IBMILRFL | Chapter 78

Episode 78

The Crown Prince had taken a seat as he pleased, but I didn’t show any sign of surprise.

I had expected this from the start.

I simply sat beside him with a blank expression and spoke calmly.

“I had high expectations since it was a performance hosted by the Imperial Family, but the management is a mess. They let someone else into the seat I paid for.”

The Crown Prince let out a faint smirk, as if he found my words amusing.

“For all that, you seem pretty calm. Well, I’m sure you’ve already figured it out, but I pulled some strings because I wanted to see you after a long time.”

“You say that as if it’s something to be proud of.”

“That’s the beauty of power, isn’t it?”

He shrugged his shoulders with a shameless smile.

The people of the Empire wouldn’t even dare imagine that the admired Crown Prince was actually this self-centered and authoritarian.

“Is there a reason why Your Highness would want to meet me? Considering what happened recently, we’re not exactly on friendly terms.”

“Haha, did you look into me?”

He suddenly burst out laughing, as if something was hilariously funny.

He was undoubtedly a dazzling beauty, but just facing that face made me feel repulsed.

I responded in a sharp voice with my signature biting smile.

“That goes both ways, doesn’t it?”

Leo looked flustered, seemingly not expecting me to show such open hostility.

There was another reason I felt so much resentment toward him.

Was it simply because he was the villain in the original story?

Or because he had been pressuring the Winder family in every possible way?

If that were all, I wouldn’t have been this enraged just by facing him.

This bastard in front of me had targeted Lilliana’s life.

And he had used Cedric Henry, who held a grudge against me, to do it.

I found out about this just recently.

After Cedric’s hostage situation had been resolved, I continued investigating him. I couldn’t shake the feeling that his escape after being handed over to the guards was too unnatural.

‘As if someone else helped him…’

Above all, there was one question I couldn’t get rid of.

I had always kept my guard up against Cedric. I had hardly ever shown myself together with Lilliana in front of him, just in case she got dragged into anything.

‘Then how did Cedric come to target Lilliana instead of me?’

Perhaps someone had incited him.

After a long period of digging, I finally discovered the truth.

Cedric had the Crown Prince, Leo, backing him.

Because of this bastard—who I couldn’t forgive even if I ground my teeth—Lilliana had nearly been in serious danger.

The fury rose again just thinking about it, and I clenched my fist without realizing it. My nails dug into my skin, nearly drawing blood.

“Whoa, whoa, no need to get so worked up. You know as well as I do—I didn’t really have a choice. How could I pass up such a golden opportunity? I could get what I wanted without lifting a finger.”

It wasn’t hard to figure out what he meant by a “golden opportunity.”

Cedric Henry, who had a grudge against me. And Lilliana, who met with me frequently.

Even if he didn’t know the exact nature of our relationship… the Crown Prince must’ve thought that if he egged Cedric on well enough, Cedric might harm Lilliana.

“Anyway, there’s no reason for you to be angry, is there? It failed from the start… and besides, you weren’t my target.”

“That’s for me to decide.”

I felt so disgusted I nearly retched. Did he really think I didn’t see through his ploy?

What made the Crown Prince’s methods so revolting wasn’t just that he targeted Lilliana.

It was that he could use it to keep Tristan, who cherished his sister, in check, and also shake the Winder family’s position.

The grudge directed at me would inevitably bring responsibility upon my shoulders.

There’s no way that bastard hadn’t thought all of this through.

And now he had the nerve to say I wasn’t the target.

This was exactly why I had despised the Crown Prince from the start.

With cunning schemes, he was used to manipulating people however he pleased. Of course, I had no intention of letting him get away with it.

When I still didn’t avert my hostile gaze, Leo sighed as if disappointed.

“To see you this worked up… It’s not like you. Anyone would think you truly care for Lady Locke.”

“Anyone would be angry if someone went after their future daughter-in-law in such an obviously calculated way.”

“Mmm, your acting really is impressive. I almost fell for it myself. I thought not just jeremyon Winder but even you truly cherished her.”

The Crown Prince crossed his legs arrogantly. His radiant golden eyes glinted with a serpent-like malice.

Sensing the shift in mood, I instinctively realized what he was about to say next was his real point today.

“I’ve heard everything. That your son and daughter-in-law are actually… in a contractual relationship.”

His eyes gleamed sharply in the darkness.

Following Vanessa’s instructions to go to the lounge and fix her outfit, Lilliana headed toward the first-floor lobby with her guards.

Her expression, as she walked down the stairs, was dark—completely opposite to how it had been just a few minutes ago.

‘Mother… what could’ve happened?’

Lilliana recalled Vanessa’s expression from earlier.

After exchanging a few words with the staff at the entrance, she had looked unusually tense. And shortly after that, she’d abruptly sent Lilliana away.

‘She said my outfit was a mess, but it didn’t seem like she meant it.’

Lilliana had spent quite a bit of time by Vanessa’s side. She could easily tell whether or not the woman was speaking sincerely.

Thanks to that, she had quickly realized—Vanessa had sent her away to keep her out of something.

And the fact that she had even told her to take the guards showed that she was worried for her safety.

She had obediently followed the order for now, but… she still couldn’t help worrying.

‘If something really did happen… will Mother be okay on her own?’

Of course, Lilliana firmly believed that there was nothing in the world Vanessa couldn’t handle. She also knew that obeying her would be more helpful right now.

But… she had received so much help from her over time.

So if something had truly happened, she wanted to help. She wanted to face it together.

‘But right now, I’d only get in the way.’

She knew. With her timid personality, she’d only hold Vanessa back rather than help.

‘It’s hard… so hard.’

She had stuck closely to Vanessa’s side and learned many things. She had regained her confidence and grown more self-assured.

‘But even this isn’t enough yet. Not enough to stand beside her.’

She still found it difficult to raise her voice when it mattered—how could she possibly be of help to Vanessa?

“Haa…”

Lilliana let out a frustrated sigh.

Lost in thought, before she knew it, she had arrived back on the first floor.

The theater was still bustling with people trying to enter.

Lilliana tried to quietly pass through the chattering crowd and head to the lounge.

Her role was to stay in the lounge and keep herself safe so that Vanessa wouldn’t worry until things were sorted out.

So even though she felt eyes on her, Lilliana didn’t bother to listen to the surrounding conversations.

“Oh my, why is Lady Locke coming back this way?”

“Her expression’s a bit dark. Do you think that scoundrel might’ve harassed her again?”

“Ah… I thought it was strange how close they seemed earlier. But there’s no way that was real.”

“Poor Lady Locke. Just how much has she endured to be able to fake a smile like that…”

All kinds of nonsense buzzed through the crowd, but Lilliana—preoccupied with thoughts of Vanessa—heard none of it.

‘Mother… will you be okay?’

She sighed once more.

And then it happened.

“Oh? Fancy meeting Lady Locke here. But… why the gloomy face?”

Someone stepped in front of her and greeted her as if they were close.

It had happened frequently since the victory banquet, so Lilliana intended to offer a polite response and continue on her way.

But the moment she looked up and saw who it was, she had no choice but to stop in her tracks.

It was none other than Josephine Lint, Seira’s long-time follower, and the one who had often tormented her by Seira’s side.