northernbook Chapter 216 No Arrangement
Chapter 216 No Arrangement
Leila looked back at Lilith, and her smiling face immediately turned expressionless. Then she turned her head away and continued chatting and laughing with the princess.
Tsk - Lilith withdrew her hand reluctantly. This sister was still very irritable. It had been a week, and no matter how she coaxed or teased her, she was still in a bad mood towards her all day long.
But it doesn’t matter! We are thick-skinned!
Lilith smiled and leaned forward again, "Oh, I was wondering who was so generous, it turned out to be the honorable Miss Taylor, you really gave me a big surprise--"
"Surprise?" Leila was actually not tall, a whole head shorter than Lilith, but when she glanced at her with a sneer, Lilith always felt guilty subconsciously.
Leila raised her hand and knocked on the ornate iron fence outside. "I heard from the knights that they escorted you several times. Don't you recognize this?"
Lilith looked over and took a closer look, her heart skipping a beat -
Uh uh, did the Taylor family's dragon emblem exist before? Hahaha, impossible, absolutely impossible!
She didn’t even see it!
With another crime added, Lilith felt that Leila had completely occupied the moral high ground, while she was in a low position. After finally climbing halfway up the hillside with great difficulty, she was kicked down by Leila with a sneer.
"Is Miss Margaret off today? Perhaps we could invite her to join us for afternoon tea?"
Seeing that Lilith was stammering and unable to speak when Leila asked her questions, Catherine sighed and helped her out.
"I'll go call her!" Lilith turned around and ran away.
"I'm sorry to make you laugh, Your Highness."
Leila ignored her and led Catherine into the gate. The knights of the Taylor family stood on both sides in silver armor, lining up to welcome their little master and the crown prince of the empire, which was quite impressive.
“How could that be?” Catherine smiled and nodded to the knights who saluted on both sides, and said with great understanding, “Getting along with siblings is a complicated task. Even I am still trying to figure it out. You know, I have two older brothers, and they are far inferior to Lilith…”
"Don't try to say good things for her." Leila pouted, a hint of childishness on her face.
Catherine smiled slightly and looked back. Lilith still needed some time and the knights did not follow her. Now, there were only the two of them walking under the shade of the trees on the road.
"Leila..." Catherine stopped and looked around, as if she was very curious about the scenery of the newly built courtyard.
"Do you know what you will face if you follow me in the future? Has your mother or grandfather explained it to you clearly?" Catherine confirmed softly.
Leila stopped and looked at the princess.
"Of course, I am very aware of your responsibilities and mission, Your Highness Catherine." Leila looked far to the east, which was the direction of Ozler.
"I also have my ideals and mission. Fortunately, they are not in conflict with each other. I have been working hard for this."
She wanted to become the kingmaker, the first knight in the empire, even if the road was filled with thorns and dangers.
"...I am very lucky and honored." Catherine looked at the determined red-haired girl in front of her and was deeply moved. She lifted her skirt and saluted her, silently expressing her gratitude, and Leila also returned a knight's salute.
In the scattered sunlight that filtered through the gaps between the leaves, the two girls smiled at each other.
There was a slight noise behind them. It was Lilith who brought Margaret in. The knights were much more casual in front of this young lady. Some of them had come into contact with Lilith before, and now they smiled and greeted her.
"Actually, I've always been a little unsure..." Catherine looked at Lilith, who was smiling brightly in the crowd, and said softly, "What plans does your mother have for Lilith?"
"No arrangements."
Catherine looked at the people around her in surprise.
"Mother said that she only hopes that she can be happy and free to explore life." Leila also looked at the crowd at the gate and spoke softly to her princess.
"Her last name is not Taylor, Your Highness. She doesn't need to bear more burdens. If, if in the future... I hope you can let her make her own choice, whether to go forward with you or leave.
But this does not mean that the Taylor family will hold back on you, Your Highness. I will work harder and take on her share as well."
Leila straightened her back and looked at Lilith with disgust on her face, but what she said surprised Catherine.
"……I see."
Catherine finally whispered Leila's promise as Lilith ran towards her with a smile.
……
"why?"
When Lilith followed Catherine to visit the mansion, she was stopped outside by Leila.
Lilith watched Catherine and Margaret exchange greetings as they left, tears welling up in her heart.
She was the only one who wasn't invited, right?! American bullying! This is American bullying! She's going to write a letter to Melissa to complain!
Then he was hit on the head by a pile of protective gear.
"This is--" Lilith was confused.
"You're so nagging for afternoon tea?" Leila said expressionlessly, motioning for Lilith to follow her to the training ground in the backyard. "From now on, you will train with me every weekend."
Huh? Huh???
Lilith was holding a bunch of protective gear and clumsily followed Leila, who was walking at a brisk pace. "Leila, I'm very busy on the weekends. You know, I have a winery..."
"Don't always think about playing house wine, and you'll always find time if you squeeze it in." Leila was not moved at all, and didn't even turn her head. She looked down on Lilith's small business.
Lilith followed her through the luxurious hall on the first floor and came to the backyard. Most of the knights who had lined up at the door to welcome them were now gathered here chatting and laughing. When they saw the two of them, they smiled and joked.
"Besides, you cut off my training sword! I have no sword to use!" Lilith continued to find excuses.
Leila paused as she put on the protective gear, frowned, and asked, "Is that cold steel not working well for you?"
"Ah? But that one is sharpened! If it hurts someone during training--"
"Use that one." Leila made the decision decisively. "Accuracy is also a criterion for testing a swordsman's strength. If you can't even control the edge of your own sword, what's the difference between you and the useless Russell family?"
Being scolded again... Lilith looked up at the sky in silence.
"I will be Lady Catherine's protector." Leila looked at her unwillingness and said coldly, "If you two are in danger at the same time, I will abandon you without hesitation."
Lilith: ...What's broken? Oh, it's my heart.
"I don't want to be branded as someone who murdered my stepsister, so you'd better become stronger and stay alive for a while. Then maybe I'll be in the mood to save you."
"But I also have my own guardian." Lilith whispered, "You should know that I am actually a magician..."
"Hmph." Leila sneered and picked up the big sword standing by the wall. The huge blade made a hissing sound on the floor tiles. "I really don't know what you are showing off!"
She said no more and swung her sword towards Lilith.