The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 50

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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 50

“I am already so captivated by you, Princess, but you surely are not. So would you not show mercy to your pitiful prisoner?”

Joseph placed one hand on his chest and bowed slightly toward Lillieta with a smile in his eyes.

“I have prepared a small boat for this social season. It is white and beautiful like a swan. If you would show mercy and give me a chance, I would like to escort you as a swan crossing the blue waters of Drakanis.”

It was an invitation to go boating.

Lillieta barely swallowed the words that had risen to her throat – to stop the nonsense and get lost before she drilled a ventilation hole in his head.

The atmosphere had become strangely tense.

If Joseph had been clingy and pestering or acted like a rogue, it would have been different, but because he had knelt with theatrical attitude and confessed while pleading sincerely, people were watching.

There was no difference in status, both were of marriageable age, Lillieta was beautiful and Joseph was quite handsome too.

Because of this, people seemed to find this situation as interesting as watching an opera or regarded it as a romantic incident due to youthful passion. The young nobles even had gleaming eyes as if expecting something.

In this situation, rejecting not just the proposal but even the subsequent boating invitation would be perfect for hearing gossip about why she debuted in society if she wouldn’t even give suitors a chance.

Originally, when a noble child of age debuts in society, it is considered to mean they are looking for a marriage partner.

Leonhardt thought he was in real trouble.

‘This… even if I intervene, Rita’s reputation will suffer. It would be better to meet him once and then reject him.’

Even if he intervened here saying Lillieta was too weak for something like boating, if Joseph then invited her to tea time instead, it would become even harder to refuse. Since Lillieta didn’t have a fiancé, there was no justification to block the proposal.

Rita didn’t know much about the implicit meaning of debuts or social customs, but seeing Leonhardt’s troubled expression, Richard holding back despite being heated up to his head at his brother’s restraint, and the Duke couple not stepping forward, she roughly guessed the situation.

‘I’d rather fight magical beasts than ride a boat with that bastard.’

It seemed she had been thinking like this particularly often since deciding to debut in society. Had shooting magical beasts been more stress-relieving than she thought?

‘There’s no choice here. I guess I have to humor him once.’

Just as she was about to answer, the gathered nobles hurriedly parted and a tall man suddenly appeared.

It was the Crown Prince.

As soon as Gideon returned to the ballroom, he immediately grasped the situation. At the same time, he realized that Joseph’s proposal, though sudden, was a calculated act.

‘Duke Adickl would never oppose it. Making an engagement with Raskail would be a great benefit.’

What was beneficial to Duke Adickl meant loss for him as Crown Prince. If those two were connected, Adickl, whom he had barely stepped on, might crawl back up.

So he calmly intervened.

“Boating… That’s a good idea, Grand Duke’s son. The Royal Family was also preparing boating to enjoy spring on the Drakanis River. How about participating together?”

“Pardon?”

Joseph was startled, then ground his teeth quietly before quickly putting on a smiling face.

“…Glory to the descendant of the Black Dragon. Your Highness, I wanted to have time to get to know the Princess…”

“It seems the Grand Duke’s son is not the only one who wants a chance to know Princess Raskail. Isn’t that right?”

Gideon looked around. As several young men nodded enthusiastically, small laughter erupted from among the people.

Gid smiled as if to say ‘see?’ and opened his mouth.

“Dear ladies and gentlemen.”

It was neither a very loud nor high voice.

However, the moment the Crown Prince leisurely looked around the audience and opened his mouth, the murmuring subsided and everyone focused on him.

“In one week, the cherry blossoms along the Drakanis River will be in full bloom. The peace and prosperity of the Empire are also blooming like cherry blossoms, so it would be the duty of the Royal Family to share this celebration with everyone. Therefore, on the coming 24th, we wish to hold a Royal-hosted boating event on the river where the Black Dragon made his oath. We have prepared lunch cruise ships and an onboard orchestra.”

Quiet exclamations leaked out here and there. The Crown Prince added with a smile.

“Please attend and enjoy the flowing flowers and fresh spring together.”

As he tilted his head slightly, applause erupted. The atmosphere changed instantly. Everyone began talking about the boating event in a week.

Gideon looked back at Lillieta and Joseph with a smiling face.

“It would be good if Raskail and Adickl participated too. It will be a suitable opportunity to get to know each other.”

“…Yes, it would be.”

Joseph replied while barely smoothing his crumpled expression, then looked back at Lillieta.

“I shall see you on the boat where flowers flow, my beautiful captor who has captured me.”

He tried to kiss her hand again, but Lillieta withdrew her hand and stepped back much faster than he could, so he failed.

Joseph, rejected twice, stared at her for a moment with wrinkled brows, then turned around abruptly and headed out of the ballroom.

Lillieta glanced at his retreating figure and looked at the Crown Prince.

His skillful way of changing people’s mood reminded her even more of someone, making her feel strange. She opened her lips then closed them.

Having heard and learned things, she quickly realized that the Crown Prince hadn’t helped her out of simple goodwill or favor. He must have blocked it because Adickl shouldn’t get hold of Raskail in addition to Duillebrog.

Whatever his intention, it was true that she had received help. She greeted him according to etiquette.

“Glory to the descendant of the Black Dragon. Thank you for helping me, Your Highness.”

“Not at all. May you welcome the fresh spring.”

The Crown Prince replied indifferently without even looking back at her and was about to leave when he hesitated. He suddenly looked back at her.

“Princess.”

“Yes.”

“…”

He made a confused expression as if he didn’t know why he had called her after calling her. Gone was his skillful appearance from moments ago when he had captivated the audience, and he seemed flustered and hesitant. He touched the corner of his right eye and said hesitantly.

“…I shall see you at the boating event.”

“Yes, I will definitely attend.”

The Crown Prince turned around again. Lillieta thought of the person who overlapped with his retreating figure and resolved once more.

‘I should look for missing persons around the Crown Prince.’

* * *

When the Royal-hosted boating event was announced, the nobles of the capital were busy decorating their owned boats or hastily renting boats.

Boating events were common as various parties and events were held throughout the social season in the capital, but it had been a very long time since the Royal Family directly hosted one.

Originally, there were only three events officially held by the Royal Family during the social season: the Pioneer Festival in May, the Foundation Festival in June, and the Flower Crown Festival in July. Other events or banquets were at the discretion of the current Emperor.

That was why the Royal-hosted boating event was rare, and why the nobles were excited.

“The Current Emperor doesn’t do anything.”

Lindsey said with a shrug. Rita asked back while walking through the manor corridor.

“Doesn’t do anything? The Emperor?”

“Yes, he doesn’t even show his face except for unavoidable official events. In fact, it’s been quite a while since he ignored even the historic Pioneer and Foundation Festivals, hasn’t it?”

“Didn’t you say those are festivals traditionally presided over and awarded by the Emperor? Only the Flower Crown Festival is presided over by the Empress… He neglects all of that too?”

“If His Majesty the Emperor refuses to do it and shuts himself away, who would dare do anything about it? I heard he rarely comes to the Palace either.”

“He doesn’t even come to the Palace? Then who governs the Empire?”

Rita stopped walking in surprise. Lindsey answered in a cynical tone.

“Her Majesty the Empress handles affairs in consultation with the ministers. His Highness the Crown Prince has also been doing it since four years ago. Before that, the Late Emperor did it.”

“…It’s amazing that Duke Adickl only aimed for the Crown Prince position.”

“It’s all the afterglow of the Late Emperor. He was truly a great man. Great enough for nobles to willingly pledge loyalty and imperial citizens to support him enthusiastically.”

“Ah, the one who became Emperor even though he wasn’t the eldest… So that’s why it was fine even when the current Emperor neglected everything. But the Late Emperor’s afterglow can’t last forever.”

“That’s right. His Highness the Crown Prince appeared while that afterglow was fading. Boating on the Drakanis River was originally an event that the Late Emperor absolutely held every year at this time.”

“Boating every year at this time? If it’s an event directly presided over by the Emperor right after nobles governing their territories gathered in the capital… Could this have been an event to discipline the nobles?”

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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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