Chapter 81

“As expected, that’s a lie!”

At the bright voice, Azela coughed and turned her gaze to the air. If she said anymore here, she’d be embarrassed to say she slept with him, and the nights were too fancy to lie around. As if they knew what Azela’s gaze turning into the space meant, the maids faced each other and smiled brightly.

At the same time, they shouted vigorously at her.

“Thank you!”

What did the Master do to the maid? Azela took a deep breath as she gazed at the maids who looked exactly like Zagnac and turned her gaze away.

* * *

Princess Livia came to Duke Ferial’s residence only after a late lunch. Contrary to what they had expected that she would e with all sorts of preparations by sending a letter in advance, she was modest.

The carriage she was riding on was different.

When Chises came, the Imperial Family’s symbol was drawn in a large pattern, with jewels that are hard to find in the market though she just came in a simple wooden carriage with no jewels in it.

The dress she was wearing was also somewhat mysterious. Even though she was obviously pretty, the length didn’t suit her. The sleeves were short, revealing her wrists, and the short length showed her toe with every step.

“Greetings, Princess.”

Azela, who was standing behind him, hurriedly bowed her head as Zagnac bowed to greet Livia.

That wasn’t the only strange thing. Even if she was the eighth princess, she was still a princess, so when she went out, it was normal that she must be acpanied by many people. Nonetheless, the only panion by her side was a knight. Even that, the knight didn’t even look trustworthy.

“Did you have your meal?”

“…I had a simple one.”

“I thought you would e in time for lunch, but it was later than expected. What happened on your way?”

Zagnac escorted Livia himself and asked with a gentle voice. It was not a kindness towards a woman, but a little girl—like a cute nephew.

“No. It just happened to…”

Livia answered his question with a dark face and closed her lips. As if something bad had happened to her, her face did not look as good as the last time.

Even Azela, who was following her, was concerned. The next moment, Zagnac said in a bright voice, seeing Livia’s figure with a disproportionately dark plexion and her gaze going down.

“Then, how about dessert together?”

“…Dessert?”

Livia raised her head which had been bowed down with twinkling eyes. Her two cheeks, which had lost their light, were glowing red with anticipation.

“Yes, do you have a favorite dessert?”

“…”

At that, she furrowed her brow with a serious face. She looked like she was in deep trouble. Seeing how passionately she thought about it, Azela had a warm smile on her lips without realizing it.

Livia, who had been thinking passionately, asked in a trembling voice.

“Well then…”

“Yes, tell me.”

“Do, do you have a strawberry tart?”

“Strawberry tart, nice. Let’s have a tart for today’s dessert.”

Livia, who had a bright smile to Zagnac’s answer, nodded her head passionately. She then hastened her steps with excitement. Meanwhile, Azela, who saw the two smiling at each other, bowed her head. Seeing the two people getting along well, her steps were slowing down.

‘…What?’

At that moment, her eyes caught on to Livia’s ankles, which hurried her excited steps.

Her dress was short, revealing her ankles with every step she took. Azela frowned as she focused more on Livia’s ankles. Then, astonished by it, she lifted her bowed head again and saw Livia’s back as she moved away.

On the tender ankle was a black bruise larger than a fist.

* * *

“Please eat.”

Princess Livia’s mouth widened as she looked at the dessert placed in front of her. The young child had luminous eyes, red cheeks, and a wide open mouth.

Zagnac and Azela both smiled at that sight.

“Can, can…”

…Can I eat it?

Livia, who was about to ask, suddenly realized that she was not keeping her dignity, stopped before coughing, and turned her gaze away from the dessert. However, she seemed to be unable to do anything about the way she glanced at the countless tarts.

“Let’s talk while we eat.”

Considering Livia, Zagnac put a small tart elegantly on his plate first. As he took a bite of the dessert, Livia nodded her head, and she followed him by putting a dessert on her plate.

Her appearance was so sloppy and clumsy—the Princess even looked like she had a dessert for the first time. Zagnac didn’t say anything so Livia could slowly enjoy this time.

Taking a bite of the tart, she concentrated her mind on the dessert as if she had forgotten her purpose of ing here. The way she ate, she didn’t look like she had just eaten lunch. Even if she was afraid that time would be wasted, Livia, who was eating like crazy, looked pitiful.

As she took every bite of the dessert that was set on the table, Zagnac asked, who was smiling while resting his chin.

“Is this your first time having dessert?”

“….!”

Perhaps, it was a rude question to ask the princess if it was her first time eating dessert. Hearing Zagnac’s question, Livia dropped the fork in her hand to the floor with a surprised face.

Her face was redder than a ripe apple or a rose in full bloom.

“Ho, how…”

Tears welled up in Livia’s eyes… The first time.

Seeing this, Azela frowned slightly. Why…? Being a princess and a member of the Imperial Family, yet only eating dessert for the first time? She didn’t understand, so for a moment, Azela’s mind flashed to the bruised ankle she had seen earlier.

“That that—”

“It’s okay, calm down.”

Livia looked helplessly bewildered, so Zagnac calmed her down with a relaxed voice. Still, she did not seem to be calming down. When he handed warmed milk to her, Livia lifted the mug on the table with trembling hands.

But soon, the mug slipped from her trembling hand and spilled onto the carpet.

“Oh, dear.”

Zagnac exclaimed softly as he glanced at the milk soaking the carpet. It was no big deal as the spilled milk would just need to be wiped off, and the wet carpet would have to be washed. However, Livia seemed to approach it a little differently.

When the milk wetted the carpet, Livia’s eyes went wide open as her shoulders stiffened, and she hurriedly raised her body from the sofa she had been sitting on.

“I’m, I’m sorry…”

And, as she habitually said her apology, she knelt down on her knees before hurriedly wiping the drenched carpet with the ends of her dress. It happened so quickly that no one had time to stop it. The parlor became quiet in an instant.

As the still silence lingered, Livia came to her senses and her face flushed with shame.

“…Take my hand.”

Azela, who was standing behind Zagnac, moved quickly. She reached out to Livia, who was still on her knees, not knowing what to do. Tears welled up in Livia’s eyes and ran down her cheeks.

Livia, reaching out her trembling hand, grabbed Azela’s arm and stood up.

“Can I take her to my bedroom and change her dirty clothes?”

When she turned her head and asked Zagnac, who was watching the situation with interest, he only shrugged his shoulders lightly and replied leisurely, ‘As you want.’ It seemed that he just thought it was funny.

‘That devil.’

Seeing that, she lightly scolded Zagnac through her narrowed eyes. Placing Livia’s cold hand on her own arm, she walked into her bedroom with Livia. On the way there, Livia didn’t say a word all the way to the bedroom until they arrived.

Azela asked, who sent the maids who wanted to help out of the bedroom.

“If there’s a color you like…”

No, now was not the time to ask that.

Seeing Livia’s dark face, Azela stopped and shook her head. She opened the dressing room and pulled out a dress Zagnac had prepared for her.

‘This must be too big.’

Azela, who tilted her head and glanced at the dress, tucked it back in and pulled out her own dress from Todd’s mansion. It was the dress she wore when she was younger than she was now. Although this one will be big, it was better than that.

Pulling it out, she walked over to Livia.

“This is the dress I used to wear. It’s been kept clean, so it’s not bad, so how about changing into this?”

“….”

Livia nodded her head without saying a word.

Azela, who had the dress hanging on a hanger, walked behind her and untied the laces of Livia’s dress. At that, Livia, who had never said anything before, clasped her shoulders and cried out loudly in surprise.

“I, I will do it myself!”