TAPGB - Chapter 96

TAPGB - Chapter 96 

The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

"..."

There was silence again. To be exact, it was closer to Serena observing Leah's feelings.

Although she must have been the mother of Empire for nearly 20 years, I was surprised to see her in a lower posture than expected.

'Is it because of Lucian?'

Just by seeing them together for a moment last time, I could roughly understand what their relationship was like.

Ruber, the former Emperor, still expressed his opinion even when they clashed with Lucian, but Serena was infinitely weak.

'Are you naturally weak-tempered?'

Or maybe she is a person who is weak towards her children.

I told Lucian not to get involved with his parents as much as possible, but I can't continue to ignore them as long as we live under the same roof.

"If you have anything to say, please make yourself comfortable."

I spoke first.

"You said you've known each other since you were young, but I'm curious how you met Lucian."

The word 'we' in front of Lucian was strangely annoying, but it didn't show.

"I don't mind telling you, but are you confident that you can handle it?"

When Serena looked puzzled, I added an explanation.

"When I first saw Lucian, he wasn't in very good condition."

Only then did Serena realize what she was trying to say.

Lucian was completely abandoned by his parents. The circumstances were so bad that even if he died, no one would know.

When no words were heard, I opened my mouth.

"When I met Lucian for the first time, he had not been able to eat properly and was all skin and bones. His cheeks were lanky, his arms were thin, and he was all unkempt as if he hadn't been properly cared for."

Serena trembled and closed her eyes tightly.

"It's a huge mansion, but there was no one there except Lucian. Lucian was 8 years old at the time. He didn't know how to use cooking utensils or cook food. I thought he would starve to death if I left him alone, so I gave him food that I could."

I recalled the first time I approached Lucian. It can be said that his condition is so bad that it does not match his current appearance at all.

"I couldn't adjust the seasoning so it probably wouldn't have tasted good, but he cried and said it was delicious. Until then, he said he could barely survive by eating only raw crops and vegetables."

"Stop."

"When I asked him if he wanted to try cooking, he said he was scared. He said he tried to start a fire and almost burned down the mansion. If there wasn't a water tank nearby, he would have died alone in that big mansion." 

"Stop."

"Do you not want to hear it? Or are you feeling overwhelmed?" 

Serena was moved to tears by my cold tone and glared at me with watery eyes. 

"Isn't it obvious! If you stay silent when something like that happens to your son, you're not a parent!"

"That's strange. Aren't you and His Majesty the Emperor who sent him there?"

Serena's eyes wavered aimlessly.

"I know the general circumstances. Because Lucian was born as twins, he was abandoned in the mansion to hide his identity."

"I didn't throw him away. I avoided other people's eyes..."

"Your Majesty, the world says you threw it away."

I guess she doesn't want to become a parent who ignores her sins and abandons her child, but I won't let that happen.

"Lucian was a child who knew nothing. How can a child who has never properly held his parents' hands survive alone in a mansion with no one around?"

"..."

"If I hadn't discovered Lucian, there wouldn't be anyone acting as the Emperor's replacement now."

"Then what should we have done! If it was discovered that twins were born in the royal family, not only Lucian but also Leopold would have died! Shouldn't we save the children first?"

"Yes. It must have been the consideration of His Majesty and Your Majesty that kept Lucian alive even while making him a non-existent being. However, that does not mean that indulgence is granted."

I lifted my downcast eyes and I looked at Serena.

She was breathing heavily with a red face.

Serena was obviously born as a noblewoman and grew up without any shortcomings. She lived as an Empress for over 20 years and lived a more noble life than anyone else. Has anyone who has always been in a supreme position ever been attacked by someone for cheating?

'I don't think so.'

Even if they said it back, no one would say it directly. Maybe that's why Serena couldn't stand My words.

"It's unpleasant. No matter how much you are Lucian's favorite person, please be polite."

"I'm sorry you felt uncomfortable. I can only speak honestly on behalf of Lucian."

"How..!"

"Meet the Empress Dowager."

Just before Serena got angry, Dio appeared from nowhere and naturally intervened between the two.

I saw the sweat running down his neck and realized that he had rushed over.

Serena, who had already been offended once, realized that Dio had come to disturb them and pursed her lips.

"Lord Dio, what kind of rudeness is this? How dare you interrupt in the middle of a conversation."

 "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I was so happy to see Your Majesty that I committed an accident. Please forgive me." 

I internally whistled at the excellent response.

"If you don't mind, can I take Leah with me? His Majesty called Lia." 

"Didn't he order you not to let her alone with me?"

"Is that possible, Your Majesty?"

After that. Dio added an excuse, but everyone here knew that his words were nothing more than an excuse.

"Okay then, we'll just go." 

"Before you go. I want to ask you something."

While Dio was laughing and trying to leave, I stood in front of Serena again.

"Have you ever left Lucian so neglected and looked at him even once? Or did you ever worry at all?" 

Even if I had to go, I wanted to know at least this one thing. What young Lucian wanted at the time was not that big of a deal. He just hopes that his family will think of him even just a little bit.

Even if she had never come to the mansion in person, I would have been willing to understand her. Just a little bit if she had checked on the child from afar or sent someone to check on Lucian's behavior.

Serena's lips softened and her eyes wavered. My eyes cooled as she saw that.

'It means there isn't one.'

"I don't know why your son, who only visits me when he's sad, is so curious that he's even talking to me, a lowly person."

“Leah-!”

Dio screamed in a low voice and stopped Leah.

Even though she heard insulting words, Serena only quivered her lips because she didn't say anything wrong.

Seeing the attitude that left no room for excuses, I let out a light breath and turned around.

"Then what on earth should we have done!"

Serena's voice grabbed my ankle. I looked back at her with tired eyes.

"Yes, I know very well that we in the past caused irreparable harm to that child! So, even now, we are trying to correct the past, but what should I do when he never opens up to us!"

"..."

"You've seen Lucian since he was young. If so, let me know. What on earth can we do to make Lucian open his heart?"

Serena clutched her chest with trembling hands. It was a pretty desperate and heartfelt attitude, but I didn't really like it. The reason is that.

"Have you ever said sorry to Lucian even once?"

Serena's eyes widened as if she was in great shock.

"Apart from the royal family and the Empress Dowager, have you ever sincerely apologized to Lucian as a parent to a child?" 

"That..."

"It looks like you're not there."

"The first step was wrong from the beginning. Lucian was brought here as Leopold's stand-in..."

"Then you should have apologized even more."

Whatever the reason, it is just an excuse.

"Lucian probably had no intention of accepting the two of you from the beginning. Whenever his parents abandon him, they only find him when they need him. Even that wasn't for Lucian but for his twin brother, right?"

Leah's words matched what Lucian had been saying. For some reason, Lucian's figure seemed to overlap with Leah's.

"Just like Your Majesty said, the first button was put on incorrectly. Nevertheless, if you two had offered a sincere apology, Lucian would have been willing to accept it. Lucian is that kind of kid."

In fact, Lucian willingly accepted Leopold's apology for something he did not commit, thus building a bond of brotherhood. Even though the emotional rift was deep, I thought that if they were at least half as good as Leopold, their relationship wouldn't be this bad.

Meanwhile, Serena's conscience pricked me and she couldn't breathe.

As I said, Serena had been waiting for their relationship to improve naturally, making a ridiculous excuse that she was in no position to apologize to Lucian. 

In any case, this is her child born from her womb. She may have thought that all she had to do was comfort him and give him a mother's love.

But there was no way the world would give an answer to someone who tried to find an easy way.

Seeing Serena with her head down in pain, I started walking.

Then, I suddenly noticed Lucian standing with James and Caesar in the distance.

The moment she I him, this was all I could think of.

'I want to hug you.'

Although I could not dare to understand his feelings, I wanted to at least give a brief hug to Lucian, who had to overcome everything alone in such a lonely and lonely imperial palace.

I slowly quickened my pace and ran towards Lucian.

Lucian spread his arms with a smile on his face as if he was about to cry at Caesar's mumbling.

I was held in his arms.

"Lucian."

"Huh."

"Thank you for your hard work."

Lucian felt his emotions surge at my words.

It's against the rules to do this...

The tip of Lucian's nose became cold.

In fact, he had been on his way to see Leah when he found her confronting Serena in the garden.

He hurried down, worried that Serena might say something to her, but he heard something unexpected.

"Have you ever left Lucian so neglected and looked at him even once? Or did you ever worry at all?"

To be honest, Lucian thought that no matter how much Leah was, she would find it difficult because Serena was a member of the royal family and was his mother.

However, despite his concerns, she was not at all discouraged and instead spoke up for herself.

Every time Leah refuted one thing on his behalf, Lucian felt the knots that had been building up unconsciously being released.

And now, Leah, who comforted him as soon as she saw him, was inestimably lovely.

"I guess someone would say it's Leab. I will fall in love with you all over again. Isn't it so cool?"

"For a moment. Did you hear everything I said? There's no way my voice can be heard here...."

When Lucian pointed to Caesar next to him, Caesar grinned. Leah slowly blushed as she realized that Caesar had relayed her words.

Then he got out of Lucian's arms and stepped back.

"You, you...!"

"Shouldn't you share your cool scenes with your biggest fans?"

"I'm so touched, Leah. I didn't know you would care for me so much."

I think it would be a shame. Thinking that I had to escape from there immediately, I quickly walked out of the garden.

Lucian followed behind me, smiling and asking to go with me. 

"Ha. I'm glad you made it through safely."

Dio, who caught up late, sighed and felt relieved.

"If it weren't for Leah, there would definitely have been an uproar."

James nodded in agreement. Like water and oil, Lucian and the Emperor would cause trouble every time they encountered each other.

However, this time, Leah took the initiative and took Lucian's side, so the two did not clash. 

"I'm a little worried about the Empress Dowager..."

Dio glanced back with a slightly anxious expression. Serena was left alone and she was looking at this place.

To be exact, he would be looking at Leah and Lucian.

"Worry? That's only for people who deserve it. There's no need to worry about that woman."

Dio and James froze for a moment at Caesar's harsh criticism.

They wondered if anyone would hear it, but fortunately, there was no one nearby.

James and Dio scolded Caesar in low voices.

Caesar picked his ears and looked at Serena who was being cared for by the maids in the distance.

The pupils of his eyes lengthened.

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