Surviving as a Terminally Ill Heiress - Chapter 81

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 81

If he had such violent tendencies, the Imperial Palace would surely keep it hushed up.
I glanced at the large scar embedded in Gallager’s forehead.
“So in other words, the Emperor feels indebted to Gallager?”
“That’s right. Ever since, the Imperial Palace has looked after him favorably, and even extended care to his house. Thanks to that, the family has grown somewhat larger than before, but……”
“And he himself ended up like this?”
When I distilled the essence of it briefly, Juliet nodded.
Right, well. It made sense.
Beaten for pushing a friend around as a child, left with a deep scar on his face, raised among Palace and family elders who coddle him out of guilt—
“Do you know who I am!”
That’s what happens. A loud voice, and the moment he feels even slightly disrespected, he can’t help himself.
Gallager’s voice rang out once more.
Apparently something had gone wrong; a attendant nearby stood bewildered.
The noble young men and women in the vicinity were quietly stepping back. No one was stepping in.
How could they? The Emperor was subtly backing him.
Look at how even the Juliad Marquis House was protecting itself.
‘That’s exactly what Kafka wants.’
At this rate, something like [Arrogant G-something Nobleman’s Overreaching Outburst, Ruined Flower Tea Party…… Host’s Lack of Ability?] would be printed in Snearji.
Sure enough, Kafka was smiling softly, her fan concealing the corner of her mouth.
Ah, so that was it. My curiosity was fully satisfied.
I strode toward her with purposeful steps.
Now that I understood, it was time to fix it.
“My lady? Where are you going……”
“There’s a bug at the party, they said. I’ll remove it.”
I’d seen plenty of bee larvae every spring and summer. By now, insects held no particular feeling for me.
I spoke to Juliet, who was gaping at me.
“If money won’t solve it, leverage will.”
Me, you see. Me.
The Emperor’s backing? His guilt? Forget all that.
‘Ambrose never picks up what lacks breeding, no matter if you give it.’
And honestly, even the Emperor seemed to like me as much as the Empress did. Though I still don’t understand why.
I walked apathetically into the heart of the commotion and spoke.
“I was too lenient with that settlement last time.”
Gallager’s outburst stopped dead.
And as he slowly turned, his pupils trembled finely.
He clearly remembered me too.
I looked down at the broken cup at his feet and the scattered tea.
Tsk, tsk. Unaware that food is precious, and going on about how the tea tastes bad, actually beating the attendants—
So then.
“Care to experience my lawyer’s competence this time?”
Life is practice, life is practice.

* * *

The afternoon deepened.
Just as I was about to finish my last cup of tea and stand, Juliet caught my hand.
“My lady.”
“Yes?”
“Thank you so much for coming today.”
I had no idea how many times she’d thanked me.
I smiled warmly and squeezed her hand in return.
“If you’re grateful, pay me.”
“Oh, worrying you might be uncomfortable with gratitude, I was making light of it……. Your heart is truly kind.”
But I was serious.
I left Juliet wiping tears and turned to look at Matilda on the other side.
“Matilda, I’m heading out now.”
“Sure. Be careful. Let me know when you get back.”
“It was nice meeting you, Anderson.”
Matilda’s partner nodded simply.
“The honor was mine, my lady. Thank you as well for shattering my prejudices.”
“Prejudices?”
“I had always thought you seemed to get caught up in scandalous rumors……”
“Seemed to?”
“But seeing you in person, my lady, you weren’t caught up in rumors—you were actively walking through them!”
Anderson gave me a thumbs-up.
Thank you for being generous about it.
I left the tea party with a vague smile.
And days later, Snearji printed an article: [Arrogant G-something Nobleman…… And an Even More Arrogant Ambrose Lady!]
Something doesn’t feel right. Don’t I have image rights? Though it hardly matters now.
Meanwhile, to avoid Tru asking why I kept ending up in the papers whenever I went to the Juliad Tea Party, I wandered about the estate gardens.
The scent of flowers in full bloom wafted so heavily it made me dizzy.
Our mansion’s garden, arranged not as an artwork like Juliad’s but as a genuine sprawling flower field, was lovely too.
Flowers.
There was a boy who smelled of flowers like this.
Though it was hardly appropriate to call him a boy anymore.
The last time I’d seen him was late summer.
We didn’t meet at regular intervals.
But when I thought it was about time, he came. Without fail.
From the mansion or from Ambrose Castle or wherever, he came and disappeared like magic on the night of the crescent moon.
But now……
‘He’s not coming.’
I touched an unblossomed bud and smiled bitterly.
Ah.
Even unto death, I’d have hated to admit it—but I had to accept my own waiting.

* * *

Mother, who lived by love, once told me.
‘Men are just untrustworthy, no matter who you pick. They’re all shiny on the outside…… that’s what’s good about them, but still!’
There were times when Mother clashed between her ideals and reality.
Usually when Dido’s biological father caused trouble again, but sometimes even while dancing joyfully with me at the feast of Saint Flora.
Each time, I could only shake my head and sigh at why she was like that……
Well, yes. That’s how frustration works, isn’t it, Mother? You bottle it up and suddenly it bursts out.
In any case, flowers are fleeting.
The buds quickly fell, and fresh green shoots emerged.
Everything—seasons, emotions—inevitably pass through time and move on to the next thing.
This social season was unusually noteworthy for two reasons.
First was the Debutante of the Ambrose lady.
And second was the Coming of Age Ceremony of the First Prince.
Spring and early summer.
Major events were being prepared to open and close the short social season.
‘I’ll have to go. How tedious.’
I was already dreading it.
A letter arrived from the Grand Temple around that time.
White wax seal, as befitted the Grand Temple.
I toyed with the neatly stamped seal with my fingertips and opened it with a paper knife.
It was a brief letter from Forest.
[……Terion is doing well. He is very diligent in his training, and we may soon be able to see him in his true form.]
Soon.
My gaze lingered on that single line.
His true form. What face would appear once that veil was lifted?
I wondered if it might be a face I’d never seen before, or perhaps a face I’d already glimpsed somewhere.
‘As long as he’s well, that’s enough for now.’
Still, he could have written a line or two himself. These boys really don’t understand the importance of communication.
With a slightly disappointed feeling, I was gathering the envelope when something rustled inside it.
Hm? What else is there?
When I flipped it over and shook it, a small object fell out.
A dried lavender flower bud.
I gazed long at the delicate little bloom that had fallen into my palm.
Soon a smile formed.
Yes. He really is doing well.
I gently rolled the flower in my palm and then set it softly on the desk.
Its fragrance drifted gently through the air.

* * *

‘So what about the Helmut Religion side?’
There doesn’t seem to be much progress. They’re managing to hide their identity quite well.
However, one thing.
“Terrorism……?”
“Yes. For the past several years, there have been random attacks at various locations, and it seems the timing coincides with when Helmut devotees formally consolidated their numbers.”
I felt like I’d heard of this before.
That’s why my guardians, Alec and Pepper, would get extremely tense whenever there was any commotion in an unfamiliar place.
I took the report and slowly leafed through it.
Meanwhile, Orka continued with her explanation calmly.
“There’s no particular fixed target. The locations and facilities are random, though the surrounding circumstances and blast patterns are similar.”
“So similar incidents have been happening for years now?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, because they leave no traces, tracking is difficult……. It appears all of them completely lacked evidence of external explosive devices being used.”
No explosives, yet there was an explosion?
I immediately thought of something.
‘Sorcery.’

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