I Was Hired by the Black-Minded Prince for My Life's Ransom - Chapter 35

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

Episode 35. Love Unchanged
My eyes widened.
“Oh….”
A conversation? Just the two of us?
The sea breeze stirred softly, brushing through my hair.
I reflexively glanced toward Yurian to gauge his mood.
He didn’t seem to particularly enjoy seeing me talk with Rain.
“Your Highness.”
“Yes?”
“May I… step away for a moment?”
I asked as though seeking permission, and he closed his eyes.
His pale golden irises curved slowly beneath the sunlight.
“Of course. Go ahead.”
His voice was impossibly gentle and serene.
It was as though his earlier wariness toward Rain had been nothing but a dream—he seemed utterly indifferent now.
Only then did I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
‘Thank goodness….’
Come to think of it, it made perfect sense that Yurian had been suspicious of Rain back then.
He was an unknown, suspicious figure at the time.
But that wasn’t the case anymore.
It had been revealed that he was Brannon’s true heir, and the incident had reached its conclusion.
More than anything.
‘His Highness wouldn’t care who I spent time with.’
I felt a little self-conscious about reading into the situation unnecessarily.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“Don’t wander far.”
“Of course.”
I bowed politely and followed Rain’s steps.
Whoosh—
Whoooosh—
Gentle waves lapped slowly against the wharf below.
The plaza, which had been filled with colorful decorations and countless people until yesterday, had grown quite deserted now.
A handful of sailors who had returned to their work laughed as they passed by, and merchants were clearing away the festival tents.
I found myself absently fidgeting with the hem of my dress.
…It still doesn’t quite feel real.
Baron Brannon arrested, Rain revealed as the true heir, and there I was on stage, painting nonetheless.
“…Ugh.”
Why did I have to paint him of all people?
The more I thought about it, the more embarrassed I felt.
“What’s troubling you?”
“Oh, nothing… just an embarrassing memory came to mind.”
“The painting?”
Gasp.
“How did you know right away?!”
I blurted out in surprise, and Rain chuckled softly.
“Your face keeps turning red.”
“…That’s just because it’s warm.”
I quickly rubbed my cheeks with the back of my hand.
I hadn’t noticed while I was painting.
I’d been too consumed by the pressure of needing to buy time to think clearly.
But now that I thought about how intently I’d painted his face, I felt… well, self-conscious was perhaps the word.
The simple fact that I’d captured him in my painting without intending to—unconsciously, almost—made me flustered.
Rain gazed down at me for a moment, then slowly came to a stop.
We stood at the quiet end of the wharf.
The refreshing sound of the waves grew closer.
“I truly must thank you for everything that happened.”
“No, really. I hardly did anything at all.”
He did all the work….
I shook my head earnestly, and he found it amusing enough to laugh quietly.
“That can’t be true. If Banilin hadn’t bought us time back then, the plan would have failed.”
“That’s….”
Well, yes, it is.
I laughed awkwardly.
Honestly, thinking back on it now still made me dizzy.
I never expected things to run so late.
If we’d been delayed even a little longer, the winner’s announcement might have been made first.
If that had happened, the whole plan would have fallen apart.
I released the tension in my body and laughed.
“I was really terrified back then.”
“Were you nervous?”
“Yes, incredibly so. I still feel my heart racing.”
“That’s surprising.”
Rain chuckled softly.
“You didn’t show it at all on stage.”
…You watched?
Then you should have come sooner.
I let out a long sigh.
“I was weeping inside.”
“Ha ha.”
Rain laughed aloud, clearly amused.
His laughter seemed far more at ease than before, and my own lips curved upward in response.
“Now you finally look like you can breathe.”
“…Me?”
“Yes. It looks good on you. Really good.”
I smiled broadly, my teeth showing.
How difficult it must have been all this time.
To live as a servant beneath your enemy’s roof, hiding even your own name.
I could never have endured such a thing.
The sea breeze drifted in gently.
My pink hair swayed softly in the wind.
“…….”
Rain regarded me silently for a moment.
His lips parted as if he were hesitating, then he smiled faintly and spoke.
“If I look well, it must be because I’m with Banilin.”
“…What did I do?”
“I always feel like I’m only receiving favors. Now, and in the past too.”
His gaze lingered slowly on my face.
Eyes, nose… and lips.
As his eyes traced downward, I shifted mine away.
‘Ah…?’
Wasn’t the air between us getting strange somehow?
“Um… Rain?”
“I have something I want to give you.”
Rain smiled wryly and withdrew a small velvet box from his coat.
It was a deep blue box.
Glowing faintly as it caught the sunlight.
“It’s the Grand Prize, so please take it without hesitation.”
Click.
The box opened.
I held my breath.
Inside lay a blue gemstone necklace.
Transparent as a pure drop of water.
The way it shimmered in the light was like capturing a piece of the sea itself.
“Wow….”
An exclamation escaped me without thinking.
It was so beautiful.
“Is this the Mermaid’s Tears?”
“Yes. A gemstone mined only in the waters near Luern.”
Rain smiled quietly.
“Our family seal is fashioned from the same stone, you know.”
“Ah, so that’s how it is. It’s truly beautiful.”
Splash—
The waves broke gently against the shore.
Across the crystalline blue sea, sunlight scattered into glittering fragments.
That azure light seemed to seep into the jewel like water into silk.
“The Mermaid’s Tears has two meanings.”
“Two meanings?”
“Love that is surely fulfilled.”
Rain paused for a moment.
Then he met my eyes and smiled faintly.
“And the other is love that never changes.”
“…….”
“You may accept whichever meaning resonates with you.”
My heart trembled in a peculiar way.
I brushed my thumb lightly across the necklace in my palm.
Love that never changes.
And love that is surely fulfilled.
Even the meaning of it delighted me.
“Am I truly worthy of receiving something so precious?”
“Of course. Though the competition ended rather abruptly, Banilin was the victor. You have every right.”
At his calm words, I clutched the box tightly to my chest.
This beautiful thing was mine.
My eyes widened without thinking.
“Thank you. I’ll treasure it always.”
“…Yes.”
He gazed at me for a long moment, then turned his gaze toward the distant sea.
“That is enough.”
His expression was relieved, yet somehow tinged with longing.
Even as he smiled, his eyes seemed brimming with tears.
…Why did he wear such an expression?
I pressed my lips together.
‘Does he regret it?’
The Mermaid’s Tears….
Surely I don’t need to return it?
As I was reaching out toward him, searching for words—
“If our conversation is finished, might I have it back now?”
I flinched.
I quickly withdrew my hand back to my side.
That familiar, honeyed, gentle voice.
When I turned, Yurian was standing there.
“When did you arrive?”
He wore his usual soft smile.
His eyes were half-lidded and languid as always.
And yet—why did something about him seem off?
Yurian tilted his head as he looked at me.
“Is he your ideal type, then?”
“…What?”
“A man prone to tears.”
That’s not what I said at all.
Besides, back then I said a person prone to tears, not specifically a man.
“Sigh.”
I trudged over to stand beside him.
Yurian’s gaze naturally shifted to the box in my hand.
“Is that a gift?”
“Ah, yes! It’s the Grand Prize.”
“I see.”
He smiled broadly.
“You’ve received quite a meaningful item.”
“What?”
“It’s nothing.”
“…No, you’re talking about it like it’s something really special!”
‘He really does seem upset, doesn’t he?’
I stole glances back and forth between them.
A briny sea breeze swept through the space between the three of us.
Yurian, smiling as usual; Rain, regarding us with a quiet, steady gaze; and me, already three bowls deep in awkward silence.
The tension was suffocating.
Then Yurian tilted his head slightly and laughed.
“Banilin.”
“Yes?”
“Would you mind stepping away for a moment? I have something to discuss with him.”
The gazes of the two men collided in the air.

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