Chapter 156

 

"Yes, how could I not? There’s no way you or Iona wouldn’t know how I’d take this news."

 

With those words, Richard slowly approached Saskia.

 

Saskia instinctively tried to step back when she felt he was getting too close.

 

Richard drew the sword hanging at her waist and pointed it directly at her neck.

 

Saskia bit her lip as she stared down at the cold blade that had swiftly come to rest beneath her chin.

 

‘Crazy bastard, pulling out a sword just like that.’

 

Cold sweat ran down her back.

 

If it had been anyone else, she might have tried to resist, but her opponent was none other than the Crown Prince of the Empire.

 

Engaging in a physical struggle was out of the question, and if she ended up hurting him in the process, her head would surely be forfeit.

 

Saskia desperately prayed that he wasn’t a tyrant beyond her imagination.

 

Richard, staring intently into her nervous eyes, asked,

 

“Did they go to the duchy?”

 

“...Yes, that’s what I understand.”

 

“They must have left a while ago.”

 

Saskia affirmed with her silence.

 

Of course, it was only after confirming that Iona had indeed left the capital that she reported to Richard.

 

Knowing the destination was obvious, he could still catch up if he left now, but turning the newlywed procession around would be quite unreasonable.

 

It was an option he couldn’t choose, as he was too preoccupied with hiding his feelings for Iona.

 

“So you all conspired to make me a blind fool.”

 

Richard’s face turned savage as he realized he had been thoroughly deceived.

 

When he first heard the report that Iona had resigned from the Royal Knights, he thought there must have been some mistake.

 

Iona, his loyal subordinate and friend, would never leave his side without a word.

 

But when Richard pointed this out, the reporting knight looked even more flustered.

 

The knight had asked why he was surprised, didn’t he know that Lady Iona had left with her husband?

 

It was utter nonsense.

 

Richard dismissed the babbling knight and tried to calm his displeasure.

 

Yet the ominous feeling that filled his mind wouldn’t dissipate.

 

No, deep down, Richard knew it wasn’t just a premonition.

 

He simply couldn’t bring himself to accept the truth and chose to ignore it.

 

Richard’s vague denial of reality didn’t last long.

 

In the end, he couldn’t overcome the growing anxiety and abruptly stood up.

 

He needed to find Saskia, the captain of the knights, and get the truth.

 

Even as he entered the knight's building, a sliver of hope lingered in his heart, but the outcome was clear.

 

The situation spoke plainly to him.

 

Iona had deceived him. Perhaps for much longer than he had suspected.

 

"This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision made in a day or two. Tell me, how long has this been planned?" Richard said, looking down at Saskia with cold eyes.

 

His patience was already at its limit.

 

The fact that he was attempting to have a conversation at all was a testament to his struggle to maintain his composure.

 

"What do you mean by a plan? That’s a sad thing to hear." 

 

Saskia said, raising her hands as if to calm him down.

 

The blade close to her neck felt like it could cut her at any moment.

 

Saskia, judging it best not to provoke him, spoke as calmly as possible.

 

"I don’t understand why you’re so angry. Iona simply made a choice that suited the situation. Isn’t it common for someone to follow their spouse to their hometown after marriage?"

 

"If that were truly the case, she wouldn’t have left the capital in secret, as if running away from me. Do you think such wordplay will fool me now?"

 

"…Iona knew that His Highness would react like this, which is why she prepared to leave in secret. I respected her wishes and delayed reporting to you."

 

"It seems you’re finally giving a somewhat useful answer. Continue," Richard growled, bringing the sword closer to Saskia’s chin.

 

Saskia glanced at the sword, which seemed particularly sharp today, and furrowed her brow in distress.

 

It was a tense, life-threatening situation, but Saskia pretended to smile casually, pulling up the corners of her mouth.

 

Fortunately, she had one piece of information that could get her out of this tricky situation.

 

Thanks to Iona, who, concerned about the anger Richard would direct at her superior, had shared a useful piece of information before leaving.

 

"Your Highness, Iona, and I all know the truth… Do you think the Empress wouldn’t know?"

 

Richard paused at the sudden mention of a third party.

 

With a hardened expression, he asked, "What do you mean by that?"

 

"I mean, the Empress would surely know that Iona is someone who makes Your Highness lose his composure like this."

 

Saskia motioned with her chin towards the two of them, indicating their tense standoff.

 

Richard was pointing his sword at Saskia, the captain of the knights, simply for helping Iona resign quietly.

 

Apart from the fact that Saskia could not stand up to him as her lord, this was also unacceptable.

 

Richard, glaring at Saskia with fierce eyes, finally threw his sword to the ground.

 

Saskia felt a wave of relief and let out a deep sigh.

 

She was worried about the well-being of her beloved sword that had been thrown carelessly, but the relief of being out of immediate danger was greater.

 

While Saskia rubbed her stiff neck, Richard fell into his own thoughts.

 

He quickly came to a conclusion and voiced a rather accurate guess.

 

"Are you saying my mother pushed Iona to follow the duke?"

 

Saskia massaged her shoulder with a troubled expression.

 

If she spilled the truth too readily, it might seem suspicious, so she needed to appear somewhat hesitant.

 

Fortunately or unfortunately, Richard soon resorted to threats, making it impossible for her not to comply.

 

"If you lie, I won't let it slide. That includes hiding the truth."

 

"...Please, keep it a secret that I told you this. At least from Iona."

 

Richard nodded absently at Saskia's request.

 

His agreement was unconvincing, but since she had only mentioned it to set the mood, it didn’t really matter if he kept the promise.

 

After all, Iona had shared what happened with the Empress because she wanted Saskia to tell Richard.

 

Taking a deep breath before speaking, Saskia began hesitantly.

 

"A little while ago, Iona came to me and said she felt she had to leave the capital."

 

"..."

 

"When I asked her why, she hesitated for a long time and then said she felt it was wrong for her to stay by Your Highness' side."

 

"Continue."

 

Richard urged in a low, somber voice.

 

Saskia quietly complied.

 

"I kept asking for reasons because, like everyone else, I assumed Iona would stay in the capital after her marriage. It was unthinkable that someone who had been so loyal to Your Highness would suddenly decide to leave. Clearly, something must have happened."

 

"..."

 

"As I kept pressing her, Iona finally confessed why she made such a decision and who influenced her."

 

"...Was it the Empress?"

 

Richard's voice cracked slightly as he asked, but there was no anger in it, unlike before.

 

Saskia nodded gravely.

 

"On the day Iona inherited the count title, the Empress summoned her and said something like, 'You're a hindrance to my son's future. After your marriage, please leave.'"

 

"And Iona accepted that?"

 

"Whether she agreed or not, it was still an order from the Empress. From Iona's perspective, she had no choice but to comply."

 

Saskia shrugged bitterly.

 

The Empress had given such an order because she was conscious of Richard's extraordinary affection for Iona, which meant Saskia had perfectly succeeded in shifting the responsibility onto him.

 

Saskia added the final touch.

 

"Moreover, wasn't it true that Your Highness showed such exceptional favoritism towards her that even the Empress noticed?"

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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