CH 127

“Who did you say came?”

“Countess, Countess Todd.”

Hearing Daran’s words, Livia pressed her index finger against her furrowed forehead. She hadn’t received any word in advance nor a letter from Countess Todd that she was coming to visit her today.

As she wondered if she had forgotten, Livia lifted her head and looked at Daran though her handmaiden only shook her head cautiously as if she had read Livia’s thoughts.

“Even though I said you were not an easy person to meet unless a prior arrangement was made…”

“She is reckless.”

Seeing Livia quietly lowered her eyes at her troubled tone, contemplating what to do, Daran hurriedly spoke again after noticing her master’s troubled look.

“Shall I send her back, too?”

‘…If it is Countess Todd, she must be the rumored mistress that sent Miss Vellista out of Todd mansion.’

She was familiar with the rumors. She had a gorgeous and pretty appearance, so she heard that there were many nobles who clung to her.

Livia stood up from where she had been sitting.

“No, I will meet her.”

“Yes…?”

Daran could not hide her surprise, hearing her strong voice. As Livia requested to bring her to the parlor, Daran gave orders to the attendants. Since Livia had nothing to dress up for, there were limits to the trinkets she could have or the dresses she could wear.

Livia, who had done her best to decorate herself pretty and splendidly, made her way to the parlor with graceful gestures.

“Greetings, Princess.”

Entering the parlor, Livia widened her eyes in surprise when she saw Sylvia greeting her. Even though Sylvia was known for being gorgeous and pretty, she didn’t look beautiful in her eyes.

‘…Miss Vellista is much prettier.’

Livia thought as she sat down on the sofa across from Sylvia. Not only that she couldn’t understand why Count Todd had fallen in love with such a cheap woman over Azela, but she also didn’t understand those who were praising her beauty.

“Countess, you came so suddenly without a letter.”

When the maid served tea in front of them, Livia lifted the cup and said in a dignified voice. In other words, it meant that ‘coming without an appointment in advance is no manners.’

As Livia drank her tea, Sylvia followed her and lifted the cup. However, as she glanced at the cup and the tea before sticking out her tongue in a disapproving gaze, she put it down again. It seemed that she didn’t like the cheap teacup and the cheap tea.

Livia’s eyebrows furrowed at the sight.

“I really want to talk with the Princess.”

“Countess, I don’t think you and I have anything to talk about sitting together.”

“A new leaf has begun, Princess.”

“So? What happened?”

Sylvia smiled as she placed her leg on top of the other. It was absolutely not something she should do in front of the Princess.

Livia frowned at the rude behavior. As she tried to talk about whether it was because of her birth, Sylvia opened her mouth before that and interrupted her.

“I heard the announcement of the marriage, Your Highness.”

“….!”

Was she there? Sylvia’s words made her face instantly turn red. Listening to the marriage announcement meant that she eventually saw Livia getting rejected. It was a disgrace to her.

Seeing Livia’s bewildered look, Sylvia continued her words.

“I heard you’re getting married to Duke Ferial, is that right?”

“…It is so.”

“Really?”

As Livia lowered her blushing face, Sylvia’s soft voice came over her head.

“But, the Duke said no.”

Even if Livia was ignored by the imperial family and was said to be no big deal, she was still a princess and a member of the Imperial Family. She bit her lower lip before lifting her bowed face.

“…What do you mean by saying that to me?”

“I don’t mean anything bad, I was just curious. I want to know what Your Highness will do.”

“It’s His Majesty’s order. Duke Ferial has said no for now, but it will be inevitable in the end.”

“That would be great.”

It seemed that this woman had a knack for subtly pissing people off. Livia showed a lot of her bad mood all over her face. She thought it was the first time she had ever expressed her anger so openly to anyone.

“Countess, are you being sarcastic at me?”

“Am I? To the Princess? No, no way.”

Saying so, Sylvia smiled and took out pretty jewelry with expensive jewels from her bag. On the other hand, Livia, not knowing the meaning of her actions, just stared at them.

“I just want to be close to the Princess.”

Then, she took out the trinkets and held them out to her. Livia turned her gaze to look at it. At first glance, it seemed quite expensive, not something that Todd’s family would easily have. It seemed that the rumors that Countess Todd was vain and extravagant were not false.

“If you put this pin in your plain hair, it will be even more beautiful.”

“….”

Livia lifted the accessory that had been put out in front of her without answering. The jewels glowed beautifully in the light of the chandelier. It was an accessory that any woman would covet. Furthermore, she had nothing.

As Livia looked at the trinket in her hand with a bewitched expression, Sylvia smiled as she went on..

“This is just my opinion.”

Livia took her eyes off the trinkets at Sylvia’s voice and looked at her.

“I think there must be another reason why Duke Ferial couldn’t marry the Princess.”

“…Another reason?”

“Yes, do you know the escort knight that accompanies Duke Ferial, ‘Azela Vellista’?”

Livia’s eyebrows twitched at the familiar name. No way, she never thought that Azela’s name would come out of her mouth proudly. Sylvia, not seeing Livia’s face, continued again.

“She had an inappropriate relationship with Duke Ferial.”

“…Is it so?”

Livia looked back at the jewelry she was holding in her hand. It was a grave gaze. The jewels that seemed to shine seemed to have lost their luster for some reason as well.

“If you get rid of her, Duke Ferial will happily accept the marriage with the Princess.”

“…Get rid of her?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

Seeing Livia looking at her with a distorted expression, Sylvia laughed, hiding her bewilderment. Even though she was only sixteen years old, she gave off the atmosphere of being a princess.

Sylvia leaned her upper body slightly and whispered in a low voice as if telling a secret.

“Hire people to kill her.”

“….!”

“It’s an easy job for the princess. No one would suspect that Her Highness did it. Even if people doubt it, who would dare to place that suspicion on the Princess?”

Finishing her words, Sylvia leaned back on the sofa and giggled as if telling a funny story. Livia nodded and tossed the jewelry from her hand onto the table. Then, with her chin resting on the armrest of the sofa, she stared at Sylvia.

“Countess.”

“Yes, Princess. If you like it, I will bring rings and necklaces the next time I visit.”

“Do you think I received these things for the first time?”

Sylvia’s face, which had been smiling brightly at Livia’s cold voice, crumpled. She was at a loss for what to do with the reaction that was different from what she expected.

“Countess, there are people like you around me.”

“….”

“People who give me these things and try to use me. They mistakenly believe that they can use me lightly because I am sixteen or because I am being looked down upon by the Imperial Family.”