“Liliana, the First Prince has sent you an engagement letter.”
Silence came over the table at the topic Father brought up during dinner.
I dropped my fork in surprise, and the tableware fell on the quiet table, creating an unpleasant sound.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes?”
Viola asked with a slight frown as I clutched my startled heart.
“Where are you hurt?”
I quickly smoothed my expression at the worried expression that overshadowed my fear of being scolded.
“Oh, I am not hurt at all.”
Viola looked at me, not paying attention to the tremendous news Father brought out earlier.
After I kept saying it was okay, I nodded lightly and started to focus on my meal.
‘Oh, is everything going to be all right?’
In my dream, Viola obviously disapproved of Liliana’s engagement, so I carefully examined the atmosphere flowing on the table.
“Is that so?”
Liliana had a calm reaction.
It was different from her excited reaction in my dream.
She even smiled leisurely as she took a sip of the water.
“There shouldn’t have been a sudden call from the Imperial family… Did Grandmother come forward herself?”
“It seems they had a private conversation.”
Liliana nodded as if she had expected Father’s words.
“Then give me a little more time to think about it.”
“I will.”
“You don’t have to worry too much. If you don’t like it, we’ll take care of it.”
At the words of Father and Mother, Liliana erased the smile from her lips and muttered.
“I don’t know if that will work for me.”
However, her voice was so small that it didn’t seem to reach Father.
‘Am I the only one who heard it?’
I blinked and glanced sideways.
Father and Mother were seen talking, and Viola was focusing only on the food in front of her, not paying attention.
Liliana, the center of the topic, was also drinking tea in front of her as if it were not an important matter.
‘Why does it feel like I’m the only one who cares?’
Liliana and Viola’s reaction was quieter than I thought, so I was a little taken aback.
‘It’s different from my dream, so perhaps I don’t have to worry too much?’
As I thought about it, I immediately shook my head.
‘No, you can’t let your guard down.’
If you let your guard down because of a trivial matter, you will get into trouble.
‘Even if she doesn’t seem to have any feelings now, she might fall in love with the First Prince if she spends time with him. No, maybe she’s already interested in him…’
It was also necessary to stick by Liliana’s side for a while.
‘More importantly, it’s an engagement led by Grandmother…’
Suddenly, I was worried that even if Liliana didn’t like the engagement, it might be difficult to refuse it if Grandmother herself stepped forward.
‘It’s really difficult.’
When I recalled Grandmother’s stern expression, I lost interest in the food I had enjoyed until a moment ago.
I rummaged through the food for no reason as I was worrying about this and that, and when I let out a deep sigh, Liliana poked me in the shoulder from next to me.
“Daisy. You don’t have an appetite?”
I smiled as nonchalantly as possible at her.
“I must have eaten a lot of desserts earlier. I am full.”
As I added a plausible reason, Liliana and Viola erased their worried faces and smiled.
“I’m so glad the three of you got along.”
“I agree. It’s really nice to see. If our beautiful flowers continue to get along like this, I have nothing to wish for anymore”
Mother made a happy face at Father’s touched voice.
I smiled at my sisters and parents.
I shouldn’t forget my promise to protect my precious family.
‘Who cares if it’s difficult. I have to make it work somehow.’
The relationship between Liliana and the First Crown Prince.
I had to figure it out first.
✲ ✲ ✲
‘I’m tired…’
I secretly sighed as I looked at the friendly small little party.
It was good to decide to follow Liliana, but she went out more often than I thought, and I thought having ten bodies wouldn’t be enough to follow her since she was busy everywhere like a main character.
‘But I don’t think she’s made any contact with the First Prince.’
Finding out the relationship between the two was the first priority, but there was no sign of them having an encounter, so there was no progress.
‘It’s so difficult because she keeps following me every time we go out.’
Today, too, I followed Liliana to Lady Poppint’s tea party.
‘Liliana is over there…’
I let out a tired sigh after seeing Liliana talking to Lady Poppint nearby.
I massaged my tired shoulder and when I saw a familiar figure approaching me, a smile appeared on my face.
“Long time no see, Iris.”
“Nice to meet you, Daisy!”
Iris came up to me with a bright face and greeted me.
“We exchanged letters, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other, so it’s nice to see you from afar.”
“Me, too. Thank you very much for sending me letters. The stories you told me are so much fun that I always look forward to your letters.”
We sat down at a table that was arranged for a little chat.
“How have you been, Iris?”
“I’ve been fine! I’m attending a lot of parties these days. It’s hard because I’m busy getting people used to my face.”
Iris laughed a little as she pretended to weep.
This was the second time we met in person, but because we had exchanged letters, I didn’t feel awkward.
“I’ve gotten close to a lot of people, but Daisy, you know that you’re the most important person to me, right? My precious first friend!”
When I answered yes to her bright voice, she laughed happily.
As we were chatting, the young ladies around us also started to gather, and the group naturally grew.
“By the way, Daisy. I heard that Liliana might get engaged soon?”
And as the group grew bigger, Liliana’s story naturally couldn’t be left out.
‘I am at my wit’s end.’
I wanted to avoid this topic as much as possible, but it didn’t seem easy.
Above all, Iris was also waiting for my answer with her eyes shining full of curiosity.
I glanced at Iris and smiled.
The light green dress that went well with the color of her hair was a dress that went viral after Lilliana wore it not too long ago.
In these small details, Iris’ respect and fondness for Liliana were revealed.
I smiled slightly, thinking that it couldn’t be avoided.
“Let’s see. Nothing has been confirmed yet, so I am cautious about what to say.”
It meant that since nothing had been decided, I would be careful with my mouth.
However, how they interpreted my reaction opened a door to conversation among themselves.
“It’s being quietened down, but it’s true that the First Prince is the closest candidate.”
“That’s right. Duke Liviatan knows that, so he must be thinking carefully about it.”
“Honestly, those two look good together. He’s so handsome…”
At the words of a young lady whose cheek turned red, people around her nodded shyly.
There was no dissatisfaction or jealousy on her face, only respect and great envy.
‘You can’t win anyway so you’re not jealous, is that it?’
While I was alone in my thoughts, Iris, who was next to me, asked sneakily.
“By the way, there are also First Princess and Second Prince. Is it okay to say this?”
“Ah, you don’t know, Miss Iris.”
In response to Iris’ question, a young lady next to her nodded in understanding.
“I don’t think the princess is interested in the crown position. She’s not interested in anything other than play.”
“Then what about the Second Prince?”
“You don’t even know about him?”
At Iris’ question, another lady kindly added an explanation
“Not all of the Imperial family are the same. How could he dare to covet the throne when there is low blood flowing through half of his body.”
It was a story that was carefully brought up in a whisper, but they laughed as they treated it as a light joke.
My heart sank at her carelessness.
‘What if you get arrested for insulting the Imperial family?’
“Oh, I see. By the way! Do you know that Lord Grayton is coming back to the Imperial family this time? He’s a historian…”
Iris tried to divert her words, perhaps sensing that the subject was off-topic, but they didn’t stop.
“Honestly, when you think about the lineage, that’s probably the case, right?”
‘I can’t believe you bring this up when I am next to you.’
The moment I was about to tell her to stop, the sound of laughter stopped at the voice that came from behind me.
“No matter how small the party is, you have to watch your mouth.”
All the people gathered turned their heads stiffly.
Liliana didn’t mind the awkward gesture and gave a warning.
“If Viola was here, she would have drawn a sword on you right away. How dare you talk about the Liviatan and the Imperial family.”
“I, that…”
Someone panicked and tried to come up with an excuse, but it didn’t work on Liliana.
“Be careful from now on.”
Liliana finished her words with her eyes on each of the young ladies who were talking nonsense.
“There won’t be a next time.”
While a chilly air flowed through the friendly party, Liliana suddenly clapped her hands and changed the atmosphere.
“Did you enjoy the party today, Daisy?”
“…Yes, I had fun.”
“I am glad.”
Liliana couldn’t hide her proud expression.
Her smile softened the atmosphere once again.
There were occasional whispers about the way she treated me, but Liliana reached out to me without caring about it.
“Let’s go home now, Daisy.”
It was hard to believe that she was a woman who had been cold and angry just a moment ago.
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