Chapter 238

A voice, somehow familiar, snapped back in outrage.

It sounded just like one of the maids who had been standing beside Florence…

‘Did the person in question step back?’

With that conclusion, Richard peeked through the slats of the window.

Sure enough, Florence was standing a fair distance away, watching the situation unfold with an awkward expression.

The troubled look on her face seemed to silently protest that none of this had been orchestrated by her.

Richard thought that Iona had chosen quite a suitable candidate for future empress.

Florence possessed all the qualities befitting a noble lady—even more than he had expected.

“I’m afraid I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

“Hah! I’m saying—aren’t you deliberately preventing Lady Florence from meeting His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“That’s enough, Angela.”

Florence gently stopped her maid and slowly stepped forward.

With a dignified air, she sought to mediate the situation.

“Surely you didn’t mean to obstruct the meeting out of ill intent. It must’ve been a series of unfortunate events leading to a misunderstanding.”

“……”

“You think so as well, don’t you?”

Florence turned her gaze to Iona as she asked.

Iona didn’t respond.

Richard suddenly wondered what kind of expression she might be wearing, but since the women were pressed close to the wall, he couldn’t quite make out her face.

All he could see was Florence’s gracious countenance.

“But I do hope there won’t be a repeat of this. Every time I come here, I end up making the trip for nothing—it’s rather unbecoming of my station.”

“I apologize. But I cannot make any guarantees.”

Iona bowed slightly toward Florence as she apologized.

At that, Florence’s expression stiffened ever so slightly.

“Are you saying this will continue?”

“I’m merely a lowly guard. I have no right to interfere in my master’s comings and goings.”

“Then I suppose I’ll have to keep showing up to an empty palace and play the unwanted guest. Is that what you want?”

Florence’s eyes sharpened.

When no reply came, she pressed further, as if deliberately trying to provoke Iona.

“Tell me—who’s being unreasonable here? Is it me, who’s been repeatedly stood up by my fiancé due to the incompetence of his subordinate? Or is it you, who stirred up this mess through sheer ineptitude?”

“I apologize. I have nothing to say.”

Iona could have easily deflected the situation, claiming it was all due to Richard’s fickle whims—but instead, she took the blame upon herself, refusing to sell out her master.

It wasn’t a foolish choice.

Florence wasn’t making a scene because she didn’t understand Richard’s intentions.

Most likely, she had planned to win over Iona in private and secure her cooperation behind the scenes.

After all, Iona held a position that made it entirely possible to orchestrate an ‘accidental’ meeting between the two.

If Iona had been like any other ordinary knight, she might have accepted the favor and used it to build a cordial relationship with the future empress.

But Iona was different from the masses.

She was Richard’s knight—and his alone. She always acted in accordance with his will, never for personal gain.

Yet, perhaps to others, her unwavering loyalty took on a different meaning.

Florence clenched her trembling hands and asked:

“Why are you going this far to stop me from meeting His Highness?”

“I haven’t done any such thing.”

“You could easily assist me—but you choose not to. That tells me this isn’t just His Highness who doesn’t want this meeting to happen… it’s you as well, isn’t it?”

Just as the tiresome exchange seemed to drag on endlessly, Richard began to rise from his seat.

But then a particularly jarring question stopped him in his tracks.

It seemed he’d be postponing the idea of sending someone to break up the fight.

“Tell me truthfully—do you harbor feelings for His Highness?”

The mocking tone in Florence’s voice was unmistakable.

The idea that Iona could have feelings for Richard—or vice versa—was something that would only invite ridicule.

Even without factoring in their blood relation, it was absurd.

Richard, sensing what Iona was about to say, slowly lowered his gaze.

And then, to himself, he whispered:

“As if that could ever be true.”

As if.

“Then how do you explain—!”

Before Florence’s voice could rise any higher, Richard stepped out of the room.

Just then, servants passing by the corridor spotted him and quickly bowed their heads in surprise.

Richard ignored them and made his way to his quarters.

The guards he’d told not to disturb his rest were still stationed at his bedroom door.

All except for one—Iona.

“Where is Iona?”

“…Pardon?”

“I asked why Dame Iona isn’t at her post.”

At Richard’s question, the guards exchanged glances.

Finally, the knight of the highest rank—the one standing directly in front of Richard—stepped forward.

“Well… Lady Florence said she had something urgent to discuss and called Dame Iona outside for a moment.”

“And what, exactly, was so urgent?”

“…Pardon?”

The knight looked up in surprise, clearly caught off guard by a question that probed deeper than expected.

Upon seeing Richard’s expression, the knight answered with a face gone pale.

“I-I’m terribly sorry. That much, we... we weren’t aware of...”

A large hand flew toward the knight’s cheek.

Bam.

A sound closer to a punch than a slap rang out as the knight’s body jerked to the right.

The blow must’ve shaken his inner ear—he staggered, unable to maintain his balance for a moment..

The suppressed groan he let out echoed loudly through the hall.

Richard swept his sharp gaze across the surrounding knights.

“All these men, and not one of you could properly handle a guest? You let the noise carry over the walls?”

“We’re sorry, Your Highness!”

Though completely shaken by the sudden violence, the knights instinctively dropped their heads in apology.

Instead of raising his hand again, Richard gave them a slight nod, signaling them to go and resolve the situation.

As the burly men hurried out in a rush, the room fell into stillness once more.

Only the knight who had been struck remained behind, having missed the chance to escape. He stood frozen, holding his breath.

“When one man is forced to shoulder what others have neglected, wouldn’t the expelled guest begin to suspect foul play?”

“M-My deepest apologies.”

“If you’re dissatisfied with your assignments, say the word anytime. I’ll take care of it personally.”

“N-No, Your Highness. I’ll be more mindful going forward.”

The knight stammered, sweat pouring from his face.

It was clear that he’d do anything to avoid being cast out from his esteemed position as an aide to the crown prince.

Richard found it ironic.

The one woman who couldn’t care less about being close to him or being banished—she was the one who shouldered all the burdens on his behalf.

‘If only she’d been raised in a normal household… If only the people of the Modrov family had shown an ounce of humanity—none of this would have happened.’

He knew all too well why Iona could be so blindly loyal to him.

Richard’s lips curled in a crooked smile.

He glanced coldly at the knight and spoke.

“If you’ve understood, then leave.”

The knight, bowing deeply several times, quickly fled the room.

Richard, in contrast, moved slowly, crossing the room and heading toward the window.

Unlike the lounge where he’d taken his nap earlier—facing the rear garden—his chambers had windows that opened toward the front of the building.

Opening the terrace door, Richard leaned against the wall and silently looked out.

Not long after, he spotted a familiar dress—clearly, the knights from earlier had done their job quickly.

It was Florence and her entourage, being escorted out of the palace.

Richard stood perfectly still, quietly watching as their figures grew smaller and smaller.

It was only when they looked no bigger than tiny wooden dolls that he sensed someone behind him.

When he turned, the face he had hoped to see was right there.

Once again, it seemed Iona was the only one who dutifully returned to the room of her angry master without making excuses.

Her long silver hair, which had been neatly tied that morning, now flowed loosely over her shoulders.

The strands that had fallen forward gently framed her cheek.

And yet, Richard immediately noticed her left cheek was slightly swollen.

He stared directly at her face and asked,

“Did something happen outside?”

“No, Your Highness. There’s nothing you need to worry about.”

Iona replied in her usual calm, matter-of-fact tone.

If Richard had only heard her voice, he might never have guessed she had just been struck across the face in someone else’s tantrum.

That’s how natural her lie sounded.

Or perhaps—perhaps Iona truly didn’t believe this was something Richard should worry about.

As he slowly stepped closer to her, Richard said,

“I see. Of course, there wouldn’t be.”

“……”

“There’s no way something like that would happen.”

-- End Of The Chapter --

 

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