The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 159

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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 159

The teacup slipped from her hand and fell onto the saucer, scattering tea everywhere. Lillieta asked back in a dazed tone.

“Pardon?”

“Oh my, what should I do.”

The Empress hurriedly stood up and placed a napkin under the saucer. The tea that was about to overflow stained the cloth instead of the table. A rich floral fragrance spread.

Rita came to her senses a beat late and straightened the cup before taking the napkin from the Empress.

“I’ll handle this, Your Majesty the Empress. I’m sorry.”

“No, you were startled, weren’t you?”

The Empress, who had obediently handed over the napkin to her, sat back down with a bitter smile.

“Asking such a question right after meeting. As a noblewoman, you couldn’t help but be flustered. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Rita shook her head and focused on wiping up the spilled tea. Because she didn’t want to think about the question she had just heard.

Meanwhile, the Empress picked up a small silver bell from the corner of the table and shook it.

Maids appeared silently, checked the table in the garden house, then moved quickly without a word.

Even though the Empress gave no particular orders, the stained tablecloth was replaced on its own and fresh tea was poured into clean teacups.

The maids who had moved in perfect coordination stood in a line as soon as their work was finished, bowed at identical angles, then quietly withdrew.

Rita watched the scene with inner amazement. The limb-like movements of the maids seemed to show just how perfectly Empress Ophelia managed the order within the palace.

Only then did she feel somewhat nervous.

Because she realized that the person before her wasn’t just a friend’s mother, but the empress of a nation who had protected the life of her adopted son who had become an idiot against the cold emperor and the Grand Duke who was a descendant of the deposed crown prince.

Once the maids had completely withdrawn, the Empress opened her mouth with an apologetic face.

“I know I shouldn’t do this so suddenly, but I was anxious. I couldn’t help it because… the Crown Prince keeps emphasizing that the noblewoman didn’t accept this role with such intentions.”

The Empress let out a conspicuous sigh.

“He begged me several times not to misunderstand, not to burden the noblewoman, and goodness, noblewoman, do you know? I’ve never seen the Crown Prince trouble himself like that while asking me for something. The Crown Prince who used to maintain boundaries like a blade…”

A faint smile appeared on her lips as her words trailed off. The Empress continued speaking with a small smile.

“So I became convinced. Ah, this child is being sincere now. Not for work or political strategy, but he’s truly and seriously thinking about the Raskail noblewoman… that’s what I thought.”

Gid was thinking about her truly, seriously, what?

Rita felt like she couldn’t manage her expression, so she lowered her head and looked down at her teacup. She couldn’t tell if her face reflected on the tea’s surface looked red because it was real or because of the black tea’s color.

Unlike her flustered state, the Empress’s voice was calm.

“Taking on the role of Coronator – does that mean the noblewoman also has serious feelings for the Crown Prince? If not, if you simply accepted this role only as your status as Raskail’s noblewoman, I’d like to know beforehand so I don’t fall into false hopes and make mistakes. That’s why I asked.”

“False hopes?”

At Rita’s question, the Empress hesitated.

She lifted her teacup and examined Lillieta, then confirmed that her complexion was slightly flushed and answered casually with a softened expression.

“It’s an absurd dream for imperial royalty to wish for, but… I want the Crown Prince to have a real family. Because he’s never had anyone his entire life.”

“That can’t be true, Your Majesty the Empress is here.”

Lillieta reflexively replied.

Even though she didn’t know Gideon’s family circumstances completely, she knew that Empress Ophelia, who didn’t share a drop of blood with him, was much closer to being his family than his birth parents Lorenz and Nina.

When she raised her head, she saw the Empress with a bitter smile.

“Thank you for saying that.”

The Empress took a light breath and continued.

“But no. The Crown Prince needs someone he can completely relax and lean on, and I’m not that kind of person—”

“Why do you think that way?”

Rita unconsciously interrupted the Empress’s words.

From just their brief conversation, she could see too clearly how the Empress thought of Gid, and it bothered her to see the Empress’s expression darken, plus she remembered what Gid had said to her.

“Gid said that Your Majesty the Empress is his only ally in the imperial palace.”

At her words, the Empress’s olive-colored eyes widened in surprise. Her face blinking in amazement really looked exactly like Olivia, and the tension she had barely maintained completely dissolved.

“He trusts Your Majesty the Empress more than anyone and holds you dear.”

Gid’s efforts to prevent the conspiracy targeting the Empress at Joseph’s masquerade party weren’t simply because she was a force supporting him.

“It’s just… he doesn’t remember the time when he had problems. He knows well that Your Majesty the Empress protected him during that period, but since he can’t remember the specifics, he said it’s difficult.”

This would be the reason why Gideon trusted and respected Empress Ophelia while keeping his distance and feeling strange guilt.

Because he couldn’t know exactly about the period when he was most vulnerable and the Empress worked hardest. There was probably also the fact that he felt rejection toward the very existence of mothers because of Nina.

The Empress asked back in a trembling voice.

“The Crown Prince told the noblewoman that?”

“Yes.”

Rita answered firmly and continued speaking.

“If you feel that Gid doesn’t completely open his heart to Your Majesty the Empress, it’s probably because of that sense of debt. He feels sorry and cautious because he can guess that you overexerted yourself.”

At least if it was the Gid Pascal she knew, that would be the case.

“If Your Majesty could speak more openly about what your feelings were like during that time, why you protected him… I think Gid would also treat Your Majesty more comfortably. That’s what I think.”

She added finally, thinking about him who was reluctant to call the Empress mother, and him who said it was difficult to face the Empress.

“Just as Your Majesty the Empress wants to become his ‘real family,’ Gid also wants to regard Your Majesty as family.”

The expression of the Empress sitting across from her was blank.

Rita belatedly worried whether she had poured out too honestly what she had been thinking inside. Even so, to face the Empress she was meeting for the first time.

This was why she hadn’t stepped forward for things like dealing with the Command during the Ash-covered Era. She had only memorized and crammed aristocratic speech patterns in a short period, so if she let her guard down, she couldn’t put them into practice.

While slightly regretting, the Empress slowly began to speak.

“The noblewoman… you’re close enough to call the Crown Prince by a pet name and have such deep conversations?”

“…Pardon?”

“It seems the noblewoman knows the Crown Prince better than I do, goodness… how wonderful. So that’s how it is. That’s why…”

She covered her mouth with her hand. The way her olive-colored eyes sparkled was like Olivia discovering a new magic application or the operating principle of a tool, making Rita feel a bit chilled.

“Your Majesty, I think there’s some misunderstanding.”

“It’s fine, noblewoman. There’s no need to say more now. There’s no reason for me to interfere unnecessarily…”

A smile spread across the Empress’s entire face. A face that looked pleased, proud, and satisfied.

“Not being nervous or tense is good, being honest is good too, and I like your eye for people, your kind heart, and judgment… you’re already close with the Crown Prince, and you’re even this beautiful with an impeccable family background…”

The Empress looked at Lillieta with the same subtle, sleepy eyes that Olivia had when looking at the upgraded Grace.

“Am I dreaming? Where did such a perfect young lady pop out from? There’s nothing more to do or worry about. The Crown Prince must have suffered all this time just to meet the noblewoman.”

“…Your Majesty?”

“Please take good care of our Crown Prince, noblewoman. He’s a bit of a workaholic, but he has the personality to be terribly good to his wife. I’ll do really well too.”

“W-wait a moment, Your Majesty the Empress, the Crown Prince and I aren’t in that kind of relationship yet—”

“Oh my, yes, I understand. ‘Yet’ – that’s what you mean, right? How fresh and even cute… ahem, then shall we gradually get to the main point?”

The Empress, full of smiles, took out a bundle of parchment as if she had been waiting. It was materials related to the succession ceremony.

“First, I’ll tell you about the ceremony order. Now, look at this. This is last year’s event report…”

Watching the Empress quickly change the subject and efficiently proceed with work, Rita recalled what Gid had said. That Her Majesty the Empress would definitely like her, so there was nothing to worry about.

‘It was really true…’

At the same time, she wondered why a mother and son who didn’t share a drop of blood were so similar. Especially the part where they showed gloomy and weak sides, then instantly switched tactics once they achieved their goal.

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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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