Chapter 38 Tomorrow, It Will Surely Snow
"Wait, please, Sir Werner!"
Rhiannon, out of breath, chased after the long-striding Werner.
The hallway of the southern wing, where the princes lived, was adorned with heavy tapestries and a massive chandelier hung from the ceiling.
As expected of the royal residence at the pinnacle of the country, it was a luxurious and splendid structure filled with designs from all over the nation.
However, Rhiannon had no time to enjoy such opulence.
(I can't believe I spilled a drink on the prince again...! This is the second time!)
Even though it was an accident, it was true that she had committed the outrageous rudeness of splashing a drink on the prince.
As Rhiannon froze in embarrassment after her blunder, Werner simply said, "I'll hear your explanation later," and quickly left the party venue.
Rhiannon instinctively followed Werner, but she had no idea where he was headed.
Even if she wanted to ask, she was too busy trying to keep up with Werner's long strides, gasping for breath.
Eventually, Werner opened a large door to a room with familiarity.
"Come in."
"Y-yes..."
Rhiannon nodded weakly, panting, and stumbled into the room.
It was spacious, filled with the finest furnishings.
Werner casually plopped down onto a large sofa.
It seemed this was their destination.
"I-I don't have to walk anymore, right...?"
Lacking stamina, Rhiannon wiped the sweat from her forehead as she caught her breath.
"Just sit wherever."
Werner leaned back on the sofa and turned his gaze away.
After a moment of hesitation, Rhiannon timidly sat down on the sofa across from him, facing the table.
An awkward silence filled the room for a while.
After a long pause, unable to bear it any longer, Rhiannon decided to take the initiative and bowed deeply.
"I'm really sorry about earlier!"
"...It's fine."
"You're angry, aren't you? Your face clearly shows you're angry!"
"I don't get mad just because you spilled the drink."
"Well, but it was Sir Werner who got mad and refused my engagement after I accidentally knocked over the tea cup..."
"Forget that story! Besides, this time it's not your fault. I just suddenly tried to take the glass you were holding."
Rhiannon tilted her head at the sulking Werner.
"Then why do you have such an angry look on your face?"
"...You're way too easy! Don't just walk into a guy's room like this!"
Rhiannon, looking puzzled, glanced around and suddenly realized.
"...The fancy furniture and the tapestries with royal emblems... This is, no, it can't be, Sir Werner's room!?"
"Yeah, it is!"
"W-What a situation!"
Rhiannon turned pale.
She had accidentally entered a gentleman's room.
This was completely inappropriate for a noble lady before marriage.
"I-I just wanted to apologize to Sir Werner, that was my only intention!"
"...I get that. You may look perfect on the outside, but you're surprisingly clumsy!"
"Clumsy!? That's not true! Take back what you just said!"
"No, I'm stating a fact. You're clumsy. I won't let you deny it. Just now, you were only thinking about 'I have to apologize' and never once thought you'd be brought into my room. Am I wrong?"
"Ugh, you hit the nail on the head..."
Rhiannon was defeated.
"I thought I was acting well."
"No, I'm the only one who noticed. You've always been the perfect noble lady. Everyone must think so."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I'm not lying. Because I've been watching only you all along."
Werner's light blue eyes gazed intently at Rhiannon.
She made a face that clearly showed her dislike.
"...Did you really want to hold onto my weakness that much? What a terrible personality you have."
"I see how it is. ...Well, I was humiliated because of that library incident."
"It's Sir Werner's fault for always picking on me."
"Yeah, that's true."
Werner nodded easily.
Rhiannon's eyes widened.
Given his previous behavior, this was unusual.
"You're acting surprisingly humble, aren't you? Considering everything that's happened, it's a bit creepy how you've changed."
"Hey!"
Werner raised his voice for a moment but quickly cleared his throat, looking embarrassed.
"...Ah, well. I've turned over a new leaf. I'd like you to forget about my past."
"Why the sudden change of heart...?"
"Sarah Belts."
Rhiannon tilted her head at the unexpected name.
"Sarah? What about her?"
"She approached me at first, saying she would tell me your secret. Then she talked about you and the butler, and tried to entice me by saying if I brought you down, the Clahsen family's fortune would be mine."
"...Sarah really hates me, doesn't she? I hardly ever talked to her."
Rhiannon slumped her shoulders.
Werner stroked his chin.
"According to Sarah Belts, Rhiannon Mimi Clahsen is always cunning and mean, using every trick to bring others down. She believed you were the villain, just like my brothers. But..."
"But?"
"Think about it, someone who spills tea on a stranger can't possibly pull off the schemes Sarah talks about."
"...I could do it if I tried."
"By denying it like that, you're already raising doubts."
At Werner's remark, Rhiannon was left speechless.
She never imagined her own clumsiness would be useful in this way.
Rhiannon, with a somewhat puzzled expression, received a faint smile from Werner.
It was a laugh that seemed to mock him in some way.
"I woke up from that. For now, I decided to stop thinking about my own interests and only believe what I can see with my own eyes. ...Then, the answer naturally comes. Sarah is not a trustworthy person. ...And Rhiannon Mimi Clahsen, you are not the people everyone thinks you are──or that I think you are."
With his arms crossed, Werner said all of this in one breath and sighed.
It goes without saying that stubborn and prideful Werner struggled greatly before admitting he was wrong.
There were many times he wanted to believe Sarah's nonsensical words to protect his own pride.
However, Werner was foolish but not stupid.
He understood that he must not turn a blind eye to the truth just to protect his pride.
That's why, even though it took time, he faced Rhiannon like this.
Rhiannon, who had been silently looking down as she mulled over Werner's words, suddenly lifted her face.
"...Hey, Your Highness. I feel like I haven't heard the crucial words yet."
"Huh?"
"When you're at fault, there are words you should say, right?"
"...! I apologized just now!"
"Oh dear, you don't know what to say to the other person when you realize you're wrong? Even a child would understand that, wouldn't they?"
With a rather sharp sarcasm, Rhiannon's words made one side of Werner's face twitch.
However, having already acknowledged his mistake, he had no choice but to apologize.
"I've never met a woman who has spoken so rudely in my entire life!"
"Say what you want. But considering the many rudeness Sir Werner has shown me, one or 2 apologies..."
"Ugh, damn it! Fine! Just say it, right!? I'm sorry, I was wrong!"
"Oh ho ho ho, I'll forgive you!"
In response to Werner's frustration, Rhiannon laughed heartily, satisfied.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)