Chapter 193. Engagement, Part VI
Translator: Khan
Editor: Aelryinth
Irene smiled contentedly at Killian's words. "Yes, I believe you. I know you're not the kind of kid that would jeopardize yourself with those childish feelings. You happen to like the lady of Kiellini. Is that really you?"
Killian smiled, looking at Irene smiling happily. Irene seemed to think he was determined to like Princess Kiellini so he could succeed to the throne, but that was not what mattered.
Killian did not want Irene to learn the identity of Julietta. It was the same with his father, the Emperor. Of course, it wouldn't make a difference if the two knew, and they couldn't stop him, but he didn't want to cast a shadow over her future at all.
Killian got up from his seat. "I think I have to go."
"Yes. I'll also be busy preparing for the engagement."
"It has to be a fancy engagement that they haven't seen before. We have to do that since we will take Princess Kiellini as the Queen."
Irene's brow furrowed, looking at Killian's back. To ask about the scale of the engagement ceremony was different from her nephew's usual personality...
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While Killian was only briefly negligent of Julietta during the preparations for the engagement ceremony and began working in earnest to take the Crown Prince's seat, she arrived in Tilia. It reminded her of the first time she had left Bertino and set foot in Tilia. Even in the middle of the night, Julietta had been careful not to be seen by anyone at that time, and she nervously clasped her hands, thinking of that.
"Welcome, the princess." As the carriage passed the gate at high speed without any delay, it reached the mansion, and the first man she saw greeted her by opening the carriage door. The man quickly introduced himself to Julietta, who looked at him with a curious face.
"I'm Melvrick, the new butler of the mansion in Tilia. I'm honored to be assigned here from Bertino under the command of His Highness Killian."
When he said he was Killian's man, her heart calmed down.
"Good to see you," Julietta smiled brightly and stepped down from the carriage.
The attendants of the mansion were lined up to meet the lady who returned after a long time, but she could not find a familiar face anywhere.
"It looks like everyone in the mansion has changed. Was this the order of His Highness, too?" Julietta asked leisurely as she passed through the attendants, without a trace of the caution when she had arrived at the Kiellini mansion in the capital.
"Yes. They're all from Bertino."
She knew from that single word that Killian really took control of Tilia.
"I see. Where can I see my father? Is he in the Oval Office?" The word "father" stuck in her throat, but Julietta tried to spit it out calmly.
"His Excellency has moved to a separate house for recuperation. He says it's more convenient than the main house, which has a lot of busy people coming and going."
"I see."
Julietta hesitated for a moment.
As she felt Killian's ability to see the situation, she hesitated whether she needed to meet the Duke and Regina. In fact, she had a strong desire not to meet them, so she was inclined to think so on purpose.
But she had to meet them. She could not hide cowardly in the shadow of Killian forever. She had to look at the results of her choices, accept them, and make sure nothing was wrong.
"I think I'll go straight to the annex. I can't unpack without saying hello to my father."
Julietta turned back to the carriage.
'How much does this butler know?'
"By the way, is Sir Caden still in the mansion? What about the maid named Dian?" Julietta thought Maribel's nephew would be reliable. He was in the same boat with her.
"Oh, they are in the annex."
At the butler's reply, Julietta went straight to the annex.
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"You should have told His Highness Killian," Vera nagged her anxiously in the carriage heading to the annex.
"Yes, I should have figured out how it works."
She had known how to send a message to Killian. Although she had finally decided to get engaged and letters had been rushing out to discuss the details of the engagement, she had never contacted him in advance except when he had come to the boutique or the Kiellini mansion.
"I should have spoken to Marquis Oswald."
When Julietta admitted that in low spirits, Phoebe comforted her. "You won't have to worry. It looks like Killian's hands are on everything here. If you meet Dian, you'll hear the details."
Phoebe's voice was slightly excited at the thought of meeting Dian after a long time. Julietta laughed at Phoebe's positive attitude. Although she had heard the two were acquainted, she didn't realize how, but when Phoebe brought out the story of Dian in a friendly way, it came to her.
The annex which she had visited to meet Regina was still grand and majestic.
"Oh, I'm nervous." Julietta had to take a deep breath and calm her trembling heart before getting off the wagon. She entered the house with a stiff expression, contrary to her playful words.
'How are two people who have been deprived of everything? How should I look at Regina? Will this visit be more cruel to them?'
Though she felt guilty, not doing this might cost Julietta her life. She couldn't turn the ship that had already started, so she had to do everything so as not to fall off the ship. She would leave all her sinful thoughts and sympathy here today.
"Miss?" Just as she was coming down from the second floor, Dian saw her party and came running quickly.
"Dian, how are you?" When she saw Dian coming, Julietta greeted her brightly.
"Miss! It's been a long time. I don't know how much I've wanted to see you again." Dian saw Phoebe standing behind Julietta and looking at her. "Phoebe? Is that you?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes, it's me."
At Phoebe's answer, tears flowed down Dian's face. "Ah, sister. I thought you were…"
She didn't hear anything, but from the time they left the brothel, she knew Phoebe's fate. In particular, she could not help but predict from the way Maribel implied things. So, she had taken care of Phoebe with all her heart during the journey from Lebatum to Austern.
"Yes, Dian... a lot of things happened. I was lucky enough to survive and I had something bad happen in the meantime, and Miss Iris saved my life."
At Phoebe's words, Dian looked back at Julietta. "Ah! You're our benefactor. We owe you our lives. I'm so glad I made a right decision to serve you."
Julietta asked at the remark. "What does that mean? No, how could you be in this annex?"
Dian took them to the parlor and told them what happened in the meantime.
"You mean we haven't used the pocket watch of silence on Regina yet?"
"No. Her name will soon be changed, but it will be of no use if she swears by her previous name, so His Highness Killian said that he would come back and proceed with the work."
"Well, are there only you, the Duke, his servant, Regina, her nanny, and Sir Caden in the annex?"
"Yes, Miss. His Highness Killian sent a new servant to the Duke, but he couldn't take away her nanny. The nanny shouted in tears that she would wait on Lady Regina, and even take the magic oath. His Highness Killian reluctantly agreed to pressure the Duke, saying it would be difficult if Regina died."
Julietta nodded. If he had taken the nanny from Regina with that sensitive personality, she could have really gone crazy.
"I'd like to meet Miss Regina first."
Dian stood up with a worried look. "Yes, you can go up now. She's awake."
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Julietta followed Dian into the bedroom at the end of the second floor. The room was dark, with curtains down and only a weak magic light on. Inside, Regina was sitting at a table drinking tea.
"Why are you here?" Regina threw the cup she was drinking at Julietta, who had become even more beautiful and glamorous.
"I thought I'd have to see you once." Julietta sat across from Regina, avoiding the teacup with ease.
"Who gave you permission to sit down? How dare do you of humble birth sit down before me?"
She ignored the words and said to the nanny behind Regina. "You're going to catch a disease that you haven't had. Open the curtains."