NOVEL NEXT Chapter 13: Chapter 12: Rumors
" Oh chill down haha ... I gifted it to her because .... " young master Rhen hang his words seeing Lady Leona's anticipation.
Lady Leona waited , holding her breathe.
" ... well that would be a secret I must keep and a secret you must find out hahaha " , prince Rhen teasing her leaned slightly to her , he mysteriously whispers in her ears then his laughter booms in young lady Leona's ear.
Seeing lady Leona silently looking daggers at him, he just smirks to her in return. He shrugged his shoulder like he did nothing wrong. He is too lazy to accommodate unnecessary questions just to satisfy others curiousity.
"You should have told me to back off instead, why act like a lunatic", Lady Leona scoffed finally calming herself. She sat back down composely. She rolled her eyes and ignores Prince Rhuy afterwards.
When the sky turns dark and evening came, a lot of carriages , servants and personal knight can be seen arriving at the Hagris mansion to fetch their Lords and masters. After respectful bidding farewell to his majesty, Emperor Valier, everyone decided to go back to their residences.
General Hagris personally escorted his majesty and the two princes back to their carriage. The knights, soldiers and servants kneels to give respect to them then General Hagris watched them as they leave. He can't help but sigh in relief seeing their retreating shadows. Finally, he can have a quality time with his family. He can't wait to see his beloved daughter's face again. Peace is finally bestowed to them again.
Once his majesty's carriage left, every guest also started to depart.
Drunk people were assisted by their wifes or servants while others manage to ride their carriage on their own.
There are also some who absolutely drunk- totally collapsed that needs to be carried by their personal knights.
After this day, everyone had the same conclusion. They conclude that the daughter of General Hagris, little lady Shizuna is doted and pampered by everybody mostly by the general itself. Attacking the young lady from Lewis Family and crossing sword with General Lewis just to protect his daughter only proved it further.
Everyone in Hagris household tensed and anxious demeanor a while ago during the conflict shows their care and love for the little lady. Those servants and knights in the mansion seems ready to attack and protect their young lady any moment that danger arise. They bet that if odds circumstances ask it, they can willingly die in exchange for the little lady's life.
Asides from this, they also concluded that contrary to young master Shinri who is known as one of the geniuses in the kingdom, calm , knowledgeable and a great fighter in his young age of five... his sister is quite ordinary. Not only ordinary but a little bit spoiled with quite problematic attitude. This was shown as she caused trouble with his higness, Prince Rhen and young lady Kharen. Starting a fight in the first meeting at the age of two. This is surely a new record in Valerie's Kingdom. Not a good record, though. They wonder if this young lady would bring more trouble in the future that may tarnish General Hagris reputation together with his household.
Another matter is the present she had chosen, a hair ornament which is a hanfu hairpin. It might look luxurious and beautiful but it is an ordinary hair accessories in reality. This is a hair ornament used by ladies to doll themselves up to look pleasantly in front of others particularly in front of young men. It seems that the young lady of Hagris household will grow as a kept woman serving as a wife , a trophy that can be boast by her husband and a beautiful decoration at the prince's palace. They concluded that the the Hagris young lady will only serves as his higness Prince Rhuys's wife in the future without any accomplishment to be proud of.
One of the most intriguing part is the engagement between the Hagris Family and the Royal Family. They concluded that his majesty is trying to wrap General Hagris in his hands to keep him in check as well as to monitor his movement. He might be wary of General Hagris' growing influence due his numerous achievement in the battlefield. So, in order to ensure that no rebellion would arise, his majesty tied the general to the royal family.
When sunrise envades the sky, different rumors started to circulate in Valeria Kingdom. Different thoughts about the event, in little lady Shizuna in particular formed different point of view and the gossip turned exaggerated that the people who attended and witness the party started to doubt or question if it is the same event and people they encountered.
"Do you know? the young lady of Hagris Family is engaged to young Prince Rhuy" , the man told his friend while drinking in tavern. His big mug full of beer.
"That's right, I also heared that the gift chosen by the young lady is an ordinary hair ornament. I guess she is not meant for greatness. Thankfully, the Hagris household still have young master Shinri." his friend seating accross him said. His face shows disappointments.
"Have you heard, my brother is of the server in the birthday party and he said that the young lady of Hagris family is so ordinary. Her looks department is so common." a woman said while butchering pig in her stall.
"No, I haven't heard that. What I heard is different. My cousin who attended the party as a retainer said that he saw Young Lady Shizuna have unruly behavior at her young age, she slaps and kick the crown prince so hard in the face. " the woman said while waiting for her ordered pig meat.
The nearby woman also said, " That's not all, I also heard that she bullied Young Lady Lhia. Lady Lhia is a kind and sweet child so she can only cry pitifully. Fortunately, young lady Kharen is there to avenged her by slapping the little brat's face.", the woman spoke angrily.
" That's right. So young yet so vicious. Just what kind of woman she would be when she grows up. Heh! We don't know who she would bully next. " another woman said while buying fruits in nearby stall. Her face crumpled like she was the one being bullied.
"You know what, my buddy said that General Hagris threatened his majesty to engage Young Lady Shizuna to Prince Rhuy, look how desperate he is", one of the market vendor said mocking the general. His face shown dissatisfaction and disapproval for General Hagris.
"Really!! , tsk the general is too much. He is already trying to bypass his majesty. Just a small general acting bigger in front of his majesty , tsk", another vendor condemningly said.
The two vendors spoke without a care around them. They did not expect that someone around them will be angry on the words they said so the two vendors were startled when they heard an angry voice rebuking their words. They looked around and saw a frowning young man, dressed in a soldier uniform.
"Damn it, stop talking nonsense! I attended the party, too. I witnessed how his majesty offers this marriage alliance not the other way around. The general did not do anything disrespectful to his majesty. Stop spreading false rumors." , a young soldier who is buying a sword in the stall yelled at them, defending the general. General Hagris is a hero who defended their border against the attack form neighboring kingdom. How dare them tarnish his reputation by saying nonsensical things behind his back.
The vendors hearing what the soldier said were suddenly stumped by the young soldiers words , their cheeks felt hot. They realize that what they said seem wrong and both of them are lost for words. They are so embarrassed that they don't know how to defend themselves.
Before they could even apologize, they heard another voice. That voice is full of mockery and contempt. But it was not directed to them.
That mocking words are directed to the young soldier. To be specific, the newcomers mocked what the young soldier said.
"Hmmmf !!!! .. "