WLTIS | CHAPTER 27

Chapter 27

“I don’t think so. Better than letting misunderstandings pile up…”

Harvich gently took Lincia’s hand and shook his head.

“You already know, don’t you, that what you think isn’t all that important?”

His voice was soft, but the words that followed were not sweet.

“Because you are royalty.

Naturally, they won’t be pleased to see us living harmoniously.

Didn’t you see how they were convinced you had committed adultery?”

Lincia bit her lip.

“If I grow close to you, some of the grand duke’s vassals will only attack you more.”

“…I understand.”

Before night fell, Lincia left the banquet hall.

Her shoes weren’t suited for the celebration, and she couldn’t stand in front of people with reddened eyes.

Harvich decided to stay in the hall.

The two protagonists of the celebration couldn’t both leave before sunset. Besides, since the Emperor hadn’t left yet, the host couldn’t leave either.

“…I’ll come as soon as I can.”

“No, it’s fine. Thank you.”

Anna, who had come to fetch Lincia, was horrified when she saw her red face.

“Wh–who did this to Her Highness!”

As Anna looked Lincia over, she glared fiercely at Harvich standing beside her.

Sensing Anna’s sharp gaze, Lincia hurried to defend him.

“Ah, my shoes didn’t fit…”

But Anna didn’t look convinced.

As they left the banquet hall and walked down the outer corridors, Anna finally let her anger out.

“Your Highness is too kindhearted. Men like that deserve a good—”

Though she didn’t finish, Lincia knew exactly who she meant.

“There was a misunderstanding.”

“Of course. The most common excuse men use. A misunderstanding, that’s not what I meant.”

Anna lowered her voice and imitated Harvich’s expressionless tone.

Lincia laughed when she saw her doing that.

“More than that, he’s just a man who makes good excuses.”

Anna, pleased to see Lincia laugh, suddenly clapped her hands as if she remembered something.

“Oh, right. Sir Tereo says he absolutely must see you. Isn’t he shameless?”

At her words, Lincia remembered the man she had used as a convenient excuse and then discarded.

Tereo had taken her hand without knowing Julius had invited her for a second dance.

If he had known, he never would have danced with me.

Given Julius’s nature, he wouldn’t have shown anger directly at her for breaking their promise. His anger would have turned toward Tereo instead.

“It’s fine. I scolded him myself.”

“You did, Your Highness?”

“Yes.”

Anna’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Then Sir Tereo must have committed quite a sin against you.”

Anna didn’t know exactly what had happened between Lincia and Tereo.

But it was well-known that Tereo, once only her escort knight, became commander after a private audience with Julius.

And it hadn’t escaped Anna’s notice that Lincia began avoiding him ever since.

So she must have guessed.

That Tereo had sold Lincia out to gain his rank.

“Anna. What would you think about going back to the palace?”

“…What?”

The first time she experienced Cassius Territory’s harsh cold, Lincia had caught a terrible fever and lay bedridden for days.

The fever wouldn’t break easily, and Harvich had worried for her.

Back then, their relationship was at least tolerable…

“Life here is not like in the palace. It’s hard to endure. I don’t even have power here…”

As if I ever had power.

Lincia mocked herself inwardly.

But Anna shook her head firmly.

“I’ll be fine.

I’m healthy—I’ve never even caught a cold.

And I want to be by your side.

If you’re only sending me back out of worry, then I refuse.”

Before long, they reached Lincia’s chambers.

“And you’re the one who saved me when I was cast aside. Please don’t abandon me.”

Seeing Anna plead, Lincia was struck speechless.

Selfishly, she didn’t dislike the thought of Anna staying with her in the north.

“…Alright.

But if it becomes too hard in the grand duke’s castle, you must return to the palace.”

“Yes! I’ll do well.”

Anna smiled shyly, looking lovely.

As soon as they entered the room, she helped Lincia change out of her gown.

She carefully removed her makeup, laid her down, and pressed ice against her swollen eyes.

“Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“I won’t leave. I’ll always be on your side.

And His Majesty is always on your side too, so don’t worry.

I don’t know why he sent you to such a remote land… but I think it’s because the capital is unstable, and he didn’t want to marry you off abroad.

That’s probably why he chose this.”

Though Anna spoke softly to reassure her, Lincia found the taste in her mouth bitter.

Anna’s affection for Julius was plain to see.

Since when did Anna start holding feelings for him?

When they were very young.

Lincia, Anna, and Julius had been close companions.

Lincia, as the third princess, had little chance of succession.

Julius, son of the Empress.

Anna, who had improbably become a lady-in-waiting from a lowly family.

The three of them fit together well, though each was different.

Among them, Lincia’s circumstances had been the best.

She had shown talent in painting from a young age, and the Emperor, fond of that, had given her father’s favor.

Though favor did not mean love or affection, it gave her the freedom to pursue whatever she wished.

“Juli! Look, I told you I’d really bring this.”

“…Sister. Don’t tell me you stole this from Father’s study? This is his handwriting.”

“Yep! For you, Juli!”

“…And you think committing a crime for my sake makes it okay?”

Now, those were faded memories.

Unlike Lincia, who had no interest in politics, Julius had been drawn to subjects like statecraft and economics.

Lincia had secretly brought him books and sometimes even passed on lessons she had overheard from her brother’s tutors.

At first, Julius had received them stiffly. But eventually, he began to seek her out himself.

If I had known that with what I taught him, Julius would dream of the throne and climb onto it to torment me like this…

“Sister, I’m only helping you now like you once helped me as a child. But you tried to run away from the palace?”

“…Really, you’re a cruel sister. Don’t you know the things I suffer to keep you alive?”

If she had known, she wouldn’t have treated him so kindly back then.

Though she was grateful he risked himself to save her, she could never shake the thought that he held her life hostage.

And naïve Anna still thought she was close with Julius.

If Anna ever displeased him even slightly, he would kill her without hesitation.

Back in the palace, Julius had tolerated and kept Anna nearby only because of their shared past—and, more importantly, because it was a way to tighten his hold on Lincia.

“If you won’t meet me, then I’ll have no choice but to seek out Anna.”

“Don’t forget.

Tomorrow, you’re coming with me to the exhibition.

If you’re late, I can’t wander alone.

I’ll just have to bring Anna instead.”