Chapter 16
“Why would a tutor go to meet Princess Sienna?”
It had been years since Sienna last visited the Bohanan Count’s estate—aside from the time they finalized the engagement. Regardless of whether her relationship with Daniel was good or bad, she was still his fiancée and the empire’s First Princess.
And yet, a tutor who had only recently arrived at the estate stepped forward to receive her?
Buttoning his shirt carefully, Daniel twisted his lips.
I should reprimand the head maid. This was a guest she should have personally attended to.
As he recalled the moment, Daniel tilted his head. Sienna had suddenly thrown a teapot at the tutor she had just met, and Count Bohanan himself had pressed a cold towel to the tutor’s face while flying into a rage.
—“Thank goodness the water was only lukewarm! That beautiful face could have been scarred!”
The servants had reportedly been quite shocked. After all, this was a man who barely reacted even when his son fell off a horse.
But to Daniel, something about that statement felt off.
Tea water is usually boiled and then cooled…
Lukewarm? Didn’t that mean they hadn’t intended to properly serve their guest?
Or else—
Did he know she would throw it?
Daniel shook his head. The two had met for the first time. Predicting that the princess would throw water beforehand? That was too much of a stretch.
He calmly pulled on his gloves. The tutor’s behavior had been odd, but Sienna’s act of throwing water at her was certainly worthy of criticism.
Normally, he would have been disgusted by such behavior. But as he thought of her, the corners of his lips softened.
Was she… jealous?
That was the conclusion he reached. She had said she would confirm with her own eyes whether he was hiding a mistress—and the moment she arrived, she threw water at the tutor.
Daniel tapped his desk lightly with his fingers.
What a strange woman. When did she ever act so indifferent?
The strangest part was that he didn’t feel particularly bad about it.
Just as Daniel sat there, unable to understand his own feelings, only frowning to himself—
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
He hadn’t even granted permission, yet the door opened, and a woman walked in with light, graceful steps.
Her beauty seemed to brighten the room. Her hair, shimmering like molten gold, fell in soft strands, and her blue eyes resembled a tranquil lake.
Daniel frowned.
“What is it?”
“It’s Beth, young master.”
The tutor who had been hired not long ago.
Her thick braid draped over her shoulder, covered only by a shawl. Beneath it, she was clearly wearing a light nightdress.
Why is she dressed like this, at this hour…
Ignoring his discomfort, Beth placed the tray she was carrying on his desk with a calm smile.
“You seemed unable to sleep. This is chamomile tea—it helps with rest.”
“That is not the duty of a tutor.”
As if she hadn’t heard him, she poured the tea. The well-steeped chamomile released a soft stream of steam.
The warmth drew Daniel’s gaze. A strange sense of unease gnawed at him, like a rat nibbling at his nerves.
A faint headache crept in, and he turned his head sharply, speaking in a cold voice.
“You were hired to tutor my younger sibling. Focus on that. Do not concern yourself with me.”
It was harsh enough to wound, but she did not respond.
Why isn’t she saying anything?
Daniel turned back with a puzzled look—then froze.
Beth stood rigid, like someone who had something to say but could not speak.
That, too, gave him an unsettling feeling. It was as if insects were crawling over his skin. He quickly turned away again.
The longer he faced her, the more inexplicably uncomfortable she made him feel. She was clearly beautiful and seemed gentle, yet—
With finality, he spoke coldly, as if telling her never to come again.
“And I am not unable to sleep. I have night duty at the palace today. I was preparing to leave. This happens often, so do not concern yourself in the future either.”
“…Have a safe trip.”
Beth replied as though she hadn’t heard a word he said.
“I will be waiting.”
“What? Why would you—!”
Daniel flared up and turned toward her—
But seeing her pale, almost doll-like face, he simply grabbed his jacket and strode past her, leaving the room.
Everything is so strange.
No matter how he tried to understand it, nothing made sense. The beautiful woman who had suddenly come to stay at his home, and his fiancée who acted rudely yet showed jealousy.
Once he left the house, perhaps this discomfort would fade.
Thinking that, Daniel headed to the imperial palace earlier than usual for night patrol duty.
His subordinates greeted him respectfully.
“You’ve arrived, Sir Daniel.”
“Anything unusual?”
There shouldn’t be. That’s why he asked casually.
But the subordinate’s reaction was oddly hesitant.
“Well… if you could call it something…”
“What happened?”
Loosening his collar slightly, Daniel frowned at him.
The man replied awkwardly,
“The captain summarily executed those who committed lèse-majesté.”
The captain of the Imperial Knights was Duke Percy Stewart.
But his name being mentioned now felt strange—because he had been the chief officer on duty the previous night.
Daniel tilted his head.
“The captain? He should have left the palace this morning.”
“That’s what we thought as well.”
It was unexpected, but not entirely strange. Lèse-majesté was a grave crime, and Percy had the authority to carry out summary executions.
Not every knight in the palace held that power.
Running a hand through his hair, Daniel said,
“To commit lèse-majesté right in front of the captain… some people are still quite bold. Which royal were they involved with?”
“Princess Sienna Riata.”
—He froze.
That was not something he could just brush past.
Sienna Riata.
A name he had been hearing far too often lately.
She was the victim of lèse-majesté? She’s not the type to endure something like that quietly…
To Daniel, Sienna had always been a vicious woman—one who tormented powerless maids and treated their lives as nothing.
But perhaps because so many strange things had been happening lately, a thought crossed his mind.
What if she had been enduring such insults all along? What if she couldn’t resolve it herself, and that’s why she lashed out?
If so, that would paint a completely different picture of her.
Ridiculous.
He shook his head.
There was no way she was that innocent.
Something must be wrong with his head lately.
It wasn’t because he was interested in her. As the officer responsible for today’s security, this was simply something he needed to know.
Convincing himself of that, Daniel asked in a composed voice,
“What kind of lèse-majesté?”
“I—I don’t know. The captain judged them on the spot…”
“Wasn’t there a follow-up statement from the victim?”
“Well, about that…”
Realizing only then that Daniel was Sienna’s fiancé, the subordinate fumbled nervously before answering.
“The captain escorted Her Highness out of the palace under the pretext of victim protection.”
“….”
Daniel pressed his lips tightly together.
An indescribable emotion surged within him, his fists clenching on their own.
But he could not understand what that feeling was.
After days full of upheaval, it had been three days since I awoke in this world.
I had 97 days left.
Finally, for the first time, I was being served a proper breakfast.
Wow… Eggs Benedict.
I poked the plump yolk with my fork, and it wobbled like jelly.
Just as I gripped my knife and fork, ready to dig in—
Julius, seated beside me, elegantly sipped his tea and smiled warmly at Percy.
“You were a bit hasty yesterday, Duke. No matter how angered you were by injustice, taking an unmarried princess to the Stewart Duchy… Fortunately, I followed quickly. Otherwise, rumors would have spread.”
My good mood from the delicious breakfast dropped instantly.
What is this guy even saying?
He wouldn’t care if I got dragged away in the middle of the night or if rumors spread—so why was he pretending to be some kind older brother now?
Ah, seriously… he makes people worse.
I was normally a very timid person, but he was making my fists clench on their own.
No wonder Sienna became a villainess.
As I trembled with irritation, Percy spoke calmly,
“That was unnecessary.”
Yes! Exactly what I wanted to say!
But before I could celebrate, Percy added something completely unexpected.
“Princess Sienna and I are to be married anyway. It wouldn’t be a scandal—just news spreading a little earlier.”
“Pfft!”
Julius spat out his tea inelegantly and frowned.
“…Are you serious, Duke?”
“I am.”
At Percy’s calm answer, Julius turned to me in shock.
I lifted my chin proudly.
What? Is it so funny that I got proposed to?
