Previously
Helio and Liliana share an intimate moment in the carriage where Helio notes her genuine smile and comforts her as she falls asleep on his shoulder. The next morning, Liliana wakes up in shock to find Helio in her bed at the Emerald Palace, leading to a flustered exchange about propriety and his protective intentions.
He had hit the nail right on the head.
In the end, the sole reason Liliana had met her demise was Duke Gabriel's house.
When she turned her head toward him in surprise, Helio cupped her chin with gentle fingers. Slowly, he tilted her face up and down, then turned it from side to side.
Rather than forceful, his touch felt like the playful teasing of a young boy, yet heat crept steadily into Liliana's cheeks. She could not tell if it was embarrassment or the lingering warmth of his skin.
She let out a small, indignant cry, not quite daring to push the Emperor's hand away. Only then did Helio let go, tilting his head with an air of mild regret.
Liliana rubbed her cheeks with both hands, utter bewilderment written across her features.
Offering no explanation to her question, Helio began dressing himself.
Liliana hurried forward to assist him, but he was already fastening his own buttons, leaving her standing there in awkward hesitation.
As she escorted him to the door to see him off, she could not resist muttering a quiet complaint.
‘Didn't you claim that attending to you is imperial law? Then you ought to wait for me! Why must he always be so mischievous…’
As she continued stewing in silence, Helio smiled the moment they reached the palace entrance.
With an audible flick, he tapped her lightly on the forehead and turned to leave. Liliana rubbed the sore spot, staring ruefully after his retreating back until he vanished from sight.
Even as she voiced her frustration, there was no one left to answer.
❈❈❈
Once Helio was gone, Liliana finished readying herself and made her way to the Empress Dowager's palace. But at the entrance, a maid stopped her.
Truthfully, Liliana had not expected the Empress Dowager to be receiving visitors, and the news threw her off balance. Hiding her unease, she offered a polite nod.
Liliana turned toward the unfamiliar voice. A tall, statuesque woman with striking blonde hair was striding toward her.
Though Liliana had never seen her before, she could guess her identity at once.
Followed by an entourage of maids, the woman exuded natural nobility. She addressed Liliana with courtesy, though an unmistakable haughtiness lined her tone.
Hoping to make a good impression, Liliana smiled.
Lucia possessed golden eyes unlike Helio's, but the way she scrutinized Liliana from head to toe was entirely identical to his mannerisms, making it unmistakably clear they were brother and sister.
Lucia narrowed her gaze sharply, shaking her head in open disapproval.
Was this an offhand slight, or a genuine question that demanded an answer?
Though taken aback, Liliana felt no real anger.
From the original story, she knew well that while Lucia put on an arrogant front now, she would eventually become an affectionate, doting aunt to the female lead, and was the very first person to tell her brother, Helio, ‘I love you.’
Remembering how moved she had been while reading that scene, Liliana overlooked Lucia's haughty tone and merely gave her a warm smile.
To Lucia, however, such a reaction seemed utterly bizarre. She had spoken with deliberate hostility to provoke her, yet Liliana simply beamed with genuine warmth, looking like someone who had lost her senses.
Lucia took an involuntary step back, then drew herself up straight, her tone turning venomous.
With that, she turned on her heel and strode away. Bemused, Liliana cupped her own cheeks and turned cautiously to Sophia.
Sophia gave a sympathetic shake of her head, gazing at her with pity.
Liliana sighed softly in distress, then stepped into the Empress Dowager's palace.
Upon hearing of Liliana's arrival, the Empress Dowager's face lit up with delight. When Liliana entered the parlor, her expression had brightened entirely.
Seeing that radiant welcome eased the sting of Lucia's coldness. Liliana smiled in return and gave a graceful curtsy.
Liliana could sense that the Empress Dowager was treating her far more warmly than before. With a gentle wave of her hand, the Empress Dowager beckoned her closer.
Liliana took a seat across from her and offered a bright smile.
Liliana gave a strained smile, recalling Lucia's distinctly unhelpful parting words.
Noticing the sudden shift in her expression, the Empress Dowager asked with concern,
Though Liliana spoke firmly, she could not entirely dispel the worry from the Empress Dowager's face.
Liliana waved her hands in hasty denial.
A pleased smile spread across the Empress Dowager's face at her reply.
Liliana blushed crimson.
In reality, she had only gone out with Helio to enjoy the festival, but everyone surely assumed they had been on an intimate date, despite it being nothing of the sort.
After teasing Liliana with a soft chuckle, the Empress Dowager turned serious once more.
Liliana kept demurring, and seeing the disappointment creeping into the Empress Dowager's expression, she decided to be honest.
Realizing she sounded as though she were complaining, Liliana quickly looked up to amend her words.
Liliana slumped slightly, flustered by her own rambling explanations, which prompted the Empress Dowager to cover her mouth and stifle a fond laugh. Liliana's unvarnished candidness seemed rather endearing to her.
Liliana lifted her teacup, took a measured sip, and offered a faint smile.
Liliana was already well aware of this.
She had read the original novel, after all. Even so, the Lucia she had just met in the flesh was so exceedingly frigid that her demeanor made Liliana forget everything she had ever read about the character.
Doubts lingered, but Liliana did not dare contradict the Empress Dowager's insistence. Fearing she might say the wrong thing or cause offense, she bowed her head and replied meekly,
The Empress Dowager nodded with a satisfied smile.
Liliana caught the maids in the room watching them with warm, approving glances as well.
Yet she could not shake the gnawing anxiety about what lay ahead.
Princess Lucia resided in the Silver Deer Palace, situated close to the Imperial Palace. That meant the distance between it and the Emerald Palace was considerable. Nonetheless, Liliana made her way briskly toward the Silver Deer Palace.
True to its name, the Silver Deer Palace was elegant and lovely, suited perfectly to Princess Lucia's refined presence.
Sophia stepped forward first to address the guards stationed at the entrance.
Liliana felt a prickle of worry, wondering if the guards might turn her away, but the guard gave a polite nod and conveyed the message inside.
Liliana breathed a sigh of relief, prompting a light smile from Sophia.
Liliana gave a small, resolute nod. Before long, however, a maid emerged from within, a troubled frown creasing her brow.
Disappointment sank in, but Liliana refused to give up.
The maid hurried back inside and returned moments later, her expression no brighter than before.
Liliana understood the situation at once.
Princess Lucia was not truly busy; she simply had no desire to see her.