The peaceful tea ti had ended, and a sharp tension stretched between Asella and .
The guards standing nearby could feel the oppressive silence between us prickling against their skin.
It’s starting again.
Her Highness is going to win anyway.
Though it looks like the doctor has sothing to say this ti.
While maintaining their solemn duty, the guards couldn’t help but observe us directly.
Back when Empress Camilla held power, Moonlight Palace always felt like a swamp—sticky and suffocating with hidden threats.
Even young as she was, Asella’s charisma had far more dignity than Camilla ever did.
Now, Moonlight Palace felt like a sharp, icy palace with blades hidden in every direction.
Still, thanks to the Gotberg physician, unexpectedly entertaining incidents like this happened from ti to ti.
The guards weren’t about to miss a second of it.
I spoke up first.
“There seems to be a misunderstanding, Your Highness.”
“Oh, so you’ve done nothing wrong, and I’m the one misunderstanding for no reason again?”
“No, that’s not what I ant.”
“I heard Heike offered you the position of her fiancé.”
“Taken in isolation, that statent is technically true.”
“Hah.”
Asella turned her head in disbelief and scoffed.
So it was true.
The First Princess tried to court the doctor?
That’s a pretty big deal.
Still, the age gap... has she lost her mind?
Hey, older won and younger n pair well.
You trying to get executed by Her Highness?
Get it together. It must’ve been a provocation.
The knights of Moonlight Palace were more elite than any other royal guards.
They could exchange detailed opinions just by moving their eyes—an ability honed to launch ambushes during operations.
Now, that high-level skill was being wasted watching the emotional quarrel between the princess and her doctor.
“It wasn’t a social proposal like Your Highness imagines. It was a taphor tossed out during faction negotiations.”
“What kind of negotiation?”
“A limited-term alliance proposal.”
“An alliance?”
“Moonlight Palace is lacking in knights and funds while opposed to Tojin Palace. If we also beco hostile to Mokhui Palace, our movents will beco severely restricted.”
The doctor’s not wrong. We do need allies.
It’s not like he initiated it either.
The knights’ pupils darted left and right, gauging our reactions.
“You think I don’t know that? But why does your na co up in the form of a marriage proposal?”
“First Princess Heike said it was a joke...”
“A hilarious joke. I’m just laughing nonstop.”
“You look pretty serious to .”
“Your vision seems fine. You must’ve gotten a good look at Heike’s seductive face too, huh?”
Asella’s sharp tone cracked the teacup on the table.
This is getting out of hand.
The First Princess really dropped poison into Moonlight Palace.
Has Her Highness ever reacted this violently to another faction’s provocation?
I want out of this minefield, please.
I let out a quiet sigh, barely audible. My patience was starting to fray.
I had made the correct decision in this situation. It was objectively right.
Why was Asella so fixated on that one line? A headache started to build behind my eyes.
“So? How did you feel about it?”
“There’s not much to say. I refused the First Princess’s proposal imdiately.”
“...You did?”
At my answer, Asella slightly leaned back, her chin lowering toward her neck.
“Of course. It was clearly a trap ant to test my loyalty.”
“Of course it was. Hmph.”
Having nothing more to say, Asella pursed her lips for no reason.
But she didn’t want to appear soft in front of either.
So strange, squirming emotion stirred inside her chest, but it wasn’t strong enough to override the anger boiling in her head.
Determined to find so fault, she continued her accusations—but now with noticeably less confidence.
“If there’s sothing as important as an alliance on the table, you should report to first. Why are you sitting here drinking tea?”
“Your Highness.”
A small girl who had remained silent in the corner took a step forward.
Neria gave a respectful bow and spoke clearly.
“I am Neria Gotberg, daughter of the Gotberg family. Forgive , but may I speak?”
Though she’d t Asella before, she lowered herself in proper respect.
Even Asella wouldn’t snap at a little girl.
“I’ll allow it.”
“My brother... Doctor Gotberg was surely on his way to deliver that important report to Your Highness. But I showed up without notice, and he delayed to greet . So this incident is my fault. Please don’t be too harsh on my brother...”
Neria spoke with careful clarity.
“Miss Neria, I didn’t an—”
Asella began to reply but hesitated.
Neria’s innocent eyes looked like they would well up with tears at any mont.
Normally, Asella wouldn’t have been swayed by sothing like that. But Neria’s expression was powerful enough to break through.
She even kind of looked like Max.
Her Highness missed her chance to stay angry!
Anger has timing. Miss it, and it just becos awkward.
The guards watched the mood shift with fascination.
Truthfully, Neria was soone who might’ve been chosen as a Saint.
This confrontation could be seen as a clash between absolute good and absolute pride.
And the result of that clash was—
“Hh-ing.”
The small, animal-like whimper from Neria broke the tension, signaling the victory of absolute good.
Feeling like a villain for bullying the girl, Asella averted her gaze.
“Fine. I only took issue with the delay. Since I know the reason, I won’t ntion it again.”
Everyone knew the real issue was Heike’s proposal. But Asella smoothly changed the topic.
Did Her Highness just... make an excuse?
She opted to retreat from an uncomfortable situation.
Miss Gotberg’s offensive power is no joke.
The guards ntally applauded Neria, who had endured a face-off with Asella.
“My apologies, Your Highness. I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“...All right.”
Asella awkwardly accepted my apology.
Her gaze fell onto the notebook I’d left on the table.
“What’s this?”
“Ah, nothing to concern Your Highness. It’s a family matter.”
“Then I definitely need to know.”
She skimd through the project plans for the pharmaceutical factory.
“This’ll require a lot of capital.”
“It will.”
“Moonlight Palace will invest.”
“Really?”
My face lit up at the word ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) "invest."
Wait, if she keeps demanding equity even after retirent, that could get annoying. I should set a clear expiration date, I thought.
“Yes. It’s a promising business. If our allied funds circulate well, it’ll benefit the Gotberg estate too. Doctor, bring important matters like this to imdiately next ti.”
“I understand. I’ll submit the proposal soon.”
“And gain so awareness.”
“What kind of awareness?”
Asella closed her eyes and furrowed her brow.
Why does this man always follow up a good remark with such clueless ones?
Her insides were boiling, but she couldn’t get angry again—not in front of all the watching knights. They knew exactly why.
She already changed the subject. Raising her voice now would just hurt her dignity.
That doctor... must’ve driven plenty of noblewon crazy in his ti.
Unless Her Highness gives a direct order, the doctor won’t back down first.
Who would lower their pride first? Or would this end in a draw?
All eyes were on us.
In the end, Asella pointed at and declared in a clear voice:
“I’m talking about the awareness that you’re my fiancé.”
I bowed respectfully, unfazed by her words.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Asella turned sharply and exited the reception room. Her footsteps were unusually loud.
She’s sulking.
Definitely sulking.
The guards were quietly impressed by the unexpected victory of the Gotberg faction and marched after her in formation.
***
“I'm so wronged.”
After the clash with Asella, I was too drained to even think about working in the afternoon.
I’d gone to extract leverage from Heike and ended up getting scolded.
My heart was all scratched up. Unfortunately, that’s not sothing dicine can fix.
So I soothed myself by squishing Neria’s soft cheeks.
“My apologies,”
Tanya bowed her head to .
“I judged the alliance with Mokhui Palace to be urgent and reported it in your stead since you were busy... But I acted rashly. Her Highness ran out before I could even finish explaining—”
“Good work. Her Highness must not trust that much.”
“Isn’t it the opposite, brother?”
Neria’s eyes sparkled, even as I held her face between my hands.
“It’s fortunate that Her Highness cherishes you so much.”
What on earth have you been watching, Neria?
“If the report had been any later, Her Highness would’ve been even more furious. Think of it as taking so of the beating for you.”
“Captain, you’ve gotten bold since hanging out with Asella.”
At my jab, Tanya just shrugged innocently.
Well, she wasn’t wrong. It was an important matter, and I should’ve reported it. Tanya made the right call.
And in the end, we secured support.
Now I had to wring everything I could from Asella in return for her tornt.
“You’ll be accompanying Her Highness to the party, right, brother? I can’t wait!”
I patted the head of the little saint who had so gracefully defeated a villainess.
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