🔊 TTS Settings
CHAPTER 13
“I never expected His Majesty to be so fond of the Second Princess. There have been previous monarchs who celebrated their favored child’s birthday for a week, but holding a banquet for an entire month? That’s unprecedented.”
“Well, His Majesty’s love for his youngest daughter is well-known. Still… it’s a bit much…”
An awkward silence fell among the noblewomen.
They had much they wanted to say, but their current location—the Imperial Palace—kept their tongues in check.
One of them, a brown-haired lady, forced a smile and said, “Well… nothing to do but enjoy it, I suppose. I do worry about my estate, though…” Her words drew a collective sigh of agreement.
I looked at that noblewoman closely.
‘Marchioness Beysa Eolin.’
Her husband was the Chancellor of the Academy and one of the few nobles with voting power in the Imperial Council.
She had such a good sense for business that whenever nobles launched ventures, she was the first person they approached. In other words, she was a desirable ally.
I glanced around and pretended to trip, making it seem accidental.
“Ouch…”
The noblewomen flinched at the sudden sound, their shoulders twitching.
They turned toward the source of the noise, and upon spotting me, they looked relieved.
‘So I’m so out of favor with the Emperor that they don’t even care if they’re seen gossiping in front of me?’
“Goodness, First Princess, are you all right?”
Just as I had that thought, Beysa Eolin hurried over and inspected me carefully.
She had a son around my age, and she helped me up with motherly concern in her eyes.
“Oh dear, it seems the Princess’s foot got caught on some thorn bushes right where she was standing.”
“Oh my, really? Why are there thorn bushes in a place like this…”
“What is the gardener even doing, letting something so dangerous grow here…”
I looked around as the ladies chattered.
This part of the garden was closest to my palace. The skilled gardener had already been taken by Yevgeny and her brother, leaving me with someone who was basically a leech on the royal payroll.
I recalled the lazy gardener who arrived late on his first day and hid in a corner of the garden to eat snacks given by the maids.
‘If I ever gain His Majesty’s trust, replacing the staff is the first thing I’ll do.’
I chuckled to myself at the thought.
“Marchioness Eolin, you’re very kind. Thank you.”
“It’s only natural. But still, I’m worried you may have injured yourself. Should we call the palace physician?”
“There’s no wound. I must’ve gotten lucky and missed the thorns.”
“I see.”
Only then did the Marchioness breathe a sigh of relief. I narrowed my eyes slightly and murmured,
“You worry as if it were your own child. You really are a gentle soul.”
The reason I chose her wasn’t just her powerful background. I had always respected Beysa Eolin’s nature.
Up until the day I died at Yevgeny’s hands, she had never once spoken ill of me.
Instead, her gaze had always been full of pity.
So much so that it felt like she wanted to take me in herself.
‘Back then, that gaze made me uncomfortable, so I kept my distance.’
But should I continue to do so now?
My hand, scraped from the fall, had turned red.
Any other child might have burst into tears from the sting.
But I made sure the injury was visible to Beysa Eolin and smiled brightly.
“Don’t worry, Marchioness. A scratch like this doesn’t hurt me at all. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
“…Pardon?”
I then leaned in and whispered softly, just loud enough for her to hear.
“As you can see, I’m often in a daze and trip easily. I’ve gotten used to the pain. Even the maids hardly pay attention anymore.”
Which was to say—I was insignificant.
“And I don’t want to burden them. I’d rather the staff assigned to me be used for my frailer younger sister. Both Their Majesties are always so attentive to Yevgeny’s health.”
I was pointing out the Emperor’s neglect.
“Oh, ah…! I-I meant to say that thanks to the Second Prince’s ‘training,’ this kind of injury doesn’t bother me.”
I had just revealed—innocently—that Iabel was relentlessly tormenting me.
The other noblewomen, seeing us whispering, began stealing glances, covering their mouths with their fans.
“I’m sorry to bother you, Marchioness. I must be off; I have urgent business.”
As I tried to rise, she gently grabbed my wrist.
“Your Highness, forgive me, but would you wait here a moment?”
“Weren’t you spending time with the other ladies?”
“I was. But this is more important. I must postpone our meeting.”
She straightened and walked over to the others, bowing slightly as she seemed to explain something.
The noblewomen narrowed their eyes at me and the Marchioness.
“For your own sake, don’t get too close to the First Princess, Marchioness.”
Even in the faint hum of voices, that particular line rang loud and clear.
Once finished, Beysa returned, and the other noblewomen left the garden.
I looked at her with innocent curiosity.
“What did you tell them? I’m worried they made the trip for nothing because of me.”
“It’s nothing of the sort, Your Highness.”
She smiled, but her lips trembled slightly.
Noticing her pale complexion, I asked gently,
“Are you all right? You seem unwell. Shall I summon the court physician?”
“…No, I just feel a little faint… Besides, if Your Highness doesn’t summon the doctor for your own wounds, how could I possibly trouble you for mine? But may I take a look at your palm?”
She gestured toward a nearby garden rest area.
It had a lovely white canopy and a gorgeous tea table, but it had clearly been neglected—dust and fallen leaves marred the view.
I hesitated before nodding and walked with her toward the space.
As I rushed toward the tea table and rummaged in my pocket, Beysa asked curiously,
“Your Highness, what are you…?”
“Ah, it’s just…”
I glanced at the chair, and she stepped further inside, looking over the rest area.
It was a beautiful space befitting royalty, but poor maintenance had left it dusty and overgrown.
“Why is the upkeep…”
So lacking?
Though she didn’t say it aloud, I could feel the unsaid words.
Embarrassed, I blushed and rambled,
“The gardener’s just… been very busy. Please don’t mind it too much. Actually… if you’re okay with it, shall we go to my palace instead?”
It was just past the rest area. I fidgeted with my fingers.
“But if we go to my palace… rumors might spread… Maybe I should just go to the infirmary alone.”
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“Whatever you choose is fine by me. After all, you are the most noble lady in the Empire—after Her Majesty the Empress, of course.”
Beysa smiled warmly as she spoke.
I looked at her, dazed.
She glanced at the dusty area and said cheerfully,
“Doesn’t it feel like seeing an old, forgotten scene? There’s a raw beauty to it. I quite like it.”
“…Thank you, even if it’s just flattery.”
“Oh, but I really do enjoy this kind of unusual charm.”
Then she asked, “May I take a look at your wound now?” I reluctantly moved forward.
I laid out a handkerchief on a chair and gestured for her to sit. She gave me an awkward smile.
“Shouldn’t Your Highness sit there instead?”
“It’s better for you to sit, Marchioness. You’ll be going back into the banquet hall, after all. I can change my dress, but you don’t have a spare.”
“But still…”
“I’m really okay. Just you looking at my wound is more than enough.”
“…Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
She sat down on the handkerchief I had placed and smiled awkwardly.
Relieved, I was about to sit as well when she stopped me.
“Since you’ve offered something, I should return the gesture.”
She laid her own handkerchief down and offered me a seat.
Surprised, I looked at her. She extended her hand and said,
“Now, please show me your hand, Your Highness.”
“My son’s always getting hurt, so I keep first-aid supplies on me. I even have a bandage.”
As she treated my wound, I nodded along to her words.
Soon, my palm was disinfected, medicated, and bandaged.
“Thank you, Marchioness. I won’t forget this favor.”
“It was only natural.”
She smiled, and I narrowed my eyes slightly. Just as I stood, she tried to do the same.
“Please let me wash and return your handkerchief, Marchioness.”
“Pardon?”
“As a token of thanks. May I?”
She blinked, then nodded. She picked up my handkerchief and said,
“Then I should return your kindness. I’m stuck in the palace for a while, so it may take time, but I’ll care for your handkerchief as soon as I return home.”
A reason to see her again—unexpected, but welcome.
‘I’m glad she’s acting just as I predicted. Well done, Beysa Eolin.’
I hid my darker thoughts behind a bright, “Then I’ll be counting on you.”
After that, Beysa excused herself.
I saw her off, then glanced at my bandaged hand.
“Ilia’s going to scold me…”
I could already hear her nagging voice in my head.
“If I hide my hand, she won’t notice, right?”
Just as I turned to leave, I heard it.
“Where is Princess Lilien?”
“P-Prince Iabel… Her Highness stepped out for a bit…”
“Where to? You lot should know.”
“S-She said she was taking a walk in the garden…”
“The garden?”
Iabel, harassing the palace guards in front of my quarters, was trying to figure out where I was.
“Of all places, why’s he standing in front of my palace…?”
Muttering under my breath, I dove into the bushes.
I saw him stomp off toward the garden.
Luckily, it seemed he didn’t spot me.
“What do I do? If I go back now, the guards will tell him where I’ve been…”
I couldn’t go anywhere else, and my dress was too light to wander through the Hies Garden.
‘If I catch a cold now… I can’t waste time like this.’
Just as I was about to panic—
“Are you in trouble, Your Highness?”
“Very much so… Huh?”
“May I help you?”
The familiar voice floated over me like a fluttering butterfly.
Turning quickly, I saw a familiar face framed in sunlight.
His obsidian-black hair fluttered in the wind, and his deep, sea-like eyes stared at me calmly. Then he smiled faintly.
“Shall we run away together?”
“…Young Duke.”
I called his name, and Richard glanced behind me.
Where he looked stood Iabel, his face twisted with rage for reasons I didn’t know.
‘What if it’s not just a fireball this time…?’
I had just gotten the Emperor’s approval to use Yevgeny’s banquet to sway the nobles.
I didn’t want to ruin that trust over a petty sibling conflict.
I bit my lip. Richard turned his gaze from Iabel and asked again,
“What will you do? If you run with me, I avoid my parents’ scolding, and you avoid him.”
“…Even if we run, where would we go?”
“Have you ever gone deeper into the forest?”
The forest on palace grounds was typically only entered for hunting. I narrowed my eyes and said coldly,
“It’s dangerous. There are wild animals, and you could get lost—”
“Then don’t get lost.”
“How can you guarantee that?”
He smirked.
“Because there’s no way I’d lose you, Your Highness.”
And with that, he offered me his hand.
I hesitated. But Iabel had already noticed us and was turning this way.
Softly, Richard said,
“I’m the only one who can help you escape from that madman, Your Highness.”
“…Please.”
I took his hand—hoping it wasn’t a rotten rope.
Richard gently tugged me forward.
Iabel’s eyes went wide. He wasn’t shocked that I fled—he was shocked to see Richard beside me.
As we fled, I looked back. Iabel stood gaping, pointing at me and shouting.
His furious scream echoed through the garden.
“LILIEN—!”
“Don’t look back, Your Highness.”
“Ah, r-right…”
I nodded. Richard sped up.
I couldn’t keep up. My feet barely touched the ground as the wind whipped past my face.
“Wait, Young Duke! I think I’m going to—kyah…!”
Before I could finish, Richard swept me into his arms.
Dizzy and stunned, I screamed silently in my mind:
‘WHY ARE YOU CARRYING ME—?!’
