Ch.26Royal Palace Banquet #3

A navy dress adorned with elaborate embroidery and accessories. The arrogance evident from her firmly raised chin.

She looked like any noble lady, but her arrogance and confidence had a distinctly different feel from others.

I hesitated on how to answer as I looked at that woman.

In truth, it would have been easy to say that I wasn’t a servant here but the son of a viscount.

But I suspected such a revelation would only be met with a “So what?” kind of response. She didn’t seem like someone who would care about a mere viscount.

I’d probably be treated only slightly better than a commoner.

In that situation, there seemed no benefit in revealing my identity as a viscount’s son.

I’d be fortunate if I didn’t end up worse off—I should probably just bow and be grateful.

“I was taking a brief rest with my master’s permission. I apologize if I’ve offended Your Ladyship.”

Besides, calling me a servant wasn’t incorrect. I am Helena’s servant.

So I decided to accept the woman’s misunderstanding as it was.

I’ve lived as a servant until now, and I’ll essentially continue in that role going forward.

“Master, you say… If you’re referring to your master, you must mean His Majesty, the ruler of this country. Are you claiming to have received permission directly from His Majesty?”

“Of course not. But I refer to the person who directly employs and commands me as my master. His Majesty is like the heavens above—he couldn’t possibly concern himself with every insignificant being.”

“Hmm. The one who gives orders is the master. That’s quite a reasonable statement. Indeed, His Majesty wouldn’t bother speaking with a mere servant like you. One cannot reach the heavens simply by stretching out one’s hand.”

When I responded with appropriate humility, anticipating her arrogant nature, she seemed easily satisfied.

Through this conversation, I could tell that not only was her attitude arrogant, but her entire mindset was thoroughly aristocratic.

She was the epitome of what people imagine a typical noble to be—arrogant and wealthy.

“You seem quite young, yet you know your place well. Perhaps that’s why you were allowed to work in the royal palace.”

The woman muttered to herself, nodding her head.

Though she appeared to be a high-ranking noble, there was something lacking about her.

Or perhaps it was the result of growing up in an environment where she never needed to hide her true thoughts.

“Thank you. I apologize once more for disturbing Your Ladyship. If you’ll excuse me…”

“Wait.”

I had no desire to engage in lengthy conversation with such a woman.

Though she was rather pretty, she didn’t compare to Helena in any way—from appearance to personality.

However, for whatever reason, she called me back.

“…What is it, my lady?”

Looking closely at her expression, she didn’t seem displeased.

Rather, her smiling face suggested she was in quite a good mood.

It was hard to believe she was the same woman who had appeared so sullen just moments ago.

“Well… I rather like your delicate features. Yes, I like them very much.”

“I’m grateful for your kind words, but…”

Without permission, she stroked my chin with her finger, like someone checking a windowsill for dust.

That caused me to trail off mid-sentence.

I could guess her intentions.

From the way her eyes scanned me up and down as if appraising merchandise, to the way her fingers traced my chin and various parts of my body.

It was exactly as the rumors described noble ladies who led dissolute lives.

Noble ladies are mostly used as strategic tools, so they must maintain proper conduct.

Noble men prefer pure women, after all.

But that’s only the surface appearance… the reality is quite different.

Countless noble ladies secretly summon men who catch their eye—from simple servants to attendants—to satisfy their desires.

Rumors about which lady has been intimate with whom don’t spread easily.

In fact, spreading such rumors could result in severe punishment for defamation, or even execution in extreme cases, so people tend to keep quiet.

Therefore, many ladies maintained a facade of purity.

The discharge of base desires conducted beneath the surface.

A world where such things are tacitly permitted. This was another facet of the ladies’ world.

Only those swept up in this current are to be pitied.

Recalling something I had nearly forgotten during my stay in Duke Krauser’s domain, I carefully began to speak.

“Um… what is this about?”

“Don’t you know? I was appraising you. But… you’re quite, no, exceptionally substantial. I’m very pleased.”

Now she was openly caressing my thigh while exhaling heated breaths.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes burned with a faint flame of lust.

Moreover, considering the expectation evident on her face, it was clear what she was thinking.

Right now, this woman was trying to use me as a toy to satisfy her desires.

“Good. You, come with me to my room now. I have something for you to do.”

“I’m sorry, but I must return to my duties after my rest. If you have business, perhaps someone else…”

“Pft! Are you saying that a mere head servant is more important than me, Agnes Killinear? You’re quite ignorant of the ways of the world, child.”

I had thought she was from a high family, but I never imagined she was the daughter of the Killinear ducal house.

I had never even seen her face before.

To think she was from one of the three great ducal houses, alongside Krauser and Caliwood.

However, I didn’t feel the need to be overly deferential. In fact, I shouldn’t be.

Helena was far more important to me than pleasing this woman.

Also, judging by the situation, she seemed intent on indulging herself in broad daylight… but refusing was the obvious choice.

Of course, there were roundabout ways to express this. I could somehow sweet-talk her and buy time for a more peaceful resolution.

But I doubted my ability to do so, nor did I feel inclined to try.

It might cause friction between the ducal houses, but bowing too deeply would wound my pride.

Of course, it’s laughable for someone like me to speak of ducal pride.

Nevertheless, I believed it was right to treat someone who was being so forceful as an exception.

I would maintain basic courtesy, but people like this are likely to fabricate stories regardless.

In the end, I concluded that once friction with someone like Agnes had occurred, the only solution was to resolve it through somewhat harsh means.

It would cause significant trouble, but there was no other way.

“That’s not it. But as someone who works below, it’s only natural that I should rush to my master who is waiting. I apologize to Your Ladyship, but I must return to my duties.”

Usually in such situations, most people would comply out of fear.

So Agnes turned her back without waiting for my answer, assuming I would naturally follow her lead.

Therefore, it was only natural that her expression contorted when she turned around.

“You… are you refusing my invitation? A mere servant?”

“…I apologize for my rudeness.”

This time, I turned my back, intending to leave the rose garden.

There seemed no point in prolonging the conversation.

I felt the need to be firm to overcome this situation, despite it being somewhat impolite.

After all, it’s the one trying to lure a man in broad daylight for pleasure who’s strange.

“Stop right there! Do you wish to die?!”

Agnes raised her voice. Given that she was asking if I wanted to die, she seemed quite angry.

Should I ignore her? Or not?

After a moment’s hesitation at this crossroads, I decided to turn my head.

I was curious about what expression Agnes was making, and I wanted to hear what she would say next.

The expression on Agnes’s face when I turned around was as expected, if one could call it that.

A face contorted with humiliation and shame, flushed cheeks, and trembling hands.

The image of a woman whose pride had been wounded.

“Will you kill me?”

“Do you think I can’t? You not only dared to refuse my invitation but have also given me such humiliation!”

“Your Ladyship’s assessment of this as humiliation is mistaken. I’m simply going to do my job. Fulfilling one’s duties is only proper, and I believe Duke Killinear would say the same… wouldn’t he?”

“You dare mention my father with that lowly mouth!”

Agnes approached me, breathing heavily, until she was right in front of me.

She was close enough to touch. What would she say next?

“You ignorant, lowly thing who doesn’t know your place!”

Slap!

I instinctively brought my palm to my stinging cheek.

While I had expected her to say something like that, I never imagined she would actually slap me.

It felt like being hit hard on the back of the head.

“Do you think you’ll be safe after treating me so rudely?”

After slapping my cheek, the woman seemed to calm down somewhat, catching her rough breath.

She clearly lived a life where others accommodated her, not the other way around.

I could understand why her boiling point was so low.

But that didn’t mean I wasn’t angry at all.

I wanted to pull out the dirk from my breast and threaten her, but that would likely escalate into a major problem.

Therefore, I thought it best to respond calmly with the coldest gaze possible.

“I don’t think you would harm someone trying to do their best at their job. Everyone values honor, after all. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

I emphasized the word “everyone” and then left the rose garden.

If she denied my statement, it would leave room for interpretation that she either treated dedicated workers like trash or didn’t understand honor.

That’s why I thought she couldn’t continue speaking.

“Tsk.”

I sighed and headed toward Helena’s room.

Even though I had defused the situation for now, given Agnes’s temperament, I suspected she would pursue this matter.

Avoiding her kind would be best…

“I might cause trouble.”

My heated cheek seemed to have cooled down adequately and wasn’t noticeable.

I checked my face in the mirror in my room before entering Helena’s room, so I thought there wouldn’t be any problem.

However, that was my miscalculation.

“Jion. That cheek… where were you hit?”

Helena asked about my cheek as soon as she welcomed me warmly.

I had confirmed it looked fine before coming, but she noticed it like a ghost. Normally, this would have been alarming.

“How did you know?”

I asked, slightly surprised, trying to calm my racing heart. Her expression changing in an instant and her bottomless gaze were all too familiar.

Though I tried to get used to it, this obsessive illness was something I couldn’t quite acclimate to, yet strangely, I found myself accepting it.

“I can tell just by looking. So, who hit you?”

“Agnes Killinear.”

It might seem childish to tattle like this, but I couldn’t lie to Helena about such matters.

Moreover, if I tried to avoid friction by being evasive, I might be misunderstood as defending Agnes.

While clearing up misunderstandings isn’t difficult, it’s troublesome, so it was wiser not to create them in the first place.

“Agnes…? That foul-smelling whore dared to lay hands on my Jion?”

Chillingly cold words escaped Helena’s lips. Simultaneously, the bedpost she was holding made a cracking sound. She was clearly furious.

Additionally, fortunately or unfortunately,

Despite the atmosphere suggesting she might cause a scene immediately, she showed a cool-headed side, wanting to understand the situation first.

“I can guess the reason… but I’ll ask to confirm exactly. Why did that bitch hit you?”