…?
A bold reply that came out unexpectedly from an innocent face with no hostility whatsoever. Matteo almost coughed.
The Emperor was still smiling sadly.
“It reminds me of the gift I sent you to thank you for saving my little brother. How is the Princess’ Tiara?”
The Princess Tiara is an object that revealed Claude I’s hostility toward Lilian.
Lilian smiled softly and nodded her head.
“It was a gift given to me on the day you approved the title of Imperatrix. It was a very meaningful and happy day because I received a present from two Majesties.”
To interpret it, your gift was just a side dish, so she didn’t feel very offended.
“If you like it, it won’t be long before I can see it above your head.”
“I cannot give a definite answer. Because I’m petty and narrow minded, I seldom put out precious things to the world.”
“…”
The emperor, who was silent for a moment, immediately let out a hearty laugh. It was a smile that seemed very pleasant to those who saw it, but Claude I’s hand on Matteo’s shoulder was subtly more forceful.
“Right, right! A person with a lot of talent! I want to chat more with my new family, so let’s find another opportunity next time.”
“Please distribute the yellow silver far and wide.”
Even the words to stop the conversation came and went very gracefully. Matteo looked at Lily in awe.
Matteo whispered in surprise.
“…you didn’t have to do this.”
Lily smiled a little with a docile face, as if she would go where the wind blows.
“Your Highness, Turinians sometimes don’t weigh the odds.”
At that moment, Matteo had a hunch that Lily would continue to use the word ‘Turinian’ as an excuse from now on.
She really is a troublesome person.
“Really…”
“?”
Next to Matteo, who slightly raised his eyes, Lily tilted her head with a puzzled face. She still looked innocent for a subject who had just driven out the Emperor a moment ago.
But…
“Dear Ladyship, if I’m not mistaken, your walking speed has increased.”
“You are not mistaken. I adapted already.”
“…since when?”
At Matteo’s question, Lilian just smiled with her kind face. Matteo felt it.
‘This is a big deal. I will fall in love with you more.’
What can he do? He had no choice but to burst into laughter with the feeling of wanting to cry.
***
After walking for a while, Lilian and Matteo soon ran into Solaria.
“Your Ladyship! Come this way.”
Solaria, a debutant this year, had her long, curly hair let down and her voluptous skirt of white muslin fluttered.
“Solaria.”
The two of them seemed to have a slightly different age than they actually did, since their appearance and how they were dressed were clearly different.
“I wanted to match the debutante dress with Her Highness as a set.”
Lilian smiled kindly at the cute complaint. Solaria’s face immediately turned bright.
“But the current outfit suits Her Ladyship much better than the normal debut dress!”
Maybe it’s because she paid a much higher price. Lilian swallowed her down to earth thoughts and laughed.
“Solaria, you should also say hello to His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Solaria’s expression immediately turned grim.
“The Lannister’s Solaria welcomes you, Crown Prince. Your Ladyship, come this way.”
Matteo was embarrassed by the insincere greeting. Did he do anything wrong?
Solaria just hated the partner of Her Ladyship whom she liked so much. That simple and clear way of thinking could not even be guessed by the smart Matteo.
“Oh my, Your Ladyship!”
“You’re here! I was waiting for you.”
“I meet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
There were, of course, her classmates from the <May Lily Sorority> as well as young ladies of her age. All the girls instinctively greeted Lilian first and then greeted Matteo out of pity.
Matteo realized that these sorority girls really liked Lilian.
While the young ladies rushed in to ask how Lilian was doing, the slightly alienated male partners also chatted with each other.
“So that’s the rumored Grand Duchess.”
“Have you heard, Sir Michelo? Our lady also put in an enormous amount of effort to meet Her Highness today.”
Lilian, who had grown tall and dressed as a Grand Duchess, is surrounded by more bright and lightly dressed girls. It was like a mother bird and baby birds.
When the girls take turns talking to each other, Lilian responds one by one, and for some reason…
“Doesn’t it look like a friendly mother bird sharing food equally?”
“Just looking at it somehow makes my heart feel peaceful.”
“It’s a nice sight…”
The girls surrounding Lilian were so excited that the men laughed and started talking among themselves.
Naturally, they split into two groups according to gender.
“This is your first time going to a ball, right?”
“I heard that this is your first time!”
“Did you dance already?”
Lilian calmly replied that it was her first time and that she hadn’t danced yet.
“Everyone, Her Highness will be bothered.”
Some came out to dissuade the debutantes who were excited. Lily’s classmates had more people who had already debuted, so they were relatively calmer and less excited.
‘As expected, Her Highness’ classmates are different.’
The debutantes looked at their seniors with longing eyes and took a step back.
It was then.
“I meet Her Highness, the Grand Duchess.”
A bright red skirt, black onyx and a golden necklace.
She was a beautiful woman who wore the opposite colorful colors to the extent that people who didn’t know would think that she was determined to contrast with Lilian. The woman had a group of girls behind her in similar but less fancy dresses.
Compared to the “May Lily Sorority” which had just arrived, everyone in Rachel’s party had a drink in their hand, probably enjoying the party from the beginning.
Rachel passed her own drink to her maid and politely greeted her.
“This is the first time I’m greeting Your Highness. My name is Rachel Wood.”
“Nice to meet you, Madam Wood.”
“Oh no, please call me Rachel.”
Illasia quickly caught Solaria, who was angry at her light tone mixed with fawning, and stopped her.
Rachel smiled as she opened her fan.
“Are you enjoying the ball? I put a lot of effort into it thinking it would be the debut ball of Her Highness.”
“I’m already married, so I can’t get anymore attention. The Madam’s sincerity will be recognized by many ladies.”
“You are humble.”
Rachel’s gaze reached Solaria, who was on guard.
“I just came to say my greetings today, but the baby bird is very alert.”
Rachel bowed, slightly bending her knees.
“I’ll go back. I hope you have a good time.”
Rachel withdrew with her group. But they all didn’t leave.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
There were thorns in her tone.
“Lady Marianne, long time no see.”
“Yes, it’s been a really long time. It’s thanks to Her Highness.”
Apparently, Lady Marianne, who seemed to be still awake, wanted to say something strange, so Illasia tried to step out. Then Lilian gently raised her hand to block her.
“Yes, thanks to Lady Marianne, I’ve been doing very well.”
Her classmates who knew the meaning of the words were silent all at once. Illasia thought there was no need to step forward and quietly stepped back.
At Lily’s calm and confident demeanor, Marianne began biting her lip.
This isn’t it. How can she be so confident? If she made a mistake, they’ll find out that she tried to socially annihilate a person becaue of a minor mistake!
“Your Highness is indeed…very confident.”
“Is there anything in our conversation that I wouldn’t be confident about?”
Lilian tilted her head and smiled.
“I was just asking for your regards.”
Marianne’s patience, which wasn’t very long, ended at that point.
With the sound of gritted teeth, the glass in Marianne’s hand flew through the air. Everyone was astonished at the crazy act of throwing her glass, not just the senseless splashing of her drink.
Matteo, who was late to understand the situation because he was among the gentlemen in the back, had just run, but it seemed that it’s already too late.
Lilian closed her eyes as she watched the glass fly towards her.
She was about to ruin her Kiyomun moon dress, which Madame Annege had worked hard on. It was decorated by Mrs. Maureen and Rita and the other ladies in waiting. She didn’t have a face to make everyone upset when she went back after being in a bad situation.
Besides, the bruises don’t go away these days, so if she get hit in the face, it’s going to be a big deal.
However, with Lilian’s current state, trying to avoid it could lead to a bigger accident.
Quickly thinking about this and that, she waited for the pain…
Puck, there was a dull sound. Then, with a clang, the glass shattered into pieces.
But there was no pain as Lily expected.
“…?”
When she quietly opened her eyes, someone was standing in front of Lily.
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