I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 34

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

Chapter 34

 

At this, the man bowed to me. For a moment, a badge glinted near the man’s chest. It was the insignia of an attendant working in the Imperial Palace.

 

“Excuse me, are you Lady Lillian?”

 

“Yes, I am… but why do you ask?”

 

“His Majesty the Emperor seeks you to discuss the rumors circulating in society. Please quietly follow behind me.”

 

In that moment, Lillian snapped to attention. She quickly stood up and checked her dress skirt first. Fortunately, there were hardly any wrinkles.

 

The man guided Lillian to a lounge at the end of the corridor.

 

“Lady, please have a cup of tea while you wait.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

Steam was rising from the hot black tea. However, even after she finished drinking all the black tea she had received, the Emperor did not come. After waiting quite a while longer, the door finally opened.

 

But the person who appeared was not the Emperor.

 

“Lady Bella, what brings you here?”

 

At this, Bella answered with a troubled expression.

 

“Well, His Majesty the Emperor suddenly had an urgent matter arise. I came because I thought you might be lonely.”

 

“Ah… yes.”

 

Lady Bella’s sudden appearance was not welcome. She would have preferred to be alone. The memory of her constantly calling His Grace the Archduke by his name kept coming back to torment her.

 

“Um, Lady Bella. May I ask you something?”

 

At this, Bella poured some water that was provided in the room and drank it while offering me a glass as well.

 

“What is it?”

 

Upon hearing her gentle voice, Lillian couldn’t ask right away. She hesitated, not knowing what kind of answer might come from her mouth.

 

“Well… I was curious about what kind of relationship you have with His Grace the Archduke.”

 

It was when she mustered the courage to ask. Lady Bella smiled at the corners of her mouth. Then she handed Lillian a small medicine bottle.

 

“It’s an herb. It will help calm your mind and body.”

 

“Why are you suddenly giving me this…?”

 

“The circulating rumors are difficult, aren’t they?”

 

It was a question that accurately pierced through the emotions I was feeling right now. Lillian simply looked down at the small bottle Bella had handed her without saying anything.

 

Eventually, Bella sat down next to Lillian and continued speaking.

 

“I believe that you and His Majesty the Emperor don’t have that kind of relationship. People tend to get easily swept up in gossip.”

 

It was truly appreciated. I had been worrying about how to explain things, and here she was readily saying this first.

 

‘Lady Bella is calm and mature even in a situation like this. Indeed, someone who will become Empress is different in some way.’

 

That’s when it happened. Suddenly, Bella smiled faintly at the corners of her mouth. In that moment, Lillian felt some inexplicable sense of unease from her.

 

‘What is it? Why is she suddenly smiling?’

 

“But you know.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Unlike her smiling mouth, Bella’s eyes had turned coldly indifferent. Only then did Lillian realize the true nature of the unease she had felt. Bella was mocking her!

 

“Do you really think you’re suited for His Grace the Archduke? Normally, when there’s such a difference, wouldn’t people think he’s just playing around?”

 

“What do you mean…?”

 

Thud.

 

Suddenly, it felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and squeezed it tight.

 

“Ugh.”

 

“I think you know better than anyone what I mean.”

 

Then she continued speaking while looking at Lillian, who was clutching her chest, with pity.

 

“I hope you take good care of your body. Well then, I’ll be going now.”

 

Lillian grabbed onto Bella’s clothes. Gradually, it became difficult to breathe.

 

“By any chance, did you… hah… do something to me?”

 

Bella simply brushed off Lillian’s hand coldly. As a result, Lillian’s body collapsed right onto the floor.

 

“Well, I don’t know. I just shared some herbs I had. You’re holding them in your hand right now too, Count’s Daughter. Oh, come to think of it, you did drink something.”

 

“…What’s your reason for doing this to me?”

 

At this, Bella looked down at Lillian while resting her chin on her hand.

 

“Hmm, well. Why are you asking me that? You’re the one who coveted what belongs to others, so shouldn’t you figure it out yourself?”

 

Suddenly, Lillian had a strange premonition. Perhaps it was something like a woman’s intuition.

 

“By any chance, is this because of His Grace the Archduke?”

 

Bella made an absurd expression as if she had heard a ridiculous question. Then she burst out laughing.

 

“I’ll go call His Majesty the Emperor. Rest well then.”

 

Click.

 

Not long after Bella left, her body became fine again.

 

“Did the medicine’s effect wear off already? That’s fortunate, but… what was that?”

 

While she was examining her body here and there, suddenly a knocking sound came from outside.

 

‘Has His Majesty the Emperor come?’

 

I have to go out. I have to ask him to save me. Lillian desperately opened the door. The person standing in front of the door was, as expected, His Majesty the Emperor.

 

“Lady Lillian, are you alright? You don’t look well!”

 

“Well… hah.”

 

“Did I invite you to an inappropriate occasion… Are you feeling unwell? Should I call a doctor?”

 

Suddenly, her vision became blurry and the Emperor’s figure appeared to split into several branches.

 

“Hah… Why is the room so hot?”

 

Her body kept heating up while simultaneously making her breathe heavily. The inside of the room felt unbearably stuffy.

 

“Your Majesty… could you please open the window…”

 

Lillian, who was trying to stand up, lost strength in her legs and collapsed right there. The moment the startled Emperor tried to help her up, a moan escaped from Lillian’s mouth.

 

“Ah, I’m sorry. Did that hurt?”

 

It was the moment he tried to help her up again. Lillian spoke in a dazed voice.

 

“Your Grace… the Archduke?”

 

Suddenly, the Emperor and Kartan began to overlap in Lillian’s eyes.

 

‘Huh? When did His Grace the Archduke arrive? I’m sure I was just with His Majesty the Emperor until now.’

 

“Lady Lillian, please come to your senses.”

 

“Your Grace…”

 

“I’m not Uncle, I’m Arian!”

 

As if submerged in water, the Emperor’s voice became distant. On the other hand, Kartan’s face became increasingly clear.

 

Thump.

 

Lillian’s heart pounded as if it would burst. Unable to control the overwhelming emotions rising within her, she wrapped her arms around his waist.

 

“Your Grace the Archduke!”

 

The Emperor, looking troubled, tried to pull Lillian away. But Lillian wouldn’t let go of him easily.

 

“Count’s Daughter, please stop…”

 

“I like you.”

 

“…!”

 

Just as the Emperor froze, not knowing what to do, the window suddenly flew open and cold air rushed into the hot room.

 

“Lillian, snap out of it.”

 

In that moment, Kartan appeared split in two before Lillian’s eyes. Even when she shook her head, they wouldn’t merge back together.

 

‘What? Who is the real Archduke? Is there actually a real Archduke…?’

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, Kartan had chased after Lillian but lost track of her.

 

“Where the hell did she go in such a short time?”

 

He roughly ran his hand through his hair and looked around, but Lillian was nowhere to be seen. Thinking she might be on the terrace like last time, he went to check, but she wasn’t there. He searched the garden, the lounge, and even the restroom, but it was the same.

 

Eventually, Kartan summoned the guards protecting the separate palace.

 

“Bring me the master key.”

 

Then he went around opening locked doors one by one. There were many empty rooms, but some quite extraordinary scenes unfolded as well.

 

“Kyaah!”

 

“What are you doing right now!”

 

People screamed in shock at Kartan’s sudden appearance.

 

“Ha, this will never end at this rate.”

 

There were hundreds of rooms in the separate palace alone. If something happened to Lillian while he was doing this futile search…

 

Thinking that far, Kartan’s throat went dry.

 

“From now on, split into pairs and search. Report to me immediately upon discovery.”

 

Then one guard asked.

 

“Um, Your Grace the Archduke… what should we do about the lounge where His Majesty is staying?”

 

For a moment, Kartan hesitated instead of answering immediately.

 

‘Is there really a need to search there?’

 

His nephew had no reason to harm Lillian, and no matter how urgent the matter, having the Imperial Guards intrude into the space where the Emperor was staying would constitute a crime of disrespect.

 

“Skip that place.”

 

After finishing his words, Kartan hurriedly searched for Lillian, but ultimately gained nothing.

 

“Damn it. Where the hell is she?”

 

As time passed, Kartan grew more anxious. Various ominous thoughts crashed over him like waves.

 

‘I must be missing somewhere.’

 

Suddenly, one place came to mind in Kartan’s head.

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