The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 53

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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 53

Richard stopped breathing for a moment. As if his own breath had been cut off by Lillieta’s words that she couldn’t breathe.

Soon after, he poured out words as if exhaling his blocked breath.

“Hey, why are you sorry? What do you have to be sorry for? You, Lili, you did nothing wrong. What did you do wrong that you’re apologizing for!”

“Then what did you do so wrong, brother? Your sleeping sister woke you up saying she had a nightmare, and you just said it was a dream and went back to sleep—how is that such a great sin that it ruins your life?”

“No, it’s different! Hey, that really is a sin. Because of me, you—”

“I’m not saying you’re completely innocent! Just, just that it’s not such a big mistake. It’s the kind of mistake that ends with an apology, just that level of wrongdoing. I’m the victim here, and I’m telling you this…”

“…Lili.”

“Brother, you already apologized to me. You were so sorry and reflected on it. If you regretted and reflected for years like that, then you could have lived well after that. You could have lived well while missing me sometimes. That’s okay, that’s allowed… but don’t live as if it’s not allowed.”

Lillieta spoke with a tearful voice, leaning her cheek against his hand and whispering.

“Don’t make me the cause of your unhappiness.”

“…!”

“Don’t make me feel sorry…”

Richard stared at her with a face as if he’d been struck on the back of the head. Lillieta quietly sobbed. The tears she had been holding back, tears she didn’t even know she was holding back, flowed silently.

Richard slowly embraced her.

He held her lightly, then pulled back to gently examine her face, wiped away the falling tears with his thumb, drew in a sharp breath as if his throat was tight, then hugged her tightly again with force.

“I’m sorry, Lili.”

“…”

“I, calling myself your brother, yet being your brother… I didn’t understand your feelings at all. You came back to us safely like this, such a miracle happened… and I just made you worry.”

“…”

“I’m really a pathetic and worthless brother, aren’t I.”

“…”

“It’s not your fault. I didn’t become like this because of you, Lili.”

“…”

“Brother was wrong. Not just that night, no, I did wrong that night too, but I’ve been doing wrong ever since. Now I know… now I understand.”

“…”

“I won’t be like this anymore. I’ll try to get better. I’ll try to be happy…”

“…”

“So don’t cry, okay?”

He comforted her with a tearful voice. Lillieta buried her constantly flowing tears in his shoulder and said.

“Then… don’t call yourself trash anymore.”

“I won’t.”

“Rehabilitate with me. Become stronger and healthier than before.”

“Yes. I’ll work hard. I’ll do everything you tell me to.”

“Return to the Order of the Holy Knights too.”

“I’ll definitely go back.”

“You sang about it being your dream since childhood, read me stories about Saint Nicholas until I was sick of them, and now you’re throwing away a dream you achieved through effort like this…”

“That’s right, I talked to you about that dream the most. Every single day, like singing a song…”

Richard laughed while holding her. Then he said quietly.

“I won’t throw anything away anymore.”

Thank you.

Lillieta quietly raised her arms and embraced her family back.

* * *

April 24th, 1770.

The Drakanis River crossing the Imperial Capital Lambard was filled with blooming cherry blossoms and all kinds of boats.

Boats of different sizes and shapes displayed their affiliations and showed off their family’s prestige by hanging sails with family crests, painting crests on the sides of boats, or displaying banners embroidered with crests.

Wealthy prestigious families launched yachts that could accommodate more than 10 people, while ordinary noble families launched covered boats or small barges.

And in the center of all these boats was the enormous imperial sailing ship. The black ship with golden decorations spread its sails painted with black dragons and overwhelmed the surrounding boats with its majestic size. Truly the appearance of an emperor commanding countless vessels.

Near the imperial sailing ship, a luxuriously decorated barge followed, and on this boat’s flat deck, a shipboard orchestra had set up and was playing music suitable for spring.

The Raskail family’s boat was a large yacht that could accommodate 30 people, painted in the same pale cream color as the Creme Dome or Birch Tree Castle in their territory. The family crest was on the sail, and at the bow was carved a fairy holding a bouquet made of various jewels.

Among the boats owned by Raskail, there were yachts and sailing ships large enough to hold shipboard banquets, but only the royal family could launch boats of that scale on the river flowing through the capital. The size of boats that noble families could launch on the Drakanis River was limited to this extent.

There were exactly three large yachts that reached the maximum size within the restrictions. Raskail, Duirebourg, and Adikl.

Hanna was walking across the deck holding a tray when she suddenly looked beyond the railing. The luxurious boats with colorful crests could all be seen below.

It was a scene that directly revealed the authority of the families. Normally, she would have felt proud of the family she worked for and the young lady she served, and would have felt pleased with herself, but Hanna wasn’t in that mood now.

‘…Why did he suddenly change.’

Instead of the magnificent waterscape, the image of the handsome new footman with golden-brown hair and blue-gray eyes filled her mind completely.

Ethan’s attitude toward her had changed recently. The man who would never leave her alone no matter how much she told him to go away, and annoyingly hovered nearby, had become strangely cold. When they happened to meet, he was still kind and friendly, but he didn’t cling to her like before.

Hanna, who had become accustomed to his affectionate attitude, was troubled. She tried to think back on whether she had made some mistake with him, but nothing came to mind.

‘It seems like he changed after the young lady’s debutante ball…’

Come to think of it, Crown Prince was also strange that day. He said he had something to confirm and touched her forehead, but there’s been no word about it since. I have no idea what he was trying to confirm…

‘Wait, could it be that Ethan is keeping his distance because he thinks there’s something between Crown Prince and me?’

Even though she considered it a ridiculous delusion, from Hanna’s perspective, there was nothing else she could suspect. She thought she wanted to somehow clear up Ethan’s misunderstanding and return to their previous relationship.

Yet Hanna was unaware that she had developed quite strong feelings for Ethan.

She moved on with a slightly melancholy mood.

The Raskail siblings were seated in the gorgeous pagoda set up at the stern. She set down the fruit tray she had brought in front of them.

“Ah, thank you, Hanna.”

Lillieta turned to look at her with a slight smile. Hanna felt her gloomy mood completely disappear upon seeing the smile of the young lady she had helped dress up.

‘What a feast for the eyes…’

Today’s young lady was elegant and beautiful like an angel of abundance in a flowing white, thin dress with golden wheat-shaped decorations as accents.

‘Our young lady is the best.’

Not only was her beauty the best, but she was also the best as a master.

Just forgiving and trusting her despite her mortal sin was enough to earn lifelong loyalty, but her young lady was merciful enough to bow her head to protect a mere maid.

Even now, she was just doing what she should naturally do, yet she smiled and thanked her.

‘She’s also incredibly cool when using guns…’

Hanna recalled the scenes of Lillieta using magic gunmanship with admiring eyes. Naturally, she also remembered the Duirebourg Noblewoman pestering to be taught magic gunmanship.

‘…I’d like to learn that magic gunmanship thing from the young lady too.’

She unconsciously had such a desire, then was shocked at her own presumption and tried hard to forget it. What kind of ambition is that for a maid. I should just serve the young lady better.

After Hanna, who had steeled her resolve, withdrew, Rita unconsciously sighed while eating grapes. Then Leonhardt, who was beside her, smiled slightly.

“Are you bored?”

“A little. Is this what boat trips are usually like?”

“Generally like this, since there’s nothing much to do besides riding the boat and enjoying the scenery.”

“So that’s why brother Richard skipped it.”

Richard didn’t attend the boat trip, saying he would focus on training.

The Raskail Count and Countess were supposed to attend, but the Countess fell ill from overexerting her weakened body preparing for Lillieta’s debutante ball, so they both didn’t attend. It was a decision made without burden since Duke Leonhardt was already capable of skillfully representing the Duke.

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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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