TAPGB - Chapter 124
The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride
After a moment of silence, Leopold chuckled.
"Lilith?"
"..."
"I like Lilith. But this is one-sided love."
Leopold's expression became a little lonely.
"It was an engagement that was decided between parents, without your will. Honestly, when you were young, you didn't even think of Lilith as the opposite sex?"
"I think I liked her when we met. I started liking her when I just returned from studying abroad. Honestly, Lilith is very pretty. Oh, of course, Leah is pretty too."
Leopold added, wondering if Lucian might be upset.
"So I think I treated Lilith well in my own way. I give affection, give confidence, and leave no room for other women to make her feel insecure. But she wasn't Lilith."
In the past, before Leopold fell, Lucian would often hear about Lilith's misfortune from Harry.
A typical example was that she left Leopold behind and hung out with other young people.
'I'm glad Your Highness didn't notice. If it wasn't for that, Lilith would have been kicked out a long time ago.'
Harry said that Leopold obviously didn't know about Lilith's fox-like behavior because he didn't have any sense in that way.
But doesn't what he's saying now mean that he knew everything?
"If possible, I want to love each other like you and get married."
So, what does Lilith think now?
"Well, I guess I should ask. How is Lilith these days? Is she the same as before?"
The question was whether to give room to other men like in the past.
Lucian pursed his lips.
After the last clash with Lilith, Lucian sent a letter of annulment engagement to the Sevans duchy.
However, the Duke did not accept it, and just as he was about to respond, Leopold woke up.
'Would it be a good idea to inform him of Lilith's atrocities so far?'
Before he woke up, Lucian was planning to break off the engagement somehow...
As Lucian watched his brother become depressed in front of the person he loved, he couldn't help but speak.
Moreover, didn't Leopold call Lilith's name the day he woke up?
'Is Lilith to him the same as Leah to me?'
When he thought about it that way, Lucian began to understand how foolish his older brother was.
Even if he knows that Leah doesn't love him, even if she hangs out with other men, he won't be able to give up his feelings for her.
"No. She's an adult now, so she doesn't do such childish things."
"Really?"
Leopold's face brightened.
"Rather, she's working hard as the future Empress. However, because of Leah's presence, there are rumors that the relationship between my older brother and his fiancee is not good...."
"Ah, of course. I guess that could happen. Don't worry. Lilith will understand. Oh, does Lilith know about our situation?"
Lucian nodded slowly.
"Great. I already wanted to see Lilith. If she knows our situation, there is no need to explain further."
Lucian looked at Leopold with an expression of uncertainty.
"I miss Lilith. Can you please call Lilith?"
Lucian's throat caught in his throat when he saw the brightly shining golden eyes.
Soon he had no choice but to open his mouth.
"Okay, I'll bring her."
Lucian showed an unknown expression next to the happy Leopold.
***
Lilith and Duke Sevans arrived at the imperial palace with rather gloomy faces. This was Lilith's first visit since receiving the guest order.
But she knew better than anyone else why she had come here. In particular, she also says that she has no intention of her own in this matter.
Following the guide's guidance, the two went to a secret place, found Lucian in the middle of the hallway, and saluted him.
"Great Sun, meet your Majesty the Emperor..."
"It's enough to say hello."
Lucian came striding forward.
"My brother has woken up."
Lilith's heart sank when Leopold was mentioned.
"Princess, you know that my brother regards you well, right?"
"... Yes."
"According to the original plan, I planned to break off the engagement before my brother woke up and inform him of your atrocities. But my brother wanted to see you. So, I couldn't bear to tell him what you had done."
Even though she had been informed of this in advance, Lilith's eyes wavered aimlessly.
"You wanted to be Empress, right? Then you'll have to act straight from now on. Because I don't want Leopold to get hurt."
"That means..."
"Don't let my brother know anything about what you have done so far. Then I will turn a blind eye to your atrocities."
In the end, the Duke of Sevans closed his eyes tightly due to Lucian's murderous threats.
"But if my brother finds out that you like me... You have to keep in mind that you won't be able to get over it like before."
Lilith's face turned pale and she was terrified.
Lucian decided that this much advice was enough and left.
The door opened and the two people entered the room.
"Lilith!"
Lilith lifted her head up at the sound of a voice slightly higher than Lucian's.
"You've become prettier. I feel like so much has changed since we haven't seen each other."
Leopold was smiling brightly.
Hair that falls past the shoulders, thin shoulders, and a thin face. Compared to Lucian, his appearance was unsightly, but his smile was stilI like a sunny ray of sunshine.
He is completely different from the Lucian she loves.
But for some reason, just looking at him made Lilith out of breath. Feeling sick to her stomach and the tip of her nose twitching. Lilith hurriedly covered her face with the back of her hand.
The Duke of Sevans, who noticed his daughter's strange behavior, moved forward and faced Leopold.
"I guess five years is quite a long time. Duke, you couldn't escape the ravages of time."
"You're still in your prime. I'm so glad. you woke up safely. How are you feeling now?"
"Good! You can't say that...... I'm eating hard and building up my stamina. I need at least a month of rehabilitation treatment before I can walk to some degree."
"I will provide you with medicinal herbs so that Your Majesty can recover more quickly."
Leopold blinked at the words 'Your Majesty' and then burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha ha ha. Yes, I am Emperor now. I keep forgetting this. I just closed my eyes and opened my eyes, and I went from Crown Prince to Emperor. Please help me so that I can settle down in the future."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Take care of our Lucian too."
Duke Sevans trembled when Lucian was mentioned.
"Your Majesty, what do you plan to do with Lucian?"
"We will officially announce Lucian's existence. The position is... Yes, the Archduke would be perfect."
"It won't be easy. Many imperial citizens are skeptical about twins."
"Rumors can be covered up with new rumors. It may be noisy at first.. but it will soon become what I want."
Even though he had to persuade not just one or two people, but the entire Empire, including the nobles, Leopold was confident.
He had never done anything like this before, so it was truly a great feeling of confidence.
"What... That's only possible when I take over in earnest. Besides, Lucian said he doesn't want to be tied down here anymore and wants to leave the palace."
Lilith, who had been silent at Leopold's complaints, trembled. She realized that Lucian really meant to leave this place for good.
Until now, she thought it was just a superficial statement...
'What on earth should I do?'
Even when her father gave her advice a few days ago, Lilith denied reality, interpreted the situation as she pleased, and assumed that everything would work out the way she wanted in the end.
But everything that unfolded before her eyes did not match her expectations at all.
Love or power?
Now she really had to choose between the two.
"I want to talk to Lilith for the first time in a while. Could you please make room for me?"
"Of course, Your Majesty."
At that time, Duke Sevans, who had finished the conversation, looked back at Lilith.
He frowned as he looked at his daughter, who was unable to control her expression and had a swarthy face.
The Duke whispered low so that only she could hear.
"Get your mind straight. This is the last chance we have."
The hand touching her shoulder was particularly heavy. Duke Sevans left and Lilith stood there awkwardly.
Leopold chuckled when he saw her like that.
"Don't just stand there, come here."
Although he was completely different from Lucian, his face was still the same, so it was very unfamiliar to hear a friendly voice coming from that face, and...
Was Leopold always like that?
Is it because they haven't seen each other in 5 years? Or is it because she sees Lucian overlapping with him?
For some reason, he didn't look like the Leopold she knew.
Lilith walked gently. As she sat down on the chair next to the bed, she felt Leopold's passionate gaze. There was silence. Since Leopold did not speak first, Lilith could not open her mouth.
Lilith, who thought the atmosphere was strange, finally turned to face Leopold. And she trembled without even realizing it.
"The eyes..."
It's definitely a smiling face. The smile on his lips was kind, and the corners of his eyes were softly curved like a crescent moon. But his golden eyes felt cold. Even more than the cold look from Lucian that she had received so far.
Lilith, who was puzzled, made eye contact with Leopold again, but as if she had been mistaken, Leopold was looking in love.
"How have you been?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I can't believe you're telling me to disown you. It is awkward. Just call me Leopold like before, Lilith."
Lilith couldn't help but nod at Leopold's expression, which was still like the sun.
Since then, the two have had a lot of conversations.
As the story continued, Lilith's uncomfortable feelings gradually eased, and for the first time in five years, Lilith was able to talk comfortably with someone.
***
Two weeks have passed since Leopold woke up.
Lucian, who was busy preparing for the handover, hurried to the reception room with Leah when he heard that an unexpected guest had arrived.
Suddenly...
When he opened the door, the woman waiting inside got up.
"I meet Your Majesty, the great Emperor."
Leah and Lucian looked at the woman who greeted them calmly with somewhat bewildered expressions.
The person who came to see Lucian was Diane Reifle.
"I thought you would never come again."
That was Leah's original intention.
"However, since you gave me my great-grandfather's precious posthumous work, I thought it would be polite to visit you again."
Diane stood up again and bent down so that the top of her head was visible.
"Thank you so much for finding my great-grandmother's portrait."
The portrait Leah gave Diane was that of Henri Reifle's wife.
Diane's great-grandmother was 77 years old and still alive.
"My great-grandmother was very old and did not have much energy, but she was very happy when she saw my great-grandfather's posthumous work. This is all thanks to my benefactor."
"A benefactor, no. Please feel free to call me Leah."
Diane, who had been depressed at the sight of Leah holding out her hand, smiled brightly.
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