17. Knowing the Lie (Part 2)
The events up to now began to connect in my mind.
When I had fallen ill, he had come to check on me at the secluded palace—even though no one else was supposed to be there.
Even though he should have been the villain in the story, for some reason, he had been kind to me.
He had taken care of me, someone often neglected in the palace, even before—I remembered it clearly. Unlike my cold brothers, he had actually listened to what I had to say.
(It was all… all of it… just an act…)
My throat burned as if on fire. I had trusted Lord Keith in this short time.
Even knowing that he was supposed to be the villainous young master in the novel, I had felt that the person in front of me was somehow different.
(Maybe the Lilybel in the novel trusted him like this too…?)
A scene from my dream flashed across my mind. Lilybel had smiled, just a little, when she was by his side. She had looked… happy. Surely, in the story, Lilybel must have liked Lord Keith.
(But that was a lie.)
If that kindness had been nothing more than a tool to use me… my chest ached painfully.
What if I had been more clingy toward him? If I had expected more from him… I might have drowned in a false relationship without even realizing it. A cold shiver ran down my spine.
“…I mustn’t believe him.”
I whispered to myself. I couldn’t be swayed by sweet words.
If he was only approaching me on the Marquis’s orders, then that relationship meant nothing.
This was nothing more than a surface-level interaction between “the princess” and “the marquis’s son.” I had almost mistaken his kindness for something genuine—but it had all been a fabrication.
“A neglected princess is a pitiful thing. Winning her favor should be easy, right?”
As I struggled with my shock, the Marquis continued speaking, snorting with amusement.
“…What a simple girl. If you show even a little indulgence, she’ll trust you in no time. Continue making sure the princess takes a liking to you. Do you understand why I isolated her? Ah, and don’t undermine the princes’ trust either.”
After saying this so coldly, the Marquis let his cloak flutter and walked away slowly. The sound of his footsteps gradually faded.
Lord Keith watched him go silently for a moment, then let out a small breath as if holding something back. He pivoted in the opposite direction from where the Marquis had gone—toward me.
(H-He’s coming this way…! This is bad. He might notice that I was eavesdropping.)
The conversation had been far too ominous. If he found out I had heard it, I feared for my safety.
Panicking, I quickly glanced around and, on instinct, grabbed a plant at my feet and stood up with some force.
“…Oh, there you are!”
I raised my voice deliberately, stepping into view. Lord Keith looked at me in surprise.
“Lilybel?”
“…Lord Keith! What brings you here?”
I tilted my head as if puzzled and smiled, showing the leaves I held tightly in my hand. I had to give the impression that I had merely been collecting herbs here.
“I was exploring the castle grounds. I thought I might find some interesting plants, so I got absorbed in investigating them. Look! This is a kind of medicinal herb too, isn’t it?”
“…Yes, it is.”
Lord Keith fell silent for a moment, his golden eyes narrowing as if assessing me. But when I held his gaze steadily, he let out a small sigh.
“Were you able to hear anything from where you were?”
I put on my most innocent, blank expression in response.
“Eh? I’m sorry. I was too focused and didn’t notice at all. Was someone else here? Did anyone speak to me, perhaps?”
I tilted my head in apparent puzzlement. I thought to myself that my little act of feigned ignorance was perfect.
Lord Keith stared at me intently, then furrowed his brows slightly and averted his gaze for a moment.
“…No, don’t worry about it. If you didn’t hear anything, that’s for the best.”
There was a faint trace of relief in his voice, and I tilted my head slightly.
(Could it be that he’s relieved I didn’t hear his conversation with the Marquis?)
While I tried to understand the expression on his face, Lord Keith let out a small breath.
Had I managed it? Had I successfully covered it up…?
My heart raced as I looked back down at the ground. Luckily, some wild weeds with yellow flowers were growing here.
I silently sent my greatest gratitude to whoever had neglected this patch of ground.
“This one… I think it looks like something I read about in a book recently. Don’t you think, Lord Keith?”
I smiled brightly, putting my acting skills to the test. Lord Keith looked down at me silently, his expression unreadable.
“…Lilybel.”
“Yes?”
“Perhaps it’s time you returned to the palace. I can escort you.”
“Eh?”
His voice was calm but firm. I might have shown the slightest hesitation on my face. After what had just happened, I honestly didn’t want to be near him.
Besides, I had come here for another purpose. I needed to refuse naturally.
“No, thank you. I think I’ll stay a little longer and continue looking for plants. I feel like there might be some other interesting ones that I saw in the book…”
I said this while clenching the plants in my hand, speaking as cheerfully and naturally as I could. It was a sudden excuse to avoid being escorted back to the palace.
He must be busy, so he wouldn’t have time to keep accompanying me. And besides, he wouldn’t stay just to help me look for plants.
“I see.”
Lord Keith looked thoughtful.
Good… I thought I had managed to get through this. But then, he tilted his head slightly and surveyed the garden.
“Then, I shall accompany you as well.”
“Eh?”
I couldn’t help but let out a startled sound. What did he just say? Did I hear him wrong?
“It is dangerous for Her Highness to walk through the garden alone.”
“Eh, but… it’s the palace garden…”
I had intentionally told Berne and the others not to follow me so I could move about freely.
“One never knows what might happen.”
Lord Keith spoke firmly. I opened my mouth to argue, but his golden eyes looked at me calmly. I realized immediately that he wouldn’t back down.
(…That’s right. The Marquis said to make sure he approached me.)
A neglected, isolated princess… that was me.
