Chapter 82

I apologize, but the text you provided is quite extensive, and translating it in full would exceed the character limit for a single response. I can translate it in parts if you would like. Here is the first part of the translation:

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I am very sorry for keeping you waiting.

This is a small love story.

Jules' second daughter, Valerie, was a princess who was too quiet.

She hardly spoke, never laughed, and almost never cried.

The nursemaids and maids thought, "This is the first baby we've seen like this."

There was nothing wrong with her vocal cords or ears.

Amalie, Valerie's mother, had a broad and easy-going nature. Once she realized that there was nothing wrong with the baby's body, she readily accepted her quiet daughter.

"Valerie is just that kind of person.

Odine was so talkative, but even sisters can have very different personalities."

Compared to the carefree Amalie, Jules, though he did not say it out loud, was so worried that he barely slept at night. He collected famous songs to play for Valerie and talked to her and smiled at her whenever he had the chance, showing a level of diligence that was surprising for a man who was usually so reserved.

Years passed, but despite Jules' efforts, Valerie did not speak.

She would only make sounds like "ah" or "uh" when she was surprised or if she stumbled, and she hardly ever spoke. She would only smile slightly when her favorite music was played, and she almost never laughed.

Even the easy-going Amalie began to worry, "Is my daughter really going to be okay?"

Given how carefree Amalie usually was, Jules, who was far more neurotic, was so worried about his daughter that he suffered from insomnia, loss of appetite, and depression.

The people around them were more concerned about Jules than about Valerie.

Valerie turned three years old.

There was a custom that young princesses were not allowed to go outside much.

"It's to protect them from bad influences," they said.

Like a rose carefully nurtured in a greenhouse, the princesses grew up in a world of beautiful, gentle, and purified things. Valerie, who only knew her family, turned three.

The official debut would be at age five, so this was a family-only celebration. For her third birthday, her uncle Sariel and cousin Lucian were also invited.

Since it was a family gathering, it was held in a cozy living room.

The first to arrive were her cousin Yusei and his brother Ecourt, along with the king and queen.

"Congratulations, Valerie!"

"Congratulations."

The king and queen brought a large bouquet of yellow roses and a stuffed animal. Yusei and Ecourt brought the stuffed animal.

Valerie looked at the presents and nodded slightly.

Noel and the others were already familiar with Valerie's lack of reaction.

"Do you like it? Would you like a hug?"

Noel placed the stuffed animal next to Valerie.

Her uncle Robert showed Valerie a pearl and lace hair accessory.

"It will look beautiful on you," he smiled and placed it in her small hand.

Valerie nodded slightly again.

Sariel and Lucian arrived.

Sariel brought a bouquet of light pink roses.

Lucian was holding a picture book.

"Nice to meet you. Congratulations, Valerie.

I'm your uncle Sariel."

When Sariel spoke to her, Valerie nodded gently.

As Sariel stepped back, Lucian took a step forward.

"Hello, Valerie. Congratulations.

I'm your cousin Lucian.

This picture book is really interesting."

Lucian showed Valerie the picture book and explained it to her.

Valerie looked at Lucian and then her eyes widened.

It was as if she had recognized something for the first time in her life.

Valerie, who had always been like a doll, suddenly came to life, as if a curse had been lifted from a princess.

"Lu, san"

Valerie spoke for the first time, using her own voice to express something.

Time stopped.

It felt as if time had frozen in the room, and no one said a word.

Then, slowly, time started moving again.

"Yes, what is it?"

Lucian smiled and tilted his head.

"Lucian"

"Yes, that's right! Nice to meet you!"

"Like"

"Huh?"

"Lucian, like"

"Huh?"

"Lucian"

"Um?"

"Like"

"Huh? Really?

I like you too!"

"Like"

"Hey, wait a minute, it's too early..."

Jules tried to intervene between the two who were whispering sweet nothings, but Amalie stopped him with all her might.

"Hey, don't interfere!

It's rare for Valerie to be a love-struck maiden!"

"That's right, Jules!"

Noel also joined in.

"Let's just see how it goes."

Robert chimed in, looking amused.

"She's still a child. It's fine, right?"

Sariel smiled wryly,

"Exactly."

Sirius also nodded.

"But, still..."

"At least it's good that Valerie is enjoying a conversation."

Amalie said, looking pleased.

"Is this a conversation..."

Jules hung his head.

Meanwhile, Valerie and the children were having a good time.

"Look at the pages of the picture book."

Lucian knelt beside Valerie, who was sitting on the sofa, and handed her the picture book.

"Okay."

Valerie opened the picture book obediently.

"What a beautiful picture book."

Odine was looking at the picture book from the side.

"Did Lucian choose it?"

Yusei, standing behind the sofa, also looked at the picture book.

"I want to see it too!"

Ecourt peered over Yusei's back.

"It's a story about a hero saving a princess who was cursed by a demon."

"Don't spoil the ending, Lucian."

Odine quickly stopped him.

"The adventure part is the most interesting.

The cursed princess lying in bed is pitiful, though."

"That's why you shouldn't say that part."

"Will the princess and the hero get married?"

Valerie suddenly asked.

"Can I say it?"

Lucian glanced at Odine.

"Valerie, that's a surprise you'll enjoy after reading it."

Odine answered.

"Will they not get married? If not, I don't want it."

"Hmm.

Lucian, will they get married?"

Odine was asking if the hero and the princess in the picture book would get married.

"Of course, they will."

Lucian nodded and answered.

"Then, will they get married?"

Valerie looked at Lucian intently.

"Yes."

"Will you marry me?"

"Huh?"

"Will you?"

"Um, will I..."

Lucian tried to answer, but Odine quickly covered his mouth to stop him.

"Wait! You should wait!"

"Let's wait a bit!"

Yusei also stopped him.

"Will you not marry me?"

Valerie's eyes welled up with tears.

"Mommy!"

Odine called for help.

"It's too early!"

Jules, usually known for his sharp mind, could only think of saying "It's too early."

Three years passed.

Valerie, at the age of six, was praised by her teacher for her talent with the harp.

Today, she played the harp, producing a soft and beautiful sound, and sang along with the music.

"Let's walk down the road where peach blossoms bloom.

Together, forever and ever...

Looking only at me.

Smiling only at me.

Speaking only of love to me."

Lucian, sitting next to her, listened intently. Valerie finished the song.

"That was very beautiful, Valerie."

Lucian clapped.

Although it was a rather mature song for a six-year-old, her voice and singing were wonderful.

The maids around her sighed in admiration.

The song was so well-composed that it didn't seem like it was sung by a young girl.

Her voice was as beautiful as an angel's.

"Did you want to get married?"

Valerie tilted her head.

"Umm..."

Lucian always had trouble answering.

He knew he was not welcome by Uncle Jules.

"Hey, Lucian. Do you like Valerie?"

"Yes, I like her."

"Then, will you marry her?"

"Valerie, you should stop pressuring him like that."

Odine interjected, looking exasperated.

"What kind of pressure is acceptable, Sister?"

Valerie asked, slightly annoyed.

"First, you should try to make him like you and build trust and affection."

"I sang to make him like me.

And I gave him a present!"

"Did you give him something again?"

"A handkerchief with embroidery."

"You've become quite normal."

Valerie had given Jules' jackets and shirts to Lucian, saying "Lucian suits them better than Father," which made her father cry. Later, Sariel would return them, but Jules would always give them back, saying, "You can wear them when you grow up."

Amalie had forbidden her from giving away other people's things, saying, "It's impolite to give away other people's things."

"I embroidered my name on it."

Valerie said proudly.

"Usually, you embroider the first letter of the recipient's name."

"So he can think of me every time he uses it."

"That's heavy... too heavy."

Odine became worried about her out-of-the-ordinary sister.

"You're lucky to be loved, Lucian."

Yusei patted Lucian's shoulder with a smile.

"Umm..."

Lucian had been told by Sariel, "It's probably just a young love that will fade over time."

That might be true.

But so far, it hadn't faded in three years.

---But it would be a bit sad if it did.

◇◇

After Lucian and the others left, Odine asked her sister, who was focused on embroidery.

"Why do you like Lucian so much?"

Valerie glanced at her sister and then returned her gaze to the embroidery.

Her small fingers struggled to embroider, and it took a lot of time.

When she pricked her finger with the needle, the handkerchief would get stained with blood, so Valerie was very careful.

"Because when I first met him, he was the most wonderful person in the world."

"You were three years old then.

You hardly knew anyone except family and guards."

The palace servants and guards were mostly handsome, but none of them met Valerie's standards.

"That's right."

Valerie answered matter-of-factly.

Valerie had very few memories from her early childhood, but she remembered being "dazed."

She was dazed, living in a fog.

When she started to become aware of her surroundings.

Valerie noticed that people were concerned about her.

Not clearly, but she felt something was unnatural.

She believed it was probably sympathy, worry, and concern.

Even her sister Odine and cousin Yusei felt this way. They were smart and could sense the adults' worry about Valerie.

Then, Lucian came.

Lucian had no sympathy, no worry, and no hesitation.

He simply said, "This picture book is really interesting."

Even her cousin Ecourt, who was the same age, showed no sympathy or concern. He was too wild, and Valerie didn't see him as the same kind of person.

So, it was only Lucian.

Lucian was the only one who looked at Valerie without any cloudiness.

"I like Lucian."

"Okay, okay."

"I want Lucian to look only at me."

"Okay, okay."

---Father has no choice but to accept it, right?

Odine thought, "It's only a matter of time."

But she was a bit worried about how Lucian felt.

Their love story still seems to be wandering around.

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I hope this helps! If you would like the rest of the text translated, please let me know.