Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Crown Prince's Sudden Visit
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The servants bustled about, and the door to the parlor opposite the entrance on the first floor swung wide open.
It was to receive an extraordinary guest who had arrived at the ducal residence without any prior notice, early in the morning.
Molga and the twin siblings sat side by side on the parlor sofa, brimming with excitement.
“Mom, what’s going on? That person outside right now… it’s the Crown Prince, isn’t it?”
Lillia asked, startled and making a fuss.
“Yes, I saw him myself. It’s the Crown Prince.”
Though an unexpected visitor, he was a dignitary who naturally deserved full courtesy.
Vice Duke Viego, acting as the family head’s proxy, had greeted him, and they were currently conversing outside.
“Why would the Crown Prince suddenly come to our house?”
“Idiot, do I really have to spell it out for you?”
When Riki asked, Lillia giggled.
“What’s the biggest topic in high society these days? Who’s going to fill the vacant Crown Princess position.”
“Right?”
“They say His Highness has been taking his sweet time, and everyone was wondering just how carefully he’s choosing his bride.”
Unable to hold back her laughter, Lillia shyly placed a hand on her cheek and twisted her body.
“Mom, that’s it, right?”
“Yes. Otherwise, there’s no reason for the Crown Prince to visit our ducal residence.”
Molga laughed along with Lillia.
Beside them, Riki tilted his head.
“So he came to make Lillia the Crown Princess?”
“Yes, you idiot!”
“Why are you so thrilled about it? You’re dating Cedric.”
“What?”
Lillia recoiled immediately.
“Who said we’re dating? We’re just close friends.”
“Huh? Cedric confessed, and you accepted, didn’t you? You even said you’d go to the Debutante Ball with him later…”
“Can’t you shut your mouth?”
“Riki, be quiet.”
Lillia and Molga scolded him in turn, and Riki pouted his lips.
“The national wedding is still a ways off, but I figured he was thinking about it. Seems like he’s been testing the waters, but now it’s like there’s a fire at his feet. From the Crown Prince’s perspective, is there a more appealing match than you?”
Molga laughed as she stroked Lillia’s cheek.
“Don’t say anything foolish, and always keep a pretty expression on your face.”
“Ugh, Mom. Who’s my mother? I know how to handle that without being told.”
“Hehe…”
Mother and daughter exchanged warm smiles, but as soon as they heard the mansion’s front door open, they composed their expressions in unison and rose to their feet.
Viego and Crown Prince Lark entered together.
Molga went to the parlor door to greet them.
“I greet Your Highness. I am Molga Diorus.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Riki Diorus.”
After the mother and son bowed side by side, they stepped aside, and Lillia emerged.
“Pleased to meet you, Your Highness. I am Lillia Diorus.”
Lillia, lightly gathering the hem of her bright yellow dress, curtsied cutely.
Viego introduced them once more.
“This is the family’s esteemed matriarch, Grand Duchess Diorus, and the youngest members of the household.”
“Yes. They’re so famous, I know them well.”
Lark replied with a smile, then furrowed his brow apologetically toward Molga.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess. Please forgive my rudeness in visiting without notice at such an early hour.”
“Oh, not at all. We’re just worried we might fall short in receiving Your Highness properly.”
Molga smiled kindly and stepped aside. As Lark headed to his seat, he glanced around as if searching for someone.
Noticing this, Molga spoke with a wry expression.
“However… I’m not sure if you’re aware, but our Duke is unfortunately unable to greet Your Highness in person. We know it’s great rudeness, but we hope Your Highness will understand.”
“Ah, no need for such concerns. Vice Duke already informed me. It’s I who should apologize for the unannounced visit.”
Lark replied with a regretful smile.
Meanwhile, Lillia, who had only glimpsed him from afar a few times before, was now face-to-face with him for the first time and fell into a state of shock and awe.
‘Oh my gosh. Up close, he’s even more handsome. Cedric’s face is nothing compared to this?’
Lark looked as if someone had sculpted him to perfection.
And unlike Cedric, who still had a boyish air, his mature aura, towering height a head taller, and broad shoulders—what about them!
‘Am I really about to receive a proposal from someone like this?’
At fourteen, marriage was still a distant concept for Lillia, and with no real connection to the Crown Prince, she hadn’t paid much attention to the vacant Crown Princess position until yesterday.
Hanging around the most popular noble boy, Cedric, and having tea parties every day with peers flattering her—that was plenty to keep her happily occupied.
‘Me, the Crown Princess! And eventually, the Empress!’
Lark’s unexpected visit ignited a fire in the young girl’s heart.
‘It’ll be an engagement first, right?’
Catching her daughter’s growing impatience, the perceptive Molga smiled and broached the subject.
“So, what brings Your Highness here in such haste?”
“Ah, I came to see Lady Diorus. I mentioned it to the Vice Duke just now as well.”
When Lark stated it openly without hesitation, Lillia shyly lowered her eyes.
Molga pretended not to know and asked again.
“Oh? Whatever for?”
“Hmm…”
Lark rubbed his forehead briefly, then spoke ambiguously.
“It’s not exactly a formal arrangement, but I think the Duchess would know. The reason I came in such a hurry.”
“Ah! Of course, of course.”
Molga nodded with a smile.
Lark stared at her intently, then turned to Viego beside him.
“As I said earlier, I’d like a moment alone with the Duchess. I’d like to take her out into the city, treat her to breakfast, and spend some time together. Would her brother permit it?”
“My permission isn’t necessary.”
Viego chuckled softly and nodded, and Lillia quickly rose.
“Then, will you wait just a moment, Your Highness?”
“Hm?”
As Lark tilted his head, Molga explained.
“She’ll get ready to go out and come right down.”
“Ah.”
Lillia dashed out of the parlor like the wind, maids hurrying after her. The pleased Lark called after them.
“Tell her there’s no rush. I’ll wait as long as it takes.”
“Hehe, Your Highness is truly kind.”
“It’s the least I can do after showing up unannounced. Anyway…”
Lark grinned at Viego.
“I was worried since I heard the Duchess rarely goes out. I thought her brother must be extremely overprotective.”
“Pardon?”
“Hehe…”
While Viego tilted his head in confusion, Molga laughed as if amused.
“The Vice Duke does cherish our Lillia dearly, but he doesn’t restrict her outings that strictly, so don’t worry. Feel free to call on her anytime.”
“Hm?”
“Your Highness.”
Viego interjected.
“Are you perhaps referring to Rubettria?”
“Yes, exactly. We’re talking about Duchess Rubettria.”
“Wait. So…, the younger sister you said you came to meet today…”
“Ah, did I misspeak? Sir Victor was the same—even mentioning ‘younger sister’ got confusing. As far as I know, the Vice Duke’s only younger sister is Duchess Rubettria.”
At Lark’s words, Viego and Molga both froze.
They casually referred to Lillia as a younger sister for convenience, but strictly speaking, she was Viego’s aunt. So Lark hadn’t misspoke; they had simply assumed otherwise.
Viego was visibly flustered.
“How do you know Rubette, Your Highness…”
At that moment.
Rubette was descending the stairs visible beyond the wide-open parlor door.
Molga’s eyes widened upon seeing her.
‘What happened to that girl in the meantime? She looks so different.’
Rubette, in a gracefully fitted light purple dress with subtle makeup, was almost unrecognizable.
The puffiness that had swollen her body had subsided appropriately within a week, her previously hunched shoulders were now squared confidently, and her haughty, aloof expression was perfectly that of a noble young lady.
The delighted Lark stood and approached the foot of the stairs in one breath. He smiled with wide-eyed surprise.
“Duchess, did you dress up like this today because of me? Can I dare to assume?”
Rubette covered her mouth and laughed.
“Oh, of course.”
“Great, let’s go.”
As Lark grinned and offered his arm like an escort.
Amid a small commotion, Lillia hurried down with several maids in tow.
“Uh, Rubette. Could you step aside?”
Lillia gently pushed past Rubette blocking the way and took her place in front of Lark.
In that short time, she had changed into a new dress and added more makeup, and she spoke shyly.
“Let’s go, Your Highness.”
“Uh, um…”
Lark smiled awkwardly and glanced toward the open parlor.
Instead of the stunned Molga, Viego beckoned to Lillia.
“Lillia, come here. His Highness has an appointment with Rubette today…”
“…? What are you talking about, brother?”
Lillia’s eyes widened in shock before she could even panic. It was because of Rubette, who had linked arms with Lark and stood beside him.
“Lillia, where are you off to today? You look pretty in that dress.”
Rubette tilted her head innocently, eyes wide as if clueless.
Lillia’s mouth slowly fell open.
“Th-this…”
Even after grasping the situation, she couldn’t believe it.
In that instant, as Lillia took another step down, she stumbled in panic.
“Oh no!”
Thud—.
“L-Lillia!”
Everyone was startled as she tripped on her long dress hem and tumbled to the bottom of the stairs.
“Goodness. You should be careful.”
Lark, standing ahead, merely stepped back with a furrowed brow.
“Are you okay? That must hurt. Here, get up.”
In his stead, it was Rubette who extended a hand to Lillia.
“…”
Rubette’s face, pretending to worry with pouted lips, held a subtle smile.