Chapter 3

The next day, the weather was so beautiful that before breakfast, I went for a walk in the garden with my guards, Samuel and Randy. A little lady suddenly darted in front of me.

"Did you kill Nada? How could you do such a terrible thing? I can't believe it."

Her milk tea-colored hair was gently wavy, and her eyes were large and blue. And this brazen attitude; she must be Lila, Allen's true love.

I ignored her and walked past. The woman, looking surprised, said, "Wait," and reached out her hand. I hit her hand with the fan I was holding.

"Rude!"

At my words, Samuel, my guard, pinned Lila down. The palace maids hurried over. There was disdain in their eyes as they looked at me, so they must be Lila's maids.

"This is the true love of the prince. Who is being rude here? Let go of her hand."

I glanced at the maid who was loudly speaking to Samuel and me. She seemed to be intimidated by my gaze and flinched a little.

"True love...? What does that mean? I am one of the four most noble people in this country. No, I might be the most noble now."

I said this with a smile. Yes, I am the princess of Clemender, the suzerain state. Ardybaid and Clemender differ by more than ten times in land area, and this country is far behind ours in both material and human resources. If we were to go to war, it wouldn't last a month.

So, the king and queen must have come to our country to humbly petition for a wife who wouldn't be too strong for Allen. From Allen's attitude, it seems to have been completely in vain.

In other words, I can say without exaggeration that I am more noble than anyone in this country. After marriage, I won't be stingy about supporting the king, my father-in-law. Of course, only if they govern well.

"To someone like me, a low-ranking noble spoke, and when I was lenient, she even tried to touch my body. Who is being rude here?"

The maid who spoke loudly to me glanced at the maid next to her, nodded as if she understood, and ran off. She must have gone to call Allen.

"Still, a strong knight should not pin down a noble lady. Please let go of her hand."

I smiled at the maid who was now a bit more humble.

"As I said before, what kind of order does this country have? I'm surprised that a baron's daughter can walk around the palace as she pleases, and a mere maid can speak to me without permission, let alone give orders. Lady, what is your name?"

The moment I asked her name, the maid turned pale. She must have finally remembered the incident with Nada's family. But for her to treat me like this, Lila must have suffered a lot!

"Minna did nothing wrong. She was just concerned for me."

Even while being held down by Samuel, Lila called out Minna's name. The maid called Minna shot a sharp glance at her, but Lila didn't seem to notice.

Soon, Allen came running. The maid called Minna relaxed and let her guard down.

"What are you doing to Lila! Is it ugly jealousy? Let her go!"

"Oh, I'm just catching a potential assassin to protect myself.

Jealousy...? Me, with you? Can you save your nonsense for after you've slept?"

"The princess came to this country because she is attracted to me. That's why she hates my true love!"

"Oh, what a funny joke."

I laughed.

"Me, you? No way. I only came because I felt sorry for the people of this country.

As for you, I only feel distrust and disgust, so you can rest assured, can't you?"

Perhaps because he has been pampered as the crown prince, he is arrogant—Lila loved him, too. The crown prince looked surprised at my words.

I don't understand why he thinks I have feelings for him after saying "I don't care if you die" for the past two days.

"This woman spoke to me without permission. In my country, it is not allowed for someone of lower rank to speak to someone of higher rank, but is it different here? What do you think of me?"

"In this country, it is also forbidden for someone of lower rank to speak to someone of higher rank. However, Lady Lila is an exception. After all, she is the true love of the prince.

On the other hand, you are thought to be the political marriage partner of the crown prince. A pitiful lady who will never have true love. We all feel sympathy for you."

Perhaps because Allen had arrived, Minna, who had become more confident, spoke to me without permission again. Her words were so harsh. It seems I will have to start from scratch in this country.

"Oh, Hermine Eis Sardona, this is the second time you've spoken to me without permission?

Moreover, what an interesting thing to say. True love? Do you think such a thing is necessary for royalty? What royalty need is the power and pride to enrich the country and protect the people.

Oh, and, of course, wealth is also important.

However, I am surprised to find such a disorderly person in the noble society, especially in the center of the royal palace.

A maid who displays such ugliness will not be allowed in this palace. I will give you one day to leave. If you are still here after tomorrow... you know what will happen, right?"

I called her by her full name, which is why she let out a cry and looked at Allen pleadingly, but he turned away again. A fine crown prince who can't even protect his subordinates.

It's natural to investigate your enemy before engaging in battle. I knew her name from the beginning, but I asked to put pressure on her. If she had stopped there, I would have forgiven her.

"By the way, you feel sympathy for me? I'm sorry, but I can't follow the jokes of this country.

Do the people of this country take political marriages too lightly? Moreover, my marriage to Allen is a matter of great importance between countries. Why is it seen as less important than a common affair?"

"An affair? True love!"

I ignored her shrill protest from under Samuel's arm. It's truly foolish of her not to understand even after I've explained this much. She's dumber than a monkey.

I narrowed my eyes. That alone seems to change my lovely face into a cold one. Allen and Hermine both gasped.

"Isn't it painful to receive charity from someone who pities you?

I will instruct our country's trade delegation to cut ties with the Sardona family. Oh, and the Sardona family's patron is the Duke of Rudeck, right? I will also tell them not to associate with them in the future."

Hermine's face turned pale at my words. This country relies heavily on our country for food, so cutting ties with us means they will struggle to eat from tomorrow.

While they can still survive with their own agriculture, it will be difficult to obtain food. The servants will have to go down to the town and mix with the people of the capital to get food.

Moreover, dresses and jewels are also imported from our country, so cutting ties with us means they won't be able to maintain their noble appearance.

Hermine knelt at my feet and started crying.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know my place. Please forgive me."

"I'm not a monster, you know? I forgave you once, but I don't have the time or patience to deal with someone who repeats their mistakes.

Well, if you cut ties with the Sardona family, become a commoner, and never set foot in the capital again, I might forgive your family and patron. Have the head of the family respond by today.

If I don't hear back by 5 PM... you know what will happen, right?"

Hermine continued to cry, but I don't have time to waste on such a trivial person. I turned to Allen. He also looked pale, finally realizing how terrifying I am.

"So, what did you come to say?"

"I came to help Lila because I heard you were bullying her."

"Oh, so Allen is also an accomplice?"

"An accomplice...?"

"Yes, that's right. This girl stood in my way without permission, spoke rudely, and even tried to touch me. A serious crime, isn't it?"

"Why should she be a serious criminal! She is my true love, and should be treated with the same respect as me."

"Well, then she is definitely of lower rank than me, isn't she?"

At my point, Allen bit his lip. He has been raised to believe he is the third most important person in this country, so he has a high sense of pride—this is not necessarily bad for a royal, but in his case, it has developed in a negative way. He can't deny my words, but he can't accept them either, as he has realized since the incident two days ago.

"What if she had a poisoned needle? Or had poison on her hands? I might not be standing here now.

In my country, touching a person of higher rank without permission can be suspected of assassination. Is it different here?

Do you let passing nobles touch you all the time? How unclean."

"There's no way that's true! In this country, touching someone without permission is also forbidden."

"Then it was right to capture her. Moreover, you and this maid said something interesting. True love equals the crown prince? What a foolish idea. It undermines the noble society.

Do you know why nobles have ranks?"

"Anyway, Lila is not the kind of girl to do such things."

"Not the kind of girl to do such things? The one who framed my cousin?

I heard she pushed Lila down the stairs, even though Lila was receiving queen's education in the palace.

Because this girl testified that 'Lila did push me down,' Lila was executed without a proper trial while the king and queen were away.

A fine murderer, isn't she!"

"No! She was a victim who was pushed down the stairs..."

"Without evidence, you condemned an innocent person to death. What foolishness. She is already a criminal.

Such a woman touching me. If she were executed for attempted regicide, she couldn't complain.

So, Allen, you are also an accomplice, aren't you?"

Whether she actually fell down the stairs or not is uncertain, but it would just be a pointless argument, so I'll leave it for now.

"She didn't do such a thing. A body check will surely show that she has no dangerous items. What makes you suspect her?"

"Of course, 'my testimony.' If it's a drug, it can be thrown away before being caught. The same with a needle. The better the assassin, the less evidence they leave.

You're not answering my question. Allen, are you her accomplice?"

"......Not an accomplice......"

Lila, who was still making a fuss, fell silent, probably surprised that Allen didn't help her.

"Oh, you can't even die with your true love?"

I laughed.

"But, there's no evidence this time, right? Please, at least spare her life..."

"Why should I care about a criminal?

However, I'll give you one chance, Allen."

"What is it?"

"I said, 'No concubines, only public courtesans are allowed, and any sexual relations outside of that are forbidden.'

However, the baron's daughter is here even though the city gates are still closed. You spent the night with her yesterday, didn't you?"

"No, that's different. That's after the marriage..."

"No more lies. I can smell the same cologne on her. It's a high-end men's fragrance, so the excuse that it's her perfume won't work.

Moreover, that contract takes effect immediately upon signing. It's a clause to prevent succession issues. If you had sexual relations before marriage and a child was born, it would be meaningless. Don't say foolish things."

"......We spent the night together."

"Is that so? Then I will consider her a public courtesan."

"No, she is my true love, and I can't have children with her..."

"Then, should we part ways? Or will you renounce your right to the throne and leave the royal family?"

"I don't want to part with her, but there are no other princes besides me..."

"There are other princes with the right to the throne. My cousin, Tristan Elmont. His grandmother was the sister of the previous king, so he also has the right to the throne. How about letting him take the throne and living with your true love?"

"Fine, I'll make her a public courtesan, is that okay!"

"Yes, that's fine. I will take care of her. I don't like leaving future problems.

Originally, it would have been better if she had completed her queen's education and could marry, but apparently, she is not at a level where she can even participate in social events, let alone diplomacy.

I truly admire your true love."

So, a crown prince who abandons his true love when it matters, and a baron's daughter who couldn't become a suitable queen. They are so perfectly matched that it's laughable.

"Understood. I will take care of it."

"No, I will arrange it."

"What? I said I would arrange it. Don't you trust me?"

"Yes, that's right. You have been breaking our contract since yesterday.

The execution of Nada's family, and your night with her, you haven't kept any of your promises. It's unreasonable to ask me to trust you."

"Who will believe that you won't harm Lila further?"

"Then, you can be present. But remember, Allen, I am being lenient now."

When I said that, he hung his head.

"I'm sorry, Lila. But I need you."

Lila panicked at Allen's words. She was crying and making a fuss under Samuel's hold.

"What? What do you mean by public courtesan? You said you would make me a concubine even if not the main wife! I don't want to be a public courtesan! What kind of treatment can't I have children?"

"Oh, Allen. You didn't tell her anything?"

When I asked, he looked away awkwardly. He's a man who only knows how to run away. If such a fool becomes king, the country will surely fall.

"In order to marry me, he is not allowed to take a concubine. If you want to live with him, you can only be a public courtesan. What will you do?"

When I explained it politely on Allen's behalf, Lila glared at me fiercely. It's all Allen's and your fault.

"Why? Even with that woman, there was talk of making her a concubine! Why only with you do I have to be a public courtesan?"

"Oh, Allen. Your delicate and fragile fairy is different from the fairies I know."

I laughed and then narrowed my eyes with a smile.

"But this is the last warning. I forgive one rudeness, but not a second."

In the end, Lila chose to become a public courtesan, and I made sure she couldn't have children through proper procedures in Clemender. Of course, I didn't do anything more. It wouldn't be fun if it ended so easily.

By the time breakfast was over, the Baron of Sardona had already reported that he had cut ties with Hermine and banished her from the capital. This country is truly corrupt.