CHAPTER 150………………………………………
When my expression showed no sign of softening, Lloyd grew anxious, wondering if I had somehow made a mistake.
It was as if he didn’t want to earn my displeasure.
At that moment, I realized something.
Ah, of course.
I was the only one who elicited that kind of reaction from Lloyd.
Lloyd was always busy hiding his expressions from everyone else.
But with me, it was different.
I had seen him at a party, staring at me as if I were the most precious and dazzling thing in the world, unable to tear his eyes away.
Like a sunflower chasing the sun, like a sailor searching for the morning star.
That desperate expression of his was something only I could see.
Realizing that, I felt my earlier worries were foolish.
I gently placed my hand on Lloyd’s, as if it were nothing, and said:
“You know, Lloyd… I’ll go with you tomorrow.”
“Leave the children alone?”
“We can just firmly tell everyone. If needed, even leave them with Your Majesty.”
Ayla and Aslan didn’t stay glued to my side all day.
Of course, they were mostly in my sight, but if I had to step away, they were often with the maids.
And since Yupiteria already liked the children, she’d probably be fine with taking care of them for a while.
Of course, it felt a little guilty to leave the kids just to satisfy my own desires.
But even mothers are human.
If there’s a safe place for the children, isn’t it okay to look away for a moment?
After all, the children had wanted the same once.
I moved closer to Lloyd, stroking the back of his hand.
“I’ve regretted not being able to be with you during the trial. And…”
“…”
I couldn’t bring myself to say that I had questions for Priscilla.
Lloyd alternated his gaze between my hand and me.
He looked flustered but happy, worried yet joyful, and delighted just to be touched by me.
I knew he liked me.
But I had been avoiding facing it because I didn’t feel the same.
Yet, unknowingly, I was beginning to feel something similar to him.
Lloyd’s face had already turned as red as a tomato.
“I, I…”
“If it feels uncomfortable, you can refuse.”
He probably wouldn’t refuse, but I said it anyway.
And fearing I might change my mind, Lloyd’s clumsy reply came quickly.
“Not at all. Please, let me go with you.”
He slowly clasped my hand in his.
The trembling in his hand was so strong that it made me nervous too.
He must have been even more tense than I felt, yet he looked at me directly.
“Minerva, if you go with me… I would feel incredibly encouraged.”
Lloyd’s eyes were like the galaxy.
A blue star sparkling with warmth.
I loved this face, this gaze he only showed me.
I didn’t think of myself as particularly reliable, but if Lloyd saw me that way, I wanted to stay by his side as much as he wanted.
The next morning, Minerva woke early to find Yupiteria.
Even at such an early hour, Yupiteria greeted her without a hint of annoyance.
Though she was still perched on the bed, unable to stifle her yawns, the fact she welcomed an unannounced visit showed just how much she favored Minerva.
Yupiteria readily agreed to Minerva’s request.
“Taking care of the children for a while is no trouble.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“It is my duty to watch over these precious heirs. Oh, and tell me what the children like, so I can inform the kitchen in advance.”
Minerva repeatedly thanked Yupiteria before preparing to leave.
After seeing the still-sleepy children safely to the palace, she reminded them seriously:
“Behave and listen carefully. Understood?”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Alright.”
They answered well despite their sleepiness, but given their track record, Minerva wasn’t entirely convinced.
Perhaps amused by her anxious yet careful manner, Yupiteria chuckled and nudged her granddaughter forward.
“I will take good care of these precious granddaughters, so do not worry.”
Though Yupiteria said this, Minerva didn’t really believe she would stay with the children the whole time.
Even nobles rarely raised children themselves.
Certainly, the emperor wouldn’t personally watch them.
‘Well, at least Mars or Gabriel won’t be clinging around.’
Since Yupiteria didn’t favor those two, the Mars couple rarely visited the palace.
Even if they tried, Yupiteria would turn them away, so Minerva climbed into the carriage, somewhat reassured.
Still, Lloyd couldn’t take his eyes off her, and reluctantly drew the curtain.
Out of sight, it was slightly better.
Minerva forced a small, awkward smile, and Lloyd shook his head as if to say he understood.
“I too feel concerned. The errand shouldn’t take long, so let’s return quickly.”
Lloyd’s hand rested on a large package beside him.
Curious about its contents, Minerva asked.
“What’s that?”
“A final gift.”
“…For Countess Priscilla?”
Why bring a gift for someone like her?
Though Minerva could guess the contents, she relaxed remembering she liked this about Lloyd.
She held his hand and, like Aslan sometimes did, whispered a small charm:
“Leave nothing behind. Regret is hers to bear.”
“Yes.”
Lloyd nodded, his nose twitching slightly, then jokingly added, “Honestly, I don’t think she’ll reflect much on this.”
Minerva chuckled softly.
In the detention area of the Supreme Court,
Priscilla sat on the hard wooden chair, ignoring the stiff black bread and thin soup labeled as breakfast, staring blankly into space.
She had no energy to focus on anything, lost in thoughts of yesterday’s trial.
Where did it all go wrong?
Should she have disposed of the jewels more decisively?
Perhaps she should have smashed them herself with a hammer.
She hadn’t expected her father-in-law to steal them under the guise of disposing of them.
Well, it was possible, given his stubbornness.
But what she hadn’t expected was that Lloyd would manage to recover them.
Priscilla had taken all the evidence except the sapphire earrings.
So she assumed they were gone, yet Lloyd had found them.
‘I was careless.’
Leaving no loose ends would have been better.
Yet, thinking Lloyd couldn’t do anything, she had ignored it.
Underestimating him was her fatal mistake.
“Prisoner #1739. Visitor.”
The cold voice of the guard snapped Priscilla out of her thoughts.
As a former noble no longer, Priscilla had no claim to polite speech from the guard.
She knew it, but having lived all her life above others, the guard’s tone made her want to strike them down on the spot.
Now wearing shabby clothes in a dusty cell, she couldn’t kneel the guard into submission as before.
Her throat hoarse from hunger, Priscilla asked:
“…Who is it?”
“You’ll see when you get there.”
The guard unlocked the metal lock, opened the door, and slammed the bars.
A clear signal to move.
If she resisted, the wooden club in the guard’s hand might come down on her.
To think she would one day feel threatened by a mere wooden stick.
Clenching her teeth against the rising shame, Priscilla slowly rose.
Every step rattled the handcuffs and shackles, crushing her pride further.
She tried to step quietly with bare feet.
In the visiting room, she found exactly who she had expected:
Lloyd and Minerva.
The masterminds who had brought her to this state.
Before they could mock her, Priscilla mocked herself.
“You came to see me like this. Must feel satisfying, huh?”
