Chapter 103
After seeing that ridiculous scene first thing in the morning, her head was still pounding.
‘This whole damn house is seriously crazy.’
She had tried to suppress it with the power of the saint, but it broke loose all at once like a dam bursting. Hopefully, this isn’t heading toward the storyline from the original novel The Saint’s Flower. She cursed the Ribandt family — all of them.
Lost in these pointless thoughts, Iora pressed her temples firmly.
At the dining table, only she and the obnoxious Janus were sitting. The moment her eyes met her brother’s, Iora’s gaze turned fierce. Her eyes sparkled as if silently cursing him with a sharp glare.
“What? If you have something to say, say it. Don’t just stare at me like that and make me uncomfortable.”
“They’re your parents… why on earth… why are you acting like this? Have you forgotten you’re part of the family?”
He spoke cautiously, but it was basically a scolding tone.
Mother first, and now you? What a pain.
Iora clenched the glass tightly, trying to hold back a savage smile. Maybe pouring this over his face would make her feel better.
Noticing the flicker of that thought, Janus slid his chair back a little.
“Don’t argue with me, I’m not in the mood to be nice. Didn’t I tell you last time? Want me to smack you in the head?”
“In the end, whether you become a saint or not, you’ll live under Father’s orders.”
“Big brother. Who said I’m going to live like that? I’m not like you, you know.”
“That’s… that’s the law of nobility! It’s not something that’ll change just because you’ll personally fight against it!”
Watching him, Iora realized he had a talent for dressing nonsense up in elegance.
And through today’s conversation, Iora finally understood that she had to stop just thinking about the things that had been bothering her and instead chop through them like an axe.
First, she would quietly spread rumors that she was romantically involved with Vigros and actively had his support. Then, when others started to mistakenly believe she had a protector no one — not even the Emperor, the Crown Prince, or Father — could easily touch, she would take action.
‘But before that…’
Iora recalled the abilities she had recently discovered from frequently visiting the saint’s mansion.
“I’m getting out of here, Janus.”
“Ha.”
“So just focus on what you need to do.”
“You—what on earth!”
“Stop nagging already, unless you want to get a bonk on the head.”
She thought carefully about the tasks ahead as she put the pasta, which felt like paper, into her mouth and chewed. If she didn’t eat well, that man might turn into a sparrow again and burst in carrying a bunch of food.
At that moment, a servant came in with a tray holding a letter sealed with wax and a paper knife. She took it and opened it, and inside was an invitation letter. At the same time, Iora’s and Janus’s faces both twisted in displeasure.
‘It looks like he’s trying to get to me. Damn Crown Prince.’
Janus’s voice trembled.
“You, is that…?”
“Quiet, don’t even think about telling Father and Mother.”
“You! You’re going to hide this? You know how long they’ve been waiting for this!”
“I know. That’s exactly why. Are you out of your mind?”
“…I just don’t understand you. Why are you acting like this?”
No fool who was the heir of a noble family would not know the Imperial Seal. Janus was an annoying character, but he was smart, and at a glance, he recognized that what she held was the Imperial Seal and that the sender of the invitation was the Crown Prince. He also knew that it had come directly to her as if it were something meant to be delivered to the head of the family, their father.
“What kind of relationship do you have with the Crown Prince? Could it be some kind of… scheme?”
Before he even finished speaking, Iora scoffed. Just when it seemed he might realize something, he was way off.
“Are you stupid? He’s my fiancé. What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Everyone knows the Crown Prince has never sent you a single letter before… and now this invitation?”
“Maybe His Highness the noble Crown Prince is feeling a bit… adventurous.”
Her tone was dripping with sarcasm, unmistakable to anyone. She quickly skimmed through the invitation, slipped it back into the envelope, then stood up. Fixing a fierce glare on the stunned man, she snapped:
“This is not a matter for the family. I’ll handle it myself.”
“How long do you plan to keep acting so reckless? There’s a limit to how much I can forgive!”
“…”
Janus slammed his chair back and stood up, shouting angrily.
But Iora’s heart almost stopped at his yell.
Was she startled? Afraid?
No, she was just too furious. Iora’s eyes snapped wide open.
“…Forgive? Who, me?”
“…”
Her violet eyes flickered like blazing flames.
Iora giggled softly at first, then suddenly burst out laughing. Without warning, she stretched out her arm and, almost climbing onto the table, placed one knee up while grabbing the collar of the man across from her.
“Hey.”
“Ugh!”
Her strong grip jerked his neck with a cracking sound.
“I don’t care what else you say, but when you say that with your mouth, doesn’t it make you angry? Why do you keep grinding down your own character like that by spouting such hypocritical and unaware bullshxt? Is it because you have mush for brains?”
Janus’s face turned a deep red, looking like he might die right then and there. Iora stared cruelly as he struggled to breathe, then suddenly dropped her hand. “Heuk!” he coughed and staggered backward, nearly falling, before the approaching servants rushed to support him.
Iora’s eyes were cold. Not in the slightest like those of a sister looking at her brother.
“You’re already a stranger to me, Janus.”
“…”
“No need to forgive anything I do. Because I won’t be forgiving you either. Watch closely and remember what’s going to happen from now on.”
She spun around sharply and noticed her bodyguard halfway drawing his sword. Surely, he wouldn’t threaten her with that sword in this situation.
‘What? Was he seriously planning to strike Janus with it?’
The lady and the guard stared at each other in shocked silence, then awkwardly cleared their throats. One stepped ahead, the other followed behind. Shana glanced at Janus out of the corner of her eye, then giggled quietly as she watched the two walk off uneasily. She scampered over to Guillen, nudged his side, and whispered:
“See? Lady Iora’s not a villain after all. Even you tried to protect her.”
Guillen, ever the serious type, glared at the sword he had unconsciously drawn and muttered through clenched teeth:
“Shut up. I still… can’t accept it.”
If this one wasn’t the villain, then what does that make the person whose heart was broken by her bullying?
Wouldn’t that mean one of the two was lying?
Guillen couldn’t bring himself to accept that.
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