My heart was thumping. Holding my breath, I carefully listened to what they were saying.

I am afraid of the consequences, but isnt it better to get rid of her?

I have already tried many times. However, it was not easy because the sophisticated emperor is protecting her.

Really??

Yes. There are over a hundred knights defending her house, and the marquis in charge of her security is a very savvy guy. I thought his daughter would break off her engagement to the crown prince after she became an apprentice knight, but she didnt. Looking at the crown princes attitude today, it seems the sly emperor put him among the knights, so our faction cant touch him.

Thats the problem. I spread the rumors about her in a timely manner, but the emperor or the crown prince didnt bat an eye.

Now, I know you spread the rumors. Thats why there were so many ungrounded rumors in social circles these days.

I think we have to manipulate public opinion, so the crown prince and Lady Monique have no other choice but to break off their engagement.

I already know her weakness. The problem is how to find a suitable woman.

But if her engagement is broken, she could be the successor to the Monique family.

Arent you bothered by the oath of blood?

Bah! Do you think its easy for a woman to be a knight? Monique familys successor? How ridiculous! Duke Jena laughed sarcastically. Even though I didnt care about the so-called oath by blood, I was bothered by his mention of weakness. What is my weakness that he mentioned?

Is it related to what he described as my vulgar blood?

Well, I dont have any vulgar blood no matter how hard I try to find.

Well, it isnt reasonable to think that he trained his daughter for several years to have her join the knights division by deceiving us. Just ridiculous.

Duke Jenna spoke in a tone of ridicule. Several men laughed together, agreeing with him.

Anyway, now its important to find another woman to replace Lady Monique. Its hard to get rid of her right now, so look for a woman that fits the condition.

How about Lady Hamel? She is your distant relative, Duke Jena, and the leader of the young ladies of our faction.

How stupid! Why do you think the emperor, who hates the temple, has chosen Lady Monique as the crown princes fiancee, citing her as the child of Gods prophecy? Its because he is conscious of the general people. So, you have to find a woman like that who could be called the child of Gods prophecy, Duke Jena continued to say in an irritated tone.

He continued, First, we have to separate the crown prince from Lady Monique. I thought he was not interested in girls when I heard that he didnt object even when she was mingling with Duke Larss second son. But looking at his attitude, I dont think my guesswork was correct. Somehow, I have an ominous feeling.

Got it. I will try to find one as soon as possible. Then, what are you going to do about Lady Monique?

There was deep coldness in the voice of the man who asked the duke about my fate.

Just leave her alone until we find a suitable woman. If there is any undercover protecting her, we have no chance of getting rid of her. So, keep it in mind! You should never be discovered by the emperor or his close aides. Although they are quiet now, they removed half the noble factions opposed to him, as you know. So, be careful and act with extreme caution.

I will keep it in mind, Duke Jena.

Good. If youre gone for too long, theyre going to suspect you. So, go back one by one.

Muffling any noise, I left the room. I had to get out before they came out.

I had to hide somewhere, but there was only one corridor from here to the banquet hall.

I tried to push the door next door, but the door was locked. It seemed like I would be caught by them.

What should I do?

At that moment, someone pulled me hard from behind. I struggled, but I couldnt yell because he shut my mouth. The man, who pulled me with strong force, pushed me behind the dark shade of the statue along the hallway, and whispered, Shush! I dont have time to explain the situation, so stay quiet here.

I felt a bit relaxed because I seemed to have heard his voice before. When I nodded silently, the man released my hand and stood firmly in front of me. His white uniform blocked my view.

I heard someone walking toward me gradually. The man stopped for a moment near the man, then moved to the banquet hall. As I was wearing a black dress, he didnt seem to find me in the shade.

A few more men passed by, and the moment I felt relieved, I heard another mans footstep again.

His footsteps stopped before the man suddenly. My breathing was getting rough and my heart was beating like crazy. Am I caught?

Youre a royal guard. Why are you in this place?

Im doing my duty, Duke.

Hmm, really?

I could feel his voice was arrogant. He was Duke Jena. I felt cold sweat on my back. I stopped breathing, covering my mouth with my hand. I was afraid that he could hear me if I moved a bit.

Duke Jena, who stopped for a moment, said, Okay. Good job.

His footsteps were disappearing now. When I breathed a sigh of relief, the man politely bowed politely and said, I am sorry for what I did a minute ago, Lady Monique.

Oh, it s been a long time, Sir Seymour. But how come you are here?

I guessed it, but it was Sir Seymour who saved me from the emergency situation. I was delighted to see him after a long time, but I was more surprised and curious about how he could save in such a timely manner.

I was passing by.

What did he say? Thats not the proper excuse. When I looked at him in embarrassment, he avoided my glance and said, I think you had better go back to the banquet hall.

Sure, I will. I reluctantly accepted. I wanted to ask further, but as he said, returning to the banquet hall was more important now.

While I walked down the hallway, I was lost in thought. Duke Jenna said he already tried several times to get rid of me, but failed because the emperor defended me thoroughly. He also said that there might be an undercover to protect me. Suddenly, it occurred to me that when I said that my house was empty in the year when there was a massive famine, the emperor dispatched a royal guard to me immediately. At that time, I thought it was just a means for the emperor to tie me further to the imperial family.

What if they had been trying to get rid of me then?

Once I began to doubt their threat against me, I had many more questions.

Come to think of it, not only my father but my family knights wouldnt leave me alone these days. For example, Sir League followed me even in my garden when I was taking a walk alone. Today my father, who strictly separated his public from private affairs, was away from work and came to the house to pick me up.

Wait a minute, he said he came to pick me up?

Only

Suddenly, it occurred to me that he suddenly came to me in the afternoon, asking me if I found anything suspicious around me. Was he aware of their threat against me? Was that the reason why he came to the house to pick me up directly?

Ah, no way. Im mistaken. I chuckled in spite of myself.

It was true that he was more kind to me these days, but there was no reason for him to be overly protective.

Because I showed my face to them a little while ago, I think I had better not go in with you. Please go in first.

Okay. Thank you for your help, Sir Seymour.

After greeting him, I went back to the banquet hall. I saw a bunch of young ladies approaching me, asking me where I was.

Yeah, lets sleep on this and ask my father later.

Leaving my growing doubts behind, I smiled brightly at them approaching me.