Chapter 23
Upon finishing breakfast, Finneas and Selphius left for the Academy. I, on the other hand, walked through the garden with nothing to do, before going to the residences small library to kill my boredom.
Ill read this and that.
Taking out some books I wanted to read and placing them on a small cart, Rebecca, who was following after me, asked carefully.
Since the weathers nice, what about reading outside?
Outside?
Yes, if youre okay with it, Your Highness, Ill prepare some tea and refreshments underneath a big tree with shade from the bright sunlight.
That didnt sound bad. Taking one more book out, I nodded.
Then please prepare a pie thats light to eat, as well.
Ill prepare some apple pie.
Rebecca seemed overjoyed that she could escape the library, which suggested that she did not enjoy reading. Rebecca exited the library with steps full of excitement and a bright smile. Laughing loudly, I walked toward the last bookshelf. As I did so, a thick book caught my eye. It was the family tree of the Lapileon Grand Duchy. It reminded me of the story of the first Grand Duke Lapileon, who started as a normal soldier, rose to the position of General, and in the end received the title of Grand Duke and a requisite territory.
During the war, he severed the heads of several nations kings, and offered them to the Emperor, as well as the heads of rebel force soldiers He made many contributions.
The family tree must have continued from then on.
Its probably okay for me to look at it, right?
I carefully reached out my hand and turned the first page. As I did so, the first thing I saw was a slightly faded portrait.
Theodore?
I couldnt even help myself from calling Theodores name when I looked at the faded portrait. The face drawn on the portrait was so similar that for a moment I mistook it for Theodore. It was scarily similar.
However, underneath the portrait was not Theodores, but another name. Lightly brushing the first Grand Dukes name, of which the ink had been smudged, I mumbled quietly to myself.
Einhardt Orpe Lapileon.
Ugh. As soon as I said his name, my head started ringing. Was it because Id been among the books for too long? I pressed my temple to try and relieve the headache when I heard steps behind me. When I turned my head, I saw the butler knocking on the library door. The butler must have been surprised when he saw my crumpled face, for he rapidly approached.
Your Highness. Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Sir Finneas still hasnt returned yet; should I call for him?
No, my head just hurt a bit. Im fine now.
Goodness, Master doesnt use the library much, so it must not have been properly cleaned. It feels like I can smell the old, dusty scent. Ill make sure to order them to clean it today so not a single piece of dust remains.
Nodding my head, I glanced at the book in my hand. I got the feeling that the first Grand Dukes portrait, which was facing me, was watching me. After staring at First Grand Duke Einhardts eyes, I closed the book with no hesitation.
Its heavy, so Ill organize it for you.
Yes, thanks.
I handed over the Lapileon family tree to the butler. Then, my gaze naturally went to the invitation letter in the butlers hand.
That
Recognizing who had sent the invitation letter right away, I couldnt help but frown.
Another invitation letter came?
Yes, I brought it because His Excellency isnt here right now. Should I leave it on His Excellencys desk?
It was an invitation letter from Dahlia, who seemed not to tire. As I outreached my hand, the butler handed the invitation letter to me. After breaking open the seal to open the invitation letter, neat handwriting filled my eyes.[My beloved Grand Duchess Lapileon.]And not the Grand Duchess Lapileon that you want to kill?[The Grand Duchess, who has refused my invitations to tea parties, marriage congratulatory parties, salon memberships, and even personal invitations to strengthen our friendship.]Id only read the first sentences of the invitation letter, but I could feel incredibly murderous energy coming from it.[The amazing Grand Duchess, who rejects me saying that your body hurts all over whenever I invite you.]Hm. The next sentence was also quite murderous. At this point, wasnt it an invitation to duel, rather than simply an invitation?[I guess I should be understanding, as it seems that whenever Your Highness leaves the estate, you catch some kind of illness.]Oh, so she understood? Was she finally planning to give up on bothering me? However, the following sentence made me forget all dignity as my jaw dropped.[So this time, Im not inviting you; Ill simply go to the Grand Duchess estate myself.]
Just what kind of commoner-will-become-the-Emperor nonsense is this?
I meant that since a commoner could never become the Emperor, it was absolute bullshit. At my response, the butler must have been curious, for he leaned his head over.
What is it?
Ignoring the butlers words, I read the next sentence with trembling eyes.[If you have really just thrown out my invitation letters without reading them, you probably wont be reading this either. Or perhaps, you read them and still ignored them. Regardless, this invitation letter is not an invitation, but a notification that I will be visiting your residence.]Ah, what is this? The thought that it was a relief I had read it today, instead of Theodore just burning it without reading it, came to me. If we hadnt known that this was the contents of the letter, we could have been ambushed without expecting anything! I quickly let the butler know before I read the next sentence.
Send a response that Im sick to the Imperial Palace immediately. Say that Im in such a bad condition that I can barely move a finger, nor can I walk. So tell her not to come.
Then, I quickly read the next sentence. At that moment, I threw the invitation letter onto the ground with a disgusted expression.[Ah, by the way, by the time you receive this invitation letter, Ill have arrived at the Lapileon estate.]The butler, who had been about to leave the library, picked up the thrown invitation letter from the ground and surveyed me. Before the butlers lips could open, a polite knock came at the library door.
Your Highness.
Creak. Like a wooden doll, my head turned stiffly. The maid who had knocked on the door bowed politely before saying something horrifying.
Her Highness Princess Dahlia has arrived at the residence.
W-What the fuck. My face paled as if I couldnt breathe.
D-Did you tell her Im here?
At my question, the maids eyes darted back and forth. Then, she nodded her head and spoke with a trembling voice.
She asked about your bodys condition, so I told her you were doing well.
Damn it, screw it all
We finally meet.
PR Note: Dang, Dahlia finally got the jump on Sasha.
Upon finishing breakfast, Finneas and Selphius left for the Academy. I, on the other hand, walked through the garden with nothing to do, before going to the residences small library to kill my boredom.
Ill read this and that.
Taking out some books I wanted to read and placing them on a small cart, Rebecca, who was following after me, asked carefully.
Since the weathers nice, what about reading outside?
Outside?
Yes, if youre okay with it, Your Highness, Ill prepare some tea and refreshments underneath a big tree with shade from the bright sunlight.
That didnt sound bad. Taking one more book out, I nodded.
Then please prepare a pie thats light to eat, as well.
Ill prepare some apple pie.
Rebecca seemed overjoyed that she could escape the library, which suggested that she did not enjoy reading. Rebecca exited the library with steps full of excitement and a bright smile. Laughing loudly, I walked toward the last bookshelf. As I did so, a thick book caught my eye. It was the family tree of the Lapileon Grand Duchy. It reminded me of the story of the first Grand Duke Lapileon, who started as a normal soldier, rose to the position of General, and in the end received the title of Grand Duke and a requisite territory.
During the war, he severed the heads of several nations kings, and offered them to the Emperor, as well as the heads of rebel force soldiers He made many contributions.
The family tree must have continued from then on.
Its probably okay for me to look at it, right?
I carefully reached out my hand and turned the first page. As I did so, the first thing I saw was a slightly faded portrait.
Theodore?
I couldnt even help myself from calling Theodores name when I looked at the faded portrait. The face drawn on the portrait was so similar that for a moment I mistook it for Theodore. It was scarily similar.
IMG HERE
However, underneath the portrait was not Theodores, but another name. Lightly brushing the first Grand Dukes name, of which the ink had been smudged, I mumbled quietly to myself.
Einhardt Orpe Lapileon.
Ugh. As soon as I said his name, my head started ringing. Was it because Id been among the books for too long? I pressed my temple to try and relieve the headache when I heard steps behind me. When I turned my head, I saw the butler knocking on the library door. The butler must have been surprised when he saw my crumpled face, for he rapidly approached.
Your Highness. Are you uncomfortable somewhere? Sir Finneas still hasnt returned yet; should I call for him?
No, my head just hurt a bit. Im fine now.
Goodness, Master doesnt use the library much, so it must not have been properly cleaned. It feels like I can smell the old, dusty scent. Ill make sure to order them to clean it today so not a single piece of dust remains.
Nodding my head, I glanced at the book in my hand. I got the feeling that the first Grand Dukes portrait, which was facing me, was watching me. After staring at First Grand Duke Einhardts eyes, I closed the book with no hesitation.
Its heavy, so Ill organize it for you.
Yes, thanks.
I handed over the Lapileon family tree to the butler. Then, my gaze naturally went to the invitation letter in the butlers hand.
That
Recognizing who had sent the invitation letter right away, I couldnt help but frown.
Another invitation letter came?
Yes, I brought it because His Excellency isnt here right now. Should I leave it on His Excellencys desk?
It was an invitation letter from Dahlia, who seemed not to tire. As I outreached my hand, the butler handed the invitation letter to me. After breaking open the seal to open the invitation letter, neat handwriting filled my eyes.[My beloved Grand Duchess Lapileon.]And not the Grand Duchess Lapileon that you want to kill?[The Grand Duchess, who has refused my invitations to tea parties, marriage congratulatory parties, salon memberships, and even personal invitations to strengthen our friendship.]Id only read the first sentences of the invitation letter, but I could feel incredibly murderous energy coming from it.[The amazing Grand Duchess, who rejects me saying that your body hurts all over whenever I invite you.]Hm. The next sentence was also quite murderous. At this point, wasnt it an invitation to duel, rather than simply an invitation?[I guess I should be understanding, as it seems that whenever Your Highness leaves the estate, you catch some kind of illness.]Oh, so she understood? Was she finally planning to give up on bothering me? However, the following sentence made me forget all dignity as my jaw dropped.[So this time, Im not inviting you; Ill simply go to the Grand Duchess estate myself.]
Just what kind of commoner-will-become-the-Emperor nonsense is this?
I meant that since a commoner could never become the Emperor, it was absolute bullshit. At my response, the butler must have been curious, for he leaned his head over.
What is it?
Ignoring the butlers words, I read the next sentence with trembling eyes.[If you have really just thrown out my invitation letters without reading them, you probably wont be reading this either. Or perhaps, you read them and still ignored them. Regardless, this invitation letter is not an invitation, but a notification that I will be visiting your residence.]Ah, what is this? The thought that it was a relief I had read it today, instead of Theodore just burning it without reading it, came to me. If we hadnt known that this was the contents of the letter, we could have been ambushed without expecting anything! I quickly let the butler know before I read the next sentence.
Send a response that Im sick to the Imperial Palace immediately. Say that Im in such a bad condition that I can barely move a finger, nor can I walk. So tell her not to come.
Then, I quickly read the next sentence. At that moment, I threw the invitation letter onto the ground with a disgusted expression.[Ah, by the way, by the time you receive this invitation letter, Ill have arrived at the Lapileon estate.]The butler, who had been about to leave the library, picked up the thrown invitation letter from the ground and surveyed me. Before the butlers lips could open, a polite knock came at the library door.
Your Highness.
Creak. Like a wooden doll, my head turned stiffly. The maid who had knocked on the door bowed politely before saying something horrifying.
Her Highness Princess Dahlia has arrived at the residence.
W-What the fuck. My face paled as if I couldnt breathe.
D-Did you tell her Im here?
At my question, the maids eyes darted back and forth. Then, she nodded her head and spoke with a trembling voice.
She asked about your bodys condition, so I told her you were doing well.
Damn it, screw it all
We finally meet.
tl: youj; pr: aila; qc: youj
join us on our discordhereif youre interested!
Aila: Dang, Dahlia finally got the jump on Sasha.
Youj: ah @ dahlia.. interesting headache to the pic of theos ancestor though im getting sus vibes from that and thinking maybe they were lovers reincarnated