I Like Another Man, Not the Male Lead - Chapter 55

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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 55

“My mother is a formidable person, Reina.”

I nearly stopped breathing at Caesar’s words. He was directly opening up about the Empress. It was a topic I hadn’t dared to bring up myself.

“Mother is… a strong person. And persistent. She’s someone who wants to control my life according to her will.”

Bitterness seeped into Caesar’s voice. Caesar’s eyes held various emotions. Even in my dizziness, I could tell that much. Right now, Caesar was more sincere than ever. He was revealing all of his most vulnerable parts.

“I had to find a way to protect Reina from my mother. At first, that’s why I started pushing you away. Then, at some point, it became a habit. What was meant to be a temporary measure before finding a solution somehow became the solution itself.”

Caesar’s hand trembled. He turned his gaze to glare at the campfire. His face looked like he was desperately holding back his emotions.

Caesar squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again. He seemed to need time to suppress his emotions.

“Acting so complacently like that, I ultimately failed to protect Reina. From my mother, and from danger.”

“Your Highness.”

“I’m sorry once again.”

His apology strangely made me feel like crying. It felt like past resentments were melting away. Perhaps it was because it seemed like Caesar might cry on my behalf.

＊ ＊ ＊

The dawn air was cold and quiet.

Selena and Grace stood outside the pavilion. With blankets draped over their shoulders. Since hearing the news that Reina had gone missing, neither of them had slept a wink.

“Elder Sister Selena, let’s go inside. It’s too cold.”

Grace said carefully. Her voice was holding back tears.

“No. Let’s wait just a little longer.”

Selena shook her head. Her eyes were fixed on the forest. Desperately hoping that Matthias would return with good news.

“Brother will surely find her. And everyone is searching. They say Caesar Prince is with them too, so Reina will definitely return safely.”

Grace said with a trembling voice. It was also a desperate wish.

“I suppose so.”

Selena answered. But she wasn’t certain.

Throughout the night, search parties had repeatedly returned and departed in shifts. Even the three Knight Orders directly commanded by Rochester, Matthias, and Duke Regfield. Each time search personnel came in and reported with exhausted bodies that the search was still ongoing, Selena’s heart froze.

Grace sobbed. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry, Grace.”

Selena hugged Grace.

Grace’s crying grew louder. Selena patted Grace’s back. It seemed like Selena herself was being comforted by Grace’s tears.

Then, the sound of hoofbeats was heard. Both their heads turned in unison. Someone was emerging from the forest.

“Matthias!”

Selena shouted.

It was Matthias. He was dismounting from his horse. His face was full of exhaustion. The wound on his shoulder was wrapped in bandages, and blood was seeping through them.

Selena and Grace ran over.

“What about Reina?”

Selena asked in an urgent tone. She looked at Matthias’s face, waiting for an answer.

Please let it be good news. Please tell me you found Reina.

But Matthias shook his head.

“…We couldn’t find her.”

Selena’s legs gave out. Grace caught hold of Selena.

“That can’t be… That can’t be….”

Selena’s voice trembled.

“You searched all night. Rochester Regfield too, and the Knight Order. But you couldn’t find her?”

Matthias maintained his silence. Grace’s tears grew heavier at the affirmation that emerged from it.

“No… No….”

Selena could no longer hold back either. Tears flowed down her cheeks and fell. Selena clenched her fists. Her nails dug into her palms.

“Why… Why Reina….”

Why did that child have to go through this?

Everything was confusing. Why Reina had to be attacked by wolves, why she had to go missing—there wasn’t a single thing she could understand.

Matthias let out a faint sigh. His gaze as he looked at his younger sisters was heavy.

“She’ll come back.”

Matthias comforted his younger sisters, which was unlike him.

“There are many people searching for her. She’ll definitely come back.”

And those words were also meant to comfort Matthias himself. Reina had to come back.

Selena bit her lip. It bled, but it didn’t hurt. Her chest hurt more.

“Matthias.”

Selena spoke with a trembling voice.

“Please… find Reina. Bring that child back in whatever condition.”

Matthias nodded.

“I promise.”

That answer only stirred Selena’s sorrow more. The words asking him to bring her back in whatever condition contained the suspicion that Reina might be dead. There was no way he wouldn’t understand that, yet Matthias didn’t get annoyed asking why she would say such a thing. It felt like he was confirming that Reina must be dead, and tears welled up.

The sound of crying filled the dawn air. It was a cold and sad sound.

Matthias stood there, watching the two of them. Helplessness weighed him down. If he had moved faster, if he had been stronger, could he have protected Reina?

Matthias clenched his fists. Matthias raised his head to look at the sky.

The Eastern Sky was brightening. A new day was coming. But that dawn was cold and sad. It was a morning without Reina.

＊ ＊ ＊

The silence that had settled between us lifted.

Caesar Prince apologized and I accepted it. That was all.

“Thank you for telling me. I truly mean it. It felt like I was being compensated for my past time.”

Caesar Prince smiled bitterly. Even so, we couldn’t turn back our time. Caesar Prince’s gaze as he looked at me was dampened with moisture. To change the subject, I pointed to Caesar Prince’s leg. It had been bothering me for a while. From the fact that the smell of blood wouldn’t fade, it seemed quite serious.

“Could I take a look at your wound? I don’t think we should leave it like this after all.”

Caesar Prince hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

“…I understand.”

Caesar tore open more of the already tattered fabric of his pants. There was a deep wound on his thigh. He said it was just a scratch, but this was severe enough to call it torn flesh. And he had the nerve to call this a minor injury? Was he in his right mind?

“This looks like it would make walking difficult. Won’t it be hard for us to get out on our own?”

I snapped at him as I pulled off Caesar’s coat. Then I lifted my dress and tore off the cleanest-looking part of my petticoat. Caesar turned his head away in surprise. His ears were very red.

“What are you doing!”

“First aid. I need to stop the bleeding first.”

I began wrapping Caesar’s wound with the torn cloth. My skills were clumsy, but this couldn’t be helped. It’s not like I’d done this before. Moreover, doing this gave me a better view of the wound’s condition, which made me pause involuntarily. Ugh, that must really hurt. Whether his senses were numb or he was used to enduring pain, Caesar remained still. I only let go after tying the cloth into a knot. Caesar looked at what I had tied and let out a small laugh. What? Don’t like ribbons? I cleared my throat awkwardly and looked away in embarrassment.

“This should… be okay for now.”

Caesar expressed his gratitude and said,

“Lord Hailboard knows about our distress, so a rescue team will come. We just need to hold out until then.”

I nodded and checked my own condition. For someone who had been threatened by a wolf pack and fallen off a cliff, I was remarkably intact. Nothing was missing, broken, or bleeding. It must be thanks to Caesar protecting me. This made me worry more about this man’s injuries.

“You need to get treatment immediately when we get out. Understood?”

“…Yes. I will.”

I could feel dawn breaking outside. A new day was beginning. The moisture in the cave sparkled like jewelry in the sunlight. It was unrealistically beautiful.

“…The sun is rising, Your Highness.”

And our relationship was also slowly, little by little, changing. Like how the rain pours down heavily, then the sun rises and the day clears.

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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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