I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 53

(Humaliation)

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About Half An Hour Ago…

"What? Then what have you been doing?"

"..."

"Why the f*ck did I send you here, to begin with?!"

Rubena said while throwing a glass towards Anne. 

They were inside Rubena's tent. Rubena was sitting on a couch that was in front of the bed. Anne was standing in front of her. 

"You can't even stay close to that stupid pea-brain?! Hah!"

Rubena scoffed. She couldn't believe what Anne just informed her. 

Isabella, the person she despises and also the person whom she wants to suffer miserably, was getting along with people here! And she didn't even trust Anne that much now! The people here treat her well too! 

How can she be happy! 

'D*mn it! I am already angry that I had to bow to that stupid Isabella! And then this! And how the f*ck is that Empress so pretty?! Aren't they supposed to be ugly and fat? Maybe she is using some kind of transformation magic to look like that… Yes! That must be it! She must be too ugly!'

Rubena thought while biting her fingernails.

On the way here, he saw many people. Not even one of them looked like what she thought they would. All of them were beautiful in their own way. Even the commoners! 

Rubena couldn't accept it! She repeated inside her mind countless times that it wasn't the Beastmen. It's probably the people from another Empire or Kingdom in disguise. Yes. They must be looking around Fellmirr as it might be their first and last chance to visit this Empire! Or they must be so ugly that they were too embarrassed to show their real face. And used transformation magic.

She didn't want to admit it. But deep down she already started to regret not accepting the proposal to be betrothed to this Empire. But she could never admit it!

<

After seeing the Empress her heartbeat accelerated. 

'This… She must be powerful! Yes. Those beautiful Silver hair and eyes, her arrogant yet elegant gaze… Those can't be real.

And Isabella… She looked so beautiful in her red dress. She also seemed to gain weight! Her beautiful hair, her fair skin, everything was glowing. Did they use light magic on her too? And why are they wearing the same dress?! Is their relationship that good?! No way! But… Her expression… That of a scaredy-cat. She is still the same! Her appearance just changed.'

Rubena scoffed inside and ran towards Isabella. Then hugged her. She could smell the fragrance of Rose coming from her. A uselessly bewitching fragrance.

'Wh*re.'

Rubena cursed inwardly.

But after a minute or less, she had to bow to Isabella. Empress Alicia made her do that.

'D*mn it! I want to kill her. I want to strangle her neck! I want to scar her face off! That uselessly beautiful face! But it's okay! She will DIE soon! Hahaha~'

Rubena laughed cynically inside.

>

"Is that the reason why you haven't been talking with me with that mirror? Is it because you are so dumb that you couldn't control that f*king dumb b*tch!"

"..."

Anne stayed silent. She couldn't utter a word. She was scared of Rubena. She couldn't tell her that Isabella beat her! How can she?! It will hurt her useless pride. And Anne's soul trembled just by imagining what Rubena would be like if she hears that Isabella has some crazy power and that Anne didn't even inform her!

'D*mn it, Isabella! I swear I will make you suffer!'

Anne clenched her fists and cursed inwardly.

"Don't f*king stay silent and answer me!"

"I apologize, Princess. I didn't have any chance. The other maids were keeping an eye-"

"Don't give me that crap of an answer! You accept me to believe that?! You didn't have time to contact me because some maids were watching you! You think I don't know that You steal stuff from that b*tch? That time the others don't watch you?"

'Tch! D*mn psycho b*tch! Shut the fuck up! Sh*t! Why is she here anyway?! And I don't even steal here that much! More like I couldn't. It's not like those smarta*s maids let me touch anything.'

"Y-You-"

Rubena was going to say something but then-

"His Majesty, Emperor Mathias Von Goldrudder Loire is entering the tent."

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Emperor."

Anne bowed and greeted Mathias.

"Father!"

Rubena smiled brightly and ran towards Mathias. Then hugged him.

"Oh, my dear Ruby! What were you doing?"

Mathias patted Rubena's head and asked gently.

"Nothing, father. I was just having a friendly chat with the maid."

Rubena replied, smiling brightly.

'Her expression changed from north to south. What a psycho! Friendly chat, my foot!'

Anne cursed Rubena in disbelief.

"Is that so?... Hmm~ So is she that maid?"

"Yes, Father."

"Hmm~ Raise your head."

"Thank you so much, Your Grace!"

'Sigh~ Finally. Or else I would have died of back pain.'

"Did you bring 'THAT' here with you?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, the Emperor."

"Where is it?"

"I hid it safely in the Crown Princess's tent."

"Ah… That thing's tent…"

Mathias frowned hearing Isabella's name. 

Even though he hated to admit it, now Isabella's tent was the perfect place to hide 'THAT'. Her tent was the most protected as she was part of the Royals of Fellmirr. For that matter, also the tent that will be searched the least, if something were to happen.

"Did anyone see you with that?"

"No, Your Majesty. No one saw me with 'THAT'. Not even Princess Isabella."

"Is that so?"

"Yes!"

"You know what will happen, if someone saw you, right?"

"..."

"Not only those animals of Fellmirr, but we will also prepare a special gift from the Loire for you too "

Although Mathias said it with a smile, but in fact, it was a threat. 

Anne gulped her saliva just thinking about what might happen. She will be held as a traitor on both sides.

'D*mn it! Why me?!'

"Yes. I know well, Your Majesty."

"Hmm. Good. Bring that when I tell you to."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Now go. You are dismissed. And keep an eye on that thing."

'That Thing?… Ah. He meant Isabella. Silly me!'

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Saying that Anne bowed and left the tent. 

"Now, my dear Ruby! Go and accompany that thing. We can't just leave it all to a lowly maid, can we?"

"Yes, Father."

Rubens replied while pouting. As she didn't want to see Isabella's face. How can she! After being humiliated by her!

"Don't be upset, my dear! She will be dead soon anyway. And I will let you play with her before killing her. How about that?"

"Really?"

Rubena asked enthusiastically.

"Yes!"

Mathias smiled and said.

They were talking so lightly about killing someone. If someone saw them from afar, they would think of them as just a normal loving father and daughter pair. 

But… if someone listened to their conversation it would make shivers down their spine. Such inhumane words behind those innocent smiling faces.

"So, Ruby. Smile and don't forget to treat her well."

"Yes, Father."

"Go now. Your mother will join you soon."

"Yes. What about you?"

"I am also coming after a minute. I have to wear my cape."

"I see. Then I will be going!"

"Yes. Go."

After that, Mathias left the tent. 

Soon after Rubena called her maid Clara and redo her makeup and dress. Then she also left the tent confidently.

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I was standing on the ground looking in the direction Leonus's just disappeared in. 

The start of the Hunting Competition… Hmm~

He will probably return in the evening. The Empress told me that on the first two days Competitors are obliged to return before night falls. And there will be a feast at night with the animals which were just being hunted. 

At night… This place will look beautiful at night. 

I looked around the place. The gathering place looks empty now, although it was not empty in the least. It's probably because almost every male Aristocrat ran off towards the Hunting Ground. There were just some elder Aristocrats who stayed here. They were chatting amongst themselves. 

The Knights were still there guarding the place. And the ladies continued their cheer and chatter. 

I wonder where the Empress is. She wasn't here when Leonus left for The Hunting Ground. 

"My Lady! Why are standing there? Come here. I brought cold juice for you!"

I looked behind hearing the voice. It was Ella.

"Okay."

I sit at a table that was under the shade of a canopy. Ella was standing beside me serving me cold juice and some light snacks.

"When did you arrive, Ella?"

"Half an hour ago, My Lady."

"What about Cande? Is she not here yet?"

"she is here. She is preparing My Lady's lunch."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Did you guys eat?"

"Yes."

"And what about Anne?"

"Ah. She came with us. But I don't know where she is now."

"I see…"

"Isabella!"

I flinched at the sudden voice. No way~ 

Did I hear it wrong? That must be it! I must be tired.

Phew~

But breaking my hopes, that my voice called my name again.

"Isabella!"

I looked in the direction of the sound with trembling eyes.

Rushing towards me with dishevelled hair… It was him…