Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 58

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

Chapter 58

“Therefore, the Princess’s great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather…”

The history lesson had been going on for three hours now.

The strength gradually drained from Heidi’s shoulders, who had initially been tense, afraid to miss even a single word.

‘I’m sleepy…’

The class should have ended long ago. But Duke Delern’s monotonous voice continued on and on.

Heidi’s mind, having long surpassed its limit, gradually became hazy. Just as her focus was becoming increasingly blurred.

“Princess.”

A voice as sharp as frost flew at her like a whip.

Startled, Heidi hurriedly responded.

“Y-yes, yes.”

Duke Delern, who had been looking at Heidi with displeasure, opened his mouth.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“No. I’m not.”

“Then it seems my lesson is terribly boring to you. Or perhaps you already know all the content and have no need to learn it.”

Thud.

Duke Delern closed the thick book with a sound and met Heidi’s eyes.

“Then I suppose there’s no need for me to continue the lesson any further.”

“…!”

Seeing Duke Delern about to leave, a shocked Heidi shot up from her seat.

Her face flushed red as Heidi offered an apology.

“I’m sorry. I lost my concentration for a moment.”

“…”

Duke Delern, who had been staring at Heidi, parted his lips.

“You must think I’m being harsh, Princess. Your fate has completely changed in an instant, yet I show no empathy for your fear and loneliness.”

“No, I don’t think that…”

“You’re right.”

The Duke cut off Heidi’s words and continued in a rigid tone.

“I have no intention of empathizing with your fears, Princess. More precisely, I’ve decided not to.”

“…”

Heidi’s eyes shook rapidly.

‘He’s decided not to? Why?’

Duke Delern had been Anastasia’s longtime tutor. Had he sided with her?

Or did she simply not meet his standards?

Heidi’s mind became complicated. Duke Delern, who had been quietly observing her, parted his lips.

“For today, I’ll stop here and withdraw, Princess. The scheduled lesson time has already passed.”

Feeling uneasy, Heidi stared intently at the Duke’s green eyes. Despite his age, his clear gaze was sharp as a blade.

“And I won’t be conducting lessons for a while.”

“Pardon?”

“Instead, I’ll give you an assignment.”

An assignment?

“What do you think the position of princess entails?”

“Well…”

“The King’s daughter. First in line for succession and second in royal protocol. Yes, that’s the position.”

The Duke, who had been calmly listing facts, let out a short sigh.

“What do you think that means?”

“…”

“That’s the assignment I’m giving you, Princess. Whether it takes days or weeks doesn’t matter. When you find the answer, come find me.”

* * *

After Duke Delern left, having thrown her an incomprehensible assignment, Heidi came out to the garden.

Having dismissed Sheila and the maids, Heidi, now completely alone, crouched down in a corner of the garden.

“Sigh…”

Heidi clutched her head and roughly tousled her hair.

“I don’t understand any of it.”

Neither the answer to Duke Delern’s question, nor what she was even doing in this place.

Heidi became lost in thought as she gently poked at the small flowers blooming with her finger.

‘Is he really not going to hold lessons until I find the answer?’

No matter how she thought about it, Duke Delern didn’t seem like the type of man to joke around.

It was quite a troublesome situation for Heidi. He already viewed her unfavorably, and now she had shown him her inability to concentrate during lessons.

‘Should I have apologized more actively earlier…?’

The scheduled lesson time had ended, and she had only lost concentration for a brief moment!

Heidi felt somewhat wronged, but what could she do about it?

She had been told that gaining the support of House Delern was important, but she had gotten off to a bad start. She needed to make amends quickly.

‘What does the position of princess entail?’

Wasn’t it obvious? She was the King’s daughter, royalty, and also a symbolic figure…

‘I don’t know what answer the Duke wants to hear.’

Just as Heidi’s worries were deepening.

“What are you thinking about so intensely?”

At the familiar voice from behind her, Heidi’s eyes widened.

“Deshion!”

Heidi shot up from her seat and quickly turned around.

Deshion, who had been leaning against the wall quietly watching her, pulled up the corner of his mouth. His hair was gently swaying in the breeze above his forehead.

A familiar face she hadn’t seen in days. Heidi’s eyes filled with tears.

“Have you been well?”

Suddenly, something surged up from within her chest.

‘How could I have been well?’

Heidi bit down on her lips.

The lonely and desolate feelings. The fear of a life turned completely upside down. Missing her family. Feeling intimidated while dealing with Duke Delern.

All sorts of emotions mixed together and swirled like a whirlwind.

She knew that none of this was Deshion’s fault. She had chosen this herself.

But strangely, the moment she saw Deshion’s face, resentment welled up. She wanted to complain to him for no reason.

“I was away from the capital for a while on His Majesty’s orders. Still, I tried my best to return as quickly as possible…”

Deshion, who had been explaining his recent activities like an excuse, stopped speaking.

His gaze fell on Heidi’s reddened eyes. The tears that had precariously welled up soon rolled down her cheeks.

His red eyes shook mercilessly like a candle flame in the wind at that moment.

Drop.

A tear that had formed at the tip of Heidi’s chin fell to her feet.

“Ah.”

At that moment, Deshion’s lips parted as if he had been struck in the head. He instinctively reached out his hand.

“…”

But his hand soon stopped awkwardly in mid-air.

Because he realized he couldn’t reach her, that he shouldn’t reach her.

If this place hadn’t been the Royal Palace, if this had been some courtyard of the Viscount’s Mansion.

If Heidi weren’t a princess, or if he weren’t Count Haizen.

Where would his hand have touched?

Heidi’s disheveled hair? Her wet cheek? Her reddened eyes?

It was impossible to know.

Deshion hurriedly withdrew his awkward hand. After briefly looking elsewhere, he opened his mouth in a gentle voice.

“I’m sorry. I was thoughtless. Please forgive me.”

“…”

“Hm? Heidi.”

Deshion bent his waist to meet Heidi’s eyes. Beneath his thick eyelashes, ruby-like red pupils quietly captured her face.

Under that intense gaze, Heidi’s face turned bright red.

She quickly turned her head away, but couldn’t hide her softened expression. Deshion, who smiled faintly as if barely visible, parted his lips.

“Still, there’s good news. Perhaps two pieces of it.”

Perk.

Heidi perked up her ears.

“Good news?”

“I wanted to tell you quickly. I came straight here as soon as I found out. Let’s talk while walking.”

Deshion began walking along the garden path and opened his mouth.

“At the end of this month, His Majesty will hold a grand debutante ball. At that occasion, he will bestow upon you a new name and publicly announce your existence.”

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