I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 42

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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 42

“On a day like this, you should take a walk. Duke Hailboard’s family will arrive soon. I’ll handle these chores, so please go out quickly.”

Jane pushed me outside. Jane’s expression was resolute.

“…Don’t get in the way, right?”

“Yes. You really have no talent for organizing, Miss.”

Too honest. I shrugged my shoulders and strolled around the vicinity. A reminder to absolutely not go far followed behind me.

However, no matter how much I interfered with the organizing, I shouldn’t have come out for a walk.

“Reina.”

At the low voice, my heart sank with a thud.

When I turned around, Caesar Prince was standing there.

Wearing a black hunting outfit, he looked sharper than usual. The autumn sunlight was gently illuminating his silver hair. He seemed to have lost weight compared to three weeks ago.

“…Your Highness.”

I quickly showed proper courtesy.

Caesar Prince, whom I met after three weeks, very easily broke down the wall I had built and shook me.

“Have you been well?”

“Yes, thanks to you.”

An awkward silence flowed. It would be strange if there was conversation to exchange between us anyway.

There was an invisible wall between us. It was a wall I had built. Although that man had broken it quite simply, he didn’t know. Instead, he seemed to understand the distance between us. Seeing Caesar Prince maintaining the distance, fear suddenly welled up instead. I felt like I might be caught with the wall broken. It would be better to leave before that.

“Then I’ll be going…”

As I was about to turn around, he grabbed my arm. Then he let go with an expression more surprised than mine.

It was an instant. But that brief contact remained like a hot brand on my skin. I covered that spot with my hand and stepped back.

“I’m sorry. I was too hasty.”

“…It’s fine. Do you have something to say?”

“Are you alright physically? Your wound…”

“As you can see, I’m fine. The scar has almost disappeared too.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Caesar Prince nodded.

His gaze swept past my neck. The healed wound seemed to tingle. I covered my neck with my hand at the pointless illusion. Caesar Prince’s gaze followed my hand. I smiled awkwardly.

If that’s all you have to say, I should be able to leave now. I’m feeling too awkward right now. As I was timing my greeting and departure, Caesar Prince spoke up.

“Never travel alone. And absolutely don’t go to the deep forest.”

What? I had no reason to enter the deep forest anyway. And I probably wouldn’t be traveling alone either. Even now, though I appeared to be alone, the family knights were escorting me from a short distance away. The knights’ gazes watching this way were intense. They seemed to have received strict warnings from Rochester Regfield.

Anyway.

“…Thank you for your concern.”

At my words, Caesar Prince rubbed his forehead. He seemed to have more he wanted to say, but a welcome interruption came between us.

“Oh, Reina!”

A bright voice was heard. Grace was running toward us. Selena was visible behind her too.

“Reina! You’ve arrived. When did you get here?”

Selena smiled brightly and grabbed my arm.

“Oh my, Caesar Prince is here too.”

Selena greeted him politely. She seemed to have noticed Caesar belatedly.

“I greet Your Highness.”

Caesar nodded with a subtle expression. I felt his gaze still lingering on me, but I pretended not to notice.

Actually, the one who would face danger here wasn’t me, but Grace. The outline of this episode was Caesar rescuing Grace who was isolated among a pack of hungry wolves. So Grace was the one who needed to be careful.

“I shall take my leave now, Your Highness.”

Caesar sighed and nodded. I felt his clinging gaze directed at me, but I pretended not to know until the end.

Please, let’s just remain distant neighbors.

＊ ＊ ＊

Caesar stared at the retreating figure growing distant.

Under the colorful beautiful scenery, Reina was truly dazzling. Reina, thoroughly infused with nature’s gentle fragrance, looked like a fairy.

The eyes that curved beautifully when looking at Grace and Selena, the sparkling lips, all lost their light when looking at Caesar. Caesar had directly seen and experienced that gap.

It felt like living with chains wrapped around his heart. Caesar ran his hands through his hair. His breath was choked as if his heart was being squeezed. It felt like being dropped alone in a space where he couldn’t breathe. Even though he knew the ground beneath his feet was forest.

His heart loosened at seeing Reina after so long, only to be constricted again. Caesar was painfully realizing what he had missed.

If only he had been a little faster, if he had accepted that affection before she folded away her heart, he could have walked leisurely behind those three ladies and protected Reina without any excuse. Perhaps the two Hailboard Princesses who came to find Reina would have stepped aside upon seeing Caesar. Apologizing for disturbing the lovers’ time.

Caesar rubbed his face with his hands.

“Stupid bastard.”

He found himself pathetic for chewing over belated regrets. It was even ridiculous how he set up hypotheticals of ‘what if,’ knowing it was impossible.

Viviana Imperial Consort still only saw Caesar as a tool for her power. He was struggling to break free, but it was still at a minimal level. Even if he had realized his feelings in time, he wouldn’t have been able to confess his love to Reina.

He knew.

All hypotheticals were useless. He was still in hell.

Still, he was glad to see her, even if just for a moment.

Caesar took a deep breath and straightened his posture.

Caesar’s warning to Reina to be careful was because of Viviana Imperial Consort. Viviana seemed to be plotting something, but he hadn’t uncovered the reality of it yet. Though Caesar was relentlessly pursuing Viviana, she was also someone well-versed in hiding and running away.

Having learned nothing, Caesar planned to keep a close watch over this place throughout the hunting competition.

He never wanted to have any regrets again.

＊ ＊ ＊

House Hailboard’s pavilion was also located not far from the Regfield Ducal Camp. It was natural since they were arranged according to status, but I liked it. Though I was displeased that the Imperial Pavilion was nearby.

“It’s really fortunate. That Reina decided to attend.”

Grace said while elegantly pouring tea.

“It would have been a bit lonely with just us.”

“That’s right! We’re not really interested in hunting but have to attend every time.”

Selena grumbled while picking up pastries to eat.

Selena had really become much more honest. Her speech, which always had thorns in it, had also improved greatly.

We chatted comfortably. Mostly recent news from high society and the contents of books we’d read passed over the table. Even though we meet frequently, we never run out of things to talk about every time we meet. Is this what friendship is?

“Ahem. But Reina.”

Selena called my name carefully. When Selena brings up a topic with that expression, her purpose is always the same.

“Rochester Regfield.”

For the past three weeks, Selena had been working tirelessly to get closer to Rochester. The reason there was still no progress between the two was because of Rochester, who had absolutely no sense of awareness. Did he leave his intuition in his mother’s womb when he was born? How can he be so bad at reading romantic signals?

I felt so frustrated I could burst, but I was afraid that if I pushed Rochester’s back the wrong way, it would only increase his aversion, so I just quietly watched. Only our Selena is pitiful.

“Yes, Selena.”

“Do you think there might be a young lady who promised to give him a five-colored ribbon before the hunting competition starts?”

I lowered my gaze at Selena’s nervous question.

Come to think of it, I could see Selena holding a decorative ribbon beautifully woven around her fingers. With such a pretty face in love.

I heard it’s customary for noble young ladies to give a small ornament made of five-colored ribbon to the knight they’re cheering for before the hunting competition begins. To wish for victory or something like that. In the original story, Grace gave one to Caesar Prince. And Rochester didn’t participate in this competition.

But now Grace’s hands were empty and Selena’s hands were full of heart.

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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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