Chapter 209 209. Infectious Disease, Part II
Julietta's Dressup
Translator: Khan
Editor: Aelryinth
"I wouldnât do such a stupid thing. Youâll find out in a week from now, so donât make any rash moves and wait."
The First Queen looked at the Duke of Dudley, who just looked at Francis, and left the parlor without speaking.
"You know something, donât you?"
"He set up a very nice plan. So, donât worry. You just need to express your sincere congratulations on Prince Killian for what had happened today. Never be jealous or angry about them. Do you understand?" Dudley replied, wiping his face as if he was tired.
At Duke Dudleyâs request, the First Queen nodded reluctantly.
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The party where everyone was surprised by the Emperorâs announcement during the grand engagement ceremony had ended. Killian came to Asta Palace, holding the hands of Julietta, who had tried to return with Mrs. Raban. He asked her carefully, as she was sitting there silently, "Are you mad because I didnât tell you in advance?"
Julietta did not answer for a while, but finally replied, "Iâm thinking."
When the wrong answer came back, Killian asked back, wondering, "Uh? What thoughts?"
"As to whether I deserve to be angry. But I donât know. Can I be angry?"
Julietta was in a bad mood. No, she was disappointed. She thought Killian liked her quite a bit, and since she was engaged, she believed sheâd be closer to him than anyone else. But if she thought otherwise, she didnât even deserve to be angry because she hadnât told Killian the secret of her previous life.
But Killian misunderstood her words, and opened his mouth in dismay. "You can be angry, of course. Of course, you deserve it. I was going to tell you when the engagement ceremony was over. I didnât think His Majesty would reveal it today without warning me."
Staring at the face of the Prince who had an unusual expression of regret, Julietta replied, "Then Iâll be angry. You have to tell me any secrets from now on. You donât hide anything from me. Promise me."
Julietta decided to consider that her own secret would never be revealed. She was afflicted in conscience, but she didnât want to say anything and couldnât talk about it.
She had fallen to the temptation of a dog and had been living in another personâs body with an odd ability. If she said that to others, she would feel like she had to deny herself.
Now she was Iris Kiellini. Julietta Iris Kiellini, not Jenna. It was Iris Kiellini who had to be strong for herself and her loved ones, determined to keep her mind from becoming weak.
"Yes, from now on, I will never deceive you. I promise."
Killian smiled reassuringly as Juliettaâs cold expression softened. He calmed himself down, as he was excited looking at Julietta sitting opposite him. Not yet. He must not show off that he had finally captured her, because she was not in his arms completely.
"We originally planned to have the wedding ceremony by the end of this month, but I think we should start sooner because my father blew up a big bomb yesterday. The Congress will be called. Itâs clear that Francis and Duke Dudley are going to protest. I think it might be better to take you to the Queen after I rise to the seat of the Crown Prince, so that they wonât do anything else."
He tried to speak as coolly as possible, but he felt regret in his speech somewhere. Fortunately, Julietta answered with a natural air, seemingly not noticing it.
"Sure. This is not a normal situation. You will be busy for a while, so you wonât even have to come to the shop. Sophie and Amelia will be comfortable."
She almost sighed with relief because he would be busy, and Killian barely held back his protest and poked up his mouth. "Oh, God, Iâd love to go even more when you tell me not to come. I need more rest as Iâm busy. Now that Iâm engaged, I canât visit Harrodsâ mansion, so I am going to dispose of it. Iâm thinking of disposing of the Harrodsâ mansion and sending the attendants who used to work there to Tilia. I asked Johanna, the head maid, if she could serve you as the Queen, but she refused."
Julietta was delighted to hear of Johanna for the first time in a long time.
"Why? Iâd be so relieved if the head maid would assist me when I enter the Imperial Castle."
"She was afraid youâd be in trouble if she were known to have worked at the Harrodsâ mansion. She had served my other women and it would be a bad thing for you if she serves you, the noble Princess Kiellini. She doesnât know who you are, so sheâd naturally have to think so."
"Itâs a pity. I need a person to trust."
Killian thought for a moment when he saw Julietta treating her entry into the Imperial Castle as if she were going to war. "Julietta, I am highly indebted to the troupe leader Maribel for raising you. So is the Marquis of Anais."
Julietta admitted Maribelâs contribution, but slightly frowned.
"She said sheâs going to retire soon. I heard you recommended it."
"Yes. Sheâs the most reliable ally Iâve ever had. But I donât think it would look good for the Princeâs fiancé to meet the owner of the theater often."
"Yes. After she retires, she will return to being Mrs. Grayson, an ordinary low-ranking aristocrat. But what if some time after retirement, thereâs some amazing news for Mrs. Grayson? While they are working on the records to affirm the genealogy of Prince Killian, they will find out that Baron Grayson was accompanying and killed in the assassination of the Empress thirteen years ago."
Killian nodded as Julietta looked at him, wondering if that would be possible. "If I remember Baron Grayson, who I forgot after happened due to the impact of the incident at that time... that he died in a fierce fight to the last."
The death of the Baron, who they had been wondering if he was too old to even wield a sword, was being beautifully dressed up.
"I could even reward the Grayson family for making a tremendous contribution and not getting any reward. I could give her a succession to Count and a small but fertile southern territory. Iâm looking for suitable land to buy.
"Mrs. Grayson is now a Countess with a territory?"
"Yes. She is fully qualified to be the head maid of the Queen."
"Do you mean to bring Maribel to the Imperial Castle?"
"Thatâs why Iâm planning to make this work."
Julietta was moved by Killian doing so much for her.
"Thereâs going to be bad words about Maribelâs past."
"It doesnât matter. Sheâs going to be the head maid of the Queen. What does it matter? And Maribel isnât one whoâs going to sit back and watch that way."
"... Thank you."
No one could be more secure than Maribel in the strange and frightening life of the Imperial Castle. That man was aware of her anxiety and tried to put the most reliable person close to her.
Killian got up from his seat, pretending not to see Julietta trying to thank him again. "Itâs too late, so go back and rest now, the princess. Iâll see you tomorrow at the dress shop."
Julietta laughed at him as he held out his hand lightly, as if he had done something natural. She stood up, holding Killianâs hand and said, "I canât help it if youâre going to come. See you at the annex tomorrow."
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As soon as the engagement ceremony was over, Robert returned to the Anais mansion and called Christine.
"Did you call me?"
Killianâs engagement ceremony which she had tried to prevent somehow was over. Christineâs mood was the worst. She wanted to console herself by doing nothing today, but she couldnât ignore her fatherâs call.
Looking out the window with his back turned in his office, the Marquis was just as he had been at the engagement ceremony. The sight made her feel more and more uneasy.
"Why did you call me?" the shrill voice of Christine rang out in the Marquisâ office. She had never spoken to her father in this way, but today she didnât want to play the usual loving, demure daughter.
Even though he knew what she thought of Prince Killian, his father showed no interest in her. He must have been paying attention to the engagement on behalf of the absent Duke of Kiellini. He didnât care about her.