Accusations And Proposal

CLIO

One of Clio's eyebrows shot up as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Should I disturb them?" she pondered while watching Echid try his best to converse with Lady Evie.

Just a while ago, she observed the King talking to Lady Evie. But he immediately left her. Then she noticed her going to the terrace, alone.

Now Echid was trying to be a nuisance to her solitude.

It seemed like Lady Evie didn't need much help, as she ignored Echid's terrible attempt to get closer to her.

Echid can be a bit of a handful sometimes.

She was about to turn away when someone blocked her path.

"Is it true that you met my husband alone in one of the Palace hallways?" the woman barked.

It was fortunate that they were near the door between the Great Hall and the terrace. There were only a few people hanging around.

They weren't aware of the accusations that were happening at that moment.

The woman is the wife of Lord Pantero. She has been giving her an eye ever since she noticed her husband is taking an interest in her.

And now she was glaring at her as if she was a suspect of a crime she did not commit.

Clio didn't know if she would tell the truth. She seemed like she wouldn't believe her, anyway.

She decided to just give an excuse and returned to the ball.

With an elegant bow, she said, "Forgive me, but I have to attend to some matters. If you'll excuse me, my lady."

However, his wife doesn't seem to be the type who easily accepts her defeat.

She went in front of Clio as she already turned her back and criticized her. "Please stop flirting with my husband. It doesn't suit a duchess like you."

Clio's feet froze as she heard her statement. She felt her blood slowly boil within her, making her tinted cheeks redden even more.

She wanted to lash at her since it was her husband who kept on approaching her. But she can't. A duchess must always be calm and diplomatic.

Her fists balled up as she controlled herself so she could still speak gracefully when, to her surprise, someone appeared beside her.

"Your grace, my lady," Lady Evie bowed to her and Lord Pantero's wife.

Her conversation with Echid must have ended, and she was about to leave.

Clio and Lord Pantero's wife are at the only exit from the terrace where they were at. Lady Evie has no way of getting out of it unless she passes through them.

Clio thought that Lady Evie would just walk away. But she spoke, "I have something to ask about Edin, Your grace." Then she faced Lord Pantero's wife and said, "-if you don't mind, my lady."

Her face seemed sincere when she said that, making Lord Pantero's wife perplexed, and she stepped back, "It's all right, Lady Evie. I have already stated my purpose."

Her eyes rolled at Clio as she held her elbows wide away from her body.

Clio's tensed muscles slowly relaxed. She thought that everything was fine since she and Lady Evie were already leaving.

But she didn't expect what Lady Evie said next.

"Maybe you should check on your marriage first. There could be a reason your husband is straying away, my lady. If you'll excuse us - "

She didn't even see how Lord Pantero's wife's jaw dropped in aghast at her appalling statement because she had already pivoted to walk away.

"If you'll excuse us," Clio pressed her lips to hide her smile before bowing to Lord Pantero's wife and walking away with Lady Evie.

Clio didn't know how to face Lady Evie. She has heard everything. But she was grateful that she defended her at that time, which she didn't expect that she would do.

She decided to just go to a room where it was only the two of them. Clio immediately explained, "I didn't flirt with her husband."

Lady Evie stood still for a few seconds before responding with an impassive face. "I'm not really after that. I just want to ask if anyone has tried leaving Edin before."

Both of Clio's eyebrows shot up as she pondered, 'So she really has something to ask from me. That's it? But she shamed that woman. She could have just stayed silent after stating her intentions.'

She glanced at Lady Evie again, who was looking around the room as if she was memorizing every detail.

'At least she wasn't negative about that issue,' Clio thought as she cleared her throat.

"No one dared, Lady Evie. Edin has tight security. Leaving it is out of the question. But why do you ask?" she inquired, even though she already knew the answer.

They must have failed in their attempt to go back, using conventional methods.

"How tight is it?" Lady Evie responded, without answering her question.

With that, Clio was taken aback. Her eyes widened in surprise. 'Is she willing to go through that trouble just to come back to her world?'

She drew in a deep breath before warning her, "It could be fatal, my lady. You must have a good reason for risking your life if you are planning to do that."

"I think not wanting to be the queen is good enough," Lady Evie responded, which shocked Clio's calm demeanor.

Her knees trembled, making her grasp the table near her for support.

"What do you mean?" she immediately retorted in a quivering voice.

Color drained from Clio's lips as Lady Evie told her about the Emperor's proposal.

A vein in her forehead bulged as she thought how risky that offer was, not just for Edin but for the King as well.

The Emperor has been known to make ridiculous decisions, though everything always worked in the end.

But this is the most outrageous thing she has heard of!

'I should have advanced on with my plan then. But I have to handle this first.,' she tilted her chin as she made her decision.

"Maybe I could help you, somehow. But don't let anyone know that I supported your decision," she cautioned her.

"My gratitude, my lady." Lady Evie bowed down to her.

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Accusations can ruin lives. Before you accuse and condemn, you better know what you are talking about. If you didn't witness it yourself, then don't assume everything you hear is true.