The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 161

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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 161

Empress Ophelia let out a short sigh.

“I… couldn’t just leave things alone, so I interfered little by little in the Crown Prince’s affairs. But instead of hesitating like that, I should have stepped forward actively from the beginning. If I had, I might have been able to prevent that brilliant child from losing his reason.”

Since the Crown Prince became an idiot right after the fire at Onyx Palace, people generally assumed that something had gone wrong with the Crown Prince’s head during that accident.

‘In reality, it was because Pascal had summoned him away.’

“That’s why, Princess.”

The Empress, who had placed one hand on a pillar in the corridor, turned to look at Rita with drooping eyes.

“The reason I took care of that powerless child was because of the guilt I felt for not being able to do more when I could have. It felt like that child had become that way because of me, because I had held back.”

“…Your Majesty.”

“And yet that child, the Crown Prince… gave me so much.”

The Empress’s gaze crossed the corridor toward the garden. Looking at the flowers in full bloom welcoming early summer, she continued speaking.

“The Crown Prince was in a state no different from a 3-year-old from age 13 to 18, but he was the most angelic 3-year-old in the world. He was truly kind, gentle, and lovable. Back then, he even called me mother. He would put flowers in my hair with his clumsy hands.”

Her eyes lit up as she curved her lips. It was a smile Lillieta knew well. The smile her mother often showed her.

“Princess, those days weren’t a difficult time for me. Rather, they were very happy days.”

A voice soaked in memories.

Lillieta realized that it was during that very period that Empress Ophelia had completely accepted Gideon as her own son.

What had started as merely an act she couldn’t ignore—stepping in because she couldn’t turn away from a young child being abused and threatened with death right before her eyes—gradually became filled with affection.

As she cared for, protected, and raised him like a child when he became an idiot no different from a young child, as she became a new mother to him in that way.

Though it was a clichéd expression, Ophelia had given birth to Gideon with her heart. In the truest meaning of that phrase.

Gideon’s biological parents were worse than having no parents at all. Yet Gid was not without a ‘mother.’ He had a mother who loved and supported him more than anyone else.

Lillieta found this fact both touching and grateful. She was truly glad that Gid had the Empress.

Empress Ophelia continued speaking slowly, still keeping her gaze on the garden.

“I had no idea the Crown Prince misunderstood that I had overexerted myself back then. I just thought he was being distant…”

She touched the corner of her mouth and cleared her throat once.

“So, Princess of Raskail, please tell the Crown Prince… that I spent those days happily. It’s a bit embarrassing for me to say such things directly.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Lillieta answered with a smile and added.

“I’ll also make sure to tell him that Your Majesty wants to be called mother by him.”

“Oh, no, Princess! You don’t need to go that far!”

The Empress turned to look at her in surprise. The gracefully aged woman waved her hands with a face red like a shy girl.

“The Crown Prince isn’t a child anymore—he’s a proper adult, and now he handles everything well on his own. He doesn’t need something like a mother anymore. My role has already ended.”

“But Your Majesty was the one who said he needed real family.”

“That’s why I’m hoping you would become that for him, Princess.”

“Your Majesty is also perfectly—”

“I can’t. The Crown Prince doesn’t properly remember the time he spent with me. It’s natural for him to feel distant. In a way, it’s like exposing shameful secrets, so it must be awkward.”

“Your Majesty, he—”

“Princess, to the Crown Prince, I’m just a mother on paper and a political ally, and it’s right for us to continue that way. It’s much more advantageous for the Crown Prince to ascend the throne safely.”

The now-composed Ophelia spoke calmly. Showing the dignity befitting an Empress who had supported the imperial family alone for years.

“The Crown Prince has no backing forces based on blood relations. That naturally means he has no community that will share his fate. Even his bloodline legitimacy is… vulnerable. The Crown Prince’s current established position comes more from the justification of being the only direct imperial heir and his own competence rather than the forces he possesses.”

“…”

“If such a Crown Prince shows excessive dependence on me or appears too close, it could look like the Empress is controlling and manipulating the Crown Prince. I don’t want the Crown Prince to be seen as a puppet of me or the Blen family. Those who support the Crown Prince don’t want that either. A distance like political partners is just right. Just like now.”

The Empress, who had spoken firmly, added calmly.

“I asked you to clear up the Crown Prince’s misunderstanding because I don’t want that child to worry about me unnecessarily. Do you understand?”

Lillieta wasn’t skilled at calculating complex political dynamics. But she could clearly understand three things.

The reason Gideon doesn’t call Empress Ophelia mother isn’t because of such political problems, but because of more personal and emotional issues.

And that Gideon is a much more remarkable person than Empress Ophelia worries about.

Even without bringing up that Emperor Gideon became a leader who set the standard for an era in history, the Gid Pascal she knew would never be someone who could be seen as anyone’s puppet.

‘If anything, if he appeared that way, he’d be the type to take advantage of it.’

Lastly, when you strip away all the external factors about politics and circumstances, the fact remains that the Empress wants to be called mother by Gid.

Rita didn’t dig deeper into such points to embarrass the Empress. She nodded obediently and answered.

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

“Good, then shall we practice one last time at the actual location?”

The Empress smiled and led her up to the platform. She positioned Lillieta above the pure gold laurel wreath pattern and gauged the time.

“It should be about time for the assistant to arrive…”

“Assistant?”

“Ah, there he comes.”

A silhouette that stood out clearly even from a distance thanks to his tall height and elongated proportions was approaching the altar along the outer corridor of Laurea Hall.

It was Gideon. In perfect Crown Prince formal attire, complete with a black cloak embroidered with gold thread.

When Lillieta flinched in surprise upon recognizing him, the Empress smiled slightly mischievously.

“Wouldn’t it be best for the parties who will perform the ceremony to practice together?”

“Your Majesty…”

“Well then, do your best, Princess.”

The Empress picked up a box that had been prepared on the altar, placed it in her arms, then disappeared from the spot in an instant with a beaming smile.

Rita looked down bewilderedly at the box in her arms. It wasn’t gold, just a practice laurel wreath made of woven laurel branches.

As she was staring at it blankly, a large shadow suddenly fell over her.

“How was it, Rita?”

Gid, who had climbed onto the altar before she knew it, asked while rubbing the back of his neck.

“Her Majesty didn’t say anything strange, did she?”

“She asked me to marry you and become real family.”

“Cough, cough.”

Even though he wasn’t drinking tea, he seemed to choke and made loud coughing sounds. Rita lifted her gaze from the box to look up at him. Her eyes naturally went to his left hand.

When she remembered the iron plate glove that had been fitted on 7-year-old Gid’s left hand, anger surged up.

Gideon, who had been patting his chest with his left hand, looked down at her and startled.

“Why do you have such a scary expression?”

“Me?”

“Are you very angry because of Her Majesty? I’m sorry, I’ll explain it properly again—”

“No, it’s not that. Her Majesty was a very good person.”

Rita shook her head and continued.

“I heard about your childhood and the time when you were an idiot from Her Majesty.”

“Really?”

Gid tilted his head with a bitter smile.

“She must have liked you much more than I expected. To tell you all those stories when you just met for the first time.”

“She said she was truly happy while taking care of you.”

“…”

At the straightforward words, Gid’s mouth snapped shut. Rita stared up at him and spoke even more directly.

“She said that you from those days gave her so much. Offering flowers with clumsy hands, calling her mother. Thanks to that, she was very happy.”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Gid grumbled as if incredulous.

“You haven’t even known each other for half a day, what on earth did you two talk about? I didn’t know you’d get along this well.”

“And when I told her that you believe Her Majesty is your only ally in the imperial family, she was incredibly happy.”

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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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