~Chapter 13~
“Because my chronic lower back pain has worsened, I cannot go to the castle today.”
Saying so, Lilianna sat gracefully on her favorite sofa in her room and smiled while sipping the tea prepared by Molly.
No one had ever heard of her having chronic back pain.
And she looked perfectly energetic.
Oliver placed a hand on his forehead and said,
“Stop talking nonsense and get ready already. If you want to blame someone, blame your own appetite and behavior.”
To which Lilianna responded,
“No, as Molly also said, the way the other young ladies piled on decorations was abnormal. Since I dressed modestly, I ended up standing out in the opposite way. So it is not my own fault!”
She turned away and puffed up her cheeks.
She looked like a very adorable squirrel stuffing sunflower seeds into its mouth, but this was not the time to say such things.
“Molly, I’ll leave it to you.”
Oliver said, completely handing the task over to Molly.
Molly bowed beautifully and said,
“As you wish.”
Then she approached Lilianna with her fingers wiggling in a very gentle and friendly manner.
“W-wait, Molly? Weren’t you on my side? What are those hands? Stop, don’t come closer, nyaaaaaa—!”
Oliver had already left the room.
Lilianna’s screams echoed helplessly.
◇◇◇
In a certain room of the royal castle.
Oliver and Gianna sat on either side of Lilianna, as if sandwiching her, while on the opposite side of the table sat the king and queen.
The ice prince was apparently not present.
Even though she did not show it on her face, Lilianna’s irritation grew stronger and stronger at the absence of the prince himself—the root cause of the situation.
“William will come here once his work is finished. Until then, may I hear various stories from Lady Lilianna?”
On the king’s side, the atmosphere was so warm that it contrasted sharply with the Villiars family’s complicated expressions.
It was clear from the king’s unspoken implication—something like, “Since we will be relatives.”
But when told to speak of “various stories,” Lilianna had no idea what she should say, and fearing she might say something unnecessary, she remained silent.
Oliver, seeing this, reluctantly opened his mouth in her place.
