The Abandoned Empress Chapter 18

Chapter 18: Chapter 18

Allendis continued, “If you would consider as her prospective partner, it would be very useful to solve that difficult situation. I feel uncomfortable saying it, but I’m a good groom, though I’m still young. What do you think?”

“…My daughter’s opinion does really matter.”

“Yes, that’s right. If my relationship with your daughter has fully developed by that ti, I would like to propose to her formally. But if your daughter is dating another man, I will give up neatly on the condition that he is worthy of being her partner.”

Although the main topic was about , they totally excluded from the conversation. They were now slowly wrapping it up.

“Good. I don’t think of you as my son-in-law, but if you et one condition, I will allow you to hang around her as Tia’s friend, but be careful. My daughter is still the crown prince’s fiancee.”

“Of course. What is the condition? ” Allendis said with a bright smile.

Without answering the question, however, my father rose from his seat and looked back at .

“Tia, I have to go to the palace. Actually, I should have left earlier, so I’m a little late. See you later in the evening.”

“Oh, you were supposed to go to work today. Take care, Dad. ”

“Okay.”

While walking away without casting a glance at Allendis, my father turned slightly and said,

“If you want to stay with my daughter, you should be able to save her from any dangerous situation. As Duke Verita has never been trained in martial arts, co to see in person, starting tomorrow. Let train you directly.”

“Uh, how much progress do you want to make in martial arts?”

“Well, if you want to defend my daughter, you should be able to beat a group of knights without any difficulty. I’ll see you tomorrow. ”

The boy, who stared at my father who made such remarks casually flopped down on the spot.

“Not one knight but a group of knights? I’m done!”

I chuckled at his desperate expression. When he watched giggling quietly, covering my mouth, Allendis said with a sigh, “Don’t laugh. My family mbers have never been trained in martial arts from generation to generation. Besides, I’m also very clumsy in using a sword.”

“Oh, really? That’s why I’ve never seen any remarkable knights from the Verita family. ”

“Yes, you’re right. They are very smart, but strange enough, they are very clumsy in martial arts. I can’t help it, though. I have no choice but to follow your father’s direction in order to get a pretty and smart wife like you.”

I couldn’t find any of the seriousness in him that he showed while he was talking with my father. He was back to his jovial and playful moods again.

“Oh, sorry. Aristia. ”

“About what?”

“I think I didn’t ask for your opinion while I was talking with your father about you.”

“Ah…”

To be honest, I didn’t feel bad at all. I was absent-minded when he was about to propose and my father suddenly appeared to stop him, which got them entangled in a war of words. I felt good when he politely apologized.

So, I said with a light smile, “Well, let accept your apology.”

“Thank you, miss,” his tone was polite and playful as he smiled.

“Let start my relationship with you as a friend like your father suggested, but Tia… ”

“Huh?”

“When you beco an adult, I hope you can recognize that I was the first to know your true value and propose to you.”

“… Sure, thanks, Allendis. ”

Suddenly, I felt heartbroken to hear that. In fact, I really wanted the crown prince to propose to like that, but he did not take care of even at the end. Even at this mont when I ca back from my past, he never changed.

But now, Allendis, not the crown prince, was asking to stay with .

“You don’t have to thank as I’m now forcing you, Tia,” he said, tilting his head and clicking his tongue as if he was in doubt.

“Oh, dear. I didn’t ask for your opinion about it again. Sorry.”

“About what?”

“Let’s put aside our future, Aristia. Will you be my friend for now? ”

When he reached out with a bright smile, I felt sowhat touched.

I had no one who I could call a friend in the past. There were no noblewon in my age group, and I was designated as the crown prince’s fiancee as soon as I was born. Because of that, I was the object of other ladies’ admiration or envy, so I could not make friends with anyone.

Bachelors from the noble families also avoided because they were afraid of being misunderstood by others. When I was pushed into the position of the emperor’s concubine because of Jiun, I turned into an object of their ridicule and sympathy.

A friend ans soone who was on an equal footing. That’s why I never had a friend. So, I felt strange and warm when Allendis asked to be his friend.

“Yes, I hope I’ll be in great hands, Allendis.”

I smiled brightly as I grabbed Allendis’ hand. Everybody had a friend, but I was not allowed to have a friend. I was thrilled to know that I finally had soone who I could call a friend, who I could mingle with on an equal footing.

While looking into his sparkling erald eyes, I thought that only now I could accept the reality that I took pains to ignore until now, and that I was living a life different from my past.

“See you tomorrow, Aristia.”

“Okay, take care!”

While I was talking with Allendis, I didn’t know how fast ti had passed. Dinner ti was already approaching. As it was discourteous to stay late at sobody’s house unless invited, he stood up and left.

While I was resting briefly after seeing him off, I received a ssage that my father would be back ho a bit late today. I let out a sigh when I heard that.

‘If you had inford a little earlier, I would have asked Allendis if he would like to have dinner with .’ I got used to eating dinner with my father at ho, so I lost my appetite when I was alone for dinner.

“Lina, tell the kitchen staff they don’t have to prepare dinner today. My father is late, and I don’t feel like it.”

“What do you an, lady? You know, you’re too weak.”

“Even if I skip one al, I won’t fall, so don’t worry.”

“But…”

“Fine, Lina. By the way, can you tell the butler to bring a list of the servants and maids in this house?”

“Yes, young lady.”

After assigning her, I headed to my father’s study. I had sothing to tell my father, but as he would be late today, I had to handle other things first. When I was organizing sothing to do in my heart, I heard a knock on the door.

“Co in.”

“Did you need , my lady?”

A well-dressed butler ca in and greeted politely. The butler, who was in his early thirties this year, was the first son of the forr butler who had recently retired to his estate. Though he took over his father’s job recently, he seed to get on top of it already. He’d been learning it even as a child.

“Although you said you didn’t want it, I brought so food for you. Please try it, my lady. ”

“Oh, thank you for your consideration.”

When I cut a small piece of white cake into my mouth, he said, giving a thick book, “This is a list of the staff of this house that you requested.”

“Well, I have a few questions to ask.”

“Please go ahead.”

“Is each person’s personal information listed here correct?”

“Of course, lady.” I carefully examined it.

“Their nas, descriptions of their features and clothing, their birthplaces and families, their location, etc. Hummm… Looks good. By the way, can you look into one more thing?”

“What should I investigate?”

“I want you to investigate the personal details of their families. When you do that, review the existing list carefully whether it is correct.”

“Sure, I will do. Lady.”

“I know it’s burdenso to you, but please do a favor.”

“I will look into it and report back to you as soon as possible.”

After he received the list back, the butler was about to leave.

But as sothing ca to my mind suddenly, I called him again.