Chapter 63: Gloomy Breakfast (2)
(It's the smell of arrogant people...)
As soon as I heard his voice, I knew he was the annoying type. I slowly raised my head.
The speaker was a knight sitting at the next table.
Catherine answered before me:
“Yes, what's the matter?”
At the same moment, she had quickly hidden the napkin full of food under the table. (In her previous life, was she a pickpocket? A question that comes to me every time.)
The knight laughed maliciously and said to his companion while looking at us out of the corner of his eyes:
“Even a petty prince is still a prince, right?” Here he is with two women! It seems that he has been addicted to pleasures since his childhood.”
His companion laughed and said:
“Enough, we're eating.”
Catherine muttered angrily:
“Disgusting faces and even disgusting words...”
“Catherine…” I warned her in a low tone.
But she didn't back down. The knight stood angrily:
“What did you say?” Repeat your words!
She leaned over with a fake smile and said:
“Oof!” I was just talking to myself. Sorry!"
He growled:
“Don't evade!” You called us disgusting, didn't you?
She answered lightly:
“I said sorry!” Have you kept a small word in your chest all this time? What a narrow-chested man!
His face turned red and he raised his hand to hit her while shouting:
“The servant is like his master... and your master too...”
She interrupted him coldly:
“This applies to you as well.”
He turned to me angrily:
“And who are you to interfere?”
I pointed the fork to his raised hand and said:
“If you are a true knight, do not defile your hand by striking a woman. That is a stain on your master’s face before he is on you.”
He got angry and said:
“Are you teaching me a lesson?” Do you know who I am?
I said coldly:
“Why should I know?” Even if I knew, my words would not change.”
He shouted:
“I am the second prince’s guard!” As servants of the Third Prince’s Palace, you don’t even have the right to raise your heads before me!”
(So he's a replacement for the one whose arm was amputated. He doesn't seem to know how his predecessor ended up like that.)
I turned to Catherine and said:
“Have you finished eating?”
“Yes.”
“Then let us go out. The prince will come soon.”
I stood deliberately ignoring him, and Katherine followed me. The knight shouted:
“Stop!”
He grabbed my shoulders to turn me towards him.
...Boom! slap!
I hit his chest, then slapped him hard in the face.
He gasped and fell to the ground groaning.
His companion jumped up angrily:
“How dare you! You have struck the Second Prince Knight!”
I said out loud so everyone could hear:
“Is this the honor of knights?” A knight extends his hand to a strange woman without permission? Is this what imperial chivalry has become?
All eyes turned towards us, and the servants and courtiers began to whisper contemptuously.
His companion was confused and said terrified:
“We...were offended!” We apologize! Then he picked up his friend and hurried out.
There was silence for a moment, then the noise returned to the hall.
Catherine approached anxiously:
“Has something happened to you?”
I said, shrugging my shoulders:
“Fine.”
(Annoying... when will these knights stop these obnoxious habits?)
She said enthusiastically:
“Teach me that move!” Push the hand and then the slap! I want to master it!”
I answered sternly:
“If you had not provoked them with your words, this would not have happened.”
“But they insulted the prince!” “I had to respond.”
“Next time, control yourself.” “We don’t want new scandals.”
She smiled wickedly:
“But you are not calmer than me.”
As we left the hall, I heard the maids excitedly sharing the news. Only a few hours later, it spread throughout the palace: “The second prince’s knight tried to assault a maid of honor, and he ended up exposed and humiliated in front of everyone.”
At the end of breakfast, a servant came in quickly:
“My lord!” It's urgent!
He approached the Emperor and whispered in his ear, and his features hardened.
He said as he got up:
“Unfortunately, we will end the meeting here. The monsters have appeared again, and a council of nobles must be held immediately.”
The Empress asked him anxiously:
“Am I having a big conversation?”
He answered her:
“Don't worry.” “It appears frequently.”
Everyone rose at the Emperor's command, and thus the busy breakfast ended.
In the Third Prince's Palace, Catherine was pacing back and forth anxiously:
“Suddenly a fishing competition?!” What a misfortune! His Highness does not know archery or horse riding!”
I said:
“If it is the Emperor’s orders, he cannot fall behind.”
I sighed deeply:
“Oh my God...it will be a disaster.” We will lose at least a third of the palace budget!”
I raised my eyebrows:
“Isn't it just a fishing trip?”
She answered nervously as she handed me a fork instead of my hand:
“It is a display of wealth and status!” Nobles showed off their horses, their costumes, and even their hunting. And the prince... has none of that.”
I said coldly:
“Ridiculousness.” “It is not a parade ground.”
“Indeed, it is!” What's worse is that he doesn't even have a suitable horse!
I said:
“We'll borrow one, then.”
I shouted:
“Impossible!” They would laugh if the prince rode a borrowed horse. He must be a worthy thoroughbred horse!”
She walked into the room, her face pale, almost tearing up with worry.
I held her hands and said firmly:
“Calm down.” The horse commanded me. "I will find the solution."