Chapter 9

“Sis, are you angry?”

The clothes worn on his body dispelled the chill from Enid Johnson’s body, reviving her heart, which had seemingly fallen into icy despair.

As she struggled to survive in the lake, Ingrid Johnson’s only thought was of Una Rhodes.

He fantasized that Una Rhodes would appear again and save him from his troubles. But Una Rhodes never showed up. He had to climb out of the lake alone, completely soaked.

Walking along the path paved with cobblestones, Ingrid Johnson smiled self-deprecatingly. Now, she needed to go back and change into clean clothes, so as not to bring shame to the royal family.

But he wasn’t willing to accept that. Una Rhodes was the only one who was willing to shine upon him.

With uncertain feelings, Ingrid Johnson made her way to the entrance of the shooting range. She stared at Una Rhodes, who seemed full of confidence and energy. It seemed that Una Rhodes wasn’t affected in any way by his disappearance; she didn’t show even a hint of worry.

Fortunately, Una Rhodes still noticed his existence and gave him warmth in a way he never expected.

“I’m not angry,” said Una Rhodes. Looking at the pitiful-looking child behind her, she sighed and adjusted his clothes. “Can you go back by yourself?”

“No!” Enid Johnson’s eyes lit up. She grabbed Una Rhodes by the hem of her dress and pleaded softly, “Sister, please take me back home?”

Repressing her anger, Una Rhodes murmured to herself: “This is the next emperor. We must not offend him, under no circumstances!”

“Okay, go back and rest properly.”

Una Rhodes held Enid Johnson’s hand as they walked together to the entrance of the courtyard.

Only after seeing Enid Johnson enter the courtyard did Una Rhodes turn around and head back to her own courtyard along the path. She’d go back to the shooting range later. For now, all she wanted to do was take a bath and change clothes.

After Ingrid Johnson’s dirty little hands touched the training clothes adorned with silver embroidery in dark lines, Una Rhodes no longer wanted to wear them.

……

“Achoo!”

Enid Johnson sneezed loudly, then hid under the covers in bed.

Since being pushed into the lake the day before yesterday, Enid Johnson has caught a cold. She’s been bedridden ever since. Although the mute maid couldn’t speak, she was someone Enid Johnson could trust.

Una Rhodes was expected to come see him, but Ingrid Johnson waited all day with no sign of Una Rhodes.

Unable to wait any longer, Ingrid Johnson ignored her illness and stepped outside wrapped in her cloak. Ever since she appeared before the king last time and was rewarded with the “four treasures of the study,” Ingrid Johnson’s days had become less difficult.

At least all of the autumn clothes were delivered as promised, so Ingrid Johnson now has clothes to keep warm in.

Walking along the palace walls, Enid Johnson really didn’t want to go out. Yet, she couldn’t resist the urge to see Una Rhodes. She coughed as she pulled her cloak tighter around herself.

Before even turning the corner, she saw two people standing by the lake. She would never mistake those figures for anyone else but Ingrid Johnson.

Along the path, Enid Johnson stood hidden in the bamboo grove behind the two of them. Eavesdropping wasn’t the behavior of a gentleman. But Enid Johnson wasn’t a gentleman at all—she was merely a wretched creature struggling to survive within these palace walls.

“Yi’er, were you the one who did that?” Una Rhodes held a blue-and-white porcelain bowl in her right hand, containing fish bait. With her left hand, she scattered some fish food onto the surface of the lake.

It caused the greedy koi fish in the water to jump out of the water one after another.

“What did my sister say?” Jing Yi paid no attention to what had happened earlier. She kept her eyes open and lied, “How could Yi not understand?”

Una Rhodes kept her hands busy, her gaze fixed on the fish in the water. The children in the palace were fine in every way, but they were too deep-minded. Though intelligent, they liked to play games of mystery with others.

“Hachioji, stop provoking him, hear me?” Una Rhodes warned. Whether Jing Yi would listen or not wasn’t her concern.

To put it simply, Lao Ba was Una Rhodes’s favorite among all the princes. He was young and had a pleasant way of speaking. He loved to follow Una Rhodes around, calling her “sister” over and over again. In short, he was a complete puppy love type.

The best thing about him is that he’s obedient, willing to listen to Una Rhodes’s advice, and ready to make changes.

In her past life, she was manipulated by Una Rhodes, becoming a stepping stone for Robert Johnson to rise to power. Feeling guilty, Una Rhodes unconsciously developed deep affection for Jing Yi.

Although Una Rhodes can’t yet see what makes Ingrid Johnson so special, anyone who’s considered worthy of being her uncle’s heir must have some unique qualities. The Eighth Prince is still young and prone to playing tricks. If he keeps bullying Ingrid Johnson, it’s only a matter of time before she holds a grudge against him.

If she became the most troublesome person on Enid Johnson’s path to the throne, her fate would surely be tragic. She couldn’t bear to watch that little troublemaker bring disaster upon herself, so she had to give her some advice.

“I know, my sister is just too talkative. I won’t bother that bastard anymore.”

Jing Yi pouted, clearly unhappy. She threw the fish food in the pond and walked away impatiently. Una Rhodes wasn’t annoyed at all. She carried the fish food and followed behind.

Only Enid Johnson, who had been eavesdropping in the bamboo grove, stood there, staring blankly at the deep pool of water.

Una Rhodes didn’t ask at the time, but did she still worry about him having fallen into the water?

This was the first time Ingrid Johnson had realized how wonderful it felt to be cherished by someone. It made him want to be the only person in Una Rhodes’s heart. He had suffered so much in life that even this little bit of sweetness was worth savoring deeply.

Immediately afterwards, Ingrid Johnson thought about the gap in their social status and felt disappointed.

Although, in theory, a prince was far nobler than a noblewoman, Ingrid Johnson knew full well the real differences between them. Without the emperor’s favor or his own family’s support, what did he have to offer to Una Rhodes?

Such a dazzling, kind-hearted girl, spoiled by everyone around her, surely deserves the best things in the world.

There’s no other reason. After much thought, Enid Johnson realized that the most honorable position for a woman was that of a queen. Only by marrying Una Rhodes as a queen could she truly deserve such a beautiful and remarkable woman.

He must obtain the position of crown prince!

Una Rhodes had no idea that her casual remarks had somehow motivated Enid Johnson, who had previously been content to live a lazy life. Now, Una was worried about something else entirely.

The autumn hunt is approaching. As usual, although she’s supposed to participate, she’ll probably just stay at the headquarters. But this year is different. Una Rhodes wants to go hunting and win first place.

When she was a noble lady living in her boudoir, she was renowned throughout the capital for her skills in playing the zither, playing chess, painting, and calligraphy. There’s no reason why, after leaving her boudoir, she should become unknown.

If you have the ability, why hide it?

And autumn hunting was the perfect opportunity for Una Rhodes to show herself. She wanted all the men in the world to see that, whether she remained unmarried in her boudoir or chose to marry, she would never willingly humiliate herself. If she was to act, she would do so boldly and without hesitation, so as not to waste another lifetime.

Early that morning on the day of the autumn hunt, Una Rhodes left the general’s residence together with her mother, with Eileen Rhodes following behind them.

As a general, Glen Rhodes, of course, went to the royal hunting grounds with the king and his officials.

Today, Una Rhodes wore a hunting dress, looking stunningly brave. Her black hair was tied up in a hairstyle typical of men, making her truly unforgettable.