Chapter 21

Lirika swallowed her scream. Shouting in such a situation would only make things worse. What she needed to do was act.

She was about to run when Laub, who had approached from somewhere, stopped her. When Lirika turned her gaze, Laub slightly shook his head.

Attil grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him up, speaking in a low voice.

"Get lost, Barat's masterpiece. I want to confirm if those rumors are true before I do."

"Hah."

Fjord laughed briefly.

"Is that so? I'm also curious if those rumors are true."

His crimson eyes stared straight at her.

"Shall we confirm it?"

Clank, clank

Lirika's gaze involuntarily turned to the table. The dishes on the table were trembling.

The surface of the raspberry juice in the glass was shaking. The table wasn't moving.

The dishes were trembling as if reacting to something.

No.

Whatever it was, it had to stop. Lirika pushed Laub away and ran to Attil, pulling him hard.

"Stop it! He's my guest! I won't forgive you if you continue to be rude!"

She pushed her way between them and started pushing them apart.

Struggling, Attil let go of Fjord, and they stepped back a few paces, glaring at each other like fighting dogs.

Lirika stood in front of Fjord and said,

"He's my guest. My guest."

Lirika stood firm.

"So, the responsibility for Fjord's safety is mine. Attil, please leave."

"What? Hey, you don't know what—"

"His Highness, the Crown Prince."

Bryn cut in, her deep purple eyes cold.

"This is the White Dragon Room, the residence of the princess. I apologize for the disrespect of interrupting the conversation of the high-ranking officials. However, I can no longer tolerate the rudeness to the princess."

Bryn bowed, and Attil clenched his fists before saying,

"If he's so good, do as you please."

Attil stormed out of the room, and Pai bowed to Lirika and left with him.

The door slammed shut. Lirika tried not to show her relief as she turned to Fjord.

"Are you okay? I'll call a doctor right away."

"This is nothing. There's no need to call one."

Fjord smiled and asked Lirika,

"But are you okay? You've made an enemy of the Crown Prince because of me. He's not someone you want to offend, is he?"

Lirika's shoulders twitched, but she spoke resolutely.

"An argument won't make us enemies. And Attil was clearly in the wrong. Fjord is my guest."

Lirika shook her head.

"And it's not nothing. I'm not okay. Sit down. If you don't want a doctor, I'll at least apply some ointment."

At the commanding tone, Fjord blinked and wiped his mouth, saying,

"I'm really fine, Princess. In sparring, injuries can be much worse."

"It's different in sparring."

Being hit is scary and painful.

Violence makes people shrink and lose their thoughts.

"I don't like it. I won't let Fjord leave like this. Even if he says he's fine, I don't like it. Bryn, can you bring something sweet and easy to eat?"

"Yes, Princess."

She ruled the White Dragon Room. She had rights, and with those rights came responsibilities. Lirika clenched her fists.

'I should have handled it better from the start.'

It was probably because two men, both taller than her, were involved that she was flustered. Moreover,

Lirika glanced at Laub. His gray eyes blinked once.

'I need to talk to Laub later.'

A moment later, a maid brought a medicine box, and Lirika picked up tweezers and a cotton ball.

"Here."

While applying the ointment, Fjord kept his eyes down. Occasionally, he glanced at the princess, but she was focused on applying the ointment and didn't notice his gaze.

"Done."

Lirika handed the tweezers back to the maid and led Fjord to the newly set tea table.

A warm milk chocolate was placed there, which was also Lirika's favorite drink.

"Drinking this will calm you down."

Lirika said and drank the milk chocolate in front of her. The sweet and slightly bitter taste of the warm milk chocolate warmed her insides.

She felt her tension slowly easing. She knew Attil was rough, but she didn't expect him to throw punches.

Thinking about it brought back memories of being hit in the past, making something inside her shrink.

'What should I say to Attil?'

Lirika pondered while dipping a piece of castella in chocolate. After taking a big bite, she felt more confident that things would work out with Attil.

"Is it good?"

Lirika asked, and Fjord nodded.

Everything was new to him. Being hit to the point where even the maids in his household no longer asked if he was okay.

Something that stood out in his heart seemed to be fading.

'What is this?'

He wondered.

It was a peaceful time, as if the commotion had never happened. Warm sunlight filled the parlor, and a sweet fragrance spread from the cups. Even the silverware seemed to shine softly. The atmosphere made both body and mind relax.

The one creating this atmosphere was the princess, the mistress of the White Dragon Room.

Fjord couldn't help but smile faintly. Realizing he was smiling, he slightly pressed his lips.

He quickly drained his cup.

"I should leave now. The Crown Prince will feel better once I'm gone."

Lirika shook her head.

"That's between me and Attil. You don't need to worry about it."

"As a loyal servant, I cannot. I also crossed a line today. I apologize, Princess."

Fjord apologized formally. Lirika shook her head.

She should have responded properly from the moment Attil grabbed his collar...

Fjord said he was fine again and asked,

"Although it seems we have to part ways today..."

He hesitated. There were few things in his life that made him hesitate, but this was one of them.

He knew he shouldn't come here anymore. But he did.

He looked at Lirika. Her transparent eyes met his without hesitation.

"If you're okay with it, can I be invited again next time?"

He said it, thinking it was a mistake, but he didn't want to take it back. Fjord looked at Lirika.

Lirika thought of Attil and looked at Fjord in front of her. His split lip made her feel sorry.

"Sure."

Lirika nodded, and Fjord smiled, bowing to her.

"Then I will take my leave. May you be well, Princess."

After seeing Fjord off, Lirika asked Bryn,

"Attil won't attack him on the way back, right?"

"You don't need to worry about that, Princess."

"Why are they so hostile? What happened between them?"

"It's best to hear it directly from them. Both will answer if you ask."

"Hmm, you're right. Okay."

It might be better to ask them directly rather than hear it from others.

Lirika sighed and turned to Laub.

"Laub, can we talk for a moment?"

Lirika led Laub to the room next to the parlor and closed both doors.

Lirika placed her hands on her hips and prepared to speak, and Laub knelt on one knee to meet her gaze.

"Why did you stop me?"

"I judged it to be dangerous."

"Then why didn't you stop me when I ran in later?"

"I thought both of you would accept the reconciliation at that point."

"Would it have been better if I had stopped you at the beginning?"

"At the beginning, I thought your intervention might have made things worse."

"Why?"

Lirika tilted her head, and Laub slowly explained,

"His Highness likes you and considers you on his side. If someone he likes takes another's side, he gets even angrier."

"Hmm..."

Lirika crossed her arms and grumbled. Laub smiled faintly and continued,

"But after hitting him, both of you probably felt a bit regretful inside. You crossed a line."

If someone intervened, it would be a good time to stop.

Lirika's shoulders slumped at Laub's words. She sighed,

"But they were fighting in the White Dragon Room. I should have done something. Whether it made things worse or not, I should have. If I had run in, would Laub have protected me? Or is the Crown Prince off-limits even for Laub?"

What would a great princess have done in that situation? Lirika couldn't figure it out.

"Of course, if you had wanted to act, I would have protected you. But there's a more certain way."

"What is it?"

"Call me."

Lirika looked at Laub Wolf. A faint heat was visible in his gray eyes.

"If you had told me to handle the situation, I would have. Whether it meant drawing a weapon or stepping between them."

"Laub is my bodyguard. Is it okay to ask you to do such things?"

The words slipped out without her realizing, and his face clouded over. He seemed to struggle with his words before continuing,

"I am your shield. But I also want to be your sword."

Is that okay?

The question was implicit in his words. Lirika was surprised.

She was a child, and people spoke freely in front of her. No one held