WLYV 22

Chapter 22

“Thank you for your concern, Marquis Spencer.”

After checking Lorencia’s complexion one more time, Teyshar finally removed his hand and began inspecting the sofa where she would sit with meticulous care.

“Miss Lorencia, please have a seat here. I’ve already brought a soft cushion for you. If it’s uncomfortable, please let me know. I can replace it with another cushion or mat. Please, sit down, Miss Lorencia.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Marquis Spencer.”

Adrian looked at Teyshar with an unfamiliar expression. Charlotte did too.

Normally, Teyshar—his neat black hair, red eyes, trained physique, and tall stature—would draw attention, but the aura of authority surrounding him usually made ordinary people instinctively feel intimidated. Yet now, he looked like a mother bird taking care of a fledgling trying to leave the nest.

“But… is it okay to sit first like this in front of Her Highness the Princess and His Highness the Crown Prince? I apologize, Your Highness. And Princess Charlotte. I’m not well-versed in proper etiquette. I hope you can understand.”

“It’s fine for you to sit, Miss Lorencia.”

Lorencia’s heart raced with tension as she sat on the sofa. No matter how much she had foreseen certain events, experiencing them firsthand was different.

“For the time being, Miss Lorencia, we plan to protect you in the royal palace. But once the honorable duel between Lord Loris and Prince Luans is over, you must return to the Count’s residence.”

“Yes.”

Lorencia nodded in response to Charlotte’s calm words.

“If Lady Anne is punished and sent to the convent, it would indeed be proper for me to return to the Count’s residence. And the image of the palace protecting someone like me will also improve greatly.”

“Exactly, Miss Lorencia.”

Charlotte became intrigued by Lorencia, who seemed to accept her situation more fully than expected. People who have suffered severe abuse usually feel uncomfortable or timid in such positions. Yet Lorencia seemed like someone who had been waiting for this moment.

“I do not intend to send you back to the Count’s residence, Princess Charlotte.”

Teyshar sharply rejected Charlotte’s statement. He intended to take the young sapling—Lorencia—to the Spencer estate in the Polaroid Empire. The thought of sending her back to that harsh place was unimaginable.

“Marquis Teyshar, did you fall in love with Miss Lorencia at first sight? I ask because I’ve never seen you care for a woman like this before.”

At Charlotte’s question, Teyshar recalled his father’s words:

<Even if no one tells you, you’ll know at a glance. Perhaps you might even fall in love at first sight.>

It wasn’t love at first sight. He just wanted to watch the young sapling grow strong. This was the natural instinct of a snake. Although he had only been aware of himself as a snake for a day, he knew he had to follow his instincts faithfully.

“It’s not a matter of love at first sight. I simply want to take care of Miss Lorencia so she can do well.”

<Be careful not to swallow the young fruit before it has fully grown. After all, we are ‘snakes.’>

Teyshar’s heart thumped irregularly at the repeated words of his father. He felt anxious at the thought that Lorencia might return to the Count’s residence. He also realized that soon he would need to confess to Charlotte and Adrian about the red-eyed child of the Goddess Ella in the Spencer family.

“Miss Lorencia will not return to the Count’s residence, Pol Heredian.”

“Even if I were to return?”

“Even if you say that, I will never send you back.”

Lorencia slightly avoided Teyshar’s gaze, feeling the weight of his longing eyes. She didn’t understand why he looked at her so sadly. But she could sense one thing clearly again: it had something to do with the child of the Goddess Ella and herself. Perhaps that was why Teyshar wanted her close.

That must be why he is being kind.

She knew from experience that acts of care without reason were usually only a mother’s love. Everything felt suspicious because of that understanding.

What she needed to do now was to save the people in front of her and prevent the coming war. To do that, she had to hold the initiative in this room.

“Princess Charlotte.”
“Yes, Miss Lorencia?”
“You called me here because of Prince Luans, right? If you’re curious, you can ask me freely.”

Lorencia’s unexpected words surprised Adrian, and Charlotte too.

Regardless of Lorencia’s history of abuse and confinement, they were cautious about her relationship with Luans and wanted to lead the conversation carefully. But Lorencia had anticipated their thoughts and asked the question that gave her the initiative in this dialogue.

“Why do you think so, Miss Lorencia? Perhaps you just heard the rumors and felt sorry for him, so you wanted to help?”

“This position exists because I wanted it to.”

“You say it was created because you wanted it… Are you implying that you made the rumors yourself?”

“Yes. I did create those rumors. Because of them, Prince Luans and Ilina gained favor from many people. But at the same time, they were hindered as well.”

“I’d like to tie their hands too.”

Adrian raised his eyebrows playfully. The talented one of the Greycans was right in front of them.

“What is it that Miss Lorencia wants?”

Lorencia smiled faintly. Was he asking because he already knew?

“What I want may sound too unreasonable, Your Highness.”

“‘Unreasonable’… But wasn’t it you who made these rumors to create this position? Doesn’t that mean you want something?”

Adrian asked sharply. But Lorencia did not intend to reveal the truth. Would they believe a story that a bastard from a count’s household created this situation just to save their lives? Even extraordinary people would think her insane or strange. So she remained silent.

“Of course, I created this position because I wanted something.”

Her task was to stay in the palace and make sure Charlotte and Adrian avoided the fatal futures. To do that, she endured Luans’ harsh violence to create this present moment. Though she experienced physical pain she never wished to repeat, she accepted it as her own doing.

“Then why do you consider it unreasonable, Miss Lorencia?” Charlotte asked.

“Because what I want is unreasonable, Princess Charlotte.”

“Unreasonable… now I’m curious what Miss Lorencia wants.”

After a brief pause, Lorencia spoke.

“What I want is to find my mother’s grave, who passed away seven years ago.”

Adrian was slightly surprised at Lorencia’s unexpected answer. So was Charlotte. Considering her past as an abused illegitimate child, one might have expected her to seek revenge on the Pol Heredian family or aim for its headship. But what she wanted was to find her mother’s grave.

“No one has told me where she was buried. Even if I ask, no one will say. I have no way of knowing… that’s why I say it’s unreasonable.”

Lorencia remembered the day before her mother passed away when she was 11. Her mother had removed her amethyst necklace from around her own neck and placed it on Lorencia’s, holding her tighter than ever.

<Love can sometimes plant madness in a person’s heart. What I wanted to tell you…>
<Don’t cry.>
<It’s okay to love like crazy. Just don’t love foolishly.>

She hadn’t understood those whispers then, but she understood them now.

<You can accept a fate touched by madness. And you can decide to turn it to your advantage. Loa, my rainbow.>

Lorencia quickly wiped the tears she didn’t realize were falling.

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m sorry if I brought up painful memories.”

Teyshar glanced at Adrian and Charlotte, then gently pressed a handkerchief to wipe away Lorencia’s tears.

“It’s okay, Marquis Spencer.”

“I’m not okay.”

The moment her mother was mentioned, the young sapling behind her snapped another branch. Teyshar’s heart sank. Hours of careful cultivation seemed meaningless as the branch broke in an instant. He felt like crying.

“Marquis Spencer, I’ll do it. Please give me the handkerchief.”
“No, I want to do it. Time…”
“Time?”
“It’s snack time.”

No matter how much Lorencia insisted she was fine, Teyshar insisted on attending to her. He brought warm cocoa, chocolate, and a cake filled with sweet marshmallows to the table before her.

“Miss Lorencia, please have some.”

“Thank you. But am I the only one eating?”

“Yes.” Lorencia glanced shyly at Charlotte and Adrian.

“Miss Lorencia, Adrian and I have already had snacks. Don’t feel pressured, just eat.”

The rich smell of chocolate teased her nose. Since Teyshar had prepared it for her, she had to eat.

“Please try the cocoa first, Miss Lorencia.”

“Thank you for your consideration, Marquis Spencer.”

“I’ll keep taking care of you. I’ll cut the cake for you. Marshmallows and chocolate together may be too sweet, so you can leave them out if you wish.”

With Teyshar’s kind explanation, Lorencia took a sip of cocoa. She appreciated his care, though it felt a bit overwhelming.

After eating, Lorencia continued with something she hadn’t said before.

“I have something I want right now.”

“Tell me, Miss Lorencia.”

“There’s a letter that Loris has. I would like you to bring it to me.”

“A letter?”

“The exact letter I want…”

Lorencia’s gaze met Charlotte’s.