The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 47

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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 47

 

“Haha, thank you. By the way, I got lost, so could you tell me where the entrance to the West Wing is?”

 

“Of course, please follow me.”

 

Bada carefully took the arm he offered.

 

As she walked following him, a peaceful fragrance reminiscent of damp forest and cloves wafted from him.

 

Soon he spoke.

 

“Your audience with the Queen must not have been easy. She has an elegant and gentle impression on the surface, but when people actually have an audience with Her Majesty, they all get overwhelmed by her presence and make mistakes they wouldn’t normally make. Like addressing Her Majesty with ridiculous titles like ‘Your Royal Grace,’ or cutting scones with a knife to eat them.”

 

“…”

 

Bada couldn’t openly agree, but she could relate to Lucien’s words.

 

The Queen’s image portrayed in the media was a gentle one, like a flower in a greenhouse.

 

Her quiet support behind King Richard and the fashion she wore were usually the topics of discussion.

 

But the woman she actually encountered seemed to be a very cold and seasoned person.

 

Perhaps even more so than Richard.

 

“…Haha, it seems I wasn’t the only one who was nervous. That’s somewhat comforting.”

 

“That’s exactly what Her Majesty intended. The platform where her chair is placed is set higher, decorative mirrors are arranged throughout the reception room for surveillance. And she always sits with her back to the window. It’s intended to focus light and attention on herself.”

 

“My goodness, really?”

 

“Of course. From the fragrance in the reception room to the paintings hanging there. Not a single part isn’t planned. By the way, what are your impressions of touring the palace?”

 

Bada pondered what to answer, then casually threw out a joke.

 

“Well, I don’t know. It looks just right for a family of four to live in.”

 

“Hahaha! How modest, the perfect size for an ordinary family?”

 

Bada smiled at Lucien, who played along with her joke, and said.

 

“Everything is fascinating to me. It’s spacious and splendid. It’s like another world. It’s hard to believe this place is a living space.”

 

“Don’t be fooled by the beautiful exterior.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

At his somewhat meaningful words, Bada looked at him.

 

Lucien wore a strange smile as he leaned his head toward Bada and whispered.

 

“There are a lot of rats.”

 

“…”

 

“The building is old, so there are many rats. I get startled whenever I see rats behind the curtains.”

 

“…Haha, still, they’re better off than rats living in sewers. For all we know, they might be rats with titles.”

 

“Haha, perhaps. Besides, this place is hot in summer and cold in winter. The heating and cooling costs alone must be considerable. There are many empty rooms and secret doors here and there too.”

 

“Don’t tell me there are ghosts too?”

 

At the joke Bada offered, he seemed to laugh but then his expression hardened.

 

“Oh, that’s certainly true. In the 17th century, a maid who was caught stealing Queen Catherine’s jewels was buried alive in the garden. Since then, more than a few servants have heard crying sounds from the underground tunnels connected to the garden every night.”

 

“…Could you please not say that with such a serious expression? I’m scared the armor in the corridor might start moving.”

 

“Haha, is that so? There are even scarier ghost stories than that. Aren’t you curious?”

 

While chatting and walking, the two had reached a hall filled with portraits hanging on the walls.

 

Lucien briefly explained the space.

 

“This is the Grand Gallery. It’s a space where portraits of successive Bernhardt royalty are displayed.”

 

Dozens of portraits hung on the tall walls, and various sculptures were placed on the marble floor.

 

Bada, who had been observing this with curious eyes, spoke up.

 

“It’s magnificent.”

 

“What aspect do you find magnificent?”

 

“All these portraits and sculptures here might be seen as mere decorations to us now, but imagining that these people once lived and walked through these corridors gives me a strange feeling.”

 

“The Lady’s portrait will hang here someday too.”

 

At Lucien’s absurd words, Bada almost let out a chuckle. Such a day would never come.

 

“Hmm, then I’d like to hang on this wall. It faces south with good sunlight, so the location looks favorable.”

 

“An excellent choice of location.”

 

Bada was lost in thought as she admired the royal artwork as if enchanted.

 

“The collection here consists of items the royal family has collected and preserved over hundreds of years?”

 

“Yes. These are the ones that survived despite part of the castle being destroyed by Nazi air raids during World War II.”

 

Seeing Bada seemingly lost in deep thought, Lucien asked.

 

“Do you have some concern?”

 

“No, it’s more like… To be honest, I couldn’t understand why royalty still exists in today’s world.”

 

“…”

 

“But coming here, I think I understand. The reason Bernhardt citizens still love the royal family is because the royal family represents 500 years of history.”

 

Lucien gazed at Bada with an intrigued look. Meanwhile, she let out a low sigh.

 

Suddenly, Bada thought she could understand the Queen’s sharp attitude a little.

 

The traditions and history that Damien’s ancestors had protected over hundreds of years.

 

It might be impossible for her, an outsider, to fully understand how much that continuity means to the Bernhardt royal family and its people.

 

Soon Bada’s gaze fell upon a massive equestrian statue placed in the center of the gallery.

 

Judging by its size and scale, it was clearly of a very important figure.

 

“Who is this?”

 

“Albert II.”

 

Lucien approached beside Bada with his hands behind his back and turned his head toward her.

 

“The king who married a woman who was supposed to marry his cousin’s wife.”

 

The moment he uttered those words, Lucien’s green eyes glinted subtly.

 

“…Judging by the massive size of the equestrian statue, he must have been a great king?”

 

“Oh, that’s certainly true. Albert II was ambitious, after all.”

 

“…I see.”

 

Bada smiled awkwardly and turned to walk away.

 

Following his guidance, she could soon see the entrance.

 

As they exited the stone archway, drizzle was falling under the gray clouds.

 

‘It rains often in Bernhardt.’

 

Just as she shrank from the chill touching her skin, she saw a man with a black umbrella at the bottom of the stairs in the distance. It was Damien.

 

He was waiting for her like a loyal Siberian Husky, not even noticing that the shoulders of his expensive suit were getting wet from the rain.

 

‘He came to pick me up.’

 

Bada smiled and called out to him.

 

“Damien!”

 

The moment Damien turned at her voice and spotted Bada, his stern expression brightened like a light bulb being turned on.

 

As if unconsciously transforming from a Siberian Husky into a Golden Retriever.

 

But shortly after, when he noticed Lucien following behind her, his smile disappeared completely and his eyes emitted a sharp, piercing coldness.

 

Lucien escorted Bada and greeted Damien.

 

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

 

“Hello.”

 

An uncomfortable silence flowed between the two men who had exchanged greetings. The atmosphere was as if enemies had met on a narrow bridge.

 

It was Damien who broke the silence.

 

“Why are you two appearing together? I don’t understand. Did I miss something?”

 

His tone was so thorny that even Bada felt intimidated. On the other hand, Lucien, as if accustomed to such situations, answered calmly despite his sharp expression.

 

“We happened to meet in the corridor and exchanged greetings. I simply helped the Lady because she was lost.”

 

Caught between the two towering men, Bada quietly rolled her eyes.

 

Sharp-featured Damien and Lucien, who seemed like his model student version.

 

The sight of these two similar yet different men glaring at each other as if they wanted to kill one another was peculiar.

 

‘The cousins don’t seem to get along very well.’

 

Damien wrapped his arm around Bada’s shoulder and pulled her under the umbrella.

 

“I should have introduced you two first. Anyway, it’s good that you met this way.”

 

“It’s fine, Your Highness. You must have been very busy lately.”

 

Lucien’s tone carried sarcasm and interrogation. Once again, silence flowed between the two men.

 

Finally, unable to bear it, Bada smiled awkwardly and spoke.

 

“The palace is so vast that I would have gotten lost if Sir Lucien hadn’t helped me. Anyway, I’ll see you again soon. Now, let’s go, Damien.”

 

“It was a pleasure meeting you, my lady.”

 

Damien glared at Lucien, who was bowing politely toward Bada, then turned around. He opened the car door and pushed Bada inside.

 

Meanwhile, Lucien remained standing at the entrance, staring intently until the car carrying the two of them disappeared from view.

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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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