Chapter 27

"Casablanca, my daughter, has caused you great inconvenience. Mimosa, who is also my daughter, has already been married off, but I never thought she would do something like this... Casablanca is still not in good health."

"That's true, Viscount Norton. Throwing a drink at someone during the royal banquet... It's not something a proper lady would do."

Father and Percival are supposed to be in cahoots, but Percival's words are sharp. What troubles me most is that he is holding me in his arms while talking, right here in the anteroom.

But I can't say it's okay. I can't really say that. I can't predict what Casablanca will do next. The delayed fear is making my body tremble.

Mother sits next to Casablanca, trying to calm her down, who is breathing heavily and contorting her face in anger. There is a table between us, and Father is sitting in the middle on a single sofa.

"Mimosa is already my wife. The wedding hasn't taken place yet, but on paper, she is. After the ceremony and the contract is filed with the church, she will take the name Chaltry, but in terms of status, she is already the next countess... a member of the Chaltry family. And yet, Miss Casablanca apparently tried to throw a drink at her during the banquet... during this grand banquet."

"Is that true?" Mother asks Casablanca. Casablanca grinds her teeth and contorts her face even more.

"Yes?! I was just trying to correct my sister's impoliteness. It's not that big of a deal!"

"Be quiet."

Father, more sternly than ever, rebukes Casablanca's words and turns to Percival and me, bowing deeply.

"It seems it was too early to let her out of the house. Despite the kind invitation, this disgrace at the Chaltry family and the royal banquet... I need some time to think about how to apologize. For now, please, if you could calm your anger with my apology... No, I understand that my apology as a viscount cannot make up for anything. Still, please, this is all I can do."

"...I will accept your apology. However, we must set up a formal meeting later. My father is explaining the situation to the royal family, so it can be handled. However, throwing a drink at someone, whether a woman or not, is an act of violence. As a member of the Royal Guard, I hereby forbid Miss Casablanca from attending any royal social events from now on."

"You don't have that authority...!"

"Can't you hear me telling you to be quiet? ...The top priority of the Royal Guard is to eliminate any danger to His Majesty and the royal family. Can't you recognize what you've done? He is a member of the Royal Guard and has the authority. On my part, I will ensure she does not leave the house until her condition stabilizes. A formal apology will be made later... Today, I am deeply grateful for your kindness in not arresting her."

I understood the conversation between Father and Percival. As the sister of the Chaltry countess, who had married into the family, the countess probably wanted to avoid making a big deal out of it and suggested moving to the anteroom. Normally, violence at a royal banquet would result in immediate arrest.

Father's reputation will likely decline again. Yet, he is bowing. The purpose of revealing to my sister that Percival and I are not having an affair and preventing further embarrassment has been achieved, but it has only added to the shame.

I am weak. How weak I am. I am protected by the Lord of Roten, and now by Father and Percival. The Lady of Roten was sent away to protect her. I can only offer a handkerchief to the person who was attacked.

I felt like crying out of shame. But Percival strongly pulled me into his arms.

"Viscount Norton, you are a trustworthy person. Unfortunately, your daughter does not seem to understand the situation, but let's attribute it to her illness. -- I am not only a member of the Royal Guard but also Mimosa's husband. I am Mimosa's knight. If I need to protect her... Miss Casablanca? Don't overstep."

I was startled. The piece of paper I had put in my dress pocket last night, along with the handkerchief.

A knight is a knight because there is someone to protect. Then, because I exist, Percival is a 'knight' for me.

Today, he is not participating as a member of the Royal Guard, but as my knight, as my husband, he is protecting me with his words. To prevent me from being more afraid, to prevent the situation from escalating. He is acting as a knight towards the Norton viscount family.

Casablanca finally swallowed her emotions, feeling the coldness in Percival's voice. It was a chilling cold, but I think it was necessary to stop her from continuing to lose control.

Father stood up, urging Mother and Casablanca, and bowed deeply again before leaving through the back door.

"...I'm sorry. I promised to be your knight, to protect you... last night."

"Don't apologize, Percival."

"But..."

"You protected me just now. ...The Lady of Roten did protect me, but if I were alone, Father and I couldn't have stopped my sister's outburst. ...Percival, even without a sword, you protected me as a knight, as a husband. Thank you for protecting Father... and the Norton viscount family."

I wrapped my arms around Percival's neck and hugged him tightly. I could hear his heartbeat quicken, which somehow calmed me.

His large hand hesitantly wrapped around my back, and I stayed in his arms until I calmed down.