Empress of Another World

Seventy

I continued to walk inside the library. I kept trying to remember how I got here, but it was useless. I should have left a trail of crumbs like Hansel and Gretel.

I sighed again loudly.

Just then!

“—.”

“—!”

I could hear some people talking. It was so faint for a second, I thought I imagined it. I could barely hear anything, but I was sure somewhere in this place, there were people talking.

I listened carefully and followed the sounds. I didn’t know who they were, so I made sure to remain quiet and walk carefully so they wouldn’t find out about me.

Finally, I found them. When I realized who they were, I hid behind a large bookcase.

There were two people. A male and a female. I knew one of them, but not the other.

I knew the girl.

Bright red hair. Clear ruby eyes like her mother’s but with innocence.

‘Princess Liliana!’

I was shocked at seeing her. The precious princess was meeting with someone secretly in the deserted library.

I stayed quiet and listened. I thought perhaps I would be able to get a piece of important and useful information from this encounter.

Luckily, I could hear well from where I hid.

The man asked the princess in a low voice. He sounded like he was a few years older than Princess Liliana. His voice sounded serious and desperate.

“Do I still have a place in your heart?”

The red-haired princess exclaimed passionately, “Yes, of course…! Now and forever, you will be the only man in my heart!”

The man looked relieved. I realized they were a couple in love.

He replied, “That is enough for me… Even if you become another man’s wife…”

The girl’s eyes filled with tears as she held his hands. I never knew how forward Princess Liliana was until now. I always thought she was very shy. This was a surprise.

She replied, “How… How could I do that? You… you are the only one who has ever been kind to me! I have been dreaming of leaving this castle with you!”

The boy looked pleased but quickly frowned unhappily.

“… I am so sorry for everything.”

The princess started to cry.

“Why would you say that!? You and I both know the truth! Your mother… was sacrificed by the dowager empress!”

“…”

Princess Liliana didn’t call the dowager empress her mother. She probably didn’t think of her as her mother, just as the dowager empress didn’t treat her like her daughter. Other than their red hair, they had nothing else in common.

I remembered my friend from Korea again. I knew now for certain how Liliana felt about her mother.

The princess continued to cry and whispered, “It is I who should be ashamed. Even the emperor didn’t find out the culprit who was behind your mother’s murder, but we both know who did it. Everyone in the castle knows.”

“… Your highness.”

“Why would you say you’re sorry? It was the dowager empress who ruined your family… And because of her, you lost your title…”