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nChapter 5. First Meeting (1)

nTranslator: Gold

nThey were on the table during breakfast as usual.

nLawrence was sitting at the head of the table, and Miraila was sitting next to him.

nDespite the presence of the servants, Miraila attended Lawrence personally.

nShe spoke sweetly to him as he buttered the bread or cut the fish.

n“It was a bit hot last night, did you sleep well?”

n“Yes. The temperature drops as it gets dark.”

n“But as soon as the sun comes up, it starts to get hot. If you don’t have an appetite, let me know. I’ll talk to the chef to prepare your favorite food, winter melon soup.”

n“Yes, that’s fine.”

nWith one graceful move, Lawrence shoved the cut fish into his mouth. Since she was a child, Artizea had envied Miraila’s attentions to her brother. Because she did not receive the same love from her mother.

nSo, wanting to get a little closer to both of them, she sat as close to them as possible.

nAnd in Miraila’s absence, she looked after Lawrence, thinking it was her duty.

nEven after she realized it wasn’t her duty, she convinced herself to do it.

nLawrence was someone of value, who would be able to become the emperor. Lawrence was also the one who would make Miraila an honorable and distinguished person in the future.

nSo, of course, he would be treasured. Artizea was not in the same position.

nBut now, she had no interest in either of them.

nDuring her torture, her lingering feelings for Lawrence disappeared. Her attachment to Miraila had disappeared before that.

nShe knew that her existence was like a tumor to Miraila. Similar to the late Marquis Rosan.

nArtizea finished breakfast, she only ate the bread and salad.

nShe didn’t have much of an appetite. Besides, she wanted to get out quickly to check the current situation.

nThe Salmon Meunière, which had been prepared as the main dish for breakfast, was not even placed in front of her.

nAs she wiped her mouth and stood up, Miraila said abruptly.

n“Your brother hasn’t finished half his meal yet, but are you getting up already?”

nOnly then did Miraila realize that Artizea was not sitting next to her as usual, but she was sitting in a distant seat.

nHer beautiful brown eyes rounded.

nIn the past, Artizea would have apologized, but not now.

n“I don’t have much of an appetite. Besides, you always told me I had to lose some weight.”

nArtizea said calmly.

nIn her childhood before she was ten, she was chubby.

nMiraila always told her she was too fat and ate too much. That she should eat little like birds to maintain her figure.

nBecause of that, Artizea developed an eating disorder at that time.

nIf she didn’t eat anything, she would only have bones, so Miraila shouldn’t tell her to lose weight.

nHowever, Miraila used to tell her all the time that she had to lose weight.

nMiraila got angry.

n“But you must keep your table manners…”

n“Today I’d like to visit the temple outside the city. Is that okay, brother?”

nShe asked Lawrence for permission to go out, as she was sure that Miraila would not give it to her. That way, Artizea would also avoid hearing her reproaches.

nThe only thing that Lawrence cared about Artizea was her ability to serve. He didn’t care for her as a younger sister.

nMiraila was about to explode, but she stopped when Lawrence slowly opened his mouth.

n“It’s okay, you can go.”

n“Thank you, brother.”

nSaid Artizea, making Miraila rethink the words she would say.

nThen Miraila said in a radiant voice.

n“How can you be so considerate? You even think about your sister…”

nArtizea had a lot of things to do and she couldn’t worry about that.

nWhen she came out, Alice, a maid close to her, approached her quickly.

n“My lady, didn’t you eat well again? Why did you leave so soon? Usually you…”

n“Alice.”

nArtizea stared at Alice.

nShe felt a little nostalgic.

nAlice was her first personal maid. She was perceptive and loyal, but because of that, she was poisoned instead of Artizea.

n“…”

n“What is the matter, my lady?”

n“It’s nothing.”

nNot knowing what to say, Artizea just turned her head.

nAt that time, Artizea tried to take care of Alice’s family members for the rest of their lives, because she was always loyal to her.

nWhat happened to Alice’s family after she was incarcerated?

nNot only with Alice’s family, but also with the other families of those who died for Artizea.

nArtizea had designed a structure to ensure that financial support would continue to be given no matter what happened to her.

nShe was also in charge of hiding the money and its link to that, in case something bad happened.

nConsidering that she was being more careful after she had eliminated all her political enemies, she had probably been suspicious of Lawrence long before she was falsely accused.

n“My lady, are you laughing?”

n“Did I laugh?”

n“Yes. In this way.”

nAlice laughed, mimicking her expression.

nArtizea did not even show the faintest smile and turned around instead.

nEven if it was an encounter after 20 years, her personality did not allow her to rejoice and embrace the other person with joy.

n“I’m going out. I’m going to the Temple.”

n“Yes, my lady.”

n“Alice, come.”

nArtizea gestured for her to come closer.

nAlice leaned down and brought her ear to Artizea’s lips.

nArtizea whispered to her what she had to do.

nWhen Alice straightened up, she said.

n“So, go to the kitchen and prepare a lunch box with sandwiches stuffed with plenty of meat.”

n“Oh, my lady. Have you finally decided to stop dieting?”

n“I think I need to strengthen my body.”

n“You’re right. You need to eat more.”

n“It’s uncomfortable to eat alone. So prepare and pack at least 5 more portions. Also, pack a picnic tea set.”

n“Okay.”

nAlice was confused. But she had never questioned Artizea’s decisions.

n“I don’t have much time, so do it quickly. Sophie will get me dressed.”

n“Yes, my lady.”

nAlice left quickly.

nArtizea went slowly to her room.

nAfter breakfast, Artizea usually changed into her afternoon dress. That’s why Sophie was already in front of her boudoir.

n“Which dress do you wish to wear?”

n“Beige… no, better green.”

nSaid Artizea, thinking it would be annoying if the dress got dirty.

nArtizea didn’t have many clothes.

nUnlike Miraila who had four dressing rooms full of clothes, Artizea had a boudoir with almost nothing.

nWhen Miraila was getting dressed there were about 20 maids around her serving her. On the other hand, Artizea only had Sophie to serve her.

nJust by saying ‘green’, Sophie knew which dress she was talking about and ran quickly to the closet.

nHowever, it was a long time since she wore formal dresses.

nMiraila did not like going out with Artizea, and she did not like the idea of Artizea having contact with outsiders.

nShe always told her that it was embarrassing that her horrible daughter was out and about.

nArtizea didn’t completely believe her words.

nFrom Miraila’s perspective, Artizea was proof that she had betrayed the emperor, so she did not want to show her in public.

nHowever, she could not yet look directly into the mirror and appreciate her face.

nSophie took off Artizea’s outer garment and she sat down in front of the dressing table.

nThen she asked Artizea, although she knew that she didn’t care.

n“How would you like your hair done?”

n“Neatly… no.”

nArtizea took a deep breath and said something she had never said in her life.

n“Make it pretty.”

n“Oh my.”

nSophie was surprised but immediately smiled brightly.

n“Well, I guess you’re at that age too.”

n“What age?”

n“You want to look pretty and date handsome guys.”

n“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ll just go to the temple.”

n“You could meet someone at the temple. Maybe it’s a charming knight or someone like that.”

n“Who would put me in their eyes?”

nThis was the first time she said anything like that.

nThe appearance was important. Thinking about what she was going to do today, it would actually be good to look pretty.

nHowever, it was not significant to her. Because her real value wasn’t in looks.

nHowever, it seemed as if she really wanted to look pretty.

nShe knew she couldn’t and shouldn’t have that kind of relationship with the person she was meeting today.

nSophie opened her eyes wide and smiled.

n“Isn’t that what you expect?”

n“Sophie.”

n“Don’t worry. I’ll just make sure any man you meet is interested in you.”

nSophie said cheerfully, as she curled Artizea’s hair.

n“My lady, you can become the number one beauty in high society because you are naturally very beautiful. You just need to gain some weight and get some more sleep.”

n“Nonsense.”

n“You know you’re Miraila’s daughter. To be honest, considering her age, now the jewel of high society is… jeez!”

nSophie quickly fell silent when the door opened.

nIt was Miraila. Lawrence seemed to have finished eating.

nMiraila looked around the boudoir. And when she saw that Artizea was being combed, she said scornfully.

n“You don’t intend to seduce men with that ugly face and that pitiful appearance. Do you?”

nSophie said nothing and concentrated on what she was doing.

nArtizea spoke calmly.

n“I’m going to the temple. What would I do by seducing the priest, mother?”

n“Then why is she curling your hair? Like an old woman?”

nArtizea looked at Miraila through the mirror.

nMiraila plopped down on a sofa in the boudoir .

n“Didn’t my brother say he was going out today?”

n“He already left.”

nMiraila sighed, lamenting.

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