Chapter 4

“All you have to do is step down from this carriage and walk in with Joan while holding her hand. I promise that from now on, in this household, you’ll still be the exalted first wife. Joan is very sensible. She will never try to overstep you.”

Joan immediately lowered her head as if in agreement, revealing her pale nape.

“Your Grace, don’t worry. I will serve you day and night from now on. I will treat you like my own elder sister. I only ask that my baby be given a legitimate place in this family.”

As she spoke, her eyes shimmered as they welled up with tears again. With that meek and yielding manner, any onlooker would think that I was the wicked mistress breaking apart another’s family.

The common folk present started murmuring again.

“This princess is completely unreasonable. That other woman has already been through so much.”

“Exactly. General Griffin has risked his life for Cathor. What is the harm in taking an extra wife?”

“I think she just looks down on us common folks. Arrogance is in her blood.”

Everyone started taking Griffin’s side.

Seeing this, Wilma became more confident.

She knew well that in a place like the capital, tongues of people cut deeper than any blade. If she could make people label me as “jealous” and “unreasonable,” even my royal title would never be able to save me.

“Your Grace, I’m going to ask you one last time.” Wilma’s murky eyes bore into the carriage. Her voice carried an ultimatum. “Please step down from the carriage.”

I did not answer her. Instead, I turned my gaze toward the scar-faced lieutenant.

“What’s your name?”

The scar-faced lieutenant was startled. He clearly had not expected me to ask his name at such a moment.

Boldened by Griffin, he answered in a rough, loud voice, “Leo Zinke!”

I nodded and said calmly, “Very well.”

“Leo, do you know what happens to those who surround a princess with armed soldiers?”

Leo threw his head back and laughed heartily. He looked as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

He said arrogantly, “Your Grace, I am a crude man. I only know that the general’s words are absolute! While he fought enemies at the border, you were admiring flowers and playing under the moon in the capital. Even if the king himself came today, I would still demand justice for the general!”

His treason was plain to see.

Griffin did not stop him. Instead, he showed a look of approval. These borderland soldiers had long been brainwashed by him into becoming the Quenell family’s private army. To him, this was his greatest bargaining chip to control me.

“His words are absolute, huh?”

I nodded as my fingertip gently brushed against the folded parchment hidden beneath my sleeve.

“Griffin, the soldiers you trained are certainly very loyal to you.”

“Of course they are!”

Griffin puffed out his chest with pride. He looked as if he had already won.

“So, Your Grace, stop your useless struggling. Get down from the carriage now, and we can still go through with this wedding with dignity. No one will benefit if this turns ugly.”

As he spoke, he reached out his hand and swept aside the curtain of the carriage. That large, rough hand grabbed my wrist without hesitation with undeniable force.

“Be a good princess and come down.”

He no longer tried to hide the arrogance and contempt in his gaze.

It was as if I were nothing more than a helpless prisoner at his mercy. Joan stood behind him. She could barely hide her triumphant smile. Wilma proudly stroked her lion-headed cane. She was simply waiting to see me walk out of the carriage in a dishevelled and humiliated state.