TAPGB - Chapter 103
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
"I meet you, Empress Dowager, the noble moon of the Empire."
"Welcome. I don't know if I asked you to come while you were busy."
"It's Your Majesty's call, not anyone else's, so is there any question? It's an honor to be invited."
"I'm glad you said that. Now, come here and have some tea."
Lucian's mother, Empress Serena welcomed the guest with a kind smile.
Accordingly, the face of the person who had lowered her head was revealed. Her pink hair fluttered and she smiled as if she was happy that she was a neat beauty that everyone could not help but fall in love with.
She was Lilith Sevans.
Lilith first entered the imperial palace with her parents at the young age of five.
She met the Crown Prince and continued their relationship as a playmate and childhood friend.
At the age of 10, as decided by adults, she became engaged to the Crown Prince.
And now she's 23 years old. It has already been 18 years since she became deeply involved with the imperial palace.
She had a close relationship with the Empress Dowager, as she had grown up as the Crown Prince's playmate and fiancée since childhood.
To be precise, the Empress Dowager cherishes Lilith as her prospective daughter-in-law. Lilith knew that better than anyone else.
She smiled as usual and pleased Serena. She had been doing it for 18 years, so it couldn't have been that difficult.
"Ha..."
After having a fun conversation for a while, a dark cloud appeared on Serena's face.
Lilith's eyes lit up when she saw that.
In fact, she had been checking out Serena's movements over the past few days. She did, and she was able to reap one unexpected harvest.
'The Empress Dowager is reluctant to have His Majesty's lover. She was so fierce that she dared to straighten her neck in front of His Majesty's mother.'
It is mysterious because it was said by the Empress Dowager's maid, not by anyone else.
Ever since the birth banquet, Lilith has been wondering how to avoid the Emperor's eyes and meet his lover.
The security was so tight that she couldn't get close, but right now, an important key to approaching the Emperor's lover appeared before her eyes.
Lilith looked genuinely worried and began acting, which is her specialty.
"Your Majesty Empress Dowager, is something wrong? You seem to be in deep trouble."
"Ah... You got on my nerves. It's no big deal, don't worry."
"If you keep too much in your heart, you will become sick. I don't know if I can be of help, but if you have any concerns, please take the burden off me."
"Lilith......"
"I'm still fiancee, but aren't we going to become a family in the future?"
Serena looked moved. Her acting seemed to have worked as not only she, but her maid and Serena's maids waiting near her smiled softly.
But even so, Serena could not easily open her mouth.
"... It's a bit difficult to tell you."
"Ah really."
Lilith heard the Empress being needlessly considerate.
Her personality is so soft and kind that it's hard to believe she was the Empress of an Empire.
Lilith realized why Serena didn't mention it to her.
'People know I'm her son's fiancee.'
She can't say that her son is playing around with another woman in front of his fiancee..
Lilith let out a light sigh and made an expression that evoked sympathy.
"Is it perhaps because of His Majesty's lover?"
"Oh, no! How did you know that..."
"Everyone is whispering about it, so rumors are secretly spreading. His Majesty has a lover."
"Ohh, baby. It's not like that. It's none of your business."
"But, Your Majesty, how can I easily ignore that rumor?"
As she expressed her emotions with tears in her eyes, she could feel the people around her, including Serena, becoming agitated.
"Besides, isn't His Majesty putting off getting married every day? If I lose my place like this..."
"Lilith, calm down."
"Ugh! Your Majesty, I'm scared. I am afraid that His Majesty will go to that lover forever."
Serena consoled Lilith, who was crying helplessly.
"As others have said, if His Majesty abandons me and chooses her..."
"Who would make such a foolish thing? Talk to me right now! I will punish them severely!"
Lilith smiled to herself when she saw the gentle Serena getting angry and raising her voice.
"Lilith, Leopold's side is yours. That is a fact that does not change no matter who comes. Right now... He may look away, but he will come back to you in the end."
"Your Majesty, what I want is not simply a seat next to His Majesty. I want his trust and love."
Serena's heart weakened when she saw Lilith pleading with tears.
"It's already been 13 years since we got engaged, and it's been 3 years since we reached marriageable age. Even now, I am waiting for His Majesty without any delay. Can you really guarantee that your Majesty will return to me? I'm really anxious...It's to the point where I can't sleep at night."
Everyone's heart ached because she was the heartbroken woman, burying her face in her hands and shaking her shoulders.
In particular, Serena, who knew all the complexities of the situation, sympathized with the anxiety of the child who would succeed her more than anyone else, as a woman herself.
It is said that Ruber never had any troubles because he did not take any concubines other than the Empress due to the Emperor's affairs, but she used to feel anxious whenever she saw other women approaching him.
'It's no wonder Lilith is anxious. Poor thing.'
Besides, isn't she the pretty child she's seen since she was young?
It was natural for Serenq to fall in love with Lilith rather than Leah, who was staring blankly into her eyes.
"Everyone, please step aside for a moment."
Serena finally made a decision. At her words, the maids retreated to a place where they could not hear the conversation.
Thinking that her strategy had worked, Lilith smiled inwardly and raised her tear-stained face.
"This may be a painful story for you. Is it okay though?"
"I am still suffering enough. So please tell me the truth."
After much deliberation, Serena finally decided to tell Lilith. Of course, except for revealing Lucian's identity, she mixed lies appropriately.
But despite her efforts, Lilith already knew the whole truth.
At first, Serena tried to speak to Lilith's point of view, but her emotions soon grew stronger and she ended up saying something close to a complaint.
"Besides, she's so outrageous. She didn't get discouraged even in front of me. How can she answer so quickly... Wow, I was so excited."
"No, Your Majesty. I completely understand. It was a situation that Your Majesty didn't want either."
"How can I have another child in my eyes when I have such a beautiful future daughter-in-law?"
"Then, if you'll excuse me, may I ask how you view His Majesty's lover?"
"Hmm, she..."
'Have you ever said sorry to Lucian even once?'
Suddenly, Serenq remembered the words of Leqh, who was staring at her and pounding her heart.
That day was the day and last day Serena met Leah properly.
After that, Lucian increased his security even more thoroughly so that no one would ever encounter her.
Moreover, it was to the point where she couldn't even see Lucian's face properly, probably because she was revealing emotions that she didn't want anyone to know.
As of now, she doesn't think there's anything wrong with what Leah said, but she couldn't blindly assume that it was right.
Even though Serena could accept it mentally, she couldn't accept it emotionally.
'Besides, she's not an average bet.'
Since she had no last name, it was clear that she was a commoner, but she had no hesitation in treating people, including Serena.
Leah was clearly different from other commoners who found nobles difficult.
'Is that perhaps what captured Lucian?"l'
In any case, as a mother, the fact that her son was in love with such a fierce woman was not very pleasant.
"Honestly, I feel uncomfortable."
Seeing Serena speaking with a frow,. Lilith secretly clenched her fists.
"Don't worry though. That woman will never take Leopold's side. If you're still anxious, trust me. I will do my best to prevent such unfortunate events from happening."
"I feel reassured that Your Majesty is on my side."
"Isn't it obvious? Just like my Leopold..."
Serena stopped mid-sentence. Lilith, who was in the middle of a performance, felt something strange and tilted her head.
"Your Majesty?"
"Ah! It is nothing. As much as Leopold...I meant to say that I have been seeing you for a long time. Isn't you just like my daughter?"
"You praise me so much that I don't know what to do."
Seeing Lilith happy, Serena smiled awkwardly. But soon her face dar lkened a little.
'I don't know anything about that kid.'
What she said a moment ago really only applied to Leopold.
As soon as Lucian was born, he was imprisoned in a small palace out of sight and eventually sent to a haunted mansion.
'Nevertheless, if you two had offered a sincere apology, Lucian would have been willing to accept it. Lucian is that kind of kid.'
Why does Serena remember Leah's words now?
Unlike herself, who knew nothing about Lucian, Leah seemed to know him very well.
As if she had filled his empty space.
The atmosphere suddenly changed and Lilith narrowed her eyes when she saw Serena caught in her thoughts.
Lilith doesn't know what she's thinking, but for now, she's gathered all the keys she needs. Now all she has to do is make the final plan.
"Your Majesty, if you don't mind, may I meet His Majesty's lover?"
"Are you that anxious? It's not that I don't know your feelings, but just looking at her now..."
"That's not it. Just once. I do it because I really want to see what kind of woman she is, just once."
"..."
"His Majesty is treating me as his fiancée, but that's it. There is no further emotional interaction whatsoever. There is no way to find his former self in His Majesty now."
Serena trembled.
"He has become so cold to me even after seeing me for a long time. I would like to see with my own eyes how she managed to capture His Majesty's heart."
"Lilith..."
"I will never embarrass Your Majesty. If that doesn't work, please tell me at least a place where His Majesty's significant other often frequents."
Serena could sense desperation from Lilith, who lowered her head enough to see the top of her head. Serena squeezed her eyes shut as her heart weakened.
Lucian was born with her own womb, but he is a child she can't quite figure out.
Just meeting Leah last time gave her a bad feeling, but she can't predict what will happen if she arrange a meeting with Lilith this time.
But that doesn't mean she can't just leave this poor child alone.
Serena, who thought endlessly, finally made a decision.
"It's difficult for you to find a place. However, if you meet her by chance...."
Lilith's face widened.
"That is enough! Thank you for accepting my unreasonable request, Your Majesty."
"No. I'm sorry that this is all I can do for you."
Serena said she was sorry and hugged Lilith warmly. Lilith smiled her adorable smile as she played with her goofiness.
"It's okay."
Lilith didn't know what kind of brazen woman roasted that arrogant Lucian, but even if she did, she would be no match for her.
Born into a prestigious ducal family, she grew up to be a noblewoman who could not be surpassed by her peers and was taught to take it for granted that she would hold the Empire in her hands.
That's why Lilith was confident.
She is ready to chew up any woman that comes her way.
She smiled bitterly in Serena's arms.
***
An archive room deep inside the library that only those with permission can enter.
Leah was there.
Recently, when she examined Leopold's body, she could no longer enter his mind.
To be precise, I tried to look again at the soul that was divided into black and white, but it was blocked as if a protective shield had been placed, putting me in a situation where I couldn't check the soul.
I asked Caesar to check on me to see if something was wrong, but he answered that it could be because Leopold was preparing to wake up.
However, since it was not accurate, there was still an uneasy feeling.
Moreover, none of the information Javier came to was relevant...
I thought that I couldn't just leave it like this and began to search for my past in earnest.
If I remember the past, I might be able to use more advanced magic
'If it is true that I am the witch who founded the Empire with the first Emperor.'
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