Chapter 21

“Are you ready to follow my orders now?”

Florence asked in a triumphant voice.

To think that the knight who grabbed the sword would be stunned and surrender just because she was slapped on the cheek, in a way, it was a very naive belief.

“Louisa, could you bring me some wet towels?”

Iona asked, turning to Louisa who was standing behind her.

As if shocked by what had happened in front of her eyes, Louisa came to her senses after a while and left to get the requested item.

Iona then turned her eyes to the lady-in-waiting next to her and said.

“Lizzie, you go directly to the captain and tell her that I used emergency powers per Security Principle 4.”

A slight bewilderment crossed Florence's face.

She was only aware of the fact that the situation was going strangely, but she did not seem to know what the emergency authority Iona was talking about.

For the sake of the ignorant, Iona kindly told her what position she was in.

“Lady Florence, as a result of the charge of obstruction of justice, I will evict you from the imperial palace. I will guide you to your house, so please follow my guides now.”

Touching the body of an Imperial Knight on duty was considered a felony. This was because what they protect is the royal family, not anyone else.

Punishment was applied regardless of the identity of the suspect because it would be difficult if security was disrupted by intimidation or assault.

Iona explained in a businesslike voice.

“We will notify you later after discussing the detailed entry ban period with the upper management. Sir Hardy, Sir Pattison. Take Miss Florence out of the palace.”

“What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Are you really crazy?!”

Florence shouted in a shriek.

Perhaps because she grew up as an only child, her temperament was weaker than that of Yvonne.

“Are you going to kick me out of the palace? Ha, you cheeky! Yes, bring the knight commander in front of me and see. I will confront you directly in front of her.”

“If you wish, we can take a more formal procedure. I don't know if it would be a good choice to gather a lot of people and recite what you've done right now.”

Iona replied with a calm face.

At that time, a lady-in-waiting who had been waiting behind Florence came over and whispered something in her ear. Florence's face slowly hardened at that.

It seems that there was at least one person with a mind on the other side.

It was a law within the palace that once an eviction order had occurred, no one other than the imperial family could revoke it.

Of course, after locking the door, Richard would not step out to save the uninvited guest.

Annoying other members of the Imperial Family with these matters was also not a wise choice.

So Florence bit her lip in anger.

“I am the person who will become Richard-sama's spouse. Can you really take responsibility for the aftermath of this?”

Florence, as the fiancée of the crown prince, has been tolerated in many instances, but she was not yet an official member of the imperial family.

Nor will she ever get the position she wants in the future. Because she couldn't marry Richard in the end.

Iona replied with a carefree face.

“Miss Florence, you can say those things after the wedding.”

“… …”

“How are you going to walk into the wedding hall when you can’t meet your fiancé whenever you want?”

Iona looked down at her with compassion in her eyes and smiled lightly.

“Would you like to get out on your own? Or should I drag you out myself?”

Florence's eyes burned with anger.

She reached out menacingly to Iona but was weakly held back. This was because Iona's junior knights, who were waiting for her, quickly caught her.

Florence, who had been tied up, let out a shrieking scream.

“Leave me alone! Didn’t everyone hear what that bitch just said!”

“Then take the lady home safely.”

Iona accepted the water bag Louisa handed to her without even looking at Florence.

Hardy and Pattison carried Florence out as Iona ordered, even though they had worried looks on their faces. They seemed to think that she had been given a separate order from Richard.

Of course, there was none of that, but it didn't matter if it offended Richard. It's a job she will be quitting soon anyway.

'I don't even need to look good anymore.'

The one and only lord, a colleague who has been with her for more than half a lifetime, a place to replace her family...

In the past, Richard was everything to Iona.

When asked if she truly cared for him, even though she couldn't answer yes, Iona tried to please him somehow. Because Iona was nothing without him.

But it was wrong.

It was Iona herself who turned her into nothing.

No one respects those who live only to please others.

All they get in return for such a life was little sympathy.

Yes, like that kind lady-in-waiting looking at her with worried eyes.

"Are you okay?"

It wasn't a question that concerned about taking care of the aftermath. As if thinking that Iona had endured her humiliation because of  Richard, Louisa asked about Iona's safety first.

Iona answered briefly.

"No."

“Your Highness seems to really intend to break off the engagement.”

"I do not know."

“…Could it be that you just did it on your own?"

“My cheek hurts so much from being beaten all the time.”

Iona answered honestly and brought the water bag back to her cheek.

It seemed that she would have to continue wearing heavy makeup for some time to come.

'How the hell am I supposed to be a socialite like this?'

"You've been acting a little strange lately, Dame Iona."

Louisa blurted out. Iona calmly responded.

“Marriage is an important crossroads in life.”

"That's exactly what you're saying."

Louisa's eyes narrowed. But as if she couldn't guess the cause of her changed behavior, she immediately turned her head away.

Louisa said, relaxing her shoulders.

"Well, it's us at the top of the line who have a hard time."

It was fortunate. Louisa would not continue to serve such a master in the future.

Iona said, giving the towel she was holding on her cheek to Louisa.

“Then I will go first. I think the captain will come this way soon.”

"Yes? Why don’t you report it yourself?”

“Please tell her that I am leaving early due to severe emotional shock.”

If it was Saskia, Iona's message was enough to guess what had happened earlier.

Since the prince's fiancée was evicted, there was a high possibility that Saskia would come to investigate the situation herself. If that happens, Iona will have to suffer from a barrage of annoying follow-ups and questions.

Iona had a place to go today, and it would have been better to have her grades deducted from the exam rather than being caught and working overtime.

It didn't matter what the next year's annual salary would be, the prospective retiree didn't care.

“Shouldn't you say hello to His Highness the Crown Prince?”

“Do you want me to see Your Highness in this state?”

“…You'd better just go.”

In the end, Louisa couldn't hold on to Iona anymore.

Iona left her behind and flew across the hallway.

'Is it the power of early retirement?'

Somehow, the more she left the place of work, the more the pain seemed to go away.

After escaping from the crown prince's place and stepping out into the sunlight, Iona started running in earnest.

She left the horse she rode on her way to work with the stallion, which was right behind the Knights Building.

There was a possibility of running into Saskia, who was coming out after hearing the news. If she made a mistake along the way. If that happens, her dream of leaving work early will also be blown away.

'Miss Lizzie will go to Captain later anyway.'

It was an impulsive decision, so she didn't even think about it until the next day.

If there was one thing that's fortunate, it was that a lady-in-waiting like Lizzie won't run and move like her. It seemed that if she moved at an appropriate interval, she might not get caught and go over.

Iona sighed and strengthened her legs.

'I got slapped on the job, but it's a job where you can't be guaranteed to leave early.'

Again, the only answer was resignation.

It was the moment when the already firm determination became firmer.

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