Me, a Princess? My Lord! - Chapter 91

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

Chapter 91

“That means….”

Lawrence said, pulling up the corners of his mouth into a grin.

“It’s a partner request.”

“Ah.”

“You wouldn’t attend the ball alone, would you?”

“Well….”

Heidi lightly scratched her chin.

“Father said he would enter together with me.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Lawrence’s eyes widened slightly.

“If that’s the reason, I’ll gladly step back. Of course, it’s a bit disappointing since I lose my excuse to refuse Princess Anastasia’s proposal.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“But, Princess.”

Lawrence’s blue eyes sparkled and gleamed.

“You’re calling His Majesty the King ‘Father.’ You didn’t seem to do that before.”

At Lawrence’s words, Heidi blushed as if embarrassed.

“Ah….”

Heidi smiled awkwardly and said.

“It still feels awkward, but I’m trying to make an effort.”

“That’s a good decision.”

“But if we appeared at the ball as partners, there would be several people clutching the backs of their necks. The Viscount, and Anastasia too.”

At Heidi’s words, Lawrence chuckled softly. He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand and said.

“Speaking of which, the story leaked from somewhere, and we already had quite a scene.”

Heidi’s eyes widened. She asked worriedly.

“Are you okay? It’s not uncomfortable living there, is it?”

Lawrence shrugged his shoulders.

“He does throw a fit every time he sees me…. But we weren’t on friendly terms to begin with, so it’s fine. The wariness has gotten worse than before, but I have a reliable assistant, so you don’t need to worry.”

“Ah!”

Heidi asked with sparkling eyes.

“Speaking of which, how is Mabel doing? Since she just changed jobs not long ago, is she feeling left out?”

At Heidi’s words, Lawrence shook his head vigorously.

“Don’t even mention it. She finished adapting in less than a week of arriving, and blended in like someone who had worked at this estate her whole life. She seems to get along well with the other maids too.”

“Really?”

“You don’t know how diligently she works. It’s refreshing stimulation for me.”

Lawrence clicked his tongue.

“Thanks to Mabel, I found out that my brother doesn’t guard against the household maids at all. That suspicious and thorough person…. It was strange.”

Heidi shrugged her shoulders.

“It’s a common case. Some nobles don’t consider maids as the same kind of people as themselves. It’s more like….”

“….”

“They think of them as expensive furniture that understands words. They don’t even acknowledge their existence.”

“That arrogance will be their downfall.”

Lawrence took a deep breath.

“Whenever guests come, Mabel always serves tea. She waits near the door, eavesdrops on their conversations, and reports back to me.”

“Is there any gain from it?”

“Gain…. Nothing decisive, but there was some slightly strange conversation content.”

“What kind of conversation was it?”

“A visitor asked Clovis how about lowering the price a bit. Saying his conscience was bothering him.”

Heidi tilted her head.

“Price? Conscience?”

Lawrence nodded.

“Unfortunately, that’s all she heard. But the conversation content was somehow strange, and the name wasn’t written in the registry that records visitors. Since it seems suspicious, I’ll try tracking that person for now.”

Heidi nodded.

“I understand for now. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Ah, and….”

Lawrence, as if just remembering, took out a pouch from his chest and placed it on the table. Heidi picked it up.

“What is this?”

“Leaves I picked from my brother’s greenhouse. It’s embarrassing to say, but I had no idea what plants were what in there, so I picked them all one by one.”

“That must have been hard work. Then I’ll look into this. I know someone who might know.”

Heidi opened the pouch. As she was about to take out the leaves inside, Lawrence urgently stopped her and grabbed her wrist.

“You mustn’t touch them carelessly!”

Huh?

Heidi’s eyes widened.

“They might be poisonous. I also suffered for a while because poison got on the back of my hand.”

Lawrence quickly showed the back of his hand in front of Heidi’s eyes. From his fingers to his wrist, red and purple spots remained clearly like scars.

“Oh my!”

Heidi grabbed Lawrence’s hand.

“Did you get treatment? Are you okay?”

“Yes? Yes….”

“What if it leaves a scar? The back of the hand is quite a visible place…. It’ll fade more with time, right?”

Heidi held Lawrence’s hand tightly, turning it this way and that while continuously pouring out her worries.

“What does it matter if there are some scars. I’m fine. Haha….”

“I’m sorry. And thank you.”

“No, why are you apologizing to me, Princess. I was just careless.”

Suddenly looking up, Heidi discovered that Lawrence’s face had turned very red. Even his ears and the back of his neck were dyed bright red.

Heidi tilted her head.

‘Why is he like that? Is it still painful….’

* * *

The Royal Palace was bustling with the ball that was being held after a long time.

“Oh my, Lady. It’s been a long time.”

“How did so many people come today? Though I suppose when was there ever a small crowd, but it does seem particularly crowded today.”

“Isn’t the reason obvious? With such rumors spreading far and wide…. Everyone must have come out of curiosity.”

The topic of those gathered in small groups whispering was just one person, Heidi.

Half were those who flocked to confirm the truth of the shocking rumors, and the other half were those who came curious about what expression Heidi, embroiled in scandal, would make.

“Will she come with Count Haizen today too?”

“No way. If the rumors are true, then the maid Count Haizen employed was a princess…. Isn’t that too strange?”

“There are even those spouting impious words about the relationship between the two. Of course, I don’t believe those words!”

“Then who on earth will she dance the first dance with? I can’t imagine.”

Just then, a clear trumpet sound caught people’s attention. A royal guard shouted loudly.

“His Majesty King Alexander Linkheim Cherot de Panther and Princess Heidi Beatrice de Panther are entering.”

The King and Princess at the same time?

People’s gazes turned in unison toward the door at the top of the stairs. Since the King and Princess had never appeared in the ballroom simultaneously before, it was an exceptional situation in many ways.

The door opened, and Heidi appeared in a light purple dress, arm in arm with the King.

“That brooch is the one from that time…!”

People murmured softly.

On Heidi’s chest was a magic stone brooch emitting a gentle light. It was the very brooch that had been gifted at the Grand Palace.

Heidi, sparkling and shining with light all over her body, looked exactly like an angel descended from heaven. Even those who had been subtly mocking and criticizing her fell silent.

“Princess Anastasia Janette de Panther and Prince Lawrence Evan Pretium are entering.”

Soon Anastasia appeared in a splendid dress, but people’s gazes remained fixed only on Heidi.

Heidi, arm in arm with the King, gracefully descended the stairs. People watched the scene half-entranced.

“Wow….”

Although occasional small exclamations burst out here and there, the hall was extremely quiet. People’s gazes were focused on Panther’s most noble father and daughter. It was a picture-perfect beautiful sight.

However, Heidi’s inner feelings were completely different.

‘I’m so nervous I think I’m going to throw up!’

Heidi grabbed tightly onto the King’s robe with her trembling hands.

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