A sigh from Killian's lips came out that he did not want to believe the situation in front of him. "You're going to throw Julietta away again after all."

"No! No! Your Highness, I'm not going to abandon Julietta. I can't just leave Christine like this..."

Robert had heard about Christine as soon as he got back from Vicern. His daughter was confined in the mansion and would be lucky to be exiled, but most people were talking of her execution.

The Duke of Dudley had also been confined in his mansion, under arrest for indecent crimes, so there was no one to rescue Christine.

So Robert went to Francis because there was no one to lean on, but the prince's reaction was cold. He just said that he could not help it unless the accuser forgave her.

Robert knew that Julietta would be hurt, but he couldn't help visiting Killian.

"Return, the Marquis. I don't think we'll see each other in the future."

Robert was embarra.s.sed; he had prepared to ask for forgiveness despite any insult when the Prince was angry. It was an answer with no changed tone at all, as if it was not worth getting angry at.

Looking up carefully, the Prince's face was calm. His heart sank at the aloofness that seemed to have nothing to do with him. "Your, Your Highness..."

"Ian, the Marquis is going back. See him off."

Even though the Prince was angry, Robert thought that he was Julietta's father and she was Christine's sister, so the Prince would have no choice. However, the reaction of the Prince was too unexpected.

Ian helped Robert up from kneeling on the floor. Robert shook Ian's hands away and tried to say something, but had to leave the Asta Palace in silence under the cold gaze of the Prince.

Julietta visited Killian after hearing that Robert had been forced out. "Did he ask you to forgive Lady Anais?"

"That's what he said."

Killian carefully examined Julietta. Julietta looked at the garden of the Asta Palace, which she could see outside the office. "Julie..."

When Killian could not continue his words, since he felt sorry, Julietta looked back at him and smiled. "I think I can finally cut off my lingering thoughts."

He knew what her lingering thoughts were about, even though she did not say a word. "Can you do it?"

"It's like he didn't exist at first. He hasn't been there all this time. If I don't cut off my lingering feelings this time, I may have to put up with anything Christine does for the rest of my life. The Marquis of Anais will ask for forgiveness every time. But wouldn't she just go and do something bad again?"

"Yes. I heard that there was no sign of regret or remorse when she was questioned about this."

At Killian's reply, Julietta nodded. "So, that's enough. From now on, my family members are Your Highness, Manny, and Lilly. Of course, it includes the Asta Palace and the family in the dress shop."

There were tears in the eyes of Julietta, despite smiling as she said that...

------

The Congress was called in to dispose of the Duke of Dudley and to punish Christine. Unlike Killian, who left the palace early to meet the Emperor, Julietta left the Asta Palace in time for the Congress to be called.

The carriage stopped in front of the main gate of the main castle. Julietta ran into the Marquis of Anais and Christine, who arrived a little earlier than her. They arrived first, but had been waiting for her.

"Iris, I was going to meet you anyway," Robert said as soon as he saw his daughter.

Julietta could see how nervous he was simply by him going right to the point without a polite greeting. She glanced at her father, then approached Christine and stood in front of her.

Even if Julietta was a cousin, Christine should of course say h.e.l.lo because Julietta had a higher status as a princess, but Christine just stared at Julietta with her head up. Julietta's hand lifted as Robert tried to say something in embarra.s.sment.

Slap!

Julietta slapped Christine on the cheek so hard that she could hear the sound of her hand cutting through the air.

The other hand of Julietta slapped her opposite cheek as soon as Christine raised her head to protest angrily, briefly absent-minded from the shock. It wasn't until Christine staggered and stood back clutching her cheeks that Julietta dropped her hands. Contrary to the sharp blows, Julietta's face was calm and expressionless.

"Are you sick?" Clutching her flushed cheeks, Christine glared at her. "Isn't this too obvious? Are you crazy? Why are you doing this?"

Julietta gave a low scolding to the woman who forgot the honorific words. "Use the honorific words, lady. I'm not the kind of person you dare to lower your manners to. I'm the princess of the Kiellini family and the fiancé of Prince Killian, who will be the Crown Prince. I guess you need more shots to come to your senses."

"Is it important that I lowered my words as you just hit me? Apologize!"

At Christine's anger, Julietta raised her voice. "Apology? I got kidnapped and almost died by your poison, but I didn't get any apology from you, and you just want me to apologize for a few slaps in the face? Isn't it too much?"

Christine was tongue-tied by Julietta's words. "There, there is no sure proof that I did it."

"Are you feigning ignorance, even though Lady Raviel and Jane, the maid, witnessed it?