“You must not gamble with the family’s real estate as you please. This is already the third time—”
Smack!
With a harsh, grating sound, Firentia’s head snapped violently to the side.
“And who do you think you are, daring to lecture me!”
The man shoved her shoulder with a rough hand as he shouted, a strong stench of alcohol pouring off him.
“Now, now. Calm yourself, Astaliu. Go over there. And you…”
After gently calming his drunken, staggering cousin, Velesac turned toward Firentia.
And then—
Smack—!
With an even louder sound than before, a large handprint appeared on her other cheek.
“So you’ve been handling the family’s money and now you think it’s yours?”
Velesac sneered at Firentia, who trembled while clutching her struck face.
“Don’t get it twisted. Yes, you share our surname, but with that lowly blood mixed in you, you will never be part of this family. Just live as the servant we keep, like you always have.”
No matter how many times she heard it, those cruel words stabbed into her chest like a blade.
“If you report today’s incident to Grandfather, I won’t let you off with my own hands.”
After delivering the warning in a low voice, Velesac spat on the ground and turned away. Soon, the sound of the carriage she had come in faded into the distance.
Left alone in the dim alley of the entertainment district, Firentia clenched her fists tightly.
A drop of red blood fell from her split lip.
Clatter.
“Whoa—easy.”
As the carriage swayed slightly along with the coachman’s voice calming the horses, Firentia snapped out of her long-past memories.
She lifted the curtain slightly and looked outside. Imperial guards came into view.
“We’ve arrived.”
Lowering the curtain again, she faced forward and straightened her back even more. After fixing her slightly disheveled hair and clothes, she looked like a perfectly composed painting.
Meanwhile, the carriage carrying her passed through the imperial palace gates and arrived at Lambrou Palace. Under the brilliant afternoon sunlight, the curved surface of the large World Tree carving decorating the carriage gleamed with its original golden luster.
“We have arrived.”
As the carriage stopped, the coachman spoke respectfully.
“Firentia.”
Soon, the carriage door opened, and a beautiful man greeted her.
“Perez.”
As she stepped down with his escort, Perez placed a long kiss on the back of Firentia’s hand. It was a deep kiss that did not hide the desire in his heart.
“Perez!”
Firentia called out as if scolding him, but he simply smiled, his long eyelashes lowering softly.
“Let’s go. Everyone will be waiting.”
She withdrew her hand and began walking toward the grand banquet hall first. Seeing the faint redness at the tips of her ears, Perez smiled even more deeply and followed behind her with his hands clasped behind his back.
“In the Lambrou Empire, no one would complain about waiting a little for you, my Tia. You can take your time.”
The two of them had come a very long way for today.
“Since we’ve come this far with such effort, we should enjoy this moment.”
After enduring so much hardship, it was finally time to claim that sweet reward.
“Yes, we went through hell.”
Firentia admitted calmly.
We came a very long way. Far more than you could ever imagine.
She added quietly, in a voice too soft to be heard.
“But that doesn’t mean we should be rude.”
It was a firm reply. From the very first moment he saw her, that very quality made him fall for her instantly. Perez smiled again, pleased.
Before long, the two stood before the closed doors of the grand banquet hall.
“Are you ready?”
At his question, Firentia gave a short nod.
“Then shall we enter, Head of the Lombardi family?”
He extended his hand toward her.
“Let’s go, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Her pale, graceful hand met his.
“Open the doors.”
Perez gave a short command to the attendant standing before them.
“His Highness the Crown Prince and Lady Firentia Lombardi, Head of the Family, are entering!”
From beyond the doors came the announcement of their arrival. To Firentia, it sounded like the sweetest music.
The doors slowly parted as if splitting open, and through the widening gap poured the bright light of the grand banquet hall.
