Chapter 109

In an instant, Florence flinched under the barrage of attention that converged upon her.

It seemed she hadn’t anticipated Iona’s outright refusal to engage in conversation like this.

Perhaps she had expected a more compliant attitude this time, considering she had attempted communication through words, not violence, unlike before.

It was a highly self-centered judgment, but Florence was already accustomed to others unreasonably expecting kindness from her, so it didn’t particularly anger her.

Iona waited for Florence’s response with an impassive face.

Florence, looking troubled, glanced around before sternly reprimanding Iona’s attitude.

“Are you saying that I intended to harm you? Do you believe such absurd rumors too?”

Her response was quite plausible as a means to escape the situation.

Clearly, Florence had come here intending to extricate herself from this affair.

If Iona had simply followed her lead, the rumors circulating among the public would have been dismissed as mere gossip.

After all, no one sensible would seek a private audience with someone rumored to have attempted their harm, as Iona herself had put it.

Iona replied in a businesslike tone, “It’s an issue that can’t be confirmed until the investigation is fully concluded.”

“There’s no evidence to suggest I was involved in that incident! And yet, everyone suspects me because of the delusional ramblings spread by Miss Yvonne. How infuriating is that!” Florence’s claim of innocence appeared quite genuine.

Iona could have pressured Florence by bringing up unfavorable stories, but she had no desire for a rash argument with someone of the Duke’s stature.

If this matter became a topic of discussion, it would put not only the suspicions against Florence but also their response under scrutiny.

“Please, give me a chance to clear this misunderstanding.”

Florence added with a pleading voice while Iona contemplated.

The original Iona would have preferred to deal with anything related to the Crown Prince as quietly as possible.

It wouldn’t do any good to arouse unnecessary suspicions from Richard, especially with a celebration approaching.

In the end, Iona swallowed a sigh and acquiesced.

“I hope this isn’t a waste of time.”

Florence’s eyebrows twitched momentarily.

She seemed displeased with the situation, having to plead her case, but still, she couldn’t treat Iona with the same disdain as before.

Florence turned abruptly and walked ahead as if signaling Iona to follow. Iona silently trailed behind her.

As the fiancée of the Crown Prince, Florence, and Iona, a member of the Royal Knights, both had the authority to find a quiet space for their conversation.

Soon, the two entered a room set aside for guests and sat facing each other.

Florence was the first to speak.

“Ever since Miss Yvonne’s incident came to light, I’ve wanted to have a heart-to-heart with you. Given how our last meeting went, I was worried you might believe such ridiculous nonsense.”

The last time they had met, Florence, in her frustration at not being able to meet Richard, had slapped Iona across the face.

Her disdain for Iona was so intense that she had crossed all boundaries of decorum in the middle of the royal palace.

Though Iona had enough circumstantial evidence, her certainty of Florence’s involvement wasn’t based solely on these emotional reasons.

“While I understand your desire to avoid the situation, pretending ignorance won’t solve the problem.”

As Iona bluntly expressed her mistrust, Florence clenched her teeth.

Iona increasingly found it incomprehensible why Florence had sought her out so desperately.

Especially since Florence couldn’t even properly conceal her animosity towards her.

“Are you choosing to believe the words of a sister not related by blood? Even to the extent of planning to humiliate you through a man?”

Florence was visibly agitated as Iona calmly opened her mouth to speak.

“Miss Florence, I have a maid planted under Yvonne.”

Florence flinched slightly.

She crossed her arms as if to say it was no big deal, but it was just a motion to hide her trembling fingertips.

Iona continued to explain, observing each of her reactions.

“I know when Yvonne visited you, why there was correspondence between you two, and how Yvonne behaved after contacting you... It means I am already aware of everything.”

“......”

“Please, take this into account and provide a grounded explanation. Not that I would believe it anyway.”

It was as if a tacit agreement had been broken.

Florence might have wanted to placate Iona to downplay this incident, but that was a story Iona couldn’t accept.

Florence’s face turned pale at Iona’s firm stance.

She murmured with a voice that had lost its confidence.

“How can I prove something I didn’t do?”

“If there’s nothing more to say, I’ll take my leave.”

Iona rose from her seat without waiting for permission.

She needed to be at the ballroom until Leroy returned from facing the Crown Prince. If she and Florence were found missing together, it would cause unnecessary worry for him.

As Iona moved to leave immediately, Florence urgently grabbed her wrist.

Iona had thought Florence looked particularly haggard today, but the fingers that emerged from her sleeves were so thin that the bones were visible.

Florence looked up at Iona with shaky eyes and whispered,

“I understand that you have considerable grievances against me due to my past actions.”

“......”

“I’ll make an effort to resolve our misunderstandings. I promise there won’t be any disrespectful treatment of you like before. If you want, I can even put it in writing. Just as His Highness the Crown Prince cares for you, I will do the same.”

Completely bereft of her usual composure, Florence seemed uncharacteristically irrational.

With eyes tightly shut, Florence struggled to spit out her next words.

“Please, I implore you to dissuade His Highness the Crown Prince. Whatever you demand as a price, I will gladly comply.”

Even though Florence didn’t specify, Iona somehow felt she knew exactly what was being asked of her.

Despite being embroiled in various scandals, Florence had never directly approached Iona before.

There was only one person who could shake Florence to this extent.

“His Highness the Crown Prince… he has sent me a message proposing dissolution of our engagement.”

As expected, Florence confirmed the anticipated response.

Had Richard already informed Florence of the engagement’s dissolution before coming to fetch Iona?

It seemed the formal declaration of separation had driven her to recklessly rush to this place.

Iona let out a short sigh of disbelief and said,

“That’s quite an unreasonable request. Not only do I have no intention of granting it, but the Crown Prince is not someone who would reverse his decisions based on my persuasion.”

Asking to prevent a breakup with the Crown Prince.

If Iona hadn’t been aware of the real situation, she might have been fooled into thinking Florence was innocent, given the audacity of her request.

But the irrational Florence seemed to have lost her ability to see the situation objectively.

She clung to Iona as if under some spell, with blind desperation.

“No, if you agree to forgive me, he will surely do the same.”

“I’ve noticed this, but you tend to overestimate the significance of my relationship with His Highness. I am merely one of his guards.”

“Maybe you’ve only ever seen him as your lord and nothing more!”

Florence shouted abruptly, then, realizing her outburst too late, bit her lip.

It was a strange feeling, seeing this woman, who always clung to her pride, now appearing so pitiable.

Florence hesitated for a moment, either trying to find justification for the claim she had just made or attempting to dismiss it as a mere slip of the tongue.

After a while, she reluctantly began to speak.

“He... cherishes you as a woman.”

It was an utterly absurd assertion.

Iona couldn’t help but reveal her incredulity with a scoff.

She had never imagined that even Florence would genuinely harbor such a tiresome misunderstanding.

So, the excessive animosity she had always shown her stemmed from jealousy of her as a woman.

Iona dismissively cut through Florence’s conjecture.

“I never expected that even you, who have observed His Highness so closely, would entertain such a nonsensical suspicion.”

“Because I’ve watched him closely, I’m certain of it. You wouldn’t understand, having never loved someone.”

Florence, looking aggrieved, glared at Iona as she continued,

“When you love someone, it’s natural for your gaze to give you away. But it’s not unusual for the other person to remain oblivious. Once you’re confident you won’t get caught, that’s when you start looking at them freely, with all your heart.”

“......”

“In every moment free from the gaze of others, His Highness has always been watching you.”

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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