I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 26

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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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Episode 26

“Let’s get out first.”

Kartan, who got out of the carriage first, escorted Lillian into the banquet hall. Immediately, people’s gazes focused on the two of them at once.

Lillian felt unnecessarily embarrassed and tightened her grip on his arm that she was holding. She had prepared herself to some extent from the moment she decided to attend the banquet with His Grace the Archduke.

Just then, a stern-looking elderly gentleman approached them.

“Your Grace, His Majesty the Emperor is waiting for you.”

She was puzzled, not knowing who he was, when Kartan explained on her behalf.

“He’s the Head Butler. I need to go for a moment.”

Lillian readily nodded her head. However, he looked around the surroundings and asked again.

“Are you really sure you can stay alone?”

“Yes, take your time.”

Soon he left with the Head Butler. Only then did she realize why His Grace the Archduke had asked once more.

Receiving people’s gazes all by herself in an unfamiliar place was quite burdensome.

Lillian tried to drink the champagne in front of her while eagerly hoping for the banquet to start soon. Then her gaze suddenly turned toward the large window.

“Wow.”

She unconsciously let out an exclamation. Through the window, she could see the garden where she worked at a glance.

‘Right, I’m going to enjoy this. When will I ever get to experience something like this again?’

Lillian held her glass toward the window and toasted as if she had become a high-ranking noble.

Just then, she heard someone giggling behind her. She turned around, but there were so many people that she couldn’t tell who it was.

‘What was that? Did I imagine it?’

Lillian turned her head back toward the window. She felt a bit uncomfortable.

A little later, the banquet began. However, it was exactly as His Grace the Archduke had said, making her earlier excitement seem pointless.

Ministers from each department came up to the platform one by one to explain how much great progress the Empire had made during the year. After that, a children’s choir came up and sang songs praising the First Founding Emperor.

As patriotic songs continued one after another, Lillian couldn’t bear the boredom and turned her head. Then a red-haired young lady caught her eye.

The teardrop diamond necklace around her neck matched perfectly with her transparent skin.

‘Wow, to think such a beautiful person exists in this world…!’

Perhaps that’s why she was completely surrounded by men.

Just then, a young noble who appeared to be around his teens spoke from behind.

“That’s Lady Bella. The items she wears soon become trends in high society, and with just one word from her, many men become so excited they can’t sleep. She is beauty, and beauty is her. She is the protagonist of poetry that sings of all love.”

‘What?’

To Lillian who was blinking in confusion, the young noble answered.

“It’s a verse from a poem praising Lady Bella. By the way, I just composed it myself. Amazing, isn’t it?”

“Ah…”

He was quite a peculiar person. Not knowing how to respond to her bewilderment, the young noble smiled and continued.

“But you are just as beautiful as Lady Bella. Your name is Miss Lillian Dante, correct?”

She was startled for a moment that a stranger knew her name. Then she realized that she was currently the protagonist of the scandal that had shaken the capital city and immediately understood.

Still, she felt wary and only nodded her head. But this caused a strange misunderstanding.

“Oh my. You seem unable to speak. I have been rude.”

“Ah, that’s not it…!”

“Oh! So you can speak!”

Soon the young man exclaimed in admiration and looked me up and down as if observing some fascinating animal.

“Unc… no, His Grace the Archduke has always been cold as stone toward women, so I wondered if he might have some unusual preferences, but what a relief. You’re much more normal than I thought! It’s truly an honor to meet you.”

“Ah, yes, but I… who might you be…?”

“Ah! Come to think of it, I haven’t introduced myself yet. I’m…”

That’s when it happened. The young man suddenly looked somewhere and made a troubled expression.

“Ah, I have some urgent business to attend to. Let me properly introduce myself next time.”

“What?”

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

And before I could say anything, he just left.

‘What kind of person is he?’

He was truly puzzling from start to finish. I felt drained, as if a storm had just passed through.

“Hah.”

Lillian shook her head and looked toward the door.

‘Come to think of it, His Grace the Archduke left quite a while ago, but he still hasn’t returned. Did something happen?’

Now that I thought about it, the number of Imperial Guards seemed to have increased since earlier. He must be quite busy.

“Hello, Miss Lillian Dante.”

While I was idly sipping champagne, that stunning beauty I’d seen earlier approached me.

‘Lady Bella, was it? Seeing her up close, she’s like a complete goddess.’

“Ah, hello.”

After looking over the nervous Lillian, Bella smiled slightly.

“Is this your first time at such a banquet?”

Standing before her radiant presence made me feel naturally small. Lillian smiled awkwardly.

“Ah, yes.”

At this, Bella smiled brightly and said,

“Then I’ll show you around.”

“Pardon?”

I was flustered by the sudden proposal. Seeing the noble group behind her made me feel overwhelmed.

“No, it’s alright.”

Then the lady with the fan who had been glancing at me sideways made a shocked expression.

“Surely you’re not rejecting Lady Bella’s kindness?”

The other ladies chimed in agreement, all looking at me with reproachful eyes.

“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant…”

“Then let’s go together, Count’s Daughter.”

Soon Bella linked arms with Lillian. As if she hadn’t heard anything at all. It was so natural that Lillian felt rather strange about it.

‘I’m sure I declined…’

If I left this spot, His Grace the Archduke would obviously look for me.

“I’m truly sorry. Actually, His Grace the Archduke will be coming soon.”

I thought I had declined politely, but Lady Bella’s eyes suddenly turned cold. She seemed to be offended.

Then another lady interjected again.

“How outrageous! What a truly rude person. Can’t you see that Lady Bella is feeling embarrassed?”

“….”

Not knowing what to say, I simply kept my mouth shut. Even if it was meant as goodwill, when I said I didn’t want it, it felt like they were being too forceful.

At this, Lady Bella smiled softly and soothed the lady who had been criticizing me.

“My lady, I’m fine. Please don’t worry about it too much.”

“But…!”

How strange. The person involved said she was fine, so why was that lady getting angry all by herself?

High Society among the high nobles was truly difficult. I had suddenly become a terrible person who rejected the goodwill of the kind-hearted Lady Bella.

Receiving people’s sharp gazes, Lillian bit her lips.

“I, this is my first time at such a gathering… Please forgive me if I made any mistakes.”

Upon hearing Lillian’s apology, Bella’s lips curved upward. For a moment, I was swept by a strange feeling.

“Since Lady Lillian has also apologized, please don’t be so harsh. I’m truly fine.”

At this, the other ladies all spared no praise for Bella’s silk-like generous heart. Watching them was somewhat frightening, like seeing some kind of following faction.

“Well, then I’ll be going….”

Just as I was about to slip away, Lady Bella grabbed my arm. I was startled because the force applied was stronger than I had expected.

“My lady, do I make you uncomfortable? I just wanted to be friends with you….”

“Oh, no. I want to be friends with you too, my lady.”

“Pfft.”

This time I heard the sound of someone mocking me.

‘What exactly do they want me to do?’

I was so flustered and unpleasant that I didn’t know what to do. The best strategy would be to escape from this place as quickly as possible.

Then Bella continued speaking.

“Come to think of it, my lady…!”

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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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