“Why did you do that?”
“If you are simply wishing to greet my father out of a good heart, please choose another time. This move is too risky.”
“It’s dangerous…”
“This may cause unnecessary friction in the future that you don’t have to deal with.”
Actually going against Claude’s move might not be a big problem.
No matter how cruel Claude was, Lilian was still 19 years old, and a subordinate.
That doesn’t mean that the Emperor has mercy. It means that if they do this, he will lose face as an Emperor.
Claude was someone who hated the loss of his dignity as emperor the most.
But Rachel was different. Rachel was, ironically, a ‘mistress’, so she was allowed a certain amount of indulgences.
Rachel, with her grip on the social scene, was bound to bump into Lily at many events, women’s parties, and luncheons, even if she didn’t want to.
If she put her mind to it, she could bully Lilian as much as she wanted, and she wouldn’t be criticized for doing so.
All they would do was click their tongues saying, “His Majesty’s mistress really can’t help it, we can’t stop her.”
“As you know, being hard isn’t the right move. Of course, I appreciate your desire to pay homage to the late Emperor. But…”
In a fit of emotion, Matteo almost said it was because he was thinking of her.
It wasn’t strange. As a nephew, he could care about his aunt. He would have confidently said he was worried if he didn’t have ill intentions in his heart.
But he had a selfishness that should never be revealed.
Fortunately, Lilian didn’t question the boy’s sudden silence. She just shrugged and calmly began to explain.
“I’m sorry, but Your Highness, from my point of view, even if it’s not particularly harsh, it’s meant to be affectionate.”
“No…”
“Then wouldn’t it be less unfair to hit first and then get hit? At least I think so.”
It was true, so there was nothing to refute. The boy finally grumbled with a sullen face.
“You might regret it.”
“Maybe.”
Even though there’s not even a few years of age difference, Lily, who is already an adult, calmly affirmed.
“You might end up complaining that you shouldn’t have listened to me and stopped me when I put His Highness in front of me.”
“You might regret it, so why would you do that?”
“Because this is the right thing to do.”
Lilian gave a conclusive answer and smiled.
“Because it’s better to do the right thing and regret it than regret not doing the right thing.”
At that moment, Matteo remembered the former Elector of Turin, whom he had seen occasionally in his childhood.
He was a tall man with sharp thin eyes. While other people were fond of the young prince and sometimes behaved somewhat rudely, the man always said “Your Highness the Crown Prince” and was polite throughout.
That person probably died thinking the same thing as Lily now.
“Really.”
The boy with his arms crossed narrowed his neat forehead and sighed.
“Her Highness is truly an undeniable Turinian.”
“I’m glad you said that. Oh, by the way, did you hear that you have to be my partner at the opening ceremony?”
“Pardon?”
The boy who had been sighing hardened like ice.
‘What did she say…’
He thought he heard the nonsense word partner…?
“Oh my, I guess you haven’t heard yet.”
“This is the first time. Why…”
Matteo was so flustered that he couldn’t speak properly. Lilian kindly explained.
“His Highness, on the opening day, was assigned to guard the west side of the imperial palace, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
As soon as he heard that, Matteo honestly thought Claude was crazy. If so, he would rather drop a gold coin on the sidewalk and hope to get it back the next day at the same spot than leave Damian to guard it.
Of course, Claude also had his own reasons. When Damian became infamous as a monster in the imperial palace, he had already left the palace as a grown-up prince and became independent. All he knew about Damian was rumors he had heard from afar.
In fact, when he heard the word ‘monster’, what Emperor Claude thought of was a hideous appearance, not a strong weapon.
Claude had no experience of war, as his military service also lasted for about two years safely and comfortably in the Metropolitan Guard. So he didn’t have a good sense of Damian’s strength.
He didn’t look special except for his smooth face and handsome appearance, but he always made achievements, probably because he had good subordinates under his command.
Up until now, Claude believed that the good-natured Idoel favored Damian. It never occurred to him in his dreams that Idoel’s trustworthy request, ‘Don’t quarrel between brothers’, and that Damian’s unenthusiastic and carefree personality had saved his life until today.
Anyway, for one reason or another, Claude had Damian take over the position in charge of guarding the west side of the imperial palace to make him absent from the opening ceremony. Believing that it would be safe since all the working staff were filled with the Imperial Palace Knights.
“In fact, the reason we set our first official schedule as the visit to Elehan was partly because we couldn’t attend as a couple on the opening day.”
“Uh, that’s right, but…”
Debuting as a Grand Duchess, but without a Grand Duke next to her, her appearance would become quite strange.
“Apart from His Highness the Grand Duke, I thought that the only person who could be my partner was His Highness the Crown Prince.”
“But…”
Matteo blushed. Why did she think he was suitable? Did he reveal his hidden heart? So far, the only thing he’d shown her was borrowing a few books Lilian was looking at in the library after a while…
‘…no, let’s calm down.’
If she had found out his feelings, she would rather have avoided Matteo and would not be as kind as if treating a younger brother like this.
Yes, that’s right. This is clearly a treatment for a younger brother.
He felt sad and embarrassed. An unexpected sound came out of nowhere.
“Then, besides me, wouldn’t it be possible for Her Highness the Grand Duchess’ brother, the Elector of Turin?”
“Yes, it won’t be impossible as you said, but this time I thought it’d be necessary to show myself as a member of the royal family and as a supporter of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Lilian smiled slightly awkwardly.
“But if Your Highness is troubled, I won’t force it. I’ll find someone to ask. Even if it’s my older brother or the older brothers of my sorority classmates…”
“…there’s no need.”
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to…no. I didn’t ask because I was reluctant.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
Yes, from Lilian’s point of view, it was natural for him to look like a younger brother.
One year in your teens is big. He and Lilian had a difference of four years, not a year or two.
It was natural to see him as cute and not to consider him something to be wary of.
Even if he was mad, Lilian was innocent.
“It’s an honor to attend as your partner. I will do my best not to cause any inconvenience.”
“That’s what I have to say. As you know, it’s my first time participating in such an event. It will be of great help.”
“As much as you like.”
Matteo, who responded kindly, left with a thin smile on his handsome face, saying “Then I will leave first” and as soon as he went back to his room with his usual gait…
Shiver.
‘A partner.’
Like a doll with its thread cut, he leaned against the closed door, slipped down and collapsed.
Matteo buried his flushed face and silent scream in his palms.
At that time, Lilian.
“I’m a little sorry for His Highness but I think this is for the best.”
“Yes, what…”
Rita thought, recalling the delicate and melancholy expression of the sensitive boy. He was taken aback at the request of being a partner, but then subtly trembled at Lily’s insistence armed with rationality…
“Looks like he’s hurt.”
After thinking for a moment, Rita shook her head. Well, he’ll figure it out.
It was a pity that he chose Lilian as his first crush. Perhaps he would have been greatly offended if Matteo knew that Rita was thinking this way, saying that he didn’t choose to be, but it was force majeure.
In any case, Rita took a moment of silence for the Crown Prince, who will go through hardships in the future.
***
A few days later, the day to visit Elehan Church dawned.
“Oh my God, Your Ladyship…”
When Lily, who had finished dressing up stood up, Mrs. Maureen exclaimed.
“Not to that extent.”
Lily shyly averted her gaze from the mirror.
“No way!”
Mrs. Maureen eagerly followed and continued to fix her clothes until the very end. Lilian waved her hand so that she could stop and walked out of the room.
Damian was waiting for her on the railing next to the landing.
“…I’m sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, Your Highness.”
“…”
The fingers that had been meaninglessly rolling over the railing abruptly stopped. Damian looked at her in silence for a moment.
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