Chapter 39

The moment I finished talking, I saw my father’s disciple’s eyes widen.

‘I’m trying to save you, so keep your mouth shut. Okay?’

I sent a strong eye sign to my father’s disciple. But the backlash came from an unexpected places.

”What? Miss, what do you mean? He’s not one of our men.” The voice startled me.

‘Oh, I forgot the knights that were standing behind me!’

The problem was that they had been discreet when shopping for a long time. Now that I’m used to ignoring them, I’ve forgotten them. I turned around and said calmly.

“He’s a escort my father secretly attached to me. He’s a very skilled mercenary.”

Geraldine responded stubbornly in my words. “But I didn’t get any word.”

I sighed.

‘It’s a really bad time.’

I lied to explain the situation later.

“I was the one who told Father to keep it a secret.”

“Even so-“

“I’ll tell you the details later. There’s someone we’ve been talking to right now.” Geraldine sighed and bowed his head.

“Okay.” When Geraldine stepped back, I glared at Baron Gordon.

“So, you don’t think you’re going to get away with accusing my escort? Baron Gordon.” The man flinched at my words, but protested by pride.

“What do you mean? He made me fall, a nobleman, and he gave me a hard time! What does the princess have in mind to compensate me for the damage?”

Some aristocrats hold their masters accountable for their servants’ mistakes, so it wasn’t a strange declaration.

‘You’re not close to me, yet you’re saying you’re going to take a compensation.’

Given this rapid change of attitude, it seemed like he was not simple minded.

‘Ha, I really hate it.’

At first glance at the situation, it seemed that the Baron unilaterally argued and urged an apology. In the face of whether or not to apologize even if he made a mistake first, he couldn’t apologize to the person whose father, who had a dirty personality, first argued.

‘It can’t be helped.’

In this case… I responded silently, staring at the Baron.

“My escort is from a mountain village, so he still doesn’t know very well. So it’s my fault that I didn’t teach manners, and I’ll take responsibility as his master.” I could see the Baron looking at me in a bright light.

‘You’re looking forward to how much you’re going to charge us now? But eyes for eyes, teeth for teeth.’

Usually, they punish their servants for their wrongdoings or pay them with money. But I had no intention of beating up my father’s disciple, nor had not the slightest intention of wasting my precious fortune.

“Like my escort, the baron gives me a hard time.”

In a flash, I could see the laughter disappear from the baron’s face.

***

‘Do you want me to lower to you?’

Baron Gordon, who was listening to the princess, trembled.

‘I made a bad call.’

Apparently, the nobles who were close to the Floyen family talked about Princess Floyen as an arrogant and inexperienced little girl.

“Come on.”

The overbearing gaze, arrogant speech, and the figure of the woman staring at him were not spoiled. Rather, at the moment, he couldn’t know whether she was a girl or a beast that would threaten his life.

‘You damn girl, knowing that I can’t compensate you, you’re going to be guts like that.’

He became an aristocrat only by his network. If he talked informally to the princess to restore self-esteem, it could cost him to lose this hard-earned petty position. The Baron bowed his head in haste.

“I’ve been rude to the Princess. Please forgive me with a generous heart.” Even though he apologized, Juvellian shook her head and said coldly.

“I think it’s not to me who the Baron will ask for forgiveness, but to my escort.”

The Baron gritted his teeth. He resented the Princess to make him bow his head to such a lowly commoner was shameful. However, if he didn’t apologize, he would mean he’s rebelling against the princess, as such he immediately bowed his head and opened his mouth.

“I’m sorry. I guess I misunderstood you.” At the Baron’s words, who had been forced out of his mouth, Max looked down on him instead of answering.

‘Hold on, you bastard! No matter how much the princess is behind you, you’re looking down on me too much-‘

The Baron flinched while staring at Max. It was because he caught sight of the bright red eyes that were filled with hatred.

‘I didn’t know until now because I wasn’t looking properly, but what kind of gaze is like that…’

His mind was flustered. Murder request, threat, assault… Baron Gordon has done everything he could possibly think of to get up there. But even he had never seen such a bright eye.

‘That’s dangerous.’

The baron, terrified by the petty commoner rather than the princess, gulped down without realizing it. He wanted to get out of this position.

“I’ve apologized, so I’ll leave you alone.” When the baron disappeared like running away, Max glared at the back of the escaping man.

‘Baron Gordon… I’ll have to kill him sooner or later.’

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?” As the face he wanted to see came into his sight, his eyes, which had a harsh light just a short moment ago, quickly became gentle.

‘Did she expect me to get hurt by that kind of guy?’

Max hesitated to answer as usual.

<I’m already being ignored in society, how ridiculous would people think I am if you ignore me?>

Max answered, holding her small but warm hand tightly.

“Yes, I’m all right.” At that moment, Juvellian’s eyes opened wide.

***

‘I didn’t know he’d just go like that.’

It was a pity that the Baron, who had just glazed his eyes, had just gone away, but it was nothing strange to think further about.

‘I didn’t mean to, but I ended up using my position.’

It was unintentional, but if I hadn’t stopped him, he might have done something to father’s pupil.

‘No matter how good you are, if you defy the nobility, you will not be able to escape a harsh punishment.’

I stared at my father’s disciple. At first glance, it looked like he wasn’t hurt.

‘Well, seeing him hardened, did you just get shocked by what happened?’

Worried, I turned to him and said, reaching out my hand.

”Are you okay? Are you hurt?” I said, and he turned to my side. Well, he’s not scared, given that he’s face is no different from usual.

‘Good thing.’

Maybe it’s because I’ve asked you twice? Even though I wasn’t a friend or an enemy, I was talking to him comfortably.

‘I’m so glad. I was so nervous about this that I was worried about what if I had distance myself…’

Then, he took my hand.

‘Well, he’s holding on very tightly.’

He was holding my hand tight, as if he was a lost child who found his parents. The sense of the big hand was so uptight that somehow a smile came up.

‘But I guess I was relieved to see someone I knew.’

He seemed to have opened his heart to me a little bit, so I thought it wasn’t in vain to feed and put him to sleep.

“Yes, I’m alright*.” I heard the respect I thought I would never hear from this person. At that moment, instead of questioning my intact ears, I doubted him.

(Max is still not speaking formally but he is using honorifics for the first time.)

‘No, what did this person eat wrong?’

I couldn’t understand a person who was almost in trouble because he insisted on speaking informally and suddenly used honorifics.

“Hey, you’re all right, aren’t you?” There’s been a scuffle before I came, so he might have been hit in the head. The thought kept me staring at his head. But I couldn’t see well because he was tall.

‘Isn’t one of the key of handsomeness being tall anyway?’

In fact, he was tall, but his face was also really handsome. Even now, many people stopped their way and looked at him.

“Who is the gentleman over there?”

“Well, I’m not sure, but isn’t that Princess Floyen with him?”

“Oh my god. But they are holding hands.”

No matter how wide the capital was, we were in the middle of a shopping area where many nobles visited. It was not unreasonable that there were people who recognized me, as I was notorious in the social world.

“Hey, stop now….”

It was when I was about to let go of my hand and tell him to move. (tn; Max is still using honorifics.)

“I have something to say to you. The contract you mentioned before…” Apart from the goose bumps at those polite words, I was amazed and forcefully closed his mouth with my hand.

“Yes, it’s because of the down payment I’m getting from my father, right?” Because all he has to say to me now is an answer about a contract relationship.

‘I can’t do it in a place where I hear all those important things.’

“Follow me.” I held his hand and dragged him to my carriage. “Come on, get in.” I thought he would get on the carriage at my recommendation, but he glanced at me and opened his mouth.

“You get on first.” I felt a weird lingering feeling.

‘Are you still a little nice?’

As soon as the door closed, I opened my mouth.

“Well, why didn’t you say anything back then and just went out?” I was worried about the face that seemed angry at the time. I was wondering if I hated my contract relationship so much.

Soon he stared at me with arrogant eyes, then opened his mouth as if he didn’t want me to see him.

“You don’t need to know.” Then it’s right, after all, people can’t change easily.

***

“I will have a conversation, so be careful around the carriage.”

Although she was giving a strong command, it wasn’t coercive because she had a soft tone. Thinking that the voice was good to hear, Max stared at Juvellian.

She always seemed thoughtful in front of him, so she seemed somewhat clumsy. He was worried that someone might try to use her. But now that Juvellian was clearly showing the elegance of being the only daughter of the Duke, who was the next highest rank after the Imperial Family…

“And I believe in you, but if you overheard the conversation, I will be reprimanding you.” It was unfamiliar to him, but on the other hand, he was relieved.

‘Well, it’s a good thing.’

Soon after the carriage door closed, Juvellian looked at him.

“Hey, why didn’t you answered me back then?” Even Max, who was rarely embarrassed, was unsettled by the question.

‘What should I say?’

He couldn’t even be honest.

<Then I’ll run away.>

The moment he revealed himself as the Crown Prince, she would run away.

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Tn; Juvel, dear, I think you traumatized that cutie pie over here.

Speaking of cuties, did you guys know that my sister is an actual angel ?

No you didn’t ? Now you do. She is absolutly adorable.