Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 28

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 28

At Heidi’s words, Deshion stared at her silently for a while.

“Are you serious?”

“I’m serious.”

“Have you thought this through properly?”

“Enough to give me a headache.”

At Heidi’s words, Deshion slightly furrowed his brow.

“I thought you would leave. Since you said you wanted to see your family.”

Heidi tilted her head.

“Then why didn’t you stop me? You could have. You could have tried to persuade me more.”

After meeting Heidi’s eyes for a moment, Deshion slowly parted his lips.

“I want you to be happy.”

“…”

“Though it might sound rather ridiculous for me to say this when I’m dragging you into a dangerous plan…”

“I feel the same way.”

Heidi interrupted Deshion’s words.

“While I wish for everything you desire to come true, the urge to run away from your plan rises up to my throat.”

Deshion’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Then why…”

“I realized I can’t go back to how things were perfectly. It would have been better not to know, but I can’t unknow what I already know.”

“…”

“I could pretend not to know, but I’m not sure if I could face myself with dignity.”

Heidi’s violet eyes shone clearly.

“I don’t want to live my whole life running and hiding. That would be only half a life.”

Heidi looked straight at Deshion as she spoke.

“Right now, I’m telling you that I’m betting my life on you, Deshion.”

* * *

The Royal Palace’s New Year banquet was held.

With rumors circulating that the heir designation would happen soon, this year’s New Year celebration was more glamorous and tense than ever before.

Under the brilliant chandeliers, the ladies’ dresses rippled like waves of various colors. The rich scents of perfume and wine gently swirled in the air, and lively music was played.

“Princess Anastasia’s birthday is approaching. The heir designation will be soon too, won’t it?”

“Surely it will be. How grandly it will be conducted…”

“Will the engagement ceremony with Prince Lawrence be held first?”

The nobles’ conversations naturally blended with the beautiful melody.

As names from invitations were called one by one and glamorously dressed nobles entered, the ballroom gradually became noisier.

“Count Deshion Carlos Haizen! And his companion is…”

However, when the royal chamberlain’s voice rang out, the voices filling the ballroom instantly quieted.

“Count Haizen has come?”

“I hadn’t heard he’d returned to the capital.”

“Why aren’t they announcing his companion’s name? If it’s the Count’s partner… Could there be a young lady he’s considering for marriage?”

People’s surprised gazes focused on the stairs.

Count Haizen, that is, Deshion, stood there dressed in dark navy formal wear. Over one shoulder flowed an ebony cloak embroidered with the family crest in gold thread.

He was an impeccably handsome man, but surprisingly, there wasn’t much admiration for his appearance. This was because the intimidating presence emanating from his tall stature, solid build, and sharp gaze was quite overwhelming.

But today, there was a woman beside him, lightly holding his arm.

“That woman is…”

Her skin revealed under the candlelight was transparently white, and bright golden hair cascaded down to her waist.

Her amethyst-like clear and deep violet eyes sparkled, holding the light of the chandeliers.

A pale blue dress and silver embroidery flowed along her body lines, and a splendid diamond necklace accentuated her slender neck.

However, what captured people’s attention more than her clothes or jewelry was her own atmosphere.

Her delicate features, like a fairy from a fairy tale, created an otherworldly atmosphere.

“Who is she? I don’t think I’ve seen that young lady before…”

“I haven’t seen her either. Could she be from another country? Her dress looks a bit unique too.”

The murmuring spread quickly.

Tonight’s topic was no longer Anastasia’s birthday or speculation about the heir designation ceremony.

From the moment they set foot in the ballroom, all eyes were directed toward Count Deshion Carlos Haizen and the woman standing beside him, Heidi.

Heidi held her head high and walked gracefully.

‘I’m perfectly fine right now. I’m not nervous at all.’

Heidi deliberately put strength into her legs that kept wanting to give way. Each time her toes touched the hard marble floor, trembling was transmitted.

Heidi instinctively gripped Deshion’s arm tighter. Her fingertips turned white from the force.

‘This is really crazy. I should have thought more carefully!’

Heidi’s heart pounded wildly. With each step she took, regret washed over her.

Then, a warm touch covered the back of her hand.

“…!”

When startled Heidi looked up, she immediately met Deshion’s eyes.

“You’re doing well. Don’t be nervous and lean on me as you walk.”

His calm and low voice, no different from usual. Heidi felt her heart gradually calming down.

‘Right, there’s no point in regretting now anyway. If I’ve decided to do this, I need to do it perfectly.’

Heidi looked at Deshion and nodded slightly.

As the two descended the stairs, people who had been murmuring from afar rushed forward to offer greetings.

“Count, it’s been a long time. I hope you’ve been well.”

The first greeting was a ceremonial inquiry about his well-being. However, their eyes never left Heidi even once.

Deshion nodded with a gentle smile.

“It has been a long time. Have you all been well?”

His voice was calm yet courteous, and the other person returned a smile with a much more comfortable expression.

“We’ve been well as always. How long has it been since we last met…”

“I’ve been away. Business kept me overseas for long periods, so I haven’t been able to pay attention to social circle affairs for some time. Please forgive me.”

Artificial laughter burst out at Deshion’s response.

“Forgiveness? That’s nonsense to say. But if it’s not rude to ask, who is the young lady accompanying you?”

Someone standing nearby added with a somewhat cautious tone.

“It’s truly the first time we’ve seen her face. Which family’s daughter is she?”

Heidi’s heart pounded as if it would burst.

‘Ah, this question was bound to come up.’

As all eyes poured onto her, Heidi felt suffocated.

However, Deshion wasn’t shaken at all.

“She’s a distant relative. She’s been staying only in a provincial estate due to health issues and came up with me this time. She came of age this year.”

After nodding briefly at Deshion’s answer, they soon opened their mouths again.

“If she’s a relative, which family’s…”

Just as the questioning was about to become persistent, the chamberlain’s voice rang out from the ballroom entrance.

“Her Highness Princess Anastasia Janette de Panther is entering!”

It was the entrance of the protagonist everyone had been waiting for.

* * *

This morning, Anastasia lingered in front of the mirror longer than usual. It was the day she would debut her new dress and tiara purchased for coming of age.

Anastasia turned around once in front of the mirror, carefully examining her appearance.

‘I like it.’

Thinking of the praise that would pour onto her made her feel excited.

Dresses were always an important matter, but today was especially important. Tomorrow’s newspaper front page would feature the story of Lawrence and her engagement.

‘Lawrence must have dressed up nicely too, right? That would make for a better picture.’

But.

“…Hmm?”

The moment she entered the ballroom, Anastasia felt that something was wrong.

People’s gazes weren’t fixed on her.

Until now, she had always received overwhelming attention the moment she entered, enough to make even breathing stop, but today the gazes seemed scattered somewhere else.

‘What’s going on?’

And the moment she came down the Stairs and stood on the Ballroom Floor, she realized the reason.

There was an unwelcome face. And one unfamiliar face as well.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————