Chapter 168: Baton Pass
After everything was sorted out and I confirmed that Eunice was in another safe carriage, I climbed into my own. Sigren, who was in the same carriage with me, pressed a cold towel against my swollen cheek. Beside him, Abel nagged at me with his arms crossed. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen a child kidnapped after giving a warning that she would be kidnapped.”
I made an excuse. “Honestly, rather than just being kidnapped…—ouch!”
I could feel Sigren’s frustration in the grip of his hand.
Abel furrowed his brows, not buying my excuse. “Fiona, reckless things should be done in moderation. This was truly risky. What would you have done if something went wrong and you crossed the border?”
“That level of risk was worth taking—ouch!”
Abel lightly flicked my forehead.
“Still, wouldn’t the best thing to say to me be that you did well?” Of course, I still had a lot to say. “It worked out well, so it’s fine.”
Throughout this whole time, Sigren remained silent and tended to my wound without nagging, which actually bothered me more than if he had scolded me. Now he started to apply ointment to my cheek. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
And Abel continued to nag. “No matter what, you should cherish your body the most.”
Oh, very protective.
“You’re really not reflecting at all, are you? Sigren, you should also say something this time.”
“I’ll collect them later,” Sigren replied calmly.
Wait, that was scarier.
It was clear that both of them were angry at my unexpected behavior, so I smiled as cutely as possible to prevent any negative consequences.
“But it’s good that my father and my handsome boyfriend came to rescue me. I’m relieved.”
Abel clicked his tongue in shock. “This little pebble, it must be nice to have the two of us in your arms, isn’t it?”
“Hehe.”
I couldn’t help it if it was important. Abel pinched my nose lightly. “Now I’m confused about whether she’s a fox or a bear.” [1] A fox represents a cunning person, while a bear signifies a warm person.
Sigren showed genuine sympathy with Abel’s opinion—a very rare sight. “I get confused sometimes, too.”
Everyone thought too highly of me, but I wouldn’t bother with what they thought. As long as they understood my feelings through my words and actions, that was all that mattered. It worked out well; a good result is always a positive thing. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
When news broke about Eunice and me being kidnapped, society turned upside down. There was even talk of the empress’s abdication. This uproar seemed to stem from the strong protests of Heilon and the Temple. However, because she still held considerable power, a complete dethronement did not occur. Instead, it was decided that she would be confined in a castle in the countryside. It was akin to exile in the Joseon dynasty.
In any case, she wouldn’t be able to exert any influence in society. The Kingdom of Ranulf sent an apology, emphasizing that this was an arbitrary act by their envoy. It was like cutting off one’s tail. Perhaps as a result, the envoy received a harsh punishment to serve as an example.
“Well, this is a good deal,” I remarked.
At this, Abel and Sigren exchanged looks as if they had given up trying to understand my thought process. They knew I had been kidnapped on purpose, and now they could see that I understood the outcome as well.
Fortunately, this incident seemed to have put an end to the talks of Sigren’s marriage. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“What about the Crown Prince?”
“We’ve investigated and found that he had nothing to do with this incident.”
“It’s a pity.”
Unfortunately, there was no direct impact on the Crown Prince. Still, he must have lost quite a bit of support, so he was likely on edge.
“Still, the advantage has shifted to our side.”
Unlike the Crown Prince, who was losing popularity and gradually losing support, Sigren’s reputation was improving day by day. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“You look like you’re in a good mood, Fiona.”
I nodded at Abel’s words. “Of course.”
“I thought you would deal with the empress so you could dig up some dirt from her garden?”
What nonsense!
“Why should I?”
Abel grinned. “Aha, from your reaction, I guess you didn’t think of it.”
When Abel reacted like this, there was usually a hidden meaning. When I squinted my eyes, he shook his head.
“It’s not a big deal. Forget it; erase it neatly from your mind.”
“What’s the matter?”
Abel smiled like a boy and murmured, “Poor kid….”
I didn’t think those words were directed at me, and I had no idea who he felt sorry for. I wanted to ask more, but I had to put that thought aside since I had a lot of work waiting for me.
As I got out of the room, I almost bumped into Carl as he walked down the hallway. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Are you okay, Miss?”
“I’m good.”
I looked at his androgynous face. Now that I thought about it, he didn’t have to avoid the empress’s gaze.
“Carl, is there something you want to do?”
“Do something?”
“Yes, you can walk around freely now.”
Carl wore an ambiguous expression. “Well….”
“I’m not urging you. You can stay here and think slowly.” It felt like a friend my age was staying in my house, so having him in the mansion wasn’t bad at all. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
Carl looked at me as if I were a strange creature. “Miss, you’re a good girl.”
“It’s normal.”
“No way! Considering how bad my first impression of you was, you’re a good girl, Miss.”
I was completely deceived by him.
“Now I understand the Prince’s infatuation with you, Miss, and why he was keeping it a secret.”
Was that a good thing? This was a confusing assessment.
Before I could respond, Carl bowed his head politely. “Thank you for your consideration. I’ll think about it for a moment.”
“Uh, okay.” I glanced at Carl as he walked away.
He was always polite—so polite that I never saw him show his true feelings. Even though we had lived together in this mansion for some time, it was quite difficult to understand his inner thoughts. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
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