CH 51

“It is all my doing. Her Highness shares no blame in this.”

After returning to the inn that was the first thing Legion said as he shielded the crying Princess Florencia behind him.

Olivia thought of his attitude like an animal protecting its child. She could sense how stressed he is and how he was threatening them with his whole body.

Right now Legion is at Alan’s room with the soldiers standing guard in front of the door and outside the room. Just in case, Legion’s hands are tied behind his back. It’s not that they think that he would try to escape but they are cautious of what he would do if they pressed him too much.

“It’s become a big deal isn’t it.”

After locking the princess and Legion in separate rooms with guards watching over them, Olivia returns to her room, and Taylor comments so as she serves her a cup of sweetened milk tea.

“Yes, I never thought something like this would happen.”

“Certainly, however, it’s great that we found Her Highness Florencia so quickly.”

“…..yeah.”

Olivia made a small nod while sipping the milk tea.

Seeing her lady doesn’t look all that happy, Taylor cocked her head.

“Is something troubling you, My Lady?”

Olivia downed the entire cup of sweet milk tea before laying down on the couch.

“……somehow, it has a bad aftertaste you know. I’m not sure if what I did was right or wrong.”

“Meaning?”

“I think from the perspective of Brior, securing the princess was the correct choice but………this will surely ruin their happiness right?”

After all, It is what it is. From now on, Princess Florencia’s freedom will become even more limited and the talk about her and Alan engaging will be canceled. Plus, it’s more than likely that the king of Levanor will want to prevent this from ever happening again by marrying her off to a noble in his own country. Naturally, Legion will be stripped of his status and thrown in prison. He probably won’t receive a death sentence from this but his punishment will surely be heavy. That would mean the two will not ever achieve their happiness.

Thinking so, Olivia felt heavy. As a daughter of a Briorian Duke, and a fiancee to Cyrus, what she did is not wrong. The fault lies with the two who tried to escape and this is the result of their failed attempt. However, if it’s about the future then that’s a different story.

Princess Florencia was staring longingly at La Porte in the castle’s rose garden. Olivia doesn’t know what Legion’s standing was in Levanor but he probably was not allowed to marry the princess. The only way they can be together was probably elopement.

Olivia let out a heavy sigh.

But suddenly.

The door was gently knocked on. Taylor went to see who it was and found Ponini, Princess Florencia’s maid, standing in the hallway.

“Ponini-san, is something the matter?”

Ponini is supposed to be at Princess Florencia’s side. As Taylor asked so with her eyes widened in surprise, Ponini turned her gaze to Olivia with a weak expression.

“My apology. Her Highness said that she wants to see Olivia-sama no matter what…….Her Highness was crying but she has calmed down a little. I know that this will trouble you but can you please at least let Her Highness see your face…….”

In other words, she doesn’t want to deny the princess’s wish of seeing Olivia as she might start crying again.

“Ojou-sama…….”

Taylor worriedly looked back at her.

Princess Florencia wants to meet Olivia but she can’t imagine what she wants with her. Perhaps she wants to let out her resentment? It’s a little scary to meet her when she thinks about it but that doesn’t mean she can ignore the princess’s wish.

Since Olivia has gotten in the way of her happiness, it’s not surprising the princess would hold a grudge against her.

Olivia reassures Taylor with a smile before standing up from the couch.

Seeing the princess’s red eyes, Olivia wondered how much she cried.

As Olivia entered her room, the princess tightly bit her lips before lowering her head as though she was trying to endure something.

“…..I’m sorry for all the inconveniences I put you through.”

As if the princess tried to kill her emotions, her voice was very quiet.

Without saying anything in reply, Olivia seats herself across from the princess. She knows that no matter what she says, it wouldn’t do any good with the princess’s emotions in this state.

Obviously, Olivia didn’t think that the princess called for her just to offer her apology.

After a while of waiting, Princess Florencia turned her gaze down and clenched the hem of her skirt before continuing.

“I know, that I am in no position to ask anything from you. But…..please know that I was not forced into this. At least, can you please let Legion escape? If he returned to Levanor like this, he would……”

“That’s…….”

She understands what the princess wanted to do but it’s not something that Olivia can do anything about.

Princess Florencia raised her head and stared straight at Olivia with her swollen eyes.

“It was all my fault! I was being selfish! Legion didn’t do anything wrong at all…..it was all me, he only went along with my selfishness, so please……”

Tears swell in the princess’s eyes. But as they were about to spill, she quickly wiped them with her cuff.

“It was my plan. I wanted to be with Legion. I know that it was naive of me but if I don’t do this I can not be with him. Legion is the second son of Count Heinlibe so he is not qualified as my marriage partner. But…..I don’t want to be with anyone but him! That’s why I…….I forced Legion to go along with my plan!”

“Count Heinlibe…….”

Certainly, even the eldest son of a count family wouldn’t qualify as someone worthy for the princess, let alone the second son. At least you need to be the eldest son—-of a house that has a peerage of marquis or higher. If you cleared at least that then you might be able to obtain permission if you do your best. However, in the case of Legion, their statuses are simply too unbalanced. Still—

(Count Heinlibe, where have I heard that name before…..)

Remembering something, Olivia put her hand on her chin. Count Heinlive is a name she’s heard somewhere before. She has the name of all Brior’s aristocratic houses in her head but her knowledge doesn’t extend to Levanor’s noble houses. However, since the name still lingers in her memory, she must have heard it before.

The name was on her mind but rather than that, she thinks that she needs to focus on the princess for now.

Olivia took the hand of Princess Florencia.

She has no ability to grant the princess’s wish but she still can’t nonchalantly say that there’s nothing she can do.

“I will……try to help as much as I can. However, I’m sorry to say this but I can not allow Legion to escape.”

The princess’s face was dyed in despair before she broke into tears.