Kneel Before The Villain - Chapter 118

“Who’s riding inside?”

 

“Princess Lillian.”

 

“Show me your identity card.”

 

I heard the coachman talking with the knights guarding the castle gate.

 

Previously, as the fiancée of the crown prince, I was treated like a semi-royal and was able to enter and exit the imperial palace at ease.

 

It was a great honor and privilege that no one else was allowed.

 

Now that I had broken off the marriage with the crown prince, I had to go through complicated procedures to enter and exit the imperial palace.

 

After sitting still and waiting, the carriage started to move again, and after a while, it came to a complete stop and the door opened.

 

I grabbed the hand of the knight who was escorting me and got off the carriage.

 

Then I entered a familiar building.

 

As usual, I felt people’s eyes pouring on me.

 

It wasn’t just once or twice, so there was nothing new about it.

 

There were already many people gathered inside.

 

Seeing that everyone was with their partner or family, it was only then that I realized that the seat next to me was empty.

 

The Duke was here with me for a while, I seemed to have forgotten how alone I always was.

 

Had I gotten used to having someone by my side?

 

I didn’t feel lonely or anything like that, but I felt a little empty.

 

Then, I saw someone approaching me from afar.

 

Payne looked very good in a neat white uniform and a blue cloak draped over his shoulders.

 

“Greetings, 2nd Prince.”

 

He had a blank expression as his eyes met mine.

 

However, he soon came to his senses and cleared his throat with a reddened face, probably embarrassed.

 

“I felt the same thing the other day when I saw it, but the princess looks good in red.”

 

“Thank you for the compliment.”

 

“I heard that your father went to the army. Are you all right?”

 

“I’m okay. I’m past the age of being afraid to be left alone at home.”

 

Payne made no comments or reprimands for his returned gifts in the meantime.

 

However, the mood became even more uncomfortable.

 

“Then I’ll leave you to it.”

 

I greeted him with the utmost courtesy and tried to pass him.

 

But Payne casually walked beside me.

 

When others saw it, they would think that we were entering together.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Yes, princess.”

 

When I called, Payne looked at me with a questioning face.

 

I was speechless when I saw the nonchalant expression on his face as if he didn’t know anything.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

If Payne had sent a carriage or asked to escort me, I would have refused.

 

But right now, he was just walking with me, so it was ambiguous to say anything.

 

However, the closer we got to the banquet hall, the more people there were, and the more eyes followed us.

 

“Why are those two together…”

 

“I know, right. I think the rumors are true.”

 

“What are the rumors?”

 

“Rumors about marriage going back and forth between Princess Lillian and His Highness the 2nd Prince. The first time I heard about it, I thought it was impossible, but now I see it’s not just absurd.”

 

Listening to people whispering, I eventually couldn’t stand it and asked.

 

“Your Highness, we will arrive at the banquet hall soon. You’re not thinking of joining me, are you?”

 

“It’s been a while since I came back to the capital, so I don’t have many friends. My deputy said that entering alone without a partner is disrespectful.”

 

“So what?”

 

“I couldn’t find a partner in time. It was a bit difficult, but I’m glad I met the princess like this.”

 

Smiling at me, Payne didn’t look troubled in the slightest.

 

The statement that he couldn’t find a partner must be false. In the first place, he was a Prince, and a Prince would not have any problem finding a partner. Moreover, he had been alone all this time, but suddenly now he needed a partner?

 

Wasn’t it a blatant lie from beginning to end?

 

“It’s not too late now, so why don’t you find someone else?”

 

“It seems difficult. I’m a bit shy.”

 

“Shy? This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”

 

When I looked at him with a bewildered gaze, he slightly averted his gaze.

 

Seeing that he couldn’t make eye contact with me, he seemed to have at least a conscience.

 

“Since there are many eyes, let’s go separately from now on. My father is also away, so I don’t want to get caught up in unnecessary gossip.”

 

“If you’re worried about gossip, wouldn’t this be better for the princess?”

 

As Payne said, there would be people talking bad about me when they saw me entering without a partner.

 

I’m sure there were people who would argue over this.

 

Entering with him would save face.

 

However, this was no different from stepping into the tiger’s den to avoid the wolf.

 

For the sake of my pride, I had no intention of getting involved with the imperial family again in this way.

 

“I appreciate Your Highness’ consideration, but it’s okay. Even before the breakup, I often went in alone without a partner. Besides, Your Highness must know that that’s not what I’m worried about.”

 

“I know. What is the princess worried about? That you’re not interested in me.”

 

“You understand me then.”

 

“But what the princess is worried about will never happen. So why don’t you give me a chance?”

 

Payne’s serious expression rendered me speechless for a moment.

 

It would have been easier to respond if he had maintained a light and shameless attitude or had threatened me like the crown prince.

 

But Payne was always serious and cautious.

 

He was a hero who was praised or feared.

 

But now he looked like a child who longed for affection.

 

“Second Prince, I…”

 

“Ah, we have arrived.”

 

As we walked down the grayish-white hallway with red carpets as we chatted, I found myself in front of the banquet hall before I knew it.

 

When we reached the large arched door, the attendant greeted us politely.

 

Then, without hesitation, the attendant shouted loudly.

 

“His Highness the 2nd Prince and Princess Lillian are entering.”

 

It was already too late to hesitate.

 

Payne whispered softly in my ear.

 

“I will hear the Princess’s answer later.”

 

Entering the banquet hall, many people gathered around him immediately.

 

Taking advantage of the chaos, I took a step away.

 

Fortunately, Payne didn’t come after me.

 

I found a moderately quiet spot and stood still, and soon many people gathered.

 

“Princess, how have you been? It seems like we haven’t seen each other in quite a while.”

 

“Which designer is that dress from? The fabric is luxurious and the stitching is very sophisticated.”

 

“The pin you’re wearing in your hair is also really pretty. At first glance, I thought you were wearing fresh flowers.”

 

A young lady looked up at the top of my head, her eyes shining.

 

This hairpin was given to me by Elvin.

 

“Looking at it earlier, you seemed friendly with the 2nd Prince, how are you two? There were rumors of marriage between the two of you.”

 

After a few words of greeting, someone asked directly.

 

“It’s the first time I’ve heard of it. I just met the 2nd prince by chance and we came in together.”

 

When I answered casually with a calm expression, a look of disappointment passed over people’s faces.

 

“But for such things, the 2nd Prince’s gaze on the Princess just now was unusual.”

 

“That’s right. It’s the first time I’ve seen the 2nd Prince treat someone so kindly and affectionately. So, of course, I thought the two of you were close.”

 

“Please. How long has it been since the princess broke off the engagement with the crown prince?”

 

Lady Flynn, who was a little away, approached, fluttering the fan she was holding.

 

Her gaze at me was exceptionally ferocious and harsh today.

 

She looked at my wrist and raised the corner of her mouth crookedly.

 

“I think I saw the bracelet the princess is wearing the other day, but it’s unlikely that the duchy’s finances have been reduced…It seems like a pretty meaningful item. Isn’t there a hidden affection?”

 

“Then is the rumor true that the princess has a hidden lover?”

 

A young lady asked with a face full of surprise.

 

Lady Flynn’s smile grew deeper at this.

 

“I don’t know. What I’ve heard is just rumors. If you’re curious, why don’t you ask the princess directly?”

 

As she turned her arrows towards me again, all eyes fell on me.

 

“I am also curious. While I was away, what kind of words spread about me and my lover that even I don’t know.”

 

Even though I showed my displeasure, she didn’t care, but rather continued with a more pleasant face.

 

“I wonder what kind of person is your lover that the Princess protects like this? He must be a great person, right? When can you introduce us?”

 

“Lady Flynn, it seems that you are always very interested in my life. I thought that you would be depressed because you were heartbroken over the rejection of your marriage proposal to the imperial family. It’s nice to see you so full of energy.”

 

A tiny crack appeared on the smiling face of the Marquis Flynn’s daughter.

 

“I don’t know what the princess is talking about.”

 

This time I looked at her with a bright smile.

 

“Oh, was it a secret? I thought everyone already knew. Does this mean that I have heard something nonsensical? I am sorry.”

 

It was information that I would not have known if Noah didn’t tell me.

 

A murmur spread among the people, and her face turned red.

 

“Who was it? It’s probably not the crown prince…… Then, could it be the second prince?”

 

“Why do you think not?”

 

“How could His Highness the Crown Prince go that far…”

 

Grinding her teeth while watching me, Lady Flynn had a disbelief expression on her face.

 

She was a proud woman, so she must have been very shocked.

 

What was she thinking in her head? Her fair skin turned pitifully pale.

 

I patiently waited for the people’s imagination to run wild about Lady Flynn.

 

“Don’t lie. Even considering your family, His Highness the Crown Prince couldn’t have told you that.”

 

She said so, but the confused look on her face made it look like she was still not sure.

 

I nodded meekly.

 

“Young lady is right. Neither His Highness the Crown Prince nor the 2nd Prince told me that. I heard it from someone else.”

 

Lady Flynn had a visibly relieved face at that.

 

Only her feelings for the crown prince seemed sincere.

 

“Why did you lie like that?”

 

“I didn’t lie. The young lady alone misunderstood it.”

 

“Are you trying to play puns with me?”

 

“It seems that the Marquis didn’t tell the young lady to watch her mouth, so I just taught her instead.”

 

“I beg your pardon?”

 

Lady Flynn looked at me incredulously.

 

“I overlooked the young lady openly coveting someone else’s fiancé. I’m sorry. You struggled like that, but you couldn’t even get a bit of attention, let alone the seat next to me.”

 

Lady Flynn’s face turned red as if it would burst at any moment.

 

She trembled as she grabbed the hem of her dress.

 

I smiled.

 

“You were pitiful before, but even more pitiful now. Even in the situation where neither I nor Baron Dana’s daughter are around, you can’t find a place by the Crown Prince’s side or his heart.”

 

****