The Princess has no heart for his Second Prince. The last time you visited the prince, the way you looked at him wasnt the way you looked at your loved one.

Sienna shut up because she didnt know what to say to her.

So, I made it very clear. You have no feelings for the prince, but he has a one-sided crush on you.

What? Hain! Are you out of your mind?

Sienna screamed with fright. Hain spoke in a rather exaggerated voice, unconcerned with her astonishment.

Im a bad liar. To be honest, thats when your eyes were on the Second Prince you wanted to grab his back and run out of the castle at that moment. Whats more, that piano? Ive never heard of such a huge gift from the Second Prince to His Majesty the First Princes wife. Im sure of my senses!

Hain! Are you crazy? What the hell are you talking about!

But dont worry. Everyone was curious about the first night of the First Prince and Your Highness the Princess, but I didnt say one word. Thats your personal life! I never told anyone about the hot night you two had, enough for your face to still be burning red, and how you both got up late because of it.

A hot night isnt a big face, its a big night. Seeing Hain looking at her with pride on her face as if she was expecting her to praise her, Sienna covered her eyes with her hands.

The back of my head hurts.

She gave Hain a long lecture about how dangerous it was to go around telling such a story. When she kept her mouth shut, she thought she was a competent maid of honor, but the more she got to know her, the more she looked like an immature child. One way or another, she was a lot like Chelsea.

Sienna lamented, Why didnt I know this temper before? and strongly warned her that Valore and her was never in that kind of relationship. If Empress Arya were to hear of this nonsense, there would be so much blood spilled.

After many twists and turns, Sienna got out. Carl was sitting at the drawing-room table drinking tea. He put down the teacup he was holding and came up to her.

You dont look well.

I just heard something that Id never think to imagine.

She said, rubbing the temples of her throbbing head. But behind Sienna, Hain looked at her face with a flimsy look.

What was it exactly about?

It wasnt important. I think itll be a lot more effective if you organize information going around with the ladies and gentlemen in the castle. I dont know if its credible, but the speed of information wont beat the information organization anywhere in the capital.

Thats all right. Because not many people care about them when they talk.

It was just a joke, but Carl took it quite seriously.

It was a joke.

If they form an intelligence organization, they would be spending a lot of time and manpower trying to tell what to believe and what not to believe. Carl stared at her and she shrugged.

Yes. Im a stupid woman whos just joking. Unlike someone who never jokes.

She nodded and looked at him with a discontented look.

Its almost time for the appointment.

Hain said in a trembling voice. Her lips were flustered, perhaps too frightened. Still, it was necessary to alert them to such a strong warning for one time or so. At least before a huge temper rained down from anger

Youre late.

Carl took a watch out of his arms, checked it, and said, If its a Phoenix Knight, its better not to wait

At that time, she could hear a rumble outside the door.

You must be here.

Knock, knock! The door soon opened, and the captain of the knights entered. It was the captain who escorted Sienna off the carriage at her wedding.

When Carl shot him with an expression he didnt like, he sweated and said he was sorry, but every time he opened his mouth, the smell of alcohol pricked her nose. Carl was going to say something when Sienna grabbed him by the arm.

Its my job to do so dont step in.

How come this is your job? A knight of the imperial family! Add to that a knight reeking of alcohol can just walk in to the Princess room like this so easily. This knight showed up later than promised, and messed up my wifes room with his dirty, muddy feet! Even though youre your own woman, you want me to put up with the way he is blaspheming against the royal family like that?

Every time Carl spoke in a flustered voice, the captains body trembled. Not only did he smell like alcohol, but he was also poorly dressed in knighting wear, and his feet were covered with mud or dirt. It was truly a shabby look, not of a royal knight.

Its my knight, anyway. Im responsible for the Phoenix Knights appearance. So, let me fix it.

Carl was still angry at Siennas dissuasion. It seemed as if he had to cut off the head of the Phoenix Knights.

If you dont want me to hide behind my husband and make me a stupid woman who just waits for things to be resolved, just let it go for today.

He impressed her and said nothing more. Knowing that it meant permission, Sienna smiled at the corners of her mouth and said to the captain of the knighthood.

You dont have to follow me today. I think it would be less insulting to hear that you were not able to accompany the Knights. So, go back and rest today. Sooner or later, Ill go to the training grounds of the Phoenix Knights myself.

She spoke in a soft voice, but the frosty purple blade hidden in the tenderness made the knights breathing faster. From this space, Carls man was looking at Sienna with a satisfied face.

On his way to Queen Aryas room, Carl suddenly stopped walking. Sienna stopped after him and made a curious face.

A little while ago

Yes.

You hid behind your husband and said, not the stupid woman who wanted things to be done, did you?

Sienna listened with her mouth shut, wondering what he was going to say.

Theres no man as pathetic as one may be to pretend to not know about his wifes affairs. So, dont make me into a pathetic man.

What do you mean by that?

I know youre very proud of yourself, but please dont take away my place. Unless you really think Im a stupid guy and you want to ignore me.

If youre doing this because of what happened a while ago, its because its not a big enough issue to ask Sir Carl to resolve. Its not because Ive never ignored it Sir Carl.

I dont know how big it is, but I know you can solve the problem on your own. But shouldnt we have to rely on each other for little things? Because were a couple.

She smiled on his words with a hint of helplessness.

Wouldnt it be a virtue to say that we should rely on each other for even small things? Its not the virtue of a couple who started to know about the end.

Carl told her to reach out, but Sienna decided she would never do that again. So that when she sees him standing next to Bluebell, she may leave him in blessing of the two of them.

Im sure I wont lean on you.

She made up her mind.

Only

Entering the Imperial Palace, the two men that followed behind the couple had instructions to set the table with meals. At the table, Arya and Valore were waiting.

Good to see you.

Thank you for your invitation.

Sienna greeted Queen Arya and Valore, and then sat down in a chair pulled out by Carl.

It was not easy to say that this was a family dinner after a long time. As usual, Arya had a pretentious smile, and Valore sat with a firmer look than usual. Maybe Hains statement that he drank too much was true, but his eyes had burst red in color.

More than anything else, it was Maries appearance that surprised Sienna. She didnt feel it before, but Marie had a look that even the daughter of Queen Arya could be trusted just because of her looks.

It was just polite to tell Valore before that Maries beauty was famous up to the North. But now that she faced her, she felt that she was indeed very beautiful.