Chapter 166. Kidnapping, Part II

Julietta felt sorry at ending her short aristocratic life. The cool thing was that she no longer had to notice the eyes of Simone or the Duke of Kiellini, and the other part was that she could live a confident life without being afraid of anything for the first time while living as Julietta.

She realized that while standing at the entrance to the Imperial Banquet hall, waiting for her name to be called. She tried not to, but she found herself envying the aristocrats she could see through a chink in the door. 'I wish I had been born as a legal daughter, not as an illegitimate child of the Marquis. I think I could have done everything I wanted without fearing the world.'

Starting today, she had to hide herself in the dark, as she would not be able to even put her foot in the world she was seeing through a chink in the door. Still, she decided to be satisfied that she enjoyed the colorful life, even for a short time. Thinking that this was a 'Midsummer Night's Dream,' she laughed unconsciously.

She had a pleasant dream and a nice dressing shop as a reward, so she had to be thankful even though she had to hide for the rest of her life. She reflected on herself, beating her head against the thought that she would be punished if she were more greedy.

Julietta grinned at Simone who had been in a bad mood for the last few days. "Aunt, you've been having a hard time because of me. I thought you were going to Tilia with me, but now that you're going to stay in Dublin, I'm afraid I didn't have much time to see you."

Simone looked back at Julietta's bright smile.

A few days ago, she heard the news of the Duke through Prince Killian's men. After today, the Duke was to announce that he would step down from his seat after handing over all the powers of the family of the Duke to his successor due to ill health. Therefore, Simone would have the real power of the Ducal family, as the princess was only seventeen years old, even if the title had been handed over to his daughter.

Simone looked up at Julietta, who was smiling brightly. This girl, so much more affectionate than the niece who she had known for over a decade, had opened a new future for her. In the midst of the freedom and vivacity of finally getting out of the shadow of her brother, an unknown sense of guilt had haunted her for days.However, at this moment, she made up her mind again. The water was spilled anyway. It would have been great if she could be the Duchess instead of her sick niece, but unfortunately, even though she was a family member listed in the family register, she could not be the master of the duchy even if she had lost her husband and returned to the family.

'Then, I will be in a position that no one will be able to disdain in Austern, using both wings to take advantage of Julietta, who will now become the Empress, and Regina will only have the title without real power.'

"I have something to say before you leave for Tilia. I think it'll be better after the banquet today. Tomorrow, you and I will have a new life, so enjoy tonight as much as you like."

Simone set her mind on it. Today was the day Julietta really should learn why she had to be Princess Kiellini. She was worried about how Julietta accepting it, but she was going to let her face it as calmly as she could. She was a smart, quick-thinking girl, so she would quickly figure out what was in her favor.

While Simone was lost in thought, the name of the family Kiellini was finally called. When Princess Kiellini and Simone entered the party, everyone's eyes were focused on the princess, just as they had been at the previous debut party.

Though not often seen, the princess's dress was always a hot topic among the people. Her own fashion house opening not long ago was simply a hot potato in the market. People opened their mouths when they saw Princess Kiellini's dress, which had small diamonds in butterfly-shaped stitches all over her dark purple dress. It was a plain dress without common laces, ruffles, or ribbons. However, the lighting made the diamonds so rich and elegant that it could not be better. The dress, along with the beauty of the princess, carried an incomparable aura around it.

"I can see why Prince Killian fell in love with the princess."

"It's rumored that they're going to have an engagement ceremony soon."

"Then what will happen to Lady Christine? She's been chasing him so hard without even knowing her shame."

When all the entries of the aristocrats were finished, music began to spread in the hall. It was the Imperial Banquet, but it was common for none of the royal family members to attend. The guests gathered at the banquet without a host talked about the hottest topic in the capital.

When the story of Christine, like the spice between Prince Killian and Princess Kielini, came out, Princess Haint, her belly slightly swollen by pregnancy stepped in and laughed. "Lady Anais, of course, will marry Prince Francis."

The eyes of the people were on Princess Haint at once.

"With His Highness Francis? I didn't see any signs of that at all, and I'm surprised." People chattered wonderfully at the birth of a new love tryst.Princess Haint's voice was lowered to the limit. "Some time ago, Lady Anais came out of Prince Francis's palace early in the morning..."

"She came out? What then?"

The princess's voice rose a little when someone impatiently urged her to speak. "Her hair was messy, and her dress was almost taken off. Her chest and neck were a mess of kissing and bite marks."

"Oh, my God." Everyone was breathtakingly surprised and could not speak.

Enjoying people's reactions, Princess Haint added, "The Duke of Dudley must have spent a lot of money to stop this rumor. But I guess he couldn't stop everything because there were a lot of eyes who saw it, because I heard that in my ears this way."

At the words of Princess Haint, the other lady spoke with astonishment. "I saw Lady Anais heading toward Prince Francis's palace before, and today, too?"

The banquet was supposed to be in full swing, but sank heavily at the scandal of Lady Anais.

Confirming that the interest that had been focused on Princess Kiellini had returned to her, Jayna Haint looked around with triumphant eyes. It wasn't that she hated Princess Kiellini, but she didn't want to miss the lead role at the last banquet she attended as a single woman about to get married.

She had to step out before this interest was lost. Even if she was not at the party, people would continue to talk about her whenever they put Lady Anais in their mouths.

Jayna asked people to forgive her, recalling the whereabouts of the Lady Anais a lady told her earlier. "I think I'll have to go to the lounge for a while. As you can see, I'm pregnant."

Jayna also used her pregnancy to capture people's attention, leaving the banquet hall in a jubilant mood, and slowly walked toward Prince Francis' rooms. "Did she go to the Prince's palace without attending the banquet? Let's see what she will be wearing today."

A week ago, when Christine came out of Francis's rooms so frantically, Jayna was on her way to an administrative office, packing a lunch box for an early lunch with her fiance, Count Derio. In order to reach the administrative building next to the main castle where the Emperor resided, she had to pass by the palace of the first Queen and the palace of Prince Francis. Riding in a carriage on the quiet road of the Imperial Castle with no other traffic, she had seen Lady Anais, who had run out of Prince Francis's palace.

Jayna clicked her tongue as she came close to Lady Anais, who was there standing absentmindedly, unaware of the eyes of people, even if she was waiting for the carriage. Though Francis was absurd and perverse, he had harassed an unmarried lady in the middle of the Imperial Castle, where people frequently came and went.

But Jayna didn't feel sorry for Christine. Rather, she felt Christine was stupid. 'I never forgot that you used me to escape Francis's grasp. Now that this happened to you, it's okay for you to take the scalawag before other innocent ladies are harmed.'

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