Chapter 15

Ancia was favored by the emperor, but she didn’t bother to share her fortune. Had Ancia been a little more thoughtful, she could give good words about Gilbert to the emperor, and ask for many good information.

If she knows a good business information, she can give it to Gilbert in advance and make her family prosperous.But Ancia showed no sign of doing it.

Ancia received gifts that were beyond her means every day, but she did not even send gold to her family, The Bellacian. If it were Diana, She wouldn’t have done that. As soon as the situation got better, the good girl would have taken care of her father and family first.

However, Gilbert could not give his precious Diana as the monster’s bride. Gilbert was furious when he thought of Ancia. Then the servant of Duke Cassil approached him.

“Your Excellency, Count Bellacian, I ask you to meet with the Duke of Cassil.”

***

As he entered the reception area, the Duke of Cassil greeted Gilbert.

“Long time no see. Count Bellacian.”

Arnold has been indifferent to Gilbert at noble parties. He judged that Gilbert was not worthy, as Gilbert had no land or property.

But ever since the talks about the emperor and Ancia began to circulate, Gilbert can now raise his head arrogantly.

“Your Highness, long time no see.”

Arnold naturally frowned at Gilbert’s irreverent attitude.

Gilbert Bellacian is known for his bad attitude. He was an evil man who crawled up endlessly and became servile when ignored.

“You’ve win so much fortune these days.”

“Yes. Well, it’s natural for a child to give to their parents.”

Gilbert bluffed. Because his pride will be hurt if they knew the truth.

“Did she listen to you?”

“She’ll listen to everything I say.”

Gilbert raised his head confidently.

“She’s a rare, well-educated kid. Is your second daughter as good as her sister?”

“She’s no match for Ancia. Diana is my pride.”

Gilbert was furious when his beloved Diana was compared to Ancia.

“If she’s such an outstanding child, I’d like to welcome her as my daughter-in-law.”

“My-, my Diana?”

Gilbert eyes grew big.

Right now, Ancia was only the wife of the monstrous Crown Prince. Although right now she was favored by the emperor, it will change when the crown prince died. She would eventually be kicked out of the palace.

If Diana becomes the daughter-in-law of the Duke of Cassil, she can be the empress in the future.

“Of course, for that to happen, we need to see how great Diana’s education is.”

No matter how dumb Count Bellacian was, he could understand what the Duke meant.

He meant that if the House of Bellacians and Ancia supported the Cassils, they would make Diana the next empress in return.

Gilbert had nothing to lose.

He can use his useless daughter to make Diana an empress.

Of course, if Ancia were to support the Duke of Cassil, the emperor’s love would disappear and he would loath Ancia.

But it was none of his business.

“I’ll decide right away.”

He accepted the proposal of the Duke without a moment’s hesitation

***

“Father, I’m sorry. I’m sorry,”

A girl begged. It was Ancia’s voice, but that wasn’t me. This is a real memory of Ancia.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

The little girl kept apologizing to her father while shedding tears. Her swollen cheek hurts, but she couldn’t even show it.

However, it really hurts. It hurts a lot.

“You’re a disgrace to the family! To become the monster’s bride, I’m already shuddering at the thought!”

“I’m sorry…”

“If you’re sorry, go die right now! Hang yourself or jump into the water, right now! Be dead as soon as possible to maintain the Bellacian family dignity!”

“I’m sorry…I’m sorry.”

As she continuously bow her head like a machine, a clear voice rang out.

“Ancia, Ancia!”

“Ancia!”

I opened my eyes. Blake was staring at me with his worried eyes.

“Your Highness…”

“Did you have a nightmare?”

Nightmare? Yes, it’s a dream. But it was not an ordinary dream. This is Ancia’s real memory. Her memory suddenly appeared in my dream.

Even though I only dreamed about it, my body trembled as if I had actually experienced it, and cold sweat poured down my whole body.

“Yes, it was a nightmare.”

“What should I do…”

I was the one who had the nightmare, but Blake’s eyes were red. I felt like I was about to shed tears in my eyes too.

“Because of me…you had a bad dream because you were with me…”

I held him tightly, pulling his body to mine.

“A, A, An, Ancia!”

Blake struggled in embarrassment, but I gave more strength in my arms.

Holding Blake in my arms like this, I felt the sadness and despair because of that dream gradually disappeared.

“Your Highness…”

“Yes?”

“It’s good to be here with you. Everyday, like this.”

I patted his fluffy hair.

***

I sometimes dreamed of Ancia’s memories. The count abused Ancia mentally and physically, as the real Ancia suffered.

In the original novel, there are often description that Count Bellacian severely discriminated against his daughters.

Ancia…just how much does this child have experience, how much despair did she endure before she jumped into the water herself?

In the original novel, it is said that Ancia was obsessed with appearance, so she could not endure Blake’s ugly appearance and committed suicide.

But the more I looked into her memory, the more certain it wasn’t because of Blake’s appearance.

“If you’re sorry, die right now! Hang yourself or jump into the water, right now! Be dead as soon as possible to maintain the Bellacian family dignity!”

The man who killed Ancia was Count Bellacian, her father. He didn’t kill her himself, but it was an indirect murder.

I was thinking about the original novel and the dream I saw, when Melissa came into the room.

“Your Highness, Count Bellacian is here.”

“Count Bellacian?”

These days, he sent me annoying letters, and now, he came to see me.

“What should I do?”

Melissa knew I hated the count, since I always ignore the Count’s letter.

“Take me to the room.”

Frankly, I didn’t want to meet him, but I couldn’t avoid him for the rest of my life either.

Moreover, I wondered what he was trying to say.

***

Gilbert was exasperated.

She made him wait for a long time. Next time, he had to re-educate Ancia the etiquettes of nobles from one to ten.

Of course, Gilbert had never assigned Ancia a teacher of etiquette. As the unwanted child of the family, education was a luxury. If she doesn’t listen to him, he’ll hit her a few times.

Gilbert gritted his teeth and looked at the clock. He has been waiting for 55 minutes already. After an hour passed, he was going to storm into the Crown Princess’ room.

But suddenly, the door opened as Ancia, a maid and a knight came inside.

“What do you need?”

Before Gilbert screamed, Ancia interrupted him.

But…Is that child really “Ancia”?

Ancia was much different from before. She was a gloomy child. She always wore a worn-out dress and always crouched in the count.

But the child in front of him now seemed like a completely different person.

She is wearing a dress decorated with colorful jewels, elaborate hairpins, and shoes with droplet of diamonds as she looked at him with a pretty yet elegant gaze.

Is it because of the clothes? No. That haughty gaze and her imposing gait…everything was different from before.

Above all, her whole demeanour hadchanged. To the angry Gilbert, Ancia didn’t blink an eye. Rather, she interrupted him with confidence.

“Can’t you even say hello to your father?!”

Gilbert screamed. Although her clothes changed and her attitude became arrogant, Ancia is still the same Ancia.

She must have become arrogant because the emperor loves her a little bit, he’s trying to break Ancia’s acting, but Melissa, the maid, stepped in.

“Please be respectful to Her Highness.”