Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 17

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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 17

After pondering for a moment, Heidi opened her lips.

“Since Lawrence is drawn to the status of princess, if I were to gain the same status, he could weigh his options between me and Anastasia. Am I understanding this correctly?”

At Heidi’s words, Desion smiled faintly.

“That’s correct.”

He continued speaking.

“But you shouldn’t underestimate it. Lawrence would have to risk betraying Anastasia.”

“Then…”

“There are many ways to tip Lawrence’s scales in your favor, but broadly speaking, there are two.”

Two ways?

Heidi tilted her head.

Then Desion counted on his fingers as he spoke.

“Either shake things up between the two of them…”

“…”

“Or make him develop feelings for you.”

* * *

Evening, after all the day’s tasks were finished.

Heidi draped a thin cloak over herself and stepped out of the building. A lukewarm breeze gently brushed across her cheeks.

The days had grown considerably longer. Heidi looked up at the sky that was beginning to turn orange and thought.

‘How many weeks has it been since my last walk?’

Ever since the soldiers sent by Anastasia had visited, Heidi had been cooped up indoors the entire time. She had felt uneasy about going outside unnecessarily.

‘Still, I can’t live so stuffily like this forever. The teacher said it was safe too.’

Heidi’s gaze turned toward the sentries standing guard in front of the wall. After exchanging brief nods with them, she headed lightly toward the rear garden.

Unlike the central garden where small, well-trimmed trees were arranged in perfect order without a single one out of place, the rear garden was filled with large trees, creating an atmosphere like a small forest.

“Phew.”

Heidi closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

The earthy and grassy scents filling the air packed her lungs tightly.

“Now I feel like I can live again.”

The feeling of her head, which had been throbbing from being buried in studies, instantly clearing up. Heidi’s complexion brightened considerably.

Just as she was thinking it was good that she came out, a familiar person entered Heidi’s field of vision.

“Oh, it’s the teacher.”

A pure white bench placed under a willow tree. Desion was sitting there, intently reading something.

After hesitating for a moment, Heidi slowly walked toward Desion.

When she approached about ten steps closer, Desion, sensing someone’s presence, looked up.

“Heidi?”

As if he hadn’t expected to encounter her here, Desion’s eyes widened slightly.

Heidi asked.

“Am I disturbing your rest?”

“Not at all.”

Desion shifted over a bit to make room for Heidi to sit.

“It seems like it’s been a while since you took a walk.”

“The weather was nice, so I wanted to get some fresh air for a moment.”

“That was a good idea. Fresh air is good for your health.”

Heidi glanced down at the white paper in Desion’s hands.

Then Desion smoothly held out the paper he was holding to her.

“It’s a letter from Eloise.”

Heidi’s eyes widened.

“Is the young lady doing well?”

“…”

At Heidi’s question, Desion raised an eyebrow sharply.

Realizing that this was a correction about the form of address, Heidi grumbled quietly.

“…What can I do about something that’s become a habit? I’ve been calling her that for years, it’s hard to change it overnight.”

“Still, you must correct it. So you don’t make mistakes in important situations.”

“I’ll be more careful.”

Only then did Desion’s expression soften to its usual state.

“Would you like to read it? There’s something about you in it too.”

“About me?”

Heidi carefully took the letter. The stiff paper was filled with neat handwriting.

“…There aren’t any particular incidents to tell you about. Perhaps because of that, my days lately are strangely long and boring. It’s not because brother isn’t by my side. Brother was always absent anyway.

Sometimes I miss Heidi so much. I’m truly happy that she can be with her family now. But Heidi was my only friend, and sometimes she felt like family to me.”

Reading Eloise’s letter, Heidi rubbed her stinging nose.

“I’ve been worried about her too. The fact that I couldn’t even say goodbye when I left.”

Desion, who had been staring at Heidi, suddenly threw out a question.

“May I ask you just one thing?”

When Heidi nodded, he opened his lips.

“I’m curious how you were able to open that child’s heart.”

After thinking for a moment, Heidi began to speak.

“I crossed the line.”

Desion tilted his head in puzzlement.

“Crossed the line?”

“Well…”

Heidi tilted her head back. Looking up at the sky that had grown a bit redder, Heidi opened her lips.

“On the first day I went to the estate, I was educated about the rules I had to follow when dealing with the young lady, no, Eloise. Don’t make eye contact, don’t speak first…”

“…”

“It was like a line that Eloise had drawn. So no one crossed that line. I was the same at first.”

Desion listened silently to Heidi’s voice.

“But at some point I came to realize. That at some point, Eloise had become isolated within that line.”

“Eloise must have pushed back severely. I heard she was quite cruel.”

Heidi nodded with a smile.

“At first I thought maybe I had acted too hastily. But even while getting so angry, she didn’t fire me. I gradually became convinced that my feeling was right.”

Desion gazed at Heidi’s profile. The red light of the sunset was overlaid on her white face.

“What was your reason for going so far to protect Eloise? It wasn’t even part of your assigned duties.”

“Well.”

Heidi scratched the corner of her mouth lightly.

“When I was young, my parents told me. That there’s no greater pain for a person than loneliness. I just wanted Eloise to be a little less lonely. That’s all.”

“…”

Desion’s lips, which had been moving as if to say something, pressed tightly shut.

A wind carrying the approaching summer swept around his entire body. At the feeling of heat suddenly rising, he unconsciously rubbed the back of his neck.

Then Heidi, who had been gazing into the distance the whole time, suddenly turned her head toward Desion.

“May I ask you one thing too?”

Slightly startled, Desion awkwardly pulled up the corners of his mouth and answered.

“Of course you may ask.”

“When are you planning to tell Eloise about this plan? She’ll find out eventually anyway.”

“…”

Desion’s pupils, reflected in Heidi’s eyes, shook greatly. It was an expression as if he’d been hit right on target.

‘So that was it after all.’

Heidi could vaguely understand. That Desion’s reason for deciding on this dangerous revenge was connected to Eloise.

A silence that continued unusually long for him.

Heidi deliberately put on a playful expression and changed the subject.

“At least write a long reply to this letter. You understand? She complained so much about how your replies are always short.”

“I do try my best.”

“It’s not enough.”

“Is that so?”

Desion relaxed his shoulders and leaned back against the chair. His short bangs swayed gently in the breeze.

“Come to think of it, I suppose we can start again now.”

Start again? What?

As if reading Heidi’s thoughts, Desion smiled faintly.

“The letters.”

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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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