The knights stiffened when they heard the Duchess's response.
“Didn't we do anything wrong?”
They felt really confused.
They knew very well that they had betrayed her in the past.
Of course, they had their reasons for such behavior.
The Emperor's Daughter, who suppressed and manipulated their master, Duke Brant, and the flawed Princess of the Imperial Family, Princess Raven.
It was disappointing and infuriating to see such a woman as a perfect wife for their master.
So, all of Duke Brant's knights drew a line with the Duchess and did not protect her properly.
They expected her to get angry and vent her anger, and they thought she would scrutinize their mistakes one by one.
However, they were willing to put up with it.
For some reason, the Duchess was their best friend, protecting them from the Crown Prince.
Although they did not support her as they should.
So, they were ready to accept her scolding.
But now, knowing that they had done nothing wrong, the knights couldn't find a reaction.
Chester, commander of the duke's guard, was the first to respond,
“Why do you say that?
We are not so cruel as to accept it without discussion.”
He spoke sincerely, bowing his head deeply.
“Do not mock us, but rebuke us clearly.”
Hearing this, Cornelia smiled slightly.
“Really, you didn't do anything wrong.
You just stayed loyal to your master.
I just wasn't your master.”
Chester and the knights realized the meaning of her words, and their faces lit up.
She spoke, ignoring their lack of recognition of her as their master.
“We can't justify our actions.
But if you give us another chance...!”
Before Chester could finish speaking, Cornelia interrupted him with a puzzled expression.
“Why this sudden change?
Weren’t you ready to protect me?”
The knights couldn't look at her.
While they usually found her gaze intimidating, now they were ashamed to look into her eyes.
Cornelia stared at them for a moment before speaking.
“If you are worried about the Duke’s consequences, tell him that I ordered you to act rashly.
I will not deny it.”
Before they could deny it, Cornelia spoke with a cold look, “Now, go and protect your master.
Don’t waste your time with me.”
With that, Cornelia turned and left.
The knights felt guilty, and they couldn't stop her.
Their guilt was overwhelming, leaving them helpless to look into her eyes.
After a while, a stern voice interrupted their stupor.
“Where did you go?
And why are you all standing here like this?”
With a stern face, Eric's presence made the knights unknowingly close their mouths.
Eric grabbed Chester by the collar.
“Answer me.
Where did you go?”
Chester, who knew that his master would never lose his composure, hesitated.
But Eric's usually calm blue eyes were now fierce, almost irrational.
“I went towards the Imperial Palace...”
Before Chester could finish speaking, Eric relaxed his fist and headed straight towards the Imperial Palace.
'Of all the places to go!'
Eric clenched his fist, his veins bulging.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
After I separated from Duke Brant's knights, I headed towards the Imperial Palace alone.
I felt people's glances at me, but I ignored them.
Fortunately I didn't bring sardines with me today.
Sardin was usually calm and collected, but he would never tolerate any disrespect towards me.
If Sardine had been in the same situation with me previously, he would certainly have picked a fight with the knights.
Moreover, it would have caused trouble with Franz.
One time, Sardin pushed Franz, who was bothering me, and he ended up getting whipped.
Leaving him behind was the right decision.
‘Now, I am heading to the Imperial Palace.
What should I say to the Emperor?'
Suddenly, I remembered the words the Emperor had said to me earlier.
“Be careful on your way back.”
A sarcastic laugh escaped me.
'Will he find this pathetic?'
At that moment, I clenched my fists desperately.
“Cornelia?”
When I heard my name, I turned around.
A handsome man with shiny platinum hair and golden eyes stared at me in amazement.
He was a noble with the right to succeed the throne, and was considered the next prime minister.
But when I saw him, a harsh tone slipped from my mouth.
“I don't think we're anywhere close to exchanging names comfortably, Duke Reinhardt Adolf Tarrant.”
Despite my sarcastic comment, he smiled charmingly.
“Haha, I knew I wasn't wrong.”
Although his tone and facial expressions seemed welcoming, I did not find him welcoming at all.
My father praised him greatly, while my mother despised him and held him back.
But what disturbed me most was his shiny platinum hair, something that even I, a member of the imperial family, did not have.
“Good to see you too, how are you...?”
“What's wrong?”
I interrupted his greeting with my usual cold tone, but he smiled and asked,
“Your Highness, what brings you to the Imperial Palace?”
Even the reflexive furrow of my eyebrows at my nickname was brief.
'Well, it doesn't matter.
My days as Duchess of Brant won't last long anyway.'
I answered briefly, “To see His Majesty.
That’s all.”
With that, he spoke again, “I heard that you met His Majesty previously, so why would you go to see him again?”
I closed my eyes.
As usual, he pestered me annoyingly whenever he saw me.
And I really hated that about him.
“You won't understand...”
When I was about to respond as usual, I shook my head.
“If I ask the Emperor, he may arrange a carriage for me.”
Honestly, even though I had gained so much, I didn't want to see the Emperor again.
No, maybe I should change my attitude.
People tend to underestimate what seems familiar.
I may reconsider my decision after ordering a stroller.
Moreover, I had just presented a confident image to the Emperor.
So, I didn't want to show this pathetic side.
'Well, I'd rather see Reinhardt than the Emperor.
At least he has a good personality
Although I despised him, I had to admit that Reinhardt's character was praiseworthy.
Even while the other nobles were avoiding me, I was constantly welcomed with enthusiasm.
'Of course, even that seemed too reckless to me.
And sometimes his looks were strange.
After a moment of these thoughts, I spoke,
“Are you on your way back?”
“Yes, why do you ask?”
I was disturbed by his face, which seemed to be thinking.
‘Should I forget about him and go to the Emperor?’
At that moment, Reinhardt laughed lightly, “If you stare at me like that, I can’t help but be misunderstood.”
"Misunderstanding?
What misunderstanding?"
“Your Majesty admires my face.”
'Is he crazy?'
I don't want such an annoying misunderstanding, I said quickly,
“This is impossible.
What I meant was for you to take me to the Duke’s Palace.”
When I answered, astonishment flashed in his eyes.
Of course, that was normal.
It would be strange if there were no carriages available for the Duchess.
“Your Majesty, perhaps...”
I looked at his mouth, which was about to open again, and added,
“Don't ask for the reasons.”
He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before nodding his head, smiling.
“I am pleased.
It has been a long time since we have had a chance to speak, Your Highness.”
Then he ordered his companion to call the carriage.
“The carriage has arrived.”
Finally, I thought, as a feeling of relief washed over me.
“I will make sure this debt is paid.”
Somehow, Reinhardt laughed at my words.
“Dean, you're still counting.”
'What does he expect?
I've always been a calculating person',
I muttered to myself as I tried to get into the carriage.
At that moment, Reinhardt stood beside the entrance and extended his hand.
“Your Highness, allow me to help you.”
Instinctively, I moved to take his hand.
But at that moment, someone else grabbed my hand.
“What are you doing here?”
Eric stared at me coldly.
I looked at the hand holding mine.
He was still wearing a glove.
Suddenly, a sarcastic smile appeared on my face.
I never held your bare hand even once.
The reason is most likely...
The voice of mocking disdain from the one I despised echoed in my mind.
“I do not consider that woman my wife.
Just because of people's eyes.”
When I remembered his words, I felt a pain in my chest.
But I ignored that pain, and stared at it.
“Duke Brant”
It wasn't my usual cold tone, but it wasn't my voice.
Instead of his usual smiling face, Reinhardt stared at Eric expressionlessly.
“I let go of her hand while I speak politely.”