Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 34

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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 34

 

Heidi and Eloise embraced each other and burst into tears.

 

Only after shedding tears until both their eyes were puffy and swollen could the two finally have a proper conversation.

 

“But you… what on earth happened to you?”

 

Eloise’s eyes slowly swept from Heidi’s toes to the top of her head.

 

‘She was always a pretty child, but… she’s changed so much I can barely recognize her?’

 

The smooth cream-colored satin dress was clearly high-quality at first glance, and the embroidery on the shawl draped over her shoulders was extraordinary.

 

And that wasn’t all?

 

Her well-nourished skin gleamed with a radiant luster, and her posture was straight and proper. Her delicate steps forward were as graceful as royalty raised in luxury.

 

Eloise grasped Heidi’s hands tightly and asked.

 

“Where have you been all this time? How have you been living? And what’s with this appearance now? Hmm?”

 

“Well, you see…”

 

Heidi glanced at Deshion with a troubled expression.

 

‘I don’t know where to start.’

 

Reading that look, Deshion gently separated the two.

 

“I’ll explain everything. Let’s move somewhere else first. It’s going to be a long story. Let’s go to your room.”

 

* * *

 

“What? Is that really true?”

 

Eloise’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

Heidi carefully nodded her head.

 

“…Yes. That’s what happened.”

 

“If such a wonderful thing happened, you should have told me sooner. To think you became Ermetel’s adopted daughter.”

 

At Eloise’s words, Heidi smiled awkwardly.

 

“It was so sudden that I was in a daze. Still, to you…”

 

“Heidi.”

 

At Deshion’s brief call, Heidi flinched. Her gaze immediately shifted to the side.

 

‘It’s because of the formal address. I know that too…’

 

Heidi looked at Eloise with wavering eyes.

 

‘It’s so awkward, what am I supposed to do about this?’

 

Then Eloise quickly and perceptively spoke up.

 

“Just call me by my name from now on. I prefer that.”

 

“…Yes. Eloise.”

 

When Heidi called her name carefully, Eloise smiled with satisfaction.

 

Eloise didn’t ask any more questions about Heidi’s origins or changed status.

 

Such things weren’t particularly important matters to her.

 

“We’re going to live together in this estate from now on, right? I’m so happy. To think we’d meet again like this.”

 

Eloise held Heidi’s hand tightly.

 

“No matter what anyone says, you’re my sister. You know that, don’t you, Heidi?”

 

* * *

 

Having left the room, Heidi and Deshion walked through the quiet corridor. Candlelight cast long shadows on each wall.

 

“I feel uncomfortable, as if I’m deceiving Eloise.”

 

Heidi carefully revealed her inner thoughts.

 

Deshion glanced at her sideways and spoke in a low voice.

 

“Eloise is happy just being able to be together.”

 

“…”

 

“That’s not deceiving her. It’s protecting Eloise.”

 

“But still…”

 

“For now, let’s focus on this.”

 

Deshion pulled out an envelope from inside his coat. A crisp white invitation envelope was revealed under the wall lamp’s light.

 

“…What is this?”

 

Heidi’s eyes widened.

 

“It’s an invitation from Lawrence.”

 

“It came faster than I expected. It’s only been a few days since the Royal Palace banquet ended.”

 

The face of the man she first met a few days ago came to mind.

 

His friendly and gentle eye-smile, the light jokes that eased the other person’s tension.

 

‘He seemed like quite a decent person.’

 

As if reading Heidi’s thoughts, Deshion briefly added.

 

“He’s not someone to take lightly despite appearances. It’s also hard to read his true intentions.”

 

Heidi looked up at him.

 

“Last time, you dealt with Sir Lawrence instead of me. Will you do the same this time?”

 

Deshion shook his head.

 

“Probably not this time. It would be better not to. You’ll have to handle him alone.”

 

“By myself? I’m not confident…”

 

Heidi muttered quietly, then looked into Deshion’s eyes and asked.

 

“Then please tell me what I should do and how. What kind of conversation I should have, what kind of expression I should make…”

 

Deshion stared at her intently. Confused by the lack of response, Heidi tilted her head.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“I don’t think I can teach you that.”

 

At Deshion’s words, Heidi’s eyes widened.

 

“What?”

 

“Because it’s something you do better than me. Opening someone’s heart. Making someone like you.”

 

“…!”

 

Heidi looked up at him with a surprised expression. Deshion met that gaze calmly and continued.

 

“Just do as you did with Eloise, and as you did with me.”

 

Deshion’s red eyes held Heidi in their gaze.

 

“Because it’s not easy to not like you.”

 

* * *

 

When the main gate of the Pretium Duke’s townhouse opened, Heidi’s lips parted.

 

“Wow…”

 

If the Haizen Count’s townhouse had an antique atmosphere, this place had a completely different charm.

 

The marble walls receiving the afternoon sunlight shone brilliantly, and the vast garden was perfectly arranged like a work of art.

 

Every time the flower fragrance drifted on the wind, Heidi unconsciously held her breath in admiration.

 

“It’s truly beautiful. To think a townhouse could be this spacious and magnificent…”

 

Today’s banquet was held in the large greenhouse at the center of the estate.

 

The space, which looked like an entire flower garden moved indoors, seemed straight out of a fairy tale. Light scattered from the large chandelier illuminated the colors of the flowers even more vividly.

 

“It seems like there’s more than one greenhouse?”

 

“The Viscount of Pretium is famous for his deep knowledge of plants. Pretium’s gardens are comparable even to the Royal Palace gardens.”

 

Looking around with curious eyes, Heidi said.

 

“There are a lot of people here.”

 

“Banquets held by the House of Pretium are always popular.”

 

“The atmosphere is quite different from the Royal Palace banquet.”

 

“It’s a more free and comfortable atmosphere. Since the Duke’s banquets serve a lot of good alcohol, secrets often spill from the mouths of drunk nobles.”

 

Come to think of it, the conversations of nobles with flushed faces could be heard quite loudly.

 

“Haha! So Count Duff ended up losing the duel?”

 

“Oh, don’t even mention it. I heard that fellow is still walking around with bandages around his waist.”

 

Heidi whispered quietly in Deshion’s ear.

 

“So there was a reason why the House of Pretium became the kingdom’s information hub. Right?”

 

Heidi slowly looked around the greenhouse filled with laughter, and discovered a place where particularly many people had gathered.

 

Among them was one person who especially stood out. A man with such presence that even just standing silently drew everyone’s attention naturally.

 

It was Lawrence.

 

The moment Heidi spotted him, Lawrence, who had been conversing with other people, happened to turn his head.

 

“…!”

 

Their gazes intertwined in midair.

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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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