My nails dug deep into my palms, but I was so fumed that I didn’t feel any pain.
And Damian…
“The order, I’ll accept it.”
….he said so with a silent bow.
I felt my whole world just come crashing down. Everything seemed like a blur.
Damian, what did you just say?
Going to such a desolate place, have you lost your marbles?!
When I came to, I suddenly found myself in front of Damian.
“T-That can’t be!”
“Lize?!”
Damian looked at me in complete amazement.
But I couldn’t afford to answer him right now.
I immediately dropped to my knees, lowering my head till my forehead touched the floor.
“Please reconsider, his Highness, the crown prince is just thirteen years old,” I implored the official sent.
I bowed my head again and again in desperation.
A stunned Damian watched in utter confusion but I didn’t raise my head.
“How can the crown prince, someone so young, survive in such an unforgiving place?”
I gasped for breath.
Oh no, I can’t do it. Not like this.
I need to talk as clearly as possible.
The official sent won’t take me seriously if I cry here…
To hold back the tears, I bit my lips till they bled.
But even that couldn’t stop my tears from flowing freely.
“Lize, stop it.”
“But!” I exclaimed with a crumpled expression.
When I raised my voice, Damian shook his head in response.
Damian wrapped his outstretched arm around me.
“Would you kindly turn a blind eye towards the disrespect shown by this child?”
Damian looked up at the man with an intense gaze.
The hand wrapped around my shoulder strengthened its grip.
“She’s still young. Aside from that, she’s the child whom Her Majesty, the Empress greatly cherishes.”
“Nonetheless, to show such impudence against the Emperor’s wishes…” stated the official.
“You can’t punish this child over such trifles. Any attempt to do so and you would be going against her Majesty’s wishes. Are you prepared to be on bad terms with Her Majesty?”
The official alternated between Damian’s and Charlize’s faces with a look that was lost for words.
Damian spoke calmly.
“If her Majesty, the Empress finds offense, you’ll certainly have offended the Duke of Rochester too.”
“…erm.”
When the Empress’s brother was mentioned, the official seemed to back down.