Chapter 15
“Should I call Carls and ask?”
“You can. It's nothing really.”
She answered calmly.
After a moment of silence, he let out a deep sigh.
“Marion, let me ask you again. If anyone has bothered you, please tell me.”
“What if it was Lady Nanael?”
She struggled to hold back the words that threatened to spill out of her mouth at any moment.
She was afraid because he was nice, afraid that there was someone who appreciated him more than her.
Victor may view her as a jealous lover, and immediately picks up his sword to stab her.
The self-esteem she had developed during her stay in the Grand Duke's Palace had long since been shattered.
She forced herself to smile again.
“It's really nothing. It was my first concert, so I was a little tired.”
“Please leave me alone.”
She looked at him while hiding her serious feelings.
He took her hand and raised it with a trembling look.
Although he had a cold expression, he looked pitiful.
She rubbed the back of her hand on his cheek.
“Marion, Marion...please tell me. Please.”
“Yes?”
“You can do whatever you want.”
I laughed helplessly.
"I know".
***
She was depressed every day.
I spoke to Ms. Catalina while she was there, but she was too busy to socialize every day.
Omarion was always alone and had to endure insult after insult of herself.
The week passed slowly in agony.
Finally, it was the last day of the week.
The venue of the day was the Duchess Moles' salon. She said she was hosting a unique Southern tea party that allowed both women and men to attend.
At a Southern party, the tables of men and women were initially far apart, but after the teacups were emptied three or four times, they came together.
It was not necessary to dance with one partner like a party, so the young aristocrats secretly said that they looked forward to parties like this.
But no matter how they felt, it had nothing to do with it. All she could hear were insults and sarcasm.
However, knowing that today was the end of everything made it bearable.
I took a deep breath and entered the greenhouse.
The greenhouse was still stunningly beautiful.
Sunlight poured through thousands of glass panels, and every table was covered with exotic flowers you had never seen before.
She sent Carls to the men's table and stood alone.
She couldn't find Catalina.
Instead, she saw other people she didn't want to see, so she lowered her eyes and avoided their gazes.
She had to endure the day.
You will no longer have to hear their insults or endure this misery.
This was the first time in her life that she had endured something for so long.
As she continued to not respond, the bullies became upset.
More malicious words could be heard along with the sweet scent of flowers.
The guests bowed their heads and examined the beautiful dress she was wearing.
It was a white dress that Sumona had ordered at a very high price, saying that it would go well with her platinum blonde hair.
The sparkling laces and pearls were gorgeous.
She suddenly remembered her time in Amari.
She always liked places with a lot of people, but she didn't have the courage to mingle with them.
So she was always spying on people from a distance, with a sword in her hand.
At the time, it looked like the wrong piece cut from a landscape painting. Then and now, she was destined to be alone.
... “But isn't that a bit harsh?”
“It is a shame to have anything to do with the Grand Duke.”
The sound of gossip broke her thoughts.
She raised her head and followed their gaze.
They looked at Nanael Welsh, who was sitting like a queen, and her cruel friends. Her voice was very clear.
“A traveling merchant came to my palace and told me strange stories.”
“Oh my God! Tell us!”
“Well, there are witches in the kingdom!”
As Mrs. Welsh put it, those around her pretended to be surprised.
“Oh my God, I'm scared.”
“I heard that too. Women do magic by burning monster bones, right?”
This is true and he said they feed ashes to their husbands to control their hearts.”
“Oh my God, this is disgusting.”
Faltering laughter followed.
Mrs. Welsh spoke with trembling blue eyes, as if she feared she would be misunderstood.
“But what I heard was even more terrifying.”
“What was it?”
“The northern part of the kingdom is very, very poor. So the women there seduce men and give up their bodies just to get something to eat. "
“What a terrible thing!”
“Yes, that's how northerners live. Men are like beasts, and women have no chastity...
Her mind went blank after hearing those words.
They were insulting Al-Amari.
She didn't understand. She has lived her entire life in a landscape dominated by logic.
The sword was their means of communication, and instead of hiding the sword behind her, she always drew her weapon openly.
Moreover, she was the heiress of Al-Ammari. She was a knight I swore to protect.
“This is my duty.”
Before she could finish her thoughts, her body jerked forward.
No one stopped her from pushing through the crowd.
“Will this be okay? Will he be a nuisance to Victor? "
Her thoughts were overwhelmed by the strong beating of her heart. Then I finally realized.
She was really angry. It's been a long time since I felt this way.
“Like I said, you're ignorant because you're not from the North. But I am familiar with the manners of the North.”
The women, who seemed a little surprised by her appearance, covered their mouths with fans and laughed.
I exhaled.
“I understand that the lady has insulted me.”
The smile faded from Nanael's face.
She raised her gloved hands to her eyes and pretended to wipe away the tears.
“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, how can you speak so harshly?”
Omarion looked at her without a word.
She didn't know what Lady Nanael expected, but where she came from, if you insulted someone, you had to be willing to face the consequences.
From afar, she saw Carls running towards her.
She spoke quickly before he reached her.
“I ask Mrs. Welsh to duel for my honour.”
“Do you think the Grand Duke’s knight will duel with the Welsh knight?”
“Why would someone else fight for me?”
I asked coldly.
Carls rushed into the crowd and grabbed her arm.
I continued regardless.
“I am no ordinary knight, Mrs. Welsh. You have insulted a knight, and you have insulted my land. You must pay the price.”
The ladies' commotion stopped.
She turned her back on them.
***
A fencing arena was set up in the backyard.
Those present watched without a single thought. This event was seen as a new form of entertainment during the social season.
I was disgusted by the crooked looks of the nobles.
Karls, who hurriedly followed her, begged her to stop.
“Ma’am, no. You can’t duel at the Tea Party.”
She stood next to him and examined the sword she had been handed. It was a little heavy, but that didn't matter.
What bothered her most was her dress. She wanted to cut it, but she knew exactly how much it cost. She couldn't bring herself to do it.