The Ugly Lady’s Secret Pouch

Chapter 2: I will definitely avoid the original route
Part 3

The crown prince’s brow furrowed as he spotted Charlotte with Heinrich and Alfonso, but his steps were steady.

Then a scent tugged at the tip of his nose and his head turned. Stopping and turning, he saw where Lila had lingered for a moment. As she had already disappeared from her seat, the prince unknowingly checked her tracks.

He watched Lila disappear down the hall, but he was distracted by Charlotte’s call.

Charlotte was the only woman he could associate with. Her appearance, upbringing, and lovely gaze were all his.

But why is the heart silent? He must be in love with Charlotte.

“Your Majesty, where are you looking?”

Charlotte called out to Theobald in a ticklish voice. Heinrich and Alfonso frowned in displeasure at her behavior but said nothing.

Noticing their expressions, Theobald turned to Charlotte with a reassuring smile on his face. Gently squeezing her hand, he said.

“It’s nothing.”

His voice sounded cold, but Charlotte was pleased.

She knew Theobald well enough to know that any other lord would not have stood by her side.

A kiss on the back of her hand as a sign of respect would have made her the envy of every young lady in the room.

It was a pity, but Charlotte put on the happiest face in the world.

For her, faking it was easier than lying down and getting a massage from a maid.

“Your Majesty, I’m so pleased to see you.”

Charlotte said, leaning slightly on Theobald’s arm.

Her perfume drifted from the nape of her neck as she leaned closer. The rich scent touched the tip of Theobald’s nose.

But he didn’t feel the same excitement and felt strangely nervous about the gap.

As Theobald escorted Charlotte, he remembered Lila’s scent.

It was a strange feeling, really.

Like he was being tricked by someone.

‘Or that I’m being mistaken.’

* * *

The morning after her coming of age, Lila’s door was rudely knocked on.

“Lila L. Este!”

Louie’s voice crackled with anger.

BANG!

“Open it right now!”

Lila, who had fallen asleep exactly as she had last night, jumped up in alarm. She rushed to the door and opened it, only to have Louie shove his way in.

“Louie!”

Lila, knocked to the ground by his heavy body, looked up at him with an angry expression. Louie, uncharacteristically angry, sneered down at her.

“There is a limit to how much I can look down on you. I’ve come all this way because your father, the head of the family, asked me to, but I can’t do it anymore!”

“Brother!”

“I was going to marry you off and take Becky as my wife. But the way you’re acting, it looks like you’ll be tied to this barony for the rest of your life, let alone get married.”

Lila snorted inwardly at Louie’s words.

‘Do you think I’ll stay here forever just because I’m crazy?’

However, the rising sadness could not be helped. Because she was the one who was most upset.

“I don’t know if any family will want you, but I’ll send your proposal to any house that fits the bill. If any house will accept your hand in marriage, I will send you there without question. And there will be no support for you in the future, so stay at home and don’t run around sucking up to your fleshy body! Do you understand?”

As soon as he had finished speaking, Louie made a swift exit from her room.

As she sobbed, Becky approached her and spoke softly.

“So, I’ve been telling you all along. Ah, now that you know the relationship between me and the Baron, can you speak comfortably?”

She was barely holding back her tears when Becky, who had no intention of helping her up, whispered as she fanned herself.

“Listen to your sister, young lady. Oh, you know that’s not the meaning of the lady I’m calling, right?”

Becky frowned openly when she saw Lila’s face wrinkled with displeasure and resentment. She had been managing her facial expression in front of her, but she no longer held it in.

“You’re so ugly.”

Muttering loudly enough to be heard, Becky left the room. The chilled air of the room seemed to settle on the backs of her exposed hands.

Lila clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. Another tear fell from her pitifully hanging lips.

“I’ll never reveal it. Reveal to whoever I want. You’re doing great!”

She knew that the only person in this world who would stand up for her was herself. Reassuring herself, Lila cleared her throat.

One year to go.

As long as she reaches the age of twenty, which is the age at which began her imprisonment in the original story, she will leave the barony without delay.

Clutching the pouch that would secure her future, Lila picked herself up off the floor.

Slowly, she walked to the window and looked out over the town from the Barony. She thought of all the things she wanted to do if she were alone.

She wanted to make money, she wanted to make friends, she wanted to try the drinks and food sold on the streets, and she wanted to walk down the street on a nice day without a destination.

To feel so free while alone, out of the public eye. She grabbed the window handle and yanked it open. Lila’s expression changed for the better.