Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Translation: godsn
"That should be sufficient, I believe."
The girl who had maintained an expressionless face finally spoke. Facing the murderous knights, she showed not a single trace of intimidation.
"You wench! How dare you interfere with my punishment? What are you doing! Seize her at once!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Though the princess's furious shouts echoed, Iason couldn't tear his eyes away from the unfamiliar girl.
The princess's guard knight strode toward the girl without hesitation.
But before the burly, rough-looking man could even open his mouth to threaten her, a sword was pressed against his neck. It was the female knight protecting the girl.
"Step back."
The speed of her draw was astonishing. The princess's knight hadn't even been able to follow the movement of her blade with his eyes.
"Does Valdina only have vermin like you? How dare some lowborn wench interfere here? Do you know where you are?"
The princess's face grew even redder as she saw her guard hesitate.
"Who are you to insult Valdina at every turn? Judging by how little you care for your homeland's honor, you must either be a traitor or not even from this country."
"Wh-what? How dare you! I am of the Great Empire—!"
As the princess, provoked by the girl's words, was about to reveal her identity, Kensington grabbed her arm and whispered urgently.
"Enough. Have you forgotten, Your Highness? Where we are?"
No matter what was said behind them, they had to conceal their identities after causing such a scene today.
While silencing the princess, Kensington eyed the silver-haired girl who had appeared out of nowhere with suspicion.
"It's all because of your idiocy! We should've just killed them from the start!"
Meanwhile, the princess, frustrated by the stalemate, began pinching and kicking her guard in a fit of rage.
The guard looked like he might burst into tears from the harsh kicks, but he didn't utter a word.
"......"
The girl remained utterly composed, making the contrast between the two starkly apparent to onlookers.
Princess Angelique's face twisted in fury.
"Damn it! I refuse to stay in this wretched place any longer. Let's go!"
As the enraged princess stormed off, peace finally returned to the street.
"Th-thank you. Thanks to you, Tippy and I are alive."
"Pii, piii!"
The baby tiger also let out an adorable cry.
The girl gave a slight, indifferent nod and immediately turned to leave.
Iason, who had been watching the scene as if entranced, hurriedly stepped forward.
"Your Grace, the Grand Duke? Where are you going?"
The voice of the knight calling after him didn't even register.
Exiting the tent, he spotted the girl walking not too far away.
"Wait, please wait!"
Iason chased after her desperately. The sight of her silver hair fluttering like silk inexplicably left his mouth parched.
"Forgive my forwardness, but may I know your name?"
Her steps didn't falter, and her hand remained just out of reach. Watching her retreating figure filled him with an inexplicable sense of longing.
Her bravery in stepping forward to stop the outrageous violence when no one else would. Her calm demeanor that had silenced the arrogant Angelique.
The girl was not only beautiful but also wise.
"......"
Please, just stop for a moment and look back at me.
Just as Iason wished fervently, the girl's footsteps halted.
Ah, thank goodness. A wave of inexplicable relief washed over him.
"The one who caused the disturbance earlier is my cousin. She was raised too indulgently and lacks manners. Allow me to apologize on her behalf."
His voice was warm and considerate, the kind that could melt away anyone's wariness.
Finally, the girl who had stopped turned around.
The moment he saw her beautiful emerald-green eyes, Iason felt his breath leave him.
And at the same time, an intense killing intent grazed the back of his neck.
'What was that?'
Startled, Iason lifted his head and scanned his surroundings. The hostility had been so palpable, it felt as though an assassin might be targeting him.
Yet he found no trace of anything amiss and focused his attention back on the girl before him.
In the blink of an eye, those large emerald eyes trembled with shock. Fear, rage, and an inexplicable sense of regret flashed across them in an instant.
"Young lady? Are you all right?"
It was strange. Why was the girl startled at the sight of him?
Though bewildered by the myriad emotions swirling in her eyes, Iason searched his memory, wondering if he had met her somewhere before.
No. If he had seen a face like hers before, he would never have forgotten.
"Young lady."
Iason reached out his hand. He swore it wasn't with any ill intent.
It was just that the trembling droplets clinging precariously to her lashes, as if they might fall at any moment, looked unbearably pitiful to him...
"I merely wished to—"
Thud—!
But his outstretched hand was mercilessly slapped away.
A stinging pain lingered on the back of his hand. Iason realized she had struck him.
"It doesn't hurt. Don't worry."
Unconsciously, he mumbled the words to reassure her.
By then, the girl's face had already returned to an unreadable mask, as if nothing had happened.
The turbulent emotions that had flickered in her eyes had long since dried up. Her pale face was like a thick curtain drawn shut—impossible to decipher.
For a fleeting moment, the emotions she had carelessly revealed made Iason clench his fist without realizing it.
If only... if only she would look at me like that just once more.
"I had no intention of startling you. I merely wished to apologize on behalf of my cousin. And if you would be so kind as to tell me your name, I would be most grateful—"
Hah. A derisive snort seemed to come from somewhere.
Had he misheard?
Just as Iason was puzzling over it—
"What use is gratitude or apology now, so belatedly?"
The girl's voice was icy as she cut him off.
"Forgive my presumption, but if you had been watching from the beginning, shouldn't you have stopped your cousin? Instead of standing by indifferently, pretending it wasn't your concern."
"Pardon...?"
"If you have so much leisure, perhaps you should reflect on your own inconsistency between words and actions first."
He was still a Grand Duke of the Empire.
Born of the second most noble bloodline after the Emperor himself, this was the first time he had ever been chastised so bluntly to his face.
By the time a dazed Iason regained his composure and looked for her, the girl had already vanished.
From the green building where Facade's branch was located, the entire commotion caused by Angelique was visible.
"The Fourth Imperial Princess hasn't changed a bit. Whether in Kazen or Valdina, she's the same—I suppose I should at least commend her for her sheer tenacity."
"Checkmate."
Cesare's cold voice echoed. He didn't even glance outside, as if entirely uninterested in the ruckus.
On the table beside the window where they sat, a chessboard was in full play.
Black had devoured most of White's pieces, leaving only a few remaining.
"Boss, go easy on me. You're slaughtering me in a straight line here."
Gallo groaned, tugging at his hair in frustration.
"Oh? Look, Grand Duke Castulo is over there too. See, Boss?"
As if trying to divert Cesare's attention, Gallo peeked his head out the window.
"After secretly joining hands with the Regent behind the scenes, it seems he's brought Jared along for this trip to Valdina."
"Iason brought Jared?"
Cesare's brow arched slightly. Then, as if understanding, a derisive laugh escaped him.
"It seems my dear cousin is finally starting to stretch his limbs, hm?"
He had seen through Iason's ambitions in an instant.
"Living like a dead mouse all this time, and now that the Boss is gone, he's slinking out to extend his reach inside and outside Kazen. If he secures both the Regent and Jared, he won't be someone we can ignore anymore."
Gallo grumbled, as if annoyed.
"Well, anyway, for now, he'll have to dance around the Fourth Princess's temper, so it's not like he's having it easy either... Huh?"
Gallo tilted his head in confusion.
"Wait, isn't that the Princess?"
The hand moving the chess piece froze.
Cesare looked up. Beyond the window, a flash of silver hair flickered before disappearing.
"Did I see wrong? Well, there's no way she'd be here, right, Boss...?"
By the time Gallo turned around, Cesare had already left his seat.
"Hey! Where are you going in the middle of a game?!"
Gallo shouted at his retreating back, receiving no answer.
"Damn it, checkmate! Checkmate!"