It was when she was six years old that she first met her biological parents. Before that, Lena stayed at a suburban villa. This was because of the advice of the grown-ups that if they wanted to focus on giving birth and raising a successor, they had to keep their daughter apart.
So Lena was sent to the villa when she was very young. The suburban villa was peaceful and comfortable to live, but she was always lonesome.
She missed her family. She looked at the portraits of her parents and imagined them. She dreamed of the day she would go home.
Then one day, a message came from the mansion. It was news that the successor had grown up enough so she could return to the mansion.
Lena headed home in euphoria. She was grateful to be at home.
The mansion of the Rubel family was much larger than the villa, and the people also used more sophisticated manners. And her parents, who were more beautiful and handsome than the portrait.
When Lena looked at them all, she gave greetings.
“Come in, Lena.”
When she heard her father’s voice, Lena wanted to cry.
At her young age, Lena, who was isolated, was already acutely aware of her impending crises. The value of family, and the yearning.
So, with a feeling of being in love, Lena bowed her knees to the parents she always missed.
“Nice to meet you, father, mother. I’m Lena Rubel.”
It was a perfect greeting that she has practiced for a long time. Seeing the smiling parents, Lena thought she had finally got her family back.
That belief lasted for six years. Until the Viscount sold Lena.2
***
“Miss, I can see the Imperial Palace over there!” Yuni opened the carriage’s window and shouted.
At the end of his hand was a white spire on top of the town. It was part of the Imperial Palace where the emperor lived.2
“Miss, have you ever been to the Imperial Palace? ….Miss?”
Yuni was so excited and later she found Lena who was lost in thought.
With her hand on her chin, Lena looked through the window with a deeply thoughtful face.
“Miss? Miss? Miss Lena!”
Lena blinked her eyes only after Yuni called her three times. Yuni worried about her.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah?”
“Look like you’re not feeling well.”
“Ah….”
Lena laughed as if nothing was wrong, Yuni narrowed her eyes and whispered.
“Do you want to see Sir Lynn?”
“Sir Lynn?”
“You wanted to go to the capital. Did you feel upset that you couldn’t go with him?”
“No, I’m not that crazy.”
“So you were a little disappointed?”
Lena burst into laughter. It’s been two days since they were separated. After saying goodbye to him, Lena rented a horse-drawn carriage with money earned the night before and then moved smoothly.
But as the capital approached, Lena’s condition became strange. Words gradually decreased, and as soon as she entered the capital, she began to see only the distant sky.
Yuni suspected a commercial employee, but Lena laughed and denied it.
“No, not like that.”
“Then why?”
“Just, I have an old thought.”
Lena finally confessed the truth. She was six years old, the first time she came home. At that time, she went through the gates of the capital in a carriage. She was going through the same road, brooding over the past.
“It’s still here.”
Lena looked out the window and said.
The capital of the Empire, Grandis Grascha, was a messy gray scene, unlike its beautiful name.
Just looked around the entrance to the main street, the houses were constructed with cardboard and cloth. There were scrabble people, and next to them were rats as big as cats.
Yuni mumbled in a tired face.
“The capital should be better than this.”
“Don’t look at it too much. It’s not a sight.”
At Lena’s words, Yuni sat back. But her eyes were still outside the window.
“If you build an empire and serve as the emperor, you can’t do this.”
“Someone who is good at his role is rare.”
Lena’s remarks made Yuni pouting her lips. Someone who didn’t do his job well. It wasn’t just about the Emperor.
Yuni then looked at her lady and asked, “When you see your father, what are you going to tell him?”
“First of all, say hello to him to see if he’s been well.”
“And then?”
“Then I’ll give him a chance?”
“A chance?”
Her smile deepened due to Yuni’s question. Lena moved her eyes out the window and whispered.
“It’s a chance for him to be forgiven by me.”
Lena’s voice was as gentle as usual, but it was strange. Yuni looked at the young lady and moved her eyes out of the window again. There were a lot of people who were abandoned like Lena.
***
The carriage went into the city center. In the meantime, the scene that had been messy gradually improved and changed completely in front of the Imperial Palace.
The area, where poor people were not allowed to enter, was pure and splendid to the name of Grandis Grascha. There was dazzling marble on the road, and early spring flowers filled the side. It was the perfect festival atmosphere.
“Wow, there are so many people.”
Yuni admired the crowded people on the square and on the street.
People dressed in white and decorated with colorful flowers and they’re smiling. The white and the flowers are symbols of the Emperor. People were all decorating and celebrating the upcoming Foundation Day.
While Yuni was watching the festival, the carriage reached the Imperial Palace. However, there were already many visitors standing at the front gate of the Imperial Palace.
“Now, if I line up, it’ll be until night.”
“We will go right in.”
“Yes?”
“Where’s the invitation?”
“Ah….”
At Lena’s words, Yuni hurried through her bag. Soon, she found an invitation sealed with wax. Yuni, who pulled out the invitation, told her not to line up. When the shabby carriage entered the VIP-only gate, the guards blocked them.
However, there was no fuss. When Yuni held out the invitation, they guided the carriage to the lake’s palace.
***
“After all, the Imperial Palace is different!”
Lena was impressed by the rooms assigned by Yuni. However, Lena was not interested in the imperial dignity or the view of the lake. She was busy polishing her clothes in front of a mirror.
“Will you go to the Duke?”
The Duke. Yuni mentioned the person who gave them the royal invitation.
“No, he will call me if necessary.”
“Then where are you going?”
When Yuni asked again, Lena smiled with her hands on her ears. On that bright face, Yuni realized. The fact that her lady was excited. And there was only one reason for Lena to come to the Imperial Palace.
“Don’t tell me, you’re going to see him right away?”
“Do children need a procedure to meet their parents?”
Yuni, who was dubious and questioned, lost words to stop Lena’s confident response. In the meantime, Lena, who had finished redecorating, said with a fresh face, without delay.
“Then, I’ll see my father.”
***
The palace near the lake was where the guests of the Imperial Palace staying.
On the anniversary of the foundation of the Empire, the four Dukes of north, south, east, and west entered at once, and the arch of the lake was divided into four like the territory of the empire. Dukes who hate each other took each end of the palace to get as far as possible from the opponent. Some argued about their territory, and some wrote articles, just as the King of the North, Iura Flanus had done.
“This is where the Lord you mentioned are staying. Do you have any business?”
“I’m here to meet my old friend, Lord Cardo Rubel.”
At the end of the hallway, Lena replied politely. The knights scanned Lena with suspicious eyes. She was beautiful but unfamiliar. So it was even more suspicious. For such a beautiful lady, her name must be known.
Even the mysterious beauty came to visit without an escort to meet a close friend of the official in the North. The knights still had their dubious eyes on Lena.
“May I ask your name?”
“I’m Lena Rubel.”
The knights were puzzled by the last name of Rubel. Unlike Lynn’s capable secretary, the young officers in the north didn’t even know the name of the girl who had already died.
They glanced at each other and replied reluctantly.
“Please wait.”
One of the knights slipped away. He came back after a while. He was alone and holding paper in his hand. The knight handed the paper to Lena with a vague expression. There was a short warning.
—Don’t use a father’s wound. I’ll give you my advice this time, but not next.
When Lena opened the paper and looked surprised, the knight said.
“This is your message. Milord the Count has no intention of meeting guests.”
“Please tell him one more time. Lena Rubel is asking to meet you.”
She was meant to go back, but Lena said earnestly. The knights didn’t answer. There was no reason to curry favor with a woman they had never met before.
It was the time when they tried to drive the suspicious lady.
“Wait, please wait!”
The knights stopped at the end of the corridor, a man hurried out. Lena noticed him and opened her eyes wide. Lena was familiar with him.
“Butler…!”
***
At the same time, the East owner, Lignan Eitner, was holding his breath in the VIP room of the lake’s east palace.
Lying on the floor, Lynn held his weight on his fingertips. His naked upper body was covered in sweat, and the overused upper arm muscles swelled and screamed silently.
‘The National Foundation Day is two days later. The Dukes will gather once before the Emperor’s birthday, but there is no message yet. I think they intend to exclude me… I can’t just watch.’
Lynn was wrapped in sweats and pondering what to do next. It was time for him to keep himself silent, but also busy preparing.
“Sir, it’s said that a young woman came to meet Count Rubel,” Deca said, who just came back from outside.
“It’s said that she claimed to be Lena Rubel. Do you have any questions?”
‘You’re here.’
In Deca’s report, Lynn laughed secretly. Lena, who he just separated with two days ago, seemed to be able to make her way safely.
‘And she went to the Count right away?’
Lynn was pleased with Lena’s actions, greatness, bravery, and her weirdness.
He’s going to find her. Besides, he would give her his name. She was a girl who couldn’t find a way out of the situation or if she didn’t need a solution.
Then, Lynn asked, dropped sweat to the tip of his nose.
“And, the Count?”
“It’s said that she returned without meeting the Count.”
It’s a good response at first glance. However, it seemed suspicious.
‘If your dead daughter showed up, would you like to meet her?’
It looked like the Count was worried and not happy with it that he might try to prevent the rumor from spreading.
Lynn evaluated Count Rubel’s response. However, the situation itself was so strange that it was not easy to guess. Wondering about it, Lynn sighed silently. Lena’s smiling face came into his mind.
‘It’s going to be okay.’
She had been in a difficult situation. Lynn wanted Lena to hang up. That way he could see her again soon.1
***
“Butler….!”
After six years, Lena recognized the old man at once. He was the butler of the Rubel family, who had been guarding the family since the time when the Count was still a child.
“Butler, in the meantime….”
“Stop.”
As Lena was excited and opened her mouth, the butler raised his hand.
“First, let’s move somewhere else.”
Unlike Lena, the butler didn’t make eye contact with her. He seemed to be conscious of the knights’ eyes.
In that solemn voice, Lena quietly shut her mouth.
The butler led Lena to a small room in the palace to avoid the eyes of the people. Then Lena opened her mouth but the butler quickly said.
“Who are you?”
Lena’s lips opened at the blame. Lena swallowed up her breath.
“To impersonate a dead person, you must be up to something.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cheer up, Lena. Your prince will come to you. btw, i hate the butler already. and you guys will hate him more in the next chapter