Chapter 50: Passersby

Ophelia shivered slightly, then wrapped her arms around Lilianne.

She buried her head in Lilianne’s shoulder, and soon, Lilianne felt a coolness settle there.

Lilianne recalled the choking sobs Ophelia had made on the carriage when they first parted.

Really, why were both of them such crybabies?

Lilianne felt a slight headache coming on.

Speechless, family members.

Fortunately, she was an adult; otherwise, this would have been really embarrassing.

Once Ophelia’s emotions settled, the group gathered around the tea table in the center of the guest room.

Ophelia and Elenora sat opposite each other, with Lilianne in the middle.

Ophelia had already regained her usual elegant expression, a faint smile gracing the corners of her lips as she looked at Elenora.

Only her reddened eyes gave away a hint of amusement.

Elenora’s eyes were red as well; upon seeing Ophelia, she snorted.

The four of them sat there silently, not a word exchanged.

Lilianne planned to break the silence and cleared her throat twice.

“Ahem, Miss… Elenora, apologize to Ophelia.”

Lilianne deliberately avoided calling Elenora “my lady” to emphasize the seriousness of this conversation.

“What? Me? Apologize to her?” Elenora was surprised, not expecting Lilianne to direct this at her.

“Yes. Ophelia helped us, and the way you treated her earlier was truly inappropriate.”

Inappropriate was putting it mildly—Ophelia hadn’t even lost her temper; that alone was generous of her.

“Impossible. How could I apologize to her when she treated you like that?” Elenora turned her head aside.

Lilianne felt her headache returning.

Ophelia noticed Lilianne’s thoughts.

She chuckled softly, “Since Miss Elenora is unwilling, Lilianne, you can apologize on her behalf, but…”

Ophelia hesitated, still unsure what she wanted Lilianne to agree to.

“Also acceptable?” Lilianne nodded. Although it lacked sincerity, Ophelia was giving them a way out, so she’d take it.

“Sorry!” Elenora finally shouted.

She glared at Ophelia with some anger.

That girl always looked for chances to make a move on Lilianne; Elenora couldn’t allow that to happen.

“To whom, Miss Elenora, are you apologizing?”

“Sorry, Princess Ophelia, it was my fault earlier…” Elenora replied begrudgingly.

“Very well, for Lilianne’s sake, I forgive you, Miss Elenora.”

Ophelia was quite pleased, covering her mouth with one hand as she chuckled lightly.

“You…” Elenora’s temper was once again provoked.

“Alright, let’s get to the point…”

Lilianne felt she couldn’t just sit back and watch; she hurried to intervene and steer the conversation back.

Both of them were adults—why were they acting like children?

Ophelia quickly settled down, and Elenora stopped making a fuss, which relieved Lilianne.

“Regarding those who framed you, Miss Elenora, how do you intend to handle them?”

“I’ll deal with Clara personally; the others, whatever must be done, will be done.”

Whatever must be done wasn’t going to be easy.

Those little nobles who followed the Crown Prince would have a hard time.

The Crown Prince hadn’t properly pinned the blame on Elenora, but the insults against her and the Koen family were very real.

If Elenora insisted on following protocol, there was nothing to be done.

After understanding Elenora’s meaning, Ophelia nodded. “Understood. I’ll relay this to my imperial brother.”

“As for what comes next…” Ophelia tapped her fingers as she spoke, “Now that this incident has come to light, all the nobles of the empire will know that I, Ophelia Deshipeta, the empire’s second princess, have taken sides with your Koen family.”

“So?” Elenora narrowed her eyes.

There was no need for her to mention it; everyone present already understood the implications.

Ophelia’s special mention meant she had a particular purpose.

“This brings a certain amount of pressure on me, so I want to invite Lilianne to come to my place twice a week…”

“No!” Elenora rejected Ophelia’s proposal without hesitation.

She was certain Ophelia was aiming for Lilianne!

What had happened today was already too much; allowing Lilianne and Ophelia to be alone twice a week was unimaginable!

Although she trusted Lilianne would refuse Ophelia’s unreasonable requests.

But…

What if…

“Very well. Then I’ll visit the Koen residence regularly. I hope Miss Elenora won’t refuse to see me.”

“That’s acceptable…”

“Then it’s settled.”

Ophelia showed a satisfied smile.

What a relief.

She noticed Elenora was competent when it came to work, but in deeper scheming, she was still at the expected level.

Lilianne couldn’t help but press her palm against her forehead.

She saw through it—Ophelia’s real goal had been to ensure her visit to the count’s manor would not be refused.

Elenora foolishly thought Ophelia genuinely wanted her to visit twice a week.

Now Lilianne was troubled.

From tomorrow onward, for a long time to come, she, Ophelia, and Elenora would be the talk of the imperial capital.

Moreover, this rumor would gradually spread throughout the empire.

Lilianne was familiar with the gossip circles, especially regarding the Noblewomen’s Love Triangle Rumor, which exploded maybe once every few centuries.

It might not even take six months before the entire empire knew the story of Lilianne Elward being coveted simultaneously by the Koen heiress and the empire’s second princess, and then it would spread across the continent.

Her original plan to pay back 300 gold coins, live a carefree life, and quietly leave had been completely ruined.

Even if she repaid the 300 gold coins and didn’t hide her identity, everywhere she went she’d be recognized: “Oh, you’re Lilianne, the famous one.”

No, even if she paid back the 300 gold coins, would she even be able to leave the capital?

Not to mention Elenora’s problem.

Ophelia had even dared to kiss her at her own birthday banquet today.

Without the Koen family’s protection, who knew what Ophelia would do?

Unless she could beat her.

Even with her system, beating Ophelia…

Lilianne found herself almost laughing in frustration.

Had her yet-to-begin happy life already come to an end…

Sigh…

Honestly, watching the two of them start bickering again, Lilianne felt tired.

She didn’t know how to handle the relationship between Elenora and Ophelia.

Elenora valued her highly; Ophelia did as well.

One, for some unknown reason, regarded her as family.

The other, because she knew her secret, treated her as someone who could understand her… a friend?

Or something else?

Lilianne didn’t quite understand the meaning behind Ophelia’s kiss.

But one thing was clear: both were sincere.

Sigh, and here she was, supposed to be just a bystander…