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Chapter 22
“Elle, Neim!”
“Your Highness! Where are you—!!”
Voices calling for Elle reached her ears. They were getting closer, and Shuert, startled, bolted away in the distance.
Elle didn’t even have time to say anything.
“…Ah.”
Watching Shuert’s retreating figure, Elle blinked dazedly, when suddenly—
“Elle?!”
Lali appeared, her face soaked in tears, and rushed into Elle’s arms.
“What on earth are you doing here…! I was so… so worried because you weren’t in your room…!”
Elle was flustered, but seeing Lali cry so intensely, she quickly tried to comfort her and offered an excuse. She had been out for a night walk. Lali, crying so hard she was gasping for air, let out a pitiful sob.
“You just left without saying anything… ugh…”
“I-I’m sorry, Lali. I didn’t know you’d be so worried…”
Eventually, the others who had gone to look for Elle heard Lali’s cries and came as well, but after seeing her, they felt relieved and left.
It felt like déjà vu, but it had been a small incident—timed in a ridiculously perfect way.
The next morning, when she opened her eyes, Sundubu was staring at her intently.
It looked as if he were silently saying sorry for running off like that yesterday, and Elle couldn’t help but laugh.
“Seeing you first thing in the morning is nice.”
“Woof!”
Elle hugged Sundubu and rubbed her face against his soft, fluffy fur. He was near her chest, and she could hear his heart pounding loudly. Was he nervous?
“Sundubu, let’s have breakfast!”
“Woof!”
By now, it was time for Lali and the other maids to arrive, but for some reason, it was quiet.
Puzzled, Elle went to open the door to see what was going on and found a servant standing guard.
“Why are you standing there?” Elle asked. The servant hesitated, then told her to stay inside.
“Lord Reinard has come to see you…”
“Reinard?”
Why would that foolish First Prince come here?
“…He’s been released from house arrest.”
“Ah.”
“He insists on seeing Sundubu, since he’s fine…”
“What a madman.”
Elle laughed bitterly, pushing Sundubu further into the room. If he were noticed, Reinard might make a scene. Sundubu braced himself, not wanting to be pushed—he seemed determined to stay by Elle’s side out of concern.
“No, stay inside.”
Even in human form, he was dangerous, but now he was in the form of a dog. And a dog that could bite royalty. If it were Reinard, he might have cut Sundubu down on the spot if he noticed.
Reinard, who had been cruel enough to sacrifice his people for his own life during the war, now humiliated by a dog and under house arrest, must have felt his pride crushed.
Then a shout came from below. Elle shut the door tightly and told the servant guarding it to inform the Emperor of the situation.
If Reinard knew that Sundubu was Shuert, he would definitely come.
When she went downstairs, she saw Reinard with five knights, causing a scene.
Wow, he brought five knights just to catch a single dog? What had those knights done to deserve this?
It was absurd. Reinard even seemed to have struck the maids and servants who tried to stop him. Among them was Lali, her mouth bleeding, and Elle could almost feel the head-spinning rage of the moment.
“…Finally came out, you—”
“You—?”
“Where did you hide that mutt!”
Mutts? That bastard was worse than the dog…
Although there were knights in the palace, they couldn’t dare lay a hand on a prince. They were powerless.
Judging by their injuries, they had tried to restrain him initially, but Reinard’s recklessness left them no choice.
Elle clenched her rage, stepped past Reinard, and faced one of the knights. Calmly, she kicked the knight hard in the shin.
“Ugh!”
The knight groaned and bent forward, slapping his cheek.
“Daring…! To come here and cause such a commotion?”
That wasn’t addressed to the knight—it was obviously aimed at Reinard.
Everyone, including the maids, servants, and Reinard, gawked at Elle.
“Isn’t it a subordinate’s duty to restrain a superior who acts recklessly?”
The knight answered calmly.
“I follow the orders of my superior.”
“Even if they are in the wrong?”
“That is the duty of a knight.”
“Even if you regret those words someday?”
“…Yes.”
Elle snorted, but Reinard grabbed her shoulder sharply.
“Do you even understand what you’re saying? Recklessness? Wrongdoing?!”
“Did I say something wrong?”
“Hah… you arrogant woman…! Because the Emperor was lenient with you, you think I would be too?!”
“If you hadn’t caused this uproar by coming here yourself, perhaps. And stop calling me ‘woman’ repeatedly, Prince. It’s uncouth.”
Elle refused to back down, which infuriated Reinard.
Born noble, he had never been told no—except by the Emperor. Even his mother, the Empress, would obey him without question. Reinard, as the heir, had authority no one wanted to oppose. And yet, Elle did.
“Uncouth?”
“Yes, you fool.”
“What did you just—”
“Annoyed, weren’t you?”
“…You—you know who I am…!”
“Yes, Your Highness. But basic manners are necessary, no matter the rank, to avoid conflicts. Don’t you know such basics?”
“Hey!!”
“Well, it’s not shameful to be unaware. You learn by experience. This is how you don’t behave! Got it, you brat?”
Reinard’s face burned red with rage.
To the maids and servants, Elle could behave as she pleased, but she was the Princess Consort—someone the Emperor protected.
Even Reinard had, at first, tried to act formal and proper at the banquet, but his true nature showed quickly.
“On what grounds do you act so wildly?!”
Elle smirked and pointed behind her.
“That.”
Before coming downstairs, a servant had informed the Emperor properly. Shudin, the familiar head servant, was approaching with the knights.
Reinard turned pale and glared at Elle.
“When—!”
Shudin bowed slightly to Reinard and Elle, signaling the knights to step forward.
“By the Emperor’s order, we are here to escort First Prince Reinard Lenne.”
“Hah…!”
“The knights with the prince here have been placed under house arrest.”
“…”
“Escort him.”
“Ah! You won’t let go of this?!”
Reinard struggled, but could not overcome the knights and eventually succumbed to their strength, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Elle shook her head and greeted Shudin.
“Shudin, long time no see.”
“Yes, Princess Consort. Sorry to meet under such circumstances.”
“Indeed.”
“The Emperor will handle all matters regarding the First Prince, so you may rest assured.”
The others gawked, but Elle replied confidently.
“I trust that.”
“Yes. That will be all.”
“Take him away.”
Reinard, still glaring venomously at Elle as he was dragged off, shouted:
“Ah! I won’t forgive you and your dog!”
They say those who threaten will eventually falter, but given his status, it was concerning…
“Always talking too much while being dragged off.”
Elle muttered, raising her middle finger. Reinard frowned, not understanding the gesture.
Returning to the room after dealing with Reinard, Sundubu had caused chaos, scratching at the door.
“Sundubu!”
“Ahh!!”
Seeing blood on the door, Elle and the maids panicked.
Sundubu rushed at Elle, seemingly worried she might have been hurt.
But Sundubu’s paws were worse off. He had clawed so hard the nails were broken and lifted.
Elle, unable to focus on hugging him, grabbed his bleeding paws and ordered the maids to bring medicine. They ran out and began cleaning the messy room.
Sundubu had clearly been worried when she left him behind.
Elle nearly shed tears. He must have known he couldn’t open the door as a dog. Yet he had gone so far…
“You silly thing.”
“…Woof!”
“Such a fool… to go to such lengths…”
“…Woof!”
Taking Sundubu along could be dangerous, and Elle had enough confidence to manage things alone, so she left him behind.
