I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 39
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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 39
“I plan to make His Grace the Archduke the Emperor. Of course, I’ll be the one beside him. So please stop clinging to His Grace the Archduke.”
‘Ah!’
In that moment, Lillian snapped to attention as if cold water had been splashed on her. Only then did she seem to understand why Lady Bella had tormented her.
‘She had the same feelings as me. Did I look like this to others too?’
The person looked pitiful. She even felt deflated by the fact that someone she thought was superior to her was actually no different from herself.
“…You were jealous, weren’t you? That’s why you hated me.”
Bella, who had been silent for a moment, burst into a hollow laugh.
“Me, jealous of a mere Count’s Daughter? Do you think that makes sense? I’m Bella Ariana. I’m a ‘special’ person with the most beautiful and noble bloodline in the Empire!”
Seeing her get flustered made her even more certain. Because even the way she denied her feelings was exactly the same as herself.
“What’s with that understanding expression?”
“…”
“Ha, how ridiculous.”
“Did I perhaps guess wrong?”
Eventually, Bella swept her hair back and spoke irritably.
“Fine, so what if I did? Are you going to give up on His Grace the Archduke?”
“…”
Lillian couldn’t say anything. The fact that Lady Bella liked His Grace the Archduke and was jealous of her and tried to scheme against her meant that she herself also liked His Grace the Archduke. Because she too had been jealous of the relationship between Lady Bella and His Grace the Archduke.
“What exactly can a Count’s Daughter do for His Grace the Archduke? At best, something trivial like affection, isn’t it?”
Having realized such a shocking truth, Lillian could hardly focus on her conversation with Bella.
‘When exactly did I start liking him?’
But Bella’s words continued.
“I wonder what His Grace the Archduke really needs – something like that, or regaining his authority as a member of the Imperial Family that was taken away?”
Only then did Lillian come to her senses. Right now, she was with her ‘rival in love,’ strictly speaking. And one who was so superior that she was no match for her.
“I think that’s something for His Grace the Archduke to choose.”
“Ha, what did you say? My goodness. How absurd. I’m going to torment you until you give up on His Grace the Archduke. So you’d better think carefully about it too.”
Just as Bella gave Lillian a sly smile and was about to get up, Lillian didn’t know where such courage came from. Her lips just moved without her knowing.
“I also like His Grace the Archduke.”
Instantly, the smile disappeared from Bella’s face. At her glaring eyes, Lillian felt her heart sink for a moment.
“I thought I should be honest with you too.”
“…Now I see you have quite a shameless side. Well, that’s probably why you dared to have such presumptuous thoughts about His Grace the Archduke! A bastard from a completely ruined household, no less.”
“…”
“Kyaah!”
That’s when it happened. Bella suddenly screamed out of nowhere and then sat down on the floor.
The people who came running at the sound were all colleagues who had worked with Lillian for years. Bella grabbed onto them and began to well up with tears.
“I was just worried because the Count’s Daughter seemed troubled between His Grace the Archduke and His Majesty the Emperor, so I gave her some advice… I didn’t expect this to happen suddenly.”
Lillian, who came to her senses belatedly, hurriedly waved her hands.
“No! That’s not it – the Count’s Daughter suddenly sat down by herself and screamed.”
Since the two people’s stories were completely different, the colleagues just looked at each other nervously.
‘They probably don’t want to get unnecessarily involved in a fight…’
One side was the Archduke’s lover who was said to shake the Empire, and the other side was someone who would become the Empress and their leader in the future.
She could fully understand why her colleagues, who were mostly commoners, wouldn’t want to get caught between the two.
“Yes… Lady Lillian would want to say that. Everyone, I’m fine.”
Bella, who had been getting up, staggered and sat back down. Then she showed Lillian a triumphant smile. Only now did she seem to understand what Lady Bella had meant when she spoke to her last time.
‘Even if I say this, the Count’s Daughter can’t do anything about it. At most, she’ll go running to His Grace the Archduke to tattle. Am I wrong?’
Even though she wanted to deny it, it was the truth. Right now, all she could do was continue to protest that it wasn’t true.
Then one colleague who had worked at the site the longest spoke up in a cautious voice.
“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but everyone here saw Lady Bella unilaterally berating my colleague.”
The colleagues nodded one by one. Bella’s face instantly turned bright red as she spoke to the colleagues in a sharp voice.
“Are you trying to frame me right now? Just because you work together, does that make it okay to take sides so one-sidedly? Do you know who I am to dare…”
“…”
Depending on how you heard it, it sounded like a threat of retaliation. This time Lillian stepped in to protect her colleagues.
“Please be careful with your words and actions toward my colleagues. Please don’t come to our workplace to do this and just go back now. I would be grateful.”
Lillian clenched her trembling hands into fists. These colleagues had willingly taken her side. She couldn’t let them get caught up in an unnecessary fight and suffer disadvantages.
‘I have to protect them.’
To do that, she needed power, and to gain power, she felt she had to stand up on her own.
Bella finally got up from her spot and brushed the dirt off her skirt as if it were filthy. Then she pointed at the colleagues and Lillian.
“Just wait and see. The moment I take over the Empress Palace, I’ll replace all of you first.”
Then she threw a tantrum and turned around to leave.
Only then did Lillian express her gratitude to her colleagues.
“I didn’t expect you all to take my side, but I’m truly grateful.”
But on the other hand, she was worried there might be consequences for her colleagues since they had thoroughly earned Lady Bella’s hatred.
Then the colleague who had taken the lead in supporting her spoke jokingly.
“Lady Bella may become the head of the Imperial Palace in the future, but the Count’s Daughter will be our direct boss, so it’s natural that we should side with you. Isn’t that right, everyone?”
At this, the colleagues all laughed heartily and chimed in agreement.
“That’s right. Haven’t we been watching the Count’s Daughter for a year or two? Although we didn’t have much contact with you, everyone knows you’re a good person.”
“Ever since the Count’s Daughter came, strangely the plants haven’t gotten any pests or diseases and have been healthy. They say there’s no such thing as a bad person whom plants like.”
“…”
Lillian’s face flushed as she listened to her colleagues’ praise. She had always thought of herself as utterly inadequate, but she never dreamed that everyone would evaluate her so positively.
But that touching moment didn’t last long. The next day, her colleagues received unexpected news while working.
One colleague came running in and said.
“Tonight, Lady Bella has invited all of us to the Duke’s Estate. What should we do?”
Soon everyone’s eyes turned to Lillian. Then one colleague answered while gauging Lillian’s reaction.
“Ah, of course we should refuse. Why would we go there…”
“But if we refuse even the invitation, who knows what might happen…”
Everyone was trembling with fear. Lillian bit her lip. She had nothing she could do for them.
“Please go. I’m fine.”
Although she had spoken that way in front of her colleagues, she felt hurt inside. Lillian, who had slipped away from her seat, walked with her head hung low, looking only at the ground. Then she ended up bumping her head into something solid.
“Ouch.”
Soon, a reproachful voice came from above her head.
“Don’t you watch where you’re going?”
“I’m sorry.”
“….”
She was about to apologize to the person she had bumped into and pass by when the other person grabbed Lillian’s wrist.
“Lillian.”
At the familiar voice, she finally raised her head to see who she had bumped into.
“Ah, His Grace the Archduke. I didn’t see you.”
“What were you thinking so deeply about that you can’t even see the person right in front of you?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“….”
At the continued reproach, Lillian apologized once again, but Kartan didn’t accept it this time either. He just stared intently at the dejected Lillian and said.
“Are you still not feeling well?”
“Well….”
Without realizing it, she was about to confide in him about what happened with Bella, but then hesitated. If she tattled on her to him here, she felt like she would truly become a person of no worth.
“That’s why I told you that you still need to rest. Stay home and recuperate for a while. Don’t be stubborn.”
“….”
For a moment, Lillian felt that she was being a burden to him. At the same time, she began to have fundamental doubts about herself.
“What am I without His Grace the Archduke?”
“What?”
To Kartan who asked back, Lillian brought up something she would have to say eventually.
“I’m going to find a place to live and move out soon.”
“….”
Suddenly he strode toward me. Flustered by the sudden situation, I stepped back. Before I knew it, the corridor wall touched my back, feeling cool.
Soon, Kartan placed his hand against the wall and looked down at Lillian as he spoke.
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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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