He Was Kind If I Stopped

“…”

When Lorette lowered the hand she had on her face, there was a red mark of injury.

Lady Pais, whose heart was pounding for fear that the princess who had to show it to others had suffered a serious injury, looked at Lorette’s face and sighed.

“If you apply enough medicine, it won’t hurt. Fortunately, it’s a masquerade ball, so you don’t have to show your face.”

Lorette grabbed the fan that had fallen to the floor and brought it to Lady Pais. Lady Pais snatched the fan out of her daughter’s hand and fanned her face again while glaring at Lorette.

“Hazel, what is the meaning of this?”

Lady Pais folded up her fan and shouted loudly.

“Hazel was obviously concerned about Caeseph. Why did she refuse to even meet him? She’s a girl who seems to run to wherever Sisef is.”

“…….”

Lorette looked at her mother, who was talking to herself, with some trepidation. Not knowing how her daughter looked at her, Lady Pais was busy thinking alone.

“Well, it’s going to be a good thing, because she’s losing her love interest.”

The best solution was to keep Hazel apart from Sisef in order to have Sisef as Lorette’s partner. But the question still persisted.

“But, why all of a sudden?”

Lately she thought that Sisef’s heart was leaning towards Lorette. Everywhere he went, Sisef’s eyes were fixed on Lorette, and Hazel seemed to care less.

Hazel often became angry, and Ladu Pais was happy inwardly, as Lorette’s calmness and gentleness stood out more.

“And she’s been very obedient lately, haven’t she?”

Lady Pais looked at the vase of roses in one corner of the room.

“Those flowers…

The vase, made of gaily colored glass, was decorated with roses with large, lush petals. There were various kinds of pink, red, and scarlet colors.

“She thought of her rose garden as if it was her life.”

Lady Pais didn’t expect Hazel to be so willing to give her precious flowers when she requested. After all, her goal from the beginning wasn’t the roses.The roses were just an excuse to cause a conflict between Hazel and the palace.

The reason why she sent the chamberlain to pressure Hazel was because she was waiting for Hazel to show her defeat. The Hazel she knew would naturally have expressed her anger at that moment and tried to grab her by the hair.

After that, all she had to do was make a play. She should break down in tears and fall down holding her stomach.

Then the incident would naturally go to the king’s ear, and it was a great opportunity to separate the father and daughter.

But Hazel told the chamberlain to take all the roses.

Even after filling up the lodgings where the delegation stayed, it was enough left over roses to decorate her own place and Lorette’s.

“We must find out what she is hiding?”

“What are you trying to do?”

“The reason she killed that fiery nature. I don’t know what’s in her heart, but I feel uneasy.”

Lady Pais murmured to herself, then folded her fan and looked back at Lorette.

“You’re trying to win the Prince’s heart. Don’t be distracted by the fact that Hazel treats you well.”

“The prince is as good to me as ever.”

“Do you think you’ve completely captured Prince Sisef?”

“…….”

Lorette couldn’t respond. She was sure that Sisef treated her well, but she felt that this feeling was only similar to the way he treated his sister.

“It’s not enough to just treat you well. You have to make him fall in love, make him lose his mind.”

“Yes, I understand.”

So now it was all submissive replies. Mrs. Pais, who was watching Lorette’s sullen face, clicked her tongue in a pathetic way.

“You said the Prince seemed worried that Hazel would not accept his apology?”

“I think so. After all, the two of them have been close for a long time.”

“You idiot. If he was really crazy about you, he wouldn’t be concerned about Hazel’s feelings.”

“…….”

“That’s what His Majesty (Hazel’s father) told me. He didn’t care about the queen or anything. Even though she was pregnant.”

Lorette was silent, her collected hands clasped tightly together.

“We need to get Sisef. The current Crown Prince is nothing more than a puppet. The Empress sent him to war on behalf of her son, using him as a tool to build her reputation and expand her territory.”

“…….”

“‘Even the Crown Prince had no choice. If he misses one shot with his sword on the battlefield, he will die instantly.”

“Mother, please stop it.”

Lorette spoke with a look of horror on her face as she looked at Lady Pais, who said horrible things and was not afraid that anyone would listen.

“This is my room. Who dares listening?”

Lady Pais snorted and continued.

“But his face was actually pretty unlike the rumors. People might listen to him…”

Lady Pais, who was pondering for a while, quickly lifted her head.

“But the Emperor’s seat belongs to Prince Sisef. As long as the Empress holds on to it. It is said that most of the nobility of Demophos came from the Empress’s family.”

Lady Pais beckoned for Lorette, and she hesitated and stood in front of her.

“So if you want to keep your position as Empress of the Empire, you have to listen to me very carefully. No matter what happens, hold Sisef in your hands.”

Loretto finally smiled at her mother’s rapid voice and replied.

“I understand, Mother.”

As usual, Lady Pais liked the submissive reply, and a smile appeared on her lips. She reached out and took Lorette’s hand in a firm grip. Her voice was gentle as she continued, but her eyes shone brilliantly.

“I want to raise you to the highest position.The most precious and beautiful place in this country, or even in this continent. And I’m going to give it to you.”

Hazel looked into her mother’s ambitious eyes as she held her hand and was too afraid to say anything.

“So don’t try to call her ‘sister’ or anything. Throw the cookies away.”

“Yes, mother. I will.”

“Even if I can’t be queen, I’ll make sure you become Empress.”

Lady Pais’s eyes were full of will.

“When that happens, you will thank me.”

“Yes, mother.”

“By the way…I’m gonna have to see what’s going on with Hazel.”

Lady Pais’s eyes lit up as she tapped her cheek. She turned her gaze to the boxes of presents piled high in a corner of the room. Those were the gifts that the nobles had sent her as soon as they heard the news of her pregnancy.

“That should do it.”

Lady Pais had a mysterious smile on her face.

***

“I’m surprised that Lady Pais would visit me in person.”

Hazel greeted Lady Pais with a smile as bright as an angel’s. They sat across from each other in Hazel’s parlor and looked at each other with bright smiles.

“I hope it wasn’t rude of me to come to you so suddenly. I was afraid I would get kicked out.”

Although she was smiling kindly, Lady Pais’s two eyes were closely watching Hazel’s condition.

From whether Hazel was really in pain, if it was a temporary illness, what her intentions were, to if she was really seriously ill. Despite the questioning look in her eyes, Lady Pais remained calm as she continued the conversation, inquiring about Hazel’s well-being.

“It can’t be. How can I kick you out?”

“That’s fortunate.”

Lady Pais was a little puzzled by the clear, crystal voice, but said with a smile on her face.

“The cat is…adorable.”

Lady Pais said, looking at the cat in Hazel’s arms. Hazel’s hands were very gentle as she stroked the cat’s fur, and the cat enjoyed her touch with a little cry.

“If you like, I can send one over to your house.”

“No, that won’t be necessary.”

Lady Pais waved her hand quickly.

“Oh, it’s because of the birds in your house, isn’t it?”

“Well, not really. I just don’t like four-legged animals.”

“Really? I don’t believe in animals with two legs.”

“…… what?”

Lady Pais narrowed her brows.

“It’s a new word. The other day I was walking in the garden and one of the birds stole the candy in my hand and flew away.”

“…Oh, my.”

“People say cats are vicious animals, saying it would steal other people’s things without a second thought. Birds are no different, aren’t they?”

“Well, that’s just the way animals are.”

Hazel smiled at Lady Pais’s clever comment about what she had done, and brought the cup to her mouth.

“By the way, what brought you here?”

Lady Pais answered with a bright smile.

“I was told you were ill.”

As her agile gaze glanced up and down Hazel, Hazel answered in surprise.

“Oh, my. But you’re also very heavy (Lady Pais is pregnant), so why bother coming?”

“I’m in charge of the palace, and the princess is sick, so…”

“…….”

Lady Pais deliberately said with a lot of force that she was in charge of the royal palace, and she saw Hazel’s lips close for a moment.

“I have to know everything that is happening in this royal palace. That way, I can manage it smoothly. It is also a way to ease the mind of His Highness the King.”

“My father’s heart goes out to the unborn child in your belly. It is only when your heart is at peace that my father’s heart will be at peace.”

Hazel’s green eyes turned to Lady Pais’s belly.

“How far along are you?”

“Four months.”

“I have to give you a gift to celebrate your pregnancy, but I couldn’t because of the state I’m in.”

“Not a problem at all. I did receive the roses. So it’s fine.”

“I’m glad that you liked the roses I grew. Please take them whenever you need.”

“Thank you, Princess….. But I did that because I really didn’t have enough flowers at that time. I wasn’t trying to steal the princess’s flowers.”

“I don’t want to be petty with just a few flowers.”

Hazel trailed off.

“By the way, are you sure you want just a few flowers? I haven’t been feeling well lately and things haven’t been going well, but as soon as I’m well, I’ll be sure to send you a suitable gift.”

“The Princess being healthy is enough of a gift. You have no idea how painful it was for me to hear that you were stuck in the palace, not going out at all…”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“I must be worried. Land’s first princess shouldn’t be weak. Whether it’s medicine or food, she needs to eat well to regain her strength.”

As she finished speaking, Lady Pais pointed to the packages she brought.

“I brought you some good food and medicinal herbs from my palace.”

Hazel took a quick look at the boxes Lady Pais had brought.

“I just had a few coughs, and all the nobles sent all this stuff. There were too many, so I brought some to share.”

“It seems that everyone was worried about you since you are pregnant. That’s understandable.”

“I’ve been struggling to raise Lorette on my own in the favelas, and I’m not in good shape. And now that I’m older, it’s a little awkward…..”

Lady Pais covered her mouth and pretended to laugh.

“I thought I would never have children.”