The white shirt Wallace was wearing was torn off from his body, exposing the bruises Oriana had given him. Every inch of his skin aside from his neck upwards appeared to be struck without a single miss.
"I see a bite mark on Young Master Milton’s left shoulder," Arlan chuckled, "and there are scratches on his face as well. Should we ask the young lady to check if it matches with her nails?"
The panicked young master tried to cover himself but Arlan drew his sword, the sound of it being unsheathed causing everyone to be alard. The prince pointed his sword towards the injured man.
"Don’t you know in this kingdom there is no place for a man who assaults won? How do you like to get your punishnt?"
Wallace imdiately fell on his knees, his head pressed against the floor.
"Forgive , Your Highness! I was wrong. I won’t do it again!"
His mother, the Countess, also fell on her knees beside him. "Your Highness, please spare my undisciplined child’s life! W-We will do our best to make sure you will be satisfied as long as you spare my Wallace!"
Beatrice, the victim, was scared as well as the fact she had deceived the prince ca to light. She ca forward and kneeled before Arlan as well.
"Your Highness, please forgive for lying to you. I-I will accept whatever punishnt you will give but I beg of you to spare my family. My family is innocent. I was scared...I was..."
She began to cry once more.
"Call for servants from other families to take care of this lady," Arlan ordered. So of the young lords he ca with attended the ballroom together with their mothers and sisters. It was easy to borrow trustworthy ladies from them.
Soon, maidservants arrived and took the crying woman away.
At this point, even Count Milton knew his son would be punished as well. He fell on his knees and humbly pleaded.
"Forgive my foolish son, Your Highness. He has always been a good young man. He must have drunk too much during tonight’s rrymaking. I will make sure to discipline him after this. One small mistake should not ruin the bright future of a man like him. The House of Milton will forever rember your grace."
Others could clearly see how the Count was trying to give the Crown Prince a way out, a hint for the prince to give him face, and they felt speechless at the Count’s shalessness. At the sa ti, many praised the prince who investigated the matter in a steady and responsible manner, not blinded by greed and politics.
"Forgive him?" Arlan looked at the kneeling man, his expression unchanging. "Lord Walter, have you forgotten your previous words— about how to punish a man who assaulted a woman?"
"Wallace is already beaten by this servant and humiliated enough. He did not do anything that warrants the punishnt of death. He was stopped before committing a punishable act."
"So you an, you are grateful, happy even, that this servant stopped your son before he could do more?" Arlan countered, leaving the Miltons speechless.
"He assaulted a nobleman despite being a lowly servant, Your Highness..."
"Shouldn’t we say that he saved a noblewoman instead and reward him for that?"
Once again, there was silence within the chamber.
"Please show so rcy to my son."
"Please show so rcy to my son."
The Count and Countess of Milton begged the Crown Prince.
"Your son would be punished according to the law" —Arlan glanced at Oriana who was still looking at him in shock— "and the one who saved the lady would be rewarded accordingly as well."
One young lord gleefully clapped his hand. It was the sa handso man who was part of Arlan’s inner social circle, the man who offered his coat to cover the body of Beatrice, the female victim. He had been watching the entertaining show of the night, and was massively pleased.
There was a light smile on his lips, and the brightness in his pale green eyes indicated the show was not finished yet. The finale was yet to co.
He observed Oriana from head to toe. "Brave lad, may I know which family you work for? They must be a good household, to hire a servant who is both righteous and brave, making even His Highness personally step in to bring justice to your case."
Oriana lowered her head and contemplated over what to say.
Her master was standing in front of her. Was there still a need to hide it?
"...I work in the Palace of Thistle, my Lord," she answered after hesitating.
The smile on the green-eyed man’s lips widened as he looked at Arlan, "I wonder, why was I not surprised?"
Hearing where she worked, gasps could be heard from those who remained, especially the ones kneeling felt their palms grow sweaty.
The Palace of Thistle? That ans the young man was the servant of the Crown Prince! Since this young servant accompanied the prince to attend a social gathering, that ant he was the personal aide of the Crown Prince.
Personal aides are the most trusted people of the one they serve. No wonder Arlan decided to pursue this matter. The House of Milton attempted to bla that most trusted person of the Crown Prince with a false accusation.
"Your Highness, forgive us. If we knew he was your servant..."
"Are you going to remain standing here?" Arlan spoke towards the still dazed Oriana.
Without another word, Arlan walked towards the door to leave and Oriana quietly followed him like the most obedient servant.
The young lord with pale green eyes, who was of similar age as Arlan, caught up to the prince.
"You have got an interesting new servant, my friend," he said, lightly elbowing him as he tilted his head towards the servant trailing behind them.
"Do not follow like a gossipy woman. Go attend the ball and maintain the dignity of the young lord of the House of Clarence."
"Being with you is the most dignified thing, isn’t it, Your Highness?"
Arlan stopped walking and looked at him. "Take care of the things in my stead and I will see you tomorrow in my place."
"Once again, I am not surprised with your generosity, Your Highness," he chuckled and glanced at Oriana. "I will be at your workplace tomorrow. I look forward to your services, brave hero."
Arlan glared at him. "Are you not leaving, Arthur?"
Arthur Clarence, the First Young Master of the Duchal House of Clarence, gave an exaggerated bow.
"Alright. See you tomorrow then," he said and turned back to leave after winking at Oriana. "See you."
Oriana was taken aback, but then heard Arlan say, "Ignore him."
She simply nodded, then proceeded to lower her head and they continued on their way.
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