QOF 07

chapter 07

A man upright and steadfast enough to bow in greeting even to a sinner who had threatened his lord’s position.

She chose him because she believed that someone with such convictions would at least not violate her or attempt to assassinate her outright.

Moreover, the Black Eagle Knights were a royal unit composed only of the kingdom’s finest knights.

The current commander was nearing retirement, so within a few years, the man before her was expected to take that position.

In other words, Lucian was the greatest knight in Elovis—a man destined to wield immense authority and responsibility, overseeing the entire royal guard in the future.

On top of that, his quiet, unwavering loyalty had earned him widespread praise as the model of a true knight.

“I know you may not like it, but I look forward to working with you, Sir.”

“Yes, Princess.”

When Ioret extended her hand, Lucian obediently kissed the back of it.

However, there was not the slightest trace of goodwill in his eyes as he looked at her.

But then again, there was no one in this royal castle who held any affection for Ioret. The reality stung, though it was nothing new.

Ioret returned to her quarters with Lucian.

He seemed somewhat surprised at the dim interior of the tower. There was only a single servant—a steward.

“Do you not have any maids?”

“I did. Not anymore. She was dismissed today.”

It wasn’t as trivial as she made it sound.

Even a glance from outside the door made it obvious—her bedroom was far from what one would expect for a princess.

Gloomy stone walls, old furniture, and a cold floor that seeped chill into the bones. Even the fireplace was unlit. It was a small room without even a proper separation between the living space and the bedroom.

The only thing remotely presentable was a single ornate wedding dress hanging in the corner. Even that looked absurdly out of place in such a shabby room.

“Your room is downstairs. Bring whatever you need to live here yourself. I’m sorry, but there are no attendants here to serve you.”

Then what exactly is here?

Lucian was dumbfounded.

“Then… who attends to Your Highness?”

Ioret, who had already walked into the bedroom, stared at him.

Lucian was even more flustered by her gaze.

Who… don’t tell me—me?

She answered calmly.

“I told you. The only one who did that was dismissed today.”

“The only one? Are you saying you don’t employ any other servants?”

“Mm. You can just light the fireplace and heat bathwater. I’ll take care of the rest.”

“…A guard knight freely entering the princess’s chambers could lead to misunderstandings.”

Lucian’s tone stiffened.

Unbeknownst to Ioret, rumors had been circulating among the palace staff since last year—that she engaged in immoral acts within the tower.

The most widely believed explanation for her sudden broken engagement with Duke Valère, and the crown princess arranging her marriage to the nearly elderly Count Castelaine, was her supposed misconduct.

Even her own mother, Queen Charlotte, had been expelled over a scandal with a guard knight. Because of that, no knight in the castle wanted to be entangled with Princess Ioret.

“There’s no one to spread rumors, so it doesn’t matter. The steward barges in whenever he pleases anyway. And Benedict always…”

Ioret trailed off mid-sentence as an unnecessary memory surfaced.

An awkward silence followed. It wasn’t in her favor.

Lucian’s tone turned sharper.

“Indulging Your Highness’s personal curiosities is not part of my duties. I have no intention of tarnishing your dignity—or lowering the honor of the knight order. If you insist, I will request servants from the main palace.”

“Personal curiosity? What, do you think I’ll drag you into my bed?”

Lucian answered by not answering.

Ioret let out a hollow laugh.

Ah, Catherine.

‘That damned woman…’

She steals someone else’s fiancé, yet spreads such slander about me?

It was obvious that every noble entering the palace had heard these rumors—only the king remained unaware. Her insides boiled with anger.

“Sir, how old are you?”

“Twenty-five.”

“I’m eighteen. I haven’t even had my birthday yet.”

“…Pardon?”

“Are you so depraved that you see an underage princess as a woman?”

For once, Lucian was speechless. The princess was looking at him as if he were trash on the street.

“Believe it or not, I have no desire to be involved in anything vulgar with anyone.”

“Vulgar…?”

“And if I had done something indecent in a place this cold and cramped, would it really have been by my own will? I can’t even bring in a servant without my sister’s permission. If anything happened, it would be something done to me.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that…?”

“Sir Perein, are you the same kind of deviant as those perverts? Did I choose the wrong person?”

Pervert… deviant—

Lucian couldn’t answer immediately.

Born into a noble family and raised as an elite knight, he had never been treated—or even heard of such things—like this before. His mind spun.

More importantly… “done to me”? What could that mean? Could it be…?

As Lucian hesitated, the princess brushed past him and strode out into the corridor. There was no time to stop her.

“Fine. I’ll go to the main palace right now and request Father to replace my guard. I’ll tell him Sir Perein is nothing like his reputation—rather, he’s quite lowly—”

“I—!”

Lucian urgently cut her off.

The moment he spoke, he realized he had been baited. But it was too late.

“I… spoke out of turn. Please forgive me. I will accept any punishment.”

The princess stood still for a moment without replying.

What thoughts were running through that small head, Lucian couldn’t guess.

Before long, Ioret slumped her shoulders and muttered gloomily,

“Then just light the fireplace. I won’t ask for anything more.”

“Yes. I’ll prepare the bathwater as well.”

“…Alright. Thank you.”

Returning to the room, Ioret sank into a worn armchair. The flattened cushions nearly swallowed her whole.

Lucian couldn’t take his eyes off her weary figure.

‘She’s eighteen…’

A bitter feeling lingered in his mouth.

He realized he had said things he never should have to a girl not yet of age.

By nature, he was righteous—too soft toward the weak. It was both his strength and his flaw.

After hesitating for a while, Lucian finally stepped past the threshold.

There weren’t many duties for Lucian as the princess’s guard.

At sunrise, he would knock on her bedroom door, enter, check the fireplace, and quietly leave.

The fire must have gone out at least once during the night—perhaps the princess relit it herself. If the maids in the main palace saw this, they would faint in shock.

Except for meals in the dining room below the tower, Princess Ioret spent most of her time in her room. During that time, Lucian stood guard outside.

“You don’t have to go to such trouble, Vice-Captain. That princess has nothing to do and nothing she can do anyway. She doesn’t say a word all day.”

The steward yawned widely, glancing toward the bedroom door. His habit of lurking around it was irritating.

“Do you have business with Her Highness? I can relay it.”

“Ah, nothing much. I was just thinking of bringing her some snacks. Duke Valère used to bring her refreshments, but ever since the engagement broke off, he hasn’t come by.”

“I’ll take them in. Please prepare them.”

“Oh come now, I’ll report to the crown princess. Why don’t you get some fresh air for a bit—”

It seemed the steward was also one of the crown princess’s people.

When Lucian refused to budge, the steward clicked his tongue and left down the stairs.

Watching him go, Lucian fell into thought.

‘So aside from Duke Valère, no one comes here. And even he hasn’t visited in a long time. Then why are there rumors about the princess being promiscuous? Unless someone is spreading them deliberately…’

Just before Lucian came to the tower, Crown Princess Catherine had summoned him and given him an order:

“While guarding Ioret, observe her every move carefully. Watch whether she does anything suspicious, tries to meet someone, or writes letters to anyone. Report everything to me the moment your duty ends.”

He had thought it was to protect her beloved younger sister’s reputation.

But from the start, everything that happened in this tower had been allowed—or overlooked—by the crown princess.

The princess had said that everything here was something done to her.

Then could it be… something that never should have happened?

If she had been violated—or at least lived under such danger—

Had the crown princess truly ignored it all this time?

A blasphemous suspicion rose in his mind.

Lucian clenched his jaw tightly.

He needed to observe the situation closely for a week.

At the very least, while he was her guard, he would not allow anything disgraceful to happen.

Absolutely not.