TAPGB - Chapter 93
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
The Emperor's long-time fiancée, Princess Lilith Sevans, arrived at the imperial palace.
She had been in a low mood ever since she got in the carriage.
A few days ago, there was a rumor that the Emperor had a mistress. Moreover, yesterday she heard that he might dump her and take that woman as his new fiancée.
Of course, the person who said those words was a Young Lady who was anxious not to belittle herself, but it was definitely an annoying rumor.
"How dare you, a mere lady, become the future Empress."
Lilith's position has remained strong ever since she debuted in the social world eight years ago.
The fiancée of the greatest man in the Empire, whom everyone covets. A flower blooming on a lofty cliff.
One look at her, one hand gesture, one gesture still makes many men fall asleep and cannot take their eyes off her.
Even yesterday, everyone who was sitting in the cafe, including Young Lords and even the married men, couldn't take their eyes off her.
But why!
'That person can't be the only one!'
Lilith pursed her lips and thought of her fiancé, who was infinitely cold to her.
He acts like a friendly fiancé in front of people so that they don't say anything behind his back, but when people are not around, she's in a worse position than anyone else.
"It stops falling even though there's no one there. The smell of perfume stings my nose."
Other people praised it as a lovely scent that suited her image and mood, but not for the Emperor.
At first, he treated her appropriately and kindly as a person. However, when she mentioned marriage, he got angry, postponed marriage, and turned completely cold.
Now he's the only person she has.
The Emperor, who did not know her pure love and gave her a look as small as a bug, scolded her.
'I don't understand, but I guess it's possible that you hate me. But how can he have a woman when I am his fiancee?'
As soon as Lilith heard the rumor, she immediately told it to her father, and he confirmed that it wasn't just a rumor.
That day, she didn't know how much she cried in my room.
No matter how superficial the engagement, this couldn't happen, so Lilith asked her father to tell the Emperor something, but when he came back,
"Lilith, His Majesty will never take that woman as his mistress, and he will never cast you out. In the end, you will become Empress. So don't be too anxious. What you feared will never happen."
Her father patted her as if soothing a whining child, but Lilith could not take his words at face value.
"That's not what I wanted...."
From a time when she was a child, she couldn't remember, becoming the future Empress was a natural process.
Aside from what was taken for granted in the past, what she wants most now is the Emperor's love!
Ttogak-!
The steps she took forward gained strength. Lilith quietly closed her eyes and clenched her fists. The closer she got to the Emperor's palace, the more attention the workers paid to her.
Their whispering made her feel like she was in a place she shouldn't have been.
Lilith reflexively clenched her molars. In the distance, the Emperor's personal attendant, James, could be seen.
He opened his eyes wide when he saw Lilith. That was quite annoying to Lilith.
"It's been a while, Princess."
"Where is Your Majesty now?"
"He is doing business."
"Tell him I have come."
"I understand you haven't made an appointment."
Lilith's remaining sense of reason was cut off by James' words.
"I'm his fiancee! Are you saying that I have to make an appointment to see my fiancé's face?"
"That wasn't my intention. I'm sorry if you were offended."
"Whoa... No matter what happens today. I have to meet His Majesty."
"..."
When James saw Lilith throwing off her usual mask, he thought it was coming.
However, a mere servant cannot show his emotions in front of a nobleman. He just lowered his head.
"I will guide you to the parlor. Please follow me."
Lilith arrived at the parlor following James' guidance.
"Please wait here for a moment."
Lilith, who was left alone in the living room, frowned slightly and stroked her hair. The pink hair that all men love was gently flowing.
"In the past, instead of going to a place like this, I was guided straight to where he was."
James's every action showed her distance from the Emperor.
Of course, it is impossible to weigh these points one by one. Because the person she loves is different from before.
"If only they looked a little alike..."
Lilith, who had been dazed by the reflexive muttering, suddenly came to her senses and slapped her cheeks.
"Let's come to our senses. You must never be caught."
Only then can she proceed with her marriage with him safely.
Does she know anything?
She might be able to use this incident as an excuse to push for marriage to silence public opinion.
"I'll be out late today anyway. Let's wait a little leisurely."
If she visited without notice, he tended to leave her alone for an hour.
Although he made an excuse that he was busy with work, Lilith knew very well that he was making an excuse because he didn't want to meet with her.
Lilith can't help but feel sad. It's a shame to miss someone you love more.
As she was leisurely leaning on the sofa, she was thinking about how much later today would come.
Turb, trudge, trudge-
Lilith could feel the noise of people beyond the closed door.
"No way......"
Suddenly,
"It's been a while, Princess."
Lilith's eyes widened to the size of a flower lantern.
Hasn't it only been 10 minutes since she said she was going to see the Emperor? But he's already coming?
It feels like they are meeting right away after almost a year without waiting. Lilith was so shocked that she was staring blankly when the Emperor sat across from her, wriggling one of his eyebrows.
"You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Ah! I apologize, Your Majesty. You came too early so stop..."
"Weren't you here to see me?"
"You're right. I came here to find out whether the rumors floating around are true or not."
The Emperor's golden eyes were cold. He looked at Lilith as if he were looking at an inanimate object.
When James left, saying he would serve refreshments, only the two of them remained in the drawing room.
"I'm sure the story would have been told through the Duke."
"My father explained it to me, but I still don't understand it."
"What do you mean?"
"I understand that you are not bringing her into the government or threatening my position, but doesn't that mean that there is actually a woman next to Your Majesty?"
"..."
It was an unspoken affirmation. That made Lilith's heart sink.
"It really is."
"It's not something the princess should worry about. I have no intention of pushing the Princess away and putting that person in the position of Empress, and I have no intention of making her my lover and making it difficult for both of you."
"Even if our engagement wasn't made out of love, isn't this too much?"
As Lilith's voice trembled, the Emperor frowned slightly.
"I have known for a long time that Your Majesty does not like me. You kept your distance from me ever since we talked about marriage. With me....bAre you saying you don't want to get married?"
"Not now, but someday the Princess will become the Empress."
"That's not what I'm talking about!"
"..."
Even though Lilith complained with tears in her eyes, the Emperor's eyes looking at her were still cold.
Lilith's lips trembled at that.
"How can you trample on a woman's heart like this! I love you! Even if you don't feel the same way as me, as my fiance... I knew you would respect me as your future spouse! But what on earth is this?"
"Ha, princess. First, calm down..."
"No. I'm not finished talking yet! Your Majesty! She is the woman His Majesty is keeping with you now. Do you love her so much that you keep her by your side?"
"I don't know why I have to tell the Princess that. Will my answer make any difference in the current situation?"
As soon as the woman was mentioned, the Emperor's expression became sharp.
He was a person who didn't even blink an eye when not only she but any other Young Ladies approached him.
At least Lilith found comfort in him not being swayed or paying attention to them, but now this reaction...
"Ha ha ha... It means that you really love her. I would like to see her face and see what kind of proud woman she is that can shake His Majesty's heart like this."
"Lilith Sevans."
Lilith, who had been speaking out of jealousy and anger, trembled at the Emperor's low voice.
The golden eyes were radiating a hideous, murderous spirit. This was her first time experiencing someone's hostility with her whole body. Lilith trembled and collapsed on the sofa with her legs losing strength.
"If you even approach that person, no matter how much you are a Princess, I won't forgive you."
"..."
"Do you understand?"
Lilith pursed her lips. Her eyes are red as if she was about to cry.
Feeling that further conversation would be of no use, the Emperor stood up. As he was about to leave the parlor,
"What is so different between me and that woman!"
Lilith scratched the Emperor's stomach again.
As a result, the Emperor lost what little patience he had left. When he looked behind him, Lilith had the face of a woman who had been truly heartbroken.
When she looked at it, she felt jealous...
The Emperor put down his hand on the doorknob and walked towards Lilith.
Lilith's body trembled slightly as he approached her, even though she was holding him.
The Emperor uttered words that sounded like the low growl of an animal.
"What's the difference? Everything from start to finish. I can't even compare her to you. Because she is the person who made me who I am today and the only person who taught me what love is."
Lilith's eyes filled with tears as the words touched her heart.
The Emperor, who was even more moved by the sight, roughly stroked his hair.
"Shall we stop arguing with each other? I tried to ignore it and just ignore it, but I just couldn't bear it."
Bam!
The Emperor placed his arms on the back of the sofa Lilith was leaning on, trapping her in his arms.
Lilith trembled a little but blushed. Seeing that, the Emperor whispered softly to her.
"You know who I am, right?"
At that moment, Lilith's flushed cheeks began to turn pale.
"What is that...."
"You already knew that I am not Leopold, no?"
Lilith's walls shook aimlessly. The moment Emperor Lucian saw that, he couldn't help but laugh.
"From a certain point on, you treated me. No, your attitude towards your fiancé has changed. I felt it right then. Oh, you know I'm not Leopold."
Lilith, whose lips were quivering, was so scared of the golden eyes staring at her that she lowered her head.
"There is no way the Duke would have told you. I'm sure you noticed it right away. Well, it didn't matter whether you noticed it or not. Until you tell me you love me."
"Your Majesty... What on earth are you talking about? I...m.."
"Your fiancé changed to someone else, but you didn't even think about finding your real fiancé. Are you saying you love a fake that has been replaced? Are you still human?"
The golden eyes looking at Lilith were as cold and unfamiliar as usual. Only then did Lilith realize. That he looks with contempt because he knows everything.
"Even if I never had a woman, I would never love you. A woman like you who betrays her fiancé and whispers love to his brother is creepy."
"Ahhh..."
"What is your duty as a fiancee? Ha! Are you following that principle now?"
Lilith couldn't bear to raise her head. If you raise her head, she wilI come face to face with beautiful golden eyes.
'I got caught. How? Even my father doesn't know this...'
Everything Lucian said was true.
Lilith didn't know at first. However, she found out about it six months after his coming-of-age ceremony. That the person in front of her was not Leopold.
At first, Lilith was embarrassed, but at the same time, she could see why she was becoming more and more fond of the Crown Prince.
He was different from any man she had ever met.
Lucian didn't beg to impress her, didn't make her jealous, or showed off.
For Lilith, who has always been loved by all men and takes their favor for granted, Lucian is a type of person she has never seen before.
Moreover, he was similar to, or rather superior to Leopold in all aspects.
He had none of the playfulness she disliked, his swordsmanship was superior to that of most knights, and he captivated nobles with his outstanding charisma.
It was irresistible that she fell in love with him.
At first, she was embarrassed because it wasn't the Leopold she knew, but she soon found herself relieved that he wasn't the Leopold she knew.
While wandering around her father's office, Lilith learned that something was wrong with Leopold and that Lucian would be acting as a double for the time being.
It seems that very few people are aware of the existence of the double role, and if the double role continues like this, she will gain power and marry the man she truly loves.
If Leopold returned later, she planned to strengthen her position by using her father and family to provide strength to her position.
She never imagined that Lucian and Leopold would have such a close relationship.
When she thought that they had been watching her all this time, knowing how she was feeling and what plans she had, Lilith felt like all the blood in her body was draining.
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