Chapter 235
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 235
“How could you say such a thing…! No, that’s not it!”
“It’s not? Then why are you trying to tear my carriage apart? Does that make sense to you, Sir Knight?”
“As I’ve already stated, Grand Princess—and I shall say it again—I am acting on orders from above.”
Orders from above. I see…
“This carriage I’m in isn't just a means of transport; as you can see, it’s an incredibly extravagant luxury item. If your orders are that absolute, shouldn't you be searching under the dresses of every noblewoman as well? Or are you already doing that, Sir Knight?”
The knight’s face flushed a mottled red at my sarcasm. But compared to the fury I was feeling, his embarrassment was nothing.
Is it Empress Carmi? That crazy woman is really pulling out all the stops.
The only people who could give such an order to the Capital Security Forces were the Emperor, the Empress, or the high-ranking noble in charge of public security.
If it had been the Emperor, the knight would have used the term ‘Imperial Decree.’ And if it were just the noble in charge of security, they wouldn't have dared order such a thuggish act after being shown the Frezier Grand Ducal status plate—especially since we weren't in a state of war.
Why are they trying to wreck someone’s perfectly good carriage? Have they actually lost their minds?
While I was seething with white-hot rage and annoyance—
“We will dismantle it as carefully as possible. My apologies, Grand Princess. Men! Escort the Grand Princess to the side.”
“How dare you lay a hand on the Grand Princess!”
“Are you trying to insult the House of Frezier?!”
The driver and the footman, filled with righteous indignation, blocked the soldiers.
Immediately after, the knight approached me with a brazen expression. Judging by his momentum, it looked like he was ready to strike me down with that greatsword of his.
I don’t know about the others, but this knight has definitely received a secret message directly from Empress Carmi.
Otherwise, there was no way a mere knight would dare go this far.
Fine. Today, I’ll show them the true personality of the officially designated ‘total trash’!
Take it to a noble trial. I’ll cling to your throat until the day you die.
The footman, having caught my signal, was already sprinting toward the Frezier mansion. The problem would be resolved shortly.
I just had to protect the carriage until then!
…Or so I thought.
Swish!
“Grand Princess Tulia!”
The driver’s voice rang out like a scream. I was just as shocked.
The knight had actually swung his greatsword at me.
Fortunately, I wasn't cut. But if I had been even a step further forward, I would have been seriously injured.
“According to national law, those who obstruct an inspection may be subdued by force. If you do not wish to be hurt, I suggest you step back—”
The knight couldn't finish his sentence.
Clang!
A heavy metallic ring echoed, piercing the ears. Simultaneously, the knight, who had been exuding such a vicious aura, dropped his greatsword.
“Who dares!”
The knight let out a roar of fury. But it was short-lived. As he turned around, the color drained from his face, leaving it deathly cold.
I was just as stunned.
Ferdinand was walking toward us, his red eyes sunken with a terrifying, suppressed rage.
He carried that uniquely overwhelming aura—the man in whose veins flowed the noblest blood in the Empire.
He was a being born to be worshipped, so tall that one had to tilt their head back just to meet his gaze…
“Y-Your Imperial Highness!”
As the knight hurriedly dropped to one knee, the dazed soldiers followed suit, adopting the same formal etiquette.
Ferdinand, who had reached me in an instant, scanned me from head to toe with eyes like ice.
“Are you hurt?”
“Uh… no. I’m fine.”
I saw his jaw tighten. Ferdinand turned back to look down at the knight.
“It seems the laws of Brillant have become quite lax.”
His voice was so frigid it sent shivers down my spine.
“Since when has it been acceptable for a mere knight to commit such an act of insubordination against a Grand Princess?”
“…!”
The knight looked up, his face pale with shock.
“Y-Your Highness! It was not insubordination! I was merely following orders handed down from my superiors!”
“And?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you also receive an order saying it was acceptable to harm the Grand Princess?”
“It wasn't that, but the Grand Princess was obstructing the inspection, so I had no choice but to—”
“No choice?”
Thud!
The knight was sent flying, slamming into a nearby wall. Something must have broken, as blood began to seep out, staining the ground.
“We are not at war, and the House of Frezier is not a family of traitors.”
Ferdinand walked toward him with measured steps.
“And yet, a mere ‘Sir’ is granted the authority to harm a Grand Princess? Who gave it to you?”
“Cough, ack…”
“I am asking who gave it to you.”
The knight coughed violently, unable to catch his breath. Ferdinand’s boot tapped the ground lightly near the man.
His voice was cold on the surface, but anyone could tell: Ferdinand was absolutely livid.
As proof, not only the soldiers but even my driver—who was entirely under my protection—was trembling uncontrollably.
Come here. Over here.
I gestured slightly for the driver to hide behind me. He scurried over and peeked out from behind my back.
“My Lady… are you alright?”
“I’m not hurt.”
“Oh, thank heavens. If you were, Adel would have buried me alive…”
The driver’s tearful voice was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.
And yet, Ferdinand seemed to have heard it.
Since both of us were huddled together, watching Ferdinand intently, we both flinched simultaneously.
Ferdinand didn't strike the knight again. Instead, he simply reached down and tore something from the man’s chest.
The knight’s face turned even paler than when he had been kicked.
What Ferdinand had ripped away was the knight’s medal of honor.
A knight whose medals were stripped by a member of the Imperial Family—the Crown Prince, no less?
It was the equivalent of being told he no longer had the right to be a knight.
“Y-Your Imperial Highness!”
Ferdinand issued a cold command.
“Take him away.”
“By your command!”
Ferdinand’s subordinates dragged the knight off. The man let out screams and pleas, but he was quickly gagged.
“Your Highness.”
As a few remaining subordinates approached, Ferdinand gestured with his chin toward the trembling soldiers.
“Investigate which ‘superior’ gave such an insane order and report back.”
“By your command.”
The surroundings became quiet in an instant.
This was a residential area for high-ranking nobles, so it was usually quiet, but seeing it this deserted…
Empress Carmi must have intentionally picked a spot with no witnesses to try and wreck the carriage.
Seriously, why does she have such a grudge against someone else’s carriage…
“Tulia.”
I snapped out of my thoughts at Ferdinand’s voice. Or rather, I was startled into alertness by his next action.
He had hopped right into my carriage.
“Your Highness?”
“Ferdinand.”
“Ferdinand? Wait, why are you just getting into someone else’s carriage?”
“…Ah.”
Only then did Ferdinand step back out and offer me his hand. He looked like the perfect image of a nobleman offering an escort.
“My apologies. I should have let the lady board first. As you know, there are no ladies in the Imperial Palace.”
“No, I mean, this is my carriage?”
“I used the horse I rode here to haul that knight away. Are you telling me to walk?”
“…….”
“If you tell me to walk, I’ll walk. Though, didn't you almost get sliced by a sword because of me?”
“What? You know about that?”
Did he know Empress Carmi was behind this?
“How could I not? It involves the Imperial Family.”
I scratched my cheek.
I suppose so.
Since they were enemies, he would naturally be keeping a close eye on Empress Carmi. Thinking about it that way, it would be stranger if he didn't know.
“And it involves you.”
However, his follow-up comment was something I hadn't expected.
Feeling a strange sense of embarrassment, I quickly changed the subject.
“Fine… alright. Get in. Be careful.”
“So this is the famous carriage.”
I thought Ferdinand wouldn't be interested in such things, but he examined the carriage quite thoroughly.
He didn't look particularly impressed, though; he was just observing.
“Should I have you dropped off at the Imperial Palace?”
“Just lend me a horse from the Frezier mansion. I’ll return it later.”
I nodded. I opened the small window connected to the driver’s seat, gave our destination, and the driver quickly set the horses in motion.
Ferdinand didn't sit across from me; he sat right next to me. The funny thing was, I didn't find the lack of distance uncomfortable.
It was probably because of all that time we spent sleeping while hugging each other at the temple.
In any case, the atmosphere was much more relaxed than I expected. At least, it felt that way to me.
“Tulia.”
“Yes?”
“Are you truly unhurt?”
“I’m fine. I think he swung the sword just to threaten me in the first place. He couldn't have been stupid enough to actually wound me.”
Actually, I had something I was more curious about.
“By the way, Ferdinand. Are the side effects completely gone now? I mean… will you stay in this grown-up form permanently?”
Ferdinand let out a low sigh. A subtle emotion flickered in his eyes before vanishing.
“Only during the day.”
“Pardon?”
“I turn back into a boy at night.”
“Why?”
“Probably because you haven't returned enough of my divine power.”
Divine power? No matter how much I thought about it, Jjapddongbyeol must have been the one secretly absorbing it, not me.
…Should I let Jjapddongbyeol stay with Ferdinand for a while?
Just as I furrowed my brows—
“Tulia.”
Ferdinand rested his chin on his hand and stared at me intently.
“I won’t ask you to be with me at night, so won’t you at least stay by my side like this during the day?”
“Because of the divine power?”
“Among other things.”
I blinked.
“Other things?”
Ferdinand gave a light chuckle, still resting his chin on his hand.
“Can’t we just be together even if there’s no business to attend to? I told you, Tulia.”
His red eyes peered into mine as if trying to look into the very depths of my soul.
“I like you.”
In that moment, my heart skipped a beat.
It was something I’d heard several times now, so why did it catch me off guard every single time?
Whether he knew how I felt or not, Ferdinand continued, his gaze never wavering from mine.
“I heard Crown Prince Benjamin gave you this carriage as a Coming-of-Age gift. Wouldn't it be fair if you told me what you wanted as a gift as well?”