The Troublemaker Daughter of the Grand Duke Wants To Live Alone - Chapter 74

“Oh, I…”

“I wonder how my lady felt after reading this poem.”

Lausanne’s words drew everyone’s attention to me. Is it because this is my first time attending this meeting? I bit my lower lip. I suppose I should say something since I have the right to do so, but what should I say? I was as romantic as any other young child.

I’m not sure what Lausanne is thinking. I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I would never be able to read her mind. Shouldn’t I just tell you what I think if that’s the case? I opened my mouth with such determination.

“I was a little afraid.”

“What?”

When I responded, everyone gave me a suspicious look. Lausanne, who had been smiling the entire time, now had a slightly surprised expression, as if she had heard an unexpected answer. She then inquired about my opinion as though she were curious.

“What made you think that?”

“Well, this poem is written solely from the perspective of the person who gives love.”

Reading this poem reminded me of Daphne’s story which is also related to a laurel tree, which I read when I was still Ha Sohee. Apollo coerces Daphne into loving him after falling in love with her as a result of Eros’ joke. It was a form of violence in Daphne’s eyes. The love that began with Apollo’s arrogance ended tragically.

Will it feel beautiful to the recipient of one-sided emotions, even if it is wrapped with pure intentions?

“You don’t know how the recipient feels.”

Lausanne nodded slowly, as if she understood what I meant. 

Although small, I gained confidence in her positive gestures and said, staring at Lausanne.

“As it was expressed as drowning, the giver’s expression of love has grown heavy. Since you claimed that Laurel’s flower language is immutable, will you be pleased to receive this love?”

“Of course, wouldn’t you be?”

The lady next to Lausanne raised her hand slightly to refute my words.

“Of course? Will you be happy if someone you don’t love loves you forever?”

The young children were engulfed in thought as I spoke. It appeared as though cold water had been poured over them. Oh, I think I painted the garden of hopes and dreams gray haphazardly. I was just wiggling my hand when Sophia put her hand on my shoulder and said.

“Lady Conler, you have a keen eye for art!”

“Yes?”

Is that a compliment?

I’m a little touched.

“It’s probably because you’ve had a different experience than us, right? Because I grew up immaturely under a strict father and a friendly mother, I thought love was only beautiful and romantic.”

What, are you composing an application letter?

I felt kind of bad listening to it. Are you saying that because I didn’t receive adequate love as a child, I have a negative opinion of this poem? I could still picture my orphanage friends’ faces. Of course, the children were somewhat violent because it was a world of individual battles. However, there were still friends who were considerate of their opponents, such as Astina and Leo.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“What?”

“I believe Lady Sophia is expressing an outdated viewpoint because the society in which you were raised is limited.”

Sophia stared at me with her mouth agape, as if she couldn’t say anything. Other young children found it difficult to speak due to the strange atmosphere between me and Sofia.

At that time.

Clap clap clap.

A cheery clap broke the stillness.

“That is an excellent point of view.”

“Princess!”

“This is the kind of cultural salon I wanted, being able to hear different points of view; I’d like to thank Lady Conler.”

Lausanne continued to applaud after saying that. The lady next to Lausanne started clapping vaguely as well. I was taken aback because I had no idea I’d be applauded so loudly. Sophia gave a stern look as she reluctantly joined in.

Accordingly, after the literary discussion, the atmosphere returned to being fairly open, much like it had been when I arrived. I had no one to talk to as the ladies gathered once more, so I just sat still.

‘Ah, I want to go home……’

The idea of Carol having a mishap right next to me seems more comfortable to me. How long until this meeting is over? Sophia, who was seated next to me, left the table. I was hoping to get closer to Sofia.

She probably wasn’t trying to be offensive.

But, in retrospect, isn’t it worse that she didn’t mean anything bad?

My chin was resting on my hands as I fretted when Lausanne, who was conversing with other women, caught my attention. I was relieved that she didn’t seem to have a bad impression of me. I give her a round of applause. She is an admirable individual who merits praise. She bears no resemblance to Cameron at all. She resembles Demimore to me, I believe.

“Ah, Demimore!”

I jumped to my feet and hastily packed the album before leaving the garden after awkwardly standing up and stretching. I need to find Demimore in order to give him the laminaicho.

Actually, I don’t know how I’m going to meet Demimore. But wouldn’t it be nice to see Demimore while I am inside the palace?

Let’s not, however, go too far.

I truly deserve the moniker “troublemaker daughter” if I get lost in this palace and force Grand Duke Estin to go looking for me. That is not ideal. I committed to returning to my seat after a moderate amount of walking around. I ought not to cause any more troubles. I should deliver this to Demimore as soon as possible.

It was then.

I heard a buzz in the distance. What’s going on, I thought they were all in the garden. I shifted my position so I could hear the noise. Obviously, I need to find Demimore immediately, but I can’t resist heading to the area where there is a commotion.

“How shameless.”

As I got nearer, I could tell it was Sofia’s voice. Her voice, which I initially thought was incredibly sweet, suddenly became piercing. Alongside Sofia, I noticed young boys who appeared to be members of an aristocratic family, as well as young girls. Why are you all attacking one person at once?

“I can’t believe this. You really came to the salon in that dress.”

“I was invited by the princess…”

“Just because you are invited by the princess, you think you can come?” 

No way…

I moved closer to the crowd. If you infer their lines right now, the person they are currently attacking…… Is that who I think she is? But why didn’t I see her earlier?

“I’m glad I told you to stop her from entering the garden!”

Sophia yelled as if to answer my query. So that’s the real Sophia.

“Why don’t you turn around and quit sullying the Borneau family who welcomed you?”

With her head bowed, Astina remained motionless. I was ridiculously upset at the sight of it. She is standing as though she did something incorrect. She is comparable to Sophia, who arrived at Lausanne’s invitation.

Suddently, I remembered this scene from the original as I was standing from behind.

Indeed, this is…. It was the lines Mary uttered when she met Astina in the salon in the original.

‘You’re an orphan!’

‘The princess invited me..’

‘Just because the princess invited you doesn’t mean you can come. You have a lot of nerve.’

I can’t quite recall, but I’m sure there was a scene where Mary yelled at Astina, who she had met in this manner at the salon.

Why is Sofia acting in this way?

Because Astina isn’t being bothered by anyone? Is Astina fated to experience bullying in some way? What an awful fate! I remembered Astina, who was like a bean, when I told her to hit me. Why the hell are you treating such a nice kid like this?

“Should I not come then?”

“What?”

Astina’s voice suddenly came to my ears as I was pacing in the background debating whether or not to assist her.

It’s really Astina’s voice, right?

It’s not a line that Astina should be saying. Is it because it’s been so long since I last saw Astina? Those honey-like blonde hair and eyes, which resembled emerald jewels… It’s Astina, for sure. No matter how cruel Mary is, Astina is always fidgeting restlessly in the original.

“As you had wished, I was ultimately unable to participate in the salon.”

“Ha, then stop talking and leave.”

“In that case, …….”

Obviously, the voice is small, and the end of the sentence is blurred, but it was a huge improvement when I first thought of Astina. I was now more than just surprised; I was also proud. Seeing her that way after Leo and I had trained her at the orphanage was satisfying.

“Wretched orphan!”

Astina must have felt a little dejected by the words because she lowered her head even lower. I breathed in deeply.

“Lady Sophia.”

“Who…… Lady Mary?”

Sophia turned around and spoke nervously when I called her carefully from behind. Sophia, who confirmed it was me, gave an awkward smile. When Astina heard my name, she looked up, surprised. She gave me a rabbit-eyed glare. Like that, I winked at Astina.