Chapter 1.2: Betrayal, Fights, Obsession, Affection, and A Meaningless Promise
Ariadne thought she heard the sound of her patience cut off. At that moment, she jumped over her table like a beast and snatched the countess’ hair.
“Take back!”
Ariadne grabbed and shook the countess’ hair and made a low guttural sound like an animal.
“You know nothing! And no proof!”
There must have been a way to fight with the capital’s worn-out ladies and win the fight. However, the young Ariadne, who was in her early twenties, did not have adequate education, and grew up mixed with maids on a rural farm, did not know-how. Nevertheless, she had to do anything. It was unbearable for her to watch her beloved Caesar be reduced to a joke by such pretentious garbage.
“That loose mouth made fun of Caesar, take back!”
“Ahhhh!”
The countess screamed with disheveled hair, and dessert trays and snacks flew in the air. The ladies who were chatting with themselves hardened like ice as they looked at the scene. They became quiet like the plants in the greenhouse. Ariadne screamed, shaking the countess’ head with her hands.
“Is that all you have to say? Correct what you say and apologize!”
“OH MY GOD! Uneducated!”
Except for both parties who were directly involved in mud-fling, an icy silence dominated the parlor. The situation was unprecedented. The ladies were in a flurry, and they were in the middle of high society gathering in the royal palace, so they could not even dare to stop the fight.
At that moment, all of a sudden, the sound of men’s heavy boots rang across the room.
-thump! Thump!
The royal guard entered the parlor with restrained movements and stopped. Behind them, an exceptionally handsome man dressed in a ceremonial suit came in and stopped. He was slender compared to his tall height, and his slow gesture gave off a colorful feeling. He was a great handsome man who would naturally attract attention even if he was among 10.000 people. He was Caesar.
“Caesar!”
A smile spread on Ariadne’s face. She felt as if thousands of troops appeared.
‘You came to save me in this situation.’
It was the perfect timing. The perfect prince dedicated to her came from heaven to scold the enemy for slandering his woman. He and she would give severe punishment to the wicked women who dare to ignore both of them.
Ariadne let go of the hair of the countess she was holding, got up like a squirrel, and stood behind Caesar.
“They….!”
“What’s going on right now?”
Caesar looked back at Ariadne while swiping his reddish-brown hair back. It was a lovely and drowsy voice. But.. his mouth was icy, and he had no affection in his eyes. It was like he was sick and tired of something.
“Ariadne, tell me. What the hell is this fuss about?”
“Well, they are.. About you..”
“Oh my gosh. Countess Marquez!”
He didn’t seem to want to talk to Ariadne. The fallen countess was a perfect excuse not to speak to her. He didn’t hide his surprise, and in a hurry, he held out his hand affectionately.
“Countess, please hold my hand for helping you to get up.”
Even the countess herself, who had her hair grabbed, didn’t know the Lord Regent would stand by her side. However, she would not miss the chance to roll in, and her pride hit the sky.
“Unlike her, the Regent-gong’s manners were taught in the royal family.”
The countess, who got up from her seat, patted her hair and brushed off the part of her dress that Ariadne had touched. Then she stared straight at Ariadne and snorted.
“Huh!”
The other capital aristocrats flocked around the Countess and asked her how she was.
“Countess marquez, are you okay?”
“You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“Regent-gong’s fiance really crossed the line!”
Ariadne wanted to say, ‘who crossed the line?!’, but seeing the annoyance in Caesar’s face and his angered eyes that were about to pop out, she bit her tongue.
“What are you doing to the capital aristocrats!”
Caesar clenched his teeth and felt irritated seeing Ariadne.
“Don’t you know we need a base of support? Laid a hand on the people of Count Marquez. Are you out of mind?”
‘Just because you are submissive to people who are mean to me, doesn’t mean those people would be my friend, Caesar.’
Ariadne wanted to answer with that, but she was intimidated by Caesar’s intense expression so that she couldn’t get her words out of her mouth. If she were to answer the comments, he must have been gone wild.
Ariadne never wanted to fight Caesar in front of the noble ladies of the capital. No, she didn’t want to show anyone how Caesar treated her. However, he trampled on her hopes brutally.
“Compared to you, that lady is more helpful to me.”
Caesar’s low-pitched voice echoed through the noise in the parlor.