Chapter 712: The Bigger the Heart, the Smaller it Seems
Chapter 712: The Bigger the Heart, the Smaller it Seems
"Achoo!"
After a delicate sneeze, Princess Veronica, who had been called out from the waiting room, adjusted the light veil on her shoulders and turned to the lady-in-waiting who had rushed back, looking somewhat doubtful as she said, "You mean... that Lady Melisande seems to have... designs on Prince Lyon?"
"Unscrupulous intentions!" The lady-in-waiting, who had hurried back to finish Princess Veronica's sentence, caught her breath and began her report with a scowl.
"I specifically told her that the pastries were for Prince Lyon, symbolizing a lifelong happy union between you and him. Yet, she devoured them all without a trace of shame!"
"If it were just the pastries, it might not be that serious." Princess Veronica shook her head, analyzing the situation rationally. "Three-quarters of the Northern Kingdom's territory is within the tundra, making the climate extremely cold. People there generally have huge appetites, and the royal family are all gourmands. So, that girl might just have been hungry, and Lyon..."
"Your Highness!" The lady-in-waiting, noticing that Princess Veronica didn't seem to grasp the severity of the issue and was even trying to justify the other woman's actions, became anxious. She stamped her foot and said, "That woman may look like a child, but she's not a child anymore! Besides, what if His Highness Prince Lyon has a thing for that?"
"..."
Oh... Does Lyon like that kind of thing? Even though she felt it was unlikely that Lyon had a crush on a little bun, seeing her trusted lady-in-waiting's earnest concern, Princess Veronica herself began to doubt.
During their previous encounter, when she, the most beautiful woman in the capital, had taken the initiative, any other man would have surrendered long ago. Yet, Lyon had stubbornly resisted, refusing to agree to marry her.
She had initially thought that he had some reservations and, due to the regulations of the Purification Bureau, didn't want to get too involved in royal affairs. But now, she wondered...
Could it be that he preferred someone smaller?
"Your Highness! You must be more cautious around her!" The lady-in-waiting, seeing Princess Veronica's newfound hesitation and insecurity, bit her lip in worry. She lowered her voice and said, "After delivering the pastries, I didn't leave. Instead, I stayed in the room across from the waiting room and observed their lip movements for a while, and I discovered..."
"Liki!" Princess Veronica was slightly startled by the lady-in-waiting's words, then became annoyed. "I told you not to do such things. If I have any questions, I can ask them myself. Your actions only make things worse..."
"Your Highness!" The lady-in-waiting stamped her foot in frustration, then remembered their previous conversation about the wedding. She couldn't help but grab Princess Veronica's arm and vent her frustration. "If I hadn't eavesdropped on their conversation, your man might have been stolen away! What good would it do to ask about it later?"
"But..."
"No more 'buts'!" The lady-in-waiting interrupted urgently. "I didn't catch all of their conversation from across the room with a mirror, but what I did see is enough to prove that woman's ill intentions! Your Highness, do you know what I saw? She pouted and asked His Highness Prince Lyon unhappily if he had rejected her at the Fish Palace because of you!"
?!?!?! Princess Veronica's eyes widened in disbelief, and she took a deep breath unconsciously.
"Did she really say that?"
"Of course, it's true!"
"But... well... I trust Lyon, and the situation might not be as it seems. Perhaps she didn't mean a partner but something like a 'collaborator' or a 'working partner,' like in situations where two people must..."
"My dear Highness, please stop comforting yourself!" The lady-in-waiting couldn't help but stamp her foot again in anger. "Although His Highness Prince Lyon rejected her, that woman clearly hasn't given up! Why else would she sneak backstage to find him during your important wedding?"
"Er... What if she really has something urgent to attend to?"
"What urgent matter could she possibly have?"
The lady-in-waiting frowned, "Could it be that something happened to her family, and the Northern Kingdom is about to be in ruins? Is it so dire that Prince Lyon has to go and save them all? Every single one of the royal family is going to die?"
...
"Rest assured, I will do my best for the Northern Kingdom."
After discussing the Five Palace Selection that brought them together, they touched upon the impending attack on the Northern Kingdom. Seeing the worry in the female cleaner's eyes, Prince Lyon gently assured her, "Although your Northern Kingdom is at odds with my kingdom, it is ultimately an internal conflict among humans. However, the matters concerning the Slaughter King Guild and the Watchtower Palace are crucial to the survival of our entire race. Even though my kingdom is at odds with yours, I will still give it my all."
"Thank you..."
She glanced gratefully at Prince Lyon, who had offered her comfort, and looked at the "high-minded" prince before her. She couldn't help but think of her "penny-pinching" older brother, and a hint of helplessness crept into her voice, "If only my brother could think like you. It's not that he's a bad person, but he's too obsessed with seizing benefits. Even if I break the confidentiality rules and remind him that the current situation is very dangerous, he still insists on taking advantage of this opportunity... Sigh..."
"I understand."
Prince Lyon nodded in agreement, then offered an objective assessment, "Although His Majesty, the King, is at odds with my kingdom, in the hearts of the Northern Kingdom's citizens, he is probably a decent ruler and a competent king.
After all, he is not a member of the Purification Bureau, and his perspective is different from ours. It's normal for him to want to take advantage of the situation to gain some benefits. In the end, although the brain is on top, when making decisions, one often has to consider where the bum is sitting."
"Brain and bum... Ah, he really is the type to make decisions with his bum!"
After listening attentively to Prince Lyon's assessment, the female cleaner couldn't help but chuckle. Just as she was about to continue speaking, she heard a set of rather heavy footsteps.
"Your Highness, the Prince!"
The old man secretly reached into the side of his tuxedo and adjusted his concealed inner armor, no longer worried about being stabbed to death by the furious prince. He heaved a sigh of relief and then, mustering his courage, urged, "All the guests have arrived. It's time for you to make your entrance... Who is this woman? Why is she here? Who let you in? Guards! Guards!!!"
"..."
Tsk, so many rules.
At the old man's loud call, the female cleaner was politely but roughly ushered out by the guards. She hadn't had her fill of conversation and couldn't help but pout, feeling slightly annoyed.
When she saw the man who had tricked her with pastries staring at her intently as if guarding against a thief, her dissatisfaction doubled. She even started to feel annoyed with the woman whose chest was heaving with emotion.
What a hateful woman! I was only worried that Prince Lyon might compromise his mission due to the enmity between the kingdoms. I just came to feel him out, not to steal your man. Is it necessary to be so guarded against me?
Your heart is so big, how can it be so small at the same time?
(End of Chapter)
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