Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 31

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

Chapter 31

 

As the door to the audience chamber opened after passing through the corridor with golden tapestries, Deshion entered the room with familiar steps.

 

“I greet Panther’s one and only sun.”

 

“Come in.”

 

The King received his greeting while sitting comfortably on the sofa. Noah was already positioned beside him.

 

“Sit down and have some tea. Or would you prefer alcohol?”

 

“Tea would be good.”

 

Deshion offered his regards while observing the King’s face.

 

“Your Majesty, how is your health? Your features look sharper than before.”

 

“Haha, there you go again.”

 

The King laughed while slightly frowning.

 

“If you’re so worried about my health, you should visit more often to check on me.”

 

Deshion raised the corners of his mouth slightly and responded politely.

 

“I promise to do so from now on.”

 

“I suppose I have no choice but to be fooled again.”

 

The King looked at him for a moment, then his eyes flashed with mischief.

 

“I heard you brought a partner today. Is that true?”

 

“That’s correct.”

 

Deshion nodded briefly.

 

“Really? I thought it was just idle gossip from others.”

 

The King’s eyes widened as if surprised. He straightened his posture and asked again.

 

“Are you two engaged to be married?”

 

Deshion’s smile deepened. However, his voice remained calm.

 

“It’s not that kind of relationship Your Majesty is thinking of. However, she is indeed an important person to me. May I introduce her to Your Majesty? She should be waiting outside.”

 

“Of course.”

 

The King nodded immediately.

 

“If she’s been waiting, you should have said so earlier. Have her come in.”

 

Deshion signaled to the attendant with his eyes. The door slowly opened, and the sound of nervous footsteps echoed.

 

Shortly after, Heidi carefully entered.

 

The hem of her water-colored dress spread out as if flowing to the floor. She lifted her skirt and bowed politely at the waist.

 

“I greet Panther’s one and only sun.”

 

The King lightly raised his hand to receive her greeting.

 

“We were just having tea together, so please join us. We were just talking about you.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

Heidi took a deep breath.

 

‘I mustn’t tremble. Just as Deshion instructed.’

 

Heidi composed herself and carefully sat in the seat next to Deshion. A teacup was quickly prepared and placed in front of her.

 

Only then could Heidi clearly see the face of the King sitting before her.

 

‘Ah.’

 

The King up close was similar yet different from how he appeared from a distance. It was probably because his expression was much more relaxed now.

 

Looking closely, his eyes resembled hers somewhat. Heidi felt a strange emotion seeing eyes of the same color as her own.

 

‘I can see some similarities bit by bit.’

 

The King, who had been looking at Heidi’s face, tilted his head and asked.

 

“Have I seen you before, young lady? You look somewhat familiar. Which family are you from?”

 

At that question, Heidi bowed her head and answered politely.

 

“I am Heidi Ermetel.”

 

The King tilted his head for a moment and muttered.

 

“Did the Ermetel family have a daughter? I heard they had no heir, so a close relative inherited the family.”

 

Deshion, sitting beside her, stepped in with a gentle smile.

 

“She’s a child the Ermetel family adopted, Your Majesty. She’s twenty this year and preparing to enter social circles.”

 

The King’s gaze became much softer.

 

“I see. Anastasia also turned twenty this year. Have you ever met her?”

 

Heidi nodded calmly.

 

“Yes, I have had the honor of greeting her.”

 

The King smiled.

 

“You looked familiar, and now I see you have some resemblance to Anastasia.”

 

Heidi flinched momentarily, but soon smiled brightly and answered.

 

“To be told I resemble the Princess, there could be no greater compliment for me.”

 

“…”

 

For some reason, the King couldn’t continue speaking and stared blankly at her face. Heidi pretended not to notice his gaze and lowered her eyelashes.

 

“…You said you’re an adopted daughter of Ermetel. Then do you know who your birth parents are?”

 

Heidi composed herself and shook her head. This time, it wasn’t a fabricated story.

 

“I don’t know. When I was a baby, I was dying on the street when my adoptive parents saved me and I was able to survive.”

 

“What a pitiful story. Such a pitiful story.”

 

The King muttered the same words several times while narrowing his eyes.

 

Heidi felt his gaze lingering on her face for a long time as she slowly sipped her tea.

 

* * *

 

Even with his favorite tea in front of him, the King couldn’t bring himself to touch it. He couldn’t.

 

‘That smile…’

 

The smile spreading transparently across her face.

 

For a moment, his vision blurred. It was because the face of a woman from long ago overlapped before his eyes. A crushing pain briefly swept through his heart.

 

‘Beatrice.’

 

The King silently muttered the name of his companion, whose smiling face had been prettier than anyone’s.

 

If she hadn’t left this world, and if they had had another daughter together… That child would probably have looked like this, wouldn’t she?

 

That’s why it happened. Why he had such an impossible imagination.

 

Why his heart sank at her answer that she didn’t know her birth parents.

 

The King’s gaze had been focused solely on Heidi rather than Deshion at some point. A question burst out without him realizing.

 

“I see. You’re living with Deshion these days? He’s not particularly entertaining, so aren’t you bored?”

 

“No. There are so many good books in the library that I don’t have time to be bored.”

 

“How delightful that you enjoy reading books. What kind of books do you like to read?”

 

After that, he asked about trivial things. Whether she ate well, what her favorite season was.

 

The answers weren’t really important. He just wanted to see Heidi’s face a little longer as she earnestly answered while showing signs of nervousness.

 

The King constantly found the face of someone he had missed in Heidi’s face.

 

‘…What makes them look so alike? Is it simply because of the smile? Or because of the eyes? Perhaps she’s a distant relative of Beatrice.’

 

Only when an attendant approached to convey the nobles’ request for an audience could he finally compose himself.

 

“It was an honor to have an audience with Your Majesty like this.”

 

“If you’re Count Haizen’s friend, then you’re my friend too, so it’s only natural.”

 

The King asked casually.

 

“Then will you also attend the upcoming Foundation Day ceremony?”

 

It was Deshion who answered that question.

 

“Of course. We plan to attend all the banquets held at the Royal Palace.”

 

“Is that so…”

 

A layer of regret at parting peeled away from the King’s face. He looked intently into Heidi’s large eyes and said.

 

“I would very much like to meet again next time. Both of you.”

 

At those words, Heidi looked up and smiled brightly.

 

The King continued to stare at the closed door long after the two had left the room.

 

“…Noah.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

When the King turned his gaze, Noah Heights immediately bowed his head. The King’s voice was quiet, but countless emotions were swirling in his eyes.

 

“That young lady just now, Heidi was it? Look into her. As thoroughly as possible.”

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