Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 53

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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 53

But why was that? The King did not accept the box the priest offered.

‘Why is he doing that?’

Heidi tilted her head at that sight. To offer a gift and then just stare at it like that.

“…Thank you.”

Only after a puzzling amount of time had passed did the King finally part his lips. But his face as he said thank you didn’t look particularly pleased.

‘Why does he look sad? It might just be my imagination, but…’

At that moment, the King turned his body toward the people gathered in the venue. He slowly turned his head as if checking each and every person in the crowd one by one.

“…!”

Then the King and Heidi’s eyes met directly. Both their eyes widened simultaneously.

Like the poles of magnets locking together, their gazes were firmly fixed on each other, unmoving.

“…”

The King’s expression was complex and subtle.

His large, deep eyes seemed sad, yet also somewhat joyful. His tightly pressed lips seemed like anger, then tension, then perhaps a bit like determination.

As if sensing something, Heidi’s heart began to beat faster little by little. Heidi bit her lips tightly as she met the King’s gaze.

After a moment, the King slowly parted his lips.

“This gift… seems more suitable for others rather than myself. Would that be alright?”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

The King reached out and picked up one of the brooches.

“Wow!”

Simultaneously, a great exclamation burst out among the people. The moment the King’s hand touched it, a dazzlingly bright light flowed from the brooch.

“Light is coming from the jewel!”

“They said it was a gift from the Grand Palace, and indeed it’s something special.”

People raised their voices in admiration at the fantastic sight they couldn’t commonly see.

But only Deshion wasn’t smiling.

“This is…”

He placed his hand on Heidi’s shoulder and whispered low in her ear.

“Do you remember what I said before? How I knew she wasn’t the King’s real daughter.”

“Yes, I remember. The Queen’s crown… Ah!”

Heidi’s eyes widened as she caught on to what Deshion was trying to say.

“What was embedded in that crown and that thing…”

Deshion nodded.

“Perhaps setting fire to the carriage this time was also an attempt to prevent this.”

Heidi swallowed hard as she watched the King slowly approach Anastasia.

The closer the two got, the more Anastasia’s face hardened.

“One is for you, Anastasia, as a gift.”

“…”

“Take it.”

The King extended his hand holding the brooch. But Anastasia just stood there with her lips pressed tight, only looking at it.

The nobles’ expressions became puzzled at the strange scene.

“Why isn’t the Princess accepting it?”

“Does she not like it?”

“Oh come on. That can’t be it. She must be overwhelmed with emotion.”

Hearing the people’s murmuring, Anastasia came to her senses as if startled and pulled up the corners of her mouth.

“The Grand Palace sent this as a gift filled with deep friendship for Father. How could I accept something so precious, Father?”

“No.”

The King smiled gently at Anastasia and lightly grasped her hand.

“It seems like something that would suit you better than anyone else.”

“…Father.”

“I would like you to keep it.”

Squeeze.

Light swirled around their tightly clasped hands. The King and Anastasia looked at that light for a long while, holding each other’s hands.

“…”

However, after a moment, their hands slowly moved apart. Heidi, who had been watching, murmured quietly.

“The light has faded.”

The bright and brilliant light that everyone could see had disappeared like a lie.

The King, who had been staring at Anastasia’s hand for a long time, slowly turned around. His expression wasn’t much different from usual, but his complexion was paler than normal.

“And the other one…”

The place the King looked at as he came back down the stairs was where Deshion and Heidi were standing.

“I would like to give it as a gift to someone I’m personally grateful to.”

At those words, all the nobles’ eyes sparkled.

Magic stones themselves were precious items not easy to obtain, and moreover, weren’t those precious objects of which there were only two in the world? What greater honor could there be than receiving one?

Eyes glittering with greed turned toward the King.

Step, step.

The banquet hall fell quiet.

Heavy footsteps rang out clearly. He walked straight toward one place without wandering or looking around.

Perhaps because of the bright light emanating from his hands, he even looked sacred somehow.

“…”

When his steps stopped, all the nobles in the hall held their breath.

“…”

Even when the King stood before Deshion, people weren’t particularly surprised. No one was unaware that the King especially cherished Count Haizen.

But the person the King’s gaze fell upon wasn’t Count Haizen, but the slender woman standing arm-in-arm with him.

“Your Majesty.”

Heidi quickly grabbed her dress hem and offered a greeting.

“I greet His Majesty, the Sun of Panther.”

“You came.”

“Of course, Your Majesty.”

Heidi bowed her head slightly. Something was suddenly extended before Heidi’s eyes.

It was a brooch delicately crafted with platinum trim. The jewel with the same light as her eyes was so clear it seemed transparent and lustrous.

The sight of light rippling beside it was so beautiful that just looking at it made her heart pound. Heidi stared at it as if mesmerized.

The King, who had been silently watching Heidi, opened his mouth.

“I would like to give this to you as a gift. Will you accept it?”

Heidi raised her head. Then her reflection appeared in those familiar bright eyes.

Heidi answered with a trembling voice.

“Of, of course, Your Majesty.”

Heidi respectfully extended both hands.

“I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing, but…”

The King muttered weakly and swallowed dry saliva. He extended his trembling hand.

Thud.

The moment the heavy brooch was placed on Heidi’s hand.

“…!”

Whoosh.

Bright light spread like waves from Heidi’s palm. Just as it had from the King’s hand.

“Ahh…”

The King’s lips slowly parted. He seemed to want to say something, but only moved his lips without uttering any words.

The nobles who witnessed the wondrous scene up close also burst into surprised exclamations.

“It’s truly beautiful. I didn’t know magic stones could be utilized like this.”

“Oh! But when the Princess received it earlier, there was no reaction at all, was there?”

“That’s right. There wasn’t. Then was there a problem with that brooch earlier?”

“That can’t be. When it was in His Majesty’s hands, it clearly shone brightly. Bright enough for all of us to see.”

“Then… what’s the difference?”

People who felt puzzled began to murmur.

That’s when it happened.

“I have a suspicion about this.”

Deshion, who had been standing quietly and observing everything, spoke up. Everyone’s eyes and ears focused on his voice.

“I think I know what secret lies within that magic stone. May I share my opinion?”

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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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