It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 113
If Lionel says it, then it must be so.
His gaze and smile tempted me irresistibly into thinking just that.
All the anxiety and fear I had felt because of Axion disappeared in an instant, leaving only Lionel Luanax, filling my entire being.
Seeing how quiet the Imperial Family had suddenly become after shamelessly steering the conversation until now, Lionel’s words and actions clearly had an enormous impact.
After a prolonged silence, it was Axion, who had been quietly observing the situation, who finally spoke.
“I believe it hasn’t even been a week since Lady Dilottete applied for secularization at the temple.”
Though it was something that could potentially damage my honor, Lionel replied nonchalantly without hesitation.
“Being blinded by love can cause such things. I’m not particularly sensitive to reputation anyway.”
…Now that I think of it, he wasn’t wrong.
This was a man who wouldn’t hesitate to provoke territorial disputes or invade foreign borders over minor offenses; there was no way he’d care about the rumor that he’d impregnated and was marrying a former priestess.
Had I been officially ordained by the temple, the matter wouldn’t have been so easily overlooked, but since I’d merely stayed at the monastery and served as a healing priestess due to the divine power that happened to dwell within me, my case was different.
Even if the temple heard of this, they had no grounds to protest, especially since I’d already completed the secularization process.
“Given this situation, we are rushing the wedding preparations. Fortunately, His Majesty seems pleased with my fiancée, so additional approval shouldn’t be necessary, should it?”
If they had openly opposed the engagement from the start, things might’ve been different, but after all their false gestures of concern, they couldn’t backtrack now.
Their original plan was likely to bring me in as a handmaid to the Princess, only to crush me or quietly dispose of me by orchestrating an incident later.
Just then, the Youngest Princess, finally coming to her senses, stood up abruptly and shouted.
“This is absurd! How can someone of such humble origins be—!”
“Dana.”
A voice cold enough to freeze the air interrupted her, causing the princess to flinch and immediately fall silent. Her face, previously flushed red with anger, turned pale in an instant.
“I… I didn’t mean it like that….”
“It appears my sister is the one in need of etiquette lessons.”
Letting out a quiet sigh, Axion turned toward me.
“Allow me to apologize on her behalf. I’m sure she didn’t truly mean what she said, Lady Dilottete.”
His golden eyes fixed steadily upon mine.
But unlike before, I was no longer overwhelmed by the unsettling feeling of being devoured. It was thanks to the warmth of the large hand still gently wrapped around mine.
I smiled softly at Axion.
“There’s no need for Your Highness to apologize. Thanks to her, I now clearly understand the intentions behind appointing me as a handmaid.”
“That’s not—!”
The youngest princess urgently tried to explain herself, but I continued without pause.
“I’m sorry if I fell short of your expectations, but I do hope you’ll view me generously.”
Axion narrowed his eyes at me, but I deliberately turned away to meet the Emperor’s gaze instead.
At that moment, I noticed a tiny crack forming on the Emperor’s mask-like face, previously smiling warmly. The brief chill I felt must’ve been a glimpse into his true nature.
“Do not worry about it. It seems my unnecessary concern has made the young lady uncomfortable.”
“Your Majesty simply cares for Duke Luanax as though he were your own son.”
Axion smoothly supported the Emperor’s words.
‘Cares like his own son, my foot.’
Would Lionel have attempted assassinating the Emperor without good reason? He was merely returning what he had received.
The Youngest Princess, pale-faced and deeply embarrassed, excused herself hastily, leaving the rest of the conversation mainly between Lionel and the Emperor.
I didn’t know how it had been in Lionel’s past lives, but the current Lionel handled the Emperor’s moods with remarkable skill.
