Paul was surprisingly not angry when he saw Louis return with a box of cookies. He had never been angry with his youngest son. However, this situation was special, so he thought he would be scolded if he went back without information. He said what he was told.
Instead of getting angry, Paul looked at Louisâ box of cookies in his hand.
âYour Highness came?â
It seemed somewhat unbelievable. Paul, on the one hand, noticed that the crown prince considered Louis Adelia a child.
Louis was 16 years old this year and not an adult. However, 16 years old in the aristocratic society was the same age as a quasi-adult.
The crown prince was famous for his brutal nature, but he had shown a relatively generous attitude to the strong and the weak. Thatâs why people followed and respected him even if he acted aggressively.
It seemed that the crown prince would not kill Louis unless he acted too much.
Louis was relieved that he didnât know what was going on in Paulâs mind and didnât get yelled at. Paul saw the cookie box in Louisâ hand, told him to go up and rest, and turned around. It was fortunate for Louis.
âYou really havenât seen Rowena?â
Matthias seemed indignant at the fact. To be exact, Rowena seemed like she had won the crown princeâs favor and had become arrogant.
Brat.
Theo swallowed his thoughts and turned away from Matthias.
âRowena wouldnât have been told that Louis was there anyway. The crown prince wants to protect Rowena.â
âFrom whom? Rowenaâs family is us!â
At Matthiasâ nervous cry, Theo wanted to ask if that was really true. Not once had Rowenaâs happiness or health been important in this family.
Paul and Matthias thought of her as the property of the Adelia family.
Matthias pressed Louis. He thought there was a way to get ahead with Rowena as a stepping stone, but it seemed to have been suddenly blocked.
âDid you tell her about fatherâs injury?â
âI havenât even met her, how can I tell her?!â
Paul didnât hit Louis, but Matthias did as much as he wanted. So he backed away, looking at Matthias with frightened eyes. Matthias gritted his teeth.
âKeep the girl quiet! What would people think of our family?!â
âYouâre not ashamed that Father was beaten up. Youâre ashamed that she stayed a few days in the palace to be treated?â
When Theo, who became annoyed, uttered those words, Matthias glared at him fiercely.
âThatâs not what Iâm saying! If sheâs acting out, she can rat us out! Do you think that compares to this now?â
âIf you whine here, the crown prince wonât give us Rowena either. If you were my brother, would you want to send a woman you love into our house?â
Matthiasâ lips were twisted looking at Theo.
âWhatâs wrong with our house? Everyone lives like this! Who doesnât do anything wrong in their lives? Donât you think so?â
Only once.
âHitting Rowena has never stopped, has it? There was a separate person who used violence, yet everyone blamed Rowena, the victim.â
âBecause itâs her fault. He said that her behavior was wrong and she got hit.â
Everyone knew that Paul was just in a bad mood and that Matthias just didnât think things out.
âWell, young man.â
Staring at each other, they turned to the old butlerâs voice. The butler looked at the grown young men with a deep sigh.
âThereâs a man from the royal family. To take some people⊠I-Iâll take the men to the palace.â
âWhat?â
While Matthias looked at the butler quickly, someone came into the house. From the way he was dressed, they could see that he was an official who assisted the emperor.
âNice to meet you. Sir Adelia.â
He said so with a mysterious smile. Matthias opened his mouth as if he wanted to protest, but closed his mouth to the cold eyes of the official.
ââŠI have come to pick up the ladyâs belongings and loved ones according to the order of the crown prince.â
âToday, my younger brother Louis visited the palace. To see Rowena! Why canât he see her?â
Matthias patiently asked the official. The official looked up at Matthias with a puzzled expression.
âI only follow His Highnessâs orders, but I donât know about the ladyâs health.â
Externally, Rowena was known to be treated at the Imperial Palace for serious injuries. It was also for her safety as it was still yet to be revealed who ordered the assassination.
The official was not alone. He brought about a dozen servants and maids. They were guided by the butler to the third floor of Rowenaâs room.
Theo blushed at the sight of the goods being handed out by their hands.
This is because some shabby items were thought to belong to the lady. Matthias cursed, saying that he didnât know everything was like that except for what Cecil gave her as a gift.
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