Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 45

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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 45

 

“You’re not interested in love?”

 

When Heidi asked back, Deshion straightened his back. There was no hesitation or wavering in his eyes.

 

“That’s right.”

 

He said in a low voice.

 

“I have no interest in falling in love, getting married, having children and building a family. If that kind of happy future is what you desire, Heidi, I don’t think I can be of help.”

 

Heidi was speechless for a while. Deshion’s voice was so resolute that there wasn’t even room for her to interject.

 

“Whatever feelings I have for you are irrelevant. Such things have long been excluded from my life.”

 

“…Why?”

 

“Well. Would it sound crazy if I said I don’t want to be happy?”

 

Deshion’s voice sank murkily.

 

“I’m sorry if my emotions confused you. I’ll be more careful with my conduct from now on.”

 

Those words pierced into Heidi like a blade. Heidi sat there blankly, unable to give any response.

 

The apology that came from his lips felt more distant and unfamiliar than anything else.

 

When Deshion finished speaking, the room became as quiet as if it were empty. The two of them faced each other without saying a word.

 

“…”

 

Heidi bit her lower lip tightly.

 

There was once a time when she had looked at his face as he slept lying here. The distance that had made her heart flutter so much back then now felt as far apart as heaven and earth.

 

“I understand.”

 

Heidi barely managed to squeeze out her voice.

 

“It’s getting late. I’ll get up first.”

 

Deshion bowed his head without saying anything.

 

“Have a comfortable night. Please.”

 

* * *

 

But after that day, neither Heidi’s nights nor her days were comfortable. Every time she encountered Deshion, an awkward silence would flow between them.

 

Deshion tried to treat her as if nothing had happened, but sometimes there were moments when he couldn’t properly continue his words, unlike his usual self.

 

After several days had passed like this, an envelope with the royal seal was placed on Heidi’s desk.

 

Red wax gleamed, revealing the royal coat of arms.

 

Heidi slowly traced that seal with her fingertip.

 

‘A royal invitation…?’

 

“…Therefore, I wish to share tea with you and have an informal conversation, so please make time for me. This time I wish to meet with you alone without Count Haizen, so please convey this to the Count as well.”

 

An invitation from The King, and a private audience at that. She felt burdened.

 

‘But… things are awkward with Deshion these days anyway, so maybe this would be better.’

 

Heidi let out a short sigh as she stared down at the words “Count Haizen” written in the invitation.

 

‘For now, let me just think about this. I can’t let myself be swayed by useless emotions and mess things up.’

 

Heidi steadied her wavering heart again and again.

 

* * *

 

“I greet Your Majesty.”

 

“Please come in.”

 

The drawing room where The King had summoned her was both tranquil and beautiful. Light passing through windows decorated with colorful glass adorned the floor like carpet, and beautiful flower arrangements here and there added fragrance to the air.

 

Heidi greeted him with proper etiquette.

 

“Thank you for inviting me.”

 

“Was your journey comfortable?”

 

“Yes, thanks to your consideration, I came very comfortably.”

 

“That’s good to hear.”

 

The King’s voice was low and subtly tinged with fatigue.

 

A place without Deshion or Noah. Heidi straightened her back and was struggling internally to calm her nerves.

 

Meanwhile, The King was calmly examining Heidi’s face with a peaceful expression. He said.

 

“I really wanted to see you again, Lady.”

 

Heidi looked up with surprised eyes.

 

“You resemble someone I know very much.”

 

The King gazed into the air for a moment, then continued as if talking to himself.

 

“Perhaps because I’m getting old, I keep thinking of the past these days. My wife who departed before me.”

 

Heidi’s heart beat faster. If it was The Queen, wasn’t she her birth mother? Heidi perked up her ears.

 

“She was a quiet and graceful woman. Though she was very shy, sometimes she would show surprisingly bold sides.”

 

“…”

 

“Does the tea suit your taste?”

 

Heidi carefully nodded her head.

 

“Yes, the fragrance is really lovely.”

 

“The Queen loved that tea the most too.”

 

Deep longing was embedded in The King’s words. He shared memories of The Queen one by one while sipping tea with Heidi.

 

How the two of them met, how they fell in love. How beautifully she used to smile.

 

After chattering away for a while, perhaps suddenly feeling embarrassed, The King scratched the back of his neck.

 

“I’m rambling on about all sorts of things in front of you. It must have been boring, I’m sorry.”

 

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

 

Heidi quickly waved her hands.

 

It wasn’t just politeness – it really had been interesting. Learning about her birth parents brought special feelings to Heidi.

 

‘It’s somehow strange…’

 

She didn’t feel like family yet, but still.

 

After a while, The King stood up from his seat.

 

“There’s a place I’d like to go together. There’s something I want to show you.”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

The place they arrived at following him was The Royal Archives. When the thick door opened, musty air with a mysterious scent flowed out.

 

“This way.”

 

In the corridor The King pointed to, old portraits hung in a row. Names that Heidi had seen in history books flowed from The King’s mouth as he walked ahead. And then.

 

“This person is…”

 

Heidi stopped walking in front of The Queen’s portrait. She was a beauty with bright golden hair that caught the eye.

 

And…

 

‘She looks like me.’

 

The King, who had been silently gazing at the portrait for a long time, spoke.

 

“She resembles you.”

 

“Of course, she’s much more beautiful than I am…”

 

“There’s no need for that.”

 

When Heidi was being cautious, he let out a quiet laugh.

 

“Can you imagine how surprised I was when I first saw you, Lady?”

 

The King’s gaze moved to Heidi.

 

“Especially your smile was so similar it made my hair stand on end. I kept thinking.”

 

“…”

 

“If she and I had had one more daughter, that child would surely have been like you.”

 

The end of The King’s voice trembled faintly.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

“Having such feelings sometimes made me feel guilty toward Anastasia. Even so… when I saw you in the palace, sometimes it felt as if she had come back to life and was standing before me.”

 

Tears welled up in The King’s eyes. His face, which had seemed sharp and sensitive, crumbled in an instant.

 

“…!”

 

Perhaps now might be the opportunity to capture his heart. When a person is vulnerable, any words can sink deep into their heart.

 

But Heidi couldn’t say anything. The longing that glistened moistly in his reddened eyes was too vivid for her to dare utter even obvious words of comfort.

 

After a moment, having composed his emotions, he spoke.

 

“In a few days, there will be my birthday celebration. I would very much like you to come that day.”

 

“Of course, Your Majesty. If you invite me to such a precious occasion, it would be the greatest honor for me.”

 

Heidi, who had responded with proper etiquette, carefully asked.

 

“But… is there another reason I must attend the banquet?”

 

As those words ended, the air in the room stirred strangely. A brief silence flowed, and the King parted his lips.

 

“There is something I must give you.”

 

“Something to give me…?”

 

The King, who had been gazing intently at the violet eyes that were exactly the same color as his own, let out a deep breath. He spoke with a solemn expression.

 

“You’ll understand when you come. There’s something I want to confirm with you.”

 

Heidi bowed her head and answered.

 

“…I shall obey, Your Majesty.”

 

Heidi could sense it intuitively. The day when her fate would come crashing down was approaching.

 

* * *

 

“What? A private audience with Father?”

 

Anastasia’s voice rang out convulsively.

 

The governess bowed her head.

 

“Yes, this time the Marquis didn’t accompany her either.”

 

“Father wouldn’t possibly…”

 

Anastasia gripped the glass with her fingertips. The thin wine glass looked precarious, as if it might break at any moment.

 

“Did you find out what they talked about?”

 

“I’m sorry. I made inquiries but couldn’t find out…”

 

Crash!

 

Before the governess could finish speaking, Anastasia hurled the glass with all her strength. The glass cup flew past the governess’s face by a hair’s breadth and shattered into pieces.

 

The governess immediately knelt down and bowed her head.

 

“However, there is someone who overheard a conversation His Majesty had with a priest a few days ago, Princess.”

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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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