Kneel Before The Villain - Chapter 128

Listening to Claire’s words, young master Pline moved his lips, then quickly stopped.

 

Him being born into a high-ranking aristocratic family, Claire’s situation was unimaginably miserable.

 

When he had ever heard of women in similar circumstances, he could only take it lightly, but when he saw it in person, it was disastrous.

 

He didn’t know how to comfort her.

 

Claire wiped her tears and said with a miserable face.

 

“I feel unfair, but Her Majesty is also being deceived by the princess. If Her Majesty learns the truth about her, she won’t hate me like she does now.”

 

At Claire’s words, young master Pline finally realized what he had to do.

 

He looked down at the floor with a thoughtful face, then reassured her with determination.

 

“Lady, don’t worry too much. Everything will work out.”

 

***

 

In the fall, the entire lakeside was colored in red and yellow.

 

Lanterns were placed on dozens of tables and a banquet was in progress.

 

“Did you hear the news? They said Princess Lillian actually had a secret relationship with young master Croix for a long time. Is it true?”

 

“Otherwise, she wouldn’t be showing off her relationship like that as soon as the breakup was over.”

 

“Since when was that?”

 

“It’s a rumor that has been around for a long time. It didn’t become a big topic because everyone didn’t believe it.”

 

A few led the conversation, while others exchanged meaningful glances.

 

The atmosphere felt tense without knowing it.

 

“Then, wasn’t the reason why the Crown Prince and the princess broke off the marriage because of the Princess?”

 

A man glanced behind him with a servile look on his face as he spoke.

 

There was young master Pline.

 

As if it had nothing to do with him, he stood still with his arms folded one step away, watching them converse.

 

However, those who were initiating the conversation now were vassals of Count Pline’s family.

 

Among them, they were servile people who always followed him around, flattering him in order to impress him.

 

Unless they were fools, everyone knew who he was.

 

“It was like that last time, isn’t it a bit excessive today?”

 

The woman in the yellow dress whispered softly to the person next to her.

 

Then she nodded her head too.

 

“To say such a thing so loudly at a gathering of so many people, what would you do if someone heard it…?

 

They knew young master Pline hated Princess Lillian, but they never thought it would be this much.

 

Even if he had done so in the past to impress Lady Dana, now that she had disappeared, his hostility toward the princess seemed to grow stronger day by day.

 

The princess before was arrogant and did evil in front of people, but lately she was confined to her mansion and didn’t come out much.

 

Even if she appeared at the banquet hall from time to time, it would only be briefly and then quietly left, and she hadn’t had any trouble with anyone lately.

 

However, young master Pline was acting as if the princess was his enemy, so it was incomprehensible.

 

As if there was a great grudge between the two.

 

“Even if it’s about the princess, it’s not like he doesn’t know the character of young master Croix.

Isn’t he afraid of the aftermath?”

 

“I don’t know. It would be better to keep a reasonable distance before sparks fly to us.”

 

The two nodded and quietly left.

 

A few others left, showing signs of discomfort at the ensuing conversation.

 

Young master Pline secretly clenched his fist.

 

‘Like timid and cowardly bastards…’

 

The people who used to curse at the Princess casually in the past seemed to be hesitant and reluctant.  It was probably because of young master Croix. Didn’t the Princess physically harm others like slapping and pouring wine on their heads?

 

Surprisingly, there was no good ending if they went against her, so they had to endure the humiliation.

 

 

And then there was young master Croix.

 

Those who openly confronted him, or those who hated him, were fortunate enough to end up being disgraced, and there were many occasions when they suffered severe injuries to the point of breaking their arms or legs.

 

The basics were jailed for several months, and in some cases, the existence of their families was shaken.

 

However, even if they tried to appeal to injustice, the grand duke and grand duchess would take his side. Even the emperor had his back. So who dare to stand up to him?

 

Young master Croix had an extremely arrogant and erratic personality.  All who had experienced his skill were afraid of him.

 

If young master Pline could help it, he would try not to get involved with him.

 

 

But now Claire was driven to the brink by young master Croix and the Princess.

 

She had no one else to reveal the truth but himself, so he had no choice but to do it like this.

 

When the truth came out and everyone knew that the two had an affair, Claire would no longer have to hide in fear as she did now.

 

And the princess would have to pay for her sins.

 

Because the emperor would not let a woman play with his two sons and nephew.

 

“I didn’t know before that such an inside story existed. Only lady Dana has become pitiful.”

 

At that time, a woman’s voice with a cold sneer was heard from behind.

 

“What was everyone talking about?  Can I listen too?”

 

****

 

“Princess?”

 

The man who had been talking a while ago widened his eyes in surprise.

 

It wasn’t just that.

 

Those who were seated looked at each other with bewildered faces.  Then a woman nudged the side of the man next to her with her elbow.  She then gave her an awkward smile.

 

“Sure.  I’ve only seen you from afar every time, but it’s an honor to have a conversation with the princess.”

 

“Thank you for saying that.”

 

After replying calmly, I looked around and saw people avoiding my gaze with uncomfortable faces or trying to smile awkwardly.

 

I smiled as if reciprocating with a nonchalant face.

 

As always, I chose one of the many invitations and attended the right place, and while I was walking around looking, I heard familiar names and this was the situation.

 

Everyone was trying hard to pretend they weren’t, even though they clearly knew that they were swearing at me a while ago.

 

They were the ones who had to bow down and pay attention even to the mere son of a Count, so it was only natural that they couldn’t behave recklessly in front of me, a princess.

 

Looking at the pale faces, the cold sweat on their foreheads, the shaking pupils, and the corners of their mouths awkwardly raised, I didn’t even get angry.

 

I hadn’t done anything yet, but now I felt like I was harassing innocent people.

 

There were really bad people out there.

 

I looked up and opened my mouth.

 

“I heard a familiar name. What were you talking about?”

 

“Ah, that’s…”

 

People’s faces hardened.

 

It would be difficult to answer truthfully.

 

That said, they wouldn’t be able to tell a lie that would soon be caught, not if I had heard the conversation from a while ago.

 

The people who had been leading the conversation and cursing at me a while ago glanced at me and young master Pline.

 

He was looking at me with his arms crossed in the middle of the crowd.

 

His expression was confident, and his gaze was full of hostility, to the point of spilling over.

 

I looked at him with a smile on my face and opened my mouth.

 

“The atmosphere is strange.  Are you saying something I shouldn’t have heard?”

 

“It can’t be.  I was talking about Lady Dana.”

 

“I heard the news about Lady Dana. She ran away after falling in love with an unknown man.”

 

“That’s right.  It seems that the princess heard it too.”

 

At my words, the woman with the jewelry pin in her hair was delighted.

 

She nodded her head in interest.

 

“It is a famous story.  I heard she’s been dating for a long time…”

 

“Really, I guessed that it would be light based on her usual behavior, but I didn’t know it would be that much.”

 

“ I was surprised too.”

 

After I joined, other people besides the woman added their words one by one with a relieved look on their faces.

 

“It’s almost embarrassing to be a real noble.”

 

“It would be hard to find another woman with such shamelessness in the world.  I can fully understand why the princess didn’t like it.”

 

“She’s vulgar and wags her tail at the Crown Prince, and then she has affairs with other men behind his back.”

 

Whether it was to avoid being caught for swearing at me or simply to flatter me, whatever the intention, the corners of my mouth naturally went up when I saw people belittling and criticizing Claire.

 

Did they know?

 

What kind of facial expression Young master Pline had behind them right now?

 

If they knew, they wouldn’t talk so freely.

 

But there was no reason for me to come forward and warn them.

 

“ As you said, she’s really vulgar.”

 

I said with my eyes fixed on young master Pline, who was watching the situation from one step away as if it had nothing to do with me.

 

His face, which had been hardening as he listened to the people’s conversations, finally softened and twisted.

 

“Well, if you find out, there might be another story behind it.”

 

“Young master Pline, you sound like you know something. If it’s an inside story, can I ask what you’re talking about?”

 

“Isn’t that something the princess knows best?”

 

“Me?  I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

 

When I pretended not knowing, young master Pline

furiously crumpled his face.

 

He stared at me, then raised the corner of his mouth.

 

“I have heard some rumors too.”

 

“What rumors?”

 

“They said that while the princess was engaged to the crown prince, you were dating another man behind his back.”

 

***