81
Returning
to her room with Eva and Rose, Candice looked at the
presents. She had Arthur's flowers arranged in a vase and carefully
placed the present she received from Luca on the table.
Behind
the sofa was a mountain of presents so high Candice had to look up at
it. Before time rewound, she had maids whose names she didn't know open them
haphazardly, and she only picked up the things she liked. She had no interest
at all in who had given the presents to Candice, and was only obsessed
with how luxurious and expensive they were. But now, she could realize that
there were more important things than that. The feelings with which they were
given to Candice, and the relationships, were also important.
（Every single time, it was just the
same kind of presents over and over, so I eventually stopped looking at them.
There's no way there would be anything I actually want among these presents,
anyway.）
However,
the current Candice was completely different. Because she understood
that she needed to properly check the senders and understand who gave Candice
a present and for what purpose. Sitting on the sofa and watching Eva and
Rose open the presents, a certain memory resurfaced. It was the thought
of whether a birthday present from her mother would arrive for Candice.
（Every year, I eagerly awaited a
present from Okaa-sama. Like an idiot, I just kept waiting.）
So,
when Duke Radziwill came to the White Palace on her birthday, she
would aggressively press him, asking if there was a present.
『Did Okaa-sama, did Okaa-sama say
anything!?』
『Lina is feeling unwell and is in no
condition for that. I'm sorry, Candice.』
Around
the time of Candice's birthday, Lina would always become unwell.
She hadn't understood the reason before, but it was likely all a lie by Duke
Radziwill to prevent her from meeting Lina. Now, she understood
that.
『Candice…… I'm sorry.』
She
had never seen Duke Radziwill's expression at that time. Because Candice
was too desperate to hold back her tears.
But
Candice had already stopped being obsessed with being loved by her
parents. For the past few months, Hugo had been trying to contact Lina,
but it seemed Duke Radziwill was blocking him with all his might. The
offensive and defensive battle between Hugo and Duke Radziwill
was fierce, and even he said, 『To go this far, doesn't Duke
Radziwill have a very significant reason?』
Did
it mean he was protecting Lina with all his might? That was exactly why Duke
Radziwill couldn't afford to show his face at the White Palace and
nitpick at Candice. He probably intended to take measures before Valentin
made a move based on Hugo's report.
Finally,
recently, under the pretext of medical recuperation, he seemingly moved Lina
out of the Duke's estate in the Imperial Capital and into a hastily purchased
villa. She heard it takes about three days by carriage from the Imperial
Capital where the Royal Palace is located. It seems even Hugo was left
speechless by that.
『It would be a different story if His
Majesty the Emperor took you, Candice, to meet her directly,
though!』
With
things having gone this far, Hugo would have to leave Valentin's
side for days, and Candice didn't feel like going to such lengths just
to meet her.
『I really didn't think he would go
this far, though……』
Hugo too hadn't expected Duke
Radziwill to go to such lengths to prevent Candice from meeting her.
Hugo had proposed to Candice, 『Shall
I use the shadows to deliver a letter directly?』
However, Candice told him that he didn't need to go that far.
As
she was recalling those memories from a few months ago, Eva handed Candice
a single card. Seeing the crest of a familiar country, Candice timidly
directed her gaze downward. There, the letters "Georges di Daltonest"
were written.
「Ugh……」
A
voice naturally leaked out as she remembered Georges's face. His
sarcastic-looking smile came to mind, and she unconsciously furrowed her brows.
She couldn't help but wonder why a birthday present from Georges would
arrive for Candice.
（This is strange. I never received
anything from Georges around this time when he wasn't even my fiancé……）
Eva and Rose were also looking
at Candice worriedly.
「His Highness Georges is
aiming for Candice, Imperial Princess-sama after all……!」
「There's no doubt about it! Even
though she's turning down his invitations so much……」
「T-That's right. It's strange,
considering how much I've refused.」
Candice had continued to turn down the
regular invitations coming from Georges by making up various excuses.
However, Georges showed no signs of giving up whatsoever. It was as if
he had never been refused at all. Even when Georges came to the Diagard Empire, Candice ran around with all
her might to avoid meeting him. And yet, he maneuvered around as if he were
reading Candice's movements.
（Georges…… what a terrifying man! That shady smile of his is terrifying to me now.）
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