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Chapter 8
The portrait depicted a woman who looked exactly like Heidi.
Yet the longer she stared, the more differences she noticed.
The woman in the painting appeared slightly older than Heidi. Her hair fell to her waist in soft, elegant curls. The clothing she wore was refined and aristocratic, a world apart from the worn, shabby clothes Heidi herself had on.
After studying the portrait for a long while, Heidi carefully asked,
“Who is this?”
“She is the mother of the late queen.”
“……”
“To anyone who sees it, Heidi, the resemblance to you is unmistakable.”
Adjusting his posture, Desion continued.
“Do you remember the man who was with me yesterday?”
Heidi nodded.
“The blond gentleman…”
“Noah Heights. He is Her Majesty the Queen’s cousin.”
“……”
“That would make you his fifth cousin.”
“……”
“The moment Noah saw your face, he immediately remembered the portrait hanging in the estate. He said that if you saw this painting yourself, you would have no choice but to acknowledge the resemblance.”
It was true.
The moment Heidi saw the woman in the portrait who looked exactly like her, she could no longer completely dismiss Desion’s unbelievable story.
Not that all my doubts are gone.
A strange tingling sensation ran through her entire body.
Every hair on her skin stood on end.
“My lord.”
Heidi raised her head and met Desion’s gaze.
“Then why did you come looking for me?”
“……”
“You didn’t travel all this way simply to tell me who my biological parents are.”
“……”
“There’s something you want from me, isn’t there?”
Desion did not answer immediately.
But the silence itself was answer enough.
He had not sought her out merely to reunite a father and daughter who had never known of each other’s existence for twenty years.
There had to be complicated political reasons involved—reasons Heidi could scarcely imagine.
As she tried to understand his intentions, another thought crossed her mind.
If everything he says is true… what happens to me now?
Heidi lowered her gaze to her skirt.
It was painfully plain.
Though she had ironed it as neatly as possible, the worn patches and frayed edges were impossible to hide.
Her eyes drifted back to the portrait.
Her grandmother.
A woman with her exact face.
An elegant cream-colored satin dress.
Perfectly styled hair.
Brilliant jewels decorating her slender neck.
But what captured Heidi’s attention most was the woman’s expression.
A bright smile.
A face untouched by hardship.
A face that seemed to know no worries at all.
If fate had not played such a cruel trick, perhaps Heidi herself would have worn such an expression.
But—
“My lord, I’m happy with my life.”
She spoke clearly and firmly.
“I’ve never once wanted to find my biological parents. The people who raised me loved me more than enough.”
“Heidi.”
“I don’t want to get involved in dangerous things either. I may not be educated, but even I know the royal court is a difficult place to survive. Maybe even more difficult than Everton.”
Her voice was resolute.
If she took Desion’s hand now, her entire life would change.
But…
Her gaze drifted toward the carriage window.
Far away, she could see a tiny house.
Her family had never been wealthy.
Yet her childhood had always been warm and bright.
Because the Dalton couple had given her everything they could.
“The biggest piece is for our daughter.”
“Wow!”
“If you’re still hungry, just say so. I don’t really like these things anyway. You eat it all.”
Whenever there was something delicious, it was Heidi’s portion.
Whenever they obtained beautiful fabric, it was used to make clothes for Heidi.
They were not connected by blood.
But they were family.
Her only family.
I can’t abandon them now and go chasing blood ties.
She bit her lower lip.
Desion quietly watched her.
Then he lowered his long lashes and released a short sigh.
“I understand. Those feelings are perfectly reasonable.”
“……”
“May I ask what concerns you the most?”
“That’s…”
Heidi hesitated.
Desion tilted his head slightly.
“Is it because of your family? Because you feel as though you would be betraying the parents who raised you?”
“……”
How did he know?
Feeling exposed, Heidi pressed her lips together.
Slowly stroking his chin, Desion spoke.
“Then how about this?”
She looked at him questioningly.
“It is extremely important to me that I prove you are the king’s biological daughter. Politically—and personally.”
“……”
“Of course, the process won’t be easy. There is much that must be prepared. The kingdom already has a princess occupying your place.”
His voice became heavier.
“I understand this is not an easy decision. I will give you all the time you need.”
“My lord, I—”
She tried to refuse.
But Desion continued before she could.
“There is much that must be done before introducing you to high society. Your upbringing was completely different. You will have much to learn, and many things about yourself will have to change.”
“……”
“So why not learn first? Then, when you have reached the point where you could enter society without embarrassment, make your decision.”
“……”
“I imagine it will take at least six months.”
Even after hearing his proposal, Heidi remained unconvinced.
Would that really matter?
What if he changes his mind later?
Wouldn’t this just make rejecting him more difficult?
Then Desion spoke again.
“It may be easier to think of it simply as a change in employment.”
Employment?
Heidi tilted her head.
“From now on, you will be assisting me instead of Eloise.”
“……”
“And since it is work, naturally I will pay you.”
“Pay me?”
“I’ll give you twenty times your current salary.”
Heidi’s eyes widened.
Twenty times…
For someone who desperately needed money, Desion’s offer was overwhelmingly tempting.
If I only work three months, that’s five years’ worth of salary.
Six months would be… ten years?!
Calculating the numbers in her head, a strange light appeared in her eyes.
Even one month’s wages would exceed her current annual income.
If she worked only a few months, she could save a substantial amount of money.
Even if she eventually rejected Desion’s proposal and left the marquis’s estate, she would have enough money to live comfortably for quite some time.
The burden of medicine costs would disappear as well.
“And one more thing.”
There was more?
Heidi swallowed nervously.
“I intend to ensure that Mrs. Dalton receives the finest medical treatment available.”
“…!”
“The marquisate’s personal physician will oversee her care.”
“……”
“And naturally, you won’t need to worry about the cost.”
The moment Desion finished speaking, Heidi’s lips parted.
“I’ll do it.”
“……”
“I’ll do it.”
There was no way she could refuse that offer.
Determination filled her face.
Meeting her eyes, Desion allowed himself a faint smile.
Then he extended his hand.
“Excellent. I look forward to working with you.”
A large, sturdy hand marked with visible veins and joints.
Heidi stared at it for a moment.
Then she took a deep breath.
Her thin shoulders rose and fell.
“I look forward to working with you too.”
A brief pause.
“For the time being.”
She emphasized those last words.
Then she placed her hand in his.
His large hand completely enveloped her slender fingers.
A faint current seemed to pass between them.
A strange fate had begun.
* * *
“Wow…”
Looking out the window, Heidi let out an awestruck gasp.
Far below the cliff stretched a vast cobalt-blue sea.
The sight made her heart race.
The beautiful port city of Rotem, located at the southernmost edge of the Kingdom of Panter.
At its center stood the Heizen Marquisate’s summer estate.
This would be the stage for Heidi’s princess lessons.
Because the undertaking was so significant, secrecy was essential.
That was why they had chosen a location as far from the capital as possible.
Only a handful of carefully vetted servants were allowed access.
“I was worried when they said I wouldn’t be allowed to leave the grounds, but honestly…”
She gazed at the scenery.
“I could live somewhere like this forever.”
Her parents believed she had simply returned to work as Eloise’s maid.
The thought that she was secretly enjoying such luxury felt strange.
Heidi took a deep breath, savoring the faint scent of salt carried on the sea breeze.
Just then—
A deep, low voice suddenly spoke from behind her.
“Do you like it?”
