CHAPTER 23: KIARA’S REPORTED HARVEY TO HER MOTHER

Outside the main hall of the royal palace.

"I demand to see my grandmother," Kiara frowned, her displeasure evident as she glared at the guards blocking her path.

Her entire body radiated fury.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Apologies, Your Highness," the guard replied, his expression stern as he recalled Harvey’s earlier instructions.

"Dr. Lucky is currently examining the Queen and must not be disturbed.

Please wait a moment."

"Since when is my presence considered a disturbance?"

Kiara’s face twisted with rage.

Her voice was icy as she berated them, stepping forward to push past.

"Get out of my way!"

Though visibly intimidated by Kiara’s wrath, the guards steeled themselves and remained rooted in place.

"Forgive us, Your Highness—"

Kiara let out a bitter laugh, her anger boiling over.

She raised her hand and struck both guards hard across the face, the sting in her palm only fueling her fury.

"If you don’t move aside this instant, I’ll have Mother send her men to arrest you both!!"

The two guards exchanged uneasy glances, their faces etched with hesitation.

Just then, a voice called out from behind.

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness."

"Harvey?"

Kiara turned to see the man emerging from the inner chamber, her brows knitting even tighter.

"What are you doing here?"

Harvey bowed respectfully, his tone gentle and composed.

"I came to pay my respects to Her Majesty."

Kiara’s anger didn’t subside at his words—if anything, it flared hotter.

"Did you order them to stop me?"

Without waiting for his reply, she scoffed and pressed on.

"I don’t care what game you’re playing.

I’m going in to see Grandmother."

"My apologies, Your Highness," Harvey said, lowering his head.

"The royal physician is currently examining Her Majesty.

She must not be disturbed.

Please wait here for now."

He couldn’t let Kiara enter—if she did, the secret about consulting a San Francisco physician would be exposed.

"Ha!

So I’m the one disturbing her, but you’re not?"

Kiara’s eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Harvey.

"I won’t repeat myself.

I’m seeing Grandmother now.

If you dare block me again, you’ll regret it."

Lifting the hem of her dress, she pushed past the two guards and marched toward the inner chamber.

Harvey couldn’t allow her inside—everything would be ruined.

He stepped in front of her, his tone polite but firm.

"Your Highness, it will take about twenty more minutes.

Please wait here."

"How dare you!"

Kiara, repeatedly thwarted, could no longer contain her rage.

She raised her hand to strike him.

Harvey came from a traditional noble family in Country E and held a high-ranking position himself.

If it had been Luna swinging at him, he wouldn’t have dared to evade.

But with Princess Kiara, who held little real authority, he simply sidestepped, letting the slap whiff past.

"Please calm yourself, Your Highness.

Just a little longer."

Kiara stumbled forward when her strike missed, barely catching her balance.

Her eyes widened as she glared at Harvey, her face twisted in fury.

"Harvey, you’ve got some nerve!!"

"My apologies, Your Highness," Harvey bowed his head, his tone growing more deferential, yet his body remained firmly planted in front of Kiara, showing no intention of stepping aside.

"Fine, just fine," Kiara gasped for breath, her chest heaving with rage as she fixed Harvey with a venomous stare.

"You old fool, just you wait."

Before the words had fully left her lips, she was already gathering her skirts and storming away.

Harvey watched Kiara’s retreating figure with a grave expression.

"With such a commotion, the Grand Princess will surely send someone soon.

I wonder if Madam Luther can rouse the Queen in time."

If not, all of them would likely face severe punishment.

And any future attempts to examine Her Majesty’s condition would become next to impossible.

Harvey glanced down at his wristwatch and sighed inwardly.

For the first time, he felt time crawling by with excruciating slowness.

Inside the palace annex at that moment...

"This incident was indeed the Nolan family’s fault," Nolan’s father said, forcing a strained smile under Luna’s piercing, authoritative gaze.

"Naturally, the compensation should be borne by our family."

A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

"I only hope Your Highness the Eldest Princess won’t hold my son’s actions against him."

"Of course," Luna replied, pouring tea for Mr. Nolan with a slow, deliberate grace.

Her voice was low, carrying an unspoken weight.

"After all, we’ll soon be family."

She handed him the cup, her smile never wavering.

"However, I don’t wish to see such incidents happen again."

Mr. Nolan felt the teacup in his hand grow unnaturally heavy, though his expression remained perfectly composed.

"Naturally—" Before he could continue, Kiara’s furious voice erupted from outside.

"Mother!"

Kiara stormed in, her dress clutched in her hands, her face flushed with anger.

Derek, the steward of the side palace, trailed behind her, his expression awkward.

Mr. Nolan immediately swallowed the rest of his words and lowered his head to sip his tea.

Luna frowned deeply at her daughter’s lack of decorum.

"Have I not told you to always mind your manners, no matter the circumstances?"

Her voice was calm, but the reprimand in her tone was unmistakable.

Only then did Kiara notice Mr. Nolan’s presence, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed her face.

"Yes, Mother," she replied, turning to Mr.Nolan Suppressing the frustration and indignation in her heart, she gave a slight curtsy.

"Uncle Nolan" Mr. Nolan was Nolan’s father—her elder, after all.

"You honor me too much, my lady," Mr. Nolan said at once, rising slightly and nodding in acknowledgment.

Luna picked up her teacup, her gaze steady on Kiara.

"What’s going on?

Must be serious for you to rush in like this."

Kiara glanced at Mr. Nolan beside her, but considering his position, she didn’t bother lowering her voice.

"It’s Harvey.

He stopped me outside Grandmother’s palace and wouldn’t let me in no matter what.

I’ve no idea what he’s playing at." Harvey?

A glimmer of understanding flashed through Mr. Nolan’s downcast eyes.

Among the current ministers, Harvey, the Minister of Justice, led the faction most favored by the Queen.

Naturally, they were also the most vocal opponents of the Crown Princess’s policies.

But even so, he wouldn’t dare bar Lady Kiara from seeing the Queen without good reason.

Something must have happened.

If Mr. Nolan could deduce this, Luna certainly had as well.

"That Harvey has grown far too bold, meddling with Mother’s affairs," she declared, slamming her cup down with a sharp clink before turning to Mr. Nolan.

"Are you coming with me to investigate, or...?"

Mr.Nolan had no intention of wading into troubled waters.

"I’ll head back first—need to discuss those international orders with Earl Easton."

"Very well, I’ll have Derek escort you out," Luna turned on her heel and strode toward the exit, her expression icy and imposing.

"Understood," Mr. Nolan gave a slight nod.

Kiara offered Mr. Nolan a brief nod as well before following Luna.

Derek stepped forward to stand before Mr. Nolan "Mr. Nolan, this way."

Without hesitation, Mr. Nolan trailed behind him as they made their way out.

Just before leaving the side chamber, he glanced back at the retreating figures of Luna and Kiara.

"Sir—"

The Nolan family driver spotted Mr. Nolan immediately opened the car door.

Once inside, Mr. Nolan wasted no time dialing his son.

After recounting the earlier events, he voiced his suspicion.

"Do you know something I don’t?"

Otherwise, why would Nolan have warned him to stay alert to the palace’s movements—especially those of Princess Luna—before his visit?

"It’s... complicated.

I’ll explain everything in person when you return," Nolan had no intention of keeping secrets now that things had escalated.

"As for whatever Luna asked of you—ignore it."