If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 135

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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 135
“Are you alright?”
Leonhardt asked with concern.
His gaze simultaneously drifted toward my internal organs, which had just endured the wine bottle.
At that look, the uncertain glimmer in the onlookers’ eyes hardened into something approaching certainty.
This is maddening… No, it isn’t!
I wanted to defend myself, so wronged by the accusation, but speaking now would only make matters worse.
Everyone had merely expressed shock through their expressions and cast suspicious glances—not a soul had voiced their doubts aloud.
In an atmosphere like this, any word from me risked being perceived as a guilty confession.
‘Though if I leave this gathering now, rumors of my premarital pregnancy will certainly spread?’
Such gossip lacks a clear source, making it nearly impossible to trace who started it.
Though I had believed I needed one final decisive blow to completely seize victory in this war of public opinion, I had not envisioned it happening like this.
As the predicament descended upon me, my mind raced as though some supernatural power had awakened within it.
‘There’s no helping it.’
I had not wished to employ this method, yet it was preferable to allowing rumors of premarital pregnancy to take root.
I leaned against Leonhardt as though dizzy.
“Leon…”
I, who had maintained a composed demeanor throughout, unwilling to acknowledge my intoxication, suddenly feigned illness—and Leonhardt’s concern deepened visibly.
“If you’re feeling worse, shall we leave?”
Seeing him poised to rise at the slightest nod from me, a whisper of guilt surfaced within me.
‘But you’re such a terrible actor…’
I’m sorry for deceiving you.
But this is for both our sakes, so please understand.
Offering silent apologies in my heart, I shook my head weakly.
“No, I’m fine. I’ll feel better after resting a moment.”
I spoke with a melancholy gaze toward the Lakeside, my words exhaled like a sigh.
The onlookers, who had been pretending not to notice, were caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events.
I subtly confirmed that all eyes had turned toward us before speaking again.
“I suppose there’s been so much weighing on my mind lately.”
I observed their reactions from the corner of my eye, yet maintained my sorrowful expression, releasing only a soft, melancholic sigh.
Leonhardt, who knew my poor condition stemmed from excessive drinking, finally sensed that something was unfolding strangely and wore an expression of bewilderment.
Fortunately, being naturally composed, only I could discern the shift in his awareness.
‘Still, his perception has sharpened.’
It seemed he had grasped that I was orchestrating something while he remained passive, and that his inaction was aiding me.
Seeing him simply remain silent and allow me to proceed as I wished.
Bolstered by his wordless support, I continued speaking with the wistful cadence of a soliloquizing actress.
“Even knowing these rumors are absurd, I cannot help but let them trouble my heart…”
I deliberately refrained from blinking, and the sensation became dry and uncomfortable.
Persisting in this state a moment longer, I felt tears beginning to gather.
After deliberately creating eyes that glistened and reddened, I met the gazes of those known for their loose tongues, one by one.
These were people who had all contributed their own commentary to the “love triangle.”
Those who grasped my intention behind such words wore expressions of discomfort.
“Perhaps that’s why my body aches as well?”
I smiled faintly, conducting myself as though my haggard complexion and the retching from moments before were all merely buildup for this very statement.
Since I had essentially issued a sharp rebuke against spreading rumors, everyone awkwardly averted their eyes from mine.
The atmosphere had grown somewhat frigid, but at the very least, it seemed unlikely that whispers of premarital pregnancy would take root.
Anyone of sound mind would hold their tongue.
I had made my displeasure abundantly clear.
‘This is a trump card I cannot deploy often.’
Frequent rebukes dulled their effectiveness and risked breeding resentment among the masses.
It was a method I had reserved precisely for such moments—better to seize the opportunity boldly than to hesitate and let it slip away.
Having accomplished what I set out to do, I redirected my gaze back toward the Lakeside.
Those who might have added their own words to the rumors now studied my expression carefully.
The people of High Society understood how utterly absurd this “love triangle” truly was.
Even in a place where concealing one’s true feelings was considered virtue, Roderick and Prince had openly antagonized each other.
‘Yet they consumed the rumor as entertainment regardless!’
I had only meant to feign anger, but genuine irritation was beginning to surface.
I lifted the corners of my lips in an elegant smile.
Those present flinched, sensing the sincerity concealed beneath that smile.
The trump card had proven devastatingly effective.
The rumors had ceased entirely after that.
On the surface, at least.

* * *
A few days later, Leonhardt and I received a dinner invitation from the Emperor.
How predictable.
He was undoubtedly attempting to mediate between Prince and us.
It irritated me somewhat that he feigned ignorance while Leonhardt and I labored to contain the scandal, only to intervene now that matters were settling of their own accord.
Of course, the Emperor was a man of such pathological avoidance and such an aversion to conflict that had the rumors spiraled beyond control, he would have sided with us.
He had indeed tacitly permitted the rumor that he gifted me a jewel mine as an engagement present.
‘But we’ve already resolved it, haven’t we?’
In the end, it was merely a rumor that had harmed only Prince—who had gambled on infidelity to gain everything while sacrificing nothing—and the Emperor’s mediation now served his interests alone.
Thus, I allowed myself to complain freely.
As I gripped the letter opener like a dagger and trembled with irritation, Leonhardt spoke as though it were of no consequence.
“You can refuse. Simply make an excuse.”
“No, I cannot possibly do that.”
My eyes gleamed with sudden clarity.
Had the Emperor not summoned us, I would have sought him out myself.
I should have been grateful that he had provided the stage.
“We need his permission for our engagement.”
Had circumstances been different, the Emperor would never have agreed to meet with Leonhardt and me.
He would be dreading the moment we broached the subject of engagement.
‘I’ve never actually attempted it before, yet the logic is so flawless it infuriates me.’
As I lifted only my lips into a cool smile, Leonhardt studied my expression.
He discerned that something displeased me, though not the reason itself.
Even this much constituted progress.
But my forbearance was reserved for Leonhardt alone.
‘Prepare yourself.’
I laughed, my eyes curving with silken menace.

* * *
On the day of our appointment, the Emperor himself came out to greet us upon our arrival at the Imperial Palace.
“Welcome, Miela and Leon.”
The Emperor had always been kind and affectionate toward me.
But today’s reception felt excessive.
Wondering what his intention could be, I studied his expression, and the Emperor laughed with an awkward face.
A subtly uncomfortable feeling washed over me.
What is this?
I raised my guard and offered my greeting to the Emperor.
“Your Majesty, it is an honor.”
“We behold the Sun of the Empire.”
As Leonhardt and I greeted him in turn, the Emperor’s strange behavior became all the more apparent.
“Yes, have you been well?”
He accepted only my greeting, while casting a cold gaze toward Leonhardt.
The Emperor, retaining only a vague semblance of conscience, seemed to feel considerable guilt toward Leonhardt and behaved quite softly.
At the same time, he made no effort to conceal such feelings, displaying them plainly across his face.
The Emperor’s eyes, which had always regarded Leonhardt with a distant and melancholic gaze, were now unmistakably cold—a clear sign of something amiss.
Of course, I was the only one paying attention to such matters, while Leonhardt maintained his usual indifferent demeanor.
The Emperor, finding Leonhardt’s composure frustrating, kept trying to hint at something.
Naturally, Leonhardt remained oblivious to the Emperor’s attempts at signaling.
Growing exasperated, the Emperor set his expression firmly and strode ahead with long strides.
Not a single word was exchanged until we were seated at the table prepared in one corner of the Garden.
I felt as though I might choke. What was the meaning of all this?
If he had something to say, I wished he would simply speak it plainly and be done with it, rather than poison the atmosphere.
After all, I still needed to obtain his permission for our engagement.
Finally, as if the Emperor had resolved to broach the main topic, he suddenly opened his mouth with a solemn expression.
“When would you prefer to hold the wedding?”
We came to seek permission for an engagement, and now he speaks of marriage?
Staring at the Emperor in confusion, he laughed with a sigh and added:
“Since there is a child on the way, we must hurry, must we not…”
Then he glared at Leonhardt.
Your Majesty, no!
Where did you hear such baseless rumors?

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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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