The emperor rose from his seat without caution, stepping on a broken teacup shard, causing him to slip.
He realized it only a beat too late, so lost was he in his thoughts.
This is really the worst.
Not only being ridiculed for getting involved in Walter and Lise’s love affair but even failing to flee properly after breaking the teacup, falling right over.
Odette involuntarily squeezed her eyes shut.
But no matter how long she waited, she didn’t feel the cold floor.
Instead, a deep warmth enveloped her body.
Someone had caught her from behind.
“Get a hold of yourself.”
A soft whisper sounded in her ear.
Proudly, or perhaps tenderly.
“You wouldn’t want to look a mess in front of the worst kind of man, would you?”
Even without opening her eyes, she knew who it was, with his cold voice contrasted by a warm embrace.
‘Walter… Duke Ertman.’
She didn’t notice it in her confusion, but recalling the moment, a vague memory remained of Walter rising from his seat as soon as the teacup broke.
‘While he likes Lise…’
Why is he doing this to me?
Pity? Or chivalry?
Either way, I don’t like it.
As her thoughts turned to him, the comforting warmth felt awkward, and Odette pushed Walter away.
Or, she tried to.
“Ugh…!”
She felt a terrible pain in her ankle and wobbled again.
Apparently, she had sprained it slightly when she fell.
Walter seemed to have noticed it too, for he sighed lightly and picked up Odette.
“……!”
“It seems Her Highness the Princess has hurt her foot. I am to blame for not supporting her properly, so I will take her to the palace myself. Your Majesty, please forgive me for leaving first.”
It was as though those words were Walter’s last ounce of patience, for he left the tea party without waiting for Katarina’s answer.
And so, the tea party was left to Katarina, Lise, and others.
The previously quiet murmurs now grew louder.
“Duke Ertman carrying the 4th Princess out himself…”
“Now we can’t be sure he has his heart set on the 3rd Princess, can we?”
“Remember, Duke Ertman did admit to having a secret meeting with the 4th Princess.”
“Indeed, the 4th Princess is quite a beauty…”
If Lise was like a brilliant flower, Odette was a graceful swan.
That the 4th Princess, usually so secluded, was surprisingly beautiful and held herself with a dignity befitting the royal family, won the people’s favor.
Moreover, the moment when Walter caught the falling Odette from behind.
They looked as if they were lovers, fitting each other so well.
It was a scene that people hungry for gossip would relish.
The assurance that Walter was interested in Lise shifted quickly toward Odette.
The whispers about the ‘4th Princess’ made Lise’s face involuntarily turn red with anger.
She was upset not just because the trend had shifted to her advantage, but because the rival was Odette.
‘Odette, that abominable creature…!’
Most people didn’t see it, but Lise had witnessed Odette drop the teacup.
That slow, awkward motion.
‘She must have done it on purpose. Duke Ertman is clearly interested in me, so that wench must be wagging her tail at him again!!’
Odette’s behavior was one thing, but Walter’s act of scooping her up and walking out was also bitter.
No matter how good his manners, shouldn’t he have stopped at a certain point? To go as far as carrying Odette out?
Especially since Lise firmly believed Walter’s radical confession was aimed at her and was in high spirits about it, this made her even more irritated.
Lise snapped at Katarina, who she hoped would be on her side.
“Mother! You saw it too! Odette is wagging her tail like that without knowing her place, do we have to leave her alone?”
“Then, shall we follow Duke Ertman and perhaps slap him on the cheek?”
“Mother!”
“Be quiet! Do not act so shamefully.”
But Katarina’s reaction was unusually cold.
Katarina, she was the only person in this place who knew the truth.
Walter had come to Katarina to meet Odette, but Katarina had been pushing Lizeina to Walter with various excuses instead of Odette.
At that time, the thought was to draw in Ertman’s name and manipulate public opinion.
[Dash] As you know, unauthorized relationships tend to cause unintended accidents.The moment those words were spoken, Walter’s gaze turned to Katarina.
Unauthorized relationship. Unintended accident.
She was not unaware that it was an overt attack on Katarina herself.
‘Thanks to this, the situation has become annoying.’
Katarina’s brow slightly furrowed.
From the beginning, she had thought of Walter as something to use and discard, a mere pawn.
She planned to manipulate public opinion with Lizeina, and if the emperor showed displeasure, she would take the opportunity to back off.
‘But now, I can’t back off.’
In a word, he had solidified a confrontation between the 3rd princess and the 4th princess.
Even the emperor couldn’t interfere carelessly.
If it were known that Walter had his heart set on the 4th princess.
‘It wouldn’t just be a disgrace.’
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.
