Chapter 63
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Chapter 63
Curtis, who had gained glory and honor upon joining the Knight Order, had been demoted to the Guard Post for one reason: gambling.
He was the very person who had introduced gambling into the Knight Order.
"Disciplinary orders have come down from above. First, a month of confinement...."
Curtis and all the Guard Post members who had gambled and drunk with him were shocked.
'That girl actually reported it to the higher-ups...?'
With disciplinary action falling on Curtis as the representative, the knights who had come with him began sweeping the cards and bottles from the table.
Curtis, who had accepted reality a beat too late, let out an indignant voice.
"You, you crazy bitch...!"
Watching Curtis being forcibly escorted home by the knights, all the Guard Post members shared the same thought.
'The Prime Minister really sent us a lunatic.'
...or so they thought.
* * *
The knights stormed into the Guard Post, and soon the Guard Commander was dragged out by them.
He was placed in a carriage and forcibly sent home.
But even watching that, my anger hardly subsided.
'How dare he insult Rachel?'
Of course, Rachel hadn't actually died, but to those who didn't know that fact, he was as good as dead.
I couldn't bear his words—using the dead, and worse, a child, as a means to insult me.
'I barely held back from beating him senseless.'
As I watched the carriage disappear into the distance, grinding my teeth in frustration.
"Quite the fiery workplace conduct."
A low, teasing voice came from beside me.
Still burning with anger, I shot Lahedis a sharp glare.
"Aren't you angry? Rachel was insulted."
"I am angry."
"Then why―"
"But more than that."
He approached in long strides until he was right before me, lowering his head to meet my eyes.
"I think I'd be angrier if you got hurt."
In those blue eyes meeting mine, the teasing glint from moments before had vanished, leaving only resolute concern.
"So don't do this again."
With those words, he took the bottle still in my hand.
'Oh, I was still holding that.'
I'd been so consumed with anger rushing to find the Marquis that I hadn't noticed I was still carrying it.
Only then did I realize how emotionally I had acted.
And how much trouble I had caused the Marquis by being sent to the Guard Post.
'I still have a long way to go before I can become a rational adult like the Marquis....'
Regret washed over me belatedly, and I grew dejected, when Lahedis's voice came from above my head.
"Still...."
A large hand then dropped onto my head with a soft thud.
"Well done."
Had I misheard?
Bewildered, I looked up and saw a faint smile blooming across Lahedis's face.
As our eyes met, he seemed to read the confusion in my expression and gently stroked my hair.
That touch, that smile, that gaze—everything in that moment was so tender.
My chest fluttered inexplicably.
My fingertips tingled with an odd sensation.
'...Something feels strange.'
I found myself nervously scratching my cheek with trembling fingertips, quietly averting my gaze from his.
If I met his eyes, I feared this feeling would be exposed.
I didn't want this emotion—one I didn't yet understand myself—to be discovered.
"Well then... shall we head inside now?"
I broke the awkward atmosphere and gestured toward the Guard Post building.
'From what I've seen so far, additional personnel doesn't seem necessary...'
I'd only been at the Guard Post for less than half a day and hadn't properly examined everything yet, so I couldn't jump to conclusions.
As I turned toward the Guard Post, I noticed a woman in a robe entering the building.
'Is she someone who needs help?'
The Guard Post would surely turn her away if she bothered them, wouldn't they?
I quickly followed her inside to ensure she wouldn't be dismissed so easily.
But then...
'What... what is this situation?'
All the guards, except for the commander who had been forcibly sent home moments ago, rose in unison and bowed respectfully.
And then.
"We pay our respects to the Imperial Princess."
I stared at the woman standing before me with wide eyes.
So this person with dazzling golden hair and eyes as red as rubies...
'The Imperial Princess?!'
But why was the Imperial Princess here?
Princess Hildegard wasn't a particularly significant character in the early parts of the original story.
She barely left the Imperial Palace at first, only making a proper appearance in the middle sections...
'She disapproved of Vivian.'
Because her brother Allen was so infatuated with Vivian that he neglected state affairs.
'She didn't actively slander Vivian, but she certainly contributed to Vivian's lonely life in the Imperial Palace.'
Of course, since I hadn't married Allen this time, she had no reason to hate me.
Still, knowing the original story made me somewhat uneasy.
'But I never expected to meet her here like this...'
The Imperial Princess, having received the guards' salute, naturally began surveying the interior of the Guard Post.
"You're not playing games today? Who took them?"
"They did, Your Highness."
At that question, the guards pointed to me and Lahedis as if they had been waiting for it.
Only then did the Imperial Princess's gaze fall upon me, but she quickly moved on to the next question.
"Where did the Guard Commander go?"
"The Knight Order issued a disciplinary confinement. So...."
"The Knight Order? How did they find out?"
"We reported it to our superiors."
"Who?"
"That's also...."
Them.
Instead of answering, the guards cast hostile glances at me and Lahedis.
Following their gaze, the Imperial Princess's eyes turned back to us and fixed upon us.
'Is the Imperial Princess the real power here...?'
The Imperial Princess couldn't resolve this even through the Duke or the Marquis!
As I tensed up, wondering if I would end up being disliked by Hildegard as in the original story, she approached me.
I quickly bowed my head to show respect.
"Y-Your Highness the Imperial Princess, it is an honor to meet you."
"Who are you?"
"A request came in for additional personnel, so the Prime Minister sent me as temporary staff. My name is Vivian Hessen."
"Ah, the commoner the Duke inserted?"
"...Yes, that's correct."
"And you overturned this place?"
...I think I've definitely made a bad impression.
I swallowed hard without being able to offer any response.
Setting aside my own situation, I was worried about the reputation of the Marquis, who had trusted me and entrusted me with this work, and my mind went blank.
I was prepared to take full responsibility for whatever the Imperial Princess might say....
Suddenly, a refreshing laugh echoed out.
"You're amusing."
...Pardon?
I looked up at the Imperial Princess with bewildered eyes.
But there was no trace of mockery on her face.
'Rather... is she genuinely enjoying herself?'
It was then, as I stood flustered by the Imperial Princess's unexpected reaction.
A man burst into the Guard Post.
"P-Please help me!"
From the desperate expression on his face alone, I could tell he was in an urgent situation.
Still dazed from the unresolved situation with the Imperial Princess, she grabbed my arm and pulled me.
"Come with me."
Just as I was about to be dragged away by the Imperial Princess, another arm seized me.
"Release her, if you would. It looks like it might hurt."
It was Lahedis.
The Imperial Princess alternated her gaze between Lahedis and the grip he had on my arm, her voice turning glacial.
"I suspect it hurts more because you're the one holding it?"
...Huh?
Something feels off about this atmosphere.
As cold sweat beaded on my forehead from the sudden chill in the air, I recalled a wise way to navigate this predicament.
'In moments like this....'
I gently extracted my arm from Lahedis's grip and bowed deeply to the Imperial Princess.
"Your command is my will!"
Always side with whoever holds the greater power!
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