I Made a Mistake in my Confession. Can I Cancel it? - Chapter 45

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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 45

Knock knock.

Shortly after returning to the Archduke’s residence, Lillian had a visitor. Lillian gasped when she saw the Emperor who had come unexpectedly.

‘What if the love potion I drank takes effect? But I can’t turn away His Majesty the Emperor either.’

The Emperor suddenly bowed from the waist toward the troubled Lillian.

“Lady Lillian, I’m truly sorry.”

“What do you mean so suddenly, Your Majesty?”

Looking closely, the Emperor seemed full of worry.

“If it’s not too rude, may I sit over there and talk with you?”

Lillian finally realized she had kept him standing for too long.

The Emperor, seated on the sofa Lillian had guided him to, remained silent for quite a while. Then he lifted his head and glanced at Lillian before finally opening his mouth.

“The responsibility for this entire situation lies completely with me. Because I acted like a fool, an innocent lady suffered harm.”

Lillian couldn’t understand what he was talking about. After a moment, the Emperor hung his head with a pained expression.

“I heard the whole story from Uncle. There was an argument last night about what to do with Lady Bella. But… I truly had no idea that Lady Bella had done such shameless things.”

“Ah, you heard everything.”

“Yes, and to spread such ridiculous scandals on top of that… I’m truly ashamed.”

Lillian, who had been listening quietly, also lowered her head.

“I was truly sorry about that day too.”

The Emperor tilted his head for a moment, then replied.

“Ah, I quickly forgot about that day. Uncle came earlier than expected too. Rather, I’m the one who should apologize. If I hadn’t invited Lady Bella to the charity fundraiser, none of this would have happened.”

“No, it’s not like you knew when you invited her.”

The Emperor hesitated for a moment, then continued speaking.

“Actually… Uncle had completely removed Lady Bella from the invitation list, but I put her back on it. Because she said she really wanted to come.”

“Ah…”

Lillian sighed softly. No matter how she looked at it, His Majesty the Emperor definitely had Lady Bella on his mind. So when he learned these facts, he must have been hurt too.

“It’s okay. It’s all in the past anyway. Don’t blame yourself too much.”

Eventually, the Emperor let out a deep sigh.

“Ha, I should have come to my senses when Uncle was giving me advice! Now I don’t know who to trust or how to live. I guess I’m really not cut out to be Emperor.”

She didn’t know how to comfort him in his frustration. Listening to him made Lillian feel depressed too.

“I suppose so.”

The Emperor suddenly looked up with a surprised expression. Meeting his eyes, Lillian realized her mistake and quickly added an explanation.

“Ah, actually I’m in the same situation. Thanks to His Grace the Archduke, I’m living comfortably like this even after leaving home. If it weren’t for that, who knows what would have happened to me by now…”

“I see. You’ve had many hardships too, my lady.”

“It’s presumptuous of me to say this, but Your Majesty quickly realized your mistake and acknowledged it. So you’ll do well in the future too. I just kept being dragged along even knowing it was wrong, even knowing I didn’t have time.”

“What? What do you mean…? Are you perhaps going far away too, my lady?”

Lillian realized she had made a mistake in her desire to comfort him and quickly changed the subject.

“Oh, that’s not what I meant… I guess I was being too serious. I’m not very good with words…”

The Emperor suddenly chuckled.

“Actually, sometimes this place feels like a prison. But after talking with you, my lady, I feel somewhat relieved. We have some things in common too.”

At that, the Emperor’s eyes lit up.

“You’re the first person to truly understand me like this!”

Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed, Lillian scratched her head.

“No, not at all. I’m the one who’s honored to be able to talk with His Majesty.”

To be honest, conversing with the highest-ranking person in the Empire wasn’t entirely comfortable. But the fact that she found it quite enjoyable must have been due to their shared understanding.

‘Or maybe it’s thanks to His Grace the Archduke?’

A smile escaped her at the thought that came unbidden. When the Emperor looked at her strangely as their eyes met, Lillian shared the thought that had just occurred to her.

“Ah, I think I’ve become a bit bolder from meeting His Grace the Archduke so often.”

“Uncle does have quite the expression.”

Then the Emperor burst into laughter as well.

“People often say that Uncle set me up as a puppet and manipulates the Empire as he pleases. But actually, it’s the opposite. He’s always anxious that I might get caught up in political strife.”

“…?”

For a moment, Lillian felt puzzled. It was strange that only the Emperor knew differently when everyone in the world believed that. Perhaps His Majesty the Emperor didn’t know well because he had relatively little contact with people.

“I really respect Uncle.”

“Ah, yes…”

How much His Majesty the Emperor trusted and liked His Grace the Archduke was clearly written all over his face. So Lillian couldn’t help but believe it too.

‘Ah, so that’s how it was. I never would have thought…’

But thinking about it that way, a curious question arose.

“But why are you telling me this?”

“Because I like you, Count’s Daughter. So I want us to remain close friends from now on.”

Then His Majesty the Emperor smiled broadly and extended his hand to me first. For a moment, Lillian’s mind went blank.

‘Am I dreaming right now…?’

The Emperor offering a handshake first was very unusual behavior. When the bewildered Lillian just stared, the Emperor spoke again.

“Don’t tell me you’re refusing?”

“Ah!”

Startled, Lillian quickly grasped the Emperor’s extended hand. Her heart pounded at the moving situation.

“If you have any difficulties in the future, ask me anytime. I’ll help you wholeheartedly, if only to make up for what happened before.”

“Th-thank you. No, it’s an honor.”

“And soon the Imperial Family will issue an official statement. Then all the other gossip will die down too, so don’t worry about anything. I heard that Lady Bella also recently married some Count’s Son.”

For a brief moment, the Emperor’s expression turned bitter. Soon he let out a big sigh and stood up.

“I should get going now. Even though I may look like a scarecrow, I’m surprisingly busy.”

Lillian felt sorry for him as he forced out a joke. But since she couldn’t offer comfort, she just smiled awkwardly along with him.

“Still, Uncle must have good foresight. If we had held the fundraiser at the Orphanage as originally planned, it would have been difficult to handle.”

“What?”

“Oh, didn’t you know? Uncle suddenly suggested changing the fundraiser location to the Separate Palace.”

“…”

That was strange. His Grace the Archduke had definitely told me that the organizers had changed the location.

“Uncle is actually the organizer of that fundraiser. Not only that, but he also donates a lot of money to the Orphanage anonymously every year.”

“Ah… I see.”

Suddenly, His Grace the Archduke that I knew felt completely unfamiliar.

‘I had no idea he was someone who did such good deeds… But then why would such a person kill his parents and brothers so brutally?’

Though it was a family matter she couldn’t carelessly speak of, she found herself curious. And fortunately, the love potion showed no effect until the Emperor left.

‘Of course, where in the world would such medicine actually exist.’

Just then, a familiar voice came from the corridor on the opposite side.

“What are you talking about for so long?”

“Your Grace the Archduke!”

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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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