Chapter 156

Chapter 156

"Yes, how could I not? There’s no way you or Iona wouldn’t know how I’d take this news."

With those words, Richard slowly approached Saskia.

Saskia instinctively tried to step back when she felt he was getting too close.

Richard drew the sword hanging at her waist and pointed it directly at her neck.

Saskia bit her lip as she stared down at the cold blade that had swiftly come to rest beneath her chin.

‘Crazy bastard, pulling out a sword just like that.’

Cold sweat ran down her back.

If it had been anyone else, she might have tried to resist, but her opponent was none other than the Crown Prince of the Empire.

Engaging in a physical struggle was out of the question, and if she ended up hurting him in the process, her head would surely be forfeit.

Saskia desperately prayed that he wasn’t a tyrant beyond her imagination.

Richard, staring intently into her nervous eyes, asked,

“Did they go to the duchy?”

“...Yes, that’s what I understand.”

“They must have left a while ago.”

Saskia affirmed with her silence.

Of course, it was only after confirming that Iona had indeed left the capital that she reported to Richard.

Knowing the destination was obvious, he could still catch up if he left now, but turning the newlywed procession around would be quite unreasonable.

It was an option he couldn’t choose, as he was too preoccupied with hiding his feelings for Iona.

“So you all conspired to make me a blind fool.”

Richard’s face turned savage as he realized he had been thoroughly deceived.Fôllôw new stories at novelhall.com

When he first heard the report that Iona had resigned from the Royal Knights, he thought there must have been some mistake.

Iona, his loyal subordinate and friend, would never leave his side without a word.

But when Richard pointed this out, the reporting knight looked even more flustered.

The knight had asked why he was surprised, didn’t he know that Lady Iona had left with her husband?

It was utter nonsense.

Richard dismissed the babbling knight and tried to calm his displeasure.

Yet the ominous feeling that filled his mind wouldn’t dissipate.

No, deep down, Richard knew it wasn’t just a premonition.

He simply couldn’t bring himself to accept the truth and chose to ignore it.

Richard’s vague denial of reality didn’t last long.

In the end, he couldn’t overcome the growing anxiety and abruptly stood up.

He needed to find Saskia, the captain of the knights, and get the truth.

Saskia massaged her shoulder with a troubled expression.

If she spilled the truth too readily, it might seem suspicious, so she needed to appear somewhat hesitant.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Richard soon resorted to threats, making it impossible for her not to comply.

"If you lie, I won't let it slide. That includes hiding the truth."

"...Please, keep it a secret that I told you this. At least from Iona."

Richard nodded absently at Saskia's request.

His agreement was unconvincing, but since she had only mentioned it to set the mood, it didn’t really matter if he kept the promise.

After all, Iona had shared what happened with the Empress because she wanted Saskia to tell Richard.

Taking a deep breath before speaking, Saskia began hesitantly.

"A little while ago, Iona came to me and said she felt she had to leave the capital."

"..."

"When I asked her why, she hesitated for a long time and then said she felt it was wrong for her to stay by Your Highness' side."

"Continue."

Richard urged in a low, somber voice.

Saskia quietly complied.

"I kept asking for reasons because, like everyone else, I assumed Iona would stay in the capital after her marriage. It was unthinkable that someone who had been so loyal to Your Highness would suddenly decide to leave. Clearly, something must have happened."

"..."

"As I kept pressing her, Iona finally confessed why she made such a decision and who influenced her."

"...Was it the Empress?"

Richard's voice cracked slightly as he asked, but there was no anger in it, unlike before.

Saskia nodded gravely.

"On the day Iona inherited the count title, the Empress summoned her and said something like, 'You're a hindrance to my son's future. After your marriage, please leave.'"

"And Iona accepted that?"

"Whether she agreed or not, it was still an order from the Empress. From Iona's perspective, she had no choice but to comply."

Saskia shrugged bitterly.

The Empress had given such an order because she was conscious of Richard's extraordinary affection for Iona, which meant Saskia had perfectly succeeded in shifting the responsibility onto him.

Saskia added the final touch.

"Moreover, wasn't it true that Your Highness showed such exceptional favoritism towards her that even the Empress noticed?"

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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