If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 133
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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 133
The pink diamond mines and ruby mines the magnanimous Emperor bestowed upon me were of immeasurable value.
It wasn’t something I’d received recently, nor was it given under the pretense of engagement congratulations, but the details hardly mattered at this point.
Thanks to the ripple effect of this news, the vicious rumors that high society had harbored with skepticism were thoroughly buried.
About three days had passed since the rumors began spreading.
Leonhardt and I ventured onto the streets of the Capital to verify that our plan was progressing successfully and to enjoy a date together.
Commoners who had only heard the rumors through gossip were far more susceptible to them than the nobles who frequently spotted us in person.
Though we’d set out with ambitious intentions, we found ourselves simply purchasing street snacks as we occasionally did on outings, sharing them as we observed passersby.
Only when I felt we’d sufficiently enjoyed ourselves did I remember the actual purpose of today’s outing.
“We came out to check if the rumors were spreading well.”
Embarrassed at having completely forgotten about it until now, I laughed sheepishly, and Leonhardt gently reassured me.
“We can start now.”
“You’re right, it’s still afternoon. But where should we go?”
To verify whether the rumors had spread among the nobles, I could visit the salons where all high society gossip circulated, and even without going there, I had connections who could relay information to me.
But I had no idea how to verify the rumors among the commoners.
Leonhardt, who had been contemplating while stroking his chin, offered an answer.
“Rumors typically spread in places like taverns.”
“That’s how it goes in those heroic novels. The protagonist arrives at a tavern and eavesdrops on loudmouthed patrons to gather information.”
I wanted to experience that myself.
I wanted to taste the dark ale I’d used as a pretext to seduce Lester.
However, since Leonhardt was somewhat cautious about me getting intoxicated, I swallowed my true intentions.
“Shall we go? There seems to be a tavern over there.”
Since neither of us could think of a better idea anyway, we decided to head toward the tavern.
“But will you be alright?”
Leonhardt, who had been walking in step beside me, suddenly paused and asked with concern.
“What do you mean?”
I stopped as well and turned to face him.
“There will be rough people there.”
It seemed that in reality, there were indeed groups of disreputable mercenaries like those who would pick fights with protagonists arriving at taverns in a shabby state after slaying monsters.
However, I honestly wasn’t particularly worried.
“You’ll be right beside me.”
As long as I stayed close to Leonhardt’s side, I would be perfectly safe.
“That’s true. Stay right next to me and don’t wander off.”
Leonhardt spoke with confident assurance, addressing me as though I were a mischievous child.
“Am I a child? I know danger when I see it too.”
As I pouted and grumbled, Leonhardt looked at me intently with obvious concern, then hesitantly asked.
“Would it be alright if I went alone?”
Since the tavern operated until dawn, there would be enough time even after dropping me off at Roderick Mansion, and he could verify everything on his own, he continued persuasively.
If I considered efficiency alone, Leonhardt’s suggestion made sense.
But….
I had been so eager to experience a tavern visit, and my eyes betrayed my disappointment.
“I want to go too.”
Before I could stop myself, the words tumbled out in a pleading tone.
Leonhardt squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and turned his head away slightly as he reconsidered.
“…It might actually be fine.”
As if organizing his thoughts, Leonhardt kept his gaze averted, refusing to meet my eyes.
I could only hope he would think it through quickly and arrive at a favorable decision.
I was watching the back of his head with sparkling eyes when Leonhardt suddenly grasped my hand and began leading me somewhere.
It was neither toward home nor toward the tavern.
Uncertain of his intentions, I followed obediently, and he returned from a nearby clothing shop with a hoodie, which he promptly dressed me in.
It seemed he had purchased it without considering size at all—I looked as though I were wearing a burlap sack.
“That’s better.”
Leonhardt nodded with satisfaction, then pulled the hoodie’s hood down over my head.
“I can’t see anything like this!”
The hood had descended nearly to my lips.
At this rate, I wouldn’t be able to walk properly at all.
I quickly lifted the hood, and Leonhardt apologized with a regretful expression on his face.
“I’m sorry.”
This time, with careful hands, he adjusted the hoodie and placed the hood back on my head.
Leonhardt meticulously arranged it so I could see ahead adequately, then finally extended his hand to me.
“I think we can go now.”
At last having received his approval, I entered the tavern with Leonhardt.
* * *
Stepping into the tavern, I discreetly scanned the interior with only my eyes, careful not to reveal that this was my first visit.
“It’s cleaner and quieter than I expected, isn’t it?”
As I whispered my impressions, Leonhardt nodded with a somewhat bewildered expression.
It made sense—both Leonhardt and I had formed our image of a tavern from the heroic novels Lester used to read.
Floorboards that creaked with every step, mismatched chairs and tables.
And patrons laughing boisterously and chattering loudly while drinking spirits and appetizers served by a gruff but skilled proprietor—that sort of thing.
But the tavern we entered felt nothing like that.
The floorboards didn’t creak at all; they were well-maintained and gleamed with polish. The tables and chairs were immaculate, and neatly dressed staff greeted customers with smiles.
Moreover, the patrons didn’t appear to be mercenaries or laborers—they were simply people unwinding after work or friends chatting together over beer.
It was nearly identical in composition to the common restaurants I’d visited a few times before.
“I want to take this off.”
Everyone else wore casual clothes, yet I stood out in this suspicious burlap-sack-like hood, and the embarrassment was palpable.
I slipped behind Leonhardt and removed the hood, rolling it up in my hands.
Leonhardt, looking even more embarrassed than I felt, accepted the bundle of fabric from me.
Just then, a staff member who had spotted us approached.
“Welcome. Is it the two of you? I’ll show you to your table.”
“Ah, yes!”
The seat the staff member guided us to was conveniently positioned near the center of the establishment.
Though the tavern differed entirely from my imagined image, it was clearly a place where commoners exchanged gossip.
As I flipped through the menu, snippets of conversation drifted from nearby tables.
Mostly mundane chatter—someone from the neighboring house had married someone from the village uphill, a certain Trading Guild was planning to post notices, that sort of thing.
Leonhardt and I exchanged glances and nodded at each other.
The beginning had been slightly off, but as long as the outcome was acceptable, it didn’t matter.
I pretended to study the menu carefully while listening intently to everything around me.
Then a conversation from a distant table caught my ear.
“Hey, do you know about that?”
“I didn’t say anything—how did you find out?”
“Don’t be difficult. It’s just casual talk! What did Lady Roderick receive as an engagement gift?”
“What? What did she get?”
“A ruby mine in Nekra and a pink diamond mine in Horn!”
The man across from him, who had been responding indifferently, suddenly widened his eyes in shock.
“That’s insane.”
Satisfied by his friend’s reaction, the man smiled proudly and elaborated further.
“They say those two mines alone could buy a small country.”
The man lowered his voice as if sharing a secret.
“His Majesty the Emperor must be extremely fond of Lady Roderick.”
“But wait, wasn’t there a rumor that the Lady was going back and forth between the Crown Prince and the Prince?”
“That must be baseless gossip. If he were weighing his own sons against her, why would he give her mines?”
I had only spread the news that the Emperor had gifted mines to Lady Roderick as an engagement present, yet the people had naturally expanded the logic themselves, using it to refute the rumors that Prince had fabricated.
It was exactly as I had hoped.
“Well, that’s true. So when are you two getting engaged?”
“Soon, I’d imagine?”
As if asking, did you hear that?, Leonhardt gazed at me with a smile and whispered.
“We should, very soon.”
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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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