NOVEL NEXT Chapter 6
It was no wonder that Liliana, with her small lips slightly parted, was unable to take her eyes off the townhouse…
‘What should I do? Our Liliana is just too cute?!’
…because she was incredibly adorable.
A moment later, Liliana snapped back to reality and looked up at Anriche in a panic.
“Is, is this really the townhouse of the Balua family?”
“Of course, why would I lie to you, Liliana?”
Anriche nodded casually.
After a short while, Liliana asked in a dazed voice, “Um, it’s not a palace where the princess lives…?”
Hearing that, Anriche couldn’t help but chuckle.
A palace where a princess lives!
Wasn’t that such a cute imagination for a child?
“Well, then you can become the princess of Balua in the future,” Anriche teased playfully.
Liliana, startled by the playful remark, shook her head vigorously.
“No way! What do you mean…!”
“Liliana, what did I say earlier at the clothing store?”
Anriche asked, intentionally emphasizing her eyes.
After blinking a few times, Liliana replied in a soft voice, “Um, that… I shouldn’t say ‘I’m sorry’ or ‘This doesn’t seem right’…”
“Right. Why can’t our Liliana be a princess?”
Anriche shrugged lightly.
“All children in the world are princes and princesses to the adults.”
“Ah…”
“So, Liliana is my princess.”
Instead of answering, Liliana nodded vigorously.
The chubby cheeks of the child were now flushed red like ripe apples.
Anriche mischievously winked.
“Isn’t it a bit too early to be this surprised?”
“What?”
“If you see the main estate of the Balua family later and faint, it would be a big deal…”
“F-faint?”
When Anriche spoke in a deliberately worried tone, Liliana’s expression turned serious as well.
“The Balua estate is so grand that it can be compared to the imperial palace.”
“Really? It can be compared to the imperial palace? Just how big is it…?”
“Well… maybe ten times the size of the townhouse?”
“Eek.”
Liliana shrank her shoulders slightly.
Seemingly quite surprised, Liliana’s fingers fidgeted within Anriche’s grasp.
Ugh, so cute! I just want to bite her!!
Suppressing the urge to squeal, Anriche led Liliana toward the front door of the townhouse.
“Alright, let’s go inside.”
“Ah, yes!”
Liliana followed Anriche’s lead, taking quick little steps.
The child’s expression was resolute, like a general facing an enemy camp.
It was so endearing that Anriche couldn’t help but smile all the way inside.
“…Liliana.”
“……”
“Liliana!”
“Yes, yes!”
Only after calling her several times did Liliana finally snap back to attention.
She instinctively glanced at Anriche for cues.
“I’m so sorry! I was distracted by something else…”
“It’s okay. It is a bit dazzling, after all.”
After hearing Anriche’s gentle reply, Liliana looked a little relieved.
“Well, actually, earlier, um, when we were in that street…”
“Are you talking about Le Morgan Street?”
“Yes! When I was there, I was amazed that there could be such a beautiful place in the world.”
Liliana was chattering away while her eyes darted around, completely captivated.
It truly was a perfect space.
Luxurious wallpaper, a marble floor that sparkled like a mirror, and furniture that reached the level of art.
Rare artworks that would be considered heirlooms in most noble families were merely decorations in the Balua townhouse.
‘The fact that I’ll be living here in the future. It’s really unbelievable…’
Her heart raced, and Liliana unconsciously placed a hand over her chest.
A sigh escaped her lips.
“But, the Balua townhouse is even more stunning.”
“You said it looked like the palace where the princess lives.”
“Yes. I thought so earlier, but now…”
Liliana stretched her neck and gazed up, mesmerized, at the luxurious chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
The colorful lights reflecting off the crystal glass dazzled her eyes.
“…It feels like the palace where the fairy queen lives.”
Earlier, it was a princess; now, it’s a fairy queen?
Anriche, who was wearing a gentle smile, noticed a small boy walking from afar.
He had fluttering black hair and violet-colored eyes inherited from Anriche herself.
It was Elliot.
“Oh my, Elliot.”
Filled with joy, Anriche was about to greet Elliot.
Of course, whether Elliot would return the greeting was a different matter.
“…Um, Mother?”
As soon as Elliot’s gaze met Anriche’s, he reflexively tried to step back and escape.
However.
‘Huh?’
The issue was the girl standing next to Anriche.
With bright blonde hair cascading down and vivid green eyes wide open, she was stunning.
The girl dressed in a deep yellow dress looked as radiant as a spring flower.
“……”
Elliot stared at the girl in a daze.
It felt like he was seeing such a beautiful child for the first time in his life.
Just then, their eyes met.
The girl smiled brightly, lifting the hem of her dress with both hands and giving a slight bow.
“Hello. Are you the young Lord Balua?”
The moment Elliot heard her voice, his face flushed bright red.
He found himself stuttering without realizing it.
“Y-You are… who?”
“It’s nice to meet you, I’m Liliana Everett.”
“Liliana… Everett?”
Elliot blankly pondered Liliana’s response.
How can her name be so pretty too?
As he thought this, suddenly—
“Eek!”
Crash!
Elliot ended up falling hard on his backside.
He lost his footing while being distracted by looking at Liliana.
“Ar-Are you okay?!”
“Oh my, Elliot! Are you hurt anywhere?!”
The horrified voices of Liliana and Anriche formed a duet.
Anriche quickly extended her hand to help Elliot get up.
But at that moment—
“Lord Elliot!”
A hurried voice rang out.
One of the maids rushed over and gently wrapped her arms around Elliot’s shoulders to help him up.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Her attitude was as if she were Elliot’s mother.
After examining Elliot from head to toe, the maid finally turned to Anriche.
Then she gave a slight bow.
“…It’s an honor to meet you, Duchess Balua.”
It was an impeccably polite greeting, but Anriche felt a subtle sense of discomfort.
That behavior seemed to be intentionally trying to separate Elliot from Anriche…
“Right, Mag.”
Mag.
She was two years older than Anriche and had been the head maid at the Balua household for the longest time.
She was also someone who was highly trusted by Alexei.
‘…I heard that Mag’s family has a deep connection with the Balua house.’
It made sense since Mag’s father had been the butler at the main estate of the Balua duchy since long ago.
Because of this, it was said that Mag and Alexei had been like friends in their childhood.
Of course, as they grew up, they naturally drifted apart.
Elliot, clutching the hem of Mag’s skirt tightly, looked up at Anriche with wary eyes.
“I’m glad you’re not hurt.”
“…Yes.”
Anriche spoke in the warmest tone she could muster, but Elliot merely averted his gaze.
Anriche let out a deep sigh inwardly.
What is this, training a wild kitten?
When will I be able to get close to him?
Anyway, since Liliana and Elliot were meeting for the first time, they should at least be introduced to each other.
“Liliana is your fiancée.”
“My fiancée?”
Elliot’s eyes widened.
Anriche shrugged her shoulders.
“Yeah. Didn’t your father mention it to you before? That you have a fiancée.”
“Well, he did say that, but…”
Elliot glanced at Liliana out of the corner of his eye.
Of course, he had heard it.
But there was a big difference between being told vaguely that ‘you have a fiancée’ and actually meeting her.
‘Besides, he never mentioned that she would be such a pretty girl…’
Elliot couldn’t take his eyes off Liliana.
Anriche smiled brightly.
“So be nice to her from now on.”
“…Yes.”
Oh?
Anriche’s eyes sparkled with interest.
Elliot, who was always so sharp with her, was answering so obediently like that…
The effect of the heroine is the best!
“Shall we go back to the room, young master?”
Just then, Mag spoke to Elliot as if she wanted him to hear.
However, Elliot, who usually followed Mag’s words without question, shook his head this time.
“No, you go back first, Mag.”
“…What?”
Taken aback by the unexpected situation, Mag’s eyes narrowed.
At the same time, Elliot stealthily approached Liliana.
Facing the suddenly approaching young duke, Liliana looked bewildered.
“Um, young duke?”
“Hey, it’s you.”