The Hero's Forsaken Princess
Chapter 45: Pledge Loyalty

Chapter 45: Pledge Loyalty

Eve was so determined to treat the snake bite. Sera and the other knights just watched her silently. Everyone had mixed emotions about this.

Randolf was the knight who insulted Eve last night, calling her dim-witted and sickly. But despite that, Eve didn’t harbor grudges as she tried to save him.

After a few minutes, Eve stopped sucking on the wound. She stopped the spreading of the venom and drained it from his body.

Eve instructed Marie and Claire.

[ Please get me a glass of water. Also, look for a vervain. I’m going to apply it directly to the wound. ]

The two servants immediately took action, following her instructions.

Meanwhile, Sera grabbed Eve’s shoulders and asked, "Your Highness, are you okay? You were not supposed to do that! Come with me. I have to bring you to the doctor. You might be poisoned as well."

But Eve just shook her head, giving her a reassuring smile.

[ I’m fine, Sera. I won’t get affected by the venom. I will drink tea later with a mixture of vervain. It’s the best remedy to remove the poison. ] Eve knew what she was doing.

In a brief moment, Randolf, the knight, finally regained consciousness.

"W-What happened?" He asked his comrades in his hoarse voice.

"You are safe now! Princess Eve treated you!" A knight exclaimed, heaving a sigh of relief.

Randolf was stupefied upon hearing that. Then he glanced at Eve with conflicting thoughts.

’The princess saved me... despite the harsh things I said about her.’

Randolf immediately dropped to his knees, bowing his head in front of Princess Eve.

"Your Highness. I don’t deserve it. I’ve done you wrong. I was rude to you. Please punish me!"

Randolf regretted what he had said last night, insulting Eve. He didn’t expect her to be this kind. She even made an effort to save his life.

"I owe you my life, Your Highness. You can take it away if you want." Randolf felt so guilty toward Princess Eve.

The other knights also knelt on the ground, joining him as they asked for forgiveness from Eve.

"We were wrong, Your Highness. Please punish us!" They said in unison.

Eve blinked in amusement as she watched the row of knights kneeling before her.

They admitted to their wrongdoings and asked for the punishment that they deserved. Someone even offered his sword to her.

But Eve didn’t want to punish them. She understood why they acted that way last night. They didn’t know her. And they could only believe the rumors.

All she wanted was a chance to be understood and accepted by Alaric’s knights without their prejudice.

Eve placed her arms on Randolf’s shoulders. She also lifted his head so that he could meet her eyes. She smiled at him faintly.

"Her Highness asks of you to stand up," Sera delivered her message to the knights.

Sera handed Eve the quill pen and pad so she could communicate with the knights.

[ There is no need for punishment. I understand where you were coming from. There are lots of things you don’t know about me. I appreciate that you acknowledge your mistakes. I forgive you all. ]

[ But there is one thing I want to ask from all of you. ] Eve darted her gaze among the knights, meeting their eyes.

[ Please give me a chance to show you the real me. I hope you can also accept me for who I am.... as Alaric’s wife... not as the third princess of Kingdom Averion. I want to get along well with all of you. ]

Everyone was taken aback upon seeing her notes. Sincerity could be seen in her emerald eyes.

The knights realized how unfair they were in treating Princess Eve. They started regretting their rude behavior toward her.

’Princess Eve has a kind heart.’

Eve’s sincere words had won them over.

The knights knelt once more, placing their fists on their chests as though they were making a knight’s oath.

"We thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. We vow to protect you with our lives!"

Eve was overwhelmed as the knights pledged loyalty to her. She had never expected that a simple act of kindness would gain their trust.

She almost teared up, touched by the knights’ gesture. She felt so grateful to them.

However, the joyful moment was interrupted when someone spoke up from behind.

"Did I miss a very significant event here?" A throaty chuckle bubbled up.

Everyone turned their gaze in the direction of the sound.

Eve’s jaw dropped upon seeing the person. She recognized Gideon’s voice. However, his current appearance was entirely different from his usual look.

He wore brightly colored clothes, resembling those of a nobleman. A fake mustache was also attached to his chiseled jaw.

"Who are you?" Sera asked Gideon, her sharp eyes scrutinizing him from head to toe.

Gideon cleared his throat while eyeing Eve meaningfully.

"I’m Professor Deon, Princess Eve’s teacher. The royal family sent me here to continue Her Highness’ formal education. Though she now belongs to the Stormholt Household, she still needs to fulfill her duties as royalty."

Seeing Eve’s amazed expression, Gideon playfully winked at her. He knew that his disguise was foolproof. No one would question his identity.

Meanwhile, Sera glanced at Eve. "Do you know her, Your Highness?"

Sera was the most cautious person among them. She was tasked to secure Eve’s safety, so she wouldn’t allow a stranger or a suspicious person enter the Stormholt Manor.

Eve smiled awkwardly before nodding her head.

Seeing Eve’s affirmation, Sera finally lowered her guard against Gideon.

"Your Highness, are you ready for our lesson?" Gideon said, his eyes glinting with humor.

Eve bobbed her head frantically, excitement evident in her eyes!

’I can’t wait! Our training will start today!’

"Claire, please escort Professor Deon to the library," Sera commanded the servant.

Then she shifted her gaze to Marie. "Prepare a bath for Princess Eve."

The two servants turned and left to fulfill their tasks.

Meanwhile, Eve gave the glass of water to Randolf. Then she directly applied the vervain to his bite mark. Randolf thanked her once more.

Ever since that day, the knights changed the way they treated Princess Eve.