Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 88
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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 88
“A joyous occasion for the entire nation!”
The news of Beatrice’s pregnancy made all of Panther buzz with excitement. Everyone celebrated her pregnancy and blessed the child in her womb.
But was it fate’s cruel joke?
Around the same time, Sheila discovered that she was pregnant.
Though it was the same pregnancy, the realities that Beatrice and Sheila faced were completely different.
“Oh, dear God. Pregnant without even being married! How promiscuously must you have lived… What if my reputation suffers because of you!”
The Countess of Greed flew into a rage, worried that Sheila’s pregnancy would harm her own reputation. In the end, Sheila was kicked out of the Greed Household where she had been working.
“It’s my child. Of course I’ll take responsibility. Let’s get married, Sheila.”
“Thank you, Norbert.”
Fortunately, Norbert didn’t turn his back on her. Sheila began her newlywed life in a small house on the outskirts of the capital.
‘My situation is better than Mother’s. At least Norbert is someone who will take responsibility for me and my child until the end.’
Sheila tried to be satisfied with that fact. But married life wasn’t so easy. The passion they had once felt for each other gradually faded, and only dry obligation remained between the couple.
Even so, the child in her belly grew steadily. Sheila would stroke her belly each time and think.
‘I won’t let you live as a maid, my baby. I’ll give you a different fate no matter what it takes. I promise.’
* * *
As Sheila’s delivery approached, the entire country was in chaos due to war. Ominous rumors spread through the streets that enemy forces might push all the way to the capital.
One day Norbert said,
“I’m sorry, but I won’t be able to come home for a while.”
“But our child will be born soon?”
“I want to be by your side too, but it’s His Majesty’s command, so I have no choice. Since the situation in the capital is unstable, the King has ordered us to evacuate Her Majesty the Queen to a safe place.”
“…Then there’s nothing we can do.”
The Queen again!
Sheila’s heart clenched tight. She thought she had finally escaped her jealousy toward Beatrice, but the Queen’s shadow cast itself over her life once more.
“Waaah!”
Sheila ended up giving birth alone in the house without Norbert. It was a doll-like beautiful daughter with mysterious violet eyes.
Sheila smiled gently as she looked at the squirming baby in her arms.
“Baby, your name is Violet. Nice to meet you.”
* * *
Her connection with Beatrice didn’t end there.
“Her Majesty the Queen’s condition isn’t good. We’re urgently looking for a wet nurse right now.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“The Countess of Greed recommended you. As the Princess’s wet nurse.”
Sheila let out a hollow laugh. After throwing her out so coldly, now they were asking her to give up her breast milk to feed their child.
“Sheila. Please.”
“…”
“I know your feelings toward the Countess of Greed aren’t pleasant, but… it’s His Majesty the King’s only child. The compensation will probably be generous too. Please?”
After Norbert’s persuasion, Sheila finally got into the carriage holding Violet. As she boarded the carriage before her postpartum recovery was complete, every joint in her body ached.
‘I don’t care about the Queen or the King’s child. I’m only doing this for the money. That’s all.’
* * *
The Queen’s condition that Sheila saw was worse than she had imagined. She wondered if the Queen could even properly give birth with that body.
Beatrice, who was lying in bed sweating coldly, met Sheila’s eyes. She smiled faintly as if pleased to see her.
“I think your name was Sheila. Right? Francesca’s maid.”
“That’s correct, Your Majesty the Queen.”
“I remember. I saw you often at the Royal Palace. Thank you for coming.”
Except for looking sickly, Beatrice was exactly as Sheila remembered her. Her thoughtfulness in remembering the name of someone who was merely a lady-in-waiting’s maid made Sheila feel uncomfortable.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Countess of Greed.”
“Thank you for coming. I suddenly thought of you. Since you were pregnant around the same time as the Princess…”
The Countess touched the back of her neck awkwardly.
“…I’ve been regretting how I cast you out like that. If you want, I’ll take you back anytime.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Sheila smiled, feeling disgusted by the Countess’s strangely kind attitude. The arrogance of nobles who thought they could pick up and use anyone whenever they needed them felt revolting.
Not long after, the Queen gave birth. Fortunately, the baby was healthy.
“She’s a beautiful Princess!”
And the baby the Princess bore was also a daughter. Just like Violet.
After laying the crying Violet in a cradle in another room, Sheila held the Princess in her arms.
“My daughter is crying too much, may I go check on her for a moment?”
The Countess of Greed answered in a firm voice.
“I’ll have another maid take care of your daughter. You focus on the Princess. I have to take care of Her Majesty the Queen…”
Sheila stared down at the Princess in her arms, frantically nursing. The newborn was so small and fragile and… lovely. Terribly so.
‘Because of you, I can’t even hold and comfort my own daughter. I wonder if you’ll ever know how cruel that is.’
Sheila smiled gently at the baby.
* * *
“Your Majesty the Queen! No! Please, you must pull yourself together! Your Majesty the Queen!”
It was a day when rain poured down torrentially, unlike winter. Wailing erupted from within Schuhights Castle.
Beatrice Gillian de Panther.
The Queen had passed away.
“Your Majesty the Queen! No, this can’t be…”
The Countess of Greed, who had been gasping as if hyperventilating, couldn’t overcome her grief and fainted. Sheila frowned as she watched this scene.
‘So that woman had emotions after all. How surprising.’
Faced with the Queen’s death, Sheila felt complicated emotions. She was both happy and sad.
“…”
The Queen had been someone who possessed everything Sheila wanted and pursued. She truly was perfect.
Before such a Queen, Sheila always felt small. Terribly shabby. The bright light emanating from her seemed to illuminate and expose every detail of her own unhappy life.
But there was no time to indulge in sentiment. The situation began to turn urgent.
“Someone saw enemy scouts in this area.”
“What? Is Schuhights Castle in danger too?”
“We can’t know for sure, but the Princess shouldn’t stay here. If Her Majesty the Queen were still alive it would be different, but… it seems the right decision would be to get the Princess into His Majesty the King’s arms quickly.”
As identical carriages lined up in front of Schuhights Castle, Sheila grabbed Norbert’s sleeve and asked.
“Why are there so many carriages? There don’t seem to be many people left in the castle…”
“It’s in case enemy forces follow us. These carriages will each move to different places. You take Violet and return home.”
“What about the Princess?”
“She’ll ride in a different carriage from you. That soldier standing over there will hold her.”
“That person will hold the Princess…”
That’s when it happened.
A terrible but thrilling plan came to Sheila’s mind.
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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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