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Chapter 27
“Come to think of it, I heard your family has been going through financial difficulties. Are you all right?”
From her expression, Lillian could sense genuine concern. But since she didn’t know anything about such news, she was only bewildered.
“What do you mean?”
“I heard Baron Dante eventually went bankrupt and disappeared… is that not true?”
“What? Is that really true?”
The other young ladies were the ones who looked startled at Lillian’s reaction of hearing it for the first time. Only Bella’s expression remained unchanged.
“I must have heard wrong, then. I only heard he went bankrupt and that’s why you’re working as the Imperial Palace’s dedicated gardener, so I felt really sorry and just…”
The other young ladies gasped in shock.
“Oh my, a noble lady working? That’s absurd.”
“Exactly. That’s something commoners do. Who comes up with such ridiculous rumors?”
They burst into giggles among themselves, but Lillian couldn’t laugh along.
Should I just tell them the truth? But if I do, they’ll just laugh at me again…
After a moment of hesitation, Lillian decided to be honest. She was satisfied with her job, and she was being paid properly for legitimate work. There was nothing to be ashamed of.
“It’s true. I work as a royal gardener.”
Silence fell among the young ladies. Biting her lip, Lillian continued.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
At that moment, as she passed one of the young ladies, champagne splashed all over her dress.
“Oops! My mistake.”
With her exaggerated exclamation, the surrounding ladies burst into loud laughter. Soaked in champagne, Lillian felt tears sting her eyes from humiliation. Clenching her jaw, she pushed her way out of the group.
Behind her, whispering voices followed.
“Hehe, wasn’t that a bit too obvious?”
“She’s already disgracing the nobility all by herself.”
“Well, what can she do? Her family’s completely ruined. She’ll probably try seducing the Grand Duke to fix her life somehow.”
Bella’s cool, calm voice followed.
“That’s enough. His Grace is not someone oblivious. I’m sure he already has plans of his own.”
“Ha… thank goodness I brought a spare dress.”
Despite her words, a heavy sigh escaped her.
So this is the infamous social ostracism everyone talks about…
If she’d known, she wouldn’t have come. She regretted showing up at all. Thankfully, the terrace was empty, making it the perfect place to cool her head.
“I want to go home…”
If all nobles were like that, she never wanted to deal with them again. Feeling gloomy, she stared at the ground and sighed again.
At that moment, she saw a pair of familiar shoes. She lifted her head and found the Grand Duke standing there.
“Your Grace!”
She didn’t even know why his presence felt so reassuring.
Kartan raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing here?”
“I just… wanted some fresh air.”
She bowed her head again. Part of her wanted to tell him everything that had happened earlier, but she held back. It was too humiliating to even say aloud.
Besides, if His Grace hears this, he might just think I’m pathetic. For someone like him, this must be nothing…
Her gaze shifted to Kartan as he looked out over the garden.
“Your Grace… do you also find it strange when nobles work?”
“What are you suddenly talking about?”
Lillian clenched her skirt and lowered her head.
“No reason. Just curious. Forget I asked.”
“….”
She instantly regretted asking.
Even the noble ladies of the capital think I’m strange. Of course His Grace would too. He’s practically royalty…
She let out a small sigh.
This kind of place really doesn’t suit me. Maybe I should just go back…
“Um—”
“What’s so strange about nobles working? I work too. Do I look strange to you?”
“…!”
It felt like she’d been struck in the head.
“Oh… when you put it that way, you’re right. I didn’t even think of that.”
Somehow, she felt much better—like she’d been reassured that she wasn’t wrong.
“Did things work out with what you went to do earlier?”
“No. His Majesty wasn’t there when I arrived.”
A breeze blew, lifting her hair. Before she could react, Kartan reached out first and tucked it gently behind her ear.
“That necklace suits you well.”
“Oh… I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away.”
The spare dress she’d changed into had a low neckline, so she’d worn the necklace just to fill the space. She never imagined he would notice it immediately.
Feeling embarrassed, she grabbed the necklace—just as he leaned closer and looked up at her. Lillian suddenly felt frozen, like she’d been bewitched.
When she didn’t move for a long moment, Kartan pressed his lips against the blue diamond at her throat.
“Ah.”
Her mind went blank. The place his lips touched burned. While she was stunned, his expression remained completely calm.
What? Was His Grace always this shameless…?
Boom! Crackle!
Suddenly, fireworks exploded in the sky. Darkness burst into brilliant color before fading away again. Shock quickly faded into awe as Lillian stared up, mesmerized.
“Wow…”
There had been fireworks every year, but never anything this magnificent.
“Seeing them from the terrace makes it feel like the light is pouring down.”
Kartan silently watched her marvel like a child. When she turned her head, the fireworks reflected in her eyes like jewels.
“Weren’t they going to keep the Sun Festival simple this year?”
“I changed my mind.”
“Sorry? What do you mean?”
“There are reasons.”
With a faint smirk, Kartan looked back up at the sky.
“Well, considering it was put together last-minute, it turned out pretty impressive.”
Lillian followed his gaze. As the fireworks burst with satisfying booms, everything that had upset her earlier suddenly felt insignificant.
“Did something bad happen today?”
She snapped her head toward him. He was still watching the fireworks.
Boom.
Another explosion lit the sky. Only then did she realize she’d been staring at his profile for far too long.
Crackle.
Fireworks kept bursting. Her heart pounded with them. Shaking her head quickly, she clenched her fists.
A moment later, Kartan finally turned his gaze to her.
“Well? No answer?”
“…Nothing happened.”
For some reason, her face felt hot. It must’ve been the fireworks being too close.
“Good. As long as nothing did.”
His faint voice trailed off, and the conversation ended. When she glanced at him again, his expression had shifted into something… complicated.
“L–Lillian!!”
The Grand Duke’s voice pierced her ears. But Lillian didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger.
Maybe it was because she’d been under too much stress lately.
Not long after the Sun Festival banquet, her health suddenly went downhill.
At first, she just kept dropping things because she had no strength in her hands. Then gradually, strength left her entire body. Eventually, she even developed a fever.
“I’m… fine…”
“How can you be fine when you just coughed up blood?! Call the doctor! Now!!”
The last thing she heard was his panicked voice—then everything went dark.
