Liliana’s announcement of her rejection of the engagement caused a storm in the social world.
The buzzing rumors continued to the point that they scratched my ears.
Liliana began to openly sit out social gatherings, and the more she did that, the more malicious rumors began to spread.
“Honestly, isn’t it too much that she wants to covet the dukedom now?”
“That’s right. Other than her youthful and beautiful appearance, she’s just a normal girl.”
“Oh my. She’s still the academy’s top graduate, right?”
“Was she the only top graduate? There are a lot of people like that in the Imperial family.”
‘I’m sick of this.’
Not long ago, they were busy supporting her, but isn’t this change in behavior too drastic?
“Oh my! Could it be that the reason she refused to get engaged is that she has another fiancée?”
“Well. Since she looks so gorgeous, it should be easy for her to seduce a man.”
My brows naturally furrowed at the ensuing insults.
‘You can’t even speak up in front of me!’
Even though they knew I was looking at them, they paid more attention to the whispering people, and then, unable to endure it, I tried to go and tell them.
I tried to get closer to bring out the words in my heart, but someone grabbed my wrist.
“Iris?”
“Don’t go, Daisy.”
Iris pulled me carefully, and I followed her with a disgruntled look.
Iris didn’t let go of my arm until we went outside the party hall.
“I know Daisy wants to be angry with them. But if Daisy gets mad, they’ll get away with it and make Daisy the weirdo.”
“I can’t just sit still and listen. They are insulting my sister!”
At my words, Iris hesitated a little before asking.
“Then, the rumors circulating around are false, right? Miss Liliana is engaged to the First Prince as planned, right?”
“…It’s not a lie. Sister Liliana said she wouldn’t get engaged.”
“I-It’s really true.”
With that short answer, a look of regret passed through her face.
“To be honest, I don’t understand Miss Liliana’s actions.”
“Which part?”
When I asked with a frustrated heart, Iris whispered softly after confirming that no one was around.
“Everyone didn’t think Liliana would inherit the dukedom. We naturally thought she was aiming for the position of the Crown Princess.”
“That’s Sister’s choice. What does that have to do with why she’s being criticized like this?”
“It’s a problem that everyone thought Liliana would be engaged to the First Prince. Most of the young ladies have given up and got engaged to other families.”
“… Is there no one worthy of being the First Prince’s fiancée?”
“If you turn your eyes to the Princess’ faction, there isn’t any. They are similar to the Princess. People who like to enjoy things. That’s why I heard the First Prince doesn’t like them.”
Iris’ words made it clear why Liliana’s actions had caused a stir.
But that’s that.
“And they won’t be helpful for the crown prince selection. By the way, if Liliana ascends to the Duke’s position, would she support the First Prince? I think the fact that she turned down the engagement means that she has no intention of supporting him.”
“I have nothing to say because it hasn’t been discussed in the family yet.”
Iris still looked like she didn’t understand.
She had a frustrated expression as if she was wondering who could sit in the crown prince’s seat if not the First Prince.
I had no answers for her.
I looked around and didn’t hide my displeasure.
“Liliana is not the type to listen to these dirty words. Thanks to this, right now the situation is very unpleasant.”
Despite my anger, Iris calmly continued her explanation.
“Everyone must be panicking and saying something they don’t mean. Don’t be too upset.”
Iris tried to comfort me as much as she could, but there were still many parts of what they said that I didn’t understand.
“But I can’t accept their insults when they said all they need to see is her appearance.”
They were always so obsessed with that appearance and followed her around and now they were busy criticizing and degrading that part of her.
‘To judge Sister Liliana’s value solely on her looks. They’re really narrow-minded.’
Liliana was worth more than her outward beauty for people to disregard so easily.
‘In the first place, do you think being a top graduate is easy?’
It wasn’t even about me but my anger naturally rose, creating a sense of resentment.
“If there are no incidents, the First Prince would be the crown prince, and she would become the empress after she became the crown princess, she would live a life where she didn’t have to envy others, so why did she make such a decision?”
Iris sighed as she covered her cheek with her right hand.
I couldn’t help but pay attention to the voice filled with concern and regret.
“If it were me, I wouldn’t have made that choice.”
As I was dazedly unable to answer Iris’ words, she hurriedly looked at me and apologized.
“I am sorry. You must be feeling complicated, but I said something useless.”
“No. You told me something I didn’t know. You must have already adjusted to the social world, Iris.”
“The social word is no different from the academy. In front of you, they show off, and behind you, they gossip…”
For an instant, her eyes shone fiercely.
However, when I blinked, that energy disappeared and returned to her usual docile eyes.
“That’s why I love Daisy.”
I was grateful, but I didn’t have the strength.
As I continued to feel down, Iris cheered me up once more.
“But these rumors will soon subside. If Liliana becomes the duke and empowers the First Prince, those who said these things would be ashamed.”
Iris cheered me on, saying don’t worry, clenching her fists and cheering me on.
“But I should refrain from going out for a while. I can’t help but feel tired from the words I hear. Thank you, Iris.”
✲ ✲ ✲
I sat down at my desk for the first time in a long time, scribbling hard on the paper in front of my eyes, organizing my thoughts.
‘The reason Sister Liliana in the dream decided to get engaged was because of love.’
First prince, love, engagement ceremony
I wrote down the words and drew a circle around them several times, but I couldn’t come up with the right answer.
‘She said she loved him because he acknowledged her, not because of her looks.’
I couldn’t understand it right away after the dream, but when I heard rumors going around social circles these days, I naturally understood her words.
‘No matter how hard Sister Liliana tried, they were people who would only look at her appearance.’
The way they naturally cut her down as if she were nothing other than her appearance was truly mean.
Of course, there were also people who shrank away and refrained from talking, but most of them insulted Sister.
Apart from being angry, I was also upset, and I threw the pen I was holding on the desk.
Apparently, contrary to what I saw in my dream, Liliana decided not to get engaged.
‘Maybe it’s because of me.’
It was clear that Liliana hadn’t met the First Prince because I had been following Liliana around and spending a lot of time with her.
In that case, I should be relieved that things were obviously going the way I wanted them to.
However, my complicated mind didn’t think of calming down.
‘What did Sister want to be acknowledged for?’
Liliana’s desperate figure I had repeatedly seen in my dreams couldn’t leave my mind.
Liliana’s popularity in society, and the recognition she desired from others.
Until these two questions were solved, I felt like I couldn’t get them out of my head.
I sighed deeply and got up from my seat with a sullen look.
I felt like my head was stiff because I only sat in front of the desk.
‘Should I go to the garden?’
I thought walking around the beautiful garden would refresh my complicated mind a little, so I informed Isabel and left the room alone.
✲ ✲ ✲
The path to the garden was quiet, and the wind blowing in the open nature gently brushed my cheeks, and I naturally smiled.
I stretched out and headed toward the middle of the garden.
There was a swing hanging from a large tree, and it was a place filled with memories of Father taking all three of us for a ride as children.
‘The time we spent together, even if we were forced to it, was really precious.’
After passing through the beautiful flowery path while looking back on the memories, I finally saw the swing.
But someone was sitting on the swing.
It was dark and I couldn’t see them well, so I slowly approached, but the moon that had been hidden by the clouds appeared and shone over the swing.
As the darkness gradually faded, their figure was revealed, showing a mysterious and beautiful sight as if the goddess of beauty had returned to the world.
Her hair, which was dyed in a reddish color, looked particularly black today, but even in the midst of that, her eyes shone bright like amethyst, making me smile.
“Sister Liliana?”
“Daisy? What are you doing so late at night?”
Liliana, lost in thought, rose from her seat, startled.
“I came out because I wanted to take a walk.”
“Really? Me, too. I guess we are in sync today.”
Liliana joyfully took my hand and led me to the swing.
When I looked at the swing I used to ride as a child with longing eyes, she smiled and sat me there.
“It’s strong, so don’t worry too much.”
Thinking that I would be scared, she patted me and sat down next to me.
The swing, which swayed slightly, soon settled into place.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been on this swing together. Should we come with Viola next time?”
“I’d love to.”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t been able to hang out with you lately. My busy schedule will be over soon, so please wait a little longer.”
Liliana winked lightly, saying she was sorry.
I laughed lightly at her cuteness, but when I didn’t say anything, silence flowed.
‘It would be better to ask her directly than to follow her around.’
I remembered what Adelio had said, but I was a little hesitant to ask.
However, the atmosphere was so quiet that it wouldn’t be strange if one of us asked to go back to our rooms, so I opened my mouth.
“Sister, I want to ask you something…”
