The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 148

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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 148

“Well, I do have something to tell you too… But let me hear your story first.”

“No, not now. After we finish our work.”

Rita shook her head slightly and gazed at the ballroom. First, she needed to quickly achieve the goal she came here for, then slowly, with leisure.

It wasn’t something she could bring up lightly.

Shaking off her complicated thoughts and focusing on the crowd of people, she spotted several red feather decorations. There were many silver masks as well, but when limited to silver masks with red feathers, the number dropped significantly.

‘The targeted one supposedly had gold decorations on a half-mask.’

She recalled the characteristics of the mask that the Duke’s faction had used as a trap and dove into the crowd. Gid, who had been watching her briefly, soon walked in the opposite direction.

Rita thought as she encountered the masked people.

‘Just as Hanna said, everyone recognizes who I am right away.’

An appearance that stood out even with half her face covered by a mask. Bright blonde hair and rare violet eyes.

People who immediately recognized that she was the only princess of Raskail, one of the Empire’s two great ducal houses, were kind and cautious in their attitudes.

Since Raskail was still a neutral house, there were also subtle approaches trying to win her over, taking advantage of her attendance at the Duke’s party.

She occasionally caught whiffs of patchouli, but it wasn’t severe. Rita deliberately spread her Oaths widely to sense her surroundings and tried not to react sensitively.

In doing so, she realized something about herself.

The fact that Gid was here with her in this ballroom made her feel quite, no, tremendously reassured.

‘If there really is a demon hiding here, Gid would notice it too.’

It was reliable and comforting. Separate from her concerns about what he might be hiding, his very presence was to her.

Lillieta endured the patchouli scent while checking the silver masks with red feathers one by one. However, there were no cases where the characteristics matched perfectly. She didn’t see anyone who seemed to be from the Crown Prince’s faction either.

‘If someone from the Crown Prince’s faction attended this party, they’d inevitably be somewhat isolated. A scapegoat to take the blame for a conspiracy wouldn’t be influential enough for the opposing faction to worry about.’

Even though it was a masked party, it wasn’t complete anonymity anyway. It was primarily a social venue where the main purpose was to play while moderately revealing and pretending not to know each other’s identities.

But for her, who wasn’t used to parties and was still unfamiliar with social circles, it was difficult to immediately spot someone who was isolated at the scene.

‘I can’t seem to find them. I’ll have to hope Gid has some success… Hm?’

A familiar build and light brown hair caught the edge of her vision. Rita turned her head to look more closely in that direction and soon became certain.

‘It’s Anne.’

Anne-Marie den Duirleborg Everett.

Leonhardt’s former fiancée and Lillieta’s childhood villa sister was in the ballroom, wearing a white lace half-mask decorated with yellow feathers and dressed in a yellow gown.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen her alone without Rabi. But…’

Rather than enjoying the party free from her troublemaker cousin, she seemed to be in some kind of trouble.

Some man was clinging to her, and even though Annemarie shook her head in refusal, he wouldn’t leave.

The man who had been persistently saying something suddenly grabbed Annemarie’s hand. Even as she startled and tried to pull away, he wouldn’t let go.

‘That bastard.’

Lillieta quickly went over and intervened.

“It’s been a while, Anne. Who is this person?”

She immediately greeted her while glaring, and the man who recognized that she was the Raskail princess quietly released Annemarie’s hand.

“I was, I was asking for a dance… My apologies.”

The man stammered an excuse and disappeared into the crowd as if fleeing. Annemarie sighed and gave a weary smile.

“Thank you, Lili… It is Lili, right?”

“That’s right. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

She nodded and rubbed the wrist that had been grabbed. Rita looked around and spotted an empty sofa in a corner of the ballroom.

“Let’s go sit there and rest for a moment.”

The gazes that had been waiting for opportunities to ask her to dance or strike up conversations reluctantly fell away as she sat on the sofa with Annemarie.

Rita handed Annemarie a wine glass she had picked up from a servant’s tray during their move and asked.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yes, Rabi has changed lately… She doesn’t seek me out much anymore. The child who used to want to follow me everywhere doesn’t do that now.”

Annemarie gave a faint bitter smile as she took the glass.

“Thanks to you, Lili, that child seems to have grown up considerably. Thank you.”

Her thanks seemed sincere, but she didn’t look particularly happy about that fact.

Annemarie looked much more lifeless than when she was dealing with Lavinia’s tantrums. Somehow listless and more shadowed than before.

Lillieta wasn’t skilled at probing such things indirectly. She just opened her mouth honestly.

“Were you happier when you were taking care of Rabi?”

Annemarie stiffened with a start and looked at her, then confirmed there was no reproach in Lillieta’s face before lowering her eyes. She fiddled with the glass in her hands and answered quietly.

“I suppose I was… Maybe it wasn’t that child who was dependent, but me.”

“…”

“Every time that child sought me out, clung to me, threw tantrums… I felt like I was someone needed. Yes, that must have been why. After that incident, I’ve been somehow…”

Annemarie, who had been speaking slowly, suddenly trailed off and covered her mouth with her hand.

“…This isn’t something I should be telling you. I’m sorry.”

“Anne.”

Rita gently caught her as she started to get up as if to flee.

Her words about this not being something to tell her, about feeling like someone needed. She thought she knew what ‘that incident’ was.

‘Did Anne start taking care of Rabi after her broken engagement with Leon?’

Now that she thought about it, that might have been her own way of healing.

It also meant that incident was a wound significant enough to require this kind of healing, and if she was losing energy over Lavinia becoming mature, it meant the aftermath was still affecting her.

‘…It also means she still has lingering feelings.’

If that was the case, it would be better to create an opportunity.

She opened her mouth toward Annemarie, who was avoiding her gaze with an expression of having said something unnecessary.

“Leon was seriously injured a few days ago.”

“What?”

Annemarie looked at her in shock.

“Where? How did it happen?”

Urgent follow-up questions. She definitely had lingering feelings. Rita continued calmly.

“His throat was injured. It was such a serious injury that it could have been terrible if he’d been found just a little later… Even after receiving healing from a priest, he still can’t speak properly.”

“He can’t speak properly?”

Annemarie’s eyes widened. Her chest heaved greatly. Rita watched her reaction carefully and continued speaking.

“Everyone was very worried, thinking he might not wake up. Fortunately, he regained consciousness, but he’s been resting in bed under absolute rest orders for a while. He really almost died.”

“…”

“Anne, will you come see Leon?”

Annemarie’s soft green eyes wavered. She put down her wine glass and covered her face with both hands, her voice trembling.

“I, I am…”

“Leon said this.”

Rita continued matter-of-factly.

“That he caused Anne great pain.”

“…!”

“I don’t know what happened between you two. But I can tell that it’s still not over.”

Annemarie lifted her face from her hands. Looking at that face, unable to hide its turmoil even half-covered by a mask, Rita asked again.

“It’s not over for either you or Leon yet, is it?”

Annemarie squeezed her eyes shut and opened them, bit her lip, then let out a thin sigh. Then she called her name softly.

“Lili.”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever… liked someone?”

“…”

No.

If it had been a little while ago, she would have answered that immediately. That she had never felt such emotions, let alone even considered them.

But now she couldn’t. Her mind became complicated in an instant.

Her heart’s desire that no one come between him and herself came to mind. The fact that she had wanted to see him in painful moments came to mind. The comfort of having him nearby came to mind.

He went crazy long ago but just pretends to be fine on the surface. What I find most insane about that bastard is that he can pretend to be fine. Oli and Ethan’s words came to mind.

The distant feeling she had when hearing that story came to mind.

The reason she had been so shocked. The reason she had added an extremely personal goal while having to carry out the mission objective.

The sound of a music box, a face bathed in dawn light, cream puffs that were sweet despite looking like a mess come to mind. It will get better. She remembers how her ears grew hot as she said those words.

Could this really be that kind of feeling?

Is this what it means to like someone?

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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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