The Duke of Superion led Lelia to a suite where Elizabeth had stayed until she got married.
(E/N: A suite would be a group of rooms that are ant to be used as a whole, similar to an apartnt.)
The maids had recently cleaned these rooms, but it seems that the maids attended to the suite on a daily basis.
Lelia looked at the cutely decorated rooms.
She was able to get a sense of her mothers taste in the hut, but she could feel more of it in these rooms.
It was so pretty.
[Besides, it cant be taken away by her Brothers, Cedric and Damien.]
Her mothers suite was divided into a large living room and bedroom, a bathroom, a walk-in closet, and a study that lay past unopened arched doors.
It was so spacious that she dread of staying here forever. It seed better than the single room she had back in the temple.
(Editor: The sitting/living room and bedroom seem to be one room.)
Lelia could feel her mother as she looked around her rooms.
The Duke of Superion was following and watching Lelia as she explored the different rooms.
Oh, I have sothing to give you.
Yeah?
The Duke of Superion then led Lelia back to the living room.
On one of the tables lay a mysterious package.
Open it.
At the Dukes words, Lelia carefully opened the package.
Inside was an ornate box that sparkled with gold. She carefully lifted it up and opened it, revealing a clear, and beautiful song.
Its a music box.
Lelia exclaid with a happy expression.
Yeah, this was originally a present for Elizabeth. She loved music boxes since she was a child.
Ah
At those words, Lelia felt her heart fill up with sothing warm. She cradled the music box to her chest.
This is a gift from your mother, and I will give you more gifts from now on. You should never refuse them and take all of them. Got it?
Yeah
When Lelia answered, the Duke patted her head in a curious way.
It was then
She heard a knock, well more like a Bang-Bang.
Duke Superions brow furrowed.
The door soon opened and a man walked in with an angry expression.
Ugh!
Lelia was startled and subconsciously went to hide behind Duke of Superions back.
Father!
Opening the door was a young man with an angry face.
He was one of her mothers brothers, it was the man she had seen in her mothers cabin.
Mind yourself
Carius, who ca in angry, stopped when he briefly saw Lelias face before she hid behind the duke again.
[Why did he co in here so enraged at his father for bringing ho a child?]
He couldnt believe it was her.
He blinked in disbelief.
His face turned very red and he began to shout loudly.
He had never dared to be angry in front of his father, but he couldnt stop himself now.
Father! Why is the child I saw in the Imperial Palace here? What is she doing here now?! Damn it! Do you know whose daughter this is?
When the Duke did not imdiately answer, he continued to shout.
Besides, why ! Why did you let her into this room?! And then you called here! Why Father?!
Carius was almost crying. Tears flowed down his face, which was flushed in anger.
How, how?! You brought Iris daughter here!
Carius glared at Lelia, and grit his teeth. He was thinking about how he wanted to drag this child out imdiately and drive her out of the palace.
It wasnt enough to invade his sisters hut, but she even desecrated these rooms! He gasped around his congested nose.
Even now, seeing her hide behind his fathers back made him see red.
Pathetic
The Duke of Superion clicked his tongue and looked at his sullen son.
Father! Dont you know that the Emperor is looking for that child?! Co out from behind him! How dare you hide behind soones back!
Carius yelled at Lelia, who was still hiding behind the duke.
Lelia was even more terrified than when she t him in the hut. His appearance now was making her very nervous.
That was when
Oww!
The Duke, who had been quietly watching the whole ti, reached out and pinched Carius cheek.
Carius looked at his father with a shocked look in his eyes, as if confused that his father had grasped his cheek.
How dare you get angry in front of ! How can you not even recognize your own niece pathetic man. Dont you feel sorry for Elizabeth?
Let go!
Carius exclaid, while his father continued to pinch his cheek. The duke narrowed his eyes and let go of the cheek.
Carius cheek had turned bright red.
What? Niece? What are you talking about?
Carius wrinkled his brow while holding on to his cheek.
It was at that mont that Lelia, who had been hiding behind the duke, leaned her head out slightly and looked up at him.
[He must have been very angry, but I think hes cald down]
He had been angry when he saw her in the hut, but the thought that she had managed to invade his sisters space this far away had enraged him.
Carius looked at Lelia with a puzzled look. Then he looked at his father as it dawned on him.
Alas! Im afraid that Im getting old
This ti the duke firmly pinched Carius other cheek.
***
-Superion Castle-
In a chamber inside the Dukes office.
The three Superion siblings were sitting around the conference table. This was a venue used by the high-ranking family mbers to have etings.
At the head of the table sat the Duke of Superion, with his brows heavily furrowed. He was an old man in his 60s whose spirit was more formidable than when he was in his youth. It was a frightening dignity that has carried the House of Superion for nearly 40 years.
The three Superion siblings were sitting around the table with faces full of complaints.
Xenon, the oldest of Elizabeths two brothers, is 35 years old. Hes in charge of the knights of the House of Superion and the father of two sons.
Carius, who is seated next to Xenon, is 28 years old. He was the closest to Elizabeth before her death. Among the three siblings, Carius has the most resentful look on his face.
Finally Atia, Elizabeths little sister, who is 27 years old.
She wasnt close to Elizabeth because shed spent her childhood at the capital. She returned to the territory, from the capital, when her sister beca the crown princess.
The sadness and longing she felt for her dead sister remained.
She also looked to be full of complaints.
Will Father listen to our words?
The reason why siblings looked unhappy was because of what their father had said monts ago.
The girl hed brought from the capital is Elizabeths daughter.
They heard the whole story, but the siblings couldnt easily believe it. But Xenon seed to think that it might be possible.
She certainly looks like Elizabeth when she was a kid.
She does not look like Elizabeth! Theres no resemblance other than the color of her eyes!
Carius refuted the words of his eldest brother, Xenon.
I rember Elizabeths childhood in more detail. We have to leave open the possibility. If thats true
If thats true?
Cariuss eyes darkened. If that kid really is the young daughter of his dead sister .
If its true, Carius, youre in big trouble. Why dont you just die?
Shut up, Atias
Carius and Atias started a fierce battle and exchanged harsh glares. The situation between the two was common, Xenon sighed as he looked at them.
Stop, said the duke, who had been silent the whole ti.
I have no intention of getting your permission anyway. There will be no talks about sending the child to the capital.
This ant that the existence of Lelia, who was being looked for in the Imperial Castle, should be kept silent.
The Superion Territory was quite a distance from the capital, and the emperor would never be suspicious of the Superion family.
Princess Iris, Lelias official mother, was an enemy to the Superion family.
Most would think that if they had a chance, the Superions would kill Lelia. No one would ever suspect that they were protecting her.
The emperor didnt seem to be looking for the child because he was worried about her childs safety.
But Father, shouldnt we wait to see if shes Elizabeths real daughter?
Ill look into it myself.
The Duke answered Xenons question firmly. Xenon pondered on his Fathers answer for a mont and asked another question.
What are you going to tell the vassals?
For now, I will announce that I have brought in a child resembling Elizabeth for the sake of my wifes illness.
Okay.
This should be kept strictly secret.
At the dukes words, the three siblings nodded saying they understood.
After receiving his childrens confirmation, the Duke left the conference room as if there was nothing more to say.
The three siblings remained and exchanged glances with each other.
They believed in their father.
For now, Ill believe it. Do you know what Mother did when she saw that child?
How was it?
Xenon asked for clarification of Atias words. To which Atias went into great detail, as she could no longer contain it.
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