His family (5)
Lily blinked. “I… Your handmaiden…?”
“Yes. As soon as I become the crown princess, I will give Duchess Lily de Winter the title of the Countess of Isles. I’ll give you a piece of fertile land!”
This time, she was more distracted.
Ingrid smirked. “I gave other titles to my other maids, besides you. Yes, but a baron at most. Having a personal estate and title is quite reassuring when your husband or father is upsetting. Originally, a man’s family can feel a sense of crisis when their wife starts getting better. You have to keep holding on to their leash.” She didn’t bother to add that every time she gave her maids her titles, the imperial family was stunned. Either way, she did it anyway.
Lily murmured, “An estate and title…”
She was born as a commoner, and suddenly she would become the handmaiden to the crown princess. It was a fictional story that would not appear even in Ingrid’s favorite popular novels.
Even when she heard vulgar remarks, her head would not be so disturbed. Was it hard for her to understand Ingrid’s proposal, or she just didn’t like it?
“The expression on that face is clearly not desirable.”
“Yeah? No, I….”
“You must have heard that Marius was coming to pick me up. Marius and I are now the only imperial bloodline other than His Majesty. He wouldn’t want to forfeit the chance to build ties with the future of the empire. You’re a wise woman. Hm?”
There was no spirit of surprise at the way she treated the crown prince naturally.
Lily had now regained her focus. Marius. It was because of the name. He was hostile towards Vlad.
Vlad snorted as if a donkey was attacking him, but he was a prince no matter how powerful he was. Moreover, he was a man who had kidnapped a sixteen-year-old sickly boy to pressure Vlad. He was nothing more than a vicious one.
Instead of answering her, Lily looked intently at the doorway. If she could sacrifice a few months to prevent a precarious future…
All the people under heaven knew that the crown prince was stricken with a mortal disease. He had an uncertain future. Even if the emperor brought in a new empress and gave birth to sons, the age difference between him and Ingrid was twenty years. In other words, Ingrid had a fast and stable future.
…How long will it take until her coronation ceremony? Half a year or a year?
Ivan cut off the tangent in Lily’s head. “Because you asked me what I thought, Your Highness. For some fish, ponds are more comfortable than oceans. Other people don’t understand, but don’t you think it’s pretty decent?”
He stepped forward and glanced at Ingrid. “It may be the fish market, not the ocean, where you will lead her. It would be better if it was a place….”
“Outrageous! How can you treat me so cruelly? How good I have been to you!”
“Is that true…”
“Shut your insolent mouth! I can cut your snout in two with an ax myself.” Ingrid shot like lava. It was because she suddenly noticed the intention to disturb the conversation flow. She was arrogant, but she wasn’t stupid.
Lily, who had been contemplating the offer, finally raised her head. She stared straight at Ingrid. “Thank you for the suggestion, Your Highness. But I…”
Ivan trembled and focused on Lily.
“I will not leave this place. I’m really sorry, Your Highness.”
“What?”
“Phew.”
The joys and sorrows of Ingrid and Ivan crossed. As Ivan stroked his chest, Ingrid’s voice swelled.
“Are you afraid the duke won’t allow it? Don’t worry about that. I’ll give him orders. If it’s too late, I can force his father to give him a scolding. I swear until he allows it. You can definitely come with me, yes?” It wasn’t an aggressive tone. It was a voice mixed with nervousness and even melancholy.
“It’s not like that.” Lily lowered her eyes slightly. During the brief break to organize her thoughts, Ingrid rambled alone. She looked at her again, and she responded calmly, “I am the hostess here. I’m trying to focus on taking care of my people. Please forgive me.”
“Oh my God!” Ingrid opened her mouth wide. “I made such a great offer for you, how could you turn me down? If you become the Countess, your people will also become yours. I mean, I was thinking of you and the Duke!” Instead of answering Lily, Ingrid clenched her mouth and rubbed her mouth. It was a face close to crying.
She knew, above all else, how much Vlad hated the imperial family.
The count, the land, or the new territory.
It wasn’t a waste to throw it away because she didn’t want it anyway. What were the things that are in her arms right now, after so much penance? What she was enjoying now was too much for her. Lily thought so.
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