Her whole body ached. After hearing Cheston’s cry, he seemed to have reached out and pulled her. After that, her memory was cut off. But the body temperature embracing her was clearly Cheston’s. Whitney’s heart dropped to the floor.

“An accident! There’s been a carriage accident!”

“Blood, there’s blood…!”

Before understanding the situation, the surrounding noise made her head throb.

When Whitney gently twisted her body in his arms touching her back, the hands holding her body fell limply to the floor. Her body began to tremble. She didn’t have the courage to look back.

She shivered uncontrollably as if feeling extreme cold on a hot summer day. Along with her dazed mind, there was a ringing in her ears. In her blurry vision, perhaps due to the loud noise, she could see people one by one. She slowly turned her head to look at Cheston lying on the ground.

“…Your Highness?”

His pale face and disheveled golden hair seemed unreal. Long eyelashes rested on his closed eyes. Unable to believe the sight of him lying powerlessly on the ground, Whitney stared at him blankly.

‘Why, why… why do I always…’

She gently took his hand lying on the floor. Thankfully, there was warmth. With relief, Whitney, now aware of the situation, hurriedly looked around.

Sir Aaron, Sir Aaron must surely be here.

She quickly examined his body and there were no visible external injuries. But Cheston was as still as if sleeping with his beautiful face. Only after her trembling hands confirmed his breathing did her whole body relax.

“Your Highness Cheston!”

“Sir Aaron. Please take care of His Highness quickly. Because of me… it seems we crashed into the carriage.”

“Are you alright, Princess?”

“I’m… fine.”

Whitney nodded. She stood up with the support of maids who had hurried over. Looking back, she saw the debris of the shattered carriage on the ground.

“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry. The horses suddenly went wild.”

The coachman knelt on the ground and pleaded. He seemed to have been injured in the fall as he was bleeding. He was led away somewhere by the knights’ hands.

Whitney looked around at the sudden event. The accident from her childhood naturally overlapped, making it hard to breathe. Feeling suffocated, she barely grabbed onto a maid and exhaled her uncontrolled breath.

‘…Ah.’

Whitney clutched her chest and sank to the ground. People’s gazes became sharp needles, pricking her here and there.

“Another carriage accident. Didn’t the Duke die because of that princess? Is it Prince Cheston this time?”

“Shouldn’t we not just blame that woman? The men can’t keep their hands off her.”

“There’s a rumor, you know. The Queen has been displeased with Prince Cheston’s recent changes…”

Whitney covered her ears at the murmuring voices of people. If only it weren’t for you, if only it weren’t for you! Everything seemed to be her responsibility. She wanted to run away from the gazes focused only on her.

Fortunately, Cheston was fine. However, it seemed his consciousness had not yet returned due to the side effects of suddenly releasing a large amount of aura.

Whitney cried endlessly as she watched him lying in bed. Everything felt like it was her fault. The royal family was busy entertaining the noble guests from Peteontra. They couldn’t conduct a noisy investigation, so progress fizzled out.

‘It must be the Queen’s doing.’

If she became the head of the House of Orlean, it would be as good as being a great strength to Cheston. After all, behind her was the House of Rubeness, highly praised by the people. Having given him wings with her own hands, now she wanted to break them.

Whitney clenched her fists. If that was the case, she only needed to deal with herself. There had been several opportunities before coming to the royal court, but the Queen hadn’t done so. This meant that she had become Cheston’s weakness, and the Queen’s tyranny would worsen after this incident.

The Queen not only directly tormented Cheston but also knew it was more effective to subdue him by touching those around him. Her tongue clicked at the Queen’s cruel and vile nature. The reason for inviting nobles from Peteontra and the Kingdom of Karulo was likely to wrap up the investigation hastily.

“Sir Aaron. When do you think His Highness Cheston will wake up?”

“Probably in three to four days, his consciousness will return. His Highness has a stronger physique than others, after all.”

“…That’s a relief. I feel ashamed towards you too, Sir Aaron.”

“Not at all. It’s right to curse the Queen’s cruelty, not blame you, Princess. But may I speak frankly, if I may?”

At Aaron’s words, Whitney turned her gaze from Cheston to look at him. From the worried look in his eyes, she could guess what he was about to say. He was one of the few people who knew, like her aunt, that her relationship with His Highness was just a contract.

“I’m sorry, but I think you should stop here.”

Although she had come with the intention to end it, hearing such words from someone else was hurtful. Whitney forced a smile and said.

“That’s why I came in a hurry. I hope His Highness Cheston won’t get hurt because of me. Since His Highness doesn’t seem positive about breaking off the engagement… it’s right for me to leave now, isn’t it?”

“His Highness will find you by any means necessary.”

“Am I that important to His Highness? It’s just a contractual relationship. His Highness would have saved anyone else who was in danger, not just me. You know that too, Sir Aaron.”

“…Do you really think so?”

“I want to think so.”

It seemed that was the only way she could leave. Whitney told Aaron that she would explain well to His Majesty the King, and asked him to take good care of Cheston.

“Sir Aaron, where is Lady Elenia?”

“His Majesty the King heard about the carriage accident and confined her to her room, not allowing her to come out.”

“Can you guide me there?”

Aaron took the lead. Whitney placed the ring that was in her bosom beside the bed and followed him.

Elenia tried to escape immediately through the open door.

“Lady Elenia.”

“Princess…! Is Cheston alright? And your body…”

She looked over Whitney’s body with worried eyes. Unable to meet her gaze, Whitney slightly averted her eyes and bowed her head. At a glance, dried tear stains were clear on her face.

“…I’m fine. Fortunately, His Highness Cheston has no external injuries. However, the physician said that his consciousness will return slowly due to the sudden use of a large amount of aura.”

“Ah… that’s truly a relief. I’m sorry, Princess, I feel like I’ve caused you to go through this absurd situation because of my powerlessness… I don’t know what to say to you.”

Elenia covered her face in distress. Whitney supported her and sat her down in a chair. Whitney was just as pained by this situation as she was. Feeling that everything was her fault, she couldn’t look her straight in the eye.

“Please don’t say that… It’s not because of you, Lady Elenia, but because of me. Everyone will probably think so.”

“You’re not at fault, Princess. You don’t know how many more days Cheston has smiled since you’ve been here.”

“Lady Elenia, I came here because I have something to tell you. I can’t stand by and watch His Highness be in danger because of me anymore. Days like today will continue to happen endlessly, and His Highness Cheston will always be willing to save me. I don’t want to lose someone because of me ever again…”

“Princess. But… His Majesty the King won’t allow the engagement to end. He has been waiting more than anyone for Cheston to have an ally, so it’s obvious that a difficult process awaits. You might even face resentment.”

Whitney took out a badge from her bosom. She didn’t mind being resented. If it was a decision for him, even the King would understand from his feelings towards her.

“That’s…”

“It’s the immunity right His Majesty the King gave me. Please pass this on. Since he’ll be meeting with the noble guests, I can’t ask him to spare his precious time, so I’m shamelessly asking you, Lady Elenia. Regardless of the breakdown of my engagement with His Highness Cheston, the Houses of Orlean and Rubeness support His Highness.”

“Can’t you stay by his side? Even if it’s my selfishness, I also know that what’s happening to you isn’t normal. But Cheston will protect you until the end. Can’t you trust that child?”

“Lady Elenia, I’m not leaving because I don’t trust His Highness Cheston. I don’t want to become His Highness’s weakness. I don’t want to hold him back. That’s my feelings for him.”

Elenia turned her head and wiped away her tears. Whitney knew too. The meaning of what she was saying, but the Queen would be on edge right now and would do anything. Whitney didn’t want to give her any excuse.

Now that there was a justification for taking on the role of head of the family, everyone would understand the engagement falling apart. Perhaps another opportunity would be given to him. The best choice she could make was to leave his side and watch over him from afar.

“Thank you for everything until now. Lady Elenia, and stay healthy.”

“…You speak as if we’ll never see each other again. We’re in the same capital, so come for tea anytime.”

“I don’t want to be the talk of people. It’s cleanest when ended relationships don’t continue. So I pray that the blessings of the Kingdom of Leowen will always be with you.”

Whitney gave the royal greeting and immediately left the room. Without looking back, she got straight into the carriage. She hadn’t told Elenia, but Whitney was planning not to be in the capital for a while.