‘Is that the expression of someone who is startled and screams?’

Liam snorted. He wasn’t fooled by Ormia’s acting.

The knights approached Ormia, avoiding the fallen flower petals. The atmosphere was hostile.

“Princess Ormia! What are you doing so dangerously!”

“What are you doing? Why did the princess come here!”

“Damn it, how unpleasant!”

“How dare you interfere with the duel when you can’t even properly give a blessing!”

“I’m sorry. I was startled and before I knew it…”

Liam was dumbfounded.

He had heard reports about Princess Ormia’s situation.

He had seen various aspects of her, but the situation was even more ridiculous. The knights spoke rudely to the princess, unable to contain their temper and raising their voices.

In the Empire, they would have immediately sent the knight to prison. They could have beheaded him on the spot for insulting the imperial family without anyone protesting.

Yet no one even tried to stop them.

“If the princess hadn’t interfered, I would have won.”

“Then file an official complaint with the royal family. Say that I interfered when you were dueling the Empire’s envoy with a real sword and ability while he had a wooden sword.”

“What are you trying to do now? What good have you done!”

“Hasen, that’s enough.”

Finally seeming to think they had gone too far, the knights shut their mouths.

“And this person is my benefactor who saved me from violence. He saved Glishian royalty. Please show some respect.”

Hasen, who had turned pale and was trembling from the aftereffects of using his ability, staggered and turned his back.

“Hey, let’s go. I’m in a foul mood, let’s go drink.”

“Tch.”

Some knights even spat on the ground in front of them. They left without Ormia’s permission, even though she was a princess.

Ormia remained calm even as the knights behaved rudely and showed their contempt.

Though displeased, Liam knew it wasn’t his place to interfere.

“Glishian knights lack real combat experience and neglect practice, relying on their abilities. I would have won without your help.”

“Yes, you would have won. But this is Glishia, not the Empire. If you had won and injured him, Duke Bersi would have used that as an excuse to make unreasonable demands.”

“You speak as if that would really have happened.”

“It’s never bad to be cautious.”

There was something about Ormia Beltoa that got on Liam’s nerves.

She remained detached no matter what happened.

It resembled that of an old person who had weathered many storms.

‘She’s only twenty.’

Younger than Liam’s sister.

He should be trying to please her and ensure she doesn’t change her mind about going to the Empire, but Liam couldn’t keep up an act when he met Ormia.

“Let’s go. I’ll treat you to tea, my benefactor.”

Ormia invited him.

As she lightly waved her hand, the white flower petals that had fallen around them disappeared in an instant.

Like when she had given Liam a blessing, a faint blessing seeped into his body.

He regretted the flower petals that had fallen in the training ground. It wasn’t something to just make disappear.

Liam wondered if he could send flowers to his brother Kyler in advance to give him a blessing.

As he watched Ormia’s back, her voluminous wavy pink hair fluttering, Liam spoke up.

They were alone in the corridor.

“Can the flowers work from far away?”

“I don’t know your brother’s condition, so I would have to go myself.”

Ormia had sensed what Liam wanted. He had no choice but to believe her words.

“If you could save Kyler, I would gladly give my life to the princess. I would willingly give my entire lifetime if you desired it.”

“I’ve already received it.”

“What?”

“You have no debt to repay me.”

Ormia Beltoa had never left the capital, and this was Liam’s first visit to the Glishian capital.

There was no connection between the two of them.

‘She speaks as if she’s met me before.’

Ormia paused for a moment.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, His Majesty decided on the divorce quickly.”

Liam stroked his chin. His hair fell, creating shadows around his eyes.

“You knew.”

“It spread faster than I expected. I thought the rumors would quickly die down even if they started. If you hadn’t helped, I was planning to request the information guild.”

Liam laughed, feeling goosebumps.

“You calculated that I would step in.”

Many people come and go from the castle.

Since Ormia was not confined, she had heard the nobles talking in groups.

They say Mrs. Riel, who runs the dress shop, has a loose tongue, but she doesn’t have enough influence to spread rumors this quickly.

Mrs. Castella, who had been troubled by Mrs. Olan’s boasting all this time, would have told those around her about that day’s events, but she has limitations as she’s not a noble lady.

That’s why she had called Liam and shown him the situation.

Liam approached Ormia, who had stopped. The window’s shadow cast by the sunlight entering the corridor obscured both their expressions.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Things might not go as the princess wishes in the Empire.”

Knowing what the Empire might do, would I be afraid?

As he studied my expression, I was about to speak when another voice cut in.

“Why are you here?”

“Princess.”

“It seems the princess was on her way somewhere.”

The second prince Alian, third prince Noyer, Princess Leticia, and the four dukes were walking together. When Leticia’s eyes met mine, she raised her chin.

For the sake of close relationships with the king’s children, the dukes had quickly changed generations. When the young dukes gathered with the princes and princesses, people would look at them with dazzled, enraptured expressions.

“If you’ve done something wrong, you should stay quietly in your room and reflect, not walk around. How long do you intend to be a burden on the royal family?”

The second prince Alian stepped forward first to flaunt his presence.

“If you knew how much worry you’ve caused His Majesty, you’d grow up a bit. I thought I wouldn’t have to see you anymore after you got married and left the royal family, but…”

“You can’t even fulfill the role of a princess, yet you shamelessly waste the royal family’s wealth.”

“Brother Noyer.”

Leticia intervened awkwardly, stopping Noyer’s sneering.

With the eldest, Caland, distinguishing himself early on as the crown prince, the tension among the other siblings had dissipated.

Believing there was no need to gather power, Noyer acted as he pleased.

Even with the Imperial person behind me, they behaved as usual.

Duke Haiman recognized Liam.

“Aren’t you Lord Hall Rund from the Empire?”

“Ormia, how shameful.”

Noyer was excited to criticize me.

“You get divorced and immediately meet another man? Are you so crazy about men that you don’t know shame?”

“I wanted to treat my benefactor to tea, so I was escorting him.”

“What benefactor? Are you saying you’ve met before?”

“This person saved me at the Olan house along with the messenger. I’ve been too busy to properly thank him until now. Your information seems to be outdated.”

Having apparently heard about the situation, Noyer, unable to find fault, closed his mouth.

Unexpectedly, Liam, who was standing behind me, spoke up.

“You can thank me later. It must be hard for the princess with ignorant and twisted individuals trying to find fault unnecessarily. I understand.”

“Ugh, are you talking about me?”

“I mean we should be careful because there are always such ignorant people around.”

Liam smiled at the irritated Noyer.

Duke Haiman, who had been quietly observing, opened his mouth.

“Hall Rund? I’ve never heard of it, what’s your title?”

“I’m a viscount. I’m indebted to Grand Duke Wilboyer.”

When Liam boldly mentioned Wilboyer, a taboo word in Glishia, the expressions of the dukes and royals hardened.

“As you know, Grand Duke Wilboyer has a great interest in this matter. He sent me to assess the situation.”

I was also surprised, not expecting him to reveal it in this way. Who would dare to casually mention Wilboyer in Glishia?

“You mentioned Wilboyer on purpose. This Imperial guest is quite provocative.”

“I’m grateful that the Golden Hawk knights didn’t treat me as a guest at all.”

“Glishian knights have strong pride. If there was any rudeness, please forgive it with the Empire’s great generosity.”

Duke Haiman, quick to grasp the situation, tried to smooth things over, but Alian expressed his dissatisfaction.

“Duke Haiman, he’s from Wilboyer’s side.”

“But he’s still a guest, isn’t he? We should be generous.”

Duke Haiman.

The current king is the prince sponsored by the Haiman ducal family.

An ambitious man who, in my second life, committed treason with the dukes and ascended to the throne after learning of my blessing.

The one who imprisoned me in a cage and violated me with violence, but that was also in my second life. I disliked others more than Duke Haiman, who had directly imprisoned me.

When our eyes met, the snake-like Duke Bersi gave me a smile with his eyes.

“Princess, why don’t you join us?”

“Duke Bersi.”

The expression of the second prince Alian, who received support from Duke Bersi, hardened.

“Since you’ve returned to the royal family, you should mingle with us occasionally.”

“I have a prior engagement.”

“That’s unfortunate. Then I’ll look forward to next time.”

When I see Duke Bersi, my body automatically stiffens and my fists clench.

He’s like a snake.

When Duke Haiman, who had imprisoned me, was away, Duke Bersi would visit. He would subtly provoke me with words and easily open the tightly locked cage to enter.

“The one who plants the seed first is the victor, right?”

“We’ll know whose child it is when the baby is born, princess.”

Even after living three lives, it still gives me chills.

The second prince Alian, who had stepped in front of me, warned with a rumbling voice.

“Don’t get cocky just because we’re talking to you. Your days here are numbered. Don’t draw attention and stay quiet. It would be even better if you didn’t leave your room at all.”

I met his eyes filled with contempt. Not expecting me to raise my head, Alian’s eyes widened for a moment before contorting.

As Alian was rumbling his throat and frowning, Caland, who had appeared without notice, pushed Alian aside.

“You.”

Caland, who had maintained a cold expressionless face, glared at me.

“Ormia Beltoa, what have you done?”