For the heart - Chapter 73

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 73

* * *

Lillien’s face as she headed toward her quarters in the Main Palace was on the verge of exploding.

Ivana and Stella hurried after the Princess, who walked quickly with eyes boiling with rage.

The moment they entered the Princess’s Chamber and closed the door, a sharp shattering sound erupted.

Crash―!

“Gasp!”

“Kyaah!”

The glass vase Lillien had hurled at Stella shattered explosively against the wall, grazing her cheek.

“P-Princess…”

Blood immediately seeped from the cut on her cheek and trickled down.

Stella touched the wound with trembling fingertips and looked at Lillien with terrified eyes.

Lillien glared at Stella with a venomous expression, then let out an “Aaaaah!” scream while stomping her feet violently.

Ivana, who had witnessed Lillien’s tantrums when she couldn’t control her temper many times over the past ten years, quietly bowed her head, while Stella’s eyes widened as her body trembled slightly.

“Why is Nina, that bitch, wearing the bracelet Casian bought?!”

“…”

“You tell me! You said Casian was going to give it to me! You did!”

“Th-that… I’m sorry, Princess…”

“You made a fool of me! How dare you make a fool of me, a Princess!!”

“N-no, Princess! I naturally, naturally thought that the only person Prince Casian would have feelings for was you, Princess,”

“Shut up!! Aaaaah!!”

Lillien screamed again, having heard what sounded like confirmation that the person Casian had feelings for was not her, but Nina.

This was the first time in her life she had felt so miserable.

She couldn’t accept that Casian had feelings for Nina instead of her.

Lillien glared into the air, grinding her teeth with a gnashing sound, and clenched her fists tightly.

“I will never let it be taken from me. By any means necessary, I will have it.”

Unaware that blood was spreading from biting her lips, a twisted smile spread across Lillien’s face.

That smile was neither joy nor sorrow, but the face of someone whose something had been broken.

* * *

Shouting was erupting from the Emperor’s Study as well.

“Nina! Nina! That damned Nina!!”

Rainer stood with his hands on his waist, pacing rapidly like someone restless, breathing roughly.

The voices of the people chanting Nina’s name instead of his own echoed thunderously in his ears, making his head feel like it would burst.

“I should never have used that name from the beginning!”

About twenty years ago, Rainer learned that Empress Ernesa Arsed and his wife Catalina Arsed had become pregnant at almost the same time.

“Your Majesty, do you have any thoughts on a name for the baby? I’m thinking of naming a son Eireon and a daughter Lillien. I pondered it all night yesterday.”

“I have a name I’ve been thinking about for a very long time. I’ll bear a daughter who looks just like Ernesa and give her the name ‘Nina.'”

“Nina?”

“Yes. It’s the name of a fairy from a Hamer legend I love. She was once an object of fear, but ultimately became a source of joy for all humans.”

His brother, who was Emperor then, smiled as if he owned the world when he spoke the name ‘Nina.’

And Rainer secretly mocked his brother.

To wish for a daughter instead of a son.

Moreover, the name of a fairy from fairy tale-like legends that only girls would like.

It was typical of his pathetic nature, trying to achieve peaceful continental unification despite having the powerful authority of Arsed’s Emperor and an immortal body.

Time passed, and coincidentally, Empress Ernesa and Catalina gave birth on the same day.

He gave his daughter the name ‘Lillien,’ which he had carefully thought of, and to the immortal young body that had rolled into his hands, he gave the name that suddenly came to mind—’Nina,’ the name his brother had wanted.

It was simply because he found it bothersome to even think about what name to give.

But the moment all the people chanted Nina’s name, the stories he had dismissed came back ominously.

‘Ultimately became a source of joy for all humans.’

He should have given her a more worthless and inferior name.

Something difficult to pronounce and with a bad meaning, so it wouldn’t easily be spoken by people.

Rainer grabbed his already disheveled hair with both hands and banged his head against the window with a thud.

“I no longer intend to sacrifice my body for Arsed.”

Those were the words Nina had said to him recently.

Had she really noticed that the oracle was false?

Could her words about no longer sacrificing her body for Arsed mean she intended to reclaim the throne he had stolen from her father?

Or perhaps, had she learned that her father was still alive?

Suspicion, once it took root, spread its tendrils and instantly covered his mind.

His pulse raced without reason, his temples pounded, and hot fever rose to the back of his neck.

“Hah, huff…!”

Rainer staggered and gripped the desk with both hands.

His heart thrashed wildly as if it would burst out of his chest.

“Head Attendant!!”

The Head Attendant immediately entered at the Emperor’s cry and quickly bowed.

“Modify the plan to open the Imperial Palace to the public during the Integration Banquet to extend it for two more days.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was lively after the appointment ceremony ended.

The Empress took the Emperor’s place after he disappeared, and Lillien, who had left her seat, returned to attend with only her maid Ivana.

The twin princesses were the greatest subject of interest to the representatives from each nation.

Now that Arsed had achieved continental unification, marrying a princess of Arsed would bring tremendous power.

Especially marrying Lillien, who seemed likely to inherit the throne, would be practically the same as becoming emperor—a dream that every noble with a son harbored without exception.

Lillien felt somewhat better seeing the high level of interest directed toward her.

Around Nina were mostly knights from noble houses and older advisors.

However, there were quite a few who showed interest in Nina and approached her as well.

Not wanting to see that sight, Lillien sharply turned her head away and focused on the people who came to her with praise.

Nina, who had been discussing the direction for reorganizing the Imperial Knights now that unification was achieved, briefly rose from her seat and stepped outside.

Though she hadn’t told anyone yet, she too would have to step down from her position as commander someday, so her head was complicated trying to gauge the appropriate timing.

As she was about to head to the rest area, Nina noticed a young lady who couldn’t enter the banquet hall and was fidgeting anxiously outside the door.

The young lady who made eye contact with Nina startled in surprise and quickly bowed her head.

“I-I greet Your Highness the Princess. I am Stella Verdi. I am Princess Lillien’s new maid.”

“Why are you standing here instead of going inside?”

“Well…”

When Stella hesitated and couldn’t speak properly, Nina saw the long wound on her cheek.

And she immediately realized that the wound was less than an hour old.

She had an idea of who might have done it.

“You have a wound on your cheek.”

“Yes…”

After killing Michelle, she had even inflicted such a wound on the new maid’s cheek.

Nina let out a sigh.

Then a low voice came from behind.

“Princess Nina.”

“Casian, Duke of Montregger.”

“Is something the matter?”

Nina unconsciously called out “Casian,” then quickly added the honorific again.

At her behavior, Casian couldn’t hide his amusement and smiled.

Reading that face that wanted to tease her again, Nina glared at him without anyone knowing, then returned to her usual demeanor.

“Prince Casian, this is Stella Verdi.”

Stella, seeing Casian up close for the first time, greeted him with a light curtsy, then quietly covered her wounded cheek with one hand.

Seeing Stella like this, Nina turned her head toward Casian.

“Duke of Montregger, may I ask you for a favor?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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