Your Regrets Are Late

[This is a special story written based on ‘if Charelize and Lillian had grown up as cousins,’ a completely different worldview from the main story. I hope you don’t get confused.]

Duke Marsetta and Count Larso were twin brothers. As if to prove that they were twin brothers, they had a daughter in the same year.

Charelize Elze Roxana von Marsetta, Duke Marsetta’s only daughter, was born first by a few months. She had Royal Princess Yekaterina, the second daughter of the previous emperor, as her mother. Royal Princess Yekaterina died last year without giving birth to any other children except Charelize.

Since Duke Marsetta hadn’t remarried, Charelize was the only direct descendant of her family. What she had wasn’t only the title of Princess Marsetta. Charelize’s hair was a bright blonde like the sun’s glow, symbolizing the Elioter imperial family. For this fact alone, Charelize had the right succession to the throne, and the name of Empress ‘Roxana’ was given as her second surname.

She had been a noble of high position since she was born. It wasn’t what Charelize wanted to get. But even if she didn’t want it, she didn’t have the chance to refuse.

The life of Charelize, who grew up with a strict education, was very painful. Royal Princess Yekaterina, who had been sickly since the day she couldn’t remember, couldn’t give her affections to Charelize. Her father, Duke Marsetta, also showed no paternal affection for Charelize.

What Duke Marsetta loved more than Charelize was her twin brother’s daughter, Lillian. Since Count Larso became independent from Duke Marsetta, the two families came and went frequently.

Charelize and Lillian, who were the same age, got along well. It was all thanks to Lillian’s efforts that the affection her uncle gave her also went to Charelize. Although she was vastly inferior to Lillian, Charelize didn’t voice her displeasure. This was because she knew why Duke Marsetta cherished Lillian more than herself, his own daughter.

Charelize had always understood Duke Marsetta. Perhaps she was convinced out of fear that she wouldn’t get a bit of attention.

From an early age, Charelize was desperate for the attention of Duke Marsetta. She had lived her whole life to be loved by her father. It was something she had to endure. She would be rewarded if she waited patiently…

“Older Sister!”

“…Lillian?”

She didn’t even notice that Lillian had come because she was thinking about this and that while reading the book.

“I thought you were in the office. What’s wrong? You’re in the library at this hour.”

“You’re here, Lilli.”

Charelize, who took off her glasses and pressed her brow, welcomed Lillian. Lillian rushed over to Charelize, who was leaning her body against the bookshelf.

“Fragmentary… Human… Psychology?”

Lillian, who took a seat right next to her, checked the title of the book Charelize was reading. Then she recited the part that Charelize was reading.

“

In humans, two or more opposing emotions coexist. The writer…”

“If you’re interested, you can take it and read it.”

“Wasn’t that what Older Sister was reading?”

“It was just something I had time to read.”

Lillian, who was pondering, shook her head with a serious look on her face. “Thank you for your kindness, but I’m very busy these days, Your Highness.”

“Oh my.” Charelize chuckled at Lillian’s firm refusal.

Lillian got up and took a look around here. “Older Sister, I’m talking about Ruina.”

“Are you talking about Viscount Hiel’s daughter?” Charelize listened intently to the excited Lillian’s story.

“Yes. She met her fateful partner in the Imperial Central Library. I think they’re getting engaged next month. I want it to happen to me too…!”

Lilian seemed to expect to meet her fated ones in the library, just like her friend.

“This is my personal library, so no one except you and I can come in.” To Lillian’s words, Charelize replied indifferently.

“To completely shatter the dreams of someone who dreams of fantasy… You’re so mean!” The sulking Lillian turned away from Charelize.

“Shall we go out and have a cheesecake?”

Lillian must have been so angry that she kept her mouth shut even when Charelize tempted her with snacks.

“Winter is coming soon. How about fitting a new winter dress?”

For a moment, Lillian puffed her cheeks and crossed her arms. “You ruined my romance.”

“I’m sorry.”

Lillian’s mouth twitched at Charelize’s quick apology. “…Say that one more time.”

“Okay. I won’t do that again.”

After hearing Charelize’s apology, Lillian brightened as if she had been waiting for it.

“Let’s go out quickly and eat the cake. I’ll call the madame to get the dress tailored right away!” Lillian picked up Charelize’s hand.

“Yes.” Charelize, who stroked her hair fondly, nodded.

“Your Highness, may I come in for a moment?”

At that moment, the voice of the butler, who politely knocked on the door, was heard.

“Come in.”

“I see the little Duchess and the little Lady.” The butler who came in bent down.

Little Lady. This was the title people called Lillian at the Duchy Marsetta. Suddenly, Charelize felt bitter about that. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t become anything more than a little duchess.

Charelize soon knew why the butler had come here.

“…Father must have told you to bring Lilli.”

“That’s right, Your Highness.”

There was a moment of silence in the library when the butler answered that it was correct. Charelize, who broke the silence, tapped Lillian on the cheek.

“Go to my father, Lillian.”

“But…” Lillian, who wanted to stay longer with Charelize, had a tearful face.

Duke Marsetta wanted to spend time with Lillian whenever she visited. Lillian was always dissatisfied with this.

“He had been waiting for you to come all day,” Charelize said as she tried to appease Lillian, who didn’t want to go.

“Okay…”

Lillian, who was sorry to even complain to Charelize, poked out her mouth.

“I’ll be back.” Lilian waved small at Charelize and went out with the butler.

With Lillian gone, the library quickly went quiet. For a long time, Charelize hated being trapped in this quiet silence.

[The author will use love and hate as an example. This word combines affection and hatred, which is a representative emotion that coexists in humans.]

So, she took out the book she was reading earlier and found the part she was reading.

“Hating someone was ultimately because you loved that person.”

For some reason, she couldn’t get past this sentence.

“Am I still like a child who’s hungry for father’s affections?”

Charelize repeated over and over again. She thought repeatedly. Nevertheless, she couldn’t solve it.

She came to cool off her dizzy mind while doing her work, but it felt like it had become more complicated for no reason. She reluctantly returned to her room when she received an unexpected invitation.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress orders you to enter the palace immediately.”

“…Auntie? Why?”

“She didn’t say anything else, just a message that it was a very urgent matter.”

“Urgent matter…?”

Royal Princess Yekaterina’s older sister, Empress Elizabeth, had never called for Charelize so urgently.

Concerned about Empress Elizabeth, Charelize quickly finished her preparations and headed to the palace.

* * *

Arriving in the parlor, the palace of Empress Elizabeth, Charelize was well-prepared.

“Greetings to Her Majesty Elizabeth, the glorious sun of the Elioter Empire. May Goddess Resina bless you.”

“…You’re here, Charelize.”

In addition to the urgent call, Empress Elizabeth, who would normally have given the correct etiquette, did not look good.

“I heard you called, Auntie.”

“Yes.”

Empress Elizabeth, who was anxious and had a bad expression on her face, clattered her teacup.

“Auntie!”

Then, the teacup was dropped and broke into shards.

“Auntie, are you okay?”

“…”

Charelize worried Empress Elizabeth as the pieces scattered around her. “There, the teacup—”

“…Charelize, don’t call anyone.”

“Yes?”

Empress Elizabeth stopped Charelize, who was trying to call a maid to clean the floor. She lowered her voice and muttered as if lamenting. “Your mother, she didn’t die because of a chronic illness.”

Charelize frowned when she heard that her mother didn’t die because of a chronic illness.

“That, what do you mean? My mother didn’t die because of a chronic illness…?”

Soon, words from the lips of Empress Elizabeth made Charelize unable to breathe.

“Your father made it that way.”

“!”

“Yekaterina was poisoned by Duke Marsetta.”