Chapter 5. First Meeting (1)
Translator: Gold
They were on the table during breakfast as usual.
Lawrence was sitting at the head of the table, and Miraila was sitting next to him.
Despite the presence of the servants, Miraila attended Lawrence personally.
She spoke sweetly to him as he buttered the bread or cut the fish.
“It was a bit hot last night, did you sleep well?”
“Yes. The temperature drops as it gets dark.”
“But as soon as the sun comes up, it starts to get hot. If you don’t have an appetite, let me know. I’ll talk to the chef to prepare your favorite food, winter melon soup.”
“Yes, that’s fine.”
With one graceful move, Lawrence shoved the cut fish into his mouth. Since she was a child, Artizea had envied Miraila’s attentions to her brother. Because she did not receive the same love from her mother.
So, wanting to get a little closer to both of them, she sat as close to them as possible.
And in Miraila’s absence, she looked after Lawrence, thinking it was her duty.
Even after she realized it wasn’t her duty, she convinced herself to do it.
Lawrence was someone of value, who would be able to become the emperor. Lawrence was also the one who would make Miraila an honorable and distinguished person in the future.
So, of course, he would be treasured. Artizea was not in the same position.
But now, she had no interest in either of them.
During her torture, her lingering feelings for Lawrence disappeared. Her attachment to Miraila had disappeared before that.
She knew that her existence was like a tumor to Miraila. Similar to the late Marquis Rosan.
Artizea finished breakfast, she only ate the bread and salad.
She didn’t have much of an appetite. Besides, she wanted to get out quickly to check the current situation.
The Salmon Meunière, which had been prepared as the main dish for breakfast, was not even placed in front of her.
As she wiped her mouth and stood up, Miraila said abruptly.
“Your brother hasn’t finished half his meal yet, but are you getting up already?”
Only then did Miraila realize that Artizea was not sitting next to her as usual, but she was sitting in a distant seat.
Her beautiful brown eyes rounded.
In the past, Artizea would have apologized, but not now.
“I don’t have much of an appetite. Besides, you always told me I had to lose some weight.”
Artizea said calmly.
In her childhood before she was ten, she was chubby.
Miraila always told her she was too fat and ate too much. That she should eat little like birds to maintain her figure.
Because of that, Artizea developed an eating disorder at that time.
If she didn’t eat anything, she would only have bones, so Miraila shouldn’t tell her to lose weight.
However, Miraila used to tell her all the time that she had to lose weight.
Miraila got angry.
“But you must keep your table manners…”
“Today I’d like to visit the temple outside the city. Is that okay, brother?”
She asked Lawrence for permission to go out, as she was sure that Miraila would not give it to her. That way, Artizea would also avoid hearing her reproaches.
The only thing that Lawrence cared about Artizea was her ability to serve. He didn’t care for her as a younger sister.
Miraila was about to explode, but she stopped when Lawrence slowly opened his mouth.
“It’s okay, you can go.”
“Thank you, brother.”
Said Artizea, making Miraila rethink the words she would say.
Then Miraila said in a radiant voice.
“How can you be so considerate? You even think about your sister…”
Artizea had a lot of things to do and she couldn’t worry about that.
When she came out, Alice, a maid close to her, approached her quickly.
“My lady, didn’t you eat well again? Why did you leave so soon? Usually you…”
“Alice.”
Artizea stared at Alice.
She felt a little nostalgic.
Alice was her first personal maid. She was perceptive and loyal, but because of that, she was poisoned instead of Artizea.
“…”
“What is the matter, my lady?”
“It’s nothing.”
Not knowing what to say, Artizea just turned her head.
At that time, Artizea tried to take care of Alice’s family members for the rest of their lives, because she was always loyal to her.
What happened to Alice’s family after she was incarcerated?
Not only with Alice’s family, but also with the other families of those who died for Artizea.
Artizea had designed a structure to ensure that financial support would continue to be given no matter what happened to her.
She was also in charge of hiding the money and its link to that, in case something bad happened.
Considering that she was being more careful after she had eliminated all her political enemies, she had probably been suspicious of Lawrence long before she was falsely accused.
“My lady, are you laughing?”
“Did I laugh?”
“Yes. In this way.”
Alice laughed, mimicking her expression.
Artizea did not even show the faintest smile and turned around instead.
Even if it was an encounter after 20 years, her personality did not allow her to rejoice and embrace the other person with joy.
“I’m going out. I’m going to the Temple.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Alice, come.”
Artizea gestured for her to come closer.
Alice leaned down and brought her ear to Artizea’s lips.
Artizea whispered to her what she had to do.
When Alice straightened up, she said.
“So, go to the kitchen and prepare a lunch box with sandwiches stuffed with plenty of meat.”
“Oh, my lady. Have you finally decided to stop dieting?”
“I think I need to strengthen my body.”
“You’re right. You need to eat more.”
“It’s uncomfortable to eat alone. So prepare and pack at least 5 more portions. Also, pack a picnic tea set.”
“Okay.”
Alice was confused. But she had never questioned Artizea’s decisions.
“I don’t have much time, so do it quickly. Sophie will get me dressed.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Alice left quickly.
Artizea went slowly to her room.
After breakfast, Artizea usually changed into her afternoon dress. That’s why Sophie was already in front of her boudoir.
“Which dress do you wish to wear?”
“Beige… no, better green.”
Said Artizea, thinking it would be annoying if the dress got dirty.
Artizea didn’t have many clothes.
Unlike Miraila who had four dressing rooms full of clothes, Artizea had a boudoir with almost nothing.
When Miraila was getting dressed there were about 20 maids around her serving her. On the other hand, Artizea only had Sophie to serve her.
Just by saying ‘green’, Sophie knew which dress she was talking about and ran quickly to the closet.
However, it was a long time since she wore formal dresses.
Miraila did not like going out with Artizea, and she did not like the idea of Artizea having contact with outsiders.
She always told her that it was embarrassing that her horrible daughter was out and about.
Artizea didn’t completely believe her words.
From Miraila’s perspective, Artizea was proof that she had betrayed the emperor, so she did not want to show her in public.
However, she could not yet look directly into the mirror and appreciate her face.
Sophie took off Artizea’s outer garment and she sat down in front of the dressing table.
Then she asked Artizea, although she knew that she didn’t care.
“How would you like your hair done?”
“Neatly… no.”
Artizea took a deep breath and said something she had never said in her life.
“Make it pretty.”
“Oh my.”
Sophie was surprised but immediately smiled brightly.
“Well, I guess you’re at that age too.”
“What age?”
“You want to look pretty and date handsome guys.”
“Don’t talk nonsense. I’ll just go to the temple.”
“You could meet someone at the temple. Maybe it’s a charming knight or someone like that.”
“Who would put me in their eyes?”
This was the first time she said anything like that.
The appearance was important. Thinking about what she was going to do today, it would actually be good to look pretty.
However, it was not significant to her. Because her real value wasn’t in looks.
However, it seemed as if she really wanted to look pretty.
She knew she couldn’t and shouldn’t have that kind of relationship with the person she was meeting today.
Sophie opened her eyes wide and smiled.
“Isn’t that what you expect?”
“Sophie.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll just make sure any man you meet is interested in you.”
Sophie said cheerfully, as she curled Artizea’s hair.
“My lady, you can become the number one beauty in high society because you are naturally very beautiful. You just need to gain some weight and get some more sleep.”
“Nonsense.”
“You know you’re Miraila’s daughter. To be honest, considering her age, now the jewel of high society is… jeez!”
Sophie quickly fell silent when the door opened.
It was Miraila. Lawrence seemed to have finished eating.
Miraila looked around the boudoir. And when she saw that Artizea was being combed, she said scornfully.
“You don’t intend to seduce men with that ugly face and that pitiful appearance. Do you?”
Sophie said nothing and concentrated on what she was doing.
Artizea spoke calmly.
“I’m going to the temple. What would I do by seducing the priest, mother?”
“Then why is she curling your hair? Like an old woman?”
Artizea looked at Miraila through the mirror.
Miraila plopped down on a sofa in the boudoir .
“Didn’t my brother say he was going out today?”
“He already left.”
Miraila sighed, lamenting.
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