The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 126

My last moments with Dante ended much more calmly than I had imagined. Surprisingly, Dante didn’t cry; he just smiled and let me go.

With Dante’s help, I stepped into the carriage Yuri had sent, realizing that the week, which had felt like a storm, had finally passed.

‘Dante has really become a wonderful man.’

That was one thing I realized for sure during that first week.

‘And now, it’s time with Yuri…….’

Yuri had forbidden me from bringing anything I used or wore in Dribblyane.

‘I prepared everything. Please, Sister, just come as you are.’

I scanned the card once more that the Imperial Palace attendant, who had driven the carriage, had handed me.

It seemed like a request, but coming from the Crown Prince, it couldn’t be considered one. It was practically a soft command.

“I wonder what’s going to happen…….”

Muttering softly, I cast a meaningless gaze at the quickly passing streets.

The people, while going about their business, would immediately bow when they saw the carriage with the large Imperial crest.

‘Is that a greeting of respect and love, or a forced greeting out of fear of power?’

The public opinion of Yuri seemed to be good, but one could never really know. I hadn’t been able to mingle with the commoners to find out.

‘It would be nice if I could go out to the commoner streets while I’m with Yuri. Is that even possible?’

Just then, the carriage slowed down.

And when the carriage came to a complete stop.

I took a deep breath and prepared to focus on Yuri.

“Sister! Welcome!”

The platinum blonde hair, shining like brilliant sunlight, was the first thing to fill my vision.

Her face was small, but her eyes and mouth were refreshingly large, her nose was high, and her skin was flawlessly white and smooth.

She was about to become an adult, but her beauty, which still seemed young, reminded me of a fairy tale protagonist who had declared she would never grow up.

‘She really grew up just like that.’

I was surprised because she hadn’t changed at all.

She just grew taller from that cotton candy-like appearance she had when she was young, right?

“Was the journey difficult? I wanted to spread the word that you were finally coming to me, so I sent a carriage. I really missed you……!”

Just as my tension was about to ease at her still boisterous and slightly talkative appearance, the scent of lilac wafted in with the breeze, and I was slightly taken aback.

Unlike the faint smell of sweat and soap from Dante, the scent of pine and earth from the forest… Yuri had a strong floral fragrance, as if she herself were a bouquet.

“You’ve become incredibly beautiful. And much shorter than me.”

Yuri approached me and bent down slightly.

For a moment, I was captivated by her clear, light purple eyes, and I stopped thinking for a few seconds.

When I looked at Yuri, I strangely felt like nothing else mattered, and I didn’t need anything else…….

‘Ah. I need to pull myself together.’

I almost spaced out in an unsightly way.

Shaking my head to bring back my wandering consciousness, I smiled brightly and replied.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince. You have also grown up beautifully.”

It was then.

The numerous attendants, maids, and knights lined up behind Yuri simultaneously gasped.

I didn’t think I had said anything wrong, but wondering why they were acting like that, I widened my eyes and pretended not to notice as I continued.

“It’s been years since I’ve seen you, but it doesn’t feel awkward at all. It’s strange and funny. Is it because Your Highness is younger?”

The moment I finished adding that playfully, I didn’t miss the sight of some of the knights looking at each other with very confused expressions.

‘Yuri’s control over the Imperial Palace is considerable.’

That’s a relief.

‘Yuri doesn’t have a great relationship with the Emperor, and it’s the worst with the Empress, so I was a little worried that she might be ignored.’

But now I saw that there was no need to worry, as she was doing well on her own.

‘She has a bright and lovely personality, but that doesn’t mean she’s easy to deal with.’

My first impression of the grown-up Yuri was ‘relief.’

Was it because her cheerful appearance was the same, and her elegant and sophisticated looks were the same?

“Sister, let’s tour the Imperial Palace together! I cleared a lot of time to spend with you today!”

“Really? I’m happy.”

“Ah, why are you suddenly using honorifics? It makes us seem distant. Don’t do that, okay?”

Yuri smiled, her eyes crinkling. Then she held out her hand to me, but unlike Dante, her hand was beautiful without any calluses, which made me flinch for no reason.

‘I need to stop thinking about Dante.’

This week is entirely Yuri’s time.

I steeled myself and placed my hand on Yuri’s.

And in the place where Florin and Yuri had left.

The attendants and maids, who had been pale and unable to breathe properly, looked at each other and screamed inwardly.

‘Are they crazy? They’re holding that hand? Holding it? Do they even know how many hearts that hand has torn out?’

‘Who on earth is that person who was just smiling brightly in front of me! Is that really our Crown Prince……?’

‘Hiiiik! A monster is wearing the Crown Prince’s skin! The Crown Prince is smiling! Smiling!’

‘Was he even someone who could make such an expression……? Not a contemptuous look or a sneer, but smiling so radiantly?’

If they said even one wrong word, their lifespan might be drastically reduced.

Especially in front of James, the Crown Prince’s closest aide, who had brought the Princess here, they shouldn’t say anything easily. James was the Crown Prince’s eyes and ears.

Therefore, the courtiers trembled but never uttered their inner thoughts. They just communicated with each other through eye contact and realized that they all had the same thought.

‘It’s creepy.’

‘That innocent Princess needs to know that it’s all an act…….’

The Crown Prince’s appearance, which was completely different from usual as if he had been shot in the head, was close to terrifying.

The maids rubbed the goosebumps on their arms and all had one thought in common.

‘If the Crown Prince marries that Princess, it would be…….’

Nothing short of a fraudulent marriage.

* * *

“This is the greenhouse where the Four Seasons Roses bloom. I thought you would like it, so I hung a wooden swing.”

Around that time, I was touring a small greenhouse.

Yuri acted friendly towards me, just like in those days when we were young, and thanks to that, the awkwardness quickly evaporated.

“Sit here. I’ll push you.”

“It’s a little embarrassing.”

“No one’s watching. Except for me.”

The pure white wooden swing hanging from the rose arch in the greenhouse was already as beautiful as a painting in itself.

To be honest, I wanted to sit on it, but I wondered if I could still do that at my age, but Yuri repeatedly urged me, so I reluctantly sat on the swing.

“It’s really peaceful here.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yeah.”

Since it was a greenhouse covered with a glass dome rather than an outdoor garden, there wasn’t even the sound of birds inside.

A space with no noise except for the occasional sound of water spraying from the sprinklers installed with magic.

Looking at the flowers here, it felt like all the anxiety and worries I had were disappearing.

“Do you come here often too?”

“I come often. I take care of it myself.”

“What? Really?”

“Of course, most of the work is done by the gardener. I just mean that I’m paying special attention to it.”

Yuri chuckled and snapped off a small, pretty rose that was blooming nearby.

After snapping off dozens of them, Yuri skillfully made a bracelet.

“A gift to commemorate today. Can I put it on you?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

But the next moment-

Yuri knelt down in front of me on one knee.

I thought kneeling down to put on a bracelet was a bit much, but then something truly shocking happened.

“Yu, Yuri?”

“Yes, Sister.”

“Why are you taking off my shoes?”

I was so surprised I almost fainted, but Yuri was calm.

Touching someone’s shoes was something only servants did. It was definitely not something the Crown Prince Yuri would do.

But Yuri had a nonchalant look on her face.

“I have to put this on you, but I don’t want you to be touched by anyone else.”

Instantly, goosebumps ran down my spine.

White, delicate fingers fastened ‘it,’ made of beautiful flowers, around my ankle.

The moment what I had naturally thought was a bracelet became an anklet, I strangely felt cold.

‘It’s just pretty in appearance, but it feels like a shackle.’

No, is it even more chilling because it’s pretty?

“It suits you well, Sister.”

Yuri looked up at me with a smile.

I stared at Yuri silently, without giving any answer.

“Oh, the Debutant Ball is in a few days.”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve prepared a gift. It’s a dress for you to wear that day.”

Even though she must have noticed my silence, Yuri glossed over the flower anklet.

The next topic was the Debutant Ball dress, but I shook my head because I already had something to wear.

“I’ve decided what to wear. I’ve already matched the accessories.”

“Of course, you’ll look good in anything, but this one will be prettier. I guarantee it.”

She was being headstrong. But what could I say when the Crown Prince was saying that…….

“The dress is in this room. Everything in here is yours.”

The room with the dress wasn’t far from the greenhouse.

Yuri opened the door with a face that showed she was excited, and as soon as she did, I squinted for a moment at the sunlight that poured in brightly.

“How is it?”

Then, at Yuri’s urging, I barely opened my eyes-

“…….”

At that moment, I completely lost my words at the sight of the dress that came into view.

“This looks just like a wedding dress.”