“There’s no point resisting. You’re going to prison anyway!” barked the knight gripping Éloide’s wrist.
“Ugh, I told you, I’m not the person you’re looking for!” Éloide shrieked in an incredibly high-pitched voice. “Hey, you over there, don’t hurt my servant!”
Seeing Sophia’s wrist being squeezed so hard sent Éloide into a genuine fury.
“Because you talk too much!” their leader shouted, his voice no less shrill.
“I already told you, don’t accuse people without proof! You have no evidence that my servant and I are the people you’re looking for!”
“Shut up! Gag them!”
“Hey, don’t touch me… Hmph!”
Éloide’s chest heaved as she restrained the rage scorching her soul. A rough palm now clamped over both her mouth and Sophia’s.
From childhood until she neared her debutante years, she had never been allowed to leave Bellmont territory because of her frail health.
Her parents had kept her existence carefully hidden from the public, leaving most of the citizens and high nobles completely unfamiliar with her face.
All they knew was that the youngest daughter of the Duke’s family was gravely ill.
Her eyes narrowed sharply as she stared straight at Lucien, who stood not far away.
Lucien did not move from his spot, but the man made absolutely no effort to help her.
‘Bastard. That man is truly a bastard,’ she seethed.
Éloide bit down hard on her lower lip until it stung.
An imperial knight jogged over to Lucien, bowed respectfully, then cast a brief glance at Éloide.
“Forgive me for disturbing you, Your Highness, Grand Duke,” the knight said hesitantly. “That woman keeps claiming that you know her. Are you truly familiar with her background?”
Lucien stood straight with his chin raised.
His face was hard and expressionless, his gaze cold as ice. He looked at Éloide for a moment, then turned his back on her while raising one hand into the air.
“Not at all. I don’t know that woman,” Lucien replied firmly, his voice loud enough to carry.
The square fell silent at once, then erupted into a commotion as the townspeople began whispering and turning against her.
Éloide deliberately dropped the cloth bag in her arms onto the ground.
Every eye immediately turned to the contents scattered at her feet: piles of fresh herbs and pieces of dried bread.
Éloide bit the palm covering her mouth. The knight groaned in pain and instinctively released her, allowing her to speak at full volume.
“That’s what I was carrying! Are you blind? I only have herbs! My mother is the emperor’s trusted healer!” Éloide cried out mockingly, displaying none of the elegance expected of a highborn noblewoman.
Before the imperial knights could take matters any further, two knights in Bellmont family uniforms suddenly pushed through the crowd and planted themselves in front of Éloide.
“Lady Éloide, why are you here?” one of the Bellmont knights asked, looking bewildered.
At the sight of them, Éloide’s defiant expression instantly transformed into pitiful tears. She sobbed loudly, pretending to be frightened.
“You… Waaaaah, you’re here,” Éloide whimpered, rubbing her tear-filled eyes as her sobs grew even louder. “They touched me without my permission. Sniff… I’m scared.”
“Lady, don’t be afraid. We’re here,” one of them said gently, then turned a fierce glare on the imperial knights.
“She is Lady Bellmont, the youngest daughter of Duke Bellmont! What are you trying to do?”
Lucien’s steps, which had begun to carry him away, suddenly stopped. The burst of sobbing had disturbed him.
The man glanced sharply over his shoulder, catching the flash of anger in Éloide’s wet eyes—an expression that seemed to openly declare the hostility between them.
The imperial knight holding Éloide immediately released her and bowed frantically. Their faces went deathly pale.
“In that case, we beg your forgiveness, Lady Bellmont! This is entirely our mistake. We were patrolling because we received word that illegal substances were being traded in the slums,” the knight explained in a trembling voice.
“And you happened to be there. We sincerely apologize,” he added, his face strained with fear.
Éloide rubbed her reddened wrist, then wiped her tear-streaked cheek while breathing hard.
“Next time, don’t go arresting people without proof!” Éloide scolded sharply. “Have you forgotten? I can drag both of you before the emperor this very second!”
The surrounding townspeople began whispering again. This time, however, their whispers were filled with admiration as they realized the extraordinary beauty of the noble daughter who had remained hidden all these years.
“Here is your bag, Lady. Once again, we sincerely apologize,” the knight said as he handed back the herbs he had gathered from the ground.
Éloide snatched the bag without thanking him.
After the imperial knights left with frightened bows, Éloide turned toward the two towering Bellmont knights.
“How did you end up in this square? Aren’t you supposed to be escorting my brother?” Éloide asked in surprise.
“That’s correct, Lady. The Young Duke is with Duke Victor in the parade procession,” the knight replied politely. “We won’t be here long. We only came because of the invitation.”
Éloide’s eyes widened in shock. “What? Father and my brother are here too?”