Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 78

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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 78

“Hmm.”

Heidi hummed a tune. Seeing this, the maid Mabel smiled brightly and struck up a conversation.

“You seem to be in a really good mood today.”

“Yeah, it’s been so long since I’ve gone out. I had trouble hiding my excited expression during lessons all day.”

Of course she was in a good mood.

Today was the first day Heidi would step outside the Royal Palace since entering the Western Palace.

Even though she was in a place so vast that she couldn’t see it all without making an effort, she somehow felt suffocated. Heidi thought she could understand the feelings of a released prisoner.

Mabel tilted her head and asked.

“It’s not even a resort… but you’re that happy just to go to Viscount Haizen’s Townhouse?”

“Yeah, I’m happy.”

Heidi smiled brightly.

“I won’t be going out separately. I’ll just stay inside, so you can go visit somewhere else for a while.”

“I can’t do that. How could I leave Your Highness alone…”

“There are plenty of people there to take care of me. Didn’t you say your family lives nearby?”

At Heidi’s words, Mabel drew in a breath with an excited expression.

“…If I have time, I’ll just go for a very short while. Thank you!”

* * *

The familiar street scenery flashed by outside the window. As the sky gradually darkened, the carriage slowly came to a stop.

“We’ve arrived, Your Highness!”

“Yes, so we have.”

With the butler’s escort, Heidi stepped down from the carriage. Looking up at the familiar stone walls, her heart felt as comfortable as if she had come home.

As Heidi entered inside, a familiar face greeted her.

“Heidi!”

“Eloise!”

Heidi embraced Eloise in surprise.

“I thought you’d be at the estate.”

“I came up recently. If I stayed only at the estate, I couldn’t see my brother’s face at all.”

“He seems very busy these days because of His Majesty’s orders. Is staying in the capital alright? The estate would be much warmer.”

“I’m glad I gathered the courage to come up. You don’t know how happy I was when I heard you were coming. I couldn’t even sleep last night. You…”

Eloise, who had been chattering excitedly, suddenly shut her mouth. Heidi asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“I can’t speak so casually anymore… can I?”

Eloise covered her lips with her hand.

“Last night, brother told me so many times to be especially careful about forms of address! I completely forgot already…”

Heidi firmly grasped both of Eloise’s hands and said.

“It’s just us. Let’s just act like before.”

At Heidi’s words, Eloise shook her head.

“Mm, but that wouldn’t be right. You’re a princess of the kingdom.”

“Still…”

Eloise said firmly.

“The closer the relationship, the more important it is to maintain proper boundaries. It might be awkward at first, but we’ll get used to it soon.”

“…”

“Princess Heidi.”

Eloise’s lips twitched. Even though she said that, she couldn’t help feeling awkward. Seeing that expression, Heidi actually felt somewhat relieved.

“Then at least call me Heidi. I don’t like being called Your Highness.”

“Hmm.”

“I really don’t like it.”

When Heidi emphasized it once more, Eloise nodded.

“Alright. Let’s have dinner first. I had them prepare something especially nice.”

* * *

Eloise linked arms with Heidi and led her toward the drawing room.

“So how does it feel to become a princess overnight?”

Heidi plopped down in a chair and answered sincerely.

“…Exhausting.”

“Everyone was saying it was like a fairy tale story and envying you.”

Heidi shook her head back and forth.

“If they were actually in my position, it would be quite different. It’s not as romantic as all that.”

From early morning until evening, she received lessons from a strict minister, and even when she was released with a throbbing headache, she couldn’t just rest. She had to meet with Deshion and Noah to discuss future matters, and sometimes she had to have awkward meals with The King.

And above all, there was still the big mountain called Anastasia remaining.

When Heidi let out a deep sigh, Eloise burst into quiet laughter.

“Then… will you be getting engaged soon? Princesses usually form connections early.”

At the mention of engagement, Heidi waved her hands dismissively.

“Engagement? What engagement. I still get lost in the Royal Palace. And there’s no one suitable anyway.”

“Hmm?”

Eloise propped her chin and looked at Heidi with sparkling eyes.

“If you’re troubled because there’s no one, how about my brother?”

…My brother? Deshion?

Heidi’s eyes became as wide as saucers. Heidi jumped up and answered.

“What are you saying, Eloise? That’s ridiculous! Absolutely ridiculous.”

Feeling flustered, Heidi shook her head while denying it even more strongly than necessary. Then Eloise’s eyebrows drooped.

“Is he that bad? Not your type?”

“It’s not that…”

Heidi chose her words carefully.

“I’m saying there’s no possibility of romantic development between Deshion and me. We’re just friends.”

Eloise’s eyes narrowed.

“…Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

When the person himself directly rejected me, it couldn’t be more certain than that.

A memory she didn’t particularly want to recall surfaced again. Heidi forced a smile, pulling up the corners of her mouth to soothe her bitter feelings.

Then Eloise muttered quietly as if talking to herself.

“Oh, so it was one-sided… Oh my. This is the first time in my life I’ve felt sorry for my brother.”

Huh? Sorry for him?

Heidi, who caught a glimpse of Eloise’s muttering, frowned.

“What did you just…”

“Heidi.”

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind her.

“Brother!”

Eloise, spotting Deshion, greeted him cheerfully.

Heidi turned her head and met Deshion’s eyes. His chest rose and fell greatly as if he was catching his breath.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“I only just arrived myself.”

“Have you eaten?”

“Yes.”

A strangely awkward atmosphere hung between Deshion and Heidi. Eloise, who had been looking back and forth between them, quietly stood up.

“…Then I’ll go to my room and rest a bit. You two talk.”

After Eloise disappeared too, an even more quiet and cool atmosphere lingered in the drawing room.

Deshion asked.

“What were you discussing with Eloise?”

“Uh…”

Heidi’s cheeks flushed hot as she recalled her conversation with Eloise. Though she had thought it was just trivial chatter, it felt somewhat embarrassing to confess to Deshion.

“Just catching up, you know.”

Instead of asking further, Deshion nodded.

“You said you had something important to discuss. Let’s go upstairs and talk.”

* * *

Thud.

Heidi placed a thick envelope on the desk in the study.

“What is this?”

Heidi smiled as she watched Deshion say the exact same words she had said to Lawrence.

“Open it and see.”

Glance.

After studying Heidi’s expression, Deshion pulled out the documents and began flipping through them page by page.

“This is all…”

Deshion’s hands grew urgent as he turned the pages. He suddenly raised his head and met Heidi’s eyes. His red pupils trembled rapidly.

“Heidi, how did you get this?”

“I received it from Lawrence.”

Deshion’s brow furrowed.

“Laurence Evan Pretium? You met him?”

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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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