My Mom Entered a Contract Marriage - Chapter 45

Ludia made a hand gesture, and the others in the room took their leave.

Now, only three people were in the drawing room: Ludia, Chacha and Lilica.

Ludia said.

“I’m going to destroy the southern aristocrats’ union.”

Lilica looked at her mother in surprise.

Ludia lifted the glass slowly and said.

“It’s easy to destroy it, since their alliance was borne in the interest of profits.”

Chacha nodded.

“I was contacted by their merchant groups to take part in their collusion, but I refused. The price of sugar will go down. It doesn’t matter if the northern estates gain the money they’re lacking, but it’s different for the side with a lowered income. Moreover, the price of grain will remain the same.”

“What does the price of grain have to do with this?”

Chacha answered Lilica’s question.

“There are some southern estates that grow sugarcanes exclusively and not grain. Those places will need to purchase all of their food. Until now, they had been protected under the aristocratic union’s name.”

She smiled viciously.

“What will happen if their profits vanish?”

Lilica’s face became serious.

“Then it’ll be a disaster.”

“It’ll be a big deal.”

“It’ll be a big deal.”

Ludia and Chacha answered in a pleasant tone.

Lilica tilted her head and asked her mother.

“But is it really necessary to break the Southern aristocracy? Lat is there, and Pi as well…”

“There’s nothing good that will come out for the imperial power if the aristocracy are united. The more divided they are, the better it is.”

Ludia replied with a smile.

Ludia didn’t expect those words to be coming out of her mouth.

Just like how she once tried to destroy Takar, she was currently doing the opposite, targeting other nobles to solidify Takar.

‘Besides, if Sandar were to betray us one day, we can’t let him go unchecked with the union’s name.’

Of course, the union was silent about Sandar being involved with Barat, but their silence was tantamount to cooperation.

She didn’t want to leave an opponent that could bear their claws whenever there was a tilt in the scales.

‘But I don’t know the reason for Sandar’s betrayal at that time. I heard that the head’s daughter is sick…’

Ludia sighed as she looked at her daughter, who kept asking Chacha questions.

‘I’ll have to pay the information dealer a visit.’

In the underworld, information guilds collected all sorts of information in the back alleys.

‘I didn’t think that that person was the guild leader.’

She didn’t even recognize him at first.

She was rather surprised when that person asked about Lilica.

Ludia didn’t even recognize him until he pulled his hair up with an irritated look.

That scornfilled gaze still remained in her memory distinctly.

‘Now though, I understand.’

Even so, recalling that expression made her feel rather displeased.

‘But there’s no other way.’

In any case, for her and Lilica to leave this place successfully and lead a frugal life, she had to do something.

Lilica looked over with a serious expression.

“But Mother. I don’t think it’ll be good to make too many enemies.”

She didn’t know everything, but she heard that her mother was being active here and there.

Lilica’s small heart was filled with pride at the fact that the world’s most beautiful person, her mother, was very capable.

But at the same time, Ludia laughed at her worried question.

“Don’t worry.”

She raised a finger.

“I want to give you all the good things in the world.”

“Good things?”

Chacha made a faint smile.

“If we only take, they’d become more united. Don’t you think we need to offer some benefits at the same time?”

“It would be even better if those benefits were offered selectively.”

At the sight of the two, who grinned while facing the other, Lilica recalled that her mother was collecting magic guns.

Upon recalling that, Lilica became relieved.

‘But I’ll still have to make another charm for Mother.’

As she made up her mind, Ludia spoke.

“By the way, Lilica. Do you remember the dress we talked about previously? It’s already finished, so why don’t you try it on?”

“Really?”

Lilica wiggled her hips.

It’s a princess dress!

Ludia rang the bell and allowed the servants to enter the room again.

When she asked for Lilica’s dress, some maids went inside and brought out the box.

Ludia confidently made her open the box.

When she opened the first box, Lilica let out a surprised exclamation. Chacha’s eyes were also sparkling.

“What is this?”

The maid quickly showed Lilica the white and rich inner skirt.

She didn’t realise it when it was placed in a flat box, but after it was taken out, its volume increased instantly.

She figured that it would retain its shape after touching it, due to the stiffness of its material.

“Isn’t crinoline too uncomfortable? So dozens of layers of stiff fabric were layered like this to give it volume. You can wear this and sit comfortably.”

“What did you name it?”

When Chacha asked, Ludia waved her hand.

“I decided to just call it pannier. This fabric is stiff and difficult to manipulate, so it’s being used like this. It’s complicated to make and also rather costly.”

A huge amount of manpower and time was invested to make a single pannier.

It was a luxury that couldn’t be matched by crinoline.

“Try it on.”

“Yes!”

Lilica quickly went behind the partitioning. Brynn and the head lady-in-waiting also helped.

As Lilica wore the pannier along with her new clothes, she let out an admiring sigh in front of the mirror.

“It’s so pretty!”

The dress didn’t spread as widely as crinoline, but her skirt expanded cutely.

The dress, decorated with lace and ribbons, also looked lovely.

Unlike crinoline, her skirt would move naturally along with her movements.

Lilica’s face brightened joyously.

It was a much nicer dress than she’d imagined.

“Mother, look!”

She twirled in a circle while tiptoeing, and Lilica dipped into a curtsy.

And then she ran over to hug Ludia.

“It’s very, very pretty. Thank you!”

“It’s a relief, Lily. You look cute no matter what you wear, but this outfit is really cute. You’re so pretty.”

It was the first time that Lilica looked so delighted after receiving new clothes, so Ludia felt rewarded for the time spent brainstorming with the designer.

The sight of her daughter’s happiness gave her the greatest joy of them all.

And her mother’s joy also made Lilica happy, so their happiness was amplified endlessly between the two of them

Lilica twirled in circles several times.

She was very happy when the dress, which had enough cloth, spread out before her eyes.

Chacha said.

“This is going to be a new trend.”

It was both comfortable and cute, and had a hefty price tag, so it could be used to display their wealth.

“I’ve never seen this kind of cloth before.”

“It’s a kind of newly woven fabric.”

Chacha’s eyes sparkled.

“We would be rather keen on distributing this product.”

“Shall I introduce you to them?”

“Thank you.”

Ludia smiled and looked at her daughter.

Lilica was standing in front of the mirror and chattering away with Brynn.

Brynn brought a ribbon bonnet and placed it lightly on her head for her to look at it.

When Lilica nodded, Brynn helped Lilica wear the bonnet.

‘Cute.’

How can her daughter be so cute?

She really can’t believe that she came out of her own womb.

‘I want her to remain like that.’

Ludia wanted her to live without being aware of such political struggles.

But she soon realised that it was impossible.

Letting her walk around this palace ignorantly was tantamount to exposing her before the enemy defencelessly.

Ignorance was a weakness.

A weakness.

Ludia’s brow furrowed slightly.

Her ex-husband came to mind.

‘But I don’t think I should also tell Lily about this.’

It’s better for Lily to not know about this.

Ludia thought that it was better for her to live thinking that he was dead.

He is indeed dead on paper.

“What do you think, Mother?”

At the sight of her daughter turning in her direction while wearing a bonnet, Ludia smiled brightly.

“It really suits you. It looks so pretty.”

After she was showered in her mother’s praises, Lily stamped her small feet and said.

“Mother, can I go and show it to Atil?”

“Of course.”

When Lilica looked back at Chacha, she bowed and said.

“I will enter the palace whenever the princess summons me.”

“Alright, I’ll see you later.”

Since Lilica was wearing a princess skirt, she greeted her mother gracefully and left the drawing room.

As soon as she entered the hallway, Lilica ran into a large person.

“Tan!”

“Oops, Princess.”

Tan smiled broadly.

Lilica quickly twirled around in a circle.

Tan rubbed his chin and said.

“You’re usually beautiful, but you look even more beautiful today.”

“Mother made a new dress for me.”

“As expected of Her Majesty the Empress, she has excellent taste.”

Tan fell on a knee and kissed the back of Lilica’s hand.

While feeling like she’d become a real lady, Lilica quickly tiptoed. This was because Tan was still taller than her even though he was kneeling.

“Are you here to see Mother?”

“That’s right.”

‘It’s probably about the sugar radish, right?’

Lilica nodded while guessing so.

“I’m sorry for taking up your time.”

“Not at all, it’s a pleasure to chat with the princess.”

Tan rose from his position and flicked the tip of her bonnet playfully. Lightly, so that it wouldn’t come off.

As he stepped aside while biding her farewell, Lilica waved and increased her speed.

When Lauv walked past, he nodded in Tan’s direction.

Startled, Tan almost grabbed Lauv unknowingly.

Lauv smiled faintly, like he’d noticed it.

As Tan looked at his silhouette, he shook his head, saying that he’ll look into it later.

No one else was aware, but Tan, the head of the Wolfe family, could sense it.

The fact that Lauv has been stabilised.

“Let’s start from what’s in front of us.”

Tan announced his arrival in front of the Silver Dragon Chamber.

* * *

Lilica also showed the dress off to Atil.

Atil chucked, saying, “I can only see your clothes.”

“Right? Isn’t it pretty?”

Lilica was already ready to receive anything as a compliment, so she received joyfully.

“Yes, it’s pretty.”

Lilica smiled contently at Atil’s words.

“Then, I’ll go and show this to His Majesty next.”

“What? Hey!”

Atil was bewildered, but Lilica ignored him and headed straight to the office.

Unfortunately, the office was empty.

‘Hm, where could His Majesty be?’

She asked his attendant, but only heard that he also didn’t know where he was.

Eventually, Lilica looked all over the Sun Palace, like she was playing hide-and-seek.

“He’s not here… was I wrong? Or maybe he’s at the Sky Palace.”

Lilica sighed while leaning against a tree in the garden.

Brynn spoke to Lilica.

“How about using the pendulum?”

“Using the pendulum?”

“Yes, because it’s originally used to find something.”

“I see.”

Lilica took a pendulum out of her pocket.

She closed her eyes tightly and prayed internally.

‘Tell me where His Majesty is.’

Hwiiik

The pendulum moved in a direction lightly.

“It moved!”

Lilica turned, with delight evident on her face.

The gauge only gave her a direction, so if there wasn’t a visible path, she could only go around.

Brynn spoke as she was about to go into a deeper part of the garden.

“We can’t enter from here onwards.”

“What?”

“Only members of the Imperial family can enter this part of the garden.”

“Is that so? Oh!”

This was the garden that His Majesty always brought her to for magic lessons!

“Then I’ll go in and come back by myself. Wait here.”

“Princess.”

Lauv had an uneasy expression.

Lilica smiled.

“It’s alright. I’ll come back after showing off my dress.”

Lauv lowered his gaze at Lilica’s words.

Lilica quickly walked into the garden.

She’d thought of this then, but this garden was much deeper than the other gardens, and felt like she was in a forest.

Would it feel like this if she walked into a deserted forest?

Her heart thumped quickly.

Apparently, the forest was the very first temple.

A phrase that she’d read from somewhere came to mind.

She walked reverently with light footsteps.

Grass grew between the old marble path.

Lilica walked inside and found a sleeping Altheos.

He was partly leaning on a long chair while asleep.

The golden sunlight shone through the thick greenery and onto His Majesty intermittently.

An old chair made of stone, a different time from humans, and a forest of trees.

All of this matched with His Majesty. Everything that exists outside of time.

Lilica remembered the dragon in her dream.

A beautiful dragon that soared in the night sky.

It must have been a creature that was unrelated to the things that changed according to the circumstances.

‘But…’

Lilica thought as she looked at the dignified face of His Majesty, whose eyes were closed.

‘But wouldn’t that be too lonely?’

If a single person that didn’t change was amongst those that changed along with the flow.

Her heart ached.

But Lilica shook her head.

‘But His Majesty isn’t a real dragon.’

But if he has dragon’s blood, then he might be different from other humans.

Lilica approached Altheos quietly.

She didn’t want to wake him up, but he’d wake up if she approached him, or so she thought.

His Majesty didn’t wake up, even though she was close to touching him.

‘Hmm.’

Lilica stared at His Majesty.

She recalled His Majesty had once said to call him Imperial Father.

Lilica wasn’t lonely because she had her mother.

‘I still have Mother. I can do my best because Mother is with me.’

But wouldn’t His Majesty feel lonely because of her flat refusal?

‘But it’s still embarrassing.’

Imperial Father, Imperial Father.

Dad, Father.

She kept feeling shy and awkward when mouthing those words.

“Your Majesty.”

She tried calling him quietly.

It was in a small enough voice that was buried beneath the leaves rustling in the breeze.

“Your Majesty.”

She called once more.

Altheos still remained asleep.

Lilica swallowed her saliva.

“Im…”

She closed her mouth.

“Imperial Father.”

She whispered

Altheos opened his eyes at the small voice.

Lilica felt her cheeks burning up.

No, perhaps her cheeks were already burning from the start.

Altheos slowly rose to his feet.

Lilica remained in a tense state,

She hoped that he heard the word she’d plucked up her courage to say.

No, she hoped that he didn’t hear it.

Contradictory thoughts collided in her mind.

Altheos smirked.

He didn’t say anything about that form of address.

Instead, he spread his arms.

“Come here.”

Lilica ran to him and buried her cheeks in his embrace, as though she was trying to cool off her burning cheeks.

* * *