Chapter 8
Flor placed her hand on her hip with a snort and fixed Pierro with a glare, her eyes burning. Pierro, in turn, stood with his arms folded, staring back at her with an intense gaze. What are you two up to?
"Why are you behaving like this? Have you truly been charmed by this woman?” (Flor)
“I told you to mind your words. She's not the kind of person you can talk about like that. And so what if I am?” (Pierro)
“When we were kids, she was just the girl carrying laundry and not even looking at us! But now you act as if you owe her something, you really...” (Flor)
“I told you to mind your words! The past is in the past. Can't you accept that times change and people change?” (Pierro)
“That's what I want, what can you do about it!” (Flor)
“Is your ability to learn so low?” (Pierro)
“Why, are you going to hit me this time?” (Flor)
“I'm seriously considering it.” (Pierro)
“That's rich coming from a geek like you. You're the one who always got beaten up by me…” (Flor)
“Are you proud of bringing your friends over to harass your sick cousin?” (Pierro)
I wasn't the one to bring their increasingly childish conversation to a halt.
"What is all this commotion about?"
Adriana was the one who intervened.
Our heroine was apparently on her way to the bathroom, just like me, but upon witnessing these cousins in the midst of their hallway quarrel, her eyes widened in shock and she placed her hand over her mouth.
"Oh my goodness, what kind of scene is this? Do you realize where we are?"
Pierro, who had been engaged in a heated exchange with Flor, immediately looked sheepish at the sharp reprimand from the Princess.
However, Flor, still flushed with frustration, remained defiant. Clearly, her temper was running high.
"You’re well aware that I am not from the Parke Duchy."
"I beg your pardon...?"
"The princess is a guest, correct? She should continue on her way. This is a family matter."
Oh dear... Is Flor intentionally trying to get herself permanently excluded from the imperial high society? Adriana's normally doll-like face was now flushed. She quickly regained her composure.
"Young lady, what on earth... I don't know why every encounter with you becomes a commotion, but perpetuating this ongoing conflict isn't beneficial for either of you. What has my friend done to you?"
"It's not about what she's done, it's that her very presence is unsettling. Because of her, my family is in discord, our reputation is tarnished, and the society..."
"My goodness, what are you even talking about? Instead of clashing, why not take this opportunity to communicate openly? I hope we can find a way to reconcile. Come on, everyone, Sasha included."
Adriana, her tone softening, took the lead by firmly grasping Flor's hand.
Flor, taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, reluctantly followed suit. Curious about what Adriana was up to, I followed them, as did Pierro.
With the four of us walking together, we naturally attracted the attention of everyone around us. Adriana, leading Flor who was attempting to break free, approached the table where Benya was seated.
Lethias, who had been engaged in cheerful conversation with a bishop (who was struggling to maintain a dignified expression in the presence of the snake-eyed individual), froze in place upon seeing us.
The Crown Prince, who was approaching with a glass in hand to join the conversation, also furrowed his brow and stiffened his expression.
"This is..."
"Duke and Ducal Prince, Lady Vivora wishes to offer her apologies to Sasha for the previous incident. Right, young lady?"
Flor's complexion transformed from its previously enraged state to a pallor as soon as she saw Benya.
She shook her head dazedly, rendering her incapable of speaking. As a result, Pierro's frustration became apparent.
"When did she do that?"
"Sir, please refrain. Our goal is to compromise with one another. It's not productive to continue provoking each other."
Alongside Pierro, who fell into a hushed silence, Flor turned a pitiable gaze toward me.
Lethias, meanwhile, stood with his jaw halfway open, conveying a message that he was at a loss for words due to the absurdity of the situation. Our eyes met briefly before he looked away.
"Right, Sasha? Will you open up your heart to her?"
Benya slowly lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, then turned his peculiar gaze toward the two young women. Finally, he shifted his attention to me. I returned his gaze with a wry smile.
It was all an innocent act.
Playing the role of an unheard mediator, implying that Knoxus genuinely meant those words, convincing herself that I was just a stand-in for the deceased Estelle, transforming her childhood friend into a subject of ridicule within the social world...
It was all based on the naive assumption that the world operated as she perceived it to.
If this were any other story, if this were her narrative, perhaps things might have proceeded in a plausible direction, leading to the rescue and redemption of the pitiable villain from the depths of villainy.
I envied that innocence, the belief that everything could be resolved through warmth and conversation.
It was both enviable and frustrating. For we had lost it all too soon.
Yet, this isn't her story.
Miss Heroine, your presence here is not appreciated.
"Excuse me... but that's a decision Sasha needs to make. It's not something anyone should impose on."
It was Alfonsina who interrupted, halting the ongoing exchange. The eyes of everyone at the table, except for Benya's inscrutable gaze fixed on me, shifted toward Alfonsina.
"What do you mean?"
"Simply put, Sasha recently experienced a near-death incident. The decision to accept an apology should be entirely hers to make."
Alfonsina's voice, though soft, conveyed a firm resolve. She bit her lip and lowered her gaze slightly.
Adriana, who was staring at her friend with an incredulous expression, turned her attention to me. Her face expressed a mix of embarrassment and concern.
"Sasha, I…"
"It's alright, Princess. I know you meant well. If anything, you should probably apologize to the young lady who was caught up in a kidnapping while trying to conduct business..."
As I spoke with a gentle wave of my hand, soft laughter erupted from various corners of the room.
Adriana quickly released her hold on Flor's hand, and Flor fled the ballroom with a face as red as fire as if she were escaping from some impending disaster.
How many people are you screwing up today, Miss Heroine?
"Oh my, what a pity... Lady Vivora."
I pretended to call out to Flor's departing figure and then followed suit.
Along the way, I happened to lock eyes with a certain overprotective siscon Ducal Prince, who was seated to the side, downing drink after drink. How did he manage to get so drunk again?
By the time I returned to the hallway, Flor had already vanished.
I thought I heard the faint echo of her hurried footsteps in the hallway to my left. I walked in the opposite direction, heading towards the bathroom I had intended to visit earlier.
True to the grandeur of an imperial palace, the public bathroom was exquisitely adorned and immaculately maintained.
Brushes and straightening tongs were neatly arranged near the mirror, which was framed with intricate ivory designs. A sponge soaked in a fragrant liquid exuded a delicate scent.
I stood in front of the mirror and used my hands to fix my disheveled hair and clothing.
My complexion looked a bit pale, but overall, I was in decent condition. The reflection of my tired, red eyes stared back at me, as though they had something to convey.
Are you concerned, Sasha? Don't worry. I won't allow myself to falter.
I offered a reassuring smile to my reflection before exiting the bathroom. Just as I was about to turn the corner, I cast a wave toward the statue of Saint Elua placed nearby.
"Are you all right?"
Did he follow me here? I forced a somewhat awkward smile.
"I suppose you witnessed everything."
"I was anticipating a different commotion today, but it unexpectedly ended rather peacefully."
Knoxus spoke in a sardonic tone, the unlit cigarette dangling from his lips. He stared at me intently, the spark of his lighter nowhere in sight.
"If you have something to say..." (Sasha)
"Are you feeling unwell?" (Knoxus)
"What?" (Sasha)
"You don't look quite yourself. Or perhaps you're just nervous?" (Knoxus)
"Why would that matter..." (Sasha)
"A certain silver-haired princess stirred things up for you. If I were in your shoes, I'd be quite irritated by now."
So, he's concerned about me? For him to be this casual, he must have temporarily forgotten that he once poisoned me.
"It seems Your Highness has a penchant for interrogating me."
I attempted to walk past him, delivering a cold retort, but his hand caught mine.
"It's not like that. Does it seem like I'm interrogating you?"
"That's what it feels like, every time we meet..."
"Isn't it true? You're susceptible to provocation. Hasn't my prediction always been accurate? You're still as agitated as ever. Look at your trembling hands."
My hands were shaking because I was famished, but I decided to provide a different explanation.
"So?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm asking, what are your intentions? It seems you derive satisfaction from observing my reactions, no matter how negative they may be."
"… There's no one in this Imperial city who's as insolent towards me as you are. When an intelligent woman like you behaves like this, it's not just the behavior of an ignorant servant luxuriating in comfort and forgetting my princely status. The more you act the way I've imagined you to be, the more convinced I become."
Knoxus's grip on my hand tightened, and his icy purple eyes bore into mine. Breaking a strong belief is no easy feat, is it? Especially if it's such a twisted fantasy.
"I fear nothing..."
"Yes, you fear nothing. Except for him. I wonder what would happen if I were to walk over there and tell him to leave you alone."
"Your Highness..."
"For God's sake, I'm not actually going to do it, so don't look so frightened. I'm not some pervert who enjoys inflicting pain on you. I’m quite the opposite."
"..."
"I don't know what to think... I can't just leave you like this."
I widened my eyes at the bitterness in his voice. And then, it happened.
"What's going on here?"
Did they all conspire today? As the Crown Prince approached rapidly, I instinctively straightened up and attempted to free my hand from Knoxus's grip. However, Knoxus wasn't about to release his hold.
"Are you also heading in that direction? You must have witnessed their act at least once or twice, haven't you?"
"Release that hand. Unless you want things to get ugly."
"Why? Are you worried your beloved lapdog will raise objections?"
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