“……Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Roxis’ hand, which had stopped at the base of my neck, clenched into a fist, then slid back down. But his hand on my shoulder remained.
“I don’t care even if you are my lady’s older brother.”
Julion stepped closer, displeasure written all over his face. Then his gaze dropped to Roxis’ hand on my shoulder.
“I am a jealous man.”
It was a tone I hadn’t heard before.
Julion tightened his grip on Roxis’ wrist.
“So I expect you two to refrain from touching in front of me.”
Slowly, Roxis’ hand slipped away from me.
I sucked in a sharp breath at the sensation of being released from the pressure.
A tension that had started in my shoulders traveled down my spine.
“Don’t get me wrong, we were just having a conversation.”
“Seems like you have a unique way of conversing.”
Julion’s golden eyes glanced at the shoulder Roxis had been holding a moment ago.
Although I couldn’t see properly, I could imagine that my skin was slightly bruised.
Julion’s expression grew grim.
“That’s how my sister and I usually talk, Your Highness.”
As if it were no big deal, Roxis withdrew her hand from Julion’s grasp, and offered a friendly smile.
“I am relieved to see that my sister is so loved.”
“You’d better watch your language, Lord Roxis Cassian.”
But Julion’s tone grew sharper.
He grabbed my hand and pulled it toward him.
“She is not just your sister, but the Crown Princess of the Empire.”
With a slow gaze, Roxis alternated between looking at Julion and me before smiling and placing a hand on his chest.
“I have made a mistake, and I hope your generous highness will forgive me.”
He continued to bow, but Julion’s gaze was cold.
“A mistake?”
His mocking gaze landed on my shoulder.
“You can make mistakes with titles, but I don’t think this one can be excused.”
“…… Your Highness.”
“I will take this matter formally to the Duke of Cassian.”
“Your highness, you misunderstand…….”
“The Duke of Cassian has mishandled his son’s education. The only one who dares to continue to contradict the crown prince’s words is you.”
Roxis’ face suddenly took on a dark look of despair.
With our father’s intense dislike of being publicly reprimanded, it was clear that Roxis would be subjected to severe corporal punishment.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Roxis tried to open his mouth again, hoping to make amends.
But Julion no longer allowed him to speak.
“Or maybe.”
Julion’s voice became more subdued.
It was as if he were pointing a sword at Roxis, even though he held no weapon.
“Do you wish to be summarily disposed of by me on the spot?”
If he didn’t shut up now, he would use force.
Roxis bowed his head, his fingertips trembling as he struggled to maintain a smile.
“……I apologize. I’ll back off.”
Only after Roxis’ navy blue backside disappeared from view did Julion look in my direction.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, of course.”
Under his gaze, I reflexively covered my shoulder.
‘Of all times, I had to wear an off-shoulder dress.’
As it was an outfit that revealed my shoulders, attempting to cover the bruise was futile.
Julion’s brow wrinkled at the sight of the bruise.
“Why didn’t you shout and call someone, you fool?”
He ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
The bared eyebrows beneath his white forehead arched in annoyance.
“I’m sorry, ……I’m not mad at you.”
“I was going to scream, but you got here a little sooner.”
Julion narrowed his eyes as if in doubt.
I quickly changed the subject, fearing an awkward topic might come up.
“I’m going to be late, so you can go ahead while I freshen up.”
Then, a quick-witted Zenid came close to me.
“There’s a powder room right next door, Your Highness.”
“That’s great. Let’s go.”
I pushed past Julion and headed for the powder room with Zenid.
He looked like he had something to say, but he didn’t stop me.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Your Highness, I’m sorry.”
As soon as we reached the powder room, Zenid became distressed.
“I should have moved faster.”
“No. It was beyond your control. But what could we use to cover my shoulders?”
Continuing like this would undoubtedly spark new rumors at the feast.
Articles like <The Crown Princess, a Violent Scoundrel,> or <The Crown Princess and her Hidden Hobbies> would hit the headlines across the continent.
“How about this?”
Zenid held out a dark navy blue shawl.
It looked like it would go well with my light blue dress.
“It’s nice. I don’t have to do my hair again, do I?”
“Yes, just a little here…….”
With her familiar touch, Zenid made a few minor adjustments, then handed me the shawl and gave me another wistful look.
“I swear, it doesn’t hurt at all.”
“Don’t lie to me, there’s no way it doesn’t hurt with all those bruises.”
“Mmm, it only hurts a little. Seriously.”
It was indeed true.
Because I had almost no sense of pain at the moment.
But Zenid didn’t know about my illness.
As I debated whether or not to tell her.
‘Besides, I’ll get better anyway.’
I realized that telling her would only cause her more worry.
I purposely put on a more energetic voice and jumped to my feet.
“Okay, that’s it, let’s go. We don’t want the main character to be late.”
“Yes……”
Zenid answered, her voice still filled with guilt.
I left the powder room without another word.
But before I could take more than a few steps, I had to stop again.
“Julion?”
Julion stood leaning against the wall where the scuffle had occurred earlier.
He straightened up when he saw me.
“Why aren’t you going in?”
“I can’t guarantee there’s no one else like Roxis, can I?”
For a moment, I was speechless, wondering what he was talking about.
Did he wait for me just in case there was another potential danger?
As I stared at Julion wordlessly, he coughed and held out his hand to me.
“Besides, it’s a wedding reception, and we should go in together.”
Seeing his outstretched hand, I found myself smiling unintentionally. Perhaps I was beginning to understand why people referred to Julion as the upright prince who stood up for the weak.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Your Highness, congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you.”
I didn’t have much to do at the feast.
I simply sat in the designated seat, greeted the nobles who came to offer their wishes, and received their congratulations.
The rest of the nobles gathered in twos and threes and were busy chatting among themselves.
Of course, most of the conversations revolve around me.
Or, more precisely, about the incident with Hemion earlier in the day.
“Did you say Hemion Martin? I heard she was poisoned…….”
“Was her highness originally trained in medicine?”
“Well, I’ve heard rumors of her making poison.”
“Oh, I guess that’s why she was able to make an antidote.”
All sorts of speculations were being thrown around.
All of them were about things I had secretly instructed the maids to spread.
If I had simply said I was studying medicine, my father would have opposed it as a waste of time.
However, if it was about poison, he would permit it to some extent, thinking it could be useful for our family. My assumption was correct, and I even received support to study, although the support dwindled as my progress stagnated.
“But wasn’t it kind of cool?”
“What are you talking about? Could it be Your Highness?”
“Yes! It’s a pity I didn’t see it myself, but my maid was nearby and described it to me in detail…….”
One of the young ladies started to recount the story. I wished she had done it from a distance, so I wouldn’t have to hear it.
Unfortunately, her seat was just a few steps away.
Feeling embarrassed and awkward, I turned my gaze here and there for no apparent reason.
Then I made eye contact with Julion.
“I was surprised, too.”
Oh no.
He was about to tell me that story.
I rolled my eyes, hoping for something else to talk about, and coincidentally, another noble came to greet me.
“I’m a little late, but congratulations on your marriage.”
“Not too late. Thank you for your congratulations, Count Retin.”
Count Retin breathed a sigh of relief when I replied with a broad smile, as if he thought I was going to berate his tardiness.
One after another, other nobles kept coming to greet me, so I was able to avoid Julion’s stinging gaze.
‘I don’t see my father.’
My sisters and brothers, in other words, the other Cassian ladies, expressed their reluctance to become part of my entourage a while ago.
The Duke of Cassian had attended the wedding, so it was only logical that he would come to the reception, but he didn’t appear in the hall until the banquet was nearly over.
Nor did Roxis.
He was probably running around addressing various issues related to the Hemion Martin incident.
‘Well, at least the most important card is in my hand.’
Today’s events were a harvest I had never anticipated.
It’s a card that will come in handy in the future.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
When the banquet was over, I went straight to my pre-heated bath.
As the hot water enveloped my body, I felt my mind drift away.
“Your Highness, I’ll sprinkle rose petals.”
“You don’t have to.”
“But it’s your first night!”
Zenid excitedly dumped the petals into the tub.
I decided to just enjoy the sweet atmosphere, even though it wasn’t going to happen the way she thought it would anyway.
The fragrant aroma filled the bathroom, and after receiving a massage, I finally finished my bath.
As I dragged my tired body out, the palace maids were waiting for me.
“I’ll help you get dressed, Your Highness.”
The maid draped a thin robe over me, and it was transparent in certain areas, covering the important parts while leaving the rest semi-transparent.
“Do you have any other clothes?”
It seems like I might feel quite chilly with just this on.
The maid who was arranging my hair paused and asked.
“Do you have a particular preference?”
“No, I just thought it might be a bit cold.”
The maid’s head tilted to the side, puzzled.
She didn’t seem to understand, so I tried to explain.
“His Highness the Crown Prince is here.”
The door swung open at the sound of the servant’s voice from outside.
Instead of walking straight in, Julion knocked softly on the open door.
“I’ll come in.”
wow hold up dang this story is going way too fast