As expected from the Crimson Blades, they had already pinpointed Cedrik's location. Aria swiftly commanded William to rally the knights and embark on a mission to rescue Cedrik. Without hesitation, she herself joined the daring rescue operation.
"The Imperial Knights are here!!!" Panic swept through the enemy ranks as they glimpsed the approaching knights. They made a futile attempt to resist, but it was clear they stood no chance against the might of the knights.
"Cedrik!" Aria's voice echoed, filled with both relief and worry. She spotted Cedrik lying on the ground, his body battered and bloodied, hands securely bound.
"Cedrik!" she cried out, rushing to his side, her emotions overwhelming.
"Y-Your Highness…is that you?" Cedrik weakly opened his eyes, catching sight of the tears streaming down the Princess's face.
"I'm sorry I'm too weak…" he stammered, tears welling in his eyes. Aria shook her head, reassuring him, "It's fine now, Cedrik. I will make sure that those responsible will regret what they've done to you."
One of the knights carefully lifted Cedrik and transported him to a waiting carriage. Meanwhile, William apprehended the leader of the assailants, forcing him to kneel in front of the Princess.
Aria glared at him, gripping her knife tightly, a clear sign of her determination. The trembling captives were cowed by her fierce gaze. "Tell me! Who ordered you to kidnap my butler?!"
"N-No one ordered me…this is our revenge!" The response was unexpected, leaving Aria bewildered.
Revenge?
"Your carriage destroyed our small shops on the road and never compensated us. Due to your actions, we lost our businesses and suffered. Furthermore, you ordered the knights to forbid us villagers from entering the capital, preventing us from selling our goods there. You're evil!"
Aria glanced at the kidnappers. Their emaciated figures and grimy appearance painted a grim picture of their hardship.
"But kidnapping my servant was not the right way to seek retribution."
"That was the only way we could make you understand our pain."
Aria took a moment to collect her thoughts and proposed a resolution.
"Sir William..." she called to her knight.
"Yes, Your Highness?" William asked.
"Provide them with sufficient funds, food, and clothing. Additionally, compensate them for the damages caused to the small shop by my carriage. Instruct the capital guards to allow all villagers entry. Anyone defying my orders will face appropriate consequences."
The unexpected turn of events left everyone astonished.
"Y-Your Highness…y-you," the leader stammered.
"Don't think that I have forgiven you for what you've done. You will still face punishment for kidnapping Cedrik. However, I will aid your village in recovering from your losses," Aria stated firmly, addressing the leader. She then turned to William. "Detain them for seven days."
"A-Are you truly going to do that? Y-You're not lying, right?" the leader asked.
"I never lie. Ensure that you never cause harm again," Aria declared.
"THANK YOU, YOUR HIGHNESS!!!" the group exclaimed in gratitude, bowing deeply.
Aria vowed to turn the tables.
Those bastards had manipulated the plight of these poor villagers to harm me.I would become their savior, extinguishing their hatred towards me. These criminals would be interrogated while in custody, in hopes of uncovering the masterminds behind this treachery.
.
.
....
The emperor nagged Aria for two hours straight when she returned to the palace.
"Don't you know how dangerous it is? What if something bad happens to you again?"
She sighed. "Uncle, I'm fine. Please don't worry about me."
"But still! You don't have an idea how worried I am. You should—" Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Your Majesty, Viscount Milano is requesting an audience," the secretary informed.
Aria swiftly stood and bowed, excusing herself. "I shall leave now, uncle," she said before departing.
As she considered the encounter, a sense of unease settled in. "Viscount Milano… I have a bad feeling about that man. His attitude towards me is peculiar. I'll keep a close eye on you from now on."
.
.
Later, Aria inquired about Cedrik's condition. "How is he?"
"He's resting now, Your Highness. The doctor has treated his wounds," Jenny informed.
"That's good. Inform me once he wakes up," Aria requested.
As she contemplated the events, guilt gnawed at her. It was her fault, and she knew this was connected to those who sought to harm the Princess. But why involve Cedrik? How did they know about their relationship? Could there be a spy within the palace?
She needs to consult Ryu for updates on their investigation.
William noticed her distress.
"Your Highness, you seem troubled. Stress isn't good for you," he said.
"I'm just worried for Cedrik," she replied.
William stared at her.
It was the first time she had been so deeply worried about her servant.
"If you allow me, I know a tranquil place where you can relax," William suggested.
Intrigued, she looked at him. "Really? Where?"
.
.
"Are you sure about this? The emperor is not allowing me to ride a horse again," Aria expressed her concerns as she eyed the horse nervously. It was her first time riding one, and she's kinda nervous.
"It's fine, Your Highness. You'll ride with me," William reassured her with a warm smile.
Oh, this is sudden... horse riding with William... Their bodies would be so close.
He grinned, noting her hesitation. "You don't have to worry, I won't let you fall from the horse again."
She avoided his gaze. "F-Fine.." she blushed.
They hopped on, with Aria taking the front position and William at the back. The horse began to walk, and the awkwardness of their position made Aria's heart race.
This is awkward... our position is so awkward.
"Your Highness, look," William pointed out, diverting her attention.
"Wow!" Aria was amazed by the sight of the capital from their vantage point.
"Every time you're stressed, you come here to relax. Seeing this view helps you forget your worries," William explained.
So this was her favorite place. It truly was relaxing.
"Thank you, William," she said, appreciating the moment.
He smiled.
.
.
....
Later, back at the palace.
Aria asked Ryu about the investigation. Ryu presented a small box and revealed its contents: a single cuff link made of ruby.
"We found this in the warehouse where they hid Cedrik, concealed under sacks of grain. The knights missed it," Ryu explained.
"But why was this item there? Is it part of the payment to the kidnappers?" she asked.
"I believe so. I questioned their leader discreetly, and he mentioned it was a down payment. A man promised them more jewelry and money if they succeeded in their mission. However, he couldn't identify the man as he wore a mask." he answered.
"That aligns with what they told the knights. Criminals wouldn't reveal their faces if they planned to kill someone." she said.
"What's your plan, Your Highness?" he asked.
"I know someone who can help us with this." she replied.
Just then, someone knocked at the door, prompting Ryu to quickly hide.
"Come in," Aria invited.
Jenny entered. "Your Highness, Cedrik is finally awake."
.
.
....
"Don't move, you're injured," Aria said, concern in her eyes.
"I'm sorry if I caused trouble for you, Your Highness. I failed to protect myself and allowed them to kidnap me," Cedrik expressed, lowering his head.
"It's not your fault. We've already resolved the issue, and those people won't harm you again," Aria reassured, patting his shoulder.
"But Your Highness... I am not really their target," Cedrik revealed.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"I think you are their real target. When I was kidnapped, they kept asking me about your weaknesses and mentioned their 'boss,'" he explained.
"Did they mention their boss' name?" Aria asked further.
He shook his head. "No, they just mentioned that their master wants information about you."
It was now confirmed. They were indeed behind the kidnapping, aiming to know the Princess' weaknesses and use it against her.
"I never told them anything. I made it clear I would prefer to die than divulge what I know," Cedrik shared.
Aria comforted him. "You don't have to die for me. I won't allow them to harm you."
"W-Will you be lonely if I die?" he asked.
"Of course... so don't die," she pinched his cheek.
Cedrik nodded.
.
.
....
The next day, Aria visited Count Lannister's mansion. She had thoroughly researched this; the person who could assist her was within this grand estate.
Count Lannister was known as one of the most influential contributors to the empire, heading a family renowned for their prowess in trading, with vast wealth and connections.
"Welcome, Your Highness. It's our honor that you visited us today," Count Lannister greeted her respectfully.
He was the Count of the South, a significant figure in the empire. Aria sought to consult with his son, Napoleon Lannister, a known troublemaker with an extensive network of connections, including those within the black market. She hoped he could help her trace the mastermind behind the kidnapping.
"You know why I came here, right?" she asked, drinking her tea.
"It was mentioned in your letter that you wanted to see my son," the Count acknowledged.
"There is something I want to consult him about," she stated, locking eyes with the Count.
The Count nodded and said, "All right, I will call him right away," instructing a servant to summon his son.
.
.
"Huh? You want me to find the owner of this cuff link?" Napoleon asked, examining the cuff link.
Aria nodded, "Yes, it's not an order, but a favor. I would greatly appreciate it if you could help."
"Is this connected to the kidnapping incident of your butler?" Napoleon inquired.
"Seems like the news spread fast," she noted.
He grinned. "Then what would be my reward if I found the owner of this?"
"Um, a large sum of money? Or perhaps some expensive clothes?" Aria suggested.
Napoleon shook his head. "Nah, I don't want those. I need something unique."
Right, his family is wealthy, so monetary rewards were of little value to him.
Aria asked, "Then what do you want?"
He smirked, moving closer to her and stroking her hair. "Spend the night with me..."
What???
Aria was taken aback. "Did you bump your head earlier?"
"Ahahaha," he laughed. "I'm just teasing, Your Highness."
"I'm dead serious, Lord Napoleon," she stated firmly, rolling her eyes.
"I still can't accept that you rejected my marriage proposal in the past," he confessed, taking a sip of his tea.
"The past is the past. I came here to ask for your help," Aria reminded.
"I'm willing to help you, but I want something in return. If you accept me as your consort, I will expedite this task," Napoleon proposed.
Aria was flustered. Why were so many men interested in her? She was the 'evil' one, right? She struggled to decide, feeling overwhelmed.
Napoleon sighed, noticing her inner conflict. "Seems like you don't really like me," he frowned.
"H-Hey, I never said that. It's just... your condition is too..." Aria stumbled over her words.
"Okay, how about a date?" he offered.
"A date?"
"Yeah, I'll help you find the owner of this cuff link, and in return, let's have a date. What do you think?" he proposed.
A date didn't seem like a big deal. "All right, deal."
"Okay," he confirmed, taking the small box, and then winked at her.
.
.
....
"ARIA!!!"
Aria spotted Rasheen running toward her as she returned to the palace.
"Your Highness, please slow down!" his butler called out, chasing after him.
He panted when he reached her. "Waahh Aria, I miss you so much! Why do you never visit my chamber?" he hugged her tightly.
Geez, she had completely forgotten about him. "I'm sorry, I've been busy because of the incident."
"Hmph. You said you would visit me too. I kept waiting for you, but you never came. Perhaps... you don't really love me! Waahhh!" he cried.
He even began to lie on the floor, being incredibly dramatic.
"Your Highness, I'm sorry for the Prince's behavior. But I hope you'll give him a chance. He's been waiting for you for so long and has missed you since he was in Targaryan," his butler explained.
Aria glanced at Rasheen, who was now lying on the floor.
Lying on the floor is something a Prince won't do.
"Okay, I will visit you tonight," she finally said.
Rasheen quickly stood up, his eyes sparkling. "Really?"
She nodded.
"YAHOO!!!" Overwhelmed with happiness, Rasheen couldn't contain his joy and let out a little jump.
.
.
That night...
"I want to take back what I said earlier," she mumbled.
When Aria went to Rasheen's chamber, she found him waiting on his bed, wearing only a robe, with a rose in his mouth and rose petals scattered on the bed.
"What's this?" she asked, perplexed.
He got up and gave her the rose. "I prepared this for our first night."
Is he referring to a honeymoon?
"I think you are mistaken; we will just sleep and not do anything," she clarified.
Rasheen's expression turned from hopeful to crestfallen. "B-But… I already prepared everything," he stammered, looking like a sad puppy.
"But I said I'm not ready. If you love me, you will wait for me, right?" she said.
"Of course! I will not force you," he assured her.
She smiled, relieved. "Thank you for understanding. Now, let's remove these petals and sleep."
They removed the petals.
Phew. I'm glad he agreed.
"Good night, Aria," he said, hugging her and kissing her forehead.
She smiled. "Good night," then closed her eyes.