Calen Castle
–
“I was around yesterday.”
While Christine spoke as if she was telling a big secret, Oswald, who was sitting in a sullen position, blinked his eyes.
Unlike Oswald, however, Killian gave a slight nod, telling her to keep talking, without changing his face.
After a moment of embarrassment at his reaction, which was different from what she expected, she did not feel diminished, but began to speak firmly about why she had come all this way.
“I can testify that your maid never did such a thing.”
When Christine said this, Oswald looked at Killian without realizing it.
Now a false witness appeared alone, as if he knew they were secretly trying to make a witness.
“You mean you witnessed this?”
Christine laughed at Oswald's question.
“The Marquis and His Highness know that it cannot be true, but do you think it is possible?
If I had seen that scene yesterday, I would have left immediately.”
“So, you’re going to give false testimony about something you didn’t see?
Why?”
“Don’t you know why?”
Oswald was disturbed when he saw Christine's shy smile.
Pretending not to see him, Christine looked at Killian, who was still sitting there expressionlessly.
“It's nothing if you get a new maid, but it's not a good thing if a maid is executed for assaulting a noble woman.
Even more so, it might be troublesome at this important time for His Highness.
A maid's behavior affects the master's fame.
This Christine cannot forgive anything for being the slightest fault to His Highness.”
"And even?"
Oswald became nervous when the prince's cold and abbreviated words indicated that he was not feeling very well right now.
Christine, however, didn't care.
“For you, I will renounce the honor of Anais’ family and bear false witness.
It is only from my heart that I care about Your Highness.”
“Is it only your heart that I should be grateful for?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.
I just want you to think of me before anyone else, who will be by your side in the future.” Christine smiled widely and looked at Killian.
No one was present who could not understand the meaning of his laughter.
“Thank you, Lady Anais.
I understand your heart well, so come back.”
“…Your Highness…”
Oswald quickly stood up after she called out to Killian, who had condescendingly closed his eyes despite her commendable offer.
“Lady Anais’ heart is so moving.
But His Highness is very tired now because he stayed up all night doing the work of Calen Castle and the Bertino Business Group.
We will discuss your proposal later.” Oswald extended his hand to Christine politely but irresistibly.
He lifted Christine, who hesitated, but ended up taking her hand, walking her to the door and leaving as if kicking her out.
When Oswald, who closed the door, unintentionally moved his hands away, Valerian's expression turned strange as he held back his laughter.
When Killian opened his eyes and looked at them, Oswald casually returned to his seat and sat down.
“It’s not bad if Duke Martin doesn’t arrive on time.
Lady Anais' plan is obvious, but if you're going to get married anyway, she's not bad.”
At Oswald's words, Killian closed his eyes again.
* * * * *
Oswald set off in an orange colored carriage to find the old dwarf who lived outside the castle.
Pamela followed him politely, then looked toward the Oval Office, where the prince was, and thought for a moment.
Due to the new project, the Prince and his advisors stayed up all night, continuing their secret meetings.
She waited in the morning for any word about the maid's prison punishment for assaulting a noblewoman, but the door to the Oval Office was still closed after Oswald left.
After only Albert and his servant visited the office and banned other users from entering, Pamela decided that she could not wait continuously.
She had heard that the girl was a temporary employee, but the Prince didn't seem to pay any attention to her.
It was not desirable for the maid to be executed while he was being diverted from the public interest.
Sure, she could avenge Jeff's injury, but that was only half the purpose.Pamela herself could not speak out, as she was a complete stranger in this matter.
After a moment of reflection, she sent a message to Chaister's residence.
Sylvia refused to let the Viscount know the burden she had for lying, but in the current situation, there was no one as suitable as Viscount Chaister himself.
If the viscount visited the prince and asked for severe punishment for his daughter after being attacked by a commoner, she would not be buried quietly.
* * * * *
“Your Highness, Viscount Chaister is here to see you.”
It had not been long since Marquis Oswald had left Calen Castle.
It was too early for the marquis to return, and whether Adam and Duke Martin would arrive in time was also a question.
He thought they would arrive at least in the evening, but he could not delay the matter any longer if Viscount Chaister visited him.
Killian was lost in thought for quite a while after Valerian reported somberly, and finally opened his mouth.
“Bring Marquis Anais and his daughter, Lady Anais.
Let those who are involved in this wait in the hall, except Juliet.
Bring Viscount Chaister as well.”
“Your Highness!”
Albert was distressed that his precious prince was ready to show his weakness to Lady Anais to save such a lowly maid, and exclaimed bitterly, but Killian's face was expressionless.
Albert saw the terrible anger on her expressionless face, couldn't say anything, and rushed to enforce the order.
* * * * *
Viscount Chaister was in a foul mood.
The Baroness's letter, which arrived towards the end of lunch, contained absurd content.
As soon as he confirmed the letter, he left for Castle Calen in a rage.
Although he did not ask for a visit in advance, he thought the prince would understand the matter, as it was a serious matter.
Of course, he also thought that this might be an opportunity to get closer to the Prince.
The viscount awaited the prince's call with a large amount of steel on his shoulders.
He waited in the waiting room for a long time, but contrary to the expectation of a one-on-one meeting with the Prince, he was led straight to the corridor without saying a word.
Although he was the Prince of the Austern Empire and King of the Principality of Bertino, he was neglecting the Viscount, so he was even more angry at the affront.
He came here for nothing else but to see the prince after his private maid had assaulted his daughter.
Except for the purple velvet chair for the Prince on the podium, the spacious hall was empty.
The viscount had to stand in the hall waiting for the prince, like the knights and servants and maids, and his face began to turn red with anger.
* * * * *
Moments later, Marquis Anais and Christine arrived at the hall, and the prince entered with Count Valerian and Albert.
“Your Highness, I haven’t seen you for a long time.
How are you in the meantime?”
The viscount greeted Killian with a red face as his anger still lingered.
However, Killian blatantly ignored him, responding to the greetings of Marquis Anais and his daughter, who stood aside.
“Welcome, the Marquis and Miss.”
Christine took comfort in seeing Killian dominating everyone.
There had been no particular message from the Prince since his visit in the morning, but when she saw this call, she thought he had accepted her offer.
The future she had dreamed of was coming, and the corners of her mouth turned up.
She suppressed it and waited for the time to act quickly.
“Bring Sylvia Chaister.” A cold voice echoed through the hall.
Christine frowned slightly when she saw the waiting Sylvia being called in front of the podium.
She felt sorry for the viscount's daughter, who had been beaten by a saucy maid and would suffer greatly from her testimony.
But she decided to think that it was her destiny, just as Christine's destiny was to gain an advantage over the other competitors by taking the opportunity to come to Bertino.
Sa-chan
Sa-chan
Thanks for reading.
^-^