Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 8

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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 8

There was a portrait that looked exactly like Heidi had been transplanted there.

But when she looked closely, she could see subtle differences.

The woman painted in the portrait appeared slightly older than Heidi, with lovely curly hair that fell to her waist. The clothes she wore were extremely elegant and refined, a luxury item in a completely different league from the shabby clothes Heidi was wearing.

After staring at the painting for a long while, Heidi asked cautiously.

“Who is this person?”

“This is the mother of the late Queen, Your Majesty.”

“…”

“Anyone can see that she looks exactly like you, Heidi.”

Desion straightened his posture and asked.

“Do you remember the man who was with me yesterday?”

Heidi nodded.

“That blonde man…”

“Noah Heights. He’s a cousin of Her Majesty the Queen. That would make him your second cousin.”

“…”

“When Noah saw your face, he immediately recalled this portrait from the estate. He said that if you saw this painting, you would have no choice but to acknowledge it.”

It was true. The moment she saw the woman in the portrait who looked exactly like her, Heidi could no longer stubbornly deny Desion’s absurd story.

‘Though my doubts haven’t completely disappeared.’

From head to toe, it felt like electricity was flowing through her, tingling, and all the fine hairs on her body stood on end.

“But, my lord.”

Heidi raised her head and met Desion’s gaze.

“So what is your reason for seeking me out? You didn’t come just to tell me who my birth parents are, did you?”

“…”

“You want something from me, don’t you?”

At Heidi’s question about what he wanted, Desion didn’t answer immediately. But the lengthening silence became an excellent answer in itself.

It wasn’t simply to help reunite a father and daughter who had been unaware of each other’s existence for 20 years. There were probably complex political circumstances involved that Heidi couldn’t understand.

As Heidi tried to read Desion’s intentions, she suddenly thought.

‘If everything my lord says is true, what will happen to me from now on?’

Heidi looked down at her skirt quietly.

It was utterly plain clothing. Though she had ironed it as stiffly as possible, the frayed and worn parts were noticeable here and there.

Heidi’s gaze turned once again to the portrait in her hands.

Her maternal grandmother, a woman who looked exactly like her.

An elegantly pleated cream-colored satin dress. Hair set elegantly without the slightest error. Gorgeous jewels that accentuated her slender neck.

But what captured Heidi’s attention was the woman’s expression as she smiled serenely. A face that seemed to have never known hardship, as if she had no worries in the world.

If fate hadn’t played its cruel tricks, Heidi might have worn such an expression too. But…

“My lord, I’m happy even now.”

Heidi looked at Desion and spoke clearly.

“I’ve never once thought about wanting to find my birth parents. The parents who raised me loved me more than enough.”

“Heidi.”

“I don’t want to get involved in dangerous affairs either. No matter how uneducated I may be, I know that the royal court is a harsh place to survive. Perhaps even more so than this Everton.”

Heidi answered firmly.

If she took Desion’s hand now, she would live a completely different life from her current one.

‘But…’

Heidi’s gaze turned toward the window. In the distance, she could see a small house.

Though their finances were never comfortable, Heidi’s childhood was always bright and warm. Because of the Dalton couple, who somehow managed to give Heidi the best they could despite their meager circumstances.

“The biggest portion is for our daughter.”

“Wow!”

“If you’re still hungry after eating, just say so. Dad doesn’t really like this stuff anyway. Our daughter can eat it all.”

When there was something delicious, it was always Heidi’s share, and when they got pretty fabric, it all went into making clothes for Heidi.

Though they weren’t related by blood, the three of them were family.

Her only family.

‘I can’t leave now to find my bloodline.’

Heidi bit her lower lip firmly.

Desion, who had been watching Heidi quietly, lowered his long eyelashes and let out a short sigh.

“I understand. It’s perfectly reasonable for you to think that way.”

“…”

“May I ask which part concerns you the most?”

“That would be…”

Heidi’s lips moved slightly. Desion, who had been looking down at her, tilted his head slightly and asked.

“Is it because of your family? Because it would feel like betraying the parents who raised you?”

“…”

How did he know?

Heidi, whose heart had been read, pressed her lips together tightly. Then Desion, who had been slowly stroking his chin, spoke.

“Then how about this?”

Heidi met Desion’s eyes as if asking what he meant.

“For me, proving that you are the King’s biological daughter is quite important. Both for the greater cause and personally.”

“…”

“Of course, the process won’t be entirely easy. There will be much to prepare. There’s already a princess in Panther who has taken your place.”

Desion’s voice sank heavily.

“I understand it’s not an easy decision. I’ll give you plenty more time to decide.”

“My lord, I…”

Heidi opened her lips to refuse, but Desion continued as if telling her to listen more first.

“There are many things to prepare before announcing your existence to society, Heidi. Since you’ve lived in very different environments, you’ll need to learn, practice, and change a great deal.”

“…”

“Let’s start with learning. And how about making the decision when you’ve reached a level where you won’t be lacking even if you enter society? It would take at least six months.”

Even at Desion’s words, Heidi’s expression remained lukewarm.

‘Would that be meaningful? He might change his mind later…’

She was worried that it would only make refusing more difficult, and that she might just waste time unnecessarily.

Then Desion spoke.

“If you think of it as your work changing for a while, it would be much easier to adapt.”

Work?

Heidi tilted her head.

“From now on, you’ll be helping me instead of Eloise. Since it’s work, I’ll naturally pay you a salary.”

“…A salary?”

“I’ll give you twenty times what you’re receiving now.”

Heidi’s eyes widened greatly.

‘Twenty times…’

For Heidi, who desperately needed money, Desion’s proposal was incredibly tempting.

‘If I work for just three months, I’d receive five years’ worth of salary? Six months would be… ten years?!’

A strange light flickered in Heidi’s eyes as she calculated the numbers in her head.

Since working for just one month would earn her more than her annual salary, working for a few months would put quite a large sum in her hands.

Then, even if she refused Desion’s proposal and left the Viscount’s Mansion, she could live without worrying about money for a while. The burden of medicine costs would also be reduced.

“And one more thing.”

One more thing on top of this?

Heidi gulped and swallowed her dry saliva.

“I plan to support Nora Dalton so she can receive the highest level of treatment.”

“…!”

“The Count’s Mansion’s personal physician will take charge of Nora Dalton’s examination. Naturally, you won’t need to worry about the costs at all.”

The moment Desion finished speaking, Heidi’s lips parted smoothly.

“…I’ll do it.”

“….”

“I’ll do it.”

Desion’s proposal was something Heidi could never refuse.

Heidi’s face was filled with firm determination. Meeting her gaze, a faint smile bloomed on Desion’s lips.

He extended his hand toward Heidi.

“Good. I look forward to working with you.”

A firm hand with clearly defined veins and knuckles.

Heidi stared down at the hand extended before her, then took a deep breath. Her thin shoulders trembled slightly.

“I look forward to working with you too. For the time being.”

For the time being.

Heidi pronounced each word clearly as if placing emphasis, then grasped Desion’s hand. His large hand completely enveloped her slender fingers.

Tingle.

At that moment, a faint current flowed through their touching hands.

It was the beginning of a strange connection.

* * *

“Wow….”

Heidi let out an exclamation as she looked out the window. The wide open cobalt blue sea below the cliff made her heart race.

Rotem, a beautiful port city located at the southernmost tip of the Panther Kingdom. The Haizen Estate’s summer villa located at its heart.

This was the stage where Heidi’s princess lessons would take place.

Since they were planning something big, security had to be thorough, so they chose a location farthest from the capital. Of course, only a minimal number of verified servants could come and go.

“I was worried since you said I couldn’t go outside. But if it’s a place like this….”

I could live here for the rest of my life.

Her parents thought Heidi had returned to work as Eloise’s maid again, but thinking that she was actually enjoying such luxury made her feel strange.

Heidi took a deep breath, trying to catch the faint salty sea breeze in the air.

That’s when it happened.

A deep, low voice suddenly flowed from behind Heidi.

“Do you find it to your liking?”

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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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