“I heard that Count Philipa has a daughter.”
Those were the first words Arianna uttered when she returned from the Viscount Gilroyd’s residence and was alone with Lloyd.
Count Philipa had a daughter, and Adela had found her.
“Isn’t it common knowledge that Count Philipa has a daughter?”
“Not the daughter currently at the count’s residence. They said she’s more accurately a ‘lost daughter’.”
“A lost daughter? Not a hidden daughter?”
“Yes. Apparently, he had one more daughter above the current one.”
What was this about now?
Lloyd, who had been expecting sensational topics like illegitimate children or family shames, raised an eyebrow.
“She was so outstanding from a young age that even the count cherished her, but after arguing with the count for some reason and leaving home, her whereabouts became unclear.”
“A story not known in high society. Who else knows about this?”
“There probably aren’t many? The young lady said she only found out about it while practically living here to take over the merchant group.”
A story that isn’t very sensational and isn’t known by many people.
Lloyd racked his brain, gauging how useful this card could be.
Even if they found the lost daughter, they could become Count Philipa’s benefactor at most, but they wouldn’t be able to hold sway over him for long.
After all, a benefactor is appreciated and cherished when convenient, but quickly forgotten once things turn sour.
On the other hand, how convenient are weaknesses?
One has to fret from morning to night to keep even a little from being revealed.
After pondering for a moment, Lloyd spoke.
“So, what does Adela Gilroyd want in exchange for that?”
“What else could it be? She wants him to sign a pledge promising to place her in the empress position, even if it means using the family’s power. She seems to want to take the spot beside the crown prince no matter what.”
That woman would do anything for the empress position, Arianna shrugged.
Demanding the current crown prince’s empress seat from people preparing a rebellion.
She certainly doesn’t seem to be in her right mind either.
Lloyd let out an absurd chuckle.
“She does know what we’re trying to do, right?”
“Probably? Maybe she wants to die together when the time comes.”
Arianna laughed at Lloyd’s words.
It seemed nonsensical to her as well.
Is she tying her fate to a power that will soon disappear, or to Leoprick Reinhart himself?
Neither was something he could understand, so he shook his head.
“What tearful affection that is.”
“Anyway, I told her we’d think about the conditions and contact her. The young lady’s side also said they’d only reveal the daughter’s whereabouts if we accept the terms.”
“I see.”
Lloyd pondered for a moment.
In fact, it wasn’t a losing deal either way.
Writing a pledge wasn’t difficult.
The empress position itself was premised on Leoprick becoming the emperor anyway, so if he didn’t become the emperor, it would be a promise that didn’t need to be kept.
For Lloyd, who intended to take that position before Leoprick became emperor, it was a condition with no downsides.
However, what bothered him was…
“The terms they proposed don’t seem like they’d be of much benefit.”
“Why? It’s still putting Count Philipa in our debt.”
Arianna’s thoughts differed from Lloyd’s, and she widened her eyes at his words.
To her remark that it should be fine since they’d be owed later for incurring a debt, Lloyd lightly shook his head.
“Being a benefactor is only good at the moment you become one.”
Human goodwill only lasts for that moment.
Just for that brief, fleeting time when things were good.
Even that can fade at any time if memories become distorted.
Lloyd had no intention of staking the success of an important matter on such uncertainty.
“It would have been different if we knew Count Philipa’s weakness. What a pity.”
“Then you’re going to refuse?”
Lloyd nodded at Arianna’s question.
Have the chief secretary find out Count Philipa’s weaknesses or anything else instead.
“Tell the chief secretary to look into Count Philipa’s weaknesses or anything else. Have Valuea’s side investigate as well. Politely refuse Gilroyd.”
“I will. It’s too bad for Lady Gilroyd.”
“It can’t be helped. Tell them we’ll make a deal when there’s better information.”
Neither Lloyd, who brought it up, nor Arianna, who responded, looked particularly regretful.
The two ended the conversation without any feelings.
“And how prepared is Duke Valuea? Someone from the east will be coming soon.”
They had more important things.
More critical and weighty topics for their future plans.
[This is the timeline separator] [Duke Daymar is staying at a townhouse owned by the merchant group. It seems he’s being treated lavishly as the group’s guest.]Leoprick quickly unfolded the note the coachman had quietly passed him, then put it back in his pocket.
It all happened in the very brief moment before Amelia smoothed her dress and stepped out of the carriage.
He acted as if nothing had happened and politely offered his hand to escort her.
“Be careful getting down. The road is uneven.”
“Thank you.”
Amelia took his hand and carefully alighted from the carriage.
But as expected, perhaps due to the uneven road, Amelia wobbled slightly as she took a step.
“Careful, Amelia.”
Holding her hand and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he felt her lean against him.
Whoever came up with the concept of escorting, he thought it was truly desirable to be able to officially hold her hand and make contact.
Furthermore, he inwardly recited that he wished for more moments like this.
Even though he was the one who suggested coming here and wanted to come with her.
Someday, he hoped all these moments could become natural.
“I’m all right now, Your Highness.”
While he was lost in thought, Amelia straightened her posture and moved away from him.
How he regretted that moment.
He quickly grabbed her hand again as she tried to take another step away.
“This is a dangerous place. I’m doing this so I can feel at ease…”
Then he interlocked their fingers tightly.
To make it look like a lovers’ stroll, not an ordinary escort.
Amelia seemed a little awkward as expected, but he had no intention of letting go.
In any case, this was a slightly dangerous place for nobles like them.
“Isn’t this the slums, Your Highness?”
“It is.”
Amelia carefully asked after nimbly looking around.
For a place he said he wanted to come together, it wasn’t particularly romantic or spectacular.
Her face also showed puzzlement as to why they had come to such a place.
But he really, truly wanted to come here since he thought she was avoiding him.
To this place where he first met her, where he decided he had to marry the woman named Amelia Vermerian.
[This is the timeline separator]The slums, all of a sudden.
I couldn’t hide my confusion as I looked around.
I had been a little hesitant from the moment he said there was a place he wanted to go together.
After all, I had been avoiding him for a while, and it seemed like he had seen me making a deal with Daymar.
So I thought we would go to a quiet place to talk about that.
I looked up at him as he pulled the hood of his robe down and stepped inside, parking the carriage at the entrance to the slums where it wouldn’t be easily seen.
Once we arrived, he walked for a while without saying a word.
Just walking, without any explanation as to why we came here or why he wanted to come with me.
And he didn’t ask about past events or probe with questions.
I was confident I could answer anything appropriately if he just asked.
I had been thinking about that the whole way here, but it all seemed in vain now.
What could Leoprick be thinking?
I lowered my gaze that had been fixed on him and looked ahead again.
The most shaded part of the capital, a place full of aristocratic ills.
I used to come here often for volunteer work before I got married.
Is this where I first met Lloyd too?
I remember him dismissing it, saying that even what’s called volunteer work is just a showy act of goodwill by the nobles.
I tried not to dwell on needless memories and averted my eyes from their still wretched lives.
“Your Highness. Why did you come here?”
I finally spoke up after walking a few more steps.
It seemed like we would just waste more time if I waited for him to speak up.
I didn’t particularly want to stay longer in this place with unnecessary memories either.
“Because it’s a place with very precious memories for me, I wanted to show it to you as well.”
But it seemed to have a slightly different meaning for him.
There was a faint glow on his face as he said he had precious memories here.
What business could he have had in these slums to make such an expression?
When and what happened, exactly.
For him to trace these dirty and dreary streets with such a longing yet happy look.
I examined his face, then lowered my gaze.
My heart stung a little at the thought that whatever those memories were, I probably wasn’t involved in them.
The only memory I have of the slums is meeting Lloyd.
Nothing but the tragedies that began from there.
It felt a bit bitter to realize he had something so vivid and sparkling left in his memories.
“It must have been a good memory for you.”
I made that remark and was about to turn back.
It felt like staying here any longer would only consume time and dampen my mood.
But the moment I took a step, his hand gripping mine tightened.
“Yes. It’s a very good memory.”
Slowly and heavily.
His voice penetrated my ears.
“This is where I first met you.”
In a way I never expected at all.
Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.
Synopsis:
Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.
Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.
Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.
Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.
There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.