The Abandoned Princess' Secret Bedroom

Llewelyn’s hand, which had been playing with her spoon, stopped. She glared at Pamela. Pamela had a poisonous expression on her face as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Mother, that is Alpheus’s room.”

Llewelyn said lowly.

“Is that so? It is the place where Prince Alpheus stayed, so it will be suitable for Prince Dion.”

“Your Majesty promised to keep it.”

Llewelyn shot back. She wanted to keep the lovely little Alpheus’ room as it was.

When the nights were unbearable because she missed her family, she went to Alpheus’s room. She would touch the toys that that mischievous kid used to play with. The books he read. His little bed and futon. The cute portrait of a young Alpheus. Those were her comfort.

“So? It is different now because Prince Dion has come.”

“Mother!”

“You are a princess who has given up being royal in this country. There’s no reason to keep the old room. Or, do you have sinister intentions?”

Llewelyn was momentarily speechless.

“You want me to leave it untouched because of the longing of one princess? You really are weak and selfish. Don’t you know that mourning the past is rude to Your Majesty?”

“…”

“So, this mother has made up her mind and decided to get rid of everything.”

“…”

What? She had already ordered everything to be thrown away? Hearing that, Llewelyn jumped up. She tried to run to Alpheus’s room.

“Grab her.”

At Pamela’s words, the White Knights captured Llewelyn. A terrible scream erupted from Llewelyn’s mouth as she struggled.

“Let go of me! Who are you to touch me?!”

Llewellyn’s reaction was quite strong. However, the knights still held onto Llewelyn. No matter how hard she tried, there was no way she could break free.

“Mother!”

This was to confirm that Vivian was a member of the family. Llewelyn knew that the abandoned princess was nothing to her. There was no princess who could threaten Prince Dion’s authority.

Pamela, the queen mother, was actually in control of the royal palace, and therefore she was the owner!

If she went now, maybe she could save his portrait. She had to rescue it, otherwise she would forget the face of Alpheus!

Pamela and Vivian watched Llewelyn struggle with faint smiles. Llewelyn knew what they were trying to do.

Llewelyn was rudely trying to borrow power from Pamela. Because of that, Pamela was taking away everything she had left. Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t lose it all. It was then. She heard a heavy sound, and the man who was holding her fell.

“Ugh!”

“What is this? …Huh?”

Another man fell after a pop, pop, punch sound. Llewelyn, who had fallen to her knees after being released, turned to look at her savior.

“Who cares about the dignity of the royal family?”

It was incomparably heavy with the passionate fight that had just taken place, and it was a deep voice that was excited. However, as there was no height, it made the hot atmosphere cool.

Llewelyn’s eyes widened. Pamela also had a firm expression on her face.

It was Tristan.

“Get up.”

“…”

Tristan reached out to Llewelyn. Tousled hair, disheveled clothes. He was a knight who reached out regardless of his shabby appearance. He was so reliable that it brought tears to her eyes. Llewelyn saw Paulo standing behind Tristan.

It seemed as though Tristan was summoned right away. She was grateful, but she felt like he’d done something useless. Llewelyn grabbed Tristan’s hand and stood up.

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt?’

“Sir Jayad! What is this?”

Pamela shouted in rage. 

Tristan replied sternly,

“I am following the king’s command to protect the princess.”

“As her mother, I am educating her!”

Tristan shook his head. He said with a look of disdain.

“If your ‘education’ involves threats to those I have sworn to protect, I will protect them.”

At Tristan’s deadpan attitude, Pamela scolded him.

“To whom do you swear your allegiance?”

“His Majesty and this country.”

Compared to the excited Pamela, Tristan’s tone was still calm. Pamela’s venomous glare made it clear she wanted to kill Tristan immediately. Llewelyn’s heart pounded.

She looked precariously at the reliable man standing beside her as if he would disappear. Llewelyn suddenly pushed Tristan, who was holding her.

“Let go of me, Sir Jayad!”

Llewelyn pulled her hand away, pretending to tremble. The knights watching narrowed their eyes.

“You dare to touch me? The hands of the lowly Zakat will rot my skin away. By the grace of His Majesty, I have accepted your escort, but you dare to do such a thing!”

She deliberately put on an angry expression. Llewelyn glared at Tristan and shouted.

“I thought you were a decent knight, but you act this way!”

Pamela smiled and nodded for her to continue. Pamela always liked to watch Llewelyn pushing her friends with her own hands.

“Sir Jayad, apologize to my mother. No matter how foolish you Zakats are, how inflexible, haven’t you learned manners yet!?”

“Are you serious?”

Paulo growled. Llewelyn glared at Tristan with contempt. However, Tristan didn’t seem to be hurt at all. Why did she feel like she had punched a rock with her hand?*

[*E/N: last one for this chapter, I promise! When you punch a rock, you’re the only one who gets hurt. Essentially she’s saying that she’s only hurting herself trying to push Tristan away, as she hates being mean to others.]

“Get away from me!”

“I can’t.”

Llewelyn shouted again.

“Can’t you hear me?!”

“I am not commanded to follow the princess’s orders, but to keep them. No matter how much abuse you throw at me, it’ll always be the same.”

“Under…”

Llewelyn bit her lip.

“What is this fuss about?”

A soft voice whispered. Llewellyn was pleased. It was Ernel.

“Didn’t the Patron say you were going to morning service?”

Ernel answered softly.

“It ended early. I came to say hello, but what’s this situation? Why is the princess upset?”

“Patron, please help me. The princess is mad that we are clearing the room of the son of the wicked former queen to make room for our prince.”

Ernel glanced at Llewelyn. A subtle emotion flashed across his face. Llewelyn lowered her head as if embarrassed by her desperation.

“The room of the son of the former queen becomes the room of the grandson… What… What purpose does the Queen have in designating that room?”

Ernel asked calmly. His soft tone made her curious. But Pamela did not answer. Because if she answered Ernel’s question, her answer would be that her grandson’s room was the room of the son of the former queen, who was executed for performing black magic.

Sometimes, direct questions could make you speechless.

“I mean. I think it’s the appropriate room…”

“I’m sorry, but is it the only room in the royal palace? Wouldn’t it be nice for him to be in a better room?”

Pamela was speechless again. Her lips contorted.

“…Yes. I will put the prince in another room.”

Llewellyn wanted to cheer.

“Instead, I will dispose of the items in Prince Alpheus’s room as scheduled. It feels… wrong to have any special items from the past in the royal palace.”

Pamela’s self-esteem was hurt. Llewelyn flinched.

Right! Then, they must be clearing the room as they spoke.

Llewelyn clenched her teeth. It was something even Ernel couldn’t stop! Llewelyn grabbed her skirt and ran to her brother’s room.

His portraits! Any portrait was fine. If there were any left…!

Llewelyn, who had always been dignified, ran faster and faster. Even if her skirt was ripped off, she wouldn’t care. Upon arriving in front of Alpheus’s room, Llewelyn’s eyes widened.

“What…”

Contrary to what she expected, Alpheus’s room was a bit cluttered, but nothing was missing. The reason was simple. The Red Knights were protecting this room.

“This…”

As soon as the Knights saw Llewelyn, they moved away. Llewelyn entered her brother’s room as if possessed. The inside of the room was messy, but it was in a good condition. She picked up the fallen portrait.

The little child in the portrait had a pale face and reddish-brown hair like Llewelyn. It was six-year-old Alpheus. Llewelyn held the little portrait dearly.

“It looks like His Majesty gave it to you.”

At Tristan’s voice, Llewelyn looked back.

“According to our new orders, my knights must report if the Princess is in danger. Sir Paulo hastily made a report. Some of the Red Knights reported this incident to His Majesty, while I went to the Princess.”

Llewelyn was about to say thank you. But harsh words came out of her mouth instead.

“Who asked you to do this?”

“…”

Her cold words instantly froze the atmosphere. All the Red Knights were glaring at Llewelyn.