The Abandoned Princess' Secret Bedroom

A knock was heard and Almondite entered. He looked between Llewelyn and Tristan alternately.

“Hello, Princess.”

“Sit.”

Almondite bowed politely and sat across from her.

“Why are you here?”

“I have something to tell you.”

Almondite looked at Tristan sharply as if to tell him to leave them alone. Llewelyn objected angrily. 

“I want Sir Jayad to be here.”

“…”

“I don’t want to have a dirty conversation.” 

Almondite sighed at Llewelyn’s sarcastic remark.

“Great. It’s not wrong for you to want to be escorted.”

“…”

“Especially if he is the leader of the Red Knights.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Almondite’s tone had changed, but Llewelyn was not particularly angry. Tristan glared intently at Almondite, who was friendly to the Princess. Jealousy flashed in his red eyes.

“So please, be sure to bring a knight when other men visit you.”

“I take care of my escort.” 

Llewelyn said coldly. Almondite sighed again.

“What do you plan to do?”

“I will go alone.”

Almondite shook his head. 

“Princess, are you really going to go alone? Does it make sense for the golden raven, the star of the banquet, to be alone?”

“Did I say I wanted to be the golden raven? If they laugh at me for being alone, let them laugh.”

“…”

Almondite looked at Llewelyn with a scolding look. Llewelyn responded with an expression that said, ‘What?’. She felt a gaze from behind, and when she looked back, even Tristan had an expression that said, ‘That’s not right’.

“I will go with you.”

“I thought you would say that. I’m going alone.”

As soon as he spoke, Llewelyn coldly refused. Almondite looked astonished. Llewelyn ignored him and continued.

“Or my brother… No, I can’t make him my partner.”

The reason Bastian chose Llewelyn as the golden raven was because he did not want attention. Llewelyn, understanding his intentions, pondered her choices.

“Llewelyn, did you forget that I declared I would support you?”

“Is there any reason why I should go with you? I can just choose one of the Red Knights.”

Tristan shifted slightly. Noticing this, Almondite smiled gracefully.

“Are you going to let the Queen create more scandals?”

“…”

“Llewelyn, His Majesty’s appointment of you was not due to any expectations. What would happen if you, the golden raven, attended alone and suffered disgrace? Do you intend to disappoint His Majesty?”

Tristan stepped forward. He looked so determined that it seemed like he wouldn’t mind if Pamela killed off all the Red Knights.

“Princess, we are alright.”

“Sir Jayad, don’t interrupt our conversation.” 

Tristan’s face hardened at Almondite’s cold words. He tried to say more, but Llewelyn grabbed his arm and held him back. In an instant, Almondite’s turquoise eyes bored into Tristan’s arm where Llewelyn’s small hand lay. Almondite slowly closed his eyes, as if suppressing something, and opened them.

“His Majesty has turned you into a golden raven, but are you going to turn it into a position of ridicule? That would be disrespectful to His Majesty.”

“…”

Almondite’s tone was sharp. 

“It’s okay if you are ridiculed alone, but to make the position of the golden raven amusing is to undermine the authority of the Royal Family. Do you want that?”

Almondite was absolutely right. The golden raven was the progenitor of Brygent. Llewelyn did not want to ruin her Royal name.

Looking at her troubled face, Almondite said arrogantly. 

“Aren’t I safer alone?”

Llewelyn’s amber eyes looked at the man with emotion. The blessed Duke of Biserk, mate of the golden raven… Not bad.

He was one of the five noble families, and was a hero who destroyed warlocks and the beasts they summoned. Biserk was a family that could not be destroyed even if Pamela held a grudge and kept them in check. 

“…”

“I will give you a dress to wear as a gift.”

“…”

“I’ll also give you aquamarine earrings that you used to like.”

Llewelyn was silent for a long time.

Almondite got up from his seat and walked over to Llewelyn. He knelt in front of her and took her hand off of Tristan’s arm. An unpleasant sigh escaped Tristan’s lips.

Almondite looked up at Llewelyn.

“What are you hesitating for, Princess? Use me.”

“You think I don’t know that this is your plan?”

“Then are you going to refuse?”

Llewelyn opened her mouth but no words came out. She thought that she would rather find another man. But the cunning Almondite left her with no other choice.

“I’m not going to do what you think.”

“…”

“So prepare everything yourself.”

Almondite smiled and kissed the back of her hand. She felt a burning sensation on the back of her neck. Llewelyn quickly pulled her hand away. Another hot breath escaped her mouth.

Almondite looked at her with wide eyes.

*

“Get away!”

Clink! 

Black ink splashed as Bastian shouted. Vivian’s skirt was a mess. The baby in her arms burst into tears.

“Ahhhhhhh!”

“Put that away!”

Bastian exclaimed nervously. Vivian looked at the man who would become her husband resentfully.

“Aren’t you being too harsh on your son?”

“Son? Son?! How do you know he is my son?”

“Are you going to insult me ​​now?”

The corners of Bastian’s lips rose.

“Insult? You think that’s an insult? I heard that Count Curren’s son is very close to you.”

At Bastian’s words, Vivian’s face hardened. She glared at Bastian. Bastian wasn’t an easy target as she had hoped. His blue eyes were far from glazed over. He was full of contempt for the woman who would become his wife.

“I warn you, do not do anything on Founding Day. If you do, I will drive you out with my own hands.”

“If I lay low, will Your Majesty’s mother approve?” 

She retorted sarcastically. Bastian glared at her, a crazed look in his eyes.

“I am the King.”

Vivian smiled softly and continued. 

“We have to pick out matching Founding Day outfits.”

“…”

Vivian grinned and laughed.

“If Your Majesty keeps rejecting me, won’t the Princess suffer?” 

“That is stupid.” 

Bastian looked exhausted. 

She continued softly. 

“Your Majesty is the same as Her Majesty. Why would someone who treasures Princess Llewelyn in that way want to leave her alone?”

Bastian glared at Vivian, the urge to kill her growing stronger by the second. Vivian flinched when she made direct eye contact with him, but she pretended to be calm.

“That’s right. She only has incompetent maids by her side. They don’t seem to be loyal though…”

“…”

“Do you give the Princess a maintenance fee? The Princess’ clothes are always shabby. The only thing worth seeing was the dress she wore as a child, made of Thessalian silk.”

“…”

“If you think of the Princess like that, shouldn’t you show that affection with your actions?”

Bastian trembled with pure rage. His hands grabbed Vivian’s shoulders.

“Hey!”

It felt like her shoulder was about to break. Vivian managed to stay upright with Dion in her arms.

Bastian’s face came closer. He had a terrifyingly handsome face.

In an instant, a deep sadness passed through his blue eyes. But his voice was so sharp that she could feel it slice her open. 

“Do not talk about what you do not know.”

When she was about to be overwhelmed by his boiling rage, Bastian released her shoulders.

“I will never forgive you if you bring that child to my office in the future.”

“…”

“And if you lay a single hand on Llewelyn, I will never forgive you.”

“… What the hell is that abandoned Princess even worth?”

Bastian answered immediately.

“So much that you are incomparable.”

When Vivian saw Bastian’s face, goosebumps ran down her spine. 

‘Why does that man worship his little sister so much?’