The man continued to look down as he couldn't speak due to the intimidation that this woman could emit from her small body. Even though he was stronger than her, her eyes held intimidation that he couldn't fight back.
It was a natural power that this woman held, even Helena was taken aback because of her sudden change of behaviour, resembling a dog that could bite and spread rabies.
"Sir Baron, what is this attitude that you are showing to my sister?" Alexander asked, siding with Felicia. His face had the expression that he was insulted and completely annoyed with how the Knight behaved.
"C-calm down, brother... He's just adjusting, forgive me, sister." Helena has to interrupt them, looking at Helena with her eyes showing that she's apologetic. But even Rachelle can tell that it was for the show, especially since everyone right now has caught in their show.
"Why are you the one apologizing, sister?" Rachelle asked as she smiled at him, her hand caressed her cheek which made Helena flinch and show disgust in her eyes. She couldn't help but let out a scoff, trying not to laugh at her sister's expression.
Oh, how she wished she could laugh at how nasty she was looking at her.
"Felicia is right, Helena. You're not the one who's at fault here. It's the knight. Just because he received a title does not mean that he could ignore someone with a higher status than him. How unbefitting for him to become your attendant." Alexander mocked the Baron.
It never missed in Rachelle's eyes the way the Baron's fingers curled into fists, mocked with how Alexander spoke to him. But what he said was also wrong, therefore she could feel his frustration.
Why? Because Helena and him are both perfect for each other. A dumb uneducated man and a plain dumb woman, aren't they the best duo ever?
"I-I apologize for the trouble that I caused. It is just that I am still new and familiar with the ordeal of becoming a noble therefore I had no idea what to do—"
"That's just saying that you are not fit to become my sister's knight, Baron. I don't see you as a competent knight to help my sister protect herself. Is it not your responsibility to know the names of the people involved in your master's life? Or are you telling me that I do not deserve your recognition?" Rachelle spat knives directed at the Baron who grew even more wary of her.
Seems like there's no need for her to fear this man, he's incomparable from all the things that she went through so why was she even scared of this man? He doesn't even pass the Pope's ability to intimidate her, so why?
"T-that's not what I meant! That's really not what I meant, Lady Felicia. Please forgive me, I did not mean to ignore you. M-My name is Leonardo Silva, it's a pleasure to meet my master's sister." He introduced himself, bowing against his pride while extending his hand, waiting for her hand so that he could show her the respect he claimed to have.
However, as he kept his head hung low, Rachelle just stared at her, smiling as if she didn't let him receive her hand. Which earned silence among the people surrounding her. Even Alexander wanted to nudge Felicia to accept his hand but he stopped himself considering how the man acted in front of her.
"I see. Well then, this may serve as your first lesson not to act ignorant and arrogant in front of me. You just received your noble status, yet you're already acting haughty. My, my, Baron. I hope you learned your lesson very well." Rachelle said as she smiled, then her eyes turned to Helena who was being consumed by embarrassment and anger flaring in her eyes.
"Next time, dear sister. Tell your friend—no, knight that he better respect those who are above him. We can't have someone whose attitude is worse than someone I know. Isn't that right, brother?" She asked, smirking at Helena and then turned her face on Alexander who remained silent on her side, speechless.
Helena's eyes begged for Alexander to at least fight for her as this woman continued to attack her even though she didn't do anything wrong. But Alexander avoided her eyes as he nodded his head, agreeing with Rachelle's words, which broke Helena's heart.
"Your sister is right, Helena. It's time for you to educate your knight. He can't act like this in front of the nobles after all, it will bring us shame if you don't teach him the basics. I'm sure you do know your basics already." He added, holding Rachelle's hand and placing it on his arm.
He just stared at her, as if Helena didn't matter in his eyes. Helena's eyes instantly were filled with tears as she nodded, looking down. Meanwhile, the knight beside her continued to hang his head low, his resentment for the two kept on increasing even though it was the first time that they all met each other.
How dare they do this to his mistress, making her cry and hang her head low.
Rachelle could feel the hate arising from the two as Alexander and she belittled them, which earned her a sense of victory after what they did. Helena must have realised that Alexander had already turned his back on him, making her feel abandoned.
Of course, she's not that abandoned, especially since the Crown Prince still values her, maybe the second prince too since she had caught him staring at the Saintess. Oh well, she doesn't care about it anymore.
"Shall we go? Or is there anything else that you both have to attend?" Rachelle asked, asking Helena and Alexander if there was anything that they had to tend with. After all, her business is done here, she has already confirmed what type of knight Helena will receive.
And it turns out, he's just someone whom she could easily trample with.
"Father is still with the Pope, the Pope requested to meet Father so I left the two of them. Seems like there's an important matter that the two of them discussed." Alexander answered her, leaving her in confusion.
The pope asked the Duke to meet him. What could it be? It's making her feel curious about their conversation. But if it's anything else, then it could be that the Pope wishes for the Duchess to return as per request by the Saintess.
That's the only reason that Rachelle could come up with.
Helena arrived earlier than the rest of them, therefore she had enough time to plead for the Pope to make her mom stay with them. The Pope who's close with the Saintess probably agreed with her request.
"I see. Well then, I don't have anything to do here. I wish to return, Alexander." She said, ignoring Helena who silently went away from the two of them, with her knight trailing her to keep her safe.
"This early? Everyone is having a feast to honour the knight's bravery in pulling out the sword of the Goddess right now at the Church's very own ballroom. Everyone is attending, it could be that my father had already arrived there. Are you sure you're not going to attend?" Alexander asked.
"Yes. I'm tired, don't worry I'll be safe. Tell the Duke that I already retreated." She replied, pulled her arm back and walked away, didn't wait for Alexander to reply for her.
She was sure that he was calling out her name but she just went out of the Cathedral, didn't pay attention to everyone's eyes as she went out. These nobles love to gossip so it's no surprise that they were talking about her behind her back.
But she didn't care about it, all she could think about was to go home and take a rest. After all the emotions flooding over her because of that knight, she realises that it wasn't worth it. He's a small shrimp. He doesn't even look like one of the predators that would consume her entirely.
As she went inside the carriage, she suddenly felt very odd. It feels very spacious and wide, unlike earlier when the whole family was present. It feels empty but at the same time weird.
"Hm... Feels new." She commented. The carriage soon suddenly took off, driving it back towards their household. Along the carriage ride, Rachelle felt very restless for unknown reasons and she couldn't even figure out why she was feeling like this.
She had already brushed the idea of that knight therefore why is she feeling so restless?
As she stared outside, all she could see was the greeneries that surrounded the carriage and the road towards the Duchy. Yet something feels not right for her. Is it just her but the scenery was different from before?
But her mind must be playing with her head, considering that she took a nap on the Duke's lap, missing out on what the plains look like when travelling from the Duchy to the Church.
'Hm... I'm overthinking too much. Nothing is wrong.' She thought to herself as she took a deep breath and exhaled, calming her restless heart. Nothing is wrong and everything is completely fine—
The carriage suddenly stopped in the middle of nowhere, into which she suddenly felt alarmed. Why did the carriage stop?
Her consciousness immediately reached towards the lock of the carriage, paying attention to her surroundings. As soon as her intuition locked the carriage, a figure suddenly rushed into her position, raised the drag that he was holding and dabbed it on the glass of the carriage, trying to break in.
Rachelle let out a horrifying scream, scooting away from the glass. Fuck, an assassin!