The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 44

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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 44

“Yes, I will be careful with my conduct from now on.”

“….”

Annemarie replied coldly and stiffly. Lavinia’s eyes widened in surprise, then she bit her lips tightly.

“…I want to go home.”

She turned around abruptly and fled from the Cream Hall as if escaping. Rita watched this scene in bewilderment, then recalled the etiquette she had learned by rote. It was the host’s courtesy to see off departing guests.

At the same time, she discreetly checked the time. It was almost time for Lindsey to bring Leonhardt to the Cream Hall.

“Hanna, guide Anton to the attending physician. Sister Anne, please wait just a moment. I’ll see off the Duirebourg Noblewoman and return.”

After seeing Hanna approach Anton, Rita quickly chased after Lavinia.

From behind, Annemarie seemed to be saying there was no need to see off that child, but she pretended not to hear and just left the Creme Dome.

Lavinia was walking down the corridor in a huff. She appeared to be walking as fast as possible without running, but being short with correspondingly small strides, it wasn’t difficult for Lillieta to catch up.

“Duirebourg Noblewoman.”

“Don’t stop me! I’m going home!”

“I have no intention of stopping you.”

“Huh, what?”

“I came to see you off. That’s proper etiquette.”

Rita said only that and walked alongside Lavinia. Then Lavinia’s pace gradually slowed and became normal speed.

Her light green eyes glanced at Lillieta, then looked up at her directly as if she had made up her mind.

“Listen.”

“….”

“I really just became interested in that thing, shooting, what’s called marksmanship? I liked it. I want to try it too, so teach me a little.”

“No.”

“Why!”

“We just talked about the qualifications to hold a gun, didn’t we? Only those who recognize the power and meaning of guns as weapons and can take responsibility for the consequences should hold guns.”

Rita added matter-of-factly without even looking toward Lavinia.

“The Noblewoman lacks both awareness and responsibility, so you shouldn’t hold a gun.”

“What, what am I lacking! How rude!”

Lavinia shouted indignantly, but Lillieta didn’t even respond. Then Lavinia stopped walking abruptly and stamped her feet.

“Apologize right now! And say you’ll teach me!”

“I don’t want to.”

“Do it when I tell you to! Don’t you know who I am? I’m the Duirebourg Noblewoman! How dare you disobey my words—”

“You seem to have forgotten.”

Lillieta looked back at the stopped Lavinia with a calm face and said.

“I too am a daughter of a ducal house, Duirebourg Noblewoman. I have no reason to listen to your commands.”

“…!”

Lavinia was shocked for a moment. For her, who had only seen others bow when she wielded her status somehow, it was bound to be shocking. Even Annemarie had eventually yielded when she brought up status earlier.

“You, you won’t listen to me? Really?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll tell my mother! Duke Duirebourg will know about this! Will that still be okay?”

“Then I’ll tell my father too. Will it be okay if Duke Raskail knows about this?”

Lillieta replied indifferently. Lavinia became rabbit-eyed and just opened and closed her mouth. Rita opened the front door in front of her.

“Then farewell, Duirebourg Noblewoman.”

Lavinia alternately looked at the open front door and Lillieta’s calm face in a daze, then suddenly trembled and screamed.

“Ju, just you wait!”

Then she hurriedly rushed outside. The Duirebourg escort knights and maids waiting in the garden carriage could be seen welcoming the Noblewoman.

Just what was she going to wait and see.

Lillieta watched the pink hair disappearing into the carriage with puzzlement, then shrugged her shoulders and closed the door.

When she returned to the Creme Dome, Anton and Hanna were pacing at the entrance. Lindsey, who was standing quietly beside them, saw Lillieta and bowed her head.

‘Lindsey’s return means….’

Through the half-open door gap, a familiar blonde profile was visible. Leonhardt was standing tall in front of Annemarie. Annemarie was looking up at him in a daze.

A man and woman meeting for the first time since their unwanted broken engagement. A ballroom with just the two of them. An oddly flowing silence and quietly meeting gazes.

‘…Any more would be interference.’

Lillieta lightly touched the restless Anton’s back. She showed him her finger with a “shh” to the startled boy, and gestured for him to follow.

Anton, who alternately looked at the hall and Lillieta, wasn’t lacking in sense as he sighed deeply and followed her. Hanna and Lindsey followed her on their own.

Only after moving to the garden house did Rita open her mouth.

“Anton, is your shoulder okay?”

“Oh, yes, it’s, it’s fine. They said there’s no problem at all.”

“I’m really sorry about earlier. I didn’t do it on purpose. I was trying to practice because of that….”

“I wondered why you wanted to practice when you clearly knew how to dance.”

Anton smiled awkwardly, then hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth with a slightly reddened face.

“Um, well, would, would you like to practice more? I’ll help you.”

“I’d like that, but will you be okay?”

“Of course I’ll be okay! I’m not even hurt, what’s the big deal!”

The boy, filled with what might be enthusiasm or personal interest, extended his hand with an active attitude. Rita looked at him and thought of Beacon’s only junior.

“Of course I’ll be okay! This much doesn’t even hurt. Ah, ouch, Sister, but don’t poke me to test it… I’m not bluffing!”

Luca Pascal. She felt nostalgic. Rita smiled faintly and took Anton’s hand.

“Then I’ll ask you, thank you.”

Anton, who caught a glimpse of the tender expression that briefly crossed her face, lost his composure and ended up stepping on Rita’s foot during the waltz. Only after being thrown down did he come to his senses.

* * *

Raskail’s new footman ‘Ethan’ was among the servants assigned to depart before the masters and prepare the Town House.

Having departed a week before the ducal family members and been in the capital, he therefore hadn’t heard the story about Lillieta’s shooting skills displayed during the hunt.

If he had mingled more with other servants or had even the slightest interest in the young lady, he would have heard the story after the Raskail family settled in the capital, but Ethan was busy with other matters.

April 7th, 1770, three days before the Raskail Family arrived in the capital.

The most secluded part of the high walls surrounding the Imperial Palace of the Kairam Empire.

Ethan, standing in the shadows, approached the palace wall and ran his hand through his hair. His golden-brown hair changed to pure white. Then he rubbed his eyes, and his blue-gray pupils revealed their original bright red color.

He stretched fully and with a light running start, climbed onto the palace wall.

Dozens of layers of protective magic tried to activate but quieted down in response to the key-shaped necklace around his neck. Ethan jumped inside the palace without any interference. Then he immediately disappeared as if melting into the shadows.

Hidden in the shadows, he went deep into the palace, avoiding the eyes of patrolling guards and knights.

The place with the most stringent security after the Emperor’s palace, the Crown Prince’s palace, Onyx Palace.

Ethan entered the room through an open balcony. Then he naturally sat across from a man who was sitting on a sofa drinking wine.

“Give me a glass too.”

At Ethan’s words, the man poured wine into an empty glass. Ethan gulped it down like beer and exclaimed with a “Keu.”

“Wow, wine that the Crown Prince drinks really tastes different. Give me another glass.”

“Did you come here to drink?”

“Among other things. Ah, here’s the regular report.”

Ethan pulled out a bundle of papers from his chest and tossed it over. While the man received and read it, he downed another glass of wine, smacked his lips, then opened his mouth.

“Captain.”

“….”

“There’s something I didn’t write in the report. Want to hear it?”

The man only raised his eyes to look at him. Shadowed golden pupils. Thinking they somehow resembled an ashen sun that had lost its light, Ethan continued.

“Originally I was going to keep it to myself, ahem, report it after it became certain, but I can’t make the judgment alone. It just won’t become certain?”

“Get to the point.”

“Damn, you’re always so curt. You weren’t this annoying when Rita was around.”

The golden eyes watching him from behind the fluttering papers flickered for an instant.

Ethan knew well which word among his had provoked him, so he took it in stride. After all, he was about to say something that would upset that guy even more.

“Right, I’ll get straight to the point. I found someone suspected to be Rita Pascal.”

The man’s movement as he flipped through the report stopped. Ethan quickly continued speaking before the man could grab him by the collar.

“You heard about how the missing princess of Raskail suddenly returned, right? I went to check if she might be a returnee, and that’s when I saw her. The maid who was beside the princess.”

Ethan pulled out a photograph from his jacket, placed it on the table, and slid it toward the man. The bundle of papers dropped from the man’s hands with a thud. He picked up the photograph with trembling hands. Ethan’s lips curved up in a crooked smile.

“She looks similar, doesn’t she?”

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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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