Chapter 83 - 10: I Want to See My Sister

Chapter 83: Chapter 10: I Want to See My Sister

His words fell.

You could hear a pin drop on the entire training field.

Everyone present could hear the determination in Victor’s tone.

It was clear that if they couldn’t find the absent "fourth person" he mentioned, they would likely spend the entire day roasting under the sun in this unsheltered, open space.

"...What’s going on?"

Leo and Veronica drew close to one another.

The situation was urgent. Even though they had planned on outshining one another, they had no choice but to team up.

Veronica shook her head. "I don’t know."

She quickly ventured a guess. "Is this some kind of test before our lessons start?"

"What kind of test is this!"

Leo was far less composed than his sister. "I think he’s just stalling, or maybe he’s trying to put us in our place."

Veronica turned to Chris. "What do you think?"

Leo said impatiently, "You’d have better luck asking a block of wood. When has he ever offered an opinion?"

Sure enough.

Just as Leo had predicted, the sixteen-year-old boy merely lifted his head in response to Veronica’s question, his handsome face a mask of confusion.

"I’m sorry, sister. I don’t know," the boy replied, his tone both meek and bewildered.

"..."

Veronica felt her allergy to imbeciles flaring up.

’But... whatever.’

Chris’s continued ignorance meant she had one less rival to worry about. It also weakened Adrian’s faction, giving her a real chance at the throne.

When she thought about it that way, having such a dim-witted brother wasn’t so bad after all.

Veronica mulled it over for a moment. "Could Mr. Rockwell be referring to Adrian?"

Leo replied, "Adrian isn’t at the Royal Court. He’s not even in Hillflan. The Great Mage might be new, but he can’t be so out of the loop as to make that mistake."

"What’s the word from Father?"

"Mr. Amos has already gone to ask, but..."

Leo was more irritated than ever. "What’s Father going to do, conjure an illegitimate child we don’t know about out of thin air? Though, it wouldn’t be the first absurd thing he’s done."

"Leo."

Veronica’s expression was a clear warning.

While she agreed their father’s private life was utterly scandalous, if such words got back to him, they would both be punished.

The words had barely left her lips.

Veronica’s eyes suddenly widened. "Wait... an illegitimate child!"

Leo frowned. "What?"

"If I remember correctly..."

Veronica’s eyes glinted. "There really is another one of Father’s illegitimate children living here at the Royal Court!"

Upon this realization, the two royal siblings didn’t waste a second, immediately setting off to find this obscure illegitimate child.

On the training field.

Only Victor and Chris remained.

Chris paid no mind to the departing Veronica and Leo, nor did he pay attention to the "teacher" meditating in the distance.

He remained focused on the ground, shuffling his feet now and then. His thick-soled boots pressed into the grass.

When he lifted his foot, a crushed insect lay dead in the grass.

’Teacher. Boring.’

’Bugs. Boring.’

’But sister...’

’Interesting.’

...

「Meanwhile.」

「Outside Princess Veronica’s chambers.」

Lilia leaned against the back of the chair, looking up at the sky through the gaps in the leaves.

The Knight watching from a distance grew more convinced that she was just a young, playful maid who had concocted an absurd story to get out of her duties.

He was pondering how to gently persuade her to leave without hurting her delicate feelings when a series of approaching footsteps startled him.

He looked up and was surprised to see Wade, the kitchen steward!

’Why is he here so early today!’

At this point, it was too late to persuade the girl to leave. The Knight could only take the initiative to greet the steward. "Mr. Wade, may I ask what brings you here..."

The steward smiled. "I heard their Highnesses went to the training field and might not be back by noon. I wanted to ask Ms. Sophie if I should still have lunch prepared for the Princess."

"I understand."

The Knight nodded. "Ms. Sophie is inside the chambers. I’ll take you in."

The words had just left his mouth when he turned and saw Lilia peering over at them curiously.

The Knight’s heart skipped a beat. He was about to take a step to the side to block the steward’s view, but it was too late. The steward had already spotted the girl sitting under the tree.

The sight of her delicate face sent a shockwave through the steward.

Unlike the others, he recognized her.

To be of Viscount lineage yet serve as a mere kitchen steward in the Royal Court—it would be a lie to say Wade wasn’t bitter.

On one hand, Wade constantly tried to curry favor with their Highnesses; on the other, he was deeply resentful of the lofty status they had been born into.

Thus, when it came to Lilia, this long-forgotten member of the Royal Family, he directed all his malice at her—assigning her the dilapidated hut that leaked when it rained, and serving her yesterday’s spoiled lunch.

The girl had always endured his abuse in silence, which made bullying her all too easy. But now...

’Is she here to complain to Princess Veronica?!’

The thought consumed him. Forgetting all about lunch, his only concern was getting rid of her immediately.

Ignoring the Knight’s attempt to block him, he rushed forward and stopped in front of Lilia. "Princess Lilia, what are you doing here!"

The Knight, following close behind, was about to explain when he caught the steward’s form of address. "Lilia... Princess?"

The steward’s expression stiffened, and he turned to the Knight. "Mr. Harvey, can you give me a moment? I’d like to speak with this lady alone for a while."

The Knight looked at him warily. "...I will wait nearby. She is just a girl, I hope you won’t make things difficult for her."

"...Of course."

Once the Knight had stepped away, the steward turned back and asked again through gritted teeth, "Why are you here?"

Lilia blinked at him. "I’m here to see Sister Veronica."

Hearing this answer, the steward felt like his heart was about to stop.

"Listen."

He lowered his voice. "Princess Veronica is busy. Extremely busy. She doesn’t have the time or energy to receive a... down-and-out princess like you."

"If you’re unhappy about yesterday, that was a new servant who didn’t understand the rules. It had nothing to do with me. However, as compensation, I’ll have someone send you an edible meal for lunch today."

Despite his words, the look he gave Lilia was a clear warning, telling her not to push her luck.

Lilia smiled. "An edible meal? Do you mean bread mixed with bran, or a vegetable soup made from rotten leaves and sprouted potatoes?"

The steward’s brow furrowed. "...What do you want?"

"I’ve already told you," Lilia said. "I want to see Sister Veronica."

"You!"

The steward’s voice became shrill.

His chest rose and fell sharply. "Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you’re a princess! Do you think seeing Princess Veronica will make all your wishes come true? Let me tell you, that’s impossible!"

He hissed, "You’d best go back quietly today. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee that a young woman’s body won’t wash up in the lake on the west side of the Royal Court one of these days!"