Chapter 76
“If this is a marriage based on childish love, then it’s pathetic.”
The Marchioness of Bruce said to Leila with a mocking tone.
“I’ve heard you’ve already broken off several engagements. How do you know the same won’t happen with our Sonnet, my dear?”
At her words, the Marquis of Bruce frowned, looking unsure of how to respond.
Leila didn’t know much about the Marquis. There was barely any mention of him in the original story. In the original, by the time Sonnet began to regret things, he had already passed on his title.
At that time, it seemed Sonnet didn’t need to marry to inherit the title—but the reason wasn’t explained in detail.
“They’re different from those others. I trust Sonnet more than anyone.”
However, Leila wasn’t someone who would give in easily. She could concede sometimes, but there was no need to lose in situations where she didn’t have to.
“The other broken engagements happened because neither the other person nor I was a good match. And I suppose I also had my shortcomings, which is why it didn’t work out, right?”
The Marquis felt relieved hearing Leila’s soft, rounded tone. He knew well how sharp his wife could be when she spoke.
“I’ve heard that you’d get engaged just by a little attention. And that you even carried Baron Eichmann’s child?”
“I am pure. I can even get tested to prove it, if you like.”
Leila smiled gently at the Marchioness. The Marchioness couldn’t stand how noble and composed Leila spoke—she seemed to be looking down on her while acting so refined.
“Hmph. I was just about to request a test anyway, so that works out well.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
Leila smiled again, acting as if it were nothing, and this time the Marquis of Bruce spoke.
“What exactly do you like about Sonnet?”
“Sonnet is… um…”
Leila couldn’t immediately recall Sonnet’s good points. He had supported Ceres, yes, but she wasn’t entirely sure he was that good a person.
Thinking of the conversation she had with Hugo outside her room, the secret he kept from her about Ceres, and the fact that he continued to meet Sibyl, she concluded that he certainly wasn’t a perfect person.
“I think it would be faster to list his flaws. There are so many good points that I’d be at a loss to mention just one.”
“Ha ha ha. Then shall we hear about the bad points?”
The Marquis laughed heartily, and Leila’s eyes sparkled as she replied:
“He’s too handsome. If Sonnet is this good-looking, everyone else must feel the same. That’s what bothers me so much.”
“Hahaha.”
The Marquis laughed, clearly pleased. Seeing Leila’s expression, he seemed relieved.
“He’s a bit immature. He hasn’t spent much time around women, so there are probably many things he doesn’t understand.”
“That’s okay. Sonnet always does his best for me.”
“Right. Still, it’s natural for you to feel troubled sometimes. Teach him when that happens. Our Sonnet grew up only around boys, so he doesn’t know women well.”
Leila smiled innocently.
“I love every part of Sonnet—even his clumsy parts.”
Seeing Leila’s flushed expression, the Marquis looked at her with joy. Sibyl, meanwhile, smiled but glared coldly at Leila.
At that moment, Sibyl noticed that the Marchioness was looking at Leila with the exact same expression she herself had. Their eyes met, and both felt a strange sense of kinship that softened their hostility.
But that hostility was fully directed at Leila.
“What delightful conversation are you having?”
Crown Prince Anasis, who had been sitting at another table, approached Leila.
“Your Highness? What about the princess?”
The Crown Prince gestured with his chin, pointing toward Empress Ramiela and her attendants, who were chatting warmly with Princess Weimar.
“You should be there as well.”
Leila didn’t understand why the Crown Prince was joining their conversation, but she rose to her feet. Anasis crossed his arms.
“Why? Can’t I join?”
He maintained polite respect in front of others, but this time his demeanor was unusually casual.
“Oh, no. I’m just so happy,” Leila said, softening his expression slightly.
“Sister, sit a little farther. Your Highness should sit here.”
“Ah, oh…”
Sibyl moved over from beside Leila. She felt slightly annoyed, but there was nothing she could do when the Crown Prince wanted to sit there.
“Your Highness, you should sit next to Lutenberg…”
“Fernando, move over.”
“Yes.”
William, disguised as Crown Prince Lutenberg, shifted one seat over. In the end, Crown Prince Anasis sat in Leila’s partner seat.
“I’d like to join your conversation. Shall we continue?”
At the Crown Prince’s words, the Marquis of Bruce laughed.
“It’s an honor to meet Your Highness up close.”
“You say that every day.”
“It’s an honor every time.”
The Crown Prince felt somewhat reassured by the Marquis’ courteous manner.
“Actually, I asked because she’ll be my daughter-in-law, and I wanted to know what she thinks of my son.”
“I see.”
“That’s right. I like Sonnet a lot myself, so I wanted to see how much she likes him.”
However, the Crown Prince’s mood, which had been improving, sank again, forcing a strained smile onto his face.
Though he smiled, his eyes betrayed irritation.
“Is that so? How much does she like him?”
“I like him because he’s a good person… Actually, I want to marry quickly, so I can see him every day. I’d be so happy to see him first thing in the morning.”
Leila blushed shyly as she pretended, prompting the Crown Prince to glance at her skeptically.
“Ah, I see.”
The Marquis of Bruce spoke further:
“I hope you and Sonnet will give me grandchildren soon. I’ll always support moving the wedding forward.”
“Really, Father?”
Leila found herself calling the still-legally-unrelated Marquis “Father” without realizing it.
“Of course. You can even bring a child as a wedding gift. No test is needed. If Sonnet is pleased, I’d welcome you even if you were a commoner.”
“Father…”
“I worried so much that he might not be interested in women.”
The Marquis spoke sincerely—he owed a great deal to Sonnet.
“The empire has laws. Having a child before marriage isn’t appropriate, Marquis Bruce.”
It was Crown Prince Anasis who interrupted the seemingly cheerful atmosphere.
“Oh… I suppose you’re right. I was thoughtless. I apologize, Father.”
“No, it’s fine. I too was thoughtless, Your Highness. I apologize if I caused discomfort.”
“Oh, no, Father. I was too thoughtless as well. I just thought if the child resembled Sonnet, I’d want them quickly too.”
Ha ha.
The Marquis of Bruce was genuinely happy—he had always hoped for grandchildren, and he was thrilled by her words, forgetting the Crown Prince’s presence.
In fact, he didn’t realize that the Crown Prince was pretending.
After all, the real power among the nobles lay with the Empress, and the Marquis was her trusted retainer. He was acknowledged even by the Pendleton family, the Empress’s house, and wasn’t someone who had to bow excessively like other nobles.
“What do you think? If it’s by Your Highness’s order, moving the wedding forward should be possible.”
The Marquis said this as a request. The Crown Prince already knew he feared his mother more than him.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“If Your Highness says so, the Empress will consent.”
The Marquis knew that even if the Crown Prince became emperor, the power of Ramiela Pendleton would remain. The ministers feared the Pendleton family; their influence and intelligence were invaluable. And the Marquis, as their right hand, was not an ordinary man. His appearance was deceiving.
“Or you could ask Duke Pendleton directly.”
The Crown Prince chuckled at the Marquis’ words.
“I’ll talk to my mother about it.”
But it was obvious he had no intention of actually doing so.
“Leila.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Let’s go over there. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Leila thought he was finally in a better mood, so she followed him without hesitation.
They passed the people chatting cheerfully and moved toward a corner. The Crown Prince pretended to browse drinks on a table and then spoke first:
“Why are you in such a hurry to marry?”
Leila noticed the Empress sipping tea and laughing with the Marquis nearby.
“I’m not in a hurry either. It’s just that the topic came up by chance.”
Despite Leila’s words, the Crown Prince, still simmering with anger, realized her gaze was directed at something over his shoulder—not at him—and turned to look.
At that moment…
“Ugh…!”
The Empress dropped her teacup, clutched her mouth, and collapsed, blood spurting from her mouth.
“Kyaaah!”
“Someone must have poisoned the tea!”
At that instant, Leila noticed that William, who had been sitting next to the Empress, bore an expression strikingly similar to Rainier’s.
