I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 32

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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 32

 

‘Well, anyway, this worked out well. Thanks to this, I’ll get to visit after such a long time. Come to think of it, I wonder if ‘That Boy’ is doing well too? His name was…’

 

For the first time in a while, Lillian became lost in memories. Her Parents had extremely disliked even the mention of the Orphanage. Probably because they would be embarrassed if it became known that she had once been left at an Orphanage.

 

‘Come to think of it, I can’t remember his name. It was something like Ka… I think.’

 

She tried to search her memory for this sudden question, but it only lingered on the tip of her tongue and wouldn’t come to mind.

 

‘He was That Boy who always followed behind me, so why can’t I remember…?’

 

In her frustration, her eyes met with Kartan’s. For a moment, she almost asked him without thinking, but then shook her head.

 

‘No matter how frustrated I am, that’s going too far. How would His Grace the Archduke know that friend?’

 

Just then, the Butler came to inform them that dinner was ready. Lillian’s train of thought was interrupted, and she eventually gave up and stood up from her seat.

 

‘Well, I’ll remember gradually.’

 

When she went to the Orphanage, there would surely be some small clue that would come to mind.

 

* * *

 

“Bella, congratulations! His Majesty the Emperor has sent you a Marriage Proposal Letter! Now you won’t have to leave the Capital City by force.”

 

Duke Ariana, who had been looking into marriage prospects for Bella as promised with Kartan, was extremely delighted.

 

However, Bella was just anxious about the fact that only she hadn’t received an Invitation to the charity fundraiser. She was already sensitive, and her Father had really gotten on her nerves.

 

‘Ha, who asked him to propose? This is really annoying.’

 

Thanks to this, she could breathe a sigh of relief, but she had become infinitely distant from the Archduke.

 

Seeing Bella’s lukewarm reaction, Duke Ariana spoke as if scolding her.

 

“You, don’t tell me you still haven’t come to your senses?”

 

“Father!”

 

“Get a grip! What’s so great about being some Archduke’s wife! If you set your mind to it, you can reach the very top that others wouldn’t even dare to look at.”

 

Bella snorted.

 

“I am that Father’s daughter, Bella Ariana. What do I lack that I would hang myself on one Man?”

 

“Really?”

 

Suddenly, Bella’s pride was deeply wounded.

 

“Yes, I will become the most perfect Empress in the Empire’s history. Now no one will be able to touch me.”

 

“But… His Majesty the Emperor says to keep quiet about the contents of this Marriage Proposal Letter for now. So go down to the Provincial Territory for a while.”

 

“…”

 

Anyway, the Emperor had never handled anything properly. Even in a situation where he was proposing to her, he was still watching the Archduke’s mood.

 

“No, Father. Since it’s going to be known anyway, we should spread the rumor as much as possible.”

 

“What are you talking about? What if things go wrong?”

 

At her Father’s question, Bella raised the corners of her mouth.

 

“If the rumor spreads to an uncontrollable degree, then how could even the Archduke stop it?”

 

Finally understanding what she meant, the Duke nodded his head. Then with a pleased expression, he patted Bella’s shoulder.

 

“Yes, now you’ve finally come to your senses. Well thought.”

 

“…”

 

At this, Bella raised the corners of her mouth even higher. She had absolutely no intention of marrying the current Emperor.

 

‘Come to think of it, there was that thing. Since it had no effect on men, I had it stored away. Who would have thought it would find such a use.’

 

Bella immediately gathered the famous gossipy ladies from high society.

 

“Oh my, Lady Bella calling all of us together is such a great honor.”

 

“Indeed, we thought you wouldn’t even dine with chatty old folks like us, hohoho.”

 

Even as the elderly ladies spoke self-deprecatingly, Bella didn’t lose her smile.

 

“How could that be? The black tea I recently received from His Majesty was so delicious that I called you all to try it. Let’s arrange gatherings like this more often from now on.”

 

“We already heard the news. His Majesty proposed to you, didn’t he?”

 

Bella nodded her head obediently.

 

“Yes, somehow it turned out that way. I should get along well with Lady Lillian from now on, since we’ll be family.”

 

At this, all the elderly ladies enthusiastically praised Bella. She was now the rising sun.

 

“Oh my, family you say! His Grace the Archduke isn’t strictly speaking a member of the Imperial Family. He’s of a different status than you, my lady.”

 

Bella delivered her prepared masterstroke.

 

“How could that be? I was referring to the relationship between wife and concubine. Now that I have a junior concubine, I should treat her even better.”

 

For a moment, even the ladies who had lived long in this world were utterly shocked.

 

“Wh-what? His Majesty the Emperor has his eyes on Lady Lillian, who is His Grace the Archduke’s lover? If His Grace finds out, there will be a bloodbath…!”

 

“Exactly. At this rate, the Empire’s emperor might change again, couldn’t it? Once is difficult, but twice is nothing…”

 

Hearing up to that point, Bella belatedly showed a flustered expression.

 

“Ah, I spoke carelessly. It’s my oversight, so please forget what I just said.”

 

The ladies all nodded and promised secrecy. But Bella didn’t believe them one bit.

 

‘Soon a scandal of the century that will shake high society will break.’

 

Bella couldn’t contain her bursting laughter. In the end, she had no choice but to cover her mouth with her teacup, pretending to drink black tea.

 

* * *

 

‘What’s going on? The fundraising venue definitely wasn’t supposed to be here.’

 

Lillian, who got off the carriage with Kartan, was bewildered. The place they arrived at wasn’t the originally planned orphanage, but unexpectedly the Imperial Garden.

 

“Your Grace, I think we came to the wrong place?”

 

“Ah, they said the number of attendees increased beyond the originally planned participants, so they had no choice but to change the venue.”

 

“…Oh, I see.”

 

‘Still, this worked out well. If there are more attendees, the fundraising amount will be larger too. I can visit the orphanage anytime now. I’ll go next time.’

 

Comforting her somehow disappointed heart, Lillian forced a smile.

 

As always, she entered the separate palace with His Grace the Archduke’s escort. But today, people’s gazes seemed somewhat strange.

 

‘What’s this? Is something wrong with everyone?’

 

His Grace the Archduke, whose eyes met hers for a moment, tilted his head.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Oh, well. The atmosphere today feels a bit… cold.”

 

He casually looked around the banquet hall with an uninterested expression and added.

 

“Is that so? I don’t really notice.”

 

‘Since I’m the only one who thinks this way, am I just imagining things?’

 

People avoided her as soon as their eyes met. Then they whispered among themselves about something.

 

“E-excuse me for a moment.”

 

“Alright, go ahead.”

 

She had left her seat because she felt uncomfortable, but there wasn’t really anywhere to go. After pondering, Lillian entered the powder room. Then she sat in front of the mirror and rested her chin on her hand.

 

“It seems I’ve really gotten on their bad side. Is it because of what happened at the Sun Festival banquet last time?”

 

Just as she was sighing, the door opened and a group of young ladies came pouring in. As soon as they entered, they began talking about her.

 

“Did you see Lady Lillian came earlier? If it were me, I could never come here – she’s completely shameless.”

 

“But how could His Majesty the Emperor do such a thing? Lady Bella wasn’t enough, so now his uncle’s woman too…”

 

Lillian was shocked by the words that followed.

 

“Well, all men are like that. I wonder if His Grace the Archduke knows about this. If he finds out that His Majesty the Emperor and Lady Lillian have such a filthy relationship, he’ll be greatly shocked.”

 

“There will be another bloodbath in the Empire.”

 

‘Filthy? What does that mean?’

 

While pondering and resting her chin on her hand, she accidentally knocked over a comb that was placed on the vanity table.

 

Thud.

 

The moment she got up to pick up the comb that had fallen to the floor, she made eye contact with the young ladies who had been gossiping about her. The young ladies were startled and began screaming.

 

“Oh my!”

 

Then they all rushed out of the powder room as if fleeing. Lillian, who belatedly understood the meaning of their words, stared at the wall with a dazed expression.

 

“Really, what nonsense. What am I supposed to have done with whom…”

 

She was so dumbfounded that she couldn’t even speak. Even though the noble social circle was known for all kinds of speculative rumors, this was utterly absurd.

 

‘Ah, so that’s why everyone was looking at me like that.’

 

She was so incredulous that she didn’t even feel it was worth clarifying.

 

“Well, if someone asks me about it, I can properly correct them then.”

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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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