Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 68
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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 68
The Prime Minister has come.
Heidi sprang up from the bed as if bouncing.
‘I haven’t even finished the assignment yet?’
Why so soon? Why so suddenly?
What exactly do you think the position of princess is? She hadn’t even found an answer to the question he had thrown at her and left.
‘He said there would be no lessons until then, did he come because he got tired of waiting?’
All sorts of questions floated around in her head.
Heidi hurriedly changed clothes and rushed down the stairs.
“Duke.”
Heidi said, briefly catching her breath that had quickened from hurrying.
“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
Duke Delern rose from his seat and offered a light greeting.
“It’s only natural since I requested to meet without prior notice. It’s fine.”
“….”
“Please, sit.”
Duke Delern pointed to the chair in front of him with his hand, inviting her to sit.
“Ah.”
Heidi, who had been standing awkwardly, quickly took her seat.
‘His expression doesn’t look bad?’
Glancing.
Heidi, who had been observing Duke Delern’s expression, carefully parted her lips.
“I….”
“…?”
“I haven’t finished the assignment you gave me yet.”
Then the Duke nodded.
“I know.”
“You said you would restart lessons once I completed that assignment….”
“….”
“Ah! That’s not to say I don’t want to have lessons.”
The Duke’s eyes narrowed at Heidi’s hurried addition.
“Is that really so?”
“Really, really it’s not!”
Startled, Heidi waved her hands frantically.
“I really didn’t mean it that way.”
Just then, Heidi’s eyes widened slightly. She noticed the Prime Minister’s lips curling up slightly at the corners.
‘…Was he making something like a joke?’
Heidi’s expression became subtle. A joke from this stubborn person who used to nitpick and lecture about everything.
Then the Prime Minister, who had been watching Heidi intently, spoke.
“There have been many rumors about the Princess circulating in the Royal Palace lately.”
“Rumors?”
“That you stood up for the maids.”
“Ah, those rumors….”
The Prime Minister’s eyes glinted sharply.
“Why did you bother with such troublesome matters? Whether the maids have much or little work, whether they’re young or old, it has nothing to do with the Princess, does it?”
Nothing to do with me?
Indignant, Heidi spoke up.
“I don’t think it has nothing to do with me.”
“….”
“Their hands touch everything I wear, eat, and use.”
Heidi grabbed her skirt and spread it out as she spoke.
“The reason this dress I’m wearing now stays clean without a single stain, the reason it can maintain its elegant appearance without a single wrinkle, is because someone dipped their hands in cold water from early morning.”
Tap.
Heidi placed her hand on the table as she continued.
“This spacious area stays comfortable without a speck of dust because someone diligently swept and cleaned it. And what about the warm tea you’re drinking?”
“Hmm….”
“The comfort I take for granted is infused with their sacrifices.”
The Duke, who had been listening to Heidi’s words with a strange expression, shrugged his shoulders.
“But don’t they receive wages in return for that work?”
“That’s right. Yes.”
Heidi readily agreed. But she immediately added clearly.
“They do their work, and I also did mine. If taking care of me is their job, then I think looking after their lives is my responsibility.”
Having finished speaking, Heidi gasped and closed her mouth. Talking back so boldly to the Duke! It was something the usual her couldn’t have even imagined.
Of course, technically speaking, Heidi was the superior….
‘But still, he’s difficult to deal with!’
Had his feelings been hurt? Duke Delern pushed the teacup he had been drinking forward.
“I see. I don’t need to hear more.”
Flustered, Heidi’s eyes widened.
“But….”
“I mean that was a sufficient answer to my question.”
“What?”
Heidi blinked.
For some reason, Duke Delern’s face looking at her was very bright.
“Princess, you haven’t found the answer to the question I posed, but you already know that answer.”
The Duke pointed to the teacup with his hand as he spoke.
“This cup of tea contains the efforts of farmers who picked and dried the tea leaves. The fabric of the dress you’re wearing was also made with someone’s sweat.”
“…Ah.”
“While they do their work, the Princess must do the Princess’s work.”
Heidi’s eyes, having gained understanding, trembled finely.
“Just as you looked after the maids, you must also look after the lives of people outside the Palace. That is the Princess’s work.”
Heidi nodded. Then a gentle smile spread across Duke Delern’s lips.
“Since you’re ready to learn, we’ll resume lessons starting tomorrow. This time, you’ll need to steel your mind and focus very intently.”
“Yes, I will.”
“When you realize the weight of the crown you wore on your head during your debutante, my lessons will also end.”
Duke Delern rose with a relieved expression. He bowed respectfully toward Heidi.
“I look forward to working with you until then, Princess Heidi.”
* * *
「Two Stars Rising in Panther Palace, Are They in a Quiet Power Struggle?」
Lawrence, who had put down the newspaper, fell deep in thought.
Though they called it a power struggle, in Lawrence’s judgment, this was a game tilted too far to one side.
‘Anastasia’s position in the Palace will become much more precarious.’
He knew that Anastasia was no ordinary person.
She was frighteningly quick-witted, good at manipulating people, and her cruelty in not choosing means for her purposes was unparalleled.
She wasn’t someone to be taken lightly, but still, wouldn’t she be outmatched by blood ties?
‘But why is brother….’
Lawrence recalled the conversation he had with Clovis last night.
“Now that Princess Anastasia’s situation has changed from before, couldn’t we consider the engagement talk as if it never happened?”
“Stop talking nonsense and just stay quiet. That’s for the Princess to decide, not for someone like you to interfere.”
“Other families are busy taking Princess Heidi’s side.”
“What would someone who just spends money and goes on tours know! Keep your mouth shut and stay quietly holed up in the house for the time being!”
Lawrence didn’t particularly like Clovis normally, but he still trusted his political sense. After all, it was his brother, Clovis, who had managed the family affairs well in their father’s place all this time.
‘No matter how I think about it, Anastasia seems like a kite with a broken string….’
In this situation, openly displaying loyalty to Anastasia was not a wise move no matter how he thought about it. Maybe if it were neutrality.
But lately, when he looked at Clovis, he was interacting with Anastasia even more actively than before and protecting her.
To Lawrence’s eyes, that behavior looked exactly like someone who had been caught with a weakness. He felt strangely uneasy.
‘A weakness. A weakness….’
Lawrence suddenly raised his head.
‘Brother went to meet Princess Anastasia again today. He’s been coming home late continuously these days.’
Lawrence’s blue eyes sparkled.
‘Then that means brother’s room is empty at this hour.’
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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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