I Married the Terminally Ill Emperor - 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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I Married a Terminally Ill Emperor

Chapter 45

“Oh, Dahlia received that invitation too?”

“Yes. Did you receive one as well, Bibi? Are you planning to attend?”

Viviana nodded with a dark expression.

“I don’t want to go, but since my aunt is hosting this special party, I’m planning to just greet everyone and leave.”

“Why don’t you want to go?”

“I don’t have any close friends there, and everyone doesn’t really like me.”

Viviana pushed up her glasses and smiled awkwardly.

Dahlia wanted to grab the Emperor by the collar and shake him if he were in front of her.

Why is this Empire so harsh to its growing young buds!

“Bibi, I’m here for you. We’re friends now, after all.”

Viviana met Dahlia’s eyes and smiled brightly. The word ‘friend’ always felt good to hear.

Just then, she saw a familiar lady approaching with a basket.

It was Lady Under, whom she had met at the training grounds before.

She looked pleased to see Dahlia, but upon spotting the Princess, she hurriedly paid her respects.

“I greet Your Imperial Highness.”

“Yes. You may raise your head.”

Viviana awkwardly received the greeting.

When Lady Under raised her head and seemed unsure what to do, Dahlia kindly spoke first.

“Nice to see you, Lady Under.”

“Hello, Lady Hudran.”

“What brings you here?”

Encouraged by Dahlia’s warm voice, Lady Under carefully held out her basket.

“I received help last time but couldn’t properly thank you. I was late with my greeting because I was looking for work.”

Annie took the basket first and opened it, revealing beautifully embroidered handkerchiefs.

Dahlia stretched her neck to look into the basket, her eyes sparkling.

“Wow- I was so envious of Captain Ethan who received a handkerchief back then! Come to think of it, we didn’t even exchange proper introductions then. I’m Ria Hudran. This is Annie Hudran. I don’t need to introduce Bibi separately, do I?”

“Of course not. I’m Laura Under. Thank you so much for helping me back then.”

Laura bowed her head deeply.

“Not at all. It really wasn’t a big deal.”

Dahlia waved her hands dismissively, looking embarrassed by the continued thanks.

“What happened?”

Viviana interjected with a curious expression, and Sir Chloe, who had approached at some point, set down two chairs and stepped back.

“Shall we all sit down first?”

At Dahlia’s suggestion, everyone took their seats.

Sir Chloe stood guard at a distance, while Monet approached Cole and exchanged eye greetings. Cole also smiled warmly and returned the friendly greeting.

Annie skillfully poured tea into empty cups and placed them in front of each person.

“Lady Hudran has excellent tea-serving skills.”

At Viviana’s compliment, Annie bowed her head slightly.

“Thank you for the praise, Your Highness.”

Meanwhile, Dahlia, who had taken out the handkerchief to examine it, beamed.

“Lady Under, thank you. It’s so beautiful!”

Dahlia’s handkerchief was beautifully embroidered with pink flowers, while Annie’s handkerchief was embroidered with scarlet flowers that resembled the color of her eyes.

Viviana couldn’t take her eyes off the handkerchiefs and admired them.

“Lady Under has excellent handiwork.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Laura bowed her head deeply with a grateful expression.

“Now, please tell us how you two met.”

Viviana brought up the topic again with a face full of curiosity.

When Dahlia hesitated with an embarrassed face, Laura, who had received help, explained the situation in detail.

Laura seemed to have a talent for storytelling, as Dahlia found herself completely absorbed even though it was her own story.

After hearing the whole story, Viviana looked at Dahlia with admiring eyes.

“Dahlia is really amazing. You’re always helping others.”

“Actually, I was curious whether that lady really had a good sense of smell, so I just butted in.”

Everyone burst into laughter at Dahlia’s playful remark.

“Hahaha.”

“Hohoho.”

Dahlia also smiled along with them.

As the laughter subsided, Dahlia warmly asked Laura.

“So Lady Under, did you find work?”

“Well… I received a marriage proposal.”

Laura hung her head low with a dark expression, and her flowing brown hair covered her face.

Viviana tilted her head. Why does she look so sad when she received a marriage proposal?

“Perhaps you don’t want to marry that person? Because of Captain Ethan?”

Viviana carefully broached the subject. She was recalling the part of the story where Laura had given Ethan a handkerchief.

Laura’s face turned bright red as she raised her head.

“No, Your Highness. The Captain is just someone I admire. He’s such an amazing person. I’m not so presumptuous as to not know my place.”

Dahlia, who had been listening to the conversation, asked in a calm voice.

“May I ask what kind of person your marriage proposal is from?”

As if that was the key question, Laura’s hazel eyes darkened.

After hesitating for a long time, Laura carefully opened up about her suitor.

“…If I marry him, it would be his fourth marriage. His third wife passed away recently.”

“What? Did Lady Under’s parents approve of this marriage?”

Viviana raised her voice in surprise.

Laura slowly shook her head and defended her family.

“No. My parents opposed it. It’s just that my family has no money to live on right now. If I marry him, my family won’t have to worry about food. The only skill I have is embroidery, but no matter how hard I look, there are no jobs. I have no wealth, but I am still a noble. Commoners feel burdened to employ me, and nobles look down on me…”

Silence fell over the table that had been filled with laughter just moments before.

Dahlia swallowed a sigh and looked at Laura with sympathetic eyes.

Having never experienced poverty, she couldn’t carelessly judge her choice.

Turning her head to the side, she saw Annie quietly pouring tea. The Princess beside her also looked like she didn’t know what to say.

Then suddenly, Dahlia’s eyes lit up with interest.

“Bibi, have you found all your maids yet?”

“No. The Chief Chamberlain said he’s being picky this time. Ah! Lady Under, would you like to become my maid?”

Viviana, who had been answering casually, looked at Laura with a brightened face.

“What? Not just anyone can become Your Highness’s maid.”

Laura, taken aback, hurriedly replied.

Even though the Princess didn’t get along well with the Emperor, she was still the Emperor’s only sister. To become the Princess’s maid required numerous verifications and recommendation letters from influential nobles.

“I can recommend at least one person. Lady Under tells interesting stories and embroiders well. And what else can you do?”

“Lady Under was also looking for work as a tutor before.”

Dahlia quickly added.

“You remember that?”

It was a conversation they had when Lady Sorina had snubbed her.

When Laura looked at her in surprise, Dahlia, meeting her eyes, smiled brightly.

“Then I’ll be able to learn a lot.”

Viviana chimed in as if pleased with how things were going.

“Your Highness….”

Laura hesitated with a face that showed she didn’t know what to do.

If she became the Imperial Princess’s maid, she could earn good money. Then she could refuse the Viscount’s marriage proposal. It would surely help her family as well.

But she wasn’t confident she could do well.

Laura hesitated, then made eye contact with Dahlia.

She was looking at her with urging eyes, as if telling her to accept quickly.

Only then did she realize how the maid position offer had begun.

She had brought up the topic so that Princess could naturally offer her the maid position.

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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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