Chapter 25

"Cordelia, come in."

"Excuse me, Your Highness, Father."

In response to the call from inside the room, Cordelia opened the door and entered.

It seemed that the discussion between Leonhardt and her father had come to an end.

As she smoothed the hem of her skirt, Cordelia sat down on the sofa.

Her father, who sat next to her, shifted slightly and opened his mouth.

"……Cordelia, that dress is yours. I'm sorry for telling you to give it to Priscilla."

"……Father?"

At her father's apologetic words, Cordelia blinked her eyes.

"I never intended to give this dress to anyone……. What's suddenly come over you?"

"I've realized that I've been too lenient with you………"

He sounded as if he was saying, "I'm sorry for everything up until now."

Did Cordelia just imagine it, or did she hear that?

"……I'm sorry, but I think I'll take my leave. Cordelia, I'll leave you in the care of His Highness. It seems I need some time to think……"

Her father's blue eyes met Cordelia's, which were the same color.

(It's been a long time……)

How many years had it been since her father had looked at her directly?

Before she could dwell on this, her gaze was averted.

Her father bowed to Leonhardt and left the room silently.

Cordelia quietly watched his back, which seemed smaller than usual.

"……What did you talk about with Father, Your Highness?"

"I just showed him the documents I brought and discussed them. I think it's better for you to hear the details directly from the Earl, as his daughter. He seems to be more receptive to your words now."

He added, "I didn't expect the documents I prepared just in case to be useful."

Leonhardt shrugged lightly.

"Thank you, Your Highness. You must have talked to Father about the dress for my sake."

"There's no need to thank me. I didn't do anything special. I just explained the obvious in a way that was easy to understand."

"……I think it was very difficult to reason with Father……"

After all, her father, the head of the earl's household, lacked the awareness and common sense expected of a noble to an unbelievable degree.

Cordelia had once voiced her concerns, but they were all ignored.

If he were a stranger rather than family, she would have given up on him long ago.

"I can understand your struggles……"

"Thank you. But thanks to you, I was able to get through to him. I think it was because your words were straightforward and sincere."

"Sometimes, it's easier for outsiders to point out issues. In family relationships, even if the relationship is strained, the parties involved often don't realize it……"

Leonhardt chuckled, "I can't really talk about family relationships, can I?"

"……Well, I've kept you waiting. As promised, I brought the gloves today. Could you check if the size fits?"

Leonhardt took a small package from a servant standing behind the sofa.

The contents wrapped in thin, translucent paper seemed larger than just gloves.

"Your Highness, what is this? It's not just gloves, is it?"

"It's a snack. Since I was invited to your home, let's enjoy it together."

Cordelia took the package, untied the ribbon, and checked the contents.

Inside were the gloves and a box of high-quality pastries from a famous shop in the capital.

While they were high-quality, they were still within reach for the earl's family.

(This is my favorite pastry. I never told him directly……)

As a member of the royal family, it wouldn't be surprising if he had investigated Cordelia's background and history to ensure there were no issues.

However, it had only been a little over ten days since she had caught his attention.

To have even her favorite snacks prepared was surprising.

While she was lost in thought, staring at the pastries,

"……It seems noisy outside the room."

Leonhardt murmured softly.

Straining her ears, Cordelia eventually heard footsteps approaching down the corridor.

"――――Leonhardt-sama!! Are you here?!"

"Priscilla?!"

The person who appeared was her sister, who shouldn't have been there.

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Let's go back a bit in time.

Priscilla, accompanied by Topac and others, sat in the theater, her delicate lips twisted in dissatisfaction.

From the second-floor balcony, designed for the nobility and wealthy, the stage was clearly visible.

However, Priscilla's eyes, which should have been on the actors, were narrowed in boredom.

"……I'm bored. This play is no fun."

"Priscilla!!"

Topac reprimanded her in a low voice.

Priscilla, without lowering her voice, repeatedly said she was bored and wanted to go outside.

Despite the annoyed glares from the surrounding audience, she continued.

"Priscilla, why are you saying that? This is the play you wanted to see."

"I don't want to see it now."

"Don't be so selfish. Can't you at least wait until the end?"

"But I'm already bored. I want to go home."

The audience, who were enjoying the play, glared at her even more coldly.

Topac, bowing apologetically to the surrounding audience, glared at Priscilla resentfully.

……In reality, this play was supposed to be quite entertaining.

The script was well-crafted, and the stage direction and acting were of high quality.

It was a high-quality play that lived up to its popularity.

(But, it's different. Prince Leonhardt is much more wonderful.)

Priscilla's heart was filled with the image of the golden-haired prince.

He was more beautiful than any man she had ever met, and far more handsome than Topac.

She remembered the first ball where they met.

And the scene in the garden where he stood in front of her sister, protecting her from Katharina.

His eyes, looking at her sister, were so sweet and tender.

They had captured Priscilla's heart completely.

(……But, the prince is so wonderful, and my sister is so unfair.)

In Priscilla's heart, dissatisfaction and anger were growing.

To Priscilla, her sister had always been unfair.

While she was tied to her bed, her sister, Cordelia, walked around freely.

Priscilla envied her sister's ability to move freely, her healthy body, and even the cute stuffed animals she held.

So, she asked for them.

Her sister always seemed to have so many wonderful things.

Dolls, pastries, stuffed animals, dresses, jewels, Topac……

So, she asked for them all, but once she got them, they became like pebbles.

(My sister is unfair.)

Her sister always gave in to her in the end.

But it wasn't out of kindness; it was because the things she gave were no longer attractive to her.

This left Priscilla always feeling unsatisfied and aware of her sister's unfairness.

(But, this time……)

However, Leonhardt was different.

Priscilla sensed that he was of a different caliber from her previous fiancés and that he was treated differently by Cordelia.

She felt that if she could win him, she would finally be satisfied.

The last time they met, by an unfortunate coincidence, he didn't look at her.

But if he got to know her, surely he would choose her.

Priscilla was well aware of her good looks and was praised by her parents as a "cheerful and adorable fairy."

(So, I need to go to Prince Leonhardt quickly……)

Without hiding her displeasure, Priscilla glared at Topac and stood up from her seat.

"Priscilla, where are you going?!"

"I'm going to get some fresh air."

She said and rushed out of the audience area to the theater's lobby.

As she hurried to the exit through the empty lobby during the performance, servants quickly surrounded her.

"What are you doing?! Move out of the way!!"

"It's not allowed, Miss Priscilla. Please return to your seat."

The servants were sent by her father.

Priscilla was about to yell at them for blocking her path to Leonhardt, but then——

"I thought it might be you, but if you're Priscilla, you must be Cordelia's sister. This unexpected encounter is quite a find, isn't it?"

A low male voice spoke, and she was grabbed by the wrist and pulled closer.

"!! What are you doing?!"

Being called "Cordelia's sister" only worsened her already bad mood.

Turning around in a fit of anger, she saw a handsome young man with black hair staring at her intently.

He twisted his lips and ordered his servants to leave, leaving them alone.

"I've heard about you……. You have quite a beautiful face. While you can't be my concubine, you could be my mistress."

"――――Let go of me!!"

She pushed the man away forcefully.

"What are you doing?!"

"Move out of the way!! I'm in a hurry!!"

"Are you saying that my beauty and my position as the crown prince mean nothing to you?!"

"What does that have to do with anything?! Prince Leonhardt is more important to me right now!!"

She shouted, pushing his hand away.

Priscilla then ran out of the hall's exit.

Thanks to the man dismissing his servants, no one was left to block her path.

"Please wait for me, Prince Leonhardt!!"

Driven by a sweet impulse, the silver-haired beauty ran as fast as she could.

The black-haired man, Prince Zaid, who had been pushed away by her, clenched his teeth, his eyes burning with dark flames.

"Leonhardt……? Not only his sister but even his sister rejects me and chooses him……?"

Thank you for reading.

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