The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 73

“…That’s how it happened.”

 

Grace confided her worries to her Armento friends.

 

“You’re designing something, but you don’t know what to draw?”

 

“Yes, that’s right. I wanted to watch the training and think about how to express it. But I can’t visit the training ground.”

 

The training ground was in an awkward location, and she didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention by going there. If she showed herself, word would reach Frederick, and she didn’t want to embarrass him.

 

“There are actually other places where you can watch the knights train.”

 

“Really? Where is that?”

 

Grace’s eyes lit up at the good news.

 

“There’s a spacious area deep within the palace. The knights often go there to spar.”

 

“Ahh.”

 

“It wasn’t originally built for training, but not many people pass by there, so they started using it. Is that enough for you?”

 

“Yes, that’s more than enough. But where is it exactly?”

 

Grace showed great interest.

 

“I’ll take you there myself later. But Seri… what about you?”

 

“I’ll go too.”

 

“Are you sure? This is kind of a personal errand for me…”

 

“Well, I don’t have anything else to do. And we’re close, aren’t we? Of course I’d go with you.”

 

“We’re close…” Grace repeated silently.

 

Seri had no reason to come along, yet she offered to go—entirely for Grace’s sake.

 

‘So this… is what a friend is.’

 

She remembered telling Frederick that she wanted to have a friend. That was why she had envied the bond between Rubens and Frederick. Doing something for someone, even when it wasn’t necessary—Grace had never had anyone like that in her life.

 

“Do you already have an idea in mind?”

 

“You can’t embroider something too fancy on a handkerchief, since it’s all needlework… so I was thinking of expressing movement in a simple way.”

 

“That sounds really cool.”

 

“Wow, when it’s finished, show us too!”

 

Aris jumped with excitement, and Seri smiled softly. Grace’s heart swelled with emotion.

 

Asking detailed questions about something unrelated to themselves, showing interest through their curiosity, and even genuinely enjoying it like it was their own matter—this is what it meant to be close.

 

‘I… can have that too.’

 

Grace smiled with them. She couldn’t wait to tell Frederick that she had made some friends.

 

 

Meanwhile…

 

“You summoned me, Your Highness?”

 

“There’s something I wanted to ask you. Please, have a seat.”

 

Duke Reinheim entered the drawing room nervously. Prince Vladimir gestured for him to take the seat across from him.

 

As soon as the duke sat down, Vladimir signaled to a maid beside him. She placed a teacup in front of each of them and poured tea.

 

“Have some. It’s a chilly day.”

 

“Thank you very much.”

 

The duke lifted his teacup, still unsure why this cunning prince had called him here.

 

“I’m talking about the Duchess of Winstaine—your daughter.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I heard she couldn’t attend social events due to illness. Is that true? She doesn’t look unwell to me now.”

 

It was about Grace. This topic had come up often after her return. Everyone had been curious why she had never been introduced before.

 

“Yes, the air in the north is very clean… and she got better with age. But by the time she recovered, it was nearly time for her wedding, so we sent her off quietly.”

 

The duke gave the prepared answer. Still, he was uneasy. He didn’t know why the prince was suddenly asking about this.

 

“When I saw the Duchess of Winstaine, I realized I’d never seen that face before. Strange, isn’t it, for someone to be sick for so long?”

 

“…”

 

“And I heard she’s never visited her family since coming to the capital. Even at the ball, she didn’t seem to speak to her siblings.”

 

A flash of discomfort crossed the duke’s face.

 

“She’s a rather independent girl… the family has been feeling a little hurt by it. We were actually planning to invite her to visit soon.”

 

“I tend to be a curious person, so I looked into it a bit.”

 

A crooked smile played on Vladimir’s lips.

 

“And I discovered something quite interesting.”

 

A sense of dread slowly crept over the duke.

 

“Apparently, your children were rather… rough in nature.”

 

“What do you mean by rough…?”

 

“When friends visited your home, they bullied their youngest sister, didn’t they? Playing mean tricks on her in front of others and such.”

 

The duke was speechless. He had known his children had mistreated Grace, but he hadn’t seen the need to intervene. He never imagined it would come back to haunt him like this.

 

“Made her bark like a dog, crawl on all fours… embarrassed her in front of guests just for fun.”

 

“…”

 

“A sickly daughter, and yet you raised her harshly?”

 

“Well…”

 

Even in a world with no secrets, the duke hadn’t expected the prince to know this much. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

 

When Grace married into the Winstaine family, he had strictly warned everyone in the house—and even threatened visiting nobles—to keep her background a secret. It had been treated with utmost secrecy.

 

“Won’t you tell me why? I’m terribly curious.”

 

He already knows.

 

The duke realized there was no way out.

 

Vladimir was infamous for his persistence. Once he fixated on something, he would dig and dig until he found the answer.

 

That left only one choice.

 

“She’s… an illegitimate child.”

 

“An illegitimate child.”

 

Vladimir’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Wasn’t her marriage arranged by the emperor himself?”

 

“Yes… yes, that’s right.”

 

“And yet you sent an illegitimate daughter as the bride?”

 

“Well, that is…”

 

The duke faltered, unable to give a proper answer. All he could think was that he was ruined.

 

“If the emperor found out, he’d be furious, don’t you think?”

 

The duke’s face twisted into a grimace.

 

Just as the prince said, the emperor would be livid if he learned the truth—even if he was sick and nearing the end.

 

“Please forgive me…”

 

He bowed his head and spoke in a subdued voice.

 

“There’s no need to ask me for forgiveness.”

 

“Well, Your Highness… you are the future of the royal family. I regret causing concern through my mistakes.”

 

At that, Vladimir tilted his head slightly.

 

“Isn’t the future of the royal family my brother?”

 

“I believe Your Highness is much more suited for the role.”

 

The duke switched gears immediately.

 

“Oh?”

 

Vladimir’s face showed a flicker of amusement. He began to think this duke might be a useful ally.

 

“There’s actually a lot I want to do.”

 

“Given Your Highness’s abilities, that’s only natural.”

 

“You certainly know how to flatter.”

 

Vladimir grinned.

 

“But to do all that, I’ll need a lot of support… what do you think?”

 

“If needed, I’ll give my full support within my power.”

 

The duke replied quickly. Earning the emperor’s wrath and being cast out by high society was far worse than pledging allegiance to this prince.

 

“So I can count on your help whenever I need it?”

 

“Whether you need it or not, I’ll always be ready to serve Your Highness.”

 

“Haha, you’re quite entertaining, aren’t you?”

 

Vladimir laughed heartily.

 

“I’m planning to change the fate of this empire. And for that, I’ll need the support of high-ranking nobles like yourself.”

 

So the rumors were true. A cold sweat ran down the duke’s back. This wasn’t a joke.

 

Vladimir was plotting rebellion—and wanted him as an ally.

 

“Of course, I don’t expect your help for free. If I succeed, you’ll be rewarded handsomely. But it does mean turning your back on your son-in-law. Is that alright?”

 

“I never really considered him family anyway.”

 

But really, the duke had no choice. He gave his answer, and Vladimir smiled.

 

“As expected—you’re a wise man.”