Chapter 60 : I ended up doing it before I even realized

Clang!

The wine glass in Princess Rosiria’s other hand fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

That’s how close I was to losing it too.

“What do you think you’re doing, laying a hand on my sister?”

Serena’s voice, as she grabbed Princess Rosiria’s wrist, was surprisingly calm.

But that was what made it all the more dangerous.

Like a volcano right before it erupts.

The vein protruding near her temple was a clear sign that she was just seconds away from exploding in anger.

If I leave this alone, it’s going to turn into a huge fight.

The commotion, which looked like a fight could break out at any moment, drew everyone’s attention.

Some were watching with worry, but most seemed filled with curiosity—almost as if they wanted the fight to happen.

If they were normal people, they might’ve backed off after noticing the tension.

But the problem was…“…Do you even know who I am, daring to lay a hand on me?”

“Don’t care.”

Neither of them had any intention of backing down—they just kept glaring at each other.

Princess Rosiria was that kind of person, but you, Serena—what are you doing?

I appreciate your concern, but read the room, please.

There’s no helping it.

I have to step in.

“Serena. Let go. She’s a princess of the Levath Kingdom.”

“…That doesn’t matter. She just hurt my sister—”

“I’m fine, so please, just let go.”

She was ready to keep being stubborn, but when I put weight in my words, Serena bit her lip.

She must be frustrated.

She must find this intolerable.

I felt the same way, but there was no choice right now.

Eventually, when Serena let go first, Princess Rosiria rubbed her wrist gently.

It was red—Serena must’ve been gripping it tightly.

Still, I should be thankful that it ended here.

Even though I felt like crap, this wasn’t a time to act emotionally.

“You know, I’ve had enough of this nonsense…”

For a moment, I thought I misheard.

No, I had to believe I did.

“To think something so filthy tried to hurt me with those disgusting hands—what am I supposed to do about this?”

I could endure anything done to me.

“What injury? You’re not even hurt.”

“Shut up. Don’t talk back and show your low breeding.”

But I couldn’t tolerate anyone insulting Serena.

“What… what did you say?”

“Don’t you realize that even touching someone like me is an enormous offense? If this happened in my country, you’d have been beheaded on the spot.”

Especially not when that vile tongue is flapping without a trace of decency.

“Anyway, Count, you should really keep your little sister under control. No matter how young she is, you ought to teach her how to know her place—”

Smack!

‘…Ah, crap.’

The burning sensation in my palm brought me back to my senses.

But the action I had taken in a fit of rage was something I couldn’t undo.

Princess Rosiria, now slapped across the face, collapsed to the floor.

Serena looked at me with wide, startled eyes.

And the murmuring of the people around us filled the air.

“Count Christian… what have you done?!”

“Isn’t this something that could turn into an international incident?”

“Of course it is! What on earth was the Count thinking—”

“But wasn’t it Princess Rosiria who picked the fight first?”

“Does that even matter? What matters is that a princess from another country got slapped while visiting!”

Even the music had stopped, and the chatter of the guests now filled the entire banquet hall.

What the hell have I done?

I should’ve just endured it and let it go.

Stupid.

What was I thinking, walking right into her trap like that?

It’s over.

The only thought running through my mind was the sinking feeling of impending doom.

“You…! How dare you…!”

Just as I was drowning in regret, Princess Rosiria stood up in fury.

Seeing her left cheek reddened made my heart sink even further.

How am I supposed to fix this now?

“…I truly apologize. I lost my temper and did something I should never have done.”

I had to start with an apology.

I bowed deeply, hoping maybe—just maybe—this would blow over.

But.

“Shut up! You think you can get away with something like this?!”

Of course, that was wishful thinking.

As I straightened back up, I had to face her—now glaring at me like she wanted to kill me.

“I won’t let this slide…! You and your sister, both of you, I’ll—!”

“What’s going on here, Princess Rosiria?”

At that moment, a voice cut through the thick tension, instantly silencing the room.

Soft, yet firm.

Sharp, yet calm.

Just one sentence was enough to change the atmosphere.

Especially when the voice belonged to none other than the next heir to the Rezel Kingdom.

“I heard there was some commotion, but this seems worse than I expected. Am I right?”

“Ah, Lady Victoria. Just in time.”

Seeing Victoria approach with the sound of her heels, Rosiria gave a sharp smile.

“This woman suddenly slapped me. I am a diplomat here on behalf of my country, and yet I’m subjected to such humiliation? Is this acceptable?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

Victoria’s emotionless eyes turned to me.

As if daring me to speak if I had anything to say.

But what could I possibly say here?

Speaking up would only dig a deeper hole.

No matter the reason, what I did was still assault.

“…Sigh.”

As I stayed silent, Victoria let out a soft sigh and spoke.

“We’ll decide how to handle Count Christian later. For now, I ask you to let it go.”

Huh?

“W-What did you say? Are you covering for him just because he’s from your kingdom?!”

Rosiria’s eyes flared at her words, clearly expecting me to be punished on the spot.

I had braced myself for that too.

So to hear that it would be handled later felt like a blatant dismissal.

It wasn’t exactly no punishment, but it was shockingly light.

“Are you trying to cooperate with our kingdom by treating us like this? Huh?!”

“That’s not it. I’m simply saying this because I know what really happened.”

“…What do you mean?”

Rosiria’s tone suddenly grew calmer at the cryptic words.

“I heard everything. That you were the one who provoked the count first and even attempted to strike him. Did you think I wouldn’t know?”

When Victoria looked her in the eye, Rosiria flinched slightly.

Judging from her reaction, she didn’t think anyone had noticed.

“I’m not saying the count is completely innocent. But the one who instigated this is clearly you, Princess Rosiria.”

“…So what, now you’re telling me to back down quietly?”

“I never said that. But… if that’s how you interpret it, then this will go faster.”

“You…!”

Grinding her teeth so hard it was audible, Rosiria clenched her jaw in fury.

But Victoria didn’t budge an inch.

“As the one who lit the spark, you should take some responsibility.”

“Ughhh!”

With the final blow struck, Rosiria began clawing at her own hair in frustration.

As if the fury burning inside her had nowhere to go, driving her to the brink of madness.

The onlookers around her stood frozen in stunned silence.

Serena, too, looked at her with a face full of disgust.

“…I will never forget this humiliation. I’ve seen just what kind of level the Kingdom of Rezel is at. If things go wrong moving forward, you’ll have to deal with the consequences yourselves!”

Moments later, Princess Rosiria, her hair a complete mess, stomped out of the banquet hall.

They say silence remains after a storm sweeps through—While everyone was still speechless from the aftermath, Victoria approached me.

“…I had something to say to you, Count, but I guess the timing isn’t right now.”

“…My apologies. I’ll accept any punishment without complaint.”

“Enough. I’ll make sure you’re punished later.”

As she came close, she leaned in and whispered quietly into my ear:

“Just leave for now. The longer you stay here, the more complicated things will get.”

“…Sorry.”

Even with ten mouths, I wouldn’t have been able to justify myself.

But since she’d helped me, I at least wanted to apologize.

“Serena, let’s go.”

“Sis…”

And so, I took Serena and left the banquet hall—no, the castle.

All because of a single impulsive act, I ended up causing trouble for so many people.

“…I hate this. I wish I were dead.”

Not knowing how suffocated I felt, the night sky was unusually clear—So much so that I ended up blaming it, even though the person I truly blamed was myself.

*

“Count Christian…! I will never forgive that wretch…!”

Inside the room prepared for her, Rosiria bit at her fingernails until thin lines of blood began to trickle down her hands.

But even that minor bleeding wasn’t enough to quell her fury.

She grabbed a pillow and threw it at a decorative flowerpot.

“Still looking down on me! Who does she think she is?!”

The crash of the pot breaking and her cries blended into one.

The person who had gifted her such disgrace and humiliation.

To her, that woman was now the most detestable being in the world.

No amount of shattered decor could vent the indescribable rage that boiled inside her.

“I won’t let that girl go either. That brat who claims to be her sister!”

The silver-haired girl who had stood in her way.

They barely looked alike in terms of appearance,But Rosiria had sensed something only she could—That damned, arrogant glare in her eyes was exactly the same.

And so, the moment she swore vengeance on her too.

“…But is it just me, or did something about her feel familiar?”

She murmured quietly, recalling the impression she’d gotten when they first met.

She had never seen that face before.

She was the kind of beauty you couldn’t forget, even if you’d just passed her by.

But what bothered Rosiria wasn’t her looks.

It was the unique energy she gave off.

Something alien, and yet somehow not unfamiliar—Almost reminiscent of her.

The woman Rosiria served.

“No, no. What am I thinking? How dare I compare her to that person?”

Even if her mind had sharpened from anger, imagining something so ridiculous.

Rosiria shook her head violently, trying to force the thought away.

What part of that insolent girl resembled her god?

At most, the only thing they had in common was their silver hair.