Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 84

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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 84

Clovis, who had been tilting his wine glass while appeasing Anastasia, opened his mouth with an “Ah.”

“Speaking of maids reminds me. I heard there was a major turnover of maids in the Western Palace this time.”

“I know.”

“Then won’t it be revealed that Your Highness tried to extract information from the Western Palace through Sheila Emmett?”

At that, Anastasia snorted.

“The maids sold information to Sheila, not to me, right? There’s no evidence that Sheila brought that information to me, is there? It’s only circumstantial evidence. I can just deny it. Even if caught, there are hundreds of ways to get out of it.”

Anastasia spoke in an irritated voice.

“Besides, there wasn’t much helpful information anyway. Useless things… In the end, I was the one who moved to find out that Heidi was from lowly maid origins, wasn’t I?”

Clovis lowered his voice and asked.

“What will you do about Sheila Emmett? I understand she’s currently imprisoned.”

Anastasia shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

“Pardon?”

Clovis’s eyebrows twitched in bewilderment.

“But… she’s someone who worked harder than anyone for Your Highness all this time.”

Then Anastasia answered in a cold voice.

“So who told her to get caught?”

“…”

“It’s unfortunate, but Sheila needs to learn too. That she shouldn’t do work so carelessly like that. She made a mistake, so it’s right that she receives punishment, isn’t it?”

Clovis’s face hardened. Sheila’s devotion to Anastasia was truly tremendous. She was a woman who would throw away her own life without hesitation if told to die for Anastasia.

As far as Clovis knew, Sheila had cared for Anastasia since she was very young. Their connection was too long and deep to call it just an ordinary master-servant relationship.

‘I wasn’t unaware of Princess Anastasia’s ruthlessness, but… I didn’t know she would cast aside even someone who had devoted their entire life for her so easily in an instant.’

Seeing Clovis’s expression, Anastasia sighed deeply as if annoyed.

“Tell her to reflect in there until things quiet down a bit. When necessary work arises, I’ll just take her out then. That place is where people live too.”

“…I understand. I’ll convey that.”

* * *

Deshion and Heidi sat facing each other in the drawing room, reviewing lady-in-waiting candidates.

“The candidate list is a bit long.”

“I think it was about six people at first…”

Word had spread that they were looking for a lady-in-waiting, so noble ladies flocked to catch Heidi’s eye.

Party invitations poured in, and lavishly wrapped gifts arrived one after another.

Deshion, who had been examining the candidates’ portraits in turn, pushed a few of them toward Heidi.

“In terms of family influence, these two are the most outstanding. Their reputations are excellent too. I hear they’re also skilled at playing musical instruments.”

“What use is playing musical instruments and such? I just want someone I can communicate well with.”

“That’s right.”

While examining the portraits, Heidi pointed to a familiar face with her hand.

Clara Bennet. One of The Florence members, she was the lady closest to Heidi.

“Actually, the person I communicate best with is Clara. Clara Bennet. She’s comfortable and we get along well.”

“That is the most important condition. A lady-in-waiting should be someone you can trust and rely on more than anyone.”

Heidi smiled brightly.

“I’ll have conversations with the other recommended ladies too. They’re all scheduled to attend today’s tea party anyway.”

“That works out well.”

“You said you’re planning to meet with Noah? Is it related to the task His Majesty the King commanded?”

At Heidi’s question, Deshion nodded.

“They say when you were young, they urgently called for a governess to nurse you in place of Her Majesty the Queen. We’re looking for her.”

“With just that much information, it won’t be easy to find her. I hope luck follows you.”

The two people standing at the entrance faced each other and looked at one another. Faint smiles appeared on both their faces as they looked at each other.

“…”

They had seen each other after several days, yet had to part again after just an hour. Heidi felt reluctant to send him away for no particular reason. It wasn’t that they had any special stories left to share, but still.

Was Deshion thinking similarly? For some reason, instead of opening the door and leaving, he was pretending to be distracted in front of the entrance.

Deshion met Heidi’s eyes and asked.

“You’re having a tea party.”

“Yes. I prepared it in the inner garden. The flowers are in full bloom these days, so it’s beautiful.”

“I’ll escort you there. I’d like to see the flowers in full bloom too.”

“Good. It’s probably about a hundred steps to get there, but I won’t bother declining.”

When Deshion extended his arm, Heidi naturally placed her hand on his arm. It felt ticklish as if a feather had settled in one corner of her heart. Heidi bit her lips, trying to suppress the laughter that was about to leak out.

When the two turned the corner, the tea party venue spread out before them.

Tables were arranged at appropriate distances under a widely spread canopy. The prettily set refreshments and flowers – everything was perfect as planned.

But it was strange. The atmosphere was somehow unsettled.

As if feeling the same thing, Deshion frowned.

“Is there still a lot of time left before the tea party?”

“No. The appointed time has almost arrived…”

“But there are hardly any people.”

Heidi’s eyes shook greatly.

‘Where did everyone go? This has never happened before…’

Never before had a tea party she hosted been this desolate. Even when she first invited The Florence members, the atmosphere wasn’t like this.

It was when Heidi was bewildered by this first-time situation.

“Your Highness!”

Clara Bennet, who had been wandering among the empty tables, came running. Upon spotting Deshion, she flinched and quickly offered her greetings.

Heidi took Clara’s hands and asked.

“What’s wrong, Clara? Why are there so few people today? Do you know anything about this?”

“Well…”

Clara glanced at Deshion. She looked very anxious and restless.

“It’s fine, so tell me. What’s wrong, Clara?”

“Right now, false rumors about Your Highness have spread widely throughout the social circles. The many absences are probably because of that.”

Rumors?

Heidi asked urgently.

“What rumors are you talking about?”

“It’s really nonsensical talk. It will surely die down soon…”

“Clara. Just tell me. What kind of false rumors about me are circulating?”

At Heidi’s words, Clara pressed her lips tightly together. After taking a deep breath, she lowered her voice to a whisper.

“It’s a rumor that Your Highness was a maid working at the Haizen Estate. It’s really absurd! You must correct it quickly, Your Highness.”

“…!”

Deshion and Heidi’s gazes met.

* * *

Once created, rumors spread at a frightening speed. They reached not only the nobles’ ears, but even the commoners’.

‘The Florence,’ gathered for their quarterly regular meeting, was also heated up about that story.

“That’s ridiculous. It must be a rumor someone spread maliciously.”

About half were people who denied it, saying it was absurd.

“Most of these kinds of rumors turn out to be true as time passes.”

The other half or so were convinced the rumor was true.

Clara Bennet, who had been quietly listening to the stories people were chattering about, suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Everyone, please stop!”

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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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