I Became the Abandoned Daughter of an Underworld Boss - Ch. 58

“What did you just say?”

Alice, who had come to mediate, was more shocked than the knight commander.

Even though she was standing right in front of him, Asil’s tone was so cold. It sent shivers down her spine, even in the warmth of spring.

Alice was bewildered.

‘What’s going on, Asil? Do you really mean that? Not acknowledging the kingdom’s knights means you’re also dismissing me. I came all this way to help you, and this is how you act?’

Yes, when Alice saw Yuriana’s dirty state, even as a complete stranger, her heart ached.

How could the kingdom’s proud knights dirty such a small child and not even offer an apology?

What a disgrace.

But Asil, I’m here.

I came here myself so that you could scold them and at least speak a word to me. Aren’t we close enough for that?

Now… now you’re ignoring me right in front of my eyes?

‘That child is not someone you should care about. Do you even know who her real mother is? If you had any inkling, you’d be horrified!’

‘Oh… Dad.’

Yuriana was just as confused as Alice.

She only wanted an apology, but now they were talking about canceling their entire trip to Elodia! Maybe she shouldn’t have lost her temper.

So many people followed along, excited to see the elf country. How disappointed would they be…?

She was starting to regret it, as this might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity slipping away.

“D… Dad…”

Yuriana’s lips quivered.

But Asil, enraged, remained firm.

“This is more than just a minor disturbance.”

“….”

“The royal decree I received clearly states that my daughter and I are permitted to travel to Elodia and back. The knight commander must have seen the same document. But despite that, we were immediately disrespected once we left the capital! How can we possibly continue with them?”

Asil glared at the curly-haired man, who had fallen to the ground and was now being helped up by his colleagues.

It was fortunate that the man’s head was bowed, sparing him from the ferocious gaze of Asil, which he would not have dared to meet. If he had seen it, he might have soiled himself in fear.

At that moment, another person arrived to help. Karas, flanked by three guards, made his entrance.

He had been worried after seeing Queen Alice pass by, so he hurried over.

“Has this matter not been resolved yet?”

That familiar, comforting voice!

Yuriana almost teared up, but she didn’t look in Karas’s direction.

Her father was standing strong and proud, and she couldn’t afford to lose her composure now.

‘Ah…!’

Karas immediately glanced toward Yuriana when he arrived.

Her face, hair, and even her clothes had all become dirty with mud. Despite this, Yuriana stood quietly, without tears.

Her small fists clenched tightly like little stones.

‘Those hands should be holding flowers and toys, not clenching like that.’

Poor Yuriana.

Although the young boy was furious, he held back his emotions in front of the queen. Instead, he silently offered his support to Yuriana.

‘Yuriana, you’re a brave child. You didn’t tolerate the kingdom’s knights mocking you and your father. Well done.’

Karas had something else he truly wanted to do.

He wanted to ignore the queen, the knight commander, Charon, and Baine—all of them who disapproved of him.

Right now, he just wanted to rush to Yuriana’s side, brush off the dirt with his own hands, and give her his clean clothes to wear. That was how much he cared for her, but he also respected her wishes.

“Doesn’t the kingdom’s knight know how to apologize?”

Karas sharply got to the heart of the issue. He didn’t seem like a clumsy nine-year-old boy anymore.

“….!!!”

“Hah.”

Alice was stunned that someone from the empire would side with Dark Town.

Karas continued his rebuke.

“We haven’t even crossed Elodia’s border yet. If we’re already facing this kind of friction, what can we accomplish? The King of Nea is hoping for the three factions to cooperate and return in harmony, but this shameful display—what do you expect him to think?”

Al silently appreciated Karas’ logical argument.

Well done, young lord!

Karas stood firm under the gazes of everyone.

The boy hadn’t come here just as the heir of a fallen noble family from the empire.

He had come temporarily bearing the authority of the emperor, his uncle, as the empire’s envoy.

He couldn’t cower or retreat in front of the kingdom’s people. Harun had given him strict orders.

“….”

Even Baine, who usually wished for Karas’ downfall, kept his mouth shut.

The knights’ actions had been so disgraceful. Even ancient enemies should have the decency to feign civility in front of their country’s interests.

Even a street thug would say, “Oops, sorry, little one,” and move on if a small girl burst into tears.

Karas decided to deliver a final ultimatum.

“I am here with an imperial decree, so if this situation with Dark Town isn’t resolved, I will take alternative measures.”

“What?”

The boy addressed the knight commander instead of Alice.

“Commander, please escort the queen and her party to Elodia with those brave knights. I will stay here and try to change their minds, then join you in Elodia later. I’m not sure how long it will take, so don’t look back and proceed.”

“But that’s —!”

“……”

Alice knew she had no choice but to agree with the boy, who was smaller than her.

She no longer felt anger or disbelief. Instead, the Queen of Nea glared fiercely at the knights who had caused this incident.

This all happened because they couldn’t even offer a simple apology in the first place, right?

‘Pathetic!’

Only then did the knights realize they had been backed into a corner.

Reluctantly, they grabbed the curly-haired person’s arm and knelt down.

“We apologize!”

“It was our fault. We almost ruined the mission over a trivial matter.”

“We will repent to ensure this never happens again.”

“Your Majesty, Queen…”

As everyone involved in the mud incident knelt, Yuriana’s frail legs buckled.

She had endured too much for too long.

This wasn’t something a seven-year-old girl should have had to face. Even an adult with a weak constitution might have fainted halfway through.

“Miss!”

The startled Levina caught Yuriana as she staggered, and Asil, who had finished dealing with the standoff, hurried to his daughter.

Karas almost told them to apologize properly to Yuriana but held back.

Poor Yuriana.

This had to end here, if only for her sake.

“I’ll trust your word. Since we’re in a hurry, return to your posts.”

“Yes!”

Asil carefully lifted the exhausted Yuriana into his arms.

“Levina, I’ll take care of this, so return to your carriage and collect yourself. Everyone, prepare to depart!”

“… understood.”

‘What a disgusting journey.’

Asil wanted to cancel the trip to Elodia right then and there.

What was all of this? Things had been fine when they were just watching field mice scamper through the grass with Yuriana for a brief moment.

But the arrogant kingdom knights, who carried their pride heavier than their swords, had ruined the journey.

Yet, he had to tolerate it for the sake of his agreement with Harun and for Aidan’s sake. That only made him more frustrated.

The other side probably knew he couldn’t refuse all the way to the end, didn’t they?

This world was truly dirty.

“……”

“We should head back too, young lord.”

“Understood. Your Majesty the Queen of Nea, I hope this incident didn’t sour our relations too much.”

Karas calmly wrapped up the matter.

“How could that be? It’s the queen’s duty to embrace everything for the kingdom. I apologize for showing such a disgraceful sight.”

Alice smiled unexpectedly warmly and prepared to return to the front of the procession.

Before leaving, Karas looked regretfully at Yuriana’s silver hair as she was being carried into the carriage.

‘I hope she doesn’t suffer.’

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

The knight commander, with Alice riding behind him, apologized again.

“I’m truly sorry, Your Majesty. It’s my fault for not properly disciplining the knights before we departed.”

“Make sure to warn them not to cause any more conflicts. I can overlook the back-and-forth, but stirring up rumors is unpleasant.”

“Yes!”

The knight commander was already thinking about how to discipline the knights who had caused this mess once they returned to the kingdom.

Even without the queen’s orders, he wouldn’t let it slide.

After laying Yuriana down in the carriage, Asil stepped outside again.

He received towels, a wet cloth, and a change of clothes from the waiting maids but didn’t rush back inside.

That was how shocking today’s events had been.

It wasn’t the first time Dark Town had been ignored by people from the kingdom, however.

To think that, even with the king’s permission, they were treated this way as soon as they left the capital!

But it wasn’t just anger they felt.

Many were moved by how Asil and Yuriana had maintained their dignity until the end.

“Boss…!”

One of Dark Town’s guards was close to tears.

“Boss, you did well. We can’t lose to those arrogant kingdom knights! We really gave them a taste of their own medicine.”

Asil’s lips parted.

“Hold on. Who was the one who loudly boasted about saving me? Should I take that as a sign of confidence in your abilities?”

“Hic!”

The person who had spoken hiccupped.

“Well then, when we reach Dark Town, let’s see about that. If you can’t beat me in a duel, I’ll hang you upside down from the bell tower for three days. A man should keep his word, don’t you think?”

“Bo-boss…”

“From now on, only make promises you can keep.”

Though Asil’s words were fierce, there was a hint of humor in his expression, as if to reassure them.

This, too, was a new development since someone came to Dark House last year.

The third guard, who had spoken boldly earlier, clamped his hands over his mouth and remained silent.

If they find out, I’m dead. It seemed like they already had.