"Some ghosts walk among the living, haunting those who made them."
"I believe that's quite enough."
The young woman's expression remained completely neutral. She showed no fear whatsoever despite confronting armed knights.
"How dare you interfere with my punishment, you insolent wretch! Seize her at once!"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Though he could hear the Princess shrieking viciously, Jason couldn't tear his eyes away from the stranger before him.
The Princess's escort knight advanced toward the young woman without hesitation.
However, before he could even open his mouth to threaten her, a blade pressed against his throat. A female knight had materialized beside the silver-haired woman.
"Stand back."
The speed was extraordinary. The Princess's knight hadn't even seen his opponent draw her sword.
"Is Valdina populated entirely by scum? How dare a lowborn woman interfere here?"
The Princess's face flushed an even deeper crimson when her guard faltered.
"Who insults Valdina with every breath they take? Either you're a traitor ignorant of your nation's honor, or you're not from this country at all."
"What—what?! How dare you! I belong to a great empire!"
As the Princess, baited by the provocation, nearly revealed her true identity, Kensington seized her arm and whispered urgently.
"Stop. Have you forgotten where you are, Your Highness?"
Regardless of what was said behind closed doors, they had to conceal the identities of those responsible for today's chaos.
While muffling the Princess's protests, Kensington regarded the silver-haired stranger with deep suspicion.
"This is your fault for being incompetent! I should have killed her from the start!"
Meanwhile, the Princess—furious at being constrained—pinched her guard viciously and kicked his shin.
Though tears nearly welled from the brutal blow, the escort couldn't protest.
The young woman maintained her composure throughout, making the contrast between them painfully obvious to all observers.
Princess Angelique scowled.
"Damn this wretched place! I have no power here—let's leave!"
Once the volatile Princess departed, tranquility finally returned to the street.
"Thank you! Because of you, Tippy and I survived."
"Peeee! Peeee!"
The tiger cub added its own grateful cry.
The young woman nodded with cool indifference and immediately turned to leave.
Jason, who'd been watching as if entranced, took a hurried step forward.
"Your Highness? Where are you going?"
He didn't even register his knight's voice calling from behind. Emerging from the tent, he spotted the young woman walking not far ahead.
"Wait—please, wait a moment!"
Jason pursued her urgently. Something about her silver hair flowing like silk made his mouth run dry.
"Pardon me, might I know the lady's name?"
Watching her retreating back felt somehow devastating, as though something precious were slipping through his trembling fingers.
The courage to stop ruthless cruelty when no one else would act. The composure that silenced even arrogant Angelique.
This woman was both beautiful and wise.
Please—stop for just a moment and look back at me.
At the very instant Jason silently wished it, the young woman's steps halted.
Ah, thank God.
An inexplicable wave of relief washed through Jason's chest.
"The person who created such chaos is my cousin. She was raised too preciously and never learned proper manners. Please allow me to apologize on her behalf."
His voice emerged sweet and thoughtful—perfectly calibrated to dissolve another person's wariness.
Finally, the woman who'd stopped turned around.
The moment Jason beheld those beautiful green eyes, he was utterly mesmerized.
And simultaneously, a fierce sensation of mortal danger swept past the back of his neck.
"What—?"
Shocked, Jason whipped his head around, scanning the surroundings. The killing intent had been so vivid he wondered if an assassin lurked nearby.
Yet he discovered no trace and refocused on the woman before him.
For a split second, those large green eyes trembled with shock. Fear, rage, and inexplicable regret—all flashed past in an instant.
"My lady? Are you well?"
How strange. Why would she be startled to see me?
Jason was surprised by the variety of emotions flickering through her gaze. He searched his memory, wondering if they'd met somewhere before.
No. If I'd seen a face like this, there's no possibility I could forget it.
"My lady..."
Jason extended his hand. He swore he meant no offense.
It simply seemed unbearable that moisture trembled in her eyes, hanging precariously as though it might fall at any moment.
"I only—"
SLAP!
His outstretched hand was struck away coldly.
Stinging pain lingered on the back of his hand. Jason realized she'd slapped it aside.
"It doesn't hurt. Please don't worry."
Jason murmured unconsciously, attempting to reassure her.
Meanwhile, the woman had resumed her expressionless demeanor, as though nothing had occurred.
The moisture that had gathered in her eyes had long since evaporated. Nothing could be read on that pale face—it was as though a thick veil had been drawn across it.
The emotions revealed in that split-second were so fleeting that Jason clenched his fists without realizing it.
If only you would look at me with those eyes again. Just once more.
"I had no intention of alarming you. I merely wished to apologize on my cousin's behalf. I would also be grateful if you could tell me the lady's name—"
*Ha.*
He thought he heard a derisive snort from somewhere.
Did I mishear?
That was when Jason began to wonder.
"What purpose does belated gratitude or apology serve?"
The woman's response was ice-cold.
"Forgive my candor, but if you witnessed that incident from the beginning, shouldn't you have stopped your cousin? Rather than simply observing and pretending it wasn't your concern?"
"I... what?"
"If you have time to spare, examine yourself first. Your words and actions don't match."
He was still a Grand Duke of the Empire.
This was the first time he'd received such a reprimand—he who'd been raised in a bloodline second only to the Emperor himself.
When the dazed Jason regained his senses and searched for the woman, she'd already vanished.
From the emerald-hued building housing Façade's branch office, Gallo observed the entire commotion Angelique had created.
"The Fourth Princess never changes. She's the same whether in Katzen or Valdina—I suppose I should commend her consistency."
"Checkmate."
Cesare's frigid voice rang out. He didn't even glance at the disturbance outside, as though it held no interest whatsoever.
A chessboard sat in full play on the table beside the window where they were positioned.
Black had devoured nearly all of White's pieces—only a scattered few remained.
"Boss, show some mercy! You're utterly dominating me."
Gallo practically wept, dramatically tearing at his hair.
"Oh—there's Grand Duke Castullo down there too. Look, Boss!"
As if attempting to divert Cesare's attention, Gallo poked his head out the window.
"He's been secretly collaborating with the Prince Regent, and it appears he brought General Jared along on this trip to Valdina."
"Jason? Jared?"
Cesare's eyebrows rose fractionally. Soon, as if comprehending everything, he chuckled softly.
"It seems my dear cousin is beginning to spread his wings, doesn't it?"
He saw through Jason's ambition at a glance.
"He's been skulking like a rat all this time, but with you absent, Boss, he's sneaking around both inside and outside Katzen. If he secures Jared and the Regent's backing, they won't be able to ignore him anymore."
Gallo grumbled as though annoyed.
"Well, he'll have to spend his time now groveling before the Fourth Princess, so it won't be entirely comfortable for— Wait."
Gallo tilted his head.
"Isn't that the Princess down there?"
The hand moving a chess piece froze mid-motion.
Cesare looked up sharply. Silver hair flickered beyond the window, then vanished.
"Did I see wrong? She couldn't possibly be here, could she, Boss...?"
When Gallo turned around, Cesare had already departed.
"You're abandoning our chess match to rush off somewhere?!"
Gallo shouted at his retreating back, receiving no response.
"Hey! Checkmate! I said checkmate!"
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