Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 44

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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 44

 

“Are you feeling better now?”

 

At Lawrence’s question, Heidi nodded as she took her seat.

 

“I feel much better after getting some good rest.”

 

“That’s a relief. Your complexion doesn’t look bad.”

 

Lawrence said with a slight furrow of his brow.

 

“It must have been from being exposed to all that cold wind that day.”

 

Heidi nodded.

 

“The wind was particularly cold that day. Thanks to you lending me your coat, I didn’t shiver for too long. Thank you again.”

 

“I’m glad to hear that, but… I was worried about you the entire way back.”

 

Heidi smiled slightly.

 

“To think you’d even come to check on me personally… You really are thoughtful. I guess there’s a reason people call you everyone’s lover.”

 

Lawrence burst into laughter at Heidi’s words.

 

“Everyone’s lover.”

 

Lawrence looked toward Deshion, who was drinking tea, and asked.

 

“Do you agree, Marquis?”

 

“I agree.”

 

It was a short, calm answer. Deshion silently lifted his cup again.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Lawrence raised his eyebrow with interest. He met Heidi’s eyes and said.

 

“I do have better perception than most. But I’m not particularly more delicate than others.”

 

“…”

 

“If you felt that way, it’s because I’m paying special attention to you.”

 

At that moment, Deshion set down his cup.

 

Clank.

 

The tea in the cup sloshed and wet the saucer.

 

The atmosphere at the table shifted subtly in an instant. Heidi briefly glanced at the sound.

 

There wasn’t much change in Deshion’s expression, but his lips were noticeably more rigid than usual.

 

“…Anyway, I was grateful for everything that day.”

 

Heidi smiled awkwardly as she wrapped up the topic.

 

“By the way, I heard His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday celebration is coming up soon?”

 

Heidi changed the subject while wrapping her hands around the warm teacup.

 

“I heard this year’s scale is quite large. The invitation hasn’t arrived yet, but the capital city is already buzzing.”

 

The smile that had been constantly playing on Lawrence’s lips disappeared for a moment.

 

“Yes. The capital city seems particularly noisy this year.”

 

“People are speculating there will be a new announcement at this banquet.”

 

Deshion’s calm voice interjected between the two.

 

“There’s a high possibility of an announcement officially appointing Princess Anastasia as the heir.”

 

“Really?”

 

“Unless His Majesty’s intentions have changed suddenly.”

 

Deshion nodded briefly. Then Lawrence said.

 

“We won’t know until the day comes.”

 

“…”

 

“His Majesty is healthy and well, so there’s no need to announce a successor early, is there?”

 

Lawrence’s gaze reached Heidi.

 

“Then we’ll see each other at the banquet soon.”

 

He said with a slight upturn of his lips.

 

“Please dress warmly this time. Though my coat will always be ready.”

 

At those words, Heidi smiled softly, and Deshion silently emptied his cup. Lawrence, who had been looking back and forth between the two, rose from his seat.

 

“Well then, as an uninvited guest, I’ll take my leave now. See you at the banquet.”

 

After Lawrence left, silence briefly flowed through the drawing room. Like the temperature of the remaining tea in the cups, the air had cooled to an awkward degree.

 

“…”

 

Heidi, who had been quietly observing Deshion’s expression, slowly exhaled.

 

Now she was certain.

 

It wasn’t a misunderstanding. Deshion was definitely uncomfortable whenever she had intimate conversations with Lawrence.

 

That subtle stiffening of his expression, the tension in his fingertips gripping the cup.

 

“If you felt that way, it’s because I’m paying special attention to you.”

 

She recalled how he had set down his cup so roughly that the tea nearly spilled at those strangely resonant words.

 

‘That was definitely jealousy.’

 

Yes, it was jealousy.

 

All those moments she had felt were slightly strange. Those moments she had dismissed with “surely not” were now threading together perfectly.

 

Jealousy was an emotion that couldn’t be explained without affection.

 

When she thought that perhaps his feelings weren’t so different from hers, Heidi’s heart began to beat fiercely.

 

Heidi looked at Deshion’s quietly settled profile and clasped her hands tightly together.

 

‘Tonight, I need to have a conversation with Deshion.’

 

* * *

 

It was a time when most of the servants had finished their work and gone to sleep.

 

Heidi was walking down the corridor carrying a lamp. As she passed his study, she could see light seeping through the gap under the library door.

 

When she carefully knocked on the door, a low voice came from inside.

 

“Come in.”

 

When she opened the door and entered, she immediately saw Deshion sitting on the sofa looking over documents. Fatigue was spread thickly across his face.

 

“…Heidi?”

 

Deshion’s eyes widened when he spotted Heidi. Deshion smiled faintly as she sat in the seat across from him.

 

“I was looking for you. You weren’t in your study, so I thought you might be in the library.”

 

“At this hour?”

 

“I have something I wanted to ask you quietly.”

 

Heidi’s gaze fell on the table. There sat a glass filled with dark amber-colored liquor.

 

“But… you’re drinking?”

 

“Sometimes there are times when you want to clear your head, aren’t there?”

 

Deshion’s face looked somewhat troubled as he said this. Heidi glanced at him carefully and asked.

 

“If you want to be alone…”

 

He swirled the glass and set it down again. He clasped his hands together and said.

 

“I haven’t been drinking. You said you had something to ask. What is it?”

 

Heidi took a deep breath.

 

Even though she had come with firm resolve, seeing Deshion’s red eyes made it difficult to part her lips.

 

“What if.”

 

“…”

 

“What if this plan succeeds and I end up taking Anastasia’s position…”

 

Heidi paused to catch her breath and looked at him.

 

“Then would I have to marry Lawrence?”

 

Deshion hesitated. He stood there blankly as if he had forgotten how to speak, then nodded.

 

“…If that’s what you want, then yes.”

 

Heidi asked again.

 

“Then, if I don’t want to, I don’t have to?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Then could I have anyone I want?”

 

Her gaze pierced straight through him. Then Deshion tilted his head sideways.

 

“Who are you talking about?”

 

“Well.”

 

Deshion, who had narrowed his eyes, thought for a moment, then slowly parted his lips.

 

“Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean you can move people’s hearts at will.”

 

“….”

 

“However, there wouldn’t be any man who would refuse you. That’s what I think.”

 

Heidi gulped, swallowing dryly.

 

Now it was time to bring up the main point.

 

“Then… what if I wanted you?”

 

Deshion’s eyes widened. Heidi could clearly see his pupils dilating.

 

“Would you stay by my side too?”

 

The candlelight flickered unsteadily between the two of them.

 

After a long silence, he opened his mouth. His voice was deeply subdued.

 

“Please don’t do that.”

 

Thump.

 

Heidi’s heart sank with a jolt. After being frozen for a moment, she quietly asked.

 

“…Why?”

 

“I already made you a promise. That if you would take my hand, I would dedicate myself to you. So if you command it, I will do so. However.”

 

Deshion’s red eyes gleamed darkly.

 

“I have no interest whatsoever in things like love.”

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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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