If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 137

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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 137
Even after entering the Imperial Palace, I saw Leonhardt only once or twice a month at best.
When Leonhardt stayed in Roderick, we barely managed to meet once or twice a year.
Yet despite this, Leonhardt was still the Emperor’s child.
The reason the Emperor had overlooked Prince’s transgressions until now was to solidify his position as Crown Prince and prevent chaos in the succession.
If Leonhardt relinquished his ambitions for the throne, the Emperor wouldn’t need to take only Prince’s side.
“The Roderick Villa fire incident—you were young then, and it was an accident tinged with misfortune besides. As for the kidnapping of the Young Lady and Leon, and the hoarding of grain during the southern drought, let’s call that Viscount Perington’s sole doing.”
Viscount Perington was the Crown Prince’s instrument.
Could a master truly know nothing of what his own hands were doing?
It was impossible.
I, who must embrace all the Empire’s people, am foolish enough to be swayed by familial affection and turn a blind eye.
“But this time, no excuse can convince me.”
The Emperor, speaking with cold derision, composed himself and fixed Prince with a stern gaze.
“I was never fit to be Emperor, nor was I prepared. Because of that, the Empire fell into chaos for a time after I ascended the throne. That’s why I wanted to leave you with an unshakeable position. The reason I’ve overlooked your actions all this while wasn’t to condone them. It was for the Empire’s sake.”
Yet when Prince suddenly showed clear signs of shock and confusion, the Emperor’s resolve wavered.
The Emperor turned away from Prince and added:
“Exercise restraint. This is your final warning. If the chaos caused by you remaining Crown Prince exceeds that of a succession change, my decision can change at any moment.”
“Yes.”
Prince gave an ambiguous answer to who-knows-what and rose to leave.

* * *
Leonhardt, who had offered to escort me, seemed to be in a foul mood.
He gazed out the carriage window without meeting my eyes even once, occasionally letting out sighs.
Why? Though it was born of misunderstanding, the Emperor had been kind, and beyond granting permission for our marriage, I’d unexpectedly obtained an estate as well.
If anything, I had every reason to be in good spirits, none to be in a bad mood.
Or perhaps he had something troubling him?
Then I realized that brooding alone wouldn’t yield answers.
‘I should just ask him.’
I shrugged lightly and started to call out to Leonhardt before pausing.
Seeing how deeply lost in thought he was, a mischievous impulse seized me.
With his head turned toward the window, I secretly slipped off one shoe.
Then, with my stocking-clad foot, I subtly brushed against Leonhardt’s calf and knee as if tickling him.
“Leon. What are you doing?”
Leonhardt, belatedly noticing my foot play, startled and turned toward me.
As if he wanted to leap away from me had we not been confined to the carriage, he pressed himself flat against the seat.
At his unexpectedly intense reaction, I broke into a grin, and Leonhardt spoke in a slightly subdued voice.
“Your shoe seems to have come off.”
Leonhardt busily averted his eyes as if I’d turned into Medusa, hastily picking up the shoe I’d removed.
“Here.”
Then he placed it neatly in front of my feet.
I waited for Leonhardt to put on my shoes, sitting with my legs crossed and arms folded in a deliberately haughty pose.
After making a light jest and receiving an almost stern response, I felt somewhat embarrassed.
As Leonhardt handed me my shoes, I steered the conversation as naturally as I could.
“You seemed to be lost in deep thought about something.”
As if that had been the real topic all along.
Whether my attempt worked or not, Leonhardt—who had been thoroughly flustered—gradually regained his composure.
“I was just looking at the sky. The sky was particularly beautiful today.”
But it was an answer that reeked of excuse-making.
If Leonhardt looked at the sky, it was only to gauge the weather or the time.
‘He has barely an ant’s worth of romance or sentiment in him.’
In other words, he was not the type to stand lost in reverie, admiring the beauty of the sky like this.
Suspicious.
I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but if I left Leonhardt alone to brood like this, he would inevitably concoct some grand and elaborate scheme that would end in disaster.
I couldn’t bear to watch that happen again.
“What were you thinking about while looking at the sky? Were you thinking of me?”
At my playful prompting, Leonhardt reacted as if asking how I could possibly know.
“Really?”
At his adorable response, I laughed with widened eyes.
“Am I particularly beautiful today?”
I blinked exaggeratedly, my eyelashes fluttering.
It was premium aegyo that I only displayed when in a good mood.
But Leonhardt’s reaction was far more blunt than I had anticipated.
“Not particularly.”
Leonhardt answered, clearing his slightly hoarse voice.
‘Can’t he even tell a white lie?’
It had long been my principle that ‘one should not wear fine clothes to a humble place.’
So when I came to meet the Emperor, I dressed with only the most basic courtesy in mind.
Honestly, even I could see I wasn’t as beautiful as usual.
But!
Since my regression, Leonhardt had become far more generous with compliments, and I had grown accustomed to hearing only ‘beautiful’ and ‘cute’ from him—so his response was quite a shock.
I forgot my original purpose and fixed Leonhardt with a sharp glare.
“So you were staring because I looked ugly today?”
I spoke with calculated pique, then turned my head away pointedly and pouted.
Leonhardt, whose perceptiveness had grown ever so slightly, realized his slip of the tongue and began darting his eyes about frantically.
He seemed to understand he needed to fix this, but had no idea how.
On any other day, I would have let it slide at this point.
But today, my sulk was genuine, so I had no intention of letting it pass without redress.
Leonhardt deliberated as if submitting answers to a crucial exam with only one chance, carefully choosing his words.
Then, realizing that prolonging the moment would only make things worse, he hurriedly opened his mouth to speak.
Then closed it.
It was as though he thought that nothing had ever been resolved well when brought up in moments like these.
It was admirable self-awareness, at least.
A slightly deflated Leonhardt watched only my expression.
‘What am I even doing?’
A hollow laugh escaped me, and my sharp momentum fizzled out entirely.
“That’s enough.”
I meant it as a signal to stop, yet he suddenly appeared even more anxious.
“Miela.”
Leonhardt called my name in a tone that was somehow pitiful, and finally his eyes held a look of determination.
He rose from his seat across from me and moved to my side, then gently reached out and took my hand.
“What’s this all of a sudden?”
I was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, but my reaction was not unfavorable.
Noticing this, Leonhardt seemed to gain courage and carefully cradled my hand before pressing soft kisses to the back of it.
“You’re always beautiful.”
His earnest tone subtly melted away my irritation.
“I know that already.”
When I answered with deliberate cheekiness, Leonhardt’s eyes crinkled with laughter.
Then he naturally rubbed his cheek against my palm, acting coy.
With his eyes crinkling in a smile, my palm tickled so much I wanted to scratch it vigorously.
Now it was I, not Leonhardt, who was avoiding his gaze.
‘What is this? When did he become so seductive?’
Before the regression—or at least before going to war—Leonhardt was an innocent(?) boy who didn’t even know how to use such charming tactics, and I wondered what on earth had happened in those two years.
‘But it’s cute, though.’
I was barely aware that the problem was my own susceptibility to his charms.
Leonhardt, whose gaze was tender as he looked at what must surely be my tomato-red face, lightly pressed his lips to mine.
Just as I reached out, reluctant to part from those soft, pliant lips, Leonhardt subtly pulled away and settled back across from me.
“We’ve arrived at the Duke’s Residence.”
I stared at Leonhardt’s lips with longing for a few seconds before finally tearing my gaze away.
It wasn’t intentional teasing—merely a matter of timing—yet suddenly that innocent rabbit looked like a cunning fox.

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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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