If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 24

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 25

“Young but what?”

When I tilted my head at the completely incomprehensible words, Leonhardt’s pupils began shaking mercilessly.

Leonhardt, who had turned as red as a tomato, squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.

“I misspoke.”

Leonhardt spoke so firmly that I didn’t even think of teasing him, then hurriedly continued as if he didn’t want to give me any opening.

“I, I didn’t hear properly, but what were you trying to talk about?”

“Oh, that.”

The topic that had briefly veered in another direction returned to its original course.

After briefly explaining what had happened, I argued that the Prince’s prepared retaliation wouldn’t end with this.

Leonhardt listened to my story with a thoughtful expression, then began sharing his opinion.

“He could have been confident that House Roderick would accept the proposal.”

Mother respected the Empress as the mistress of the empire.

But even now, having become the mother of three children, the Empress still found Mother, who stood at the pinnacle of high society, burdensome.

‘And Mother isn’t the type to accommodate that subtle inferiority complex.’

It would have been easy to predict that she wouldn’t withdraw her hand extended to Leonhardt and bow down to the Empress.

“But even as the Crown Prince, Prince can’t force the Duke’s daughter to become friends with me. All Jeffrisian can do is make suggestions with a bit of coercion.”

Leonhardt paused briefly, glanced at me, then continued with a nonchalant attitude.

“Both House Roderick and Jeffrisian know that meeting the cursed prince a few times won’t deal a major blow to the Duke’s daughter. If they go further than this, they’ll seriously clash with House Roderick, right? Jeffrisian has emotional tendencies, but he’s not stupid.”

I didn’t like that Leonhardt called himself the ‘cursed prince.’

But as one of only two people who knew that Leonhardt’s red eyes were evidence of a blessing, not a curse, I also passed over it nonchalantly.

In just a few years, it would really become nothing significant.

“What if the Crown Prince has already started disliking me?”

“What?”

I explained to Leonhardt what had happened during my meeting with the Crown Prince.

When I reached the part where I had asked for the maid to be punished, the corners of Leonhardt’s mouth twitched subtly as if he was holding back words.

After moving his lips several times, Leonhardt carefully chose his words and spoke.

“That was unnecessary. It’s typical of you, but just stay quiet until I have the power to protect you.”

However, the result was a complete failure.

Because my mood was instantly ruined.

“If you want me to do nothing, why don’t you just lock me up?”

For the first time since my regression, I spoke sarcastically like in the first round.

The small drawing room of the Separate Palace began to overlap with the bedroom of the Empress’s Palace from some indeterminate point in the future or past.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.

Leonhardt sighed heavily with a grave expression.

His red eyes seemed to reproach me, asking why I was suddenly acting this way when we’d been getting along well.

I clenched my fists.

I felt regretful for saying something unnecessary, while simultaneously wanting to resent Leonhardt.

‘I thought some bad habits had been corrected as I became younger.’

They were still there.

As I was falling into self-loathing, Leonhardt reached out his hand first.

“I don’t mean to restrict you. I just hate seeing you in danger…”

Leonhardt, who had been hesitating, continued as if he had steeled his resolve.

“More precisely, I hate myself for not being able to protect you right now.”

Beautiful red eyes resembling rubies, sunsets, and flames looked directly at me.

A gaze more direct than words conveyed sincerity and endlessly persuaded me.

Thanks to this, my twisted feelings gradually unraveled.

‘Leonhardt just wants to repay his debt to me. His attempt to limit my activities is his way of protection.’

I took a deep breath and repeated to myself.

‘And I’m not the Empress anymore.’

After repeating this several times, I gradually felt better.

I answered with a much softer attitude.

“You don’t need to protect me anymore.”

In the first round, I grew up as a typical hothouse flower.

But when I married Leonhardt, I had to leave the comfortable greenhouse.

‘I thought I could handle life outside the greenhouse.’

To defend myself a bit, I was just too ignorant of the world.

When I actually came out, the outside was full of storms and flying insects.

‘It was already hard enough to endure that, but society’s gaze tried to prune me to fit into the standardized mold of an empress.’

As a result, after marrying Leonhardt, I was lonely and everything felt overwhelming.

‘Though that wasn’t really your fault.’

I had just vented my frustration on Leonhardt like a sick child throwing a tantrum.

Objectively speaking, Leonhardt was somewhat frustrating but was a faithful husband and a good person.

‘I was the one who misinterpreted his extended hand and only found it frustrating.’

Looking at the past from a step back after my regression, I could finally see the root of the problem.

I admitted that my own capacity was small only after living life once more.

‘I’ll never do a political marriage again and live modestly in a greenhouse for the rest of my life.’

If I really wanted to marry, I’d bring in a gentle and kind son-in-law.

Someone who would live a simple and peaceful life with me.

‘It’s a perfect future plan.’

Praising myself, I smiled brightly at Leonhardt.

“There’s no need for that in this life.”

‘You should also put down your sense of duty and guilt and be happy.’

It was a rare altruistic wish I had made.

However, Leonhardt somehow looked hurt.

“That was unnecessary. It’s typical of you, but just stay quiet until I have the power to protect you.”

“If you want me to do nothing, why don’t you just lock me up?”

Tightly closed lips, a cold gaze.

His heart had made Miela uncomfortable again.

He must have let his guard down, thinking Miela had become kind to him after her regression.

He had acted as if he were really her husband.

Seeing the familiar expression appear on her soft face, Leonhardt felt self-loathing.

At the same time, he became anxious and restless.

‘What if Miela goes back to how she was?’

The marriage vows that had bound him and Miela had become null and void.

Now that even the thin thread was gone, Leonhardt was desperate every time not to lose Miela.

“I don’t mean to restrict you. I just hate seeing you in danger, more precisely, I hate myself for not being able to protect you right now.”

Leonhardt did his best to explain his feelings with his poor way with words.

‘Even if you don’t love me, I’m your husband. Miela, protecting you is my duty and my right.’

Then he swallowed the sincere feelings that Miela would dislike.

But despite Leonhardt’s efforts, the response was cold.

“There’s no reason for you to protect me anymore.”

Miela seemed to want to make their entire relationship nonexistent since she had regressed.

And she smiled brightly as if being able to do so made her incredibly happy.

“There’s no need for that in this life.”

Thud.

It felt like being rejected by Miela.

Leonhardt’s heart collapsed.

His vision spun.

But he didn’t want to lose Miela like this.

“Even if we regress and the future changes, I’ll still be the only one capable of keeping Prince in check.”

He did his best to appeal his necessity.

Fortunately, Leonhardt’s persuasion worked.

“I had forgotten what we were discussing. You’re right.”

Miela, who had been contemplating briefly, agreed.

However, Miela looked bitter, like someone who had been cast from a pleasant dream into harsh reality.

Leonhardt started to comfort Miela but stopped.

Because of Prince’s existence, because he felt relieved that he was still useful to Miela—he had no right to comfort her.

Fortunately, Miela quickly regained her smile.

“We’re still on the same side.”

Miela spoke as if asking for reconciliation.

Leonhardt desperately grasped the small hope Miela offered.

“Right.”

His heart ached at being demoted from her only husband to merely being on the same side.

However, Leonhardt treasured even this small relationship.

Just because oxygen was scarce didn’t mean one could stop breathing.

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