🔊 TTS Settings
~Chapter 49~
“Your Highness, Princess, hello. I’m so glad to meet—”
“Be quiet.”
“Your Highness, do you remember me? At the Krezea Empire party—”
“I don’t.”
“Your Highness, you’re so beauti—”
“I’m bored.”
Tiara coldly shut down every young lady who tried to greet her.
The girls couldn’t get any closer because of her cold attitude.
Tiara walked straight to the most eye-catching, beautiful Lady Yofron at the party.
Lady Yofron, surrounded by other ladies, noticed her and gave a polite nod.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
“Welcome? If someone hears, they’ll think you own this palace garden.”
Tiara’s sharp comment didn’t faze Lady Yofron, who only smiled even brighter.
“Don’t misunderstand, Your Highness. I only greeted you as a noble of the empire, welcoming a princess from another country.”
The gazes of the two beauties clashed fiercely in the air.
“I have no intention of being Empress.”
“Shouldn’t you keep your manners in another country?”
Lady Yofron’s red eyes seemed to burn even brighter.
“If you want to see my polite side, you’ll have to become prettier.”
Tiara looked away, as if she couldn’t be bothered anymore, then suddenly her eyes widened.
“…!”
Ignoring Lady Yofron, who kept talking, Tiara stared at a woman peeking out from behind a big tree.
Her wide eyes slowly narrowed.
Meanwhile, Dahlia made an awkward face as she and Tiara locked eyes.
Another staring contest? Why does everyone want to have a staring contest with me?
This time, Dahlia decided to avoid it and turned her gaze to Annie. She didn’t want any more trouble.
But Annie’s eyes were getting bigger and bigger.
“Why? What’s wrong—”
“You… what are you doing here?”
Princess Tiara had already approached and asked in a cold voice.
Dahlia turned around with wide, surprised eyes.
“Do you know me?”
“Hah, as if I wouldn’t? Dal—”
“Oh my!”
Dahlia quickly dropped her teacup on purpose, cutting Tiara off.
Tiara raised an eyebrow.
“Sorry, Your Highness. I was careless in front of you. I’m Ria Herdran. You must be confusing me with someone else.”
Tiara nodded, looking thoughtful.
“So, you’re pretending to be fake?”
Dahlia’s eyes widened as much as possible.
Did anyone else hear that? She looked around, but luckily, no one was paying attention.
“That’s not—”
“I’ll cooperate.”
Dahlia looked at Tiara in confusion.
“Why would you help—oh.”
She was about to ask when Annie gently stepped on her toe, reminding her. Dahlia realized her mistake and forced a smile.
Tiara’s cold eyes turned to Annie. After looking her up and down, Tiara frowned a little.
“Still sticking together, I see.”
“You have a good memory, Your Highness.”
“It’s your master who has a terrible memory.”
“My lady never remembers useless things.”
The two women argued, neither backing down.
Stuck between them, Dahlia shrank her shoulders.
They’re both scary.
“And let go of Ria’s hand now.”
Hand? Only then did Dahlia notice Tiara was holding her hand. When did that happen?
Dahlia tried to pull her hand away, but Tiara squeezed even tighter.
“Don’t tell me you still haven’t fixed that habit?”
Annie sighed deeply at the sight.
“Annie, do you know Princess Tiara?”
Dahlia asked, confused.
Annie had always stayed close to her since childhood. She shouldn’t have known anyone from the Krezea Empire. Did they meet when I lost my memory?
“She loses all self-control in front of pretty things.”
Annie said, staring straight at Dahlia, who tilted her head.
What does being pretty have to do with my hand?
“So, you’re Lady Ria Herdran?”
“…Yes.”
Somehow Tiara seemed to know her real identity, but Dahlia decided to stick with her lie.
Tiara looked her up and down, then nodded to herself.
“Hmm, you’d be fine as Empress. That way I could see you more often.”
Huh? Dahlia stared in disbelief. She doesn’t mean Empress of this empire, right?
“Your Highness, that’s too much!”
“And you’re an ordinary noble who’s way too rebellious.”
The two started glaring at each other again.
Someone save me.
Stuck between them, Dahlia was getting more and more tired from their harsh stares.
At that moment, Marchioness Sondo stood up.
“Thank you to Princess Tiara from Krezea, the noble guests from other countries, and all the beautiful ladies of the empire for brightening this occasion. We have someone here today you’ve all wanted to meet, so please enjoy your time.”
Marchioness Sondo gracefully turned to the garden entrance.
“His Majesty the Emperor!”
A servant shouted from the garden entrance.
The young ladies’ faces instantly brightened. They hurriedly checked their dresses.
Emperor Grey entered the garden in his formal uniform, wearing a perfect, picture-like smile.
The ladies had to struggle not to scream at his beautiful appearance.
“Greetings to His Majesty the Emperor.”
Everyone in the garden bowed deeply to him.
“Everyone, enjoy the party.”
With his permission, the girls raised their heads and sipped tea while sneaking glances at the Emperor.
“It’s been a while, Marchioness.”
The Emperor smiled and walked over to the Marchioness.
“Welcome, Your Majesty. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
Marchioness Sondo bowed her head slightly.
The Emperor’s eyes filled with curiosity.
She knew very well that he disliked being around women, so why invite him?
“I knew it would be uncomfortable, but I had no choice. Strange rumors are spreading.”
“Strange rumors?”
“Yes. They say Your Majesty is hiding a woman somewhere.”
“Is that so? That’s better than the old rumor that I like men.”
The Marchioness looked at him with pity.
“You know how much I care about you, right?”
He nodded silently.
When the late Emperor tried to force women into his rooms, the Marchioness had always helped him. Now, she also filled the role of lady of the palace.
He had received so much help from her, so he accepted the invitation.
“Your Majesty must marry soon. Any kind of rumor is bad. If you meet many ladies and form good connections, those silly rumors will disappear.”
The Marchioness spoke kindly.
Grey already felt sick from the passionate gazes of the ladies, but he kept a perfect smile.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave you now—so many ladies are waiting for you.”
The Marchioness smiled and fanned herself as she left.
Grey wanted to run away but forced himself to turn around slowly.
He watched the ladies nervously looking for a way to approach.
Just then, one lady approached with a handkerchief. She pretended to drop it in front of him.
“Oh no, my handkerchief…”
