?
'Then she won't even be able to cut a carrot.'
Grenada kept thinking about that the whole time she was washing her.
'There must have been people serving at the Arrental Palace. Why on earth is she so skinny?'
She was so worried that she thought she might be sick.
She patted Brentian on the shoulder.
“You think too much and you miss what’s really important.”
"Ah..."
Brentian let out a sigh of relief.
He's heard that somewhere before.
It was the same in Lhasa and Granada, and he couldn't understand why people said that he was overthinking things when he looked at himself.
Brentian was furious and fired at Granada.
"Let me also say something. Granada is too weak for those who appear weak. You seem to be fooled by the Princess's appearance and seem to take lightly the fact that she carries Idelian royal blood."
He got so excited that he ended up saying things he shouldn't have.
“Do not forget who murdered the one you served. The Idelian royal family is our enemy.”
“...”
Granada looked at Brentian without saying anything.
Brentian, who met those calm gray eyes, belatedly realized, "Oh no."
But the water was once spilled.
Granada said calmly.
"How could I ever forget? With every step I take on this prosthetic leg, I relive that day's events more vividly than anyone else."
Her wrinkled eyes turned slightly red.
She swallowed several times as if her throat was choking.
"Don't think that just because your wounds hurt, someone else's hurts less. Everyone's own wounds hurt the most."
“...I was reckless about that. I apologize.”
“Yes, I know.”
She soon returned to her rigid, expressionless face and straightened her posture.
“And by the way, even if the parents are murderers, there’s no guarantee that the children will become murderers too.”
“The children of criminals are much more likely to become criminals themselves.”
“I wonder if the same results would be achieved under conditions where branding on his forehead and finger-pointing were strictly controlled.”
“...Anyway, it won’t hurt to be careful. I clearly warned you.”
Brentian spoke in a slightly stern tone and then disappeared.
There were many people in Ronheim Castle who, no matter how mature they usually acted, couldn't hide their childish side in front of Granada.
Alex, who had been keeping his mouth shut and observing the two people's expressions, nodded to Granada and followed Brentian.
***
'I need a place to take out my treasure and hide it.'
I looked at the teddy bear and the cushion seriously.
Alex and Brentian must have noticed something fishy inside.
'Where can I hide my treasure without anyone knowing?'
The employees at Ronheim Castle hated me, and I couldn't trust my maids, so it was a difficult situation.
While I was in deep thought, Granada came back.
I watched her closely, hoping to get some clue as to what Brentian might have said to her.
But Granada didn't show any sign of it and just put on my pajamas and dried my wet hair thoroughly.
I looked at Granada, who was silently combing my hair, through the mirror. Granada, who I thought was absorbed in combing my hair, spoke.
"If you have a question, ask it confidently. If you've been offended, speak up confidently. You have the position to do so."
“...!”
How can you be so honest about something like that?
Her gray eyes met mine directly through the mirror, and I awkwardly looked away from the mirror, pretending not to notice anything.
She spoke again firmly.
“Don’t avoid eye contact and clearly state what you want.”
“Uh, I’m sorry.”
I felt a pang of anger and apologized, but she spoke sternly to me again.
"It's not good to apologize for something that doesn't need to be apologized for. It spoils the maids."
“Ah... I see.”
She was right. I was determined not to overdo the apology, but here I am again.
'It's difficult for people to change.'
I asked them to train the maids, and they said they were training me.
Granada put down her comb and asked.
“So, what do you want to ask?”
I was hesitant to talk about Brentian to her, a fellow Ronheimer, but I felt like I would get in trouble if I didn't, so I had no choice but to bring it up.
I was scared of her.
“Viscount Creep...”
But when I actually brought up Brentian's name, I was confused about what to say.
Does Brentian find my doll suspicious? Does he dislike me? Does he doubt me?
'I can tell just by looking at it, so why would I ask?'
When I hesitated, Granada nodded as if she understood.
Instead of pushing me further, she spoke her mind.
"The Viscount was rude. I made that clear to him, so it won't happen again."
I was taken aback. Was that what she said when she went outside?
Granada's expression was firm.
Looking at her unwavering appearance, I decided that she wasn't lying.
Even though it was my first time seeing her today, I could tell for sure that lying wasn't for her.
“Thank you.”
"He doesn't trust you, Madam. Every single action of yours must be suspicious. As you know, just over a dozen years ago, we lost countless precious people to the Arrental army."
“...”
“I don’t think I need to explain at length what I’m talking about.”
“I understand well.”
"Great."
I felt it from the moment I first saw her, but I was surprised by Granada's bold personality, which made her say such harsh words to my face.
"For that reason, it's inevitable that Viscount Creep would be wary of you, Madame. It's his job to quickly recognize and prepare for any threats to Ronheim. However, today's actions were indeed rude, so I hope you'll receive an apology someday."
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Granada nodded. Then, seemingly turning around, she turned back towards me.
“By the way, can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Did you hide a weapon inside that doll?”
I looked back at Granada with wide eyes.
“Weapons? Did Viscount Creep misunderstand that much?”
I waved my hand, feeling a little relieved that I hadn't been caught hiding treasure, but rather had been misunderstood.
“That’s not true. I don’t even know how to handle weapons.”
Granada nodded as if that was enough.
“From now on, I will not allow anyone to touch the things you treasure, Madam.”
“Thank you.”
"I'm going to take my leave now. If you need anything, just pull the rope next to the bed. Yes."
***
I lay down on the bed, covered with a blanket.
My head was in a mess.
'What will life be like here from now on?'
The journey was full of relief and hope.
Relief at finally being free from Kavala and Andrea.
I was certain that Andrea would never be able to endure the arduous journey to Ronheim.
The hope that we can start anew.
But the tiresome label of being the Idelian Princess stuck with me.
'I can't get everyone on my side. But at least if I'm going to survive here, I have to erase the Idelian name from my mind.'
It would be no use asking Callius to make sure people don't misunderstand me.
'I must impress upon the people here that I am no longer the Princess of Idelian, but the Marchioness of Rodrian.'
After spending a few days with the Ronheimers and listening carefully, I realized that calling me Princess was not a title of respect, but rather a title that implied they would not recognize me as the Marchioness of Rodrian.
I thought and thought again about what I had to do to be accepted by them and be called the Marchioness of Rodrian.
But before I could figure out a good way, a soft, thick blanket lulled me, exhausted from the travel, to sleep.
It was a sweet, sweet sleep. It had been a long time since I slept in such a nice bed.
I fell into a deep sleep.
Then suddenly, in my sleep, I saw an ominous red light flashing across my chest.
'Hmm? What is it?'
I rubbed my eyes in surprise and looked again, but there was no light anywhere except the fire in the fireplace.
Did I have a dream?
I was so sleepy that my eyelids felt heavy.
I didn't think much of it and went back to sleep.
But after that time, I couldn't sleep at all throughout the night.
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