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Chapter 49
“Behold, the radiant morning star of Stade, Her Highness the Princess!”
Adelina hurriedly bowed to greet me. I ignored her and turned my attention to Marie.
“Marie, are you okay?”
There was a scratch on her once-pristine cheek. Seeing it brought back memories of the first day she arrived at René Palace.
“Are you hurt anywhere else? Besides your cheek—any pain at all?”
I clenched my teeth, trying to hide my anger, and asked. Marie shook her head and lowered it.
“Hiding it, huh? The scratch is right there.”
Blood was trickling from her elbow, the result of the fall. Her hands trembled as if she’d clench a fist, her eyes on the verge of tears. Every detail made me nervous, but there was someone else I needed to deal with first.
When I turned my gaze, Adelina Weiss was still bowing repeatedly before me.
“Your back isn’t sore, is it?”
“…Pardon?”
“I didn’t think anyone could bow like that for so long. When Princess Marie bowed to greet me, she was so stiff—I assumed she must be in pain.”
Even from a distance, Adelina’s posture and expression had been arrogantly high-handed and presumptuous. She had no right to act that way toward a princess.
“Probably because she doesn’t really consider me a princess.”
The fact that Marie was staying at René Palace under my protection hadn’t reached high society yet. The emperor had quietly sent Madame Neuwan to a convent to avoid a scandal.
Still, she couldn’t have been unaware of Marie’s identity. Marie bore such a strong resemblance to the emperor that it was impossible to miss.
“I apologize for showing you such a disturbing scene.”
Adelina touched her own cheek and bowed.
“Princess Marie suddenly ran into the carriage, causing it to stop abruptly, and I lost control of my emotions.”
“Yes, it must have been shocking.”
I nodded, and Adelina’s expression brightened slightly. She probably thought I was siding with her…
“But she wasn’t hurt, right?”
“…Pardon? Ah, yes, she’s fine.”
Though her expression suggested doubt, Adelina answered politely. I smiled coldly and said:
“Princess Marie fell on her rear, hurt her elbow, and even got slapped by you.”
“….”
“I didn’t realize you were so reckless. A lady of dignity would first help someone who fell and check if they were okay, wouldn’t she?”
Adelina hung her head in shame.
Yet she still looked embarrassed rather than truly regretful. She seemed to think I was upset simply because she had acted improperly.
“If you dream of becoming a crown princess, all the more so.”
“…I apologize. I’ll be more careful in the future.”
“Hmph.”
I tilted my head and muttered.
“Elza, what punishment does a noble get for slapping a royal?”
“No matter the rank, they cut off the wrist.”
“That’s what I thought, Miss Weiss.”
Adelina’s expression immediately changed—half shocked, half wary, unsure if I was joking.
“The slap was with your right hand, correct?”
I gently grabbed Adelina’s right hand. She gasped and trembled, her fingers stiffening completely.
“Your left hand is safe, so you’ll need to be careful with the remaining one.”
“…Princess Highness.”
Adelina’s voice trembled as she spoke.
“I apologize for acting thoughtlessly. Please forgive me.”
“Is that the mistake you’re admitting?”
I smirked sharply.
“Do you think your mistake was simply acting thoughtlessly?”
Adelina Weiss hurriedly nodded.
I sighed, tightening my grip.
“Ah! Aaah!”
With a crack, Adelina’s wrist twisted sharply. She screamed as if the world had ended.
I hadn’t broken it—it was just a warning. I shook my head in exasperation.
“Miss Weiss, you really are reckless.”
“Ah… haaah…”
Adelina pretended to collapse in tears, sobbing dramatically. Understandably, no one had ever dared to bend her wrist before.
But she should be grateful. If it had really been René, it wouldn’t have been her wrist—her neck might have been snapped.
“Consider this a mercy. If the Emperor or Empress had witnessed this, your punishment would have been far worse.”
Adelina stopped crying, staring at me in dumbfounded disbelief. Her eyes held resentment, convinced that if the emperor had seen it, nothing would have happened.
“Princess Highness, how… how could you do this to me?!”
“Are you asking if I’m upset with your insolence?”
I cut her off coldly.
“I’ve never seen anyone so brazen after committing triple offenses against royalty: riding in a carriage reserved for royalty, nearly hitting a princess with that carriage, and even striking her!”
I tried to restrain my anger, but my voice grew increasingly fierce.
Finally, unable to hold back, I shouted before Marie, then took a deep breath and composed myself.
“Care to argue?”
After a brief silence, Adelina muttered a low reply, finally realizing she had no defense—everything I said was true.
She hastily knelt before me, bowing her head.
“I apologize, Princess Highness. It’s… entirely my fault. Please forgive me.”
I tilted my head, smirking.
“Wrong. You’re not apologizing to me, are you?”
Adelina looked up, startled, then realized the true meaning behind my words and grit her teeth. She then bowed her head again, this time toward Marie.
“I apologize, Princess Marie. Please forgive my foolish mistake.”
“It’s… okay…”
“Ah, but your apology lacks sincerity.”
Marie fidgeted nervously, trying to say it was okay, but I quickly stopped her.
“Perhaps I was too lenient, Miss Weiss.”
‘Okay’ is nonsense. She could’ve been killed by that carriage! There was a reason palace carriages were forbidden to her.
At my harsh words, Adelina bit her lip so hard it almost split and bowed her head until her forehead nearly touched the ground.
“I’ve committed a mortal sin, Princess Marie. I’m truly sorry…”
Sobs came from beneath her bowed head. Marie looked on, unsure what to do.
Of course, she’s the heroine—so kind. I smiled faintly and patted Marie’s head.
“Stand up now, Miss Weiss.”
Finally, with the help of nearby maids, Adelina rose.
Her head still bowed, undoubtedly hiding any defiance from me.
“Be careful next time. I know you’re a top candidate for crown princess.”
She wasn’t the ‘real’ crown princess yet.
At my low warning, Adelina trembled and nodded.
“Yes, Princess Highness.”
Finally satisfied with her subdued posture, I turned my gaze back to Marie, smiling.
“Let’s go, Marie.”
I passed Adelina and walked straight toward René Palace.
I hoped Marie wasn’t afraid of me because of this.
I glanced at Marie’s face, slightly worried, when she suddenly said:
“…I’m sorry.”
Unexpected. I hadn’t anticipated Marie apologizing.
I furrowed my brows. Marie’s lips trembled as she bit them, looking more timid.
“I-I hope you’re not… picking a fight with Prince Anton because of me…”
“What are you talking about, Marie? You and Anton have never been close.”
I chuckled softly, stopping her. The moment I looked into her eyes, my heart skipped a beat.
She was terrified I might get hurt because of her.
I wanted her to feel even a bit satisfied from earlier—but she only worried that someone might harm me.
“It’s not your fault. That insolent noble dared to insult you and act arrogant while pretending to be royalty. According to protocol, I could’ve cut off her wrist.”
How could I not love someone like her? I held Marie tightly and advised:
“Don’t think unnecessary thoughts. Just say ‘thank you for coming to get me, sister.’ That’s enough.”
Even though I said it, I didn’t expect her to actually respond.
“Thank you for coming to get me.”
A cautious whisper followed, then a tiny, hesitant voice like an ant crawling.
“…Sister.”
I looked at Marie’s slightly embarrassed face. My heart soared—so cute! I laughed in delight and hugged her tightly.
