The Abandoned Princess’ Secret Bedroom - Chapter 21
Chapter 21
****
“What?”
At Bastian’s confusion, Tristan thought about what to say.
“Chief Darell has asked me to cooperate.”
When Bastian looked up, Count Darrell quickly bowed his head.
“Yes, yes. I’m guessing you’re trying to take care of the Queen and I more thoroughly.”
Bastian looked at the two of them silently. Count Darell looked at Tristan with emotion, as if he was grateful. Bastian thought for a while.
“Sir Jayad.”
“…”
“Yesterday, the Black Knights caught the intruder from the Princess’ Palace.”
Tristan flinched. Bastian stepped closer, looked up at Tristan and said.
“You know I care about my sister’s well-being.”
“…”
Llewelyn’s eyes widened. What kind of impact would this have?
“However…”
“You said this was in the king’s name.”
Llewelyn bit her lip. She, too, was slowly becoming anxious. If the Red Knights were under Tristan’s command, she would be safe.
“The intruder has been caught.”
“Really?”
Llewelyn’s eyes widened. She relaxed. But Llewellyn was again at odds. She thought that as soon as the criminal was caught, she would not have to be escorted by Tristan.
“His Majesty knows.”
“Yes?”
“It is said that the fleeing intruder was caught by His Majesty’s immediate knights.”
“…So, who was the intruder?”
“He was summarily executed. He was a servant of the Imperial Palace. From what I hear, it seems that he had been aiming for the princess all along, and attacked when there was no one around.”
Llewelyn bit her lip. She had wanted to interrogate him, but she didn’t have the authority to do so. Besides, the killer had long since died. Should she say that she was glad he was dead?
“How did the Black Knights catch him?”
“It is said that the Black Knights patrol the Princess’ palace in secret.”
Llewelyn opened her mouth. Bastian would think of her like this. Besides, he sent Tristan…
“So, that’s why he sent the Red Knights.”
Llewelyn was truly grateful. Then, thinking of Bastian, she bit her lip. In the past, she thought Bastian was pathetic. Besides being an illegitimate child, he was a person who could threaten both herself and Alpheus, so she always kept her distance.
There was no way he couldn’t have been aware of the boundaries and superiority his half-sister had, but he treated her well. That was the main reason that Llewelyn did not leave the palace immediately after accepting Bastian’s favor. Bastian had always felt guilty.
“As I said, I will protect you.”
However, the deployment of the Red Knights was excessive.
“You have done a great job.”
At Llewelyn’s words, the faces of the Red Knights dimmed. But Tristan’s expression was the same as usual.
“But it’s His Majesty’s order, I understand. Please do your best to escort me.”
There was no warm welcome from the princess. There was no gratitude. Llewelyn went straight to bed after being injured. The knights looked at each other with bewildered expressions, then their faces contorted.
*
The atmosphere in the knights room was gloomy. On the surface, it was a very honorable thing to escort the princess. However, she was an abandoned princess.
“She didn’t even greet us…”
As Paulo grumbled, Dane, the deputy commander-in-chief, nodded.
It was said that Pamela gave gold coins to the knights who escorted her and held a large reception for them. However, Llewellyn was an abandoned princess. She probably didn’t have gold coins. Couldn’t she just have said something nice?
The knights’ faces were full of dissatisfaction. They looked resentfully at their commander. Tristan was reporting the escort schedule.
“Before, I said that people look different when they take on a charity case.”
Paulo whispered. Then Tristan raised his head and looked at him. Paulo was startled. Either way, it was the commander’s decision. Didn’t they decide to follow Tristan with all their heart? He smiled brightly. Tristan looked at Paulo and bowed his head again.
While the White Knights seemed well-disciplined on the outside, internally everything was determined by ‘power’. The Red Knights, who seemed free, were governed by Tristan’s orders.
“Anyways, I hope she isn’t picky.”
When you escorted nobles, you could see how picky they were. In particular, it was said that male aristocrats beat escorts out of boredom. Wasn’t the previous king famous for kicking knights in front of commoners when he was bored? If it was Llewelyn, she was weak, so it wouldn’t hurt if she hit them…
“Sir Paulo.”
“Yes, commander.”
“You are in charge of the escort first.” Tristan said softly.
*
“Put it on.”
Pamela tossed the dress. Despite the blatant command, Llewelyn’s expression did not change. The dress fell over Llewelyn’s face. She monotonously pulled it off her head and set it down on the floor.
Then, another dress came flying at her. Her cheeks stung from the dress scraping across her face. Llewelyn was startled and picked up the clothes. The jewels on the dress were stained with blood.
“Come on, put on this dress!”
She sat, unmoving, in slight shock.
“Does it feel good having a mother who doesn’t care about the princess’s clothes?”
“…”
“What do you say, after you make me look like such a b*tch to my son?”
She was very angry and ran wild. Apparently, Bastian had given Pamela a firm warning. As Bastian became more firm with her, Pamela became more and more fierce. Fortunately, she didn’t trample Llewelyn completely like she used to.
This was the main reason why Pamela did not bring an escort. The escorts who were waiting outside the room could hear everything going on inside it.
“The Red Knights? Do you have the Red Knights under your control?”
“…”
“After you made a lot of noise at the equestrian club, did you forget that I looked after you?”
“I didn’t make a fuss, Mother.”
As Llewelyn spoke calmly, Pamela’s anger grew stronger. This time a teacup flew at her. Llewelyn could still bear it.
“And the Red Knights are not under my control, my brother gave the order.”
“…”
“Because it is true that my escort has been neglected.”
At Llewelyn’s words, Pamela furrowed her brows. Pamela, who had been bitter for a while, smiled when she saw a scar on Llewelyn’s cheek.
“Princess, that dress. I really like it.”
Pamela grinned as she looked at the dress that made the scar on Llewelyn’s cheek. The change was sudden, but Llewelyn was used to seeing it often.
“Wear this on Bastian’s birthday.”
“…”
“Have you decided on a present?”
“No.”
“You don’t have to give him anything. Can the princess even choose a proper present?”
“…”
“But you have to dress as beautifully as possible. Right, Llewellyn?”
She looked happy to see the scar on Llewelyn’s cheek. Even in that humiliating situation, Llewelyn’s expression did not change.
“I’ll make sure I don’t become a nuisance to mother.”
“Llewelyn, do you remember what I said?”
“…”
“You’d better get married soon.”
Llewelyn wrinkled her nose. She didn’t know why Pamela wanted her to get married so soon. If she didn’t want to, was it not possible to force her to get married? Was that impossible because Bastian was preventing it? Anyway, Llewelyn had her maid carry the dress.
“Wait a minute, Llewelyn.”
“…”
“Princess, please carry that dress personally.”
“…”
“What do the maids know?”
There was blood on the beautiful decorations. Llewelyn quietly picked up her dress and went outside. The knight, Paulo, widened his eyes.
“Wow, princess.”
“Quiet.”
“…”
“Pretend not to see, pretend not to hear. Isn’t that the basic rule of an escort?”
Llewelyn’s tone was slow and arrogant. However, to the knight Paulo, such a tone did not feel offensive. As a low-ranking aristocrat, he could not have imagined it. How could the royal family be more vulgar than a commoner? Besides, in this situation, why was the victim, the princess, calm?
The maids were also making expressions that this was normal. Following Llewelyn’s footsteps, Paulo recounted what he had seen and heard. But after seeing the marks on Llewelyn’s cheek, he knew that this was the truth.
*
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