IMTIE 31

~Chapter 31~

She expected to be asked this question, so she quickly gave her prepared answer.

“I was looking at the lake after Your Majesty left, and I heard someone shouting for help. That’s why I went to save them.”

Good. That sounded natural.

“No. Before that, my lady, you said we should go to the lake, almost like you knew the princess would fall in.”

Dahlia’s eyes shook a little. The emperor was being stronger than she expected. In this kind of situation, simple answers were best.

“Me? I didn’t say that.”

Dahlia acted innocent, pretending she knew nothing.

“Are you saying you really didn’t guess it would happen?”

He had already used the truth-detecting artifact, so he couldn’t check her answer now. But her innocent face looked like it was saying, “I’m lying right now.”

What should he do with this bold woman?

He didn’t know how she found out, but because of her, the princess was saved.

But just because the result was good, was it okay to ignore how it happened?

Since meeting her, nothing about her had been normal. Still, he couldn’t question a woman who almost died saving the princess.

He could see her violet eyes carefully watching him.

Even though she was nervous, her actions were always unexpectedly bold. He couldn’t figure her out.

“Um… are you done asking questions?”

“Yes. It’s late, but I should give you a reward for saving the princess.”

“Huh? Wasn’t letting me stay in the Crystal Palace the reward?”

Grey shook his head firmly.

He heard from Oreon that she didn’t seem happy at all, so how could that be a reward?

“I’ll give you anything you want. Except for marriage.”

As soon as he finished speaking, her eyes sparkled.

He understood what she wanted just by looking at her face.

“You have a very friendly expression.”

“I’ve always been told I’m friendly—”

“I meant your face shows exactly what you’re thinking.”

“Oh, okay.”

She laughed, not bothered at all.

“Are you going to ask to meet three more times?”

He guessed her answer first, but she widened her eyes and shook her head hard.

“No.”

He squinted, surprised by her reply.

“Then what?”

“Please meet me anytime I want. Of course, except when you’re busy, Your Majesty.”

‘Three times’ changed to ‘anytime.’ Was it okay to give her so much time?

The only thing he figured out about her was her secret—“She’s actually a princess, not just a noble lady.”

If he wanted to know more, he needed to keep meeting her.

While he was thinking, Dahlia seemed worried he would say no and quickly continued.

“I won’t take too much of your time. You can use the hourglass if you want. And after the Founding Festival, I’ll leave anyway. Just until then.”

She was leaving?

He had only just met her, but it already felt so natural—he forgot she would leave soon.

A strange emptiness brushed through his chest, and Grey’s face became stiff.

Why did he feel this way? He was someone with only a short time to live. No one would stay by his side.

He reminded himself of his short life and hid his bitter feeling with a bright smile.

“Alright.”

Knock, knock. At the sound of knocking, Heart opened the door.

Monet, holding a basket of flowers, bowed her head politely.

“Hello.”

“Oh my! Who’s this cute kid?”

Monet smiled shyly.

“Thank you for the compliment. I am Monet, the princess’s maid. May I see Miss Ria?”

“Monet?”

Dahlia, who was playing chess with Annie, looked up and was happy to see her.

“My lady!”

“Monet, come in.”

Monet brought in a basket of flowers almost as big as herself. Cole, standing near the door, quickly took the basket.

“Thank you. This is a gift for you from Her Highness the Princess.”

Cole put the flower basket in front of Dahlia.

Dahlia looked at the beautiful flowers and admired them.

“They’re so pretty. Thank you.”

“And this, too.”

Monet held out a golden envelope with both hands.

Dahlia opened the envelope, which had the princess’s seal, and took out the card.

The card smelled like flowers and had the princess’s neat handwriting.

[Hello, Lady Ria Hurdarn. Thank you so much for your help. If you receive this letter, please come with Monet. I want to thank you in person, but I can’t visit your room. —Viviana Charlotte Lucefon]

When Dahlia put down the card, Annie looked at her with curiosity.

“The princess wants to meet you?”

“I’ll go with you.”

“I’ll go, too.”

Annie said this quickly in one breath, and Cole joined in.

Monet looked troubled and spoke carefully.

“I’m sorry, but Her Highness said only Lady Hurdarn should come.”

“Oh dear, but I’m a Hurdarn, too. So I should go as well.”

Annie insisted strongly.

“It’s okay. We don’t need a guard to meet the princess. Cole, you stay here. Annie, you can come with me. Monet, I’ll explain things to the princess.”

Cole looked at Annie with pleading eyes, but Annie pretended not to notice.

“Yes, my lady.”

Monet looked a bit awkward but agreed. Dahlia took a handful of candy from a basket on the table.

“Monet, these are your lucky candies for today.”

“My lady…”

The others looked confused, but Monet looked touched and accepted the candies carefully.

“Will you show us the way?”

They followed Monet to the lakeside, where the princess had fallen before.

Seeing the blue water made Dahlia tense up again. She tried to look away from the lake and clenched her shaking hands.

She thought she was okay after going into the water, but trauma doesn’t go away that fast.

At that moment, a gentle hand covered hers.

She turned her head and met Annie’s eyes. Annie squeezed her hand warmly, and Dahlia’s cold heart slowly warmed up.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Your Highness, I’ve brought the ladies.”

A young girl stepped out from behind a thick tree.

She had long, black hair down to her waist, skin so pale it looked almost clear, and thick glasses covering half her face.

The twelve-year-old princess still looked like a child.

“We greet Your Highness. I am Ria Hurdarn.”

“We greet Your Highness. I am Annie Hurdarn.”

The princess lifted her dress a little and bowed in return.

“I am Princess Viviana Charlotte Lucefon. But why did Lady Annie Hurdarn come…?”

Annie looked flustered and tried to explain, but Dahlia quickly stepped forward.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. Because of recent events, I asked Annie to come with me.”

“I see. It’s fine. I’m sorry for calling you here.”

Dahlia looked carefully at the princess’s face. Even though she’d fallen in the lake, the princess didn’t seem scared like Dahlia.

As expected, Dahlia thought, maybe she was right.

“I wanted to meet you and thank you in person. Thank you for saving me.”

“Anyone would have done the same in that situation.”

“No. Not everyone could do it. I don’t think I could have been so brave.”

The princess gripped her dress tightly and shook her head.

“Your Highness, may I ask just one question?”

“Yes?”

“That day, it wasn’t an accident, was it? Why did you go into the lake?”