Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 86

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 86

“Princess Heidi Beatrice de Panther has arrived.”

Heidi slowly stepped into the audience chamber.

Click, click.

The sound of her shoe heels walking on the stone floor rang out clearly. The majestic and solid feeling given by the gray stone made Heidi shrink even more.

On the throne sat the King, who somehow looked more gaunt than usual, and beside him stood ministers including the chancellor with solemn expressions.

Heidi grasped her skirt with trembling hands and paid her respects.

“I greet Your Majesty the King with respect.”

“There’s no need to be so formal.”

The King gestured lightly as if telling her to come closer.

“The reason I called you today is… because I have something to ask you.”

She already knew what question the King would ask her. Heidi answered in a calm voice.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Recently, rumors about you have been circulating in the marketplace. Are you aware of them?”

Heidi lowered her eyelashes.

“I am aware.”

“…”

The King’s mouth closed tightly. After catching his breath for a moment, he asked in a cracked voice.

“Is it all true?”

“…”

“Tell me, Heidi. Whatever you answer, I will believe you…”

The King looked at Heidi with anguished eyes. His violet pupils shook greatly.

The sound of her heartbeat thundered in Heidi’s ears. As if her entire body had become a drum, she vibrated finely from head to toe. The mind of the nervous girl gradually turned white.

“Heidi. My child.”

“…”

Heidi’s face turned pale. Seeing her like this, the King opened his mouth.

“Everyone leave the room except Heidi.”

At those words, a minister beside him stepped forward and said.

“But Your Majesty.”

“Leave. I have already commanded it. Do not make me say it twice.”

At the King’s firm attitude, the ministers had no choice but to leave the audience chamber. Heidi pretended not to notice the glances directed at her and kept her head down.

When not only the ministers but also the attendants and guards went outside the door, only the King and Heidi remained alone in the spacious audience chamber. The King slowly rose from his throne.

Step, step.

The King came down the stairs and slowly approached Heidi. Standing right in front of her, he said.

“Raise your head.”

“…”

After hesitating for a moment, Heidi slowly lifted her chin. Two eyes that looked exactly like hers were gazing at her.

“There are only you and I here. Can you tell me now?”

“…”

“Is it really… really true that you were a maid working at Count Haizen’s mansion?”

Heidi opened her lips that were as heavy as stone. Trembling breath leaked out between her parted lips.

“…Yes, it’s true.”

The King’s eyes closed tightly. Heidi said in a crawling voice.

“I worked at Count Haizen’s mansion. I took care of Eloise, the Count’s sibling, for several years.”

“…”

“I’m sorry for hiding it until now. Truly. I should have told you earlier, but I didn’t have the courage…”

It was when Heidi was continuing to speak in a trembling, stammering voice.

Suddenly.

The King pulled Heidi into a strong embrace.

“…!”

Heidi’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected hug. Her body stiffened like stone.

“…Your Majesty?”

Should she hug him back? Or should she just stand still?

Heidi’s hands wandered awkwardly in the air.

On the way to the audience chamber, she had imagined this moment dozens of times. She wanted to figure out all possible scenarios of what the King’s answer would be when she confessed everything, so she could face him prepared.

“It’s alright. Everything will be resolved, so don’t worry.”

She had imagined quite moderate and positive reactions,

“You’re determined to tarnish the royal family’s name!”

She had also prepared for angry rebukes, but this kind of embrace was not in Heidi’s expectations.

But what followed made Heidi even more flustered.

“You must have suffered so much.”

The King’s voice trembled like an aspen tree. Though she couldn’t see his face, Heidi could feel that he was crying.

“You must have suffered so much…”

The King’s shoulders shook finely. Holding Heidi tightly, he held his breath while forcibly suppressing the emotions surging up from deep within.

“I’m sorry.”

Did the King’s emotions transmit directly through the embrace? Heidi’s eyelids grew hot.

Heidi said in a trembling voice.

“I don’t understand why Your Majesty is apologizing to me… I’m the one who deceived Your Majesty along with the Count.”

“You could deceive me a thousand or ten thousand times and it wouldn’t matter, Heidi. You don’t need to apologize to me.”

The King slowly separated Heidi from his embrace. His eyes were red and bloodshot with tears.

“The one who should apologize is not you, but me. Because you suffered hardships you shouldn’t have had to endure because of your foolish father.”

Tears flowed down the King’s wrinkled cheeks. His hand moved slowly as if caressing Heidi’s cheek.

But his hand didn’t actually touch her cheek. It was an infinitely careful touch, as if she might shatter into pieces if he touched her wrongly.

“Because I couldn’t protect you, because I found you too late…”

“…”

“I’m truly sorry, Heidi.”

Tears burst out from Heidi’s eyes. She didn’t know why she was crying.

But she could understand this one thing.

Whether Heidi acknowledged it or not, the two of them were already family. The King truly worried about and cherished her as his daughter.

For the first time, Heidi felt paternal love from the King. Warm and tender.

The moment she felt the King’s sincerity, a corner of Heidi’s heart made a small creaking sound. It was the sound of the tightly closed door of her heart opening slightly.

“…It’s alright, Father.”

* * *

Late at night.

In front of the prison set up in a corner of the Royal Palace, Clovis was having a secret conversation with a guard.

“This is troublesome. I can’t accept this. Oh, really!”

“It’s just a small token of appreciation, so put it away. You must be tired from guarding the prison all night, so you could buy a good bottle of liquor or something.”

“You can’t stay too long. Exactly! 10 minutes. Do you understand?”

“I understand. I’ll see you in 10 minutes.”

Only after going down to the basement through the stairs did Clovis remove the hood attached to his robe. He frowned at the damp and musty air characteristic of underground prisons.

‘No matter when I come, this place always feels unpleasant.’

Clovis shuddered slightly and quickened his pace. After passing several empty cells, he saw the person he was looking for crouched down with a face that had become unrecognizably haggard.

“Sheila Emmett.”

“…”

At Clovis’s call, Sheila slowly raised her head. She opened her mouth.

“Did he send you?”

“Yes.”

Sheila’s eyes sparkled. Seeing hope, she gripped the prison bars with her hands and asked.

“What does he say?”

“Well…”

Clovis recalled the conversation he had with Anastasia not long ago.

“Tell her to reflect there until things quiet down for a while. When something necessary comes up, we can bring her out then. That place is where people live too.”

Though Clovis was far from emotions like sympathy or compassion, he felt uncomfortable delivering Anastasia’s words as they were.

Because he knew well that she was a woman who had devoted her life to serving Anastasia.

“She said that since there are many watching eyes now, she will help you escape from this place when the time is right. It will be uncomfortable in many ways, but endure and be patient a little longer for her sake.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed Sheila’s eyes. The strength slowly drained from her hands that had been gripping the bars tightly.

“I see.”

“This probably wasn’t the news you were waiting for. My regrets.”

“No. If it’s for her sake, then that’s what must be done. I must endure even worse things.”

Sheila murmured.

“As I always have…”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————