Chapter 9
That day, Diana learned the emotion of “liking” something for the first time. The crown prince, now unconscious, was dragged away, and the next criminal was brought in. This one too was someone Diana knew—the bastard who had torn her only piece of clothing to shreds.
“P-P-Please spare me, Duke. D-Diana. Do you remember me? I-I’m your brother. You and I share the same father… S-So…”
The prince, having just witnessed his older brother dragged away in a wretched state, prostrated himself flat and begged. Diana remembered more vividly than her only garment being torn—those chilling hands that had groped her body.
Diana alternated between looking at the man pressed flat to the ground and the seal in her hand, then smiled brightly and stamped the document sentencing him to execution without mercy. Thud! A snicker escaped her at the sight of the man being dragged away screaming in agony. And after that, too—
Thud! Thud! Thud!
It only ended after stamping the seal several more times. Seeing those bastards who’d looked down on her like vermin now prostrate at her feet and begging gave her a strange feeling.
“Well done, Your Highness.”
With a low chuckle, Viern reached out his hand. Diana, who had reflexively flinched, froze at the touch patting her head. It was strange. The feeling was far too ticklish. So much so that she thought being hit would be better…
‘Being hit would be better? What kind of nonsense thought is that?’
She immediately shook her head vigorously side to side.
* * *
After the execution ceremony ended, Diana was guided not to the ducal estate she’d left that morning, but to an unfamiliar room in the palace. This room, which the crown prince had used until just a month ago, would now become her quarters.
“This is my younger brother. He’ll become Your Highness’s knight and assist you from now on.”
The knight Viern brought was his younger brother she’d seen before—Aisen Erkman. His face made it obvious he’d been dragged here against his will. And indeed, that was the case.
To think the woman his older brother had suddenly brought to the estate one day was a princess! What’s more, this woman seemed to have a bad temper and be violent—and he had to become this terrifying woman’s knight!
“What are you doing, Aisen? Hurry and greet Her Highness the Princess.”
“H-Hello, Your Highness. I am…”
Just as Aisen was nervously offering his greetings while watching Diana’s mood—
“I don’t want him.”
“P-Pardon?”
“I don’t like him. Not him—you attend to me.”
Diana spoke while staring straight at Viern, not even glancing at the stammering Aisen. However, Viern smiled lightly as if he hadn’t heard her words, his eyes curving.
“Then, have a peaceful day.”
Leaving only those words, he simply walked out.
“…….”
Diana stared forlornly at the closed door, her mood suddenly souring. Her eyes, sharpened in an instant, turned toward Aisen.
“Huh?”
“This is because of you!”
The pillow from the bed hit Aisen square in the face.
“Viern left because of you! You go! Go and bring Viern back!”
As if that wasn’t enough, she picked up the pillow that had fallen to the floor and began beating Aisen with it wildly, trying to drive him out.
“Ahhh, p-please calm down, Your Highness!”
Aisen covered his face with both arms to block Diana’s venting and made excuses.
“E-Even if it weren’t me, my brother is too busy to attend to Your Highness!”
“Why is he busy?”
“Well, my brother is the Chancellor of Laurelai, and he has to oversee state affairs in place of His Majesty the King who lies bedridden and Your Highness who knows nothing, and because of the crown prince and his faction, the state of the country right now is just terrible…”
“Then you can be busy in his place!”
In the end, before Aisen could even finish speaking, Diana began expressing her fury by whacking him with the pillow again. Thwack, thwack!
Aisen couldn’t bring himself to fight back and fled in circles around the room, dodging Diana’s attacks. He felt dismayed by the strong premonition that his days attending the princess would be far from smooth.
In any case, from that day forward, Princess Diana became the kingdom’s sole heir overnight. However, the true master of the kingdom wasn’t her, but the young Chancellor Viern Erkman, who dared to make his office on the floor directly below the princess’s bedroom and manipulate the kingdom as he pleased.
According to what people said, it was Duke Erkman who had orchestrated everything—laying the king low in his sickbed, framing the crown prince and his faction with false charges, and executing them. Yet despite the ominous rumors surrounding him, countless praises followed his name as well…
—The light that ended Laurelai’s darkness!
—Laurelai’s blessing bestowed by God, Viern Erkman!
In fact, although Duke Erkman had bloodied his hands and staged a coup, there were many who chattered that life was far better now than when the crown prince, who had committed tyranny daily, ruled the kingdom. Some even said they’d rather he become the next king.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.