Chapter 239

“Her Highness has judged that the Count couldn’t kill her in the first place.”

Knox’s eyes widened. Adrian’s judgment was as accurate as if she was in that cabin with them.

“From your expression alone, I must be right.” Adrian reached out to put a bandage on his arm herself. Startled, Knox groaned in pain and tried to pull away, but she smirked as she grabbed one end of it. She smiled as if she was teasing him for being scared about something like this.

“She also told me that it’s okay to betray her a hundred times,” Knox replied.

Just a moment ago, Knox was itching to talk about his owner to the grumpy Adrian, but now he was seriously curious about her analysis. Adrian’s hand, as she helped him wrap the bandage, paused in midair. The corners of her eyes lowered sadly as she let out a sigh.

“Did she say that?”

Knox nodded.

“I’m sure Her Highness means it.” She lowered her head slightly and spoke in a more subdued voice. “She’s still very sorry over what happened to Sid Byan.”

“The lady must be anxious. If I’m by her side, I won’t be punished no matter what I do.” Knox said dryly, expecting Adrian to be surprised or irritated. The maid merely laughed.

“I don’t think you’re stupid enough to think of betraying Her Highness.” She spoke in a bewildered tone.

“Well, am I wrong?”

“Her Highness will leave you alone even if you betray her a hundred times. Sid Byan’s son will never die at the hands of Her Highness. But do you expect that only Her Highness is capable of harming you?” Adrian’s eyes shone coldly for a moment. “If you ever betray Her Highness, I will try to kill you first without going to Uriel or the Duke. Remember that, my lord.” Knox’s eyes widened in shock.

Was he being blackmailed by a maid of insignificant status? For a moment, her threat had sent chills down his spine.

“So don’t even think about it. Just focus on the revenge you’re about to do. I’m glad you have the same interests as Her Highness.”

“I still don’t understand.” He said, looking into Adrian’s green eyes. Her gaze, whose coldness had disappeared a while ago, returned to its pure and innocent look.

“What?”

“I know very well that that person, no, Her Highness, the princess, is not an ordinary person. She is even generous towards the people beneath her royal status.” He looked around the mansion once more and said. “But is it enough that one would be willing to do everything for their mistress including hurting others?” When Adrian did not immediately respond, Knox continued. “I heard you seduced three fiancées for your mistress. As a woman, your reputation would, of course, be damaged. That’s why you didn’t get married to any kingdom. So far from being unfair, I just can’t believe this level of loyalty———In general, shouldn’t a court lady be loyal to the princess by helping her find a good marriage partner?” Adrian smiled and shook her head.

“You’ve got a lot of things wrong, Knox. Her Highness and I don’t want marriage. Most of all, it’s what I have to do to make both of our reputations worse.” Knox frowned. What kind of woman in the world refuses to get married and damages her reputation? In a sporadic case, there’s probably about one—-Apollonia—-but why was the maid doing it as well?

“I wanted to avoid someone.”

Adrian’s face, which had been relaxed until a while ago, darkened a bit. She seemed terrified as if recalling bad memories. Knox didn’t bother to ask who the person was.

“When I say I can give my all for someone, it doesn’t mean that I will simply deprive myself of that person.” She smiled at Knox. The shadow that once appeared didn’t completely disappear, but the voice contained certain convictions. “On the contrary, it means that life my has meaning because of her.” The two were silent for a moment. Knox forgot the wounds on his arms and face while musing on what she had said. He could roughly see the meaning of her words. Someone had hurt her in the past and her life had been given meaning because of Apollonia. Is it a kind of salvation for you, young lady?” He asked and Adrian smiled a little.

“Her Highness is salvation to me. Hope for someone who’s suffering. A person who has various influences on many people.”

“But the look on your face tells me that it’s not complete yet. You’re still afraid of something from the past.” He spoke cautiously. Surprisingly, Adrian nodded her head.

“Some things take a while before getting results.”

“Are you saying you’ll overcome it someday?”

“It’s possible but I’m not sure,” Adrian said, clearing away the rest of the drug from Knox.

“Likewise, I don’t think we know yet whether Sid’s sacrifice will lead to the long-term collapse of the Bayan family or the reversal of its declining fortunes,” Knox smirked as she did a while ago. After a moment of carelessness, the subject returned to him and his family. So, Her Highness was a ‘hope for someone’. On second thought, this was about his father. Perhaps, Sid Bayan still believed that this empire and his family could rise again through Princess Apollonia.