Countess Karson, trembling in fear, and Lord Karson, glaring at her as if to kill her.
And between them, Julia was holding Lord Karson’s wrist.
“What’s going on…?” Someone couldn’t contain their murmuring voice.
“Oh my, what should we do…!” From the scene in front of them, they couldn’t grasp the exact situation that had unfolded earlier, but at least they could understand the current state of affairs.
The owner of the earlier scream in the ballroom was Countess Karson.
And the person who caused it was…
“He must be needlessly loud and shameless.”
“Let go of this?!” Lord Karson burst out, trying to push his arm away. No, he tried to. But no matter how much he struggled, Julia didn’t even flinch.
“I can’t.”
Instead, Julia calmly replied and effortlessly subdued him.
“You should have thought that being disrespectful to someone weaker than you could lead to the opposite position.”
Julia struck Count Karson with determination, indifferent to whether anyone was watching or not.
But Count Karson was not. His face, already sensing everyone’s gaze, twisted and turned into a menacing expression.
“You…!”
Count Karson was about to shout at Julia, glaring at her with his eyes full of hatred. Julia brought Count Karson down to the ground.
He was helpless against her. The noblewomen and ladies witnessing this situation couldn’t believe it.
The shocking points were too numerous, causing a bewildering atmosphere.
Amidst the chaotic mood, Erin reflexively turned to Demielan.
And upon seeing his resolute expression, she became convinced.
“Demielan likes Count Karson’s wife.”
His unfinished work was meant to create her. He didn’t even flinch, as if he had turned into a statue, just gazing at Count Karson’s wife in dismay.
Julia had followed Count Karson’s wife because she was worried about her.
Her expression was too dark. She seemed to be sweating and trembling.
But Julia witnessed an unexpected scene. As she belatedly followed from a distance, Count Karson’s wife was cowering in fear, while Count Karson was raising his hand towards her.
Seeing her disheveled hair and dirty dress, Julia could tell that he had already subjected violence upon her.
She was trembling helplessly, covering her face with her arms.
Eventually, she couldn’t help but let out a sob. So when Julia saw her leaving the reception, she quietly followed.
Julia’s body moved first. She grabbed Count Karson’s arm with one hand and tripped him down with her leg.
Then she pressed him down with force so he couldn’t get up.
At first, Count Karson was taken aback, then he tried to push Julia away in anger and get up. But no matter how he struggled, Julia didn’t budge.
Actually, Count Karson was almost powerless against her. It was when Julia confronted Count Karson in that state.
From a distance, footsteps could be heard, and people who should have been at the reception came in with shocked faces.
But Julia didn’t pay attention.
What mattered to her was not noble behavior, but standing up to the injustice she saw before her. The noblewomen and young ladies were now greatly surprised.
Her effortlessly overpowering the much larger Count Karson without showing any difficulty at all was shocking to everyone.
Meanwhile, only Erin, who knew Julia’s strength, watched this situation with interest and spoke up.
“Lady Julia, are you not hurt?”
“No. I appear frail as you can see.”
Julia said as she brushed off Count Karson on the floor. He weakly toppled to the ground. Erin looked down at him with a quiet intensity and slowly spoke.
“I didn’t expect to see Count Karson in such a state again.” Erin’s expression grew sharper.
“Why aren’t you out hunting and instead staying here…”
It was meant to imply that such behavior led to this state.
“Still, this appearance does suit you in its own way,” Erin chuckled.
It was deliberately done to make Count Karson feel ashamed. Count Karson, face contorted, barely got up with his hand on the floor.
“Lord Charte, dare you let such behavior go unchecked?” He complained to AngErina.
“Don’t worry. Measures have already been taken,” AngErina replied nonchalantly.
“As the one who arranged this gathering, it’s only natural for me to take responsibility.”
“Then please tell this insolent person to step aside,” he urged.
“I cannot move him away until the Countess’s safety is completely ensured,” AngErina’s eyes were determined, as if she wouldn’t yield no matter what was said.
“Of course that’s how it should be,” AngErina and Erin said simultaneously.
“I was just about to take measures now…!”
“Listen carefully. I already said that I’ve taken measures. And those measures…”
The dull, rumbling sound that had been shaking the ground grew louder, and dozens of knights arrived.
“Apologies for the delay!” The knights swiftly surrounded the area.
Then, the captain of the knights stepped forward and received Count Karson from Julia.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“I didn’t know there would be a problem at my reception and that the security would be so lax.
It’s my fault that everyone was startled,” AngErina expressed her apologies to the others while completely ignoring Count Karson.
“Countess Count Karson, are you alright?” Then Julia asked, looking at Countess Karson supportively as she approached.
Countess Karson didn’t respond, but thankfully didn’t appear to be deeply injured. After confirming this, AngErina’s gaze turned cold as she looked towards Count Karson.
“To think that I have caused harm to my guest at a reception upon my return to the empire. This is not a matter to be taken lightly at all.”
“She is my wife!”
“That’s right, which is why I’m even more concerned. So, don’t just send her back to the mansion, but have her escorted by the guards.”
AngErina pointed to Count Karson and said to the knights, “What are you doing right now?”
Count Karson, suddenly becoming agitated when he felt his arms being held, exclaimed as if his eyes were about to roll back, “I’m trying to resolve the issue.
Shouldn’t those who have done wrong receive appropriate punishment?”
Ignoring Count Karson, AngErina signaled the knights to take him away.
They dragged Count Karson out. Even as he was being dragged away, he continued to curse, but his mouth was eventually silenced by the knights.
Afterward, a long silence hung in the air. The first person to break the silence was not Count Karson’s wife or AngErina.
“Thank you, Lady Charte,” said a noblewoman who had been close to Count Karson’s wife.
“I’m thankful too. Thanks to you, I feel much better,” replied Countess Charte.
“No, I just acted on instinct. I didn’t think about the consequences… I hope I didn’t cause any trouble.”
Julia, who had seemed unshakable when dealing with Count Karson, was now flustered as she spoke.
It seemed that she was worried if her actions had made Countess Karson uncomfortable.
The truth was, those worries were very much rooted in reality. Dealing with immediate relief and tackling the fundamental issue were on different levels.
However, there were times when it was necessary to uncover the truth without hesitation. Then it would be a matter of having someone who could help solve the problem.
Erin possessed the ability and strength to do so, as did AngErina, of course.
“Don’t worry about that.”
“Don’t concern yourself with that.”
Erin and AngErina said simultaneously. Both of them had the same thought. Meeting each other’s gaze, they smiled. Other noblewomen and maids were the same.
“Please give me a chance to make it up. I’ll do anything that can be helpful later.”
“Me too. Today, it’s not just Lady Charte who received help.”
One by one, they all stepped forward. With everyone in agreement, solving the problem would be even less challenging. Soon, they started to smile one by one.
***
The banquet could no longer continue. The news soon reached the emperor, who had gone hunting in the mountains.
Upon hearing the news, the emperor assessed the chaotic situation and decided that there was nothing he could do to help, so he returned to the palace as he was.
The other nobles who had participated in the hunt also returned to their estates.
Thus, the banquet came to an end. AngErina instructed the servants to escort all the guests out. One by one, they began to leave.
Without realizing it, Aiden had approached Erin by her side.
“Are you okay? Did you get hurt anywhere?”
Even though he must have known what had happened, Aiden was still checking on Erin’s condition.
“I’m okay. Nothing happened.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
Still, as if just in case, Aiden examined Erin’s face and neck closely. Only after confirming that there were no signs of injury did he finally speak, reassured.
“Let’s head back, then.”
Aiden said as he tucked Erin’s hand under his arm and started to walk.
As Erin responded to Aiden, she was partially lost in thought, then lifted her head to look at him.
“Aiden, do you want to go back first?”
“Why?” Aiden asked reflexively, opening his eyes.
“I want to stay here for a while.”
Aiden’s gaze moved away from Erin to look around. Having guessed why Erin wanted to stay, Aiden frowned slightly.
Not particularly eager, Aiden slowly nodded.
“Okay. I’ll go back first today.”
As if regretful, Aiden briefly held Erin’s hand and then turned away.
Erin watched him until he was out of sight, then approached AngErina.
“I want to stay here and talk. Is that okay?”
