CH 51

After a while, Nell came out of the car. The first question came with a warm teacup in front of her.

“Come to think of it, I heard that His Highness the Grand Duke sent a gift? Everyone was surprised by the huge amount of flowers and jewels.”

At those words, she turns her gaze back to her. Their eyes were a mixture of doubt and fear.

“It was. I said there was no need to make it too grandiose, but why are you not listening to me?”

She sighed in embarrassment and emphasized that the Grand Duke was so good to her.

“No matter how many flowers he sent, I couldn’t handle them all, so I gave them all to my ladies-in-waiting. How much would it cost to get that many flowers this winter. Well, he’s not the kind of person who would care about that.”

Her fiancé loved her enough to rob the garden in the middle of winter, and he didn’t even care about the price of flowers because he had so much money to rot. That’s what it sounded like.

The table cooled awkwardly at her careless bragging. The noble ladies, who were wearing awkward smiles, gave formal admiration a beat late.

“…You get along really well. I am so envious.”

A confused feeling passed in the eyes of the wives. Well, the Grand Duke was suddenly so nice to her, so they wouldn’t believe it no matter how many times they hear it.

“But it’s so scary and embarrassing that something like this happens right before the wedding.”

She grabbed the teacup and changed the topic. As if waiting, someone asked a question.

“What happened inside the imperial palace?”

“Yes, that is…”

She explained in detail what had happened in the imperial palace to everyone. Of course, some adaptations were added in between. Overall, it was similar to what she said to the Empress and Arentine. The noble ladies seemed to have guessed the course of events to some extent, but as they listened to her story, they looked very surprised.

“Oh my God, that happened.”

She sighed while holding the teacup with both hands.

“Of course, there’s no way the Empress knew about it. Rather, I am worried because she seemed to have been very surprised by this incident. I hope the truth will come out soon.”

Everyone listened to her and just nodded their heads. She could see their eyes moving quietly across the table. It’s like Eve inviting the ladies first and explaining the situation. 

Just by pretending to be concerned about the Empress and pretending to be her good daughter, she could tell what was going on. The Empress’s plan to drug Eve was revealed in advance, and Eve dug a trap with her brother, the Crown Prince, to trap the Empress. They wondered how the stupid Eve came up with such a high-level thought, and how Eve and the prince, who had a bad relationship, came to cooperate, but that was a matter for later consideration.

“Come to think of it, they said that the 2nd Prince is coming back in a hurry.”

One of the ladies who had been silent muttered quietly.

“I guess it’s because of Her Majesty.”

She said it and exchanged meaningful glances with the other wives. Villos seemed to have started the trip before this happened, but she didn’t bother to correct it. She just picked up a cookie and ate it while watching speculations exchanged among the people gathered.

Knock, knock!

Then an urgent knock was heard.

“Princess, His Highness the Grand Duke…”

Before Nell could finish her words, Terrence appeared behind her.

“Princess.”

She stopped picking up the cookie and froze in a daze. Terence entered the doorway and was looking at her with a guilty expression. Purple eyes filled with sadness shook with shock. She hadn’t seen him for a long time, but she was sure it was the first time she had seen him since meeting him. At that moment, she wondered if something had happened, and her heart sank.

Not only her, but all the other wives who were watching were shocked. The wave of shock culminated when he stepped in front of her, took her hand, and placed his lips on her fingertips.

A woman unknowingly dropped her spoon. A silver teaspoon crashed into the bowl and landed on the table. At the end of that small dissonance, silence came over the chaotic table.

“The news is late because I was away from the island for a while.”

Whether the people around them were surprised or not, Terrence held her hand and looked at her with wavering eyes.

“For the princess to have an accident like this while I was away…”

Only then did she realize that she had an accident. That’s right, she was almost a victim of a strange drug. Terrence apologized to her in a voice full of remorse.

“I should have stayed by your side… sorry.”

“Chi, don’t worry. I am all right.”

“Are you really okay?”

“As you can see, I’m fine.”

Even while answering, she admired his acting. It was the appearance of a fiancé who was surprised and blamed himself after hearing that his beloved lover almost suffered something bad. A little awkward, but too natural. He seemed genuinely concerned for her safety and trembling with anxiety.

“I’m really fine, so don’t worry.”

Hearing her words brings a smile of relief to his lips.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

Then he kissed her politely on the back of her hand. She was surprised, but all the wives watching were shocked. Yeah, it’s just shocking. As a party, she was also shocked. But even in the midst of their surprise, the wives looked at Terrence with envy and admiration in their eyes. Some even faintly blushed. She was sure, just a moment ago, they were trying to open their eyes with suspicion as to what had happened to her relationship with Terrence.

Terrence was polite and courteous to women, always drawing the line coldly. To think that such a man could become such a romanticist without warning. He even became a lover with Princess Eve, whom he hated so much? Even a child would be suspicious of it. However, while facing this man directly, such reasonable doubts seem to dissipate.

‘They probably heard of his appearance.’

Of course, it was also because this man acted too well. He was a bit questionable. Did he act so well in the original?

“I brought my knights to protect the princess.”

Terrence held her hand and asked with a desperate look.

“If you permit me, I would like to come here every day to check on the safety of the princess.”

“Sure. Of course I will give you permission.”

Only then did Terrence look back at the other wives and apologize.

“You came suddenly and disrespected the guests.”

“Oh, no, majesty.”

“If you still have business, can I wait for you?”

It was a very polite attitude, but when he said he would leave the noble ladies, who had been frozen in a daze at the obvious banquet, hurriedly rose from their seats.

“Oh, no, I’ve met and greeted the princess, so I’m leaving now.”

“Well, we didn’t notice the time. Ho Ho…”

“Please invite me again next time.”

Everyone went out with a very awkward smile. Even so, they glanced at Terrence and her until just before the door closed.

She could assure, what happened here would be passed on to all the aristocrats of society today. 

As soon as the wives went out and the door closed, Terrence took the seat across from her. 

He leaned back on his back and started talking again with a calm expression.

“I heard that the affairs of the imperial palace have been resolved.”

Just 3 minutes ago, he held her hand and sincerely asked her regards. As usual, the atmosphere was carefree and relaxed.

“…”

Wow, people change in an instant. It’s not some kind of multipersonality.

“Why is that?”

“It’s nothing.”

Terrence looked at the garden through the window with dismay.

“Why did you come all this way? I could have gone to the imperial family’s villa.”

“I think the temple would be safer.”

It’s better to be in a public place like this than the imperial villa. It’s a temple, so it’s easy to get in and out.

“And there is something to be found here.”

He was almost late, but luckily he made it to the date. It was her intention to go find it tonight.

“Why did you bring the Imperial Knights?”

“I didn’t bring them because I wanted to.”

Come to think of it, the prince’s knights were also here… Were the people of the Grand Duke’s family together now? She thought it might be too much, but since this was a temple, it wouldn’t matter if the Grand Duke was by her side.

“As I said, we are working on Southern affairs. If things work out, you won’t have to show up right after the wedding.”

“Is that why you went outside the island?”

“There are people I need to meet in person.”

With those words, Terrence rose from his seat.

“I’ll come back tomorrow and let you know what’s going on. Maybe I should be away from the islands for a few more days.”