I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - 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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I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor
Chapter 32
“That day, it wasn’t an accident, was it? Why did you go into the lake?”
Monet and Annie, who had been listening to the conversation nearby, widened their eyes.
“H-how did you know?”
Princess stammered in surprise.
“Before I went in to rescue Your Highness, I saw your dress neatly folded on the ground. Were you swimming?”
Princess looked down at the ground with a dejected expression.
“No. I was trying to retrieve something that had fallen into the water.”
“You could have had the servants do that.”
Dahlia looked puzzled as she studied Princess’s expression.
“It was Mother’s keepsake, so I wanted to retrieve it myself.”
“Oh, how did it happen…”
Princess shook her head with a sad face. Monet, standing behind them, seemed to know something as she hung her head low.
Seeing their dark reactions, Dahlia naturally changed the subject.
“But is there a reason you called me here instead of to the palace?”
“Ah, I heard His Majesty issued a gag order about that day’s events. I wanted to thank you in person, but if I went to your lodging, strange rumors might spread. Thank you so much once again.”
Princess clasped her hands neatly in front of her and bowed deeply.
“I’ll gladly accept your thanks. But actually, I lost consciousness in the middle, so shouldn’t the ones receiving thanks be His Majesty’s companions?”
When Dahlia spoke playfully, Princess also smiled faintly along.
“I saw you enter the water first to help me. You’re truly amazing. Perhaps… would you occasionally keep me company like this?”
“It would be my honor, Your Highness.”
When Dahlia readily agreed, Princess’s pale face turned pink.
“You’re more beautiful than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Princess stared intently at Dahlia and confessed shyly.
“Your Highness is very cute too.”
“No. I’m not like that…”
Princess pushed up her glasses and shook her head weakly.
Why would such a cute child lack confidence in her appearance?
Dahlia found it puzzling but changed the subject for the child’s sake.
“Then shall we meet again at this lakeside next time?”
“Would you do that? You’re just as wonderful a person as I thought.”
Behind her glasses, Princess’s black eyes sparkled with affection.
“Your Highness only says pretty things to me.”
“I heard from Monet. You prepared snacks for Monet?”
Monet giggled from behind.
“It was just candy.”
“I didn’t even know Monet liked candy.”
Princess looked at Monet with an apologetic expression for not having noticed.
“No, Your Highness! I didn’t like it that much!”
Princess firmly grasped Monet’s hand as she waved it frantically.
“Monet, let’s talk more often from now on.”
“…Yes, Princess!”
The two girls looked into each other’s eyes and smiled brightly.
Dahlia and Annie watched them with warm expressions.
* * *
“Princess! Where on earth have you been!”
Viviana, who had been entering the palace with Monet while laughing, shrank her shoulders at the sharp voice from behind and turned around.
Nanny Silvia and the maids were standing in a row.
“I went for a walk-“
As Viviana tried to make an excuse, the nanny coldly cut her off.
“Your Highness, didn’t I tell you to report to me wherever you go! You experienced such a terrible incident last time after going out alone, yet you still haven’t come to your senses. I told you it would be troublesome for me if such a thing happened again!”
“…Sorry. Nanny.”
“Did that lowly maid tempt Your Highness to go out again?”
Silvia glared at Monet with cold eyes.
“No! Absolutely not!”
Viviana quickly stepped in front of Monet with a pale face. She had been the one who suggested going out, and Monet might get beaten again because of her.
The vivid image of Monet being beaten flashed before her eyes.
Each time the whip was swung, blood burst from Monet’s thin calves.
Viviana collapsed to the floor and burst into tears.
“Nanny. Stop, stop hitting her. I was wrong.”
“Your Highness. Do you truly want this child to stop being beaten?”
Silvia, who had stopped the whipping, looked back at Princess with indifferent eyes.
“Yes! Please stop.”
“She’s just a lowly maid. Not a child Your Highness should cherish.”
Silvia frowned.
“I, I hate seeing someone get beaten because of me.”
Viviana gasped in anguish.
“Very well, Your Highness. Then let’s make a deal. Can you throw the Former Empress’s necklace that you always carry into the lake? Then I’ll let this child live as an ordinary maid instead of one who gets beaten.”
“The necklace?”
Viviana gripped the necklace tightly in her trembling hand.
“No, please. I’ll take the beating well, Princess. Please don’t do that…”
Monet shook her head with tears streaming down her face.
The necklace was so precious, but watching Monet get beaten because of her was agonizing.
Viviana swallowed her tears as she unfastened her mother’s keepsake that she always wore around her neck.
“I’ll do it. I’ll throw it away and come back.”
“Your Highness, remember. This is your choice.”
“Yes, that’s right. It’s my choice.”
As if to confirm she threw it properly, maid Diane followed along to watch.
That day, Viviana threw away her mother’s keepsake into the lake with her own hands.
“That worthless maid keeps corrupting Your Highness.”
“No. Monet is a good child.”
Monet, standing behind Princess, felt her heart ache at those words.
Princess was protecting her again. This wasn’t right. She should be the one protecting Princess.
Before coming to the Imperial Palace, she had heard from the orphanage director. In the Imperial Palace, Emperor Gray was the highest person, and Princess came next.
Yet Silvia, the nanny and head maid, only scolded Princess just because she was an adult. None of the nearby maids tried to stop her either.
It was frustrating. If only she had grown up a little more, she could have protected Princess.
“Outings are forbidden for a while.”
When Silvia spoke coldly, Princess’s shoulders drooped.
Monet clenched her fists as she watched Princess’s lonely figure from behind.
Princess had been happy meeting Lady Ria. She had shown excitement for the first time in a long while, saying it seemed like she finally had a friend. But now she was forbidden from going out.
Monet’s hands clenched with strength.
Though she was young and of humble status, her desire to protect Princess was greater than anyone’s.
“That’s right. The desire to protect someone isn’t a matter of status. What matters is the heart that cares for that person.”
Having made up her mind, Monet stepped out from behind Princess.
“I was the one who pestered her! I pestered Princess to go out and play, Nanny. So Princess did nothing wrong.”
“Monet!”
Startled, Viviana grabbed Monet’s hand and pulled her back.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry. Nanny, so about Princess’s outing—”
“Ha! You’ve become quite brazen just because His Majesty favors you.”
Silvia cut off Monet’s words and glared at her coldly.
“I’m sorry. But it’s not right for Princess to be unable to go out because of me. So please punish me instead and allow Princess to go out.”
“Monet, don’t do this…”
Viviana tried to stop Monet with a worried expression.
“What if I refuse?”
“I heard from Director. The highest person in the Imperial Palace is Emperor, and next is Princess. So why is Nanny stopping Princess from going out?”
“You insolent little thing!”
Sparks flew from Silvia’s eyes. In her anger, she struck Monet’s cheek hard.
Small-framed Monet was sent flying and crashed to the floor.
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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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