TVLWM 04

Chapter 04

“……Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

Roxis’s hand, which had stopped near my neck, slowly clenched into a fist before lowering again.

However, the hand gripping my shoulder remained.

“No matter if you are my consort’s brother.”

Yulion approached, his face filled with displeasure.

Then his gaze dropped to Roxis’s hand resting on my shoulder.

“I’m a rather jealous person.”

It was a tone I had never heard from him before.

Yulion tightly grabbed Roxis’s wrist and applied force.

“So I’d appreciate it if you refrained from touching her in front of me.”

Slowly, Roxis’s hand fell away from me.

Freed from the pressure, I took a deep breath.

The dull ache that started at my shoulder seemed to run down my spine.

“Please don’t misunderstand. We were merely talking.”

“It seems you converse with your body.”

Yulion’s golden eyes flicked toward the shoulder that had just been held.

I couldn’t see it clearly myself, but it was probably bruised dark blue.

Yulion’s expression grew even colder.

“That’s simply how siblings converse, Your Highness.”

As if it were nothing, Roxis slipped his hand free from Yulion’s grip and put on a gentle smile.

“It reassures me to see that my sister is well loved.”

“You’d do well to mind your words, Sir Roxis Cassian.”

But Yulion’s presence only sharpened further.

He took my hand and pulled me toward him as he continued,

“She is no longer your sister, but the Crown Princess of the Empire.”

Roxis slowly shifted his gaze between Yulion and me, then smiled faintly and placed a hand over his chest.

“My mistake. I ask for the forgiveness of Your generous Highness.”

He bowed, but Yulion’s gaze remained icy.

“A mistake?”

With a sneer, Yulion’s eyes fell to my shoulder.

“A title may be mistaken, but this doesn’t seem like something you can excuse as a mistake.”

“…Your Highness.”

“I will formally raise this issue with Duke Cassian.”

“Your Highness, that’s a misundersta—”

“It seems Duke Cassian failed to educate his son properly. You may be the only one who dares to repeatedly contradict the Crown Prince.”

Only then did a deep look of distress appear on Roxis’s face.

Knowing their father’s nature—someone who hated being publicly faulted—it was obvious Roxis would face harsh punishment.

Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Roxis tried to speak again to smooth things over.

But Yulion no longer allowed him to.

“Or perhaps.”

Yulion’s voice turned colder.

Though he held no weapon, it felt as if he were pointing a blade at Roxis.

“Do you wish to be summarily dealt with here?”

In other words, if he didn’t leave now, force would be used.

Roxis’s fingertips trembled, but he forced a smile and bowed his head.

“…My apologies. I will take my leave.”

Only after Roxis’s dark blue hair disappeared from view did Yulion turn to me.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, of course.”

At his gaze, I instinctively covered my shoulder.

‘Of all things, I had to wear an off-shoulder dress.’

Since my shoulders were fully exposed, covering them with my palm did little.

Seeing the reddish bruises, Yulion’s brow furrowed.

“You should have called out and summoned someone. Why act like a fool?”

Mid-sentence, he brushed his hair back in frustration.

His exposed brows twitched irritably beneath his pale forehead.

“…I apologize. I’m not angry at you.”

“I was just about to call out. You simply arrived a bit faster.”

Yulion narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Afraid the conversation might take a difficult turn, I quickly changed the subject.

“We’ll be late. Let’s go in first. I’ll fix myself up and follow.”

At that, the quick-witted Jenid moved close to me.

“There’s a powder room right next door, Your Highness.”

“That’s perfect. Let’s go.”

I passed by Yulion and headed to the powder room with Jenid.

He looked like he had much to say, but he didn’t stop me.

“Your Highness, I’m so sorry.”

As soon as we arrived at the powder room, Jenid looked like she was about to cry.

“I should have been quicker.”

“No, it couldn’t be helped. More importantly, is there something to cover my shoulder?”

At this rate, I would surely spark new rumors at the reception.

The Villainous Crown Princess Caught in Violence, or perhaps The Crown Prince and His Hidden Hobby—headlines like that might sweep across the continent.

“How about this?”

Jenid brought a deep navy shawl.

It seemed to match quite well with my light blue dress.

“That’s nice. My hair doesn’t need fixing again, right?”

“Yes, just a little here….”

With practiced hands, Jenid tidied the small details, then draped the shawl over me, her eyes welling up again.

“I told you, I’m really fine. It doesn’t hurt at all.”

“Please don’t lie. There’s no way it doesn’t hurt when it’s bruised like this.”

“Mm… then it only hurts a little. Really.”

That was actually true.

Right now, I could barely feel pain.

But Jenid didn’t know about my condition.

I had missed the right moment to tell her, and now it felt too late.

‘Besides, it’ll heal anyway.’

Telling her would only make her worry unnecessarily.

I deliberately spoke in a brighter tone and stood up energetically.

“Alright, we’re done, right? Let’s go. The main character shouldn’t be late.”

“Yes….”

Jenid still sounded guilty, her voice trailing off.

Without saying more, I left the powder room.

But before I could take more than a few steps, I had to stop.

“Yulion?”

Yulion was leaning against the wall where the earlier scuffle had taken place.

When he saw me, he straightened up.

“Why aren’t you going in?”

“There’s no guarantee someone like Roxis won’t appear again.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words.

Did that mean… he stayed to wait for me, just in case?

As I silently stared at him, he cleared his throat and held out his hand.

“Besides, it’s our wedding reception. We should enter together.”

Looking at his outstretched hand, I couldn’t help but smile.

I began to understand why people called Yulion a righteous Crown Prince who protected the weak.

“Your Highnesses, congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thank you.”

There was little for me to do at the reception.

I simply sat in my assigned seat, greeted the nobles who came to pay respects, and received their congratulations.

The rest of the nobles gathered in small groups, chatting among themselves.

Of course, most of their topic was me.

More precisely, it was about the Hemion incident from earlier that morning.

“Was it Hemion Martin? I heard it was poison addiction….”

“Was Her Highness always skilled in medicine?”

“Well, I’ve heard rumors she makes poisons.”

“Ah, that must be how she could make an antidote too.”

All sorts of things were being said.

They were all rumors I had secretly spread in the past through the maids.

If I had simply said I was studying medicine, my father would have opposed it as a waste of time.

But if it involved poison, I thought he’d allow it as something useful to the family—and I was right. He even supported me at first.

Though, as I produced little result, that support gradually dwindled.

“But wasn’t it kind of impressive?”

“What do you mean? Surely not Her Highness?”

“Yes! It’s a shame I didn’t see it myself. My maid was nearby and described it in detail….”

One young lady began telling the story.

I wished they’d at least move farther away so I wouldn’t hear it.

But they were only a few steps away.

Feeling awkward and embarrassed, I looked around aimlessly.

Then I made eye contact with Yulion.

“I was surprised as well.”

Oh no.

Yulion looked ready to bring up that topic again.

I searched for something else to say when another noble stepped in.

“I’m a bit late. Congratulations on your marriage.”

“Not at all. Thank you, Count Retin.”

Perhaps expecting a scolding, Count Retin sighed in relief when I responded with a bright smile.

Thanks to the steady stream of nobles coming to greet us, I managed to avoid Yulion’s piercing gaze.

‘Father isn’t here.’

My sisters—other daughters of the Cassian family—had already refused to attend, saying they didn’t want to be my attendants, so that was expected.

But although Duke Cassian had attended the wedding, he hadn’t appeared in the reception hall even as it was nearing its end.

The same went for Roxis.

They were probably busy running around trying to silence people because of the Hemion Martin incident.

‘Even so, the most important card has fallen into my hands.’

Today had been an unexpected gain.

It would become a very useful card in the future.

After the banquet ended, I immediately soaked in the bath that had been prepared in advance.

As the warm water enveloped my body, even my mind grew hazy.

“Your Highness, I’ll scatter rose petals.”

“You don’t have to.”

“But it’s your first night!”

Jenid excitedly sprinkled the prepared petals into the bath.

Though nothing like what she imagined would happen, I decided to simply enjoy the sweet atmosphere.

Only after the fragrance filled the bathroom and I finished receiving a massage did the bath end.

When I stepped out, feeling pleasantly drowsy, the maids of the Crown Prince’s palace were waiting.

“We will assist you, Your Highness.”

The maids dressed me in a thin nightgown they had brought.

It was loose and flowing overall, properly covering only the important areas, while the rest was made of semi-transparent fabric.

“Is there anything else to wear?”

It seemed quite cold to sleep in just this.

The maid fixing my hair hesitated before asking,

“Do you have a particular preference?”

“No, it just seems a bit cold.”

She tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand.

Just as I was about to explain further—

“His Highness the Crown Prince is entering.”

With the attendant’s announcement, the door swung open.

Instead of coming in immediately, Yulion knocked on the open door.

“I will come in.”