The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Ailren, who had been lost in thought, heard a knock at his ear.

“Knight Commander?”

“What is it?”

“Princess Katarina has requested a private audience.”

“Yes, I’ll be there shortly.”

Ailren, who had been staring at the hourglass for a moment, followed the maid toward the Princess’s palace.

The maids of the Princess’s palace always had dark expressions.

They suffered from guilt for being unable to help the Princess who was tormented by her uncle.

And it must have been heartbreaking to see her depressed and listless state after the Empress’s death.

But today was different.

‘Is it because of what happened a few days ago?’

Ailren recalled the day when the permit renewal took place.

***

That night at midnight.

Ailren and the Royal Knights were in the meeting room for escort duty.

The nobles in the meeting room were flustered by the results they received, then immediately began finding fault.

“Is Nicholas Raum qualified as a noble? Of, of course I don’t mean to refer to his wife, Rosaline, Viscountess.”

“Viscount Raum might have been bribed!”

“And vouching for an entire street? How can we know if there are criminals and fraudsters mixed in!”

Crodil watched the scene as if observing, without interrupting their words.

Just as he was about to open his mouth as if doing them a favor, the door burst open.

“Then who can guarantee there won’t be any innocent people caught in between?”

“Pr, Princess…?”

The person who opened the door and entered was Princess Katarina.

Flustered Crodil tried to lash out as was his habit, but soon seemed conscious of the surrounding gazes and spoke disgustingly.

“Lina, this isn’t a place for you to interfere. So…”

“This is a place to discuss national affairs, so why do you say it’s not a place for me, who is ‘Presripe,’ to interfere?”

The Princess, who emphasized ‘Presripe,’ straightened her body.

Her voice trembled slightly, but her green eyes shone with unprecedented determination.

“Even if we let ten criminals go, not one innocent person should suffer. That was the principle by which my father, His Majesty the Emperor, administered justice. As someone who remembers my father’s will, I cannot tolerate this situation.”

“Lina!”

“You said qualification was the problem? Then put my name in place of Nicholas Raum. ‘Katarina Presripe’! This Princess will vouch for them!”

No one could dare oppose the Princess who quoted the Emperor’s words.

Except for one person, Crodil.

Crodil, whose face had been turning red and blue, finally shouted.

“What are you doing right now, Lina! Do you know what kind of place this is!”

The Princess, who had been staring at Crodil, spoke coldly.

“I know. But it seems Uncle has forgotten that this is an official setting.”

“What…!”

“Address me properly. Princess Katarina, that is my title.”

The Princess, who was about to leave behind the speechless Crodil, called Ailren.

“Ah, Sir Ailren. You may stop searching for my pendant now.”

Crodil’s eyes widened as if asking what crazy thing she was doing, but the Princess drove the point home.

“The ‘owner of the pendant’ is directly ordering you. You must follow my words. Right?”

Ailren bowed his head.

“Yes, Princess. I will obey your command.”

Katarina, who had declared herself the owner of the pendant in front of all the nobles, left the meeting room.

The meeting room was as quiet as a mouse.

Only Crodil’s occasional heavy breathing could be heard.

***

‘It was the first time Princess had appeared at a national affairs meeting. Even Crodil couldn’t dare show hostility to the Princess in that setting.’

Crodil was the Regent King, but on the other hand, he was merely a marquis.

The only reason he could serve as regent was because he was the brother who dearly loved the deceased Empress.

As long as he was acting as a brother who missed his dead sister, he couldn’t openly antagonize his niece, the Princess.

‘After His Majesty left for pilgrimage, Crodil showed his true colors, but he’s still managing his public image.’

Crodil used to make excuses about ‘disciplining’ Katarina.

Claiming he was just trying to teach his lacking niece.

It was a vicious form of harassment, drawing lines by calling it a family matter so no one else could dare interfere.

‘It must have been a scheme to block the Royal Knights’ intervention. Since the victim, Princess herself, remained quiet, we couldn’t rashly step forward.’

But after that day, Katarina began reading national affairs documents, they said.

It was something she had avoided for a while due to her uncle’s various threats.

‘It’s fortunate that she seems to have pulled herself together.’

Ailren couldn’t know exactly what words Crodil had used to pressure the Princess.

In any case, he thought it was fortunate that Katarina seemed to have decided to fulfill her duties as Princess.

It was also something he had hoped for.

The object of Ailren’s loyalty was Presripe, not Regent King Crodil.

‘But it’s suspicious that Crodil is being so quiet. Now that he knows threats no longer work on the Princess, is he lying low?’

Lost in thought, Ailren arrived at the office.

“Princess, Sir Ailren has arrived.”

“Tell him to come in.”

Katarina, who had closed her documents, gestured to Ailren.

Ailren sat in proper posture.

Katarina, who had been staring at him quietly, opened her mouth.

“First, I must say this. I know that I haven’t fulfilled my duties all this time.”

“…”

“You’re not saying no. That’s Sir Ailren for you.”

Katarina laughed weakly and let out a long sigh.

“I also know that while I wasn’t doing my job, you and the Royal Knights worked hard in my place. I wanted to say thank you for your efforts.”

“No. Please take back those words, Princess.”

“Now this one you say no to. Anyway… from now on, I’ll act befitting a ‘Princess.’ I don’t know what His Majesty would think, but… I’ll follow what I believe is right.”

Surely the Emperor would be pleased to hear of such determination from her.

But why did the Princess speak as if the Emperor would be disappointed in her?

‘Could it be that Crodil has been driving a wedge between His Majesty and the Princess all this time…’

However, it wasn’t something he could dare ask about.

Ailren remained quietly silent.

“I called you today because I have a favor to ask. I need someone who can move discreetly.”

“Please tell me.”

“That pawnshop… you know.”

Ailren looked up and saw the Princess biting her lip.

“I’d like to invite the owner to the Princess’s palace.”

“If you wish to get your pendant back, I’ll retrieve it for you.”

“No, no. …The pendant is one thing, but I’d like you to bring the owner as well.”

Ailren didn’t know what to say.

As he remained silent, the Princess blinked and continued speaking in a rambling manner.

“I feel sorry that they experienced things they shouldn’t have because of me, and I’m grateful that they kept the secret to the end even in front of Sir Ailren… But if I invite them officially, Uncle might keep an eye on that child.”

“Yes. I understand.”

“It doesn’t have to be today, so.”

“I’ll go to the pawnshop today.”

“Really? You’ll do that for me?”

Color returned to the Princess’s face.

Had she always been someone who could make such bright expressions?

Stunned, Ailren asked a question he would never normally dare to ask.

“If I may be so bold, Your Highness, could you tell me what circumstances led you to decide to entrust your pendant to that pawnshop?”

“Um… actually, I’m not really sure myself.”

The Princess opened and closed her mouth several times before murmuring.

“I remember hearing rumors about it, but I don’t know how I came to decide to go there. I just, when I opened my eyes, I was there. …I must have been going through a really hard time. The me back then.”

“…I apologize, Your Highness.”

“No. In the end, it worked out well. That owner, you know, is good at reading not just objects but people too. Just hearing a few words gave me courage, you know? It put my mind at ease too.”

The Princess smiled.

“Sir Ailren, if you have any jewelry or such at home, you should take it there. Since they appraised my pendant immediately, they’ll take good care of your items too.”

“…Yes, understood. I’ll go and return.”

Returning to his office, Ailren changed from his uniform into casual clothes.

Just as he was about to turn and leave.

The hourglass caught his eye.

“…”

After thinking for a moment, he reached for the hourglass.

***

It had been a busy morning.

In the morning, I met Hanna before she went to work, and then there was a general meeting at the guild hall.

“Guild Member Elisha! Over here, over here!”

I was about to leave after finishing the postponed festival general meeting.

When someone called out and I turned around, the bakery manager was there.

“Oh my, I was wondering how to repay this favor, so I brought this for now.”

“What favor, Manager? I’m really fine.”

“No, it is a favor! Thanks to Guild Member Elisha, we were able to prevent the bakery from closing! Take this and enjoy it, okay?”

She was one of the guild members without a guarantor who would have been forced to close without Nicholas.

She pressed a cake box into my hands.

Seeing the delicious-looking cake, I paused for a moment, then smiled brightly and bowed my head.

“Thank you. I’ll share it with the customers.”

“Yes, and if you need anything else, just say so anytime! Guild Member Elisha gets everything free for life! See you next time!”

It was unfortunate that what the bakery manager gave me happened to be blueberry cake.

But well, even if I don’t eat it, I can share it with the customers.

‘Everyone here really is so warm-hearted.’

When I arrived at the pawnshop, looking fondly at Ashen Street that I had successfully protected.

My brow furrowed sharply when I saw the person standing in front of the door.

“Hello! Wow, did you know I was coming?”

It was Crescens.

‘Why is that guy here again…’

And what kind of nonsense is that, I was thinking when.

Crescens broke into a full smile.

“I love blueberry cake the most!”

…Should I throw it?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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