Chapter 50
A Rather Forgiving Princess
I acted as if I were calm, but in reality, my heart was racing wildly.
When I spoke with the man from the Ten Principality or the shop owner, I felt so nervous that the world seemed to spin before my eyes. Far too many people were watching me in front of the shop.
I was used to standing before many people on stages or at banquets, but being observed at this close distance, where anyone could touch me, was a first.
I tried to appear composed as I slowly walked around to the back of the carriage I had arrived in and placed my hand over my chest. I could feel my heartbeat pulsing at my fingertips.
I let out a long breath.
“Sir Diego, could they tell that I was trembling?”
“You appeared very confident and natural to me.”
I trusted Diego’s answer, not Matisse’s. Matisse, the knight of knights, could sometimes be blinded by his loyalty and fail to see reality.
“Phew… I feel like my heart might just jump out of my chest.”
I could still feel it pressing at my fingertips.
“How did you know the shop owner would sell the items? He seemed like an Imperial supremacist. I thought he wouldn’t be favorable to our tone or manner. He probably didn’t even know who you are.”
Diego avoided saying “princess,” which made me trust his judgment even more.
“People get flustered when an unexpected situation occurs. I thought that during such a moment, they might inadvertently sell the item. That was my reasoning. I didn’t think it would actually work. I was lucky.”
In truth, I had stepped in because someone had been physically threatened.
I was prepared to reveal my identity if necessary, but fortunately, it was not needed. I wanted to avoid announcing myself as Princess Daisy in the middle of Owen’s capital and creating rumors. Of course, I acted with the calculation that my knights would protect me and no harm would come to me.
It was the first time I had seen someone directly harmed because of Imperial supremacist behavior.
Imperial supremacy seemed more visible than I had imagined, which worried me. The person affected was not from the Kingdom of Rundra, but being a foreigner living in Owen, he reminded me of our Rundra nationals residing there.
“Ha ha ha!”
Just as I was thinking this, I heard someone laughing loudly nearby. Startled, I turned and saw a stranger walking toward us.
The first thing that caught my eye was his bright ash-brown, slightly messy wavy hair. He had dark skin, was tall, and slender.
As he approached, Sir Matisse stepped slightly ahead, and Diego moved closer to me.
He walked slowly, almost theatrically, hunched over as if frightened, which made him look even more suspicious.
“Oh? No intention of threatening the young lady? Guards, don’t make scary faces.”
The stranger grinned broadly. His accent was unfamiliar, seeming to indicate he was a foreigner, not from the Kingdom of Rundra.
As he drew closer, his thick eyebrows and cheerful expression made a strong impression.
“Hello, beautiful lady. Might you grant me the honor of knowing your name?”
I didn’t answer. To appear suddenly and ask my name before introducing himself was extremely rude.
He squinted one eye in amusement and continued.
“My name is Dandelion. I came to Owen on business from the Kingdom of Lorneis.”
I simply tilted my head.
“I saw you buying the items on someone else’s behalf from afar. I was intrigued. Then I heard what you just said, and my curiosity was piqued.”
He was dressed elegantly, and his gestures carried a natural refinement. Even the tone of his voice was polite.
But his constant grin overshadowed all dignity.
“Shall I push him away?”
Diego whispered. I shook my head. He seemed harmless enough and hadn’t acted aggressively.
“I see. If you have nothing special to say, may I take my leave?”
“Oh, no, that won’t do.”
My expression probably showed my discomfort, but the stranger seemed unaffected, his blue eyes still smiling.
“I’ve fallen for you. I swear, this is the first time it’s happened.”
I had never heard anything so absurd.
“You were charming in front of the shop earlier, and what you just said was delightful. Please, won’t you tell me your beautiful name?”
“What an extremely rude person.”
“Lady, I am not a strange person.”
Even as he smiled, he tried to appear innocent, as if wronged.
“Strange people never claim to be strange themselves.”
Diego whispered to me, just loud enough for me to hear.
I felt uncomfortable dealing with this stranger. Not because he was unknown, but because his behavior was far too familiar. In reality, he wasn’t that close to me—Matisse stood between us—but his words and gestures made him feel closer than he was.
I refused to respond further. There was no need to entertain such a peculiar person.
I motioned to Matisse, who completely blocked the stranger from my view.
Turning back toward the carriage, Diego extended his hand to help me climb in.
What an impertinent and strange man.
The carriage went to the dessert shop and then quickly to the main avenue in front of the Ducal Mansion.
Carrying a box of chocolates in one hand and holding Matisse’s arm with the other, I stepped out. Both knights looked unusually tense.
I quickly spun to face the direction of the mansion. It wasn’t particularly ladylike, but I wanted to tease them.
I spun too quickly and almost lost balance as my dress twisted around me. Diego quickly supported my waist, and I straightened again. Ahem.
“Knights, what’s the matter?”
I deliberately adopted a slightly stern expression. Sometimes I wanted to act like a mischievous fairy from a tale.
“Your Highness?”
Diego lifted his head.
“They look exactly like people who have something to say.”
Diego’s expression turned serious. Matisse couldn’t hide his embarrassment.
Suddenly, Matisse knelt on one knee in front of me. Diego mirrored him.
“We sought the opportunity to apologize to Your Highness.”
“Why are you both acting like this all of a sudden?”
Diego’s expression was earnest.
“Our failure to protect you at the lake, our failure in our duties… we apologize.”
Both knights placed one arm on their raised knee and bowed their heads—a posture used when pledging loyalty or confessing wrongdoing.
“We wanted to visit Your Highness together, but dared not request your time.”
The incident at the lake had happened long ago. I hadn’t realized they still carried guilt.
I hadn’t thought they had been negligent; Matisse had been guarding Damon, and I had sent Diego back to the rest area.
“Discussing this here on the main street is fine. We can forgive you quickly to avoid disturbing others.”
I laughed, accepting their formal apologies. Accepting a knight’s apology was a matter of ladylike etiquette, but I hoped they wouldn’t take it too seriously.
“Ah, yes!”
Matisse looked flustered.
“Please rise.”
Matisse quickly stood, while Diego remained kneeling.
“I do not care about others. The only ones I must fully protect and focus on are the Rundra royal family. I would prefer to apologize in a more proper setting, but I cannot know when the opportunity will arise. I was selected for the mission to guard Your Highness since the Kingdom of Rundra, yet I failed to protect you properly.”
Diego spoke clearly and with careful enunciation. He had a serious, precise demeanor unlike Matisse.
I smiled lightly and placed my hand on his shoulder.
“I forgive you. Let this be a lesson to devote yourself even more to my protection.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
I lightly nudged Diego’s elbow to signal him to rise. He obeyed, and I did the same for Matisse.
“Matisse, the same goes for you. I understand you were guarding Damon, but you and Diego were performing one mission together.”
“I never once thought I was free of responsibility for that day. Thank you for forgiving me, Your Highness.”
He slightly twisted his body.
“I am a rather forgiving princess, aren’t I?”
I joked, covering my mouth with my hand and chuckling.
