Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 112

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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 112

Lawrence went straight to the town house in the capital to meet and talk with Mabel.

‘I should do my part too.’

Deshion let out a deep sigh and slowly walked away. After leaving the main building, he headed toward a small cabin attached next to the stables.

Knock knock.

When Deshion knocked on the door, sounds of movement came from inside. After a moment, the door opened and Norbert appeared with a tired expression.

Norbert was startled to see Deshion standing in front of the door and took a step back.

“Y-Your Majesty! What brings you all the way here…?”

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Ah, well…”

Deshion stepped into the cabin.

“I heard you were assigned to isolated quarters. They say there’s a shortage of rooms.”

Relief crossed Norbert’s face at Deshion’s words.

“I’m fine. It has everything I need and is quite livable. Actually, I prefer it because it’s quiet.”

“That’s good to hear. I thought you might feel left out.”

Norbert waved his hands dismissively.

“Left out? Not at all. Everyone else are royal attendants, aren’t they? It’s only natural for me to stay here.”

“Is that so?”

Deshion pulled out a chair and sat down. When he lightly gestured toward the chair across from him, Norbert hesitantly took a seat. Deshion stared intently at Norbert before speaking.

“You were once a royal coachman, weren’t you?”

Norbert’s complexion changed at Deshion’s words. His lips trembled as he spoke.

“H-How did you…?”

“I had your background investigated as soon as we came to the capital. Even if it’s just for a month, I need to know who I’m trusting.”

“…”

“About 20 years ago… You probably knew my father.”

Deshion met Norbert’s eyes.

“Am I right?”

“I-I drove him from the Royal Palace to your residence a few times.”

“Is that so?”

Deshion murmured in a quiet voice.

“How nice to meet someone who knew my father. I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately. As you know, I lost my father early. I don’t have many memories of him.”

Norbert’s expression softened at Deshion’s words.

“The Late Count was a good man. I don’t say this lightly, but truly from my heart. He was kind to everyone and showed me kindness many times. Everyone respected His Majesty.”

“He was someone I could learn much from.”

Deshion nodded.

“I don’t remember everything my father said to me, but there are a few things that come back clearly. A few days before he passed away, my father told me this story.”

“What kind of…?”

“It was about cuckoos. Do you know much about cuckoos?”

Norbert looked puzzled at the sudden bird story.

“Cuckoos secretly enter other birds’ nests, drop the original eggs, and lay their own in their place. When the nest’s owner returns, they don’t realize the eggs have been switched and carefully incubate and raise the cuckoo’s chick.”

“…”

“It’s a cruel thing. But my father said that humans are always the ones who commit the most terrible acts.”

Deshion leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

“I had no idea what he meant at the time. But after experiencing recent events, I think it’s remarkably fitting. Doesn’t it sound just like the story of Princess Anastasia and Princess Heidi?”

“…!”

“And not long after telling me that story, my father passed away. In a carriage accident.”

Deshion stared directly into Norbert’s terrified eyes as he spoke.

“And around that time, you quit your job as a royal coachman and went down to the countryside. After that, you worked odd jobs.”

“I-I…”

“What was the reason you had to quit a stable job with decent pay and leave the capital?”

Deshion’s red eyes glowed darkly. He continued speaking relentlessly.

“My father must have known something. The cuckoo who dared to switch the princess must have been afraid of that. And coincidentally, the method was a suspicious carriage accident.”

“…Wh-what…”

“Did you kill my father?”

At Deshion’s question, Norbert sprang up from his seat as if launched. The chair fell backward with a loud crash.

“No! How could I do such a thing to the Late Count… It’s absolutely ridiculous. I respected that man.”

“How can I believe such words?”

Norbert turned pale and beat his chest repeatedly.

“It’s true. You must believe me. I didn’t even know he had noticed that. Truly, I never laid a finger on him. I would never do anything to harm him!”

A strange light flashed in Deshion’s eyes as he listened to Norbert’s story.

“That?”

A cold smile appeared on Deshion’s lips.

“You knew about it too.”

Silence fell over the cabin. Norbert seemed to forget to breathe, frozen and trembling.

“So you at least stood by and watched…”

“…”

“Are you an accomplice? Or are you the cuckoo yourself?”

Norbert shook his head.

“I truly didn’t know. I didn’t want to either. If I had known in advance, I would have stopped it. Even if it cost me my life!”

Norbert’s large eyes turned red. He knelt down, tears streaming down his face. He prostrated himself on the floor, trembling as he continued.

“I found out about the baby switch too late. When I demanded to know what happened, they said the princess was already dead… They said if I confessed the truth now, we would all just end up dead.”

“…”

“I-I was so scared… I committed a mortal sin. I truly lived my whole life with a repentant heart. I’m truly sorry.”

“Then tell me.”

Deshion crouched down in front of Norbert and gripped his chin firmly.

“If your words are sincere, tell me the truth now.”

Deshion’s grip tightened with force. Norbert flailed his limbs like an insect from the crushing pain in his jaw.

A voice cold as frost fell upon the struggling Norbert.

“Who is it? The person who told you the princess was already dead.”

* * *

Heidi flopped down on the bed when she returned to her room. After using her body for so long, all her muscles were sore.

“I’ve gotten weak… Just this much movement and I have muscle pain.”

There was a time when she used to run up steep hills like a squirrel and easily lift and carry wooden tubs full of wet laundry. Heidi sighed as she massaged her thin arms and legs with her hands.

But this level of pain was worth enduring. Today’s harvest exceeded expectations.

“Still, I found Pretium’s herb cultivation site. If Lawrence can just find the secret ledger, we’ll be able to deal a proper blow to the Viscount and Anastasia.”

Heidi clenched her fist. Once this suspicion was proven true, the Viscount would be in considerable trouble.

‘Maybe Anastasia will succeed in cutting off her tail, but…’

Even so, there would be gains. It would mean cutting off Anastasia’s people.

Heidi’s eyes sparkled with vitality. Thinking of Anastasia throwing a fit suddenly gave her renewed energy.

Heidi kicked off from the bed and stood up. She couldn’t waste this precious evening time lying around.

“They said my birth mother used this room. There must be traces of her somewhere.”

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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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