Read Novel Full Chapter 48
Chapter 48
A Pitiable, Foolish Woman.
“Pl-please wait a moment. I must announce your arrival to the everyone in the hall…….”
“There is no need for that. Anyway, we are in a hurry so let us pass through, right now.”
“uh, yes………”
As the palace guards and servants hesitated, I spoke in a strong tone to quickly move things along.
In the first place, no one there is actually waiting for me anyway, so they should stop bothering with this unnecessary consideration already.
But.
“Prince Rudolf, let us go.”
“Yes.”
I couldn’t let anyone embarrass my beloved fiancée either.
Upon entering, I must be as dignified and majestic like she always is.
As soon as the doors opened, we quickly entered the hall.
“”””!?!………………………….””””
The nobles engrossed in their chats noticed me and Lizbeth, and looked at us with complicated expressions. I could feel their gazes whether I liked it or not.
I have always known, that I was nothing but a hindrance in places like these.
But.
“………..fufu.”
I tightly gripped Lizbeth’s hand, and walked with my chest puffed with pride, even under their scrutinizing gazes.
As long as she was beside me, I didn’t need to be as servile as I always was……..no, I must not be like that.
Understanding my feelings, Lizbeth smiled happily as well.
It was then.
“…………………………………”
“…………………………………”
Sensing two gazes full of hatred aimed at me, I turned to look to their source.
There stood Wilhelm and Robin.
Especially Robin seemed like he was angrily speaking to the servant beside him while pointing at me……..wait.
“La-lady Lizbeth!?”
“fufu, it’s a great occasion to let everyone in the hall see and understand. Your highness and me together………..a betrothed couple, looking as intimate as possible.”
Lizbeth wrapped her slender arm around my right arm as she stuck her body close to me.
Of course, I was happy about it as well but, how do I say this, umm………..she smelled so nice, and her skin felt so soft, and above all, her pretty face was so close to my own now that, honestly, I was struggling to keep my cool.
But, the effect of her actions was excellent as she wanted, as Robin who had begun to step towards us stopped in his tracks, and Wilhelm simply bit down on his lips and disappeared somewhere.
As someone that had read the Wilhelm and Lizbeth romance over and over in the [War Records of Wilhelm], I was filled with a sense of superiority for once.
“Thankfully, it seems the foolish conman has decided to step out on his own accord.”
Seeing Lizbeth show an icy grin, I could only gulp.
Her beauty was of course one thing, but seeing her utter ruthlessness towards her enemies, I was once again glad that I had the memories of that day bonding us together……..
If not, she definitely would have had me assassinated for sure.
Yeah, for the sake of love, Lizbeth really would do anything.
“La-lady Lizbeth, I know you hate him, but don’t go and have Wilhelm assassinated or something, okay?”
“Of course not. I need not sully my hands for small fry like him. Although I’ll dirty my hands however much you want if it is for your sake my Prince.”
“A,ahaha……..”
Yup. I am NEVER asking her to do anything like that in the future.
“th-that all aside, till we meet Queen Alicia, should we go grab something to eat first? We never really had the time to eat anything tonight after all.”
“That’s true. However……….be sure to eat your carrots properly here as well, okay?”
Ugh, she got me here as well.
But I hate carrots though……….
My shoulder dropped, as I walked towards the table with the hors d’oeuvre placed upon it, alongside Lizbeth.
It was then.
“Ara, you were here?”
“!?”
Hearing a listless voice, I instantly turned around to look.
“Mother………”
“Normally you always showed up early and then disappeared soon after but, tonight it’s the reverse?”
She shook the wine glass in her hands, and drunk it down, as my mother…….Beatrice showed a sarcastic smile.
She looked alone for once, as the Emperor didn’t seem to be in the hall.
Which mean, this woman stayed here alone by herself.
“I could say the same for you, mother? Normally, aren’t you together with the Emperor?”
“………oh shush it. He had some work pop up so he had to leave the place for now. And also..”
Beatrice didn’t even try to hide her foul mood, and then stared at Lizbeth.
“……….I’m the eldest daughter of the Fahlcrantz family, Lizbeth.”
Equally not hiding her displeasure, Lizbeth curtseyed towards Beatrice.
Her aquamarine eyes seemed almost teeming with bloodlust.
“hmmm……….it’s almost been a year since you two got engaged, and yet you never even bothered to greet me, Rudolf’s mother, even once, and now you show such attitude towards me on top?”
“Mother, stop right there.”
“Silence. By whose grace was it that you became the fourth prince? And yet, you dare take this girl’s side over me?”
“!!”
Hearing Beatrice’s words, my rage rose so much that my fist tightened and my teeth were grinding.
Of all the things, [Whose grace?] she asks? I never even asked for that even once in my life.
It was because of her making me the fourth prince, I was stuck in this Imperial palace……..and lost my place in the world.
All for her own selfish need for self protection and nothing more……..ah
“Ah…………”
Lizbeth gently put her hand over my fist that I had been gripping so tightly that my nails had begun to dig deep inside of my palm, and then smiled at me.
A sweet, gentle smile, filled with love, that she shows only to me.
“Lady Beatrice. Your words, should I take those words as an insult towards me………towards the Fahlcrantz family, that uphold the very military of this Baldyk Empire, from you, who has nothing to call her own? Is that correct?”
“!!What did you say!?”
Lizbeth spoke with a voice cold enough to chill you down to your stomach, making Beatrice distort her face in an ugly manner as she exclaimed hysterically.
“Then, how else should I take those words? What did you mean by it all? Depending on that, I might have to send a formal complaint from the Fahlcrantz family towards you unfortnately.”
“Stop fooling around! A little brat like you, I’ll tell this to the emperor and…….”
Beatrice raised her hand, and was about to throw her wine glass at Lizbeth.
“!! Rudolf, move!”
“No. She is……….Lady Lizbeth is more precious to me than anyone in this world, an irreplaceable woman. Even if you are my mother, I will not let you harm her.”
“RUDOOOLFF!!!”
——-*CRASH*!
Beatrice threw the wine glass at me with all her strength as I stood in front of Lizbeth to defend her.
But my eyes never wavered and I continued to stare directly at Beatrice.
Honestly, you might wonder what is she thinking doing something like this at a party organized by the Imperial household but, that’s just the kind of woman Beatrice was, so it couldn’t be helped.
Hysterical, and arrogant, someone who mistakenly believes the Emperor’s powers to be her own. But deep inside, she was afraid and anxious, not knowing when the Emperor might tire of her and throw her aside. A pitiable, foolish woman indeed.
Thanks to having recalled my previous life’s memories, I had no strong feelings towards this woman any more but, the past me……..Rudolf still wanted to stick close to this woman, even if she was like this.
But, perhaps letting her make this ruckus was a stroke of good fortune.
As a result.
“……….Beatrice, you sure have some nerve, to besmirch the Imperial name publicly like this.”
“!?”
Queen Alicia hastily showed up due to the racket, and then spoke to Beatrice from behind her with a stern expression.