Chapter 63
“It’s nothing much, but could you let me meet Princess Angelina?”
“You want to meet Princess Angelina?”
Liriana repeated the question, completely unprepared for such a request.
“Yes. I’ve always wanted to see the Empire’s Angel for myself… Now that I can freely enter the palace, could you maybe arrange for me to meet her as if by chance?”
This had been a plan Helene had been thinking about for a long time.
Helene had decided that once the heroine, Angelina, came to Lepia, she would meet her first.
It wasn’t easy for a fallen countess to meet a princess, but now that Helene was officially treated as a distinguished guest of the palace, she could enter freely.
She intended to use the excuse of visiting Liriana to meet Angelina.
Liriana paused in thought.
All the nobles of the capital wanted to meet Princess Angelina, the future Grand Duchess or Empress, to establish connections with her.
Perhaps because of that, Liriana, as Angelina’s head lady-in-waiting, had received similar requests several times before.
She thought it might be for that purpose, but she had never seen Helene act without reason.
There had to be another reason.
“If it’s because you want me to connect you with His Highness the Grand Duke, you don’t need to do that anymore…”
Finally, Liriana said what she had wanted to say for a week.
She had thought about saying it earlier, but hesitated because saying it aloud would feel like giving up on Sieghart.
Once she spoke, she felt a sense of relief.
“I’ve completely given up on His Highness the Grand Duke now…”
Princess Angelina was truly perfect and lovable.
How could she ever compete with her?
All Helene wanted was for Sieghart’s unrequited love to be fulfilled so that he would be happy.
“…A lie.”
Helene swallowed the words she wanted to say.
She couldn’t believe Liriana claimed to have given up while looking as though she might cry at the mere mention of the Grand Duke.
Indeed, Liriana was the worst liar among the people Helene knew.
But for now, it was better to let it slide.
“It’s not for that reason. I genuinely want to meet Princess Angelina to see what all the rumors are about.”
“If that’s really the case…”
Liriana was still suspicious, but she wanted to grant her stepmother’s request.
And she understood Helene’s feelings.
Liriana had also long wanted to meet the rumored “Angel of the Empire,” the princess of the Herbient family.
As head lady-in-waiting, Liriana always knew Angelina’s schedule, so granting Helene’s request was not difficult.
“Then, how about tomorrow?”
There was no reason to hesitate.
Liriana remembered that Angelina’s schedule was fairly open tomorrow.
Helene nodded vigorously.
The next day, in the halls of Lepia Palace.
“Wha…what…is…this…place…?”
Helene was internally horrified by Liriana’s awkwardly stilted speech.
‘Has Blain gone from cars to robots now?’
Helene knew Liriana couldn’t lie, but her acting was even worse.
With her expressionless face and monotone voice, Liriana looked incredibly awkward.
Helene waited in the palace corridor at the time Liriana had indicated.
Angelina was supposed to pass through here after finishing her walk.
To any observer, it looked like a completely natural encounter.
Fortunately, all eyes were on Helene, so it seemed no one else noticed Liriana’s awkward acting.
“Oh, Liriana, I came by the palace for some business as well.”
Helene responded to Liriana.
At last, she was about to meet Princess Angelina.
Helene immediately recognized her.
Angelina Herbient, the heroine of The Perfect Princess Angelina.
Golden hair shining like sunlight, ocean-blue eyes like a summer lake, rosy cheeks like fresh roses.
Her delicate features were exactly as described in the book—there was no doubt that this was Angelina.
Born to a noble of the powerful Herbient family and the duchess of Melent, a trade-centered port city, people said she was born to wear a golden crown.
She had inherited the beauty of the Herbient family and the intellect of the Melent family, who had produced many statesmen.
Of course, even the heroine had hardships.
She lost her parents at the young age of eight.
Since then, the collateral relatives of both families tried to seize everything from her, but, true to a heroine, she was protected by the support of those around her.
From age fifteen, she was always accompanied by Crown Prince Louihart of the Empire and Grand Duke Sieghart of Rebledean.
Both had fallen in love with her at first sight and became her self-proclaimed “black knights.”
Thus began a three-way relationship among the three.
Knowing the feelings of the two men, Angelina was confused.
Having no interest in romance yet, Sieghart and Louihart were just friends, or affectionate older brothers, to her.
As she turned eighteen, she began to awaken to romantic feelings, leaving people anxious to see whom she would choose.
Originally, Helene and Angelina would meet at a royal ball, where Helene would be sentenced to death.
How would this artificial encounter affect the original story?
Helene thought about this for all of thirty seconds as she faced Angelina.
Angelina, staring intently at Helene, spoke.
“…Oh my, you must be Countess Emeldia.”
Helene bowed and greeted her.
“Princess Angelina, greetings. I am Helene of the Emeldia family.”
She could not allow herself to die as futilely as in the original story.
Her reflection appeared in Angelina’s lake-like blue eyes.
Helene felt oddly uplifted seeing herself mirrored there.
No wonder the male leads were so smitten with her.
“Nice to meet you.”
Angelina smiled.
Her smile seemed to brighten the entire space.
Helene was momentarily captivated, but quickly composed herself.
“I am truly honored to meet Your Highness as well.”
Helene had one goal: to form a different relationship with Angelina than in the original story.
She could not afford to be antagonistic, as the original heroine had punished those who troubled her many times over.
Helene intended to keep the male lead candidates away from Angelina while staying as safe as possible.
“I heard that you are a devout follower of the Sun Religion. I would love to have a proper conversation with you sometime!”
Since arriving in Lepia, Angelina had attended many social events and knew everything about the social scene.
She had already heard about Helene.
It might have been polite talk, but following the stepmother’s reform, Angelina did not seem to have a negative impression of Helene.
The angelic princess had no reason to dislike anyone.
Even when Helene had lashed out in The Perfect Plan, the angelic Angelina had forgiven her.
However, the emperor, overly fond of Angelina, had considered Helene impertinent and executed her to show an example to those who disrespected the princess.
“If Your Highness calls, I will come immediately.”
Helene said, and Angelina laughed out loud.
As hoped, their first meeting went very smoothly, unlike the original story.
Once the conversation ended, Angelina went to her next engagement: a meal with the Emperor.
Helene bowed again and began to descend the stairs.
But then she noticed the Emperor approaching.
As previously mentioned, the Emperor was the one who had sentenced Helene to death in the original story.
Not long ago, she had accidentally entered his secret hideout and narrowly avoided his sword.
Perhaps to survive, she had to avoid the Emperor rather than Angelina.
Yet Helene could not escape this time either.
Her eyes met the Emperor’s crimson gaze.
