🔊 TTS Settings
CHAPTER 76…………..
A few days passed in lazy idleness.
My body was still like a broken wooden doll, far from fully healed, but thanks to Pascal’s treatment, I was slowly improving.
During that time, I managed to hear from Mother’s maids what had happened while I had been unconscious.
“Ilia and Mulin were imprisoned…?”
“Yes. His Majesty decreed it, saying they failed in their duty to properly serve a member of the Imperial family.”
“Th-then what about Sir Cecil…?”
“I heard he was suspended from duty. In fact, he even resigned his position as captain.”
“No… that can’t be….”
“P-please don’t worry, Your Highness! His Majesty will surely assign excellent attendants and guards to you instead—”
“No, I’m going to see His Majesty. No— I will go. Help me up.”
“Y-Your Highness?!”
My maid, Lina, stared at me in horror.
To her, I probably looked like I might collapse and start coughing blood at any moment.
“N-no, absolutely not! Where do you think you can go in that state…!”
“They were only following my orders— that’s why this happened!”
“Even so, the fact remains that they failed in their duty.”
Lina spoke coolly, stripping away all sentiment.
I bit my lip hard.
She fidgeted nervously, then tried to distract me by holding out a plate of pudding.
“So please eat this. It’s delicious.”
“I don’t want any….”
“But this is a snack the Empress herself prepared for you with great care. If you leave it, she’ll be hurt.”
“….”
“And His Majesty visits you regularly. You can ask him then.”
I had no choice but to take the plate.
The pudding jiggled as I ate it, but I couldn’t taste anything.
About thirty minutes later, the Emperor came to visit.
The moment our eyes met, I clasped my hands together and drooped my shoulders gloomily.
“Your Majesty….”
“First Princess?”
At my appearance, he strode over quickly.
Before he could even kneel before me, I blurted out my concern.
“Where are my maids and Sir Cecil? I haven’t seen them for days.”
At my question feigning ignorance, his expression darkened instantly.
“Why bother with underlings who couldn’t even serve their mistress properly?”
“No, Ilia and Mulin would never…! And besides, Sir Cecil only left because I asked him to. He couldn’t help it—”
The Emperor cut me off.
“Since you’ve brought them up, let me ask you something.”
He gently tucked a stray lock of my hair behind my ear. At his unfamiliar touch, I flinched, but he held my gaze.
“You lost the artifact I bestowed upon you. Why did you hide that from me?”
“Th-that…”
“Cecil Blonmind told me. While touring the Third District with Lady Elliette, you lost the artifact I gave you.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I am not asking for an apology. I am asking why you concealed something you should have reported.”
He continued, voice steady.
“Even if you had lost it, I would simply have procured another. But why did you feel the need to hide it from me?”
“….”
“Answer me, First Princess.”
I fiddled with the blanket, eyes darting nervously.
What excuse could I give?
If I said I lost his gift, wouldn’t he see me once again as a troublesome child?
I realized that must have been why I kept silent.
After all, I had only just begun to receive his attention.
It had only been three months since my return.
A short time, yet long enough for some things to become familiar— while others never did.
For me, what never felt natural was someone’s genuine affection.
Mother’s.
The Emperor’s.
The kindness of those around me.
It all felt too unreal, too unfamiliar.
And so I hadn’t known how to explain.
Then—
“Your Highness is angry at His Majesty.”
Mulin’s words resurfaced in my mind.
At the time, I hadn’t understood her. But now… I finally did.
“So please, tell him all the hurt you’ve been carrying. Promise me, Your Highness.”
“…Why did I hide it, you ask?”
The Emperor gave a faint nod. His eyes on me were softer than ever before.
Perhaps… perhaps now, even if I told him my true feelings, he wouldn’t kill me, nor hate me.
Taking a deep breath, I spoke:
“Because I didn’t want to disappoint Your Majesty again. That’s why I secretly asked Sir Cecil to retrieve it for me. But… I never imagined it would turn into such a mess. I’m sorry. But, Your Majesty…”
“….”
“If I had done the same thing a year ago… would you have forgiven me then?”
“….”
I let out a bitter smile and continued.
“I’ve only just begun to receive Your Majesty’s attention. So of course I tried desperately. The only ones who can keep me safe are myself— and you.”
“….”
“I truly love you.”
“…Prin— …Lilienne.”
Lilienne Sha Caliburg.
For the first time, he spoke my name aloud.
He seemed unfamiliar with it himself, as if the sound on his lips startled him.
And that made me want to laugh and cry all at once.
“I love you, Your Majesty. But… just as much, I hate you to death.”
“….”
“For abandoning me, for always turning away from me, and even for this sudden care you now show me… it all hurts too much.”
Neither Mother nor the Emperor had truly been the one to support me.
It was because of them.
Cecil. Ilia. Mulin.
Because those three believed in me and stood by me, I had been able to endure and hold myself with dignity.
The two who silently encouraged me with their hearts—
And the red-haired woman who swung her blade to cut away the thorns blocking my path.
“Please return them to me, Your Majesty. The people you gave me.”
“….”
“Even the smallest scrap of affection you’ve shown me… I could endure years on that alone.”
The Emperor gave no reply.
But in his eyes, I saw a storm of tangled emotions: sadness, guilt, despair.
I could not name them all, but—
“At least this much I know.”
My words had reached him.
Mulin, you were right.
I really must have been carrying so much anger all this time.
I couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“You’ll give them back, won’t you? That’s all I need.”
The Emperor’s face twisted in sorrow.
