My Mom Got A Contract Marriage

“Can’t I……? I’m sorry I made a decision on my own…”

“Hm, Lily.”

Ludia fell into contemplation.

Fjord Barat died at fifteen.

Barat’s greatest masterpiece.

She knew very little about him.

She only remembered that he had a terribly dark expression when she ran into him at the ducal family’s house. 

“On top of that, there were rumours that he’s a libertine.” 

He was said to enjoy hunting and gambling with rotten apples, much less studying. 

As such, the son became the Barat Duchy’s scourge. 

‘Rizert only appeared because of his death.’ 

Was Rizert an illegitimate child?

People had such guesses.

However, because of Fjord’s death, she had no choice but to disclose the daughter that she’d been raising as an illegitimate child to the public. 

Although it was said that she was educated in a rural convent, it didn’t seem like that at all.

She could be called Barat’s broken masterpiece.

That ruthless nature of hers was also completely distorted. 

“So he’s going to die.”

With that thought in mind, Ludia looked at her daughter.

An anxious gaze was looking back at her. 

“Lily, do you really need to be so close to Fjord?”

“Well……”

Lilica hesitated and averted her eyes. Ludia said.

“Come over here and whisper it to Mom.”

At that, Lilica got up from her seat and approached hesitantly. 

Lilica checked several times and didn’t spot any signs of anger on her mother’s face, but she still got nervous at times like this.

“That…”

“That?”

Lilica whispered to her mother, who was listening, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Because, he’s very pretty…….”

“!!”

Ludia’s eyes widened in surprise and she turned to look at her daughter.

Lilica’s cheeks were burning red.

“He is?”

Ludia spoke that out unknowingly and couldn’t help but burst into laughter. 

Lilica clasped her hands together, at a loss of what to do. 

He’s pretty.

That wasn’t everything, but she could only say that to summarise it all up. 

The iridescent sunlight that scattered from his silver hair, and his elegant curtsey.

His somewhat unstable looking reddish-gold eyes, the way he matched her strides and how he called her the robin princess…

‘Pretty’ included all of those things. 

“Well, in that case, what can I do?”

Ludia chuckled.

It was human nature to like pretty things.

Truthfully, ‘strategically speaking’, it wasn’t a bad thing for Lilica to get along with Fjord. 

If she was her past self, she would have used that here and there.

But that was then and this is now.

After much contemplation, Ludia said. 

“It’s alright for now, but if there’s a problem with Fjord later on… Then Mom will bar you from meeting him.”

Lilica nodded.

“We won’t be able to meet each other then?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Alright, then it’s a promise.”

She took her mother’s outstretched hand and waved it up and down three times.

“Then it’ll be alright for you both to meet casually. Oh, and if, by any chance.”

Her mother whispered in Lilica’s ear.

“If you find out if Fjord has any other siblings, won’t you let Mom know?”

“Yes.”

Although she was surprised, Lilica nodded vigorously.

It doesn’t matter, as long as her mother is willing to approve. 

Ludia laughed and spoke quietly to Lilica.

“Uva will be back by next week.”

“Really?!”

“Yes, let’s look forward to what he’ll bring back together.”

Lilica became excited at her mother’s words.

‘I see. It’s a relief that he managed to come back safely.’

“Now then, the sherbet will melt soon. Hurry and finish it all up.”

“Yes!”

Lilica quickly ran back to her seat and moved the silver spoon diligently.

She became happier with the cold, sweet and sour lemon sherbet.

Lilica let out sighs of admiration continuously as she listened to her mother’s stories. 

Then she said.

“I also can’t wait to help Mother.”

“Lily is already helping me sufficiently.”

“No, more… Well… I can also open salons and meet with people like Mother does.”

“For that to happen, you have to reach ten years old first.”

Lilica sighed softly.

“Yes.”

She wanted to grow up and become an adult quickly. 

Ludia looked at Lilica and said. 

“Is there anything that you want? Would you like to order some new clothes? How about getting a cape this time?”

“What? No, I’m fine.”

Lilica shook her head. Ludia spoke.

“Don’t be like that. I’m sure that you have something that you want, Lilica. Aren’t we always getting things that Mom finds pretty? Is there anything that you like, Lilica?”

Lilica hesitated at Ludia’s words.

While she was agonising over whether she should say it or not, her mother repeated again. 

“Anything will do, so tell me.”

Lilica looked at the empty glass bowl and plucked up her courage.

“A—actually, I want to wear a crinoline dress.”

“What?”

It was an unexpected remark, so Ludia couldn’t help but ask back.

She pictured crinoline in her head.

‘That tacky dress? A dress that has gone completely out of style? My daughter? No way!’

Although the words, “What happened to your aesthetic sense?” rose up her throat, but Ludai barely managed to hold it in.

Goodness. 

“Isn’t the dress Mom is wearing right now much prettier than that? Hmm?”

“Yes……” 

Lilica nodded her head and her gaze dropped back to the glass bowl. Ludia became nervous.

For some reason, she felt uncomfortable. She would rather Lilica throw a tantrum and yell, “No, I want to wear crinoline!”— which apparently, all the other children did. 

Ludia cleared her throat and asked. 

“Crinoline would be rather uncomfortable, so which part of it do you like?”

“……”

“It’s alright, I’m just asking, because I’m quite curious.”

Lilica only spoke quietly when she reassured her that she wasn’t trying to blame her. 

“Because it looks like the princess’s clothes that’s on the play’s posters…” 

“Ah.”

With a small exclamation, Ludia clenched her fist.

She didn’t want her daughter to wear crinoline. 

What would the remaining ladies of the aristocratic faction think?

They might think that the empress has surrendered.

Is it so important that the dress is to a child’s tastes? 

The clothes that she was currently wearing were much prettier.

When Lilica’s a little older, she would want to wear the most fashionable clothes of late, and even if she doesn’t wear them now—

“It’s alright, my current clothes are also very pretty, and I like them a lot. Mother.”

As the silence lengthened, Lilica quickly raised her head and spoke softly.

“I’m sorry. I’m being stubborn. I also think that bustles are much prettier, so……”

Lilica shook her head, wondering about what she should do if she’d hurt the feelings of her mother, who’d made the bustle dress fashionable. 

At that, Ludia was unable to insist any further, so she forced the corners of her lips to curl up into a smile and said.

“So you want to wear a dress that flares out, right?

“What? No. I like bustle dresses.”

“No, I see. Mom will have one ordered. I’ll order for one right away.”

“What? B—but…….”

“It’s alright, because it won’t be a crinoline dress. That’s too heavy and makes it hard for you to move. Even so, Mom will try her best to satisfy Lilica.”

Ludia gestured for the head lady-in-waiting to summon the designer into the palace.

“Don’t worry, Mom will make clothes that Lily will like. Just leave the design to Mom.”

“Yes.”

Lilica nodded.

Her expectations were raised by her mother’s confident words.

Although she said that it was fine, she was happy that she could wear a flared dress. 

Ludia watched as joy spread across her daughter’s face.

‘It’s healing.’

The stress she had been suffering recently due to Altheos, who’d been talking nonsense about love, disappeared like ice on a summer day.

‘Honestly, that man, no, that dragon.’ 

She didn’t know where had he heard such strange words from.

‘Didn’t he write strange poems, send me bouquets of flowers, and gift me a jewellery box that he’d chosen personally?’ 

She laughed bitterly. 

The strange thing about that series of odd actions was, his voice sounded really good when he recited that poem, so it sounded quite plausible, the bouquet was touching, and only a few of the very best were selected for the jewellery box, making it unobtrusive. 

What she meant was, although it was rather amusing, the problematic part was that it’s plausible.

The ladies-in-waiting around would chuckle, while the noblewomen that drank tea with her would sigh and look at her enviously. 

‘Honestly?’

He’s a pain in the ass.

With a smile, Ludia sighed and looked at Lilica. Lilica noticed her countenance and asked. 

“Is something the matter?” 

“Hm, no. It’s nothing.”

She shouldn’t talk about this with Lilica.

Ludia shook her head and asked.

“So, is there anything you would like to add to your dress?” 

* * *

As she walked down the hallway, Lilica sighed to Brynn.

“It’s really fine……”

Instead of saying that it’s really fine, she said, “I like it, but is it really alright,” which caused Brynn to laugh. 

“Even so, the Empress still wants to put the princess’s wishes first.”

Lilica’s face turned red.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, of course. The empress loves you very much.”

“Hehe.”

Lilica pressed her chest with a bashful smile on her face.

Although the joy from dressing in a pretty gown was great, the joy from her mother thinking about her was larger than that.

It was a soft feeling. 

It was slightly similar to the lemon sherbet she had earlier.

A happy yellow colour. 

Just then, she spotted Pi walking over from the other side of the hallway. 

“Pi!”

“Princess.”

Pi came over quickly, gave his greetings and asked.

“Are you on your way back to White Dragon Chamber? If time permits, please stop by the Black Dragon Chamber, Princess.”

“Come to think of it, Brann told me to come over and have some ice cream. Also to chat with His Highness.”

Pi immediately noticed the change in address and blinked. Brynn also asked with a tilted head. 

“Come to think of it, you’ve been calling the Crown Prince by his title since a while ago.” 

“Yes, His Highness…”

Lilica made a beckoning gesture and Brynn bent her knees. Lilica whispered softly.

“He asked me if I was being servile because of my background.”

“Oh, my, oh my, oh my.”

When Brynn repeated herself thrice, Lilica nodded. 

“I’m going to be a little petty, and wouldn’t he be upset if I called him by his name?”

Brynn covered her mouth and laughed lightly.

“I think that this merits it.”

“Right?”

As he watched the two ladies laugh, Pi swallowed back the urge to smile bitterly. 

Although they were speaking quietly, it was at a volume that Pi could hear. 

He’d just seen Atil’s worries—of course he’d definitely pretended not to be—and came out afterwards, so he had mixed thoughts.

‘But gradually becoming softer is quite a welcome tendency.’ 

To Pi, who was both Atil’s conversational partner and future confidant, Atil’s distrust of humans being gradually eased with Lilica’s help was something worth being grateful for. 

Although it’s not like Atil had to trust people, it was difficult if he completely distrusted people. 

First off, he himself must be extremely exhausted. 

“His Highness was actually very worried.”

Pi opened his mouth.

They were words that Atil would never speak aloud, so it was his duty, as Atil’s conversational partner, to mention this. 

“Really?”

Lilica began walking with a smile. 

Pi stood beside her, while Brynn took a step backwards.

“Yes, very much. Of course, he would never say words like those ostensibly.” 

Lilica grinned softly at Pi’s addition.

As they walked through the hallway, those that encountered the party retreated to the shadows and curtseyed in greeting.

As she passed by them, Lilica asked Pi. 

“Does Pi and His Highness meet people at Sky Palace? I’ve also met some people at the Sun Palace, but they’ve never struck up a conversation.”

“It’s because those that are low in status cannot start a conversation with those that are highborns.”

“Mm, that’s a relief, but… Is it really alright to continue ignoring them like this?”

If the other party engages in conversation, what kind of conversation would they have? 

But on the contrary, it was worrying to continue ignoring them.

What would people think of her?

If she was an outstanding princess, shouldn’t she be talking with them?

She would occasionally see children of similar age—that were surely over ten —giving their greetings.

“There are kids that seem to be of a similar age to me.”

Pi laughed.

“That’s to make it convenient for the princess or His Highness to start a conversation.”

“What?”

When she looked at Pi in surprise, Pi continued to explain in a gentle tone.

His bright cream-coloured hair continued gleaming, in the illuminated and shadowed portions of the hallway, eventually becoming indistinct. 

“Why did they have to bring their children to the palace? It’s because they hoped that the princess would spot them and start a conversation.” 

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Pi stopped and turned towards Lilica.

As he stood under the pillar’s shadow, he whispered to the princess, who was standing in the dazzling sunlight.

“At the Imperial Palace, there’s no such thing as a coincidence.”

Lilica’s bright turquoise eyes looked at him in astonishment.

He slowly raised a finger and placed it on his curved lips. 

“There’s no such thing as a perfect secret either.”

His fingers dropped down to tap his own chest.

He pointed to himself and said. 

“It is a perfect secret, only when it’s kept to yourself.” 

As he said those words, Lilica became rather conscious of the pendant in her pocket. 

‘Then the fact that I’m a wizard too. I see, because His Majesty knows.’

If the both of them are keeping it a secret, was it not considered a secret? 

Pi smiled at the sight of Lilica’s slightly troubled and complicated expression. 

“It seems like you have a secret.”

“Huh? Huhh?

Startled, she began stuttering, which caused Pi to laugh again.

“Keep it to yourself as much as possible, my princess.”

When Lilica nodded her head lightly, Pi couldn’t help but reveal a relieved smile. 

The princess was so good at nodding in assent. 

His younger siblings would either fall silent or refute his words.

Lilica stepped into the shadow and stood beside Pi.

She spoke quietly.

“But Pi.”

“Yes.”

“If you don’t share your secrets with someone, you won’t be able to find someone that you can trust.”

Her soft voice gave Pi a heavy blow.

While he was shocked, the urge to laugh rose and he bit his lip to stop himself from doing so. 

‘This princess.’

She wasn’t being naive or friendly without any countermeasures.

Lilica looked at Pi with a tilted head.

Pi nodded.

“That’s right. It’s a way to distinguish the gems from the pebbles.”

There were also many other ways to find the person that leaked the secret or to use it in reverse. 

Although Lilica didn’t mention that far, her words implied that. 

She didn’t say that he could find a traitor by leaking secrets, but that he could find those that were worth trusting by sharing his secrets.

It wasn’t like she discussed the light without an inkling of the darkness, but she was talking about the light while being fully aware of the darkness. 

‘That’s true.’

Whether it’s the darkness of the slums, or the darkness beneath the palace’s splendour, darkness was darkness. 

“I’ve said something that I shouldn’t have.” 

“No, didn’t Pi say that out of worry for me?”

“Thank you for saying so. Then shall we hurry? His Highness has been waiting for a while now.” 

At Pi’s words, Lilica laughed and walked faster.

As her strides were still that of a child’s, Pi asked. 

“If you don’t mind, Princess—”

Now that she knew what would follow without even hearing it, Lilica nodded.