Flower of Steel

I felt anger rising as I testified. However, the person in front of me was the Crown Prince. I couldn’t show my emotions so easily as it could be used against me. I tried to remain calm and suppress my emotions.

“So, I objected, and she said ‘What. Did I say something wrong? Everyone here knows that you flirt with every man around like a b**ch.’ I fought back, pointing out the fact that she disgraced two men’s honor, and she replied, ‘Hah! You have a sly mouth! I suppose you tricked those wise people with your slick tongue of yours, you dirty b-,’ to me. Everyone here witnessed it.”

As I said, I saw the Crown Prince looking at me with sunken eyes. Was it because I wasn’t feeling good that his beautiful purple eyes looked even more unpleasant than usual?

“I see. You’re there.”

A man flinched at the Crown Prince’s cold voice and answered, “Yes, Your Highness. I’m Viscount Lewin. How can I be of service?”

“Is Lady Harrant telling the truth?”

The Crown Prince’s voice that was so frightening made the Viscount flinch. He then nodded and answered, “Yes, it is the truth. Lady Harrant was worried about bringing shame to the others who were disgraced because of her, even while being disrespected.”

“I see,” said the Crown Prince as he nodded.

Then Matilda began to scream, “Your Highness! This is unfair! That sly woman surely tricked that man too!”

Her voice rang through the hall, and her friends made an awkward expression. The Crown Prince laughed. Matilda became mesmerized by that laugh and looked at him, then was cut down.

“AHHHHH!” Matilda screamed as she looked at the strands of hair that were cut off.

The Crown Prince placed his sword at her neck and threatened, “Do you want your head cut off? Shut up if you don’t want to die.”

Matilda trembled as she sobbed and shut herself up. The Crown Prince smiled with satisfaction. It seems some ladies had forgotten about the terrifying situation because of his unworldly beauty. There was astonishment in the hall. But to my eyes, it was just a nutjob, a very handsome one with a sword.

“How dare you disrespect a member of the royal family? You dare to interrupt when you aren’t allowed. Anyway, I will now make a judgment. You have disrespected the royal family and a noble of the same rank. Your sentence is death. Also, your direct family members will be made into slaves for disrespecting the royal family,” declared the Crown Prince.

Matilda’s face turned into despair. She turned to Elise as her last line of hope, but she coldly ignored her and turned away. Foolish girl. Do you think she will side with you? She’s not that kind of woman. No, it’s not only her who will ignore her in this case. No one in their right mind would try to help you when you’re involved with the crime of disrespecting the royal family. Everyone will try their best to stay away from it.

“Please, wait a moment, Your Highness.” And in such a dangerous moment, there was one crazy person who spoke to break the silence. And that person was…

“What is it, Marina von Harrant?”

Yes, me.

“That is too severe of punishment, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince frowned at my words, and the audience became confused.

“She certainly is responsible for her words, but she didn’t directly dishonor you, Your Highness. Her actual target of discrediting was only me. That is why I consider your judgment that she had discredited the royal family to be unfair. Please reconsider this fact.”