If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 163

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

Chapter 163
Cheerful birdsong chirped beyond the window, and warm morning sunlight slipped through the gap in the curtains, gently tickling my eyelids.
“Mmm…”
I stirred with a drowsy murmur, and the heavy arm wrapped firmly around my waist suddenly tensed.
From the solid chest pressed seamlessly against my back, a steady, reassuring heartbeat transmitted through me in its entirety.
As I forced my heavy eyelids open, the first thing that came into view was a pair of crimson eyes gazing down at me through tousled silver hair.
The scorching red eyes that had burned like molten lava the night before now curved with the gentle warmth of a winter hearth.
“You’re awake?”
His voice—that distinctive low morning timbre—made my ears dizzy.
“Yeah.”
The moment I answered, Leonhardt’s eyes curved into a smile, and he left a series of light butterfly kisses on my forehead, the bridge of my nose, and my lips.
“Did you sleep well?”
“…I didn’t sleep at all.”
You kept me awake!
I whined petulantly and pressed my forehead against his firm chest, and Leonhardt’s throat rumbled with a pleased laugh.
“Sorry. I was too… yesterday.”
At least he was admitting it.
As if recalling his beastlike behavior from the night before, Leonhardt’s ears flushed crimson in an instant.
Yet the arm holding me never loosened its grip; instead, he carefully caressed the nape of my neck and the area around my collarbone.
“I thought you were a carnivorous rabbit.”
“Does it hurt much? Should I apply some medicine?”
At my deliberate complaint, he grew flustered, looking ready to summon a Priest at any moment.
Watching Leonhardt revert to baby rabbit mode, I burst into laughter.
“Never mind. Anyone seeing this would think I had some serious illness. Besides… I completely stayed out all night?”
Only then did reality come rushing back.
After that commotion at the Imperial Palace yesterday and Jeffresian being dragged away, I had said I would return to House Roderick, but instead went straight to the Prince’s Palace.
With Hans there, my family didn’t seem likely to worry about my whereabouts…
‘Still, they must be in an uproar.’
The faces of my family members, who had insisted on a curfew and absolutely no overnight absences before marriage, floated before my eyes.
As I pressed my forehead and sighed softly, Leonhardt pinched my cheek gently and whispered affectionately.
“Don’t worry. I sent word to Duke Roderick’s Mansion at dawn.”
“What did you say?”
“That you were mentally exhausted and would rest quietly at the Prince’s Palace.”
Leonhardt still disliked having anyone other than me and those from House Roderick near his side.
So he always maintained the Prince’s Palace with minimal staff.
As a result, the Prince’s Palace was certainly a much quieter space compared to House Roderick, which was filled with affectionate servants and family.
The aftermath of yesterday’s events must have been considerable as well.
Considering these reasons, my parents would have understood.
“Should I say your flexibility has improved?”
At my teasing reproach, Leonhardt smiled with composure.
“I wasn’t lying. You went through so much yesterday that you’re genuinely exhausted, aren’t you?”
He had a point, but the sheer audacity with which Leonhardt delivered it was infuriating.
“This is your fault!”
Unable to hold back, I reproached him, and Leonhardt simply smiled with his eyes and changed the subject.
“Aren’t you hungry? Should I have breakfast prepared?”
“It’s almost noon already. I’d rather eat at home.”
“Very well.”
On the way back to House Roderick, Leonhardt followed me as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

* * *
When the carriage arrived at Duke Roderick’s Mansion, my family was waiting at the front gate.
Having suddenly stayed out all night, I braced myself for a thorough scolding as I descended from the carriage—but instead of anger, my family’s faces were etched with relief.
“Miela!”
“Thank goodness you’re safe.”
As I stepped out, Father, Mother, and my brothers approached and immediately examined my complexion.
As if I had ventured into danger and only just returned.
Wait, what?
‘What exactly did they tell them?’
Trying to make sense of the situation, I glanced toward Leonhardt as he descended from the carriage behind me.
Even Leonhardt seemed bewildered by my family’s intense reaction.
His eyes conveyed that he was equally at a loss.
After a brief exchange of glances between us, Lester spoke up with a grave expression, as if on cue.
“That madman attacked you, didn’t he?”
My family had heard quite detailed accounts of what happened in the Inner Chambers of the Imperial Palace.
Only then did the reason for this fervent reaction become clear.
Since leaving the Inner Chambers, I had scarcely given Prince a thought, so I laughed it off casually.
“‘Attempted an attack’ would be more accurate than ‘attacked,’ wouldn’t it?”
For someone who so enjoyed the sight of blood, Prince possessed almost no combat ability whatsoever.
Though he had lost his composure and lunged at me as things spiraled out of control, he was subdued by Leonhardt before his arm could even fully extend.
And not a single finger of his touched my body.
As a result, my actual experience amounted to little more than ‘Prince lost his mind and screamed at me.’
And even that, I had nearly forgotten while spending time with Leonhardt.
Yet my family remained deeply concerned.
“He tried to strangle your neck, didn’t he?”
Lionel asked, his eyes cold as he examined the area around my neck.
“Well, he did try, but…”
As I responded uncertainly, Lester’s question immediately followed.
“You’re not traumatized by that, are you?”
Finally, all the pieces fell into place.
Ah, so I’m supposed to be traumatized?
I offered my family a weak smile, grateful that they had misunderstood the reason for my overnight absence.
“I’m fine now.”
As I lowered my eyes pitifully, my family’s expressions shifted in unison to one of sympathy.
A twinge of guilt pricked my conscience.
But admitting that I’d stayed out because I was dallying with my lover would have been the worst possible move.
‘Otherwise, wouldn’t they be angry with Leonhardt?’
So this was a white lie.
Prince, who by now was likely languishing in the Underground Prison, would be terribly aggrieved—but that wasn’t my concern.
“I was told to convey that you were safe…”
Leonhardt gently wrapped an arm around my shoulders as he spoke to my family.
He was perceptive enough to read my true feelings and offer his support.
“We did hear as much…”
“A parent’s heart knows no bounds…”
Mother and Father averted their eyes, looking slightly embarrassed.
Father released a heavy sigh and turned his head toward Leonhardt.
“We heard that Your Majesty kept Miela safe and cared for her with great attentiveness. We are truly grateful.”
At Father’s courteous greeting, Leonhardt’s expression seemed somewhat disappointed.
“She’s going to be my wife. It’s only natural.”
By now, my family had come to understand Leonhardt well enough to discern the subtle differences in his expression, which at first glance appeared uniformly impassive.
I caught the hint of a smile playing at my lips as I read Leonhardt’s expression—he felt slighted that Father was treating him with excessive formality, as though he were still a guest.
But that wasn’t quite right.
With Prince’s downfall, Leonhardt had become the true and rightful heir to the Empire.
So they were simply extending him greater courtesy in their treatment—though he seemed to have misunderstood.
‘If only you knew how much our family adores you.’
He was treated almost like a youngest son rather than a prospective son-in-law.
But given the circumstances, we couldn’t openly show our affection, so moments like this occasionally arose.
I was wondering how to handle it when Lester laughed heartily and spoke up.
“Haha! Of course. Protecting a lady is both the knight’s rightful privilege and duty, is it not?”
At Lester’s words, delivered with his characteristically bright smile, the slight tension between Leonhardt’s brows gradually eased.
Leonhardt then nodded slowly, looking deeply satisfied.
Mother and Father exchanged a knowing glance and smiled.
Then Mother interjected softly.
“As it happens, today is Sunday, so we have a family dinner prepared. Your Majesty must join us. You are family, after all.”
Leonhardt nodded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

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