A Box of Cookies (1)

When he heard the news about Rowena from a messenger of the imperial family, Paul clicked his tongue. He didn’t know how far the truth was.

“… Therefore, His Majesty the crown prince decided to protect the Lady even after she recovered from her injuries.”

A heavy silence fell into the drawing room. He understands the feeling that an assassin will appear again and he wants to protect her but to take the young girl from someone else’s house like this! He was wondering if he could just do that.

“And from His Highness to the count. He also said that he wants you to keep his warning.”

At the messenger’s words, the eyes of the three sons turned to Paul. Paul had a puncture wound, but he broke it and said to the messenger in anger.

“Well, what nonsense! Rowena is my daughter! My lord, tell him this is unfair!”

“I see.”

Paul wanted to rebut the messenger, but the messenger was already leaving. When the messenger disappeared from the mansion and only the Adelia family remained, Theo looked suspicious.

“That hand… Is it the work of the crown prince?”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you hear what the messenger just said?! This is a trick by those who tried to hurt Rowena! The plan to separate Rowena and me! Yes, it’s a trick!”

Even so, they were thinking it was strange that Paul returned to the mansion alone. He came back without Rowena shouting that he was sick when he suffered such an injury.

He wasn’t the kind of man who told Rowena to stay and watch the opera despite the pain of his injury. He was the father who would order the escort knight who took them to bring her back by grabbing even Rowena’s hair.

Rowena was also not a child to spend time alone knowing that her father had suffered this kind of injury.

Rowena doesn’t know that the Crown Prince did this.

He doesn’t know how she would react if she knew. Theo knew that Rowena had been distant from them for quite some time.

It seemed that Louis was worried, but it wasn’t for them. It was also funny that he demanded that they continue to show affection to a person when he also neglected her.

My father or brother don’t seem to think about that.

For them, Rowena would be nothing but a domestic animal that deserves to be taught a lesson even if she refutes. But Theo was afraid of one thing.

It was a fear that Rowena would retaliate against them with the crown prince behind their back.

* * *

“My Lady!”

Pina came running to Rowena with delight. Rowena greeted Pina and made sure she was not hurt.

“I’m fine! The royal knights protected me…”

It was said that not everyone could be an imperial knight, but it was different. There was a reason why Matthias and Theodore failed even if they took the imperial knight exam every time.

Even though Lancelot must have been distressed by the corset, he skillfully protected Pina. Pina showed no scratches and her eyes twinkled.

“I heard from the knights! If you’re officially staying in the royal family, can I take care of you here?”

“Yes, but you must have been surprised today, so I want you to take a few days off. His Highness said he would also provide you a room, so you can stay in the Imperial Palace.”

Rowena said so and called the maid Cecil had given her. Pina looked sad.

“You must be feeling unwell…”

“I’m fine.”

After asking the maid to take Pina to the room, Rowena left the room. In addition to the previous maid, there were five maids around her.

She also had a maid at the count’s house, but it felt strange to be suddenly treated by so many people.

“… Is His Highness still talking to the High Priest?”

“I think he is almost done. I was told to bring you back as soon as you finished your business.”

Rowena was dressed differently from when she headed to the opera house. She changed into her maid’s clothes at the theater, but today she decided to sign her wedding vows.

So she changed into the clothes Cecil had prepared for her. Cecil would also be waiting for Rowena in another outfit.

He had also changed once in the theater because of Paul’s blood on his clothes.

Rowena walked along the corridor with excitement. The thought of signing the marriage vows without Paul’s permission made her excited.

She was worried about what Cecil might have done to Paul, but she didn’t want to worry about him. To worry about a man who wielded ruthless violence against her felt like tolerating abuse against herself.

I don’t believe in being happy with the Crown Prince. But at least he promised to let me go if I didn’t want to. It will be different than before.

Even if her life with Cecil became miserable and they got a divorce, she would never go back to Adelia. Cecil promised her a title, so that she, who will become a marquise, would not have to bow down to Count Adelia.

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