Chapter 34
“I couldn’t ask earlier because of Grizelle, but I was curious. Wasn’t your partner supposed to be the Second Prince?” Elenia asked.
“My match rate with the First Prince is much higher. And he’s more…”
As she explained to Elenia, Sylaria’s lips parted. She was about to describe Euclid, but for some reason, her face grew warm.
The moment she thought of Euclid, she recalled his intense gaze, staring straight at her.
And those lips, as if he were holding back what he wanted to say.
Also…
“Is it because His Highness the First Prince is more handsome?”
“No, it’s not like that.”
“Why not? He really is good-looking.”
At Elenia’s playful words, Sylaria’s earlobes turned red. She shouldn’t have any particular feelings for him, but for some reason, it was embarrassing.
“Anyway, I’ve decided to be with him. I’ll protect you, Ellie. Let’s stay here together.”
“I’d love to be with you, Sister. But… isn’t His Highness the First Prince dangerous? There are so many scary rumors about him.”
“How does he seem to you? Does he seem like that kind of person?”
“He was kind to me. He even told me how you’ve been living in the palace.”
Sylaria smiled as she listened to Elenia’s words. He was someone far from affectionate, but it seemed he had been considerate so Elenia wouldn’t be afraid.
“Then trust your own eyes.”
“Okay.”
“And, Ellie. This is really important.”
“What is it?”
Sylaria swallowed dryly. Now came the main point.
“Don’t trust anyone here. Not the Second Prince’s people, and not even Grizelle.”
“Why not Grizelle?”
“Grizelle knows Father, and Father knows Grizelle. If she were to pass news about us to him, it could become dangerous.”
Sylaria finished speaking, watching her sister nervously.
Elenia was affectionate by nature. A simple warning wouldn’t be enough to make her keep her distance from Grizelle. That was why she’d even brought up their stepfather’s letter.
“It’s for our sake, Ellie.”
At Sylaria’s earnest plea, Elenia lowered her gaze as if lost in thought. After staring for a long while at the letter box on the floor, she finally looked up.
“Okay, Sister.”
That was enough.
Sylaria hugged her younger sister in relief. It felt as if the misfortunes tangled around her fate from her previous life were finally beginning to unravel, one by one.
* * *
Clang!
A transparent glass crashed to the floor and shattered. Empress Cressida, seated before the tea table in the greenhouse, stared impassively at the broken glass.
Then, she calmly began to push the other glasses on the table off with her hand.
Clang!
Crash!
Even as shards of glass scattered, her expression didn’t change. The Holy Knights standing by her side watched nervously, but she silently let the glasses fall.
Soon, she had swept everything on the table to the floor and snapped her fingers. As a maid approached to serve, Cressida spoke in a chilly tone.
“Bring more glasses.”
The maid trembled and hesitated. When she didn’t move quickly, Cressida bit down hard on her red lips.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and bring them.”
“Y-Your Majesty the Empress…”
“So now even the servants are looking down on me.”
Cressida sighed quietly and muttered. Rubbing her temples, she finally spoke.
“Yes. I should stop taking out my anger.”
With that, Cressida stood up from her seat. She gave an order to the trembling maid.
“Lie down.”
“…Pardon?”
The maid blinked in confusion. Sharp shards of glass littered the floor at their feet. But to suddenly be told to lie down?
“You moved so sluggishly that I couldn’t even vent my anger. So you should leave now, shouldn’t you? Go on, lie down.”
Cressida lifted her skirt slightly, revealing the tip of her shoe. She meant to step over the maid.
Understanding the Empress’s intention, the maid turned deathly pale and desperately pleaded.
“I-I was wrong! Your Majesty, please forgive me!”
“I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve that.”
Cressida muttered in a bored tone. She ignored the crying, begging maid and addressed the Holy Knights.
“Why are you just standing there? Are you going to let the maid ignore my order?”
At the Empress’s command, the Holy Knights grabbed the maid by both shoulders with stony faces. They kicked her shins and forced her to her knees.
The maid’s skirt was stained with blood as she knelt on the shards of glass.
“Ahhh!”
“That’s enough.”
As Cressida hummed a tune to the sound of the maid’s screams, a harsh male voice came from the entrance of the greenhouse.
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