Chapter 11

Translator: Eonnicorn / Editor: Scarlet

“About that… I didn’t catch his full name because I was distracted.”

Cecil was probably upset that Eva didn’t pay attention to her interlocutor’s name. Because for Cecil, who always emphasized on manners, imprudently listening to people’s full name felt like an insult.

However, it was an inevitable situation. They deliberately seemed not to want Eva and Pamela to know, besides, it would have been rather rude to ask further. In addition, Pamela was more interested in the Count, while Eva was unable to process the event because of the pain in her foot. After his introduction, no one had questioned Ruth’s full name.

“My lady,” Cecil, who had been staring with deliberation, called Eva’s name softly.

“Yes, nanny?”

“Don’t hate the Crown Prince. The broken engagement had nothing to do with him. However, you shouldn’t get involved with him.”

“What? Why did you bring it up suddenly?” Eva asked as her eyes widened. The sudden change of topic out of nowhere was really strange, but what was more strange was the subject of the Crown Prince.

When Eva got her engagement called off, Cecil refused to have any conversation relating to the imperial family. She would change the topic or pretend not to be interested and coldly turned it down. But suddenly, Cecil mentioned the matter she had been pushing aside. It felt rather strange, and anxiety bubbled up inside Eva. After all, Cecil was someone who wouldn’t say unnecessary things.

“After Lord Massies died, the Emperor who pursued the engagement also filed for bankruptcy. Cough. Afterward, the Empress took the throne and broke off the engagement. She’s not the real mother of the Crown Prince.” Cecil continued her uncalled-for story, coughing from time to time. She stopped for a second to take a breath. “That’s why you don’t have to blame the Crown Prince, but don’t get engaged again. Because now the Imperial Family is very unstable and dangerous.”

“…Then why does it have something to do with me?”

This was the first time she ever heard of it. Although she knew that the Emperor was fighting disease and the Empress wasn’t the Crown Prince’s biological mother, she didn’t know anything regarding the internal affairs of the Imperial Family.

She was too young at the time, so Cecil blocked her eyes and ears to shut off news from the Imperial Family. As for Baronet Biti, who from the beginning wasn’t from a noble line and was despised by the other nobles, knew the affair but had no reason to rattle on about it.

Even so, why does it concern her now? No matter what kind of secret the Imperial Family had or what the Crown Prince’s position was, it had nothing to do with the woman who got her engagement broken off.

“Lord Holland has a close connection with the late Empress Catherine. Because he’s the son of the Empress’ older sister, Countess Lotte.”

“So?” Eva sounded impatient. She couldn’t comprehend why the fact that Count Holland has a close relationship with the Crown Prince, who is also his cousin, is wrong. Furthermore, Cecil kept beating around the bush.

“You said Count Holland’s friend named Ruth, did you?”

“I did.”

“Ruth means light. It’s a nickname given to the Crown Prince by your father, Lord Massies, when he was young.”

“…”

Right at that moment, hundreds of tiny scattered fragments pieced together and created a clear picture.

“He may or may not be the same person. Still, keep this in mind, my lady. If it’s true that he’s the Crown Prince, don’t form a relationship. This is my request.”

It was such a heavy request genuinely coming from her. Eva was so overwhelmed beyond words that she couldn’t bring herself to open her mouth while her eyes faintly shook.