If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 161

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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 161
Even after Prince disappeared down the corridor, there remained much for us to do.
We surveyed the Inner Chambers with the unsettled gaze of people tasked with cleaning a thoroughly ransacked room.
The Empress had long since lost consciousness….
“What am I supposed to do….”
Elodie, cradling the unconscious Empress, let out a hollow moan.
Though the Empire had no law of guilt by association, with her father’s house fallen and now her husband as well, Elodie’s remaining life stretched before her in desolate uncertainty.
The arrogant bearing she had displayed as the future Crown Princess vanished without a trace.
The Emperor stood by the window, utterly motionless.
The Emperor, who despite his forty-some years and imperial station retained a subtle youthfulness, now appeared every bit his age.
Regret etched itself across features that bore a striking resemblance to Leonhardt’s, differing only in coloring.
They were pitiful sights, in a manner of speaking, yet not a shred of sympathy stirred within me.
‘They reaped what they sowed.’
It was as I silently clicked my tongue in disapproval.
Leonhardt, who had stood in quiet stillness all this while, finally spoke.
“Might it be best to escort Her Majesty the Empress to the Empress Palace?”
His crimson eyes held neither affection nor concern.
Only the detached efficiency of one processing necessary tasks in their proper order.
‘Yet it is precisely that detachment which makes Leonhardt the most composed person in this chamber.’
At the sound of Leonhardt’s voice, focus returned to the Emperor’s eyes, which had been drained of all vitality.
“…The Empress.”
Only now did the Emperor seem to register that the Empress had collapsed.
Though the imperial couple had maintained reasonably good relations for a political marriage, the relentless succession of extreme circumstances had apparently caused the matter to slip from his mind.
The Emperor gazed upon the Empress with troubled eyes before quietly acquiescing to Leonhardt’s suggestion.
“Yes, that would be best.”
With those words, he fell silent once more, leaving Leonhardt to continue directing the situation.
Leonhardt summoned the Royal Attendants and knights who had been waiting outside the door.
“Have a Physician stand ready to attend Her Majesty the Empress, and escort the First Prince’s wife to the Empress Palace as well.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Furthermore, divide forces immediately and seal the First Prince’s Palace completely. Control all within—regardless of rank—permitting none to leave, and conduct a thorough investigation into the crimes of the guilty.”
His orders were flawless, flowing as naturally as water yet absolute in their authority.
Though the Emperor stood plainly before them, every knight and attendant in the chamber bowed their heads to Leonhardt’s command as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Even the Emperor merely observed the entire proceedings in silence.
Only after the situation had been brought under some measure of control did Leonhardt’s gaze turn toward me.
Tender concern bloomed in those crimson eyes that had been so coldly imperial.
It was a transformation as sudden as a blizzard giving way to warm spring in a single moment.
At that stark contrast, I let out a soft laugh, and relief flickered across Leonhardt’s features.
“We shall take our leave now. Your Majesty should rest as well.”
Whether displaying the increased social grace gained since my regression, I offered words of concern to the Emperor as well, yet my gaze remained fixed upon me.
As our eyes met and I smiled, Leonhardt carefully extended his hand toward me.
“Let’s go, Miela.”
“Okay.”
I readily grasped his large, firm hand in mine.

* * *
We escaped the suffocating inner chambers of the Imperial Palace without a shred of hesitation.
Passing through the main gates of the Imperial Palace, we boarded the carriage of House Roderick that awaited us.
As the heavy carriage door closed and the outside noise was completely shut out, only the rumbling vibration of the carriage remained in the cramped space.
A perfect sanctuary. A space where only the two of us remained.
It was then that I heard the taut air seem to release with a soft snap.
“Sigh…”
The man who had been the coolest and most rational in the entire Empire until moments ago exhaled a long, heavy sigh before collapsing against me.
“Leon?”
Startled by the sudden weight, I called his name, and he rested his forehead against my shoulder with a soft groan.
‘He must be troubled too.’
Even if he wasn’t particularly sentimental, family was still family.
Setting aside Elodie, witnessing the Emperor and Empress themselves crumble wouldn’t leave anyone in good spirits.
I gently stroked Leonhardt’s hair in comfort.
It seemed odd that this wasn’t the playful patting I occasionally did, as Leonhardt lifted only his eyes to look up at me.
“You’re being unusually kind today?”
The way he blinked with confusion was somewhat irritating.
‘I do tease sometimes, but not every day!’
Of course, the days I teased were somewhat more frequent than the days I didn’t.
And with just a few words, Leonhardt had transformed my rare moments of kindness into his daily expectation.
“So our Prince has rather rough tastes?”
Though I deliberately feigned a cheerful tone, Leonhardt’s increasingly sharp intuition saw right through it.
Sensing something ominous, Leonhardt tried to sit up.
‘Not so fast.’
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him back down.
Then, as I usually did, I gently patted his silver hair like one would a large dog.
His neatly arranged hair became disheveled from my rough touch.
“Since I prefer the soft and delicate type, bear with me.”
Leonhardt pretended to dodge my patting a few times with exaggerated complaint, but soon surrendered his hair to me.
‘How obedient.’
When teasing someone, their reaction is what matters most.
His overly docile response dampened my mischievous spirit somewhat.
Just as I was about to comb through his disheveled hair with my fingers and withdraw, as if I’d never teased him at all—
Click.
I felt a large hand gently yet inescapably capture my wrist.
“Huh?”
I flinched and lowered my head, and Leonhardt, who had been leaning against my shoulder, slowly lifted his gaze to meet mine.
“Are you only going to stroke my hair?”
In those crimson eyes meeting mine at close range burned intense heat, a hint of playfulness, and unmistakable disappointment.
‘Oh, look at this.’
He had become remarkably assertive about what he wanted.
‘And I’ve always been drawn to people who know exactly what they want.’
Yet I feigned ignorance, straining to pull my captured hand free as I asked, “Then what more do you expect from me?”
My provocation drew a smile to Leonhardt’s lips.
Rather than releasing my wrist, he gently tugged my hand toward his cheek and rubbed it against his face with deliberate tenderness.
“Hold me.”
Despite his imposing frame—broad as a door—it was an act of coquetry from a younger, ethereal beauty.
Yet it was less endearing than it was dizzying.
The intensity burning in those crimson eyes was anything but innocent.
‘What is he saying out here in the open!’
I gasped and jerked my hand away as though I’d touched flame.
As expected.
“I should have gone to the Prince’s Palace instead of the House of Roderick,” Leonhardt muttered with a sigh, his expression heavy with regret.
‘What is he trying to do.’
Of course, I knew perfectly well what Leonhardt wanted.
We had shared a bed over 170 times across both the first and second encounters.
“We’re still within the Imperial Palace grounds,” I said, glancing toward the window.
The Imperial Palace naturally occupied the very heart of the palace complex.
Leonhardt laughed slowly at my words.
Knock, knock.
He opened the window that connected to the driver’s seat.
“Is something the matter, sir?”
Hans, the coachman who had served the family longest and kept his counsel, turned from his seat and inquired despite the chaos.
Leonhardt issued his command with an enigmatic smile.
“The schedule has changed. Take us to the Prince’s Palace.”
The window connecting to the driver’s seat closed immediately after.
Even if Hans’s hearing were poor, there was no way he could have missed our voices with the window open.
“Yes, sir.”
The carriage, which had been approaching the boundary between the inner and outer palace grounds, slowly began turning back toward the inner palace.
Click.
And soon the outer shutter was drawn closed as well.
Thud.
And soon the storm window looking out was also closed.

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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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