Chapter 21

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The Problem Was The Letter (2)

(Hildea’s POV)

During a period of ten years, it’s expected that even rivers and mountains would change. By comparison, twelve years have already passed.

But I wasn’t aware that in that period, a change of heart could happen unexpectedly.

‘I was proud of myself. But I wasn’t prepared for the fact that my heart could be shaken in an instant.’ 

As I slowly reflect on my complicated feelings, I accept the letter from Lira’s hand.

‘A small envelope without any patterns or symbols on it.’ 

‘I don’t have any plans to read it. Just please send it back.’

The urge to say those words soared up to my throat.

‘It would really be better if I don’t look at the content in the letter.’

I close my eyes tightly and take a deep breath, while Lira, who continues to stare at me, asks,

“Do you hate it that much, my lady?”

“Huh?”

‘Do I hate it? Me?’

Her unexpected words confused me for a second. Lira then pointed to the hand that was holding the letter.

“I mean the letter. You always have that kind of expression every time you receive one. Everyone can see it on your face.”

“Really?”

I was dumbfounded.

I wasn’t aware that everyone thought so.

However everyone, including Lira, is seriously mistaken.

But of course I can’t say that out loud: that everytime I received a letter, my heart would start pounding in a very pleasant way.

So this misunderstanding is better.

“Yeah, I guess I don’t like it.”

“Then shall we throw them all away?”

‘It was a letter from Gabriel.’

‘I had never imagined it. It just happened anyway.’

‘In the past twelve years, some have spent their time on the battlefield, some have freely roamed the mountains to find happiness, and while the others are…’

‘Me.’

Little by little, I have built up an unintended affection for all the letters and gifts that were being sent by a certain someone.

(T/N: Wahhh Hildea please, don’t hold back.)

‘Or is it just me being a fool?’

‘I can’t help but laugh at it.’

‘I’m fully aware that Gabriel hates me. Since our relationship started with the worst first impression and ended with hate. But why am I always thrilled whenever I receive a letter from him?’

‘Since when did I start waiting for these letters?’

‘It wasn’t that kind of letter that had some love proposal or anything like that.’

‘It’s the same as what the (*) fox told the prince about how he would be able to tame him?’

“I got used to it.”

“Pardon, my lady?”

“No, it’s nothing. I won’t throw them away since all of these letters came from the Duke.”

I remembered the words in the previous letter that my hands held.

‘Each sentence asking things like ‘How are you doing?’ was so straight and informal.’

[Hello Young Lady Hildea,]

[The battlefield is so quiet these days.]

[How are you doing today? By any chance, did you talk with your friends or hang out with them again…?]

[It’s so frustrating not being able to know anything that is happening in the capital. Do you still climb trees?]

[It wasn’t easy to fight against the enemy in the mountain areas, but thanks to that, we were able to get some precious flowers. I hope you like them.]

(T/N: Gabriel is so damn, sweet.)

[I heard that you were sick. It is a pity that I can’t visit you. I wonder if you’ve recovered by now.]

[I heard that the flowers that I sent to you already filled up the greenhouse. Next time I will send you a much smaller batch.]

[Those people who talk behind your back are cowards. That’s what I think.]

[Young Lady Hildea is always working hard. Thanks to you I’m learning a lot.]

‘Those simple words.’

‘The small pots and flowers.’

I fiddled with the letter in my hand, which was thin and unadorned.

‘There’s nothing special about it.’

‘It’s always a matter of timing.’

‘Whenever I’m down and sad, he coincidentally asks about it in those letters.’

[Are you okay?]

‘As if he was aware of my current situation.’

(P/N: Well if you think about it, he’s either santa or a stalker XD)

“Well those girls grew up without a mother, so I’m quite curious if they have proper manners? From what I hear, the second one is not that great.’

It was the day when I went to the capital, towards a miscellaneous store favored by the aristocrats. I pretended not to hear the ladies gossiping loudly about my family.

And coincidently, that was referenced in the letter.

[Those who gossip behind your back, it’s all just talk.]

‘Why, now?’

Pat, pat. It felt like the boy’s hand was gently stroking my painful wounds even if he doesn’t love me.

‘Why are you saying this now?’

Because of this, I got to know him much better and it’s come to the point where I’ve been subconsciously waiting for those soothing letters.

‘Why?’

Just like what the boy requested before he left, I would send him a formal reply whenever he sent a letter.

[Yes, Rosé is doing well. This is what Rosé likes, and this is what Rosé did today.]

And then the boy asked,

[How about Lady Hildea?]

He was the first person who asked something about me.

[What about you? Are you happy, Lady Hildea?]

It was from then on. I started talking about myself in those letters but in a formal manner. Once I received the letter, I would respond without missing a day.

Then at some point, I realized something.

‘What am I doing now?’

‘It was like any normal day when I was too frightened to even look at my face in the mirror.’

‘But why?’

‘Why am I smiling at Gabriel’s letter?’

“Well, this will probably be the last letter from Duke on the battlefield, my lady.”

‘Oh.’

I returned to reality at the sound of Lira’s stoic voice, ending my reminiscing about the past.

“Yeah. I guess so.”

‘He’ll now return to the capital, so I shouldn’t expect any more letters. And once he’s back, there’s no need for me to reply anymore…..’

(T/N: Awww… Don’t worry Hildea you’ll be seeing him soon.)

‘This will be the last letter.’

I received the letter with slightly trembling hands. There was also a small flower pot next to it that was brought by the other maid.

‘Oh my, it’s a small cactus.’

‘Where did they get this?’

It’s so amazing that they were able to save all these things while being busy on the battlefield.

(P/N: Imagine Gabriel threatening his men to preserve the plants with their lives and them making wild assumptions about his plant fetish lol) 

‘Is he being kind to me or does he still hate me?’

‘I know that he loves my sister, and that he doesn’t want anyone else.’

‘Because he treats me and Rosé differently. I can’t be mistaken about that.’ 

The things that were sent to me have always been a few thin letters and a small flower pot.

In contrast, my sister Rosé has always received thick letters and a couple of colorful jewels.

(T/N: I knew it; this must be the payment for all those drawings of Hildea.)

Of course, I don’t like jewels, but it’s clear that this distinction is a sign of who Gabriel cares for more.

‘He definitely likes Rosé.’

I was not hurt and didn’t care about the difference.

‘Rosé likes him, as well.’

‘I’m really happy and glad to see Rosé’s smiling face.’

“My lady?. What are you thinking right now?”

“Nothing.”

I casually set aside the letter in the bedside drawer, and handed the flowerpot to the maid as usual, to put it in a sunny place.

Lira tilts her head.

“Aren’t you going to read the letter? You’ll be seeing him soon. There might be a reason why he sent you a letter now.”

I pause for a moment.

“Well, how can I read it right now? I don’t have time to read because I’ve been busy these past few days, and the war is already over. Anyway, he will be returning back to the capital.”

“Right.”

“And I don’t need to send a separate response to the Duke. Also, if there’s any urgent matter, It would have been sent directly to Rosé, not me.”

“However….”

‘The process of being tamed.’

(P/N: See note above about the fox and the prince)

‘The longing.’

‘The friendship.’

‘I didn’t want anyone to know about it.’

‘Because I’m going to cut it anyway.’

“Lira, that’s enough. What happened to the letters that the young lord sent?”

“Oh, about that….”

Rosé is very precious to me and I don’t want to ruin her happiness.

‘This is my one-sided affection, and I have no intention of continuing this.’

‘That will be the time when I throw away the letters.’

‘In the end, the main character in those letters that I comfortably conversed with was Gabriel, who should only stay in my imagination.’

‘So I will burn the letters before any real connection with Gabriel begins in person.’

“However……”

‘But, just in case this curiosity and happiness spreads beyond my control…’

‘At that time.’

‘Then I.’

My eyes blazed fiercely.

‘I will disappear.’

(T/N:Noooo.. Hildea…)

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(Emperor Detroit 3rd PERSON POV)

Emperor Detroit.

He was a person who had lived a rough life like a lion roaming the fields.

That’s why he had no reason to hesitate.

Maybe it’s because he’s getting older now? Because something happened that didn’t go his way. And of all things, it’s about his children.

Pale white face, red lips, clear blue eyes, and black hair as soft as the night sky.

The Emperor’s gaze at the young lady, who had a black hair, became affectionate for a moment.

“Princess.”

“Yes, Father.”

The reason Empress Djia grinds her teeth and hates this child, Princess Raffia, is probably because of her hair.

The Empress never treated her well, but it’s because she is a child of the Emperor’s mistress whom he loved the most.

“I can’t understand. Why are you saying that you don’t want to do what your father said?”

“Because I don’t want to.”

The princess stubbornly shook her head.

“I only knew him when I was only a kid, father.”

“So what?”

The princess laughed cynically.

“Gabriel and I didn’t get along very well. But do I have to change the situation, just because he’s returning as a war hero?”

“My daughter. It’s different from when he was a kid.”

“He already has a fiancée.”

“They are not officially engaged yet.”

“It’s an arranged marriage. It also contains the promise of His Majesty the Emperor.”

The princess’s pride was hurt. ‘Why is he trying to push me into a relationship with an engaged man?’

But the emperor was so frustrated. ‘The Empress and the Crown Prince are finding ways to eliminate everyone who would become a thorn to them, so what would be the best choice to protect her?’ 

‘Wouldn’t it be nice to partner her with the most powerful man in the Empire now?’

Of course, there were times when he thought about forcing Gabriel to marry Princess Raffia.

However, since he cared for Gabriel more than his own son, the Crown Prince, he thought that it would be best for the boy to form a relationship with Hillington.

So at that time, the princess could not be considered as Gabriel’s mate.

‘And besides.’

‘Gabriel as a child was very weak. He still had no power, nor influence.’

‘But once he comes back, it will be different.’

The Emperor has seen the congratulatory remarks of most of the nobles of the empire. So he knew.

That Gabriel’s blessings are one of the most outstanding.

‘However, if this marriage continues, it would be the Hillington who would manage to get the most benefit from it.’

‘In the past, it was Hillington who gave him strong support, but now he’s just staying inside his mansion and doesn’t show his face to anyone.’

‘Would it really be okay? In the future, will it not become a stumbling block for the Empire?’

“But Gabriel is not the person that I love. However, if you really pursue this then I would have no choice but to follow your request.”

“My father is the Emperor. There are several things to consider. But wouldn’t it be great, if everyone could just be happy?”

The Emperor then whispered as if to appease the displeased princess.

“At the victory party, Hillington’s twin sisters will be participating as debutantes. In that case, those two will definitely get the most attention, maybe even more than the Royal Family.”

That part seemed to strike the heart of the princess.

“…I don’t want that to happen.”

“Those are your father’s thoughts as well.”

The Emperor let the wind blow softly(*) with a faint smile on his face.

(P/N (*): He wanted to land a soft blow as in trying to convince the princess gently instead of forcing her.) 

Hillington’s daughters are not inferior to the princess.

Also, if the twins do try to win Gabriel’s favor, Raffia will follow suit.

‘Even if it’s just to turn Gabriel’s gaze away from the twin sisters.’

Thinking that was already enough, the Emperor smiled as they continued their conversation.

But he didn’t know.

That the marriage talk, which everyone had taken lightly, was regarded as more precious than a person’s life.