Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 133

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 133

At Lord Penandel’s sudden criticism of his superior, I blinked my eyes.

He was someone who wouldn’t speak carelessly about others, even as a joke.

Besides, when we first met, hadn’t he introduced the Duke as quite a capable superior?

No, wait. Come to think of it, he said he was faithful to his assigned duties, but I don’t think he ever said anything about treating his subordinates well.

‘Maybe this is an opportunity.’

I wanted to try being greedy in a way I wouldn’t have in my previous life.

After clearing my throat a few times, I casually opened the conversation like a scout trying to poach talent from a rival company.

“My lord, does the Duke treat you poorly?”

Before he could even answer, I quickly continued as if comforting him.

“No, I think I can tell without hearing your answer. When I saw him last time, His Grace did seem rather tactless.”

“…I will correct it.”

“Why should you correct it? His Grace should be the one to correct it!”

I began earnestly coaxing him, taking the side of someone who seemed somehow dejected.

I could easily guess what he would say to me after finishing the succession ceremony.

‘He’ll probably say that now that I’ve reclaimed my rights as promised that day, he’ll return to the North.’

Before he could bring up those words, I had to make the first move.

I glanced anxiously at the massive gates of the Royal Palace visible through the carriage window and said,

“So if there’s something you want, tell me. Anything will do. Especially if it’s something the Duke can’t give you.”

They say there are things money can’t buy, but that also means most things can be bought with money.

It would be like stabbing the Duke in the back, but I wanted to try anything I could to keep Lord Penandel by my side.

Just like Leo had courageously spoken to me.

* * *

Even after the carriage arrived at the Royal Palace, my head was filled with dozens of ways to entice Lord Penandel rather than thoughts of the succession ceremony.

Then, a servant approached me and spoke quietly.

“His Highness the Crown Prince urgently seeks you.”

“…His Highness?”

There wasn’t much time left until the succession ceremony.

I wondered what business he could have that required meeting separately when we’d see each other during the ceremony anyway, but I silently followed the servant.

Before long, I spotted the Crown Prince pacing anxiously in front of the glass greenhouse.

“Bel!”

His face, which had brightened upon seeing me, suddenly became strange when he noticed Lord Penandel following behind me.

“…Come inside first.”

I glanced back and forth between Lord Penandel and the Crown Prince for a moment, then hurriedly followed the Crown Prince into the greenhouse.

“Your Highness, there isn’t much time left before the succession ceremony…”

I stopped mid-sentence as a sudden doubt occurred to me.

It was because the Crown Prince’s attire was remarkably casual when he should have been dressed in formal uniform by now.

“I’ve stationed people around, so I’ll speak comfortably. Bel, didn’t you receive the letter I sent yesterday?”

“A letter?”

I asked back in confusion, then belatedly realized my mistake.

Come to think of it, the butler had mentioned the Crown Prince’s letter yesterday.

But with Leo’s situation filling my head completely, I had forgotten about it entirely.

“I apologize. I was too busy with succession ceremony preparations to look at it.”

“It’s fine. It’s not too late yet. His Majesty has suddenly decided to conduct today’s succession ceremony himself. And His Majesty is very displeased with your succession.”

It wasn’t particularly surprising news.

Hadn’t the Crown Prince told me directly at last autumn’s ball?

That for political reasons, the King had been quite pleased with my engagement to the Duke.

But now that I had broken off that engagement, depending on interpretation, it could be seen as insulting the Royal Family who had witnessed the betrothal.

‘I didn’t worry much about the King conducting the succession ceremony instead of the Crown Prince. But if the King is plotting something…’

All the recent rumors I’d heard about the King were uniformly terrible.

Seeing my expression, the Crown Prince continued with the look of someone who had bitten into an unripe, sour fruit.

“An excuse about feeling unwell would be fine, so go back today. I’ll conduct a simple succession ceremony for you later.”

“I refuse.”

I firmly declined his kindness.

“Bel, His Majesty has changed greatly from what you remember. So…”

“Misha.”

Looking at the Crown Prince’s face clouded with worry for me, I gently but firmly interrupted him.

“You said before that the Bel you knew no longer exists, that’s what you thought.”

And I gave him the answer I hadn’t been able to give before.

“You were right. I’m no longer the child who had to hold precious things in both hands and choose only one.”

Just as the gentle King from Belinda’s memories had transformed into a tyrant, the Crown Prince had to accept that I too had changed.

That the young Belinda he had loved was gone forever.

“I’ve grown into a greedy adult who must have everything I want to be satisfied. You’ve heard the rumors about me. How greedy I am.”

“…”

“If I flee from here, those who want me to fall will mock me endlessly. So if my dress hem must be stained with filth, I’d rather dirty it with my own hands.”

The Crown Prince gave no reply.

I squeezed his hand once, then turned away with a smile.

The Crown Prince didn’t try to stop me as I left the greenhouse.

* * *

A succession ceremony is a rather simple ritual that ends after pledging loyalty to the King and receiving a wrought iron laurel crown.

However, as the Crown Prince had warned, my succession ceremony did not conclude so simply.

“The second bloodline of Marquess Blanche pledges loyalty to the sun of the Kingdom.”

Though I had pledged loyalty like the nobles before me, the King’s servant did not place the laurel crown upon my head.

As the nobles attending the succession ceremony began to murmur, the King’s low voice was heard.

“Let the second bloodline of Marquess Blanche raise her head.”

I raised my head, but avoided meeting his eyes so as not to provoke the King.

After a long moment, the King’s mocking words continued.

“With the same mouth that pledged loyalty, you dared to break off an engagement witnessed by the Royal Family. Do you still think I should trust your loyalty and bestow the crown?”

Despite the King’s blatant behavior, I did not yield and answered with an unwavering voice.

“I humbly report that I believed serving Your Majesty with loyalty as the head of a family rather than as the mistress of the distant North would prove my devotion. I only hope my sincerity will not be misunderstood.”

Though it was crude wordplay, I was able to answer calmly thanks to the Crown Prince’s advance warning.

Soon the King’s words continued, less venomous than before but still barbed.

“Ha, your talent for running your mouth seems to resemble your uncle more than your father.”

Knowing full well that my uncle was illegitimate yet deliberately saying I resembled him was clearly intended as an insult, but it was fine.

Being told I resembled my uncle was rather like a compliment to me.

“Then I shall trust your loyalty and bestow the crown.”

At those words, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief and looked up at the King seated on the high platform.

“So receive what I bestow without avoiding it.”

Instead of handing the laurel crown to his servant, the King threw it at me with a careless gesture.

Unable to think of avoiding the crown with its sharply crafted edges, I squeezed my eyes shut.

Clang.

A chilling scraping sound of metal against metal rang out, followed by something clattering to the floor.

When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw a familiar back, the laurel crown rolling on the floor, and Lord Penandel’s mask.

“How did you get here…”

Having shielded me and taken the sharp crown to his own face, Lord Penandel had a sharp cut on his left cheek.

However, he did not look back at me and bowed his head before the King.

“Please forgive me for standing before Your Majesty without permission.”

‘No.’

Even if it was to protect me, how dare a mere Northern Knight step forward before the King.

It would have been better if my forehead had been split open instead.

I was about to hastily open my mouth to plead for his lenient treatment.

“I unilaterally broke off the engagement that Your Majesty had graciously permitted. The Marquess’s Daughter was merely dragged along by my stubbornness.”

My throat felt completely blocked, and no voice would come out. I couldn’t quite understand what Penandel was saying.

However, at the King’s words that followed, I could only look up at the King with a dumbfounded expression.

“Well, if it isn’t the Duke of Baluashten.”

…What?

“I have never heard rumors that you crossed the northern border. I don’t know why you’re showing your face in this Royal Capital, but…”

I couldn’t understand the situation, but I instinctively reached out and grabbed Penandel’s collar tightly.

I didn’t know if it was to stop him or to protect myself.

I could only sense that the King’s continuing smile…

“You have broken the covenant.”

was extremely cruel.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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