Chapter 96

There were so many people who wanted to talk to me. Currently, I was Sa Bina le Cransia, the most important woman in this kingdom. I was also the person closest to the emperor.

"Hello, your highness. We have met once before on the first night."

The voluptuous beauty smiled at me challengingly.

I smiled in return and replied, "That's right. Hello, Princess Ludia."

Genoan princess Ludia.

She looked like she put a lot of effort into her outfit today. Her dress had a color of a pearl and accentuated her vast b.r.e.a.s.ts and narrow waist. Against her dark skin, her beautiful light blond hair shined brightly.

Even as a woman, I couldn't stop staring at her b.r.e.a.s.ts. I was sure men felt the same way, but of course, they couldn't stare openly as she was a royal princess of Genoa.

However, I was the wife of the emperor and a woman. I could enjoy the gorgeous cleavage if I wanted to.

'Wow! I could probably put a cup in it if I tried.'

Ludia must have assumed I was envious because she straightened, causing her b.r.e.a.s.ts to jiggle.

I really was impressed. They looked great.

She suddenly whispered to me, "Could you give me a brief moment of your time, your highness? I would like to chat with you."

"Chat? About what, Princess Ludia?"

She looked at me with her light-colored eyes as if she was studying me.

After a brief silence, she said to me something unexpectedly rude, "You really… have an unusual skin color. It's not like the people from the north with their pale skin. It's also different from my dark skin color. I guess the Duke of Aeal's mistress was from somewhere very far away."

"…!"

People around looked shocked and upset.

I already knew there was a rumor that I was the Duke of Aeal's bastard daughter, but Ludia was the first person who ever said it out loud in front of me.

This was beyond rude.

I had an urge to throw my Champagne at her face, but I was a rational modern woman. I wouldn't let this silly girl win.

While I wondered how to respond, Ludia continued confidently, "Isn't it true? Then the other rumor must be true. I heard you were a traveling gypsy and the Duke's mistress. The Duke became tired of you and sent you to become the old king's concubine."

She smiled innocently at me. She was disgusting.

How could she say something so awful?

Everyone knew the emperor favored me. This meant no one dared to talk openly about these rumors. This woman must have believed her status and her beauty would protect her.

However, I would not let her off that easy.

I smiled and was about to say something when I was interrupted.

A familiar voice said rigidly from behind, "Oh, no."

Along with a false exclaim, something flew towards Princess Ludia.

Liquid splashed all over her dress.

"Gyaa!"

Princess Ludia screamed, and I looked at my hand in shock. Did I just throw my drink at her without even realizing it?

I didn't. The golden-colored Champagne in my crystal glass still remained in my hand, and the drink thrown at the princess was red. I wasn't drinking red wine.

Who did it then?

When I turned around in shock, I saw a familiar face.

"Your highness!"

It was my husband, Lucretius.

Now, his red wine ruined Princess Ludia's pearl-colored dress. Some of it also splashed onto her golden hair, making it look dirty.

"Oh no!!!"

Ludia tried to clean up with her tiny handkerchief, but it was useless. An entire glass of wine was thrown at her.

When she realized her dress was ruined, she started to cry, "H, how could you!"

The crowd gathered around us in excitement. Ludia's brother came running quickly and after seeing what had happened, he glared angrily.

"How dare…! Who did this?!"

After looking around, Prince Coronel stopped at me. He started to accuse me.

"Was it you?! How dare you do this to the princess of Genoa! I know you have the emperor's favor, but you can't do this! Are you trying to start a war between Cransia and Genoa?"

'It wasn't me! I didn't do it!'

When I was about to defend myself, Lucretius held my shoulder and pulled me towards him. When I looked up at him accusingly, he looked back at me with confidence.

He said to Coronel, "I think you are mistaken."

"Your highness! Even if she is your favorite, you cannot allow her to behave this way! How could she insult a Genoa princess just because of her jealousy!?"

Lucretius gave Coronel his signature annoying smile and replied, "I am not jealous of Princess Ludia."

"… Pardon?"

Prince Coronel was obviously confused but it was understandable. He wasn't here when this happened, so he didn't see what really took place. Since I was standing in front of his sister, who was covered in wine, he just made an obvious but wrong assumption.

The scene did look like a result of a woman's jealousy, but his mistake would cost him.

Lucretius showed him his wine glass with a few drops of red wine left.

"I 'accidentally' spilled wine over her, so I don't understand why you think any jealousy was involved. Why would I be jealous of your sister?"

"Pardon?!"

Prince Coronel frowned and turned towards his sister questioningly. Princess Ludia couldn't answer since she was crying, but she didn't deny Lucretius' words. Her silence said it all.

Coronel asked in confusion, "Did you say… accidentally?!"

Lucretius continued to smile and nodded. "Yes, I am so sorry. My hand slipped. I was walking by when I heard YOUR SISTER talking to MY WIFE in such an extraordinarily rude manner that I became shocked and made this mistake."

Wow.

By emphasizing that this was between Coronel's sister and his wife, Lucretius was saying this was a personal matter, not political. He was also letting Coronel knew that it was Princess Ludia who started this by being rude.

If it was me who spilled the wine, Coronel would have demanded that I receive appropriate punishment. Just the fact that he brought up the possibility of war meant he was furious.

However, if it was the emperor who made the "mistake," then this was not possible. Prince Coronel had to respond carefully.

Coronel remained quiet for a while. Depending on how he reacted, the result could be devastating. I truly hoped this wouldn't result in war.

People stared awkwardly. After a few minutes, Coronel finally sighed deeply.

"It was only an accident."

Ludia, who was still crying, yelled in shock, "B, brother!"

He consoled her.

"His highness said it was a mistake."

He then called for her maids.

"Take Ludia to the breakroom and take care of her."

The maids followed his order. I assumed they would bath her and get her a new dress.

It was too bad about the dress. It looked very expensive and red wine would impossible to remove.

While I worried about the ruined dress, the tension between Lucretius and Prince Coronel remained.

"My sister must have been stunned."

Lucretius smiled. "Too bad, but I think her head wasn't right, to begin with anyway. She was talking nonsense about my wife."

"Nonsense?"

Lucretius' lips were smiling, but his eyes didn't.

"She was spewing silly rumors about my wife's background. It was hard to hear such garbage."

Coronel smirked. "Women just like to gossip and it's nothing to get mad about. Besides… Who knows if it's really just a rumor?"

Lucretius's eyes sharpened. "Oh? So you believe in these rumors?"

Coronel smiled kindly but his words were callous.

"No, but… I find that some rumors do turn out to be true."

Lucretius warned him quietly, "You are too inexperienced, Prince. If you naively believe everything you hear, it will be your downfall."

"I appreciate your advice," Coronel replied confidently.