Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 9 – For Things That Go Too Far (7)

The next morning, a gift from the Marquisate arrived. It was a pink box that Sienna liked, tied with a red ribbon.

‘Is it terror? Bomb?’ She tapped the box with a suspicious face.

“Jad would never send anything like this.”

“It looks like the Marquis of Valencia sent it.”

“What? Lord Valencia?”

That didn’t make sense either.

That blunt person?

Anna opened the box on behalf of Sienna, who seemed to have no intention of opening it. “Oh my! It’s pretty. It’s shoes!”

Sienna also peeked inside the box. A dazzling white shoe with lots of jewels on the front.

This intention was too transparent.

She purposely laid it out.

“It is said that if you gift shoes, they will run away.”* T

/N: gifting shoes is considered bad luck because the person who received the shoes will walk away from the giver’s life.

“Princess, not you, too. Those are all superstitions.”

“No. This is definitely a sign to run away.”

Since interpretation is free, Sienna decided to believe whatever she wanted.

Anna ignored her murmurs as if it wasn’t worth hearing anymore. While observing the box more, she found a letter at the bottom of the box and picked it up.

“There’s a letter as well.”

“A letter?”

It was a letter with the seal of the Marquis.

Anna took a paper knife and opened the envelope.

Then, Sienna started reading out the letter that Anna handed to her.

“Congratulations to the Princess’s debut. Please wear these shoes and walk on the flower path…”

“Oh, how romantic. I never imagined that the Marquis would have this side.” Anna shimmed in.

It was sympathy.

The suspicion of ghostwriting was deeply strong.

“After all, love for the daughter-in-law from the father-in-law.”

“Who is the daughter-in-law and father-in-law?”

After finishing the letter, Sienna was almost on the verge of tears as the marriage became increasingly real.

“Yes? But His Majesty must be…”

Last time, even if Jad clearly said he would give up, it seemed that everyone didn’t believe it. However, the reason she couldn’t marry him was overwhelming.

“Anna, I can’t forget Jad’s expression of yesterday.”

“Ah, that’s…”

“I don’t have the confidence to face him again.”

Sienna recalled yesterday evening.

…What she did over the polished and shiny shoes, which seemed to be his cherished pair.

As she glanced up to Jad, he had a facial expression she had never seen before. It was as though he was out of his mind.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m really sorry!”

Saying so, she escaped and ran away as fast as she could. Although she doesn’t know for certain, for him, he may now be at the level of disgust, beyond dislike.

Recalling the situation, Sienna asked seriously.

“Can a person die of embarrassment?”

“Ah. No way.”

“Are you sure?”

“…Perhaps?”

The scene was repeatedly playing in her mind.

‘Why is it that the more I try to forget, the more vivid it becomes?’

“This marriage should never happen.”

“Yes? But, His Majesty says to get married this year…”

It was impossible, anyway. Even if things go wrong, she won’t let them go as they please.

“Anna. No one could know until we entered the ceremony.”

***

Sienna, who skipped breakfast because she was still not feeling well, closed her eyes a little more before getting up and headed to the garden.

And there, Arthur had a late lunch with her.

When she wasn’t eager to eat the clear tomato soup, Arthur anxiously asked if she had no appetite.

“Are you still not feeling well?”

“Yes, a little.”

It turns out that Arthur was also an eyewitness to the incident yesterday. Sienna struggled to keep her calm and turned the topic around. “Is what I asked for going well?”

She had secretly ordered him something.

“Arthur, aren’t you curious who’s chasing us? I think this is quite dangerous.” “Well, shall I post a report to the top?”

“No. It doesn’t look like they’re going to attack, so don’t make it a big deal. Could you listen to what I’m about to ask you?”

“Of course!”

“I want you to keep an eye out.”

“You want me to observe those people who followed the princess?”

“That’s right. Can you do it? I’m sure you can because Arthur is competent.”

“Then, who will protect the princess?”

Of course, Sienna thought it would come out like this.

The number of knights initially placed at the Princess’s Palace was also limited, but she couldn’t ask the other knights except for Arthur and Winter Brown, who guarded during the night.

Sienna laughed silently.

Arthur also understood the meaning of that laugh.

It’s ridiculous, but it was a reality.

There were almost no places in the castle where Pierre’s hand could not reach.

Even though his personality seems to have an irrational part, it was true that there was no guarantee that Sienna would open her eyes safely tomorrow morning if there weren’t anyone to guard her.

Come to think of it, it was strange to see Arthur, someone so talented to be assigned to her.

“I’ll only be in the library until Arther comes to pick me up. So, keep an eye on them with confidence.”

“Princess, no matter how…”

“This is an order, Arthur.”

Sienna accidentally ended up overusing her power, but she couldn’t help it. If Arthur were stuck with her, it would be like taking her dad out on a date.

‘Wow… just imagining it is terrible!’

Though she was actually serious about finding out who was following me.

“Arthur?”

However, the expression of his report was ambiguous.

“Ah. Well… I think I got caught.”

“What?”

“I got spotted when I went to watch them.”

Is that all right…?

“Arthur, I’m disappointed.” She said, narrowing her eyes and making a more exaggerated and disappointed expression for nothing.

“No, listen to me first—”

“Oh my! A knight making an excuse?”

“No, that’s not it…”

His voice raised as if he was embarrassed.

‘It’s fun to tease him around.’

Arthur was always easily fooled by what happened every time. He was a man whose emotions were revealed in his facial expressions. Realizing what she was doing, his face was saying, ‘it’s not fair. How are you doing this to me, princess?’

Before he really sulked, Sienna relaxed and laughed as usual.

“Arthur, aren’t you too gullible?”

“Princess!”

“Now, explain. What happened?”

“How should I explain this…”

He inflated his cheek with a pout and barely got it off his chest. He continued, “The moment we made eye contact, they ran away quickly.”

“They just ran away?”

“Yes. No matter who sees it, it looks like it has a completely scared face.”

That person was more lax and pathetic than he thought.

“Are you sure it was a Knight?”

“I’m sure. They were definitely wearing the sword.”

“Did you figure out who sent it?”

“Absolutely.”

“Is it Brother Pierre, then?”

Arthur nodded his head with a slightly heavy expression.

Of course, she expected this.

“What are you going to do? Are you going to visit Lord Pierre?”

“No. Just forget it.”

“Would that be okay?”

“It wasn’t even a threat anyway, it was just a spy.”

The knight was more likely to be shivering even now, probably. Since there was no one in this castle who did not know Pierre’s nature. If he found out that he was caught, that knight would certainly not be safe. She could already tell.

“It’s fine. Plus, I don’t even have any evidence, and I don’t want to dig it.”

“Even though…”

“I don’t have a hobby of killing people, Arthur.”

“…”

“That little knight, at least his finger will be cut off if this matter gets any bigger than it’s necessary.”

Hearing so, Arthur did not refute anymore.

As the atmosphere subsided by a story that wasn’t exactly very pleasant, he placed down the spoon, and she sipped the tea silently. After a while, this time, Arthur was the first person to open his mouth and change the subject.

“Oh, but who the hell is he?”

“Who? …Ah.”

Dandelion.

“Somehow, he looks familiar.”

“Is that so?”

Arthur glanced at Siena’s eyes and asked carefully. “But… what is the relationship between you two, princess?”

Although he was careful about his way of speaking, his curious eyes that were glaring at her were twinkling as if she was going crazy was pretty obvious.

“Secret friend.”

It would have been a difficult question to answer before, but now, Sienna could somewhat answer it now.

“We’re slowly getting close to each other.”

She replied and grinned brightly.

***

At the same time, Pierre came into the quiet Princess Palace.

With an angry face this time around. Everyone could feel that trouble would emerge soon.

As everyone was trembling with fear, Anna bravely stepped out.

“How do you do, Your Highness.”

“Where is Sienna?”

“Her Highness is eating in the garden.”

He scattered his beautiful blonde hair nervously.

As Pierre walked in the room, loosening his stiff neck, a gift box and a seal of the Marquis came into sight. “Isn’t it a gift to the future daughter-in-law?”

“This is a gift sent to congratulate the princess on her debut.”

Anna replied swiftly, but he did not even listen. Pierre furiously overturned the table on which the box was placed.

“Kyaak!”

The maids’ screams were added. Moments later, Sienna’s bedroom quickly became a mess. However, he did not stop as if the table was just the beginning. Chairs being thrown across the room and screams were filled in the bedroom.

“What are you guys doing? Get her here right now!”

At the moment when no one was able to stop him, trembling with fear, Arthur and Sienna finally returned. She asked with her dry face, wondering what kind of quarrel would come.

“You stop by often these days. I’m sure you must be busy with your business, what happened…”

Pierre came close before her words were over.

“Your face is blooming.”

“…”

“Are you excited about getting married soon?”

Sarcasm and sharp gaze were piercing Sienna.

‘Are you serious?’ Is that what he’s really saying when he looks at this shabby complexion? Though it was a scene she had never seen in the book, it was obvious what distorted Pierre’s judgments.

The king invited the Marquis of Valencia, and a gift from the Marquis arrived to the princess.

It meant that Jad and Sienna’s marriage was soon.

‘Pierre must be doubting the king’s intentions.’

Even if she knew it would be futile because she knew he wouldn’t believe it, Sienna spoke the truth. “I have no intention of marrying Jad.”

“Do you think I’ll believe you?”

‘I knew it.’ A deep sigh broke out in frustration. ‘Why doesn’t anyone believe me?’ She really wanted to ask that back.

Pierre nudged Sienna with his fingers.

“You’ve always been like that. Pretending not to be greedy, pretending to be kind, pretending to step back as if not interested in the throne, and at the decisive moment…”

Swallowing her dry saliva, her back had touched the wall.

She had nowhere to run away.

“Why are you so annoying?”

Sienna’s body momentarily freezes at the cold voice that doesn’t contain any feelings.

As soon as the deep wrinkles were visible on her forehead, a large hand pressed her neck in an instant.

“Ugh!”

With the intense pain, her head bent upward.

Trying to take his hand off and struggling, it was to no avail.

“Your Highness!”

Anna and Arthur, who were watching the situation while holding their breath in surprise, came back to their senses and tried to stop Pierre.

“How dare you?!”

Nonetheless, in front of Pierre with his sword drawn, the two could not move further. Then, he, again, made eye contact with Sienna, who was distressed.

“How many times do I have to tell you? Do nothing. Nothing.”

She couldn’t give any answer.

“That’s how you’re supposed to live.”

The sensation on her whole body disappeared again.

In front of the dark blue eyes, at the end, her vision gradually turned red.

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