Hershis wanted to talk a little more with Jonathan, so Liz took a stroll in the garden with Mirabel.
“It’s quite strange.”
When they approached the fountain, Mirabel spoke.
Liz asked, “What is?”
“Her Majesty’s words. She’s a difficult and imperial person, but there’s something oddly comfortable about her.”
“There are many strange things. It’s good, isn’t it?”
“But somehow it feels inappropriate. Everyone else finds her so intimidating that they can’t even look at her, but I feel comfortable…”
Liz reassured her that it wasn’t inappropriate at all and that she could continue feeling comfortable in the future.
With that, Mirabel seemed to feel a little less guilty.
The two walked around the fountain.
A rainbow appeared vividly around the gushing water. It was a faint rainbow, as if each color had been dipped in water and spread wide.
After enjoying the tranquility of a midsummer afternoon for two more laps, they deviated from the path.
“Oh, by the way… there’s something I’d like to ask you if you permit.”
“What is it?”
Liz asked with wide-open eyes.
Mirabel lightly tapped her lower abdomen and said, “If the baby is a girl, can I name her Aris?”
“Aris?”
In Liz’s mind, there was a fleeting thought that passed by as she arched an eyebrow.
“Is it Arist’s Aris, by any chance?”
“Yes.”
Mirabel answered with shyly lowered eyes.
“…”
“Still… it won’t be allowed, right?”
When Liz didn’t readily grant permission, Mirabel looked apologetic.
It was a face that seemed to think it was a rude request.
“Is there anything that can’t be done? However, what I’m concerned about is…”
Liz spoke with a faint smile.
“The name for your cute baby doesn’t seem good.”
It was the name of a villain in a novel. Moreover, it was a name that could face an unfortunate fate in the future. A name that emitted the light of hope suited a newborn life.
“Think about it a little more. There are many prettier names.”
“I like Miss’s name. I really want to name the baby that. Can you please allow it? Please?”
Mirabel looked at Liz with earnest eyes. Liz softened.
‘What am I saying?’
Liz felt sorry for passing on her own name with a predetermined fate, but in the end, she gave her consent.
“Okay, I got it. Let’s go with that.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Mirabel, with teary eyes, looked so delighted that Liz felt proud.
She pledged to work even harder to change the impending tragedy for her child.
Unknowingly, the two had reached the courtyard of the empress’s palace.
“Feeling tired? Want to go in and rest for a bit?”
Liz, concerned about her belly, suggested. However, Mirabel turned her head horizontally.
“It’s okay. The doctor says I need some exercise. He says it’s necessary if the baby is bigger than the womb, as being too big could make childbirth difficult.”
“That’s how it is.”
Liz nodded dryly and let out a sigh.
Talks of pregnancies and childbirth didn’t resonate much with her. It was irrelevant to her current situation.
“Oh, right!”
Suddenly, something important crossed her mind.
“Do you know anything about Mother’s news?”
“…”
Mirabel unconsciously stopped in her tracks. It was strange how she couldn’t look directly at Liz and seemed to avoid eye contact.
“Speak up. What’s going on?”
Liz asked.
“Well… no. What could there be? There’s nothing.”
“Then why did you suddenly stop? And what’s with that expression?”
“That… well, the baby suddenly kicked.”
It was a truly convenient excuse. If not for what she heard from Seira, Liz might have fallen for it.
“Tell me the truth. I’m fine.”
“…”
“Is Mother spreading my story everywhere again?”
While Mirabel was a bit surprised that Liz knew about it…
‘This isn’t it.’
Liz was certain that there was something much more intense.
“In fact, Madam…”
Liz had already assumed the worst-case scenario to avoid being surprised.
However…
“You’re staying at Duke Montanerre’s estate. It’s been a while.”
Her mother’s imagination had surpassed Liz’s…
⭐⭐⭐
“How about this tart?”
“I prefer apple pie over tart.”
“Try the chocolate I made myself. It’s not bad.”
Claire Berium couldn’t stop laughing at the warm reception from the young ladies.
“Oh, everyone is so kind.”
Claire pretended to faint in gratitude after each of the young ladies tasted the desserts they offered. The young ladies burst into laughter and said,
“Madam is so lovely. I think Duke really cherishes Madam.”
Claire was even more delighted to hear that.
A blonde young lady with a curious face asked,
“But were you really just friends?”
“Actually, I liked him a bit in my maiden days.”
Claire said, making eye contact with each young lady.
“Of course. He’s so charming. There wouldn’t be a single woman of my age who hasn’t held him in her heart. Perhaps even the mothers of these young ladies?”
She knew all the young ladies brought in by Duke Montanerre.
During her active social days, she had often been twisted watching insignificant women rise to prominence in high society.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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