If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 110

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 110
“Since we’re still young, marriage would be impossible, but an engagement should be feasible.”
I asked while maintaining the most harmless expression possible to conceal my sinister intentions.
“What do you think?”
My plan to stick close and then suddenly marry was proceeding very successfully.
Lately, I’d been thinking, “Does he seem to like me romantically too?”
Leonhardt was so stoic and reserved with his emotions that I occasionally second-guessed myself, but my instincts had been consistently telling me the same thing.
That my suspicions were correct.
So while I was optimistic about the future, I was troubled by how to drive the final nail in the coffin—and now a perfect opportunity had presented itself.
For the first time, I felt grateful to Prince.
About three seconds’ worth?
‘One, two, three. Done!’
Leonhardt seemed flustered by the sudden mention of an engagement, his eyes darting about nervously.
‘Could he be rejecting me?’
That couldn’t possibly be it.
Growing anxious as no affirmative answer came, I finally probed cautiously.
“Why? Do you hate the idea of getting engaged to me?”
When I fixed him with the wide, innocent eyes that worked on most people, Leonhardt hastily averted his gaze.
“No, it’s just….”
When he seemed about to employ his usual tactic of staying silent and frustrating me, I shook his sleeve and pressed for an answer.
“What comes next? Is it good or bad?”
Only after I pressed him repeatedly did Leonhardt finally open that heavy mouth of his.
“Yeah, I hate it.”
…Just as though he hadn’t averted his gaze moments before, Leonhardt met my eyes directly as he said he hated it.
“What?”
For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.
The answer was so unexpected that I couldn’t control my expression.
I’d thought that because we were both being overly considerate of each other, we were merely procrastinating, and all that remained was to confirm our feelings.
“You won’t?”
Then who else would I do it with!
My pride wouldn’t allow me to add that follow-up comment aloud, so I simply swallowed it.
But Leonhardt, already flustered by just “You won’t?”, hastily added more.
“I like the idea of getting engaged to you, but I hate that it’s because of Prince.”
Seeing him bite his lower lip while gauging my reaction, as if he realized he’d cut his words too short, my sharp expression softened.
“You should have said that from the beginning.”
Leonhardt let out a sigh of relief and apologized.
“I’m sorry.”
How annoying.
I deliberately pouted my lips.
Then, suddenly, my thoughts shifted.
‘…Wait, so you’re saying you’d be fine with getting engaged to me if it weren’t for Prince?’
Thinking about it that way, even though he was essentially saying he wouldn’t get engaged to me, I didn’t feel upset at all.
In fact, I felt good.
See? My intuition was right after all.
I quickly turned my head to the side to hide my lips curving upward uncontrollably.
I was happy, but I didn’t want to show it too obviously.
“Miela?”
Leonhardt, looking flustered, called my name anxiously.
I simply turned my head away, pretending to be sulky so he wouldn’t see my flushed cheeks.
I wasn’t angry at all.
“What?”
I answered coolly while glancing back, and Leonhardt asked with eyes widened in a smile.
“Can I hold your hand?”
It was his way of being cute.
“Go ahead.”
And I, being weak to Leonhardt’s charms, pretended not to notice as I extended my hand.
Leonhardt naturally interlaced his fingers with mine.
I asked in a tone much softer than before.
“So what about spreading rumors that we’re getting engaged at Prince’s wedding?”
Leonhardt tilted his head as if asking what difference that made.
In truth, there wasn’t much difference.
In noble society, once rumors spread that people are getting engaged, it’s extremely rare for them not to actually go through with it.
But I acted as though there was a huge difference and urged him for an answer.
“Really, there’s nothing more newsworthy than this anyway, right? It’s not like we’re actually doing it, just spreading the rumor—you don’t like that either?”
Getting engaged because of Prince certainly wasn’t romantic.
So I could have given up easily, but I couldn’t miss this opportunity to make major progress on my “let’s just get married quickly” plan.
‘This is my chance to stamp my seal on him and claim him as mine. I’d be an idiot to let this slip away.’
I was planning to start with rumors and turn them into reality.
After a brief moment of thought, Leonhardt answered in a reluctant tone.
“That should be fine.”
His expression looked like someone making an unavoidable choice because there was no other option.
Didn’t he look somewhat disappointed and deflated?
“Why? You can’t actually get engaged to me?”
Given how cautious and conservative Leonhardt was, his answer wasn’t incomprehensible.
Still feeling disappointed, I pouted and grumbled, and Leonhardt spoke soothingly.
“That’s not it. I’m saying we should do the engagement properly later.”
Leonhardt’s eyes took on a serious expression, as if this was something he wouldn’t compromise on.
‘He’s right, but…’
Going along with circumstances and ending up married only to regret it was something I’d already experienced before my regression.
This time, I wanted to experience a proper romance.
Still, I couldn’t help but feel hurt that Leonhardt seemed to be pushing me away.
I asked, hoping I didn’t sound too petulant.
“When exactly is this ‘later’ you keep mentioning?”
“Who knows? When you fall in love with me?”
“Then why not do it now?”
It was my most earnest flirtation, yet Leonhardt merely laughed.
Then, with a resolute expression, he cut me off as if drawing a line.
“That’s not enough. The kind of love I want is different.”
His tone was so firm that it made me feel as though I were someone flirting out of mere habit, without any genuine feeling behind it.
‘What do you know! I’m far more serious than you think! You foolish rabbit!’
Having spoken with all sincerity, I felt deeply wronged.
Ever since I admitted to liking Leonhardt, I felt like a hunter.
‘One trying to catch a rabbit that seems within reach yet keeps slipping away.’
And no wonder I felt that way—no matter how hard I flirted to win him over, he deflected everything.
Our relationship had grown closer, yet paradoxically, he seemed to have built even higher walls than before.
He would draw near as if about to be caught, then subtly withdraw, as if reconsidering.
It was as though there existed a line between us that only Leonhardt could see.
Feeling somewhat disheartened, I asked with a sigh.
“How much do I need to love you to meet your standards?”
At least if I could see some achievable goal, it might feel better.
Leonhardt fell into deep thought, as if asked to explain some highly abstract concept.
“Well…”
He seemed to have finally found an adequate answer.
His lips moved slowly.
“What is it?”
Impatient, I urged him on, and his lips approached me at an agonizingly slow pace.
Leonhardt’s explanation was not one to be spoken in words.
His crimson eyes conveyed the message.
That he was about to kiss me, and if I wanted to avoid it, I should try.
‘What—what is this! So sudden!’
Startled, I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my fists.
Soft.
Soft lips brushed against my cheek, followed by a small laugh.
I opened my eyes wide in shock, and there was Leonhardt, smiling bitterly as if he’d expected exactly this reaction.
“See?”
“No! I was just surprised!”
And truly, it was rare for Leonhardt to initiate physical contact with me.
‘At most, it’s been hand-holding or linking arms, hasn’t it?’
Everything else was something he accepted only when I initiated it.
‘You startle me and then give me that bitter smile—what are you trying to do!’
I was about to jump to my feet to protest my unfair treatment when Leonhardt rose first.
“I forgot I have equestrian training this afternoon.”
Speaking rapidly without even pausing for breath, Leonhardt offered a hasty farewell and vanished as though fleeing.
“You said you’d cancelled that schedule and come have tea with me!”
I stared daggers at the back of Leonhardt’s head as he disappeared without so much as a backward glance, as if he couldn’t hear a word I said.

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