60
After
that, Hugo was gathering the documents scattered on the table as usual.
Candice felt depressed thinking that she
would have to spend time alone again after this. Deciding to try asking if it
was okay to return to the White Palace already, she asked a question.
「……Say, Hugo.」
「What is it?」
「I am already feeling well, so I
wonder if I may return to the White Palace?」
「As for me, I would like you to stay
here forever, you know. While Imperial Princess-sama is here, the Violet
Palace is peaceful, so everyone is surprised, you know?」
「Why would it become peaceful just
because I am here?」
「I can only say it's because His
Majesty the Emperor's mood is surprisingly good, you see.」
Hugo muttered earnestly. However, Candice
spoke as if to laugh off Hugo's words.
「There's no way His Majesty the Emperor's
mood would be good just because I am here! Isn't it just your imagination?」
「That is…… why do you think so?」
「Because I am hated by His Majesty
the Emperor.」
「……!」
At
that, Hugo widened his eyes in surprise. Because Candice had
concluded that there was no way she would be loved, she thought it was only
natural.
（There's absolutely no way his mood
would be good because I am here, even if heaven and earth were turned upside
down.）
Thinking
so herself made her feel sorrowful. Because she ended up thinking only about
gloomy things, Candice muttered while picturing everyone's faces, trying
to lift her mood.
「I am worried about both Arthur
and Jeanne. I wonder if I can see Eva and Rose soon.」
「…………Why did Imperial Princess-sama
suddenly become close with His Highness Arthur?」
「Eh……?」
「Didn't you hate His Highness Arthur,
myself included?」
At
Hugo's probing question, Candice's heart let out a loud thump.
Candice opened her mouth to answer Hugo's question.
「It is true that I hated him before,
but…… I have turned over a new leaf now.」
She
tried to casually gloss over it with a cliché reason, but Hugo did not
seem convinced at all. Looking at his pasted-on smile, she thought she probably
wouldn't be let off the hook unless she told the truth. Hugo might be
harboring doubts due to Candice's extreme transformation. Candice
looked straight at Hugo.
「Which was a joke…… the truth is, you
see.」
「Yes.」
Hugo narrowed his eyes as he looked this
way, as if observing her. Candice took a deep breath and then exhaled.
「───Because I don't want to die!」
「……Excuse me?」
「If I stay like that, I will die!」
「Umm……」
Hugo was bewildered, as if to say Candice's
answer was completely unexpected. However, if she continued to be as selfish as
she pleased, Candice would become the Evil Imperial Princess. It
was a straight line towards death.
Louise appearing had become the decisive
blow. Although there were parts where she was used, thinking about everything
up until now, she understood that she was at fault.
This
time, Candice learned of human warmth and kindness for the first time.
Although there were still many things she didn't understand and times she
thought her sensibilities were quite out of sync with others, she felt like
something was changing little by little. That is precisely why, in order not to
die, she had to take the exact opposite actions from before.
「I will do the opposite of what I
have done up until now and grasp happiness. This time for sure……」
「Candice, Imperial Princess-sama,
that is not an answer.」
Candice was completely serious. If she
behaved the same way as before, she would undoubtedly trace the same path. In
order not to die, Candice intended to get along with Arthur, Eva,
and Rose. However, recently she thought of them as indispensable people.
「Truthfully, I don't really want to
get involved with His Majesty the Emperor either, but……」
「Imperial Princess-sama, you absolutely must not say
that in front of the person himself, alright?」
「Oh my, why? His Majesty the Emperor
should be thinking the same thing, you know.」
「I will explain regarding this matter
later on.」
「……? Understood.」
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
-
[Gold]
B random
Nepheos
[Silver]
Corey Hicks
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Jake Seagraves
Matthew Fraser
Tbaum56
Baelee
Christopher Feliciano
Ctdela
Curious Panda
nick nasca
SD Fox
Taylor King
Z
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----