Do All Mothers in Childcare Novels Have to Die [Novel] Chapter 5 – An Unwelcome Visitor

Liliana nodded at the answer. The maid’s words seemed to jog her memory.

In the original story, the Empress was always referred to by her title, which must have been why the name didn't ring a bell.

The Empress was a villainess who had regarded the original heroine as nothing more than a bothersome pest.

‘And she’s the one who causes the miscarriage of my first child.’

Liliana wondered why such a dreadful person was already standing in front of the Emerald Palace. But the Emerald Palace was essentially her home now, and it would be strange not to enter her own quarters when she was right at the doorstep.

Stepping forward, Liliana headed toward the palace. The maid beside Betty noticed her first, and a moment later, Betty turned and saw her as well.

A single thought crossed Liliana's mind at Betty's very first words.

‘First a madman, now a madwoman.’

It would have been wonderful to simply walk past this crazy woman without a word, but she couldn't. After all, this was the woman destined to become the Empress.

Betty snapped her fan open, waving it with a haughty air.

Liliana hadn't even parted her lips, yet Betty’s eyes looked primed for a fight. Liliana could not fathom what was wrong with her.

As a hostage from a defeated kingdom, Liliana wouldn't receive proper treatment even if she became the Emperor’s consort. Even if she were respected, she would never compare to the Empress.

Unable to wear her heart on her sleeve, Liliana offered a modest smile.

Betty scoffed with a sharp “Ha!” and waved her fan, her gaze filled with contempt and disdain as she looked over the Emerald Palace.

‘When was I ever conceited?’

Liliana wanted to retort, but she swallowed the words this time.

Circling Liliana, Betty shook her head in blatant disapproval, as though picking her apart from head to toe. At the same time, she didn't miss the chance to belittle the Emerald Palace.

True, backed by a powerful family and favored as the Empress candidate, it was only natural for her arrogance to pierce the heavens. And yet, after Liliana died in the original story and her child was born, Betty’s head was the one that rolled.

Knowing that she had only a few years left to strut around like this made Betty's haughty sneer look petty and pathetic.

Tsk.

It happened entirely because the thought had crossed her mind.

Liliana clicked her tongue involuntarily, catching herself off guard.

Ah, she shouldn't have done that.

Before the regret could fully settle, a sharp slap struck her cheek.

Liliana’s head snapped back, her small frame stumbling sideways. The blow was hard enough to make her vision spin.

The maids behind her gasped in shock, and Sophia rushed forward to steady her.

Betty’s voice rained down from above.

She was so furious that she seemed to bite down on every word before spitting it out. But Liliana’s struck head was also blaring alarms.

Eyes wide, Liliana raised both hands high.

The precious Lady Gabriel had never in her life seen anyone raise a hand toward her. Paralyzed with shock, she took a stumbling step back.

Yet Liliana didn't actually strike. A final thread of reason held her back.

This wasn't a world of equals; she couldn't simply hit back just because she had been struck. Exhaling a deep breath, Liliana shook her head and clutched her stinging cheek.

Brushing past, Liliana shoved Betty’s shoulder, sending her stumbling back another step.

That whisper carried a tempest of emotions: shame, fear, and sheer outrage.

Because of that, Liliana didn't feel entirely terrible despite having been slapped. Turning back toward Betty, she whispered softly.

Little as she seemed, this was her second life.

Gathering her skirts, Liliana bolted into the Emerald Palace as if nothing had happened.

The moment she crossed the threshold, the servants who had been holding their breath erupted into an uproar.

Liliana replied nonchalantly, rubbing the cheek that still stung sharply. The blow had been so hard that the slightest graze of her fingers made her wince.

Sophia barked urgently, helping Liliana along. Liliana let out a heavy sigh upon entering the bedroom, collapsing straight onto the bed.

As she lay flat and waited, the maids quickly brought medicine and applied it to her cheek.

Sophia whispered mournfully as she looked at Liliana's swollen cheek.

Liliana offered a bright smile and shook her head. As the soft texture of the pillow touched the back of her head, relief washed over her, allowing her to calmly reflect on what had just occurred.

Liliana let out a deep breath, biting her lip as she looked up at Sophia.

She sounded like a child, but truly, she had nothing to do for the time being. What else could a princess from a defeated kingdom do but stay quiet?

Smiling softly, Sophia pulled the blanket up to Liliana’s chin.

On edge since morning over her meeting with the Empress Dowager, running into Betty had completely drained her. Feeling the chill of the ice pack Sophia placed against her cheek, Liliana slowly drifted off to sleep.

❈❈❈

By the time Liliana stirred, the red glow of sunset was filtering through the white curtains.

Sophia must have stepped out for a moment; an ice pack sat on the side table, and no one else was in the room.

Liliana pressed the ice pack to her cheek. It stung at first, but the crinkle of the ice and its cold touch felt soothing. She closed her eyes, letting her mind wander, until an odd commotion outside caught her attention.

Lowering her arm, Liliana pulled the bell cord. Someone was bound to be outside the door, yet no one entered.

Puzzled, Liliana set the ice pack back on the side table and pushed herself up.

Just as she called out a little louder, the door opened, and a man stepped into the dim room.

His pale blond hair seemed shaded against the backlight, yet it remained stunning, and his shimmering blue eyes had lost none of their brilliance.

Liliana squeezed her eyes shut and bowed as low as she could.

She had thought she might finally get some rest, so what on earth was this madman doing here? The thought crossed her mind, but she dared not greet him lightly.

As she kept her eyes respectfully lowered, a large, well-formed hand entered her field of vision.

Liliana raised her head reflexively, blinking her eyes open. Her sight was promptly filled by his striking face. Helio curled the corner of his lips and took her hand once more.

What an absurd exchange. It was a bizarre interaction between an emperor and a princess that no one could have imagined.

Rolling her eyes with a sullen expression, Liliana ultimately took his hand. Helio helped her up as though escorting a lady.

Helio smirked at Liliana’s absurd question.

Replying smoothly, Helio sat down on Liliana's bed. As she hesitated, watching him, he reached out, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her toward him.

Startled by the sudden motion, Liliana was dragged onto the mattress, her body stiff with panic. It seemed to be the recoil of her attempt to shove him away.

As she lay frozen on the bed staring at the ceiling, Helio rested his hands at her shoulders, completely nonchalant.

Scrambling up with a flustered face, Liliana made sure to put some distance between herself and Helio.

‘Why did this man come here?’

Her mind raced with the question, though one very plausible answer was already looming large.

Liliana would soon become his consort, and Helio was the Emperor who owned her. What other reason could an emperor have for visiting her quarters?

‘Could it be to share a bed for an heir?’

Liliana could not hide her distress. Sleeping with the Emperor would be disastrous since she hadn't secured any contraceptives yet. What if she wound up pregnant out of nowhere?

Events would clearly follow the original storyline, especially with Betty, the candidate for Empress, already harboring malicious intent toward her.

‘No way!’

Helio watched in silence as despair played across Liliana’s face during her frantic inner turmoil. He was practically observing how hard she was thinking, wondering if her head might explode from the strain.

Just as Helio reached out to check on her head himself…

Liliana let out a strange squeak and shrank back, her eyes wide as she stared at him.

Helio studied her quietly. His eyes narrowed, and he leaned his body toward her.

Liliana’s heart was hammering like mad. Sure, the man before her was breathtakingly handsome and charming! But this was a matter of life and death!

Her face turned crimson as she tried to turn her head away, completely at a loss for how to escape the situation.

As Helio’s hand reached out for her once more, Liliana squeezed her eyes shut and cried out.