Lilian of Turin

Looking at Lilian’s eyes, which didn’t waver after the first outburst, Cedric felt it.

‘I can’t break it.’

Cedric’s lips trembled. Confusion and fear distorted the beautiful face of the young Lord.

The desperation that had been covered with a shell of anger finally spilled out into words.

“I cannot lose you.”

“So you have to let me go.”

Lilian smiled softly, but was firm.

“Brother knows that too. I need to be periodically supplied with mana to be able to continue even this meager life.”

“But now even my older brother can’t help me and he’s the only one who can. What will I do if we don’t get married?”

Cedric stubbornly shook his head.

“Shaw is a doctor who understands the mechanics of mana better than annyone else. He will be able to find a solution.”

“No, he can’t.”

Even if he tried to force it like a child, the only thing that came back was a consistently kind and firm conclusion.

Cedric groaned and buried his face in his hands.

Lilian patted her poor brother.

“I will do my best since this is how things turned out.”

“I will become a Grand Duchess that people can look up to and give birth to a future Grand Duke and keep doing my best until he gives me a grandchild.”

Cedric looked at Lilian with resentment. Lilian asked with an apologetic smile.

“Can I not?”

“I don’t think even our deceased father can break your will now.”

“Blue comes from indigo after all.”

“If you die, I will not forgive this world.”

Two pairs of blue eyes looked at each other.

“…I will live well.”

At this moment, this was all Lily could say in the end.

Just like so many brides in the world did, that was all.

The Grand Reconciliation.

An event to instill a sense of belonging and loyalty to the Empire from the castle lords who lead private soldiers and reign like kings in their respective provinces.

Military, security, commerce, agriculture, law, policies, tax and even relief. The rulers who came together shared opinions on a wide range of fields, sometimes invited scholars, consulted, contracted, and made secret pacts.

The forefront of political battles for rulers to gain information and profit by showing off their wealth and power.

Seven was a perfect number and was a sacred number. Therefore, this reconciliation was planned to be held with great splendor, especially in commemmoration of the seventh year of King Claude I’s ascension to the throne.

Cedric, Lily, Damian, and Matteo were all eligible to attend.

‘I should be hoping that a war will not break out.’

Prince Matteo thought cynically.

Indeed. He could only hope. His father died and he was deprived of his title.

His mother became his uncle’s wife. In the whole process, the boy was completely helpless.

Being robbed. Nothing could stop it. He couldn’t even predict it.

He was originally born as the Crown Prince of a benevolent and fair Emperor.

He was his eldest son, and because his mother, the Empress, was weak, she barely got one and gave birth early, so he was also her only son.

Matteo was the Crown Prince from the moment he was born, and he was an innocent boy whose only goal was to become a person fit enough to succeed his father.

The whole Empire praised the precious only son. Even small achievements were followed by praise for being intelligent and talented.

“He didn’t grow up like the poisonous maverick”. There were times he was praised like that.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the good times when he could receive praise just by keeping the minimum courtesy were over. The boy who was upright learned cynicism under Damian’s care.

He had become a person who knows how to laugh at the memory of his naive childhood who said, “I will become a good emperor”.

‘How could I be so sure that I would become the Emperor?’

Since he’s born as the son of an Emperor, he’ll naturally become the Emperor?

It was a funny illusion. He was just an annoying, helpless child who had no value without his Emperor father.

During puberty, everyone learns a little painfully that they’re not the center of the world. Matteo spent seven years learning that more painfully than others.

He wanted to drop everything, but he couldn’t.

[Even if you can’t tell the difference between heaven and earth, there’s a degree! Is this country so ruined? For the prince to take his own life?]

Although he began to rebel in the middle, he had a great-grandfather.

Since he had gone through a terrible thing, it wouldn’t be strange to be pitied, but the Great Feudal Lord didn’t show mercy and let down fire.

Of course, the thick-headed Crown prince didn’t stand still.

[My father died, so how can I be the Crown Prince!]

[Hey, you bastard worse than Claude Rupenwein!]

[Take that back…]

[No, I won’t. You stupid bastard!]

Anger was emanating from the Great Feudal Lord’s eyes. The boy involuntarily choked and shut his mouth.

[Even that idiot who doesn’t know humanity, righteousness and wisdom, didn’t kill more than a thousand lives. But you bastard talk bullshit about dragging all the lives of tens of thousands of people depending on you and being your limbs just to make it easier for you? Looks like there’s something wrong with your head!]

Even though the boy was pale, the old man’s anger didn’t subside.

[If you’re born into a noble lineage and lived a happy life, you should think about paying the price…]

The stick thumped and hit the floor.

[If you really want to die, become the Emperor, choose a successor and die.]

Now that his heartless great-grandfather had passed away, Matteo wanted more than ever to be alone.

Despite advances in printing technology, books remained a luxury item.

In particular, in the library of Turin Castle, the number of people who could enter was strictly restricted because books with jewels or illustrations with gold powder were casually circulated.

‘If it’s here…I can rest for a while.’

But there’s already an occupant.

The hem of the white dress was spread out randomly on the floor. There were several seemingly valuable books lying around.

It was a small empty space between the bookshelves and under the window sill. It was an isolated space that could only be discovered by avoiding people.

Lilian was sitting there with a blanket spread out randomly.

‘Not like a weak girl who needs to be taken care of…’

Seeing that there’s only a single lamp by his feet, which seemed to be more about warmth than light, Matteo seemed to know what the situation was.

“You’ve been hiding.”

“As you can see, yes.”

Lilian recommended with a gentle smile, as if it wasn’t awkward.

“Would you like to sit down?”

Apparently, she also recognized that Matteo was a kindred spirit.

“…I won’t hold back.”

Since he found Lilian alone, he couldn’t leave her. Matteo was a boy who learned manners to the bone.

‘In any case, I heard that her body is quite weak…’

Can she just lay on a thin blanket like that?

The moment he thought that, Lily coughed slightly. Matteo realized.

‘That’s not good.’

“I will take you to your room.”

Lilian just quietly smiled.

Matteo read the silent rejection of that smile.

He didn’t have the energy to persuade anyone who didn’t like it. Matteo sighed and took his coat off then wrapped them around Lily.

Lilian, accustomed to being cared for, didn’t refuse or make a fuss, she just naturally accepted Matteo’s consideration.

“Thank you.”

It was a good thing for Matteo, who repeatedly couldn’t be kind according to manners.

“During this Grand Reconciliation, I heard you’re planning to debut.”

“Yes, I plan to.”

Lilian calmly affirmed.

“I decided to turn this into an opportunity. Almost everyone my age in the Sorority has debuted, so I’m kind of late.”

“You must be busy, can you hide like this?”

Debut was the second most important thing in a woman’s life after marriage. Even if Matteo didn’t know, it was clear that she had a lot of work to do.

Regardless, Lilian was carefree.

“Well…, I shouldn’t be, so that’s why I’m hiding.”

She shrugged and broadly smiled. Matteo was momentarily dumbfounded. He immediately burst out laughing.

“Ha, haha. You’re incredible.”

Maybe it’s because there haven’t been enough opportunities to laugh recently. It was hard to stop laughing even though he knew it would be rude to continue laughing.

Fortunately, Lilian didn’t seem offended.

Matteo stared blankly at Lilian for a while before asking abruptly.

“Can I hide with you?”

“I’m sorry, but didn’t you already become my accomplice?”

At the questioning tone, another laugh broke out.