Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 76

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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 76

“Ricardo Callin

-Has a mistress. Sara Maise. A maid who worked at the viscount’s estate, appears to have been given separate lodgings within Callin Viscount’s Domain. Visits about twice a week during daytime hours. The address of the lodgings is…

-His son Pierson Callin also appears to have a close relationship with Sara Maise.

-Famous heavy drinker. Frequently drinks to excess.

-Most of the family’s assets consist of land. No debt, but lacks available liquid assets.

-Sara Maise became pregnant.

-Gave birth to a son. Unknown whether the child’s father is Ricardo or Pierson.”

‘Viscount Carlin?’

Though he hadn’t attended personally, Lawrence had heard about what happened at Anastasia’s party recently. Viscount Carlin, who had made a slip of the tongue in front of Anastasia, had been thoroughly humiliated.

‘How could anyone not know? Everywhere you go, that’s all they’re talking about.’

The Carlin viscount family’s reputation had been dragged through the mud, and lately even bad rumors about the viscount’s personal life were slowly spreading.

‘It all started with words that flowed from Princess Anastasia’s lips.’

The pieces of information clicked together perfectly in Lawrence’s mind. He muttered while looking down at the notebook placed before him.

“This is the weapon Princess Anastasia holds. Just in this one volume, there are dozens of people…”

How many more of these could there be? How sharply would this information be honed in Anastasia’s hands?

Could I be in here too?

Lawrence quickly reflected on his own life.

Adultery? He wasn’t even married yet.

Tax evasion? He’d spent money lavishly his whole life but had never actually earned any.

At least he hadn’t lived a life of major contradictions. He hadn’t lived particularly uprightly or virtuously, but that also meant he hadn’t done anything particularly bad either.

Then what about Clovis Ervin Pretium? What was he like?

A gentle, gentlemanly man who loved plants. Unlike Lawrence who had lived carelessly, Clovis had steadily managed his reputation in social circles.

“Could brother also be…”

Lawrence’s eyes narrowed.

Come to think of it, there were more than a few puzzling things. Why would Clovis, who wasn’t particularly social, hold weekly parties to gather people?

He should be busy handling various family affairs in place of their father, so why was he always away from his post?

At this time when everyone was focused on Heidi, why was he blindly loyal only to Anastasia?

Though he didn’t conduct full-scale background investigations on people like Anastasia did, Lawrence was also famous for being well-informed about rumors. He had connections in all walks of life, so most gossip flowed to him.

‘The evaluations of Clovis were all similar. That he was obsessively devoted to work to an extreme degree. A bookworm whose only hobby was looking at plants…’

But behind the scenes, he was digging up nobles’ weaknesses and passing them to Anastasia.

‘If I investigated the plants in the greenhouse, something would probably turn up… After getting my hands this messed up, it would be troublesome if it was all for nothing.’

Lawrence frowned as he carefully put the handful of leaves he’d gathered into an envelope. The skin on the back of his hands still burned as if scorched by fire.

‘It won’t leave scars, will it?’

But even if some scars remained, it was worth enduring. Lawrence ran his hand gently over the leather cover of the notebook.

“Now that this has fallen into my hands…”

How could he make use of this?

Tap tap.

After pondering for a while, Lawrence took out a sheet of paper. He dipped his pen nib in ink and carefully began writing the first line of a letter.

“To the beloved Princess Heidi Beatrice de Panther.”

* * *

“Buy a newspaper!”

A sundry shop on the outskirts of the capital. The newspaper stand in front of the store was bustling with people.

“One here too!”

“Don’t you have a colored version instead of this?”

There was a reason people were competing to grab newspapers. Today’s newspaper featured a portrait of Princess Heidi.

Though it wasn’t as delicate as one painted by a court artist, nor was the print quality outstanding, people flocked to see it.

The existence of the suddenly appeared princess had been shrouded in mystery all along, so even getting a glimpse of her silhouette was cause for excitement.

“My goodness. What a beautiful person!”

“They say she greatly resembles the Queen, could it be true?”

“That’s why His Majesty bestowed the name Beatrice, isn’t it?”

The public’s interest in Heidi was tremendous. Stories about who Heidi met or what she particularly liked were featured prominently in the news daily.

“SOLD OUT”

Finally, the shop owner came out and put up a sold-out sign, and only then did people scatter in all directions.

Except for a few who stood in the corner whispering.

“Huh, truly shocking…”

One man muttered with a face pale as if struck by shock. Then the man beside him nudged his waist with his elbow in warning.

“Shh! Watch your mouth, didn’t His Majesty tell us that!”

“What did I even say, really.”

The man who had been staring intently at Heidi’s portrait tucked the newspaper into his jacket and jerked his chin.

“Let’s go. We have a mountain of work to do today too.”

“Right. We just need to live quietly doing our own work. Princess Heidi… the Princess can live her own life.”

The men moved away while bickering. They didn’t know.

“That was a reaction of recognition.”

“Follow them.”

That there were eyes secretly watching them.

* * *

“You want to meet with me. Just the two of us, at that.”

Heidi said, holding up the cream-colored letter envelope.

“I was a bit flustered at first. I haven’t received such requests very often.”

Heidi said, looking straight at the person standing before her.

“Especially from a gentleman.”

Lawrence, who had been standing straight before Heidi, placed his hand on his chest and showed respect.

“Please forgive my rudeness, Your Highness.”

Lawrence’s blue eyes sparkled with interest. Though they had exchanged brief greetings at various gatherings large and small, facing each other alone like this made the change quite apparent.

‘Now she has quite a royal atmosphere.’

Her upright posture, her confident gaze… Though it was a very subtle difference, Lawrence could immediately sense it. Heidi’s attitude had changed from before.

“I have urgent matters to discuss, so I requested this meeting knowing it might be improper.”

“Saying that makes me quite curious.”

“You won’t regret it.”

Lawrence smiled broadly.

Heidi led Lawrence to a tea table set up in the garden. It was a bit chilly, but the sunlight was nice, so it wasn’t bad for conversation.

Lawrence skillfully pulled out Heidi’s chair for her.

“Thank you.”

“It’s my honor.”

“I deliberately chose an open place. So no unnecessary talk would arise.”

Lawrence replied as he sat in the chair across from Heidi.

“A wise decision.”

“It’s more for your sake than mine.”

At Heidi’s words, Lawrence raised an eyebrow.

“For my sake, you say?”

Heidi nodded.

“You’re going to be engaged to Princess Anastasia.”

“We’re not already engaged, are we? Thanks to a certain someone, it’s been postponed until now.”

That certain someone must surely be referring to Heidi. Since she appeared, Anastasia’s plan to become engaged to Lawrence and be recognized as the official heir to the throne had been shattered.

Heidi asked with an innocent expression.

“Are you blaming me right now?”

Lawrence laughed softly.

“No. I’m expressing my gratitude.”

Heidi’s eyes widened slightly.

“You’re thanking me for delaying the engagement?”

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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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