Chapter 128
Iora could hear the maids muttering under their breath, but she remained perfectly composed. One maid, who had carelessly blurted out, “She does have a point, though…”, immediately found herself shrinking under the glares of the others, letting out a startled hiccup.
“I-If… if the fact that I’ve been moving ahead with the lessons upset you, Iora…”
“No. I told you, I’m not looking for an apology.”
“Then… weren’t you trying to leave because you were angry? I really do want us to become friends…”
If someone apologized like that with tears welling in their eyes, it was inevitable that you would end up looking like the villain. And in this world, anyone who saw those tearful eyes would probably apologize first and do whatever it took to comfort Arcanda. Even the Emperor, cold as he seemed, probably would have.
Iora quietly called out to Shana, who had been standing some distance away. The young girl hurried over at once.
“What does my schedule look like today?”
Quick to catch on, Shana answered without missing a beat.
“You’re supposed to head into the city, my lady, and you’re already running late because of this unexpected interruption!”
“See, Arcanda?” Iora said with a small smile. “I really do have somewhere I need to be. I’m not angry with you, and just because I’m leaving now doesn’t mean I don’t want us to become friends.”
Iora extended her hand as though inviting Arcanda to shake it. At that very moment, Arcanda stumbled.
From behind, it would have looked as though Iora had shoved her hard enough to make her lose her balance. The movement was executed with remarkable precision.
Iora’s eyes curved into a smile. Something like this had happened more than once. Come to think of it, hadn’t it been the same at that banquet, when Arcanda ended up drenched in wine?
“Oh my!”
But this time, things were different.
The one who firmly seized Arcanda’s arm before she could fall, hard enough to hurt, was Iora. Arcanda, in turn, had grabbed hold of Iora’s sleeve as though in a frantic attempt to steady herself.
At the same moment, the Crown Prince, who had already been standing nearby, reached out and caught Arcanda as well. Their faces ended up only inches apart.
Meeting the gazes locked between the three of them, Iora smiled with gentle concern.
It was Iora who spoke first.
“Oh dear.”
“Iora, you just—”
“Arcanda, your legs must be weaker than I realized. Studying is important, but perhaps you should take a walk now and then. Are you all right? Ah… could you be anemic? That was quite a surprise. I didn’t even touch you, and yet you nearly fell.”
“But, Iora, just now you—”
“Shana, you saw it too, didn’t you?”
The young girl darted in at once and answered brightly, her voice full of confidence.
“Yes, I saw it clearly! She stumbled all by herself!”
“……”
This was exactly why she’d decided to have a witness. A personal maid who stayed by her side like a shadow. A soft smile spread across Iora’s face.
The chance to feign ignorance until the engagement was broken off had already passed. Now that Arcanda had grown suspicious and begun making her moves again, it was impossible for Iora to keep playing the timid, grief-stricken version of herself from the past.
Meeting Arcanda’s vacant gaze, as though she were staring at something utterly incomprehensible, Iora whispered gently:
“And would you let go now?”
“Wh-What?”
“My sleeve. You’re holding it.”
The moment Iora pulled her arm free, Arcanda genuinely lost her balance. She immediately collapsed against Jane, who had rushed over, and the crown prince, who was already supporting her.
The bewildered look on Arcanda’s face was so satisfying that it felt like a weight lifting from Iora’s chest.
One by one, she swept her gaze over the stunned maids, who looked as though they couldn’t begin to understand what had just happened.
Then, with quiet confidence, Iora walked straight past them.
Behind her came Shana, grinning from ear to ear, and Guillen, wearing a far more complicated expression.
No, it was just as she was about to walk away. Someone caught hold of her arm.
She saw her escort knight stiffen, instinctively reaching for his sword before slowly lowering his hand again.
With a quiet sigh, Iora turned her head.
“What is it, Your Imperial Highness?”
“Iora, I…”
Arcanda was only a short distance away. The maids were still watching them as well. The last thing Iora wanted was another rumor involving the Crown Prince. She took a deliberate step back, widening the distance between them.
Ovid’s gaze wavered with what seemed to be genuine regret. But when Iora spoke, her voice was cool and composed.
“I told you that I have somewhere to be, Your Imperial Highness. Even for you, I believe this is rather discourteous.”
“Lady Iora, I came here to see you from the very beginning.”
What is he talking about? Beyond Ovid’s shoulder, Iora could see Arcanda’s expression slowly beginning to twist.
It sounded as though he were trying to insist that he hadn’t come here because of Arcanda. But what difference did that make?
Curling one corner of her lips into a faint smile, Iora tilted her head.
“Your Highness, I don’t believe you made an appointment with me, did you?”
Discussion
1 CommentRBluemoon238
At least make the 💩 said believable with the reality