Chapter 63

Chapter 63

“Oh my, what a coincidence…! It’s an honor to see you again.”

Saying so, Jennifer smiled bewitchingly as she fluttered her red-rose like hair today.

As she greeted me, she glanced around as if looking for someone.

…She was here for Declan.

Since she couldn’t really meet him, it must be frustrating. Though how did she know his schedule…? Thinking that, I stared at Jennifer with questionable eyes.

“Your Highness, where are you going?”

After confirming that Declan was missing, she approached me friendly but was immediately stopped by the knights.

“Oh, my gosh. Everyone was so nervous. I just want to have a small conversation with Her Highness.”

Jennifer rolled her eyes and tapped the knights’ shoulders lightly. However, the knights did not change a single expression. It was because they were the most elite knights that traveled the battlefield with Declan among the Guards.

Seeing that, she bit her lip slightly when the knights didn’t respond to her own smile.

“Her Highness, if you have time, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?”

This time, she pressed the knights with her eyes.

Get me an audience right now.

“Pardon me. Her Highness was on the way to the library now.”

Hans’s demeanor was polite, although his eyes were sharp. It was a very rare appearance of a former back alley guild member.

“Her Highness likes books. That’s great. I just wanted to read a book.”

At that, Jennifer clapped her hands and smiled.

‘…You’re being comical.’

A smirk came out.

“Let’s go together. I will recommend books that I have enjoyed reading. What tea should I prepare with?”

Nonetheless, she continued to babble like an excited child.

“The library is not open to outsiders.”

Hans stepped out again.

“I can’t believe it. I was in the library yesterday, too. What do you mean?”

“His Majesty’s orders. No one can use the library today except for the Princess.”

Jennifer’s face flushed with embarrassment at his words. She stared at Hans as if waiting for him to say that he was joking, but he only shook his head.

“It’s not a lie…?”

She glanced at Hans up and down with thin eyes.

“His Majesty has commanded that anyone who violates the order must be arrested on the spot. So, please step back.”

When Liam came forward, Jennifer could no longer argue.

“Then, let’s go.”

Hans took the lead, and the knights followed.

“Wa, wait.”

Jennifer hastily grabbed Hans. Seeing that, he opened his mouth to her again, “Even though I’ve told you enough, if you continue to obstruct the Emperor’s way, we can’t help it either.”

Her eyes turned into a devastated ones at the words, which were intensely intimidating.

“…How dare a servant.”

Even though it was a slight mumble, it was a voice that anyone nearby could hear what she said.

“Princess Jennifer, please clear the way.”

Jennifer’s lips trembled as Liam stepped forward in front of her, placing his hand on the scabbard. Eventually, she soon loosened her expression and rolled her eyes.

“I have something to give her, so it will be just a moment.”

After I gave Hans a sign to keep watch, Liam backed away.

“Your Highness. Since the last birthday banquet, the gifts were rather insufficient so I have been troubled the whole time.”

That was why she said that she wanted to keep seeing me, pathetically lowering the corners of her eyebrows.

“This time, I prepared with a lot of thought. So, please be generous.”

After that, she politely held out a velvet box tied with a yellow ribbon. Liam thoroughly inspected the box and its contents for any danger before handing it to Hans.

“Your Highness, it is said that this is a present prepared by Princess Jennifer. What should I do?”

I flicked my finger, and Hans opened the box to reveal the contents. And, because I was behind their back, only Hans could see my movements. What was in the box was an amethyst brooch. Perhaps, this time, it was a size that could be attached to a doll’s clothes.

…The problem was that there was black smoke floating around there.

‘Ha, did she put any magic in here…?’

Staring intently at the amethyst on the brooch, I seemed to understand without her saying why she was trying so hard to approach the doll. It was because she must have wanted to attack the doll instead of Declan.

As I gently spread my second finger, Hans changed his energy. He quickly closed the lid and set the brooch away from me.

“Do you like it? I’ve always imagined you wearing it.”

Saying that, she pressed Hans with her eyes—Put the brooch on the doll’s clothes right now.

“I’m sorry. All accessories worn by the Princess must have prior permission from His Majesty.”

Hearing that, I laughed happily at Hans’s determined attitude.

‘Hey, he’s so good at this?’

Was he the type that was strong in practice even though he usually acted like he was missing a screw…?

“…That’s too bad. If there is a chance next time, I would like to see Her Highness wearing the brooch.”

Although she glared at Hans fiercely, she quietly retreated.

“Then, I look forward to seeing you next time.”

Jennifer gave me a wink and smiled.

She turned her back softly as if she had no regrets.

* * *

We went straight to the library and went inside. Meanwhile, Liam and the escorts were standing outside the door to control access to the library.

“Are you okay? Just tell me, I’ll sneak up on them and take care of it.”

Hans whispered softly.

For a man who said he had never killed anyone, there was no trembling in his voice. When I shook my head, he made a sad face.

“…I am ready to give my life for my guardian angel at any time.”

I hurriedly wrote it down on a piece of paper, thinking that if I nodded my head the wrong way, he would run away right now.

〈 Life is precious. 〉

As soon as he saw it, Hans’ eyes were filled with emotion. Fearing that praise would come from his mouth again, I wrote another thing down quickly.

〈 Brooch. Dangerous. 〉

His face hardened in an instant when he saw what I had written.

“I will report to His Majesty and deal with it.”

I nodded at his words.

〈 I’ll go out for a while. 〉

“Where are you going? It’s dangerous alone. You should go when His Majesty comes…”

Hans stopped me with a worried face.

〈 Spying. I’ll come quickly. 〉

“…Where are you going?”

Realizing that there was no point in stopping me, he asked where I was going instead.

〈 Princess. 〉

“Are you coming back here?”

After telling Hans to take good care of the doll, I immediately got out of the doll.

Then, I followed Jennifer.

* * *

Fortunately, she didn’t go far.

When I got closer to the detached palace, where she was staying, she turned.

‘Where is she going…?’

After walking for a while, Jennifer glanced around and asked.

“Is this the right place?”

To be frank, it was unfamiliar to me to see her raise her eyebrows and ask nervously, though I thought it was a sweet match with the original image.

“Yes, that’s right.”

The handmaid who was following her answered calmly as if she was familiar with that look.

‘…Oh, is that the maid?’

Even in the original story, Jennifer brought one of her handmaids when she came as a hostage. It was a handmaid who had been by her side since childhood. Perhaps, that was why she also played the role of secretly communicating with Duke Otien.

‘What was her name?’

Her part was so small that it seemed as if I could not remember her.

‘I think it was Sylla.’

I stared at her handmaid and smiled slyly. It was because a good plan suddenly came to mind.

“Then, why can’t I see her?”

“I know she is always taking a walk in the front yard at this time.”

Her gut was still large. Even after being scolded by Declan, she was still watching someone in the Imperial Palace. After all, when I look at her visit to the library today, she was also a formidable person.

Jennifer started looking around, making quick steps.

“Is that her?”

I glanced at where she was pointing with her chin, and I saw a hair color resembling the sky. The delicate woman was Stella at first glance.

‘…The two of them have met.’

I looked at Jennifer and Stella nervously.

When I saw the original work, I always felt sorry for Stella. Nonetheless, I came here to meet her in person, so I couldn’t pretend I didn’t know.

…I didn’t want her to be more unhappy.

“Princess Este.”

Stella, who was glancing up at the sky at Jennifer’s call, turned her body.

At the same time, the knights, who stood behind her, surrounded her as if protecting her. By her side were more knights than would normally be assigned to hostages. This was a measure they took because Ielro wanted to assassinate Stella.

Stella shrugged her shoulders, wary of seeing Jennifer for the first time.

“There is nothing to be nervous about. I am Jennifer Medicis, Princess of the Kingdom of Tierra.”

“Ah, hello. My name is Stella Este.”

Unlike Jennifer, who spoke arrogantly, she greeted her back in a soft voice.

“I have already heard of the princess.”

“But, what’s going on here…”

“I want to meet the princess.”

“…Me?”

Stella rolled her eyes like a startled rabbit.

“Yes. Even before I came here, I had heard about the princess. You came here and were taken as a hostage, didn’t you?”

Although it was only for her cause that she was called a hostage, the reality was different. Because of that, Stella had a troubled expression.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything that’s hard.”

As Jennifer alone guessed and stopped her, Stella’s expression became more ambiguous.

“Let’s have a cup of tea.”

“Yes?”

“You came all the way here, didn’t you think I wouldn’t give you tea?”

Stella was taken aback by the pointed remark.

“Please, come this way.”