I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 27

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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 27

“Come to think of it, I heard that your family’s financial situation is difficult. Are you alright?”

Her expression showed genuine concern for Lillian. However, Lillian, who knew nothing about the news, was only flustered.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I heard that Baron Dante eventually went bankrupt and disappeared. Isn’t that true?”

“What? Is that really true?”

At Lillian’s reaction of hearing this for the first time, the other young ladies were the ones who became flustered instead. But only Bella’s expression remained unchanged.

“I must have heard wrong. I heard that’s why you’re working as an Imperial Gardener, so I felt sorry and…”

At this, the other young ladies showed shocked expressions.

“Oh my, a noble Count’s Daughter working? That’s ridiculous~.”

“Exactly. That’s something only commoners do. What kind of absurd rumor is that?”

They giggled among themselves, but Lillian couldn’t laugh.

‘Should I tell them the truth? But if I do, I’ll just be ridiculed again…’

After pondering, Lillian decided to be honest. She was satisfied with her current work, and she was receiving money as fair compensation for her labor, so there was nothing to be ashamed of.

“That’s right. I’m working as an Imperial Gardener.”

Silence fell among the young ladies for a moment. Lillian bit her lips and continued speaking.

“Well then, I’ll excuse myself now.”

That’s when it happened. As she passed by one of the young ladies in the group, the champagne she was holding spilled onto her clothes.

“Oops! my mistake.”

At the exaggerated exclamation of surprise, people began to burst into laughter. Thanks to this, Lillian, who had champagne poured all over her, felt like tears would come from the overwhelming shame. She bit her lips hard and escaped from the group of young ladies.

At that moment, she could hear the young ladies whispering.

“Hehe, how could you make it so obvious?”

“She’s bringing shame to all nobles by herself, that’s why.”

“What can we do? Her family is completely ruined. She’s probably trying to seduce His Grace the Archduke somehow to change her fortune.”

Then Bella’s voice followed. It was a low and cold tone.

“Don’t be too harsh. His Grace the Archduke isn’t someone without awareness, so he probably has his own thoughts about everything.”

* * *

“Ha, still, it’s really good that I brought a spare dress.”

Despite her words, a heavy sigh escaped involuntarily.

‘Is this what they call social ostracism in high society that I’ve only heard about…’

If she had known this would happen, she wouldn’t have come. She regretted coming for no reason. Fortunately, there was no one on the terrace, so it was good for cooling her head alone.

“I want to go home.”

If all nobles were like this, she didn’t want to deal with them in the future either. She became gloomy for no reason and looked down at the ground, then sighed again.

Then, she saw familiar dress shoe tips. When she looked up, His Grace the Archduke was standing there.

“Your Grace the Archduke!”

She didn’t know why she was so happy to see him at this moment.

At this, Kartan raised one eyebrow.

“Why are you here?”

“I just wanted to get some fresh air.”

Then she lowered her head deeply again. She wanted to tell him everything that had happened earlier, but she held back. It was too shameful and embarrassing to even put into words.

‘Besides, His Grace the Archduke might think I’m pathetic. For someone like him, this kind of thing must be everyday life…’

Lillian’s gaze turned to Kartan, who was admiring the garden.

“By any chance, does His Grace the Archduke find it strange for nobility to work?”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

Lillian instantly gripped her skirt and lowered her head.

“I was just curious, so I asked. Please don’t mind it.”

“…”

She thought she had asked something unnecessary.

‘The noble young ladies of the capital think I’m strange too, so naturally His Grace the Archduke would think the same. He’s from the Imperial Family, after all.’

Lillian let out a low sigh.

‘As expected, this kind of place doesn’t suit me. It would be better to just suggest going back.’

“Um…”

“What’s so strange about nobility working? I work too. Do I look strange to you?”

“…!”

Lillian felt as if she had been struck on the head.

“Ah, now that you mention it, that’s true. I hadn’t thought of that.”

Perhaps it was because she realized she wasn’t the one in the wrong. She felt much better.

“Did your business go well?”

“No, when I went there, His Majesty wasn’t there.”

A sudden breeze blew her hair. Before she could react, he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear.

“The necklace suits you very well.”

“Ah, that… it seemed too precious to throw away.”

The spare dress she had changed into had a coolly cut neckline that looked empty when worn alone. So she had simply put on the necklace she brought, but she never dreamed he would notice it right away.

Feeling embarrassed for no reason, she clutched the necklace when he bent at the waist and approached her. Then he looked up at her. At that moment, Lillian couldn’t move as if she were under a spell.

When Lillian remained still even as time passed, Kartan finally pressed his lips to the blue diamond hanging around her neck.

“Ah.”

Her thought process snapped shut. The spot where his lips had touched burned. Unlike herself, who was stunned by the sudden situation, he maintained a calm expression.

‘What? Was His Grace the Archduke always this shameless…?’

Bang. Pop pop bang!

That’s when it happened. As if someone had planned it, fireworks burst in the sky. The dark world lit up brilliantly in all colors for a moment before going out. After the initial surprise, Lillian watched the fireworks in a daze.

“Wow.”

The fireworks display happened every year, but this was the first time it was such a spectacular sight.

“From the terrace, it looks like the light is pouring down directly.”

Kartan silently watched Lillian as she admired them with childlike innocence. When Lillian turned her head, the night sky’s fireworks were perfectly reflected in her eyes like embedded jewels.

“But didn’t they say this year’s Sun Festival would be kept simple?”

“I suddenly changed my mind.”

“What? What do you mean by that?”

“There is such a thing.”

Kartan, who had been smirking with the corners of his mouth turned up, looked up at the night sky.

“Well, it’s quite a sight for something prepared on the spot.”

Lillian also followed Kartan’s gaze to look at the fireworks. As she watched the fireworks burst with refreshing sounds, somehow even the things that had upset her felt like nothing important.

“By any chance, did something unpleasant happen today?”

Instantly, Lillian’s head turned back toward Kartan. He was still keeping his gaze fixed on the fireworks.

Bang.

At that moment, another firework burst. Only then did she realize she had been looking at his profile for far too long.

Pop-pop-bang.

The fireworks continued to burst. Lillian’s heart began to race along with them. Quickly shaking her head, Lillian clenched her fists.

Soon after, Kartan’s gaze reached Lillian a beat late.

“Why, no answer?”

“…Nothing happened.”

For some reason, her face felt hot. It must be because the fireworks were too close to the terrace.

“Good, as long as nothing happened.”

A moment later, with his faintly heard voice as the last, no more conversation continued. His expression as he turned his head back to admire the fireworks had somehow changed to something subtle.

* * *

“Li, Lillian!!”

Suddenly, His Grace the Archduke’s voice rang out piercingly. But Lillian didn’t have the strength to move even a finger.

Was it because she had been too sensitive with her nerves lately?

Right after returning from the Sun Festival banquet, her body began to rapidly deteriorate.

At first, it was just her hands lacking strength and dropping things, but at some point, her whole body had no energy at all. Eventually, she even started running a fever.

“I’m… fine.”

“How can you be fine when you’re coughing up blood! Call a doctor, right now!!”

With His Grace the Archduke’s urgently heard voice as the last thing, Lillian lost consciousness.

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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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