Translator: Wawaa
Editor: WilsonWilson
“Welcome!”
Lara hugged Princess Sonnet who came running into her arms. Then, she whispered faintly into the Princess’ ear.
“The Prince is here?”
“He suddenly came in uninvited.”
Sonnet also whispered in Lara’s ear. Their whispers were not heard by anyone but each other. They exchanged glances for a moment and approached the banquet table.
“Greetings to the Prince”
“Welcome. I wonder if I’m interrupting my sister and your fun time.”
“You are not, Your Highness.”
If she could do as she pleased, she would yell to the Prince that if he already knew he was interrupting, he should just get out of their way. But Lara just calmly sat in the chair that the attendant took out. The banquet table that was supposed to be peaceful had become so cold. Prince Sidhar naturally spoke to Lara and expressed his affection several times, but Lara only answered in a short answer type.
A harsh wind blew on the table. The quick-witted ladies-in-waiting quickly exchanged glances. Their glances brought the meaning that they should feed the guests quickly to reduce the awkwardness. They rushed to the kitchen, nagged at the chef, and began to bring out the meals.
“The hotel food is delicious but Sonnet’s chef is also pretty good. Enjoy your meal.”
“Yes.”
The atmosphere was prickly. It seemed like a creaking sound was about to come out of the air. The faces of the ladies-in-waiting who carried the meals were filled with awkward smiles, it was comparable to wearing masks.
“Hmm, Lara.”
“Yes, Princess. Go ahead.”
Lara’s tone was softened only when she answered Sonnet.
“Do you think I’m the saintess too? No matter how hard I think about it, I don’t think it’s me. I have never heard of God’s word or something like that… What do you think?”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t think you’re the saintess.”
“Uh… Why? Everyone thinks I might be the saintess. Not long ago, even father, I mean, His Majesty, the King was also showing a little bit of suspicion toward me.”
Sonnet asked quizzically. As he, too, was curious, Prince Sidhar also stopped moving his knife and looked at Lara’s face.
“I…”
A saintess was God’s vicegerent, so she should either have a noticeable miracle, be able to use God’s power, or hear God’s voice. She could have said that. Just like Isadora did to Lara. But Lara made eye contact with Sonnet and said with a haughty look and a deep smile.
“I believe in you.”
“Pardon?
“You said you are not a saintess, so I will think so, too.”
“Hmm, Lara.”
“Because the Princess is not a bad enough person to deceive other people by holding their beliefs hostage.”
Lara’s tone was calm, but Sonnet’s face quickly turned red. The young princess blinked her big eyes and did not know what to do. Then, she thanked Lara for believing her in a really slow voice.
After that, the ordinary meal kept going. The meal was great, and Lara was able to remain calm enough not to have an upset stomach despite Prince Sidhar being before her eyes.
“Should I bring out the dessert?”
A lady-in-waiting naturally approached and talked to them. She was the lady-in-waiting that attended to Princess Sonnet. She had black hair, a round face, and a soft tone. Lara did not intend to have dessert with Prince Sidhar, so she was about to say that she would not have dessert due to her already being full. But the lady-in-waiting’s face was so familiar.
“I’d like a cold one, please.”
“Yes, Lara.”
So, Prince Sidhar’s follower was with Princess Sonnet.
Lara naturally turned away from the maid and looked at Sonnet.
The Princess seemed to know nothing. The lady-in-waiting who was attending to her with a friendly face was the follower of the Prince who had been watching Lara in her past life. Her every move was reported to the Prince by that lady-in-waiting. She even checked all the letters that Isadora had sent first before handing them over to Lara. Lara remembered the lady-in-waiting’s face again.
“Lara, let’s go to my room after eating dessert.”
“Yes, Princess.”
Prince Sidhar watched them talk with a peaceful look.
“Lara.”
Then, suddenly, he interrupted them and spoke straight to Lara.
“Shall we take a walk? I have something to talk about. It won’t take long.”
What would happen if I rejected the Prince’s offer here as well?
This was the royal palace and Lara was a guest. If he gave an order, she could not decline him. If she caused trouble, it would also bother Princess Sonnet.
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After signaling to Princess Sonnet—who was anxious—that she was okay, Lara accepted the Prince’s suggestion.
“Let’s take a walk.”
She did not even remember what the dessert tasted like. It was not because Lara was nervous, but it was because Sonnet was anxious.
“Princess.”
“Lara…”
“My maid really likes you. She must have been happy to see you even from afar today.”
“Pardon?”
“She said she wrote a letter for you. Why don’t you hand the letter over to your ladies-in-waiting and ask them to read it for you?”
Sonnet understood what Lara was saying. She meant that she would be back within the average time to read a letter if the Princess stayed in her room with Konny.
“Okay.”
The ladies-in-waiting took Sonnet inside. Konny was following suit with a face that looked like she was about to faint.
“Then, shall we? It’s better to leave your escort behind. Royal conversations are precious and cannot be told to anyone.”
Prince Sidhar put down his napkin and got up first. Lara gave a look at Demian, asking him to stay there. Then, she got up.
“Shall we?”
The Prince naturally approached Lara and held out one hand. It was a gesture that looked friendly. All his movements were smooth, as it showed that this was what a gentlemen’s escort was. But Lara did not take his hand. She rolled her eyes and glanced at him, then she turned around with a look of disinterest.
“It’s fine.”
Lara moved at a speed that was neither too fast nor too slow and got into a moderate distance with the Prince. Then, she looked at him, giving him a glance that was asking him why he was still not moving.
“You’re such a fascinating woman.”
“I know you have heard a lot of rumors about me.”
“Really? What rumors?”
“Do I have to say it myself?”
Lara smirked. Of course, the Prince just ignored Lara’s glance.
Prince Sidhar walked fast until he moved far away enough from the banquet hall. After some distance, he walked slowly.
“Bailey lottery.”
Prince Sidhar said.
“That’s what people are calling you.”
“I know.”
“Some people said that once they manage to capture Thousand Gold Isadora’s heart, they can hold the wealth that she has accumulated over the years in one hand. They also said worthy assets are much better than the title of nobility in name only.”
“That’s too bad. My mother is not such a pushover.”
“That’s also what I thought.”
The Prince stopped walking. Then, he turned halfway toward Lara and looked at her with serpentine eyes and a calm face.
“If only your mother had not kept sending huge donations here and there in Sonnet’s name.”
“Pardon?”
“The orphanage, academy, hospital, and even the slums… Your mother’s money was used to raise Sonnet’s name. They all said in unison; ‘As expected of the angelic Princess, Sonnet is the only one who loves the poor and the sick.’”
“Where she spends her money has nothing to do with me.”
“Really?”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I’m just worried because your mother’s money is being used politically. Do you understand what I mean?”
The Prince asked. His way of treating Lara as if she was a bimbo who could not understand anything was the same as ever. If she blinked and tilted her head as if she knew nothing, the Prince would come to despise her.
But she did not want to. With a sharp smile on her lips, Lara defiantly met his eye contact.
“Is my mother’s money that great?”
“Yeah. So great that people are saying her money could change the heir to the throne.”
The Prince started walking again and came close to Lara. At that moment, his shirt grazed Lara’s exposed forearm. She got goosebumps all over her. It was all too much and that she felt like a snake was creeping on her. Lara breathed in quickly and slowly exhaled.
This was an observation. The Prince was a person who enjoyed twisting people around his finger by using the distance between people and the distance between words. This was his habit. Sometimes he could even do it naturally without intending for it to happen.
The Prince leaned toward Lara. it was just a moderate distance where he could look friendly while still keeping his courtesy. The distance where their skin did not touch, but their clothes brushed against each other and their shadows overlapped. In the past, whenever the Prince did that, she did not know what to do because her heart beat fast and she felt butterflies in her stomach. But not anymore. Now, she felt as if a snake was strangling her.
