If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 29

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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 30

The series of incidents had grown too large to simply bury and move on from.

Lady Perington and Lady Ashbern were ordered to remain in confinement for some time.

‘What good is confinement for young ladies with no titles or positions anyway.’

I knew it would turn out this way, but it really was just a nominal punishment.

And the Emperor tacitly approved the Prince’s cleanup with his silence.

As if nothing had happened at all.

‘Is it okay for the Emperor to be the avoidant type? If he wasn’t confident in family education, he should have at least properly outsourced it. Just leaving it alone.’

Thanks to this, I was very frequently having thoughts that would constitute treason against the imperial family if anyone heard them.

The only thing I was pleased about was that Prince who had fallen victim to his own scheme had quieted down.

“Miela, are you feeling unwell by any chance?”

It was the day I was going to the Separate Palace to meet Leonhardt, but Father had also been summoned by the Emperor, so we were traveling together.

Father had been worried about me since my expression had been poor ever since the Imperial Palace buildings came into view.

“No, I think it’s motion sickness. I want to close my eyes.”

I deflected with a smiling face and lay down using Father’s thigh as a pillow.

‘A height where I can stretch my legs fully and still not touch the carriage wall – how sad.’

I did stretching exercises, extending my body with hopes of growing even 1 centimeter taller.

Even for six-year-old me, the width of the carriage seat wasn’t very wide.

Father’s gaze wouldn’t leave me, as if he was worried I might fall.

‘Anyone watching would think there’s a cliff below.’

Among the Rodericks, Father was the most overprotective of me.

I smiled inwardly and stopped stretching.

Father gently touched the bangs covering my forehead and spoke as if talking to himself.

“I suppose I’ll have to change the carriage. To something bigger with less shaking.”

At those words, I was inwardly shocked.

‘The carriage we’re riding in now was made by craftsmen from extremely rare wood, with defensive magic and magic to improve riding comfort and all sorts of devices – it’s worth a castle, but how much more amazing is he planning to buy.’

I thought I should have made a different excuse if I knew this would happen.

I was about to try to stop Father when the carriage came to a halt.

“We’ve arrived.”

I needed to get up for us to get out, but Father seemed reluctant to remove his hand from my forehead.

“Ugh, I don’t want to go.”

Father looked embarrassed after accidentally voicing his inner thoughts.

Even adults don’t like working.

“Father, shall we play hooky then?”

I suggested with a mischievous smile.

“Shall we?”

The answer came back without even a second’s pause.

‘Why are you tempted, Father?’

I thought he might really turn the carriage around and go back at this rate.

“No! That won’t do. Father is an adult!”

When I pushed away the hand that was still on my forehead, got up, and spoke firmly, Father looked disappointed.

“It was just a joke.”

It didn’t seem like a joke at all, but I held back from saying so, considering it an act of filial piety.

Father got out slowly, clearly showing his reluctance.

Then he helped me get out just as slowly.

‘It would probably be faster if I got out by myself.’

Fortunately, once we got out of the carriage, Father returned to his cold and dignified duke mode.

“Miela, I’ll see you later.”

Father lowered himself to meet my eye level and greeted me with a light kiss on my cheek.

“Yes!”

I answered while returning a kiss to Father’s cheek.

Now all that remained was for me to head to the Separate Palace and Father to the Imperial Palace.

But then I heard a cough that seemed meant to draw attention.

“Ahem!”

It was the Chamberlain of the Imperial Palace.

‘Huh, what brings the Chamberlain all the way here? It’s not like this is the first or second time Father has had a private audience with the Emperor.’

Father seemed just as puzzled.

“Did His Majesty send word to hurry?”

At Father’s question, the Chamberlain laughed awkwardly and answered.

“Well, you see. His Imperial Majesty happened to hear that the Young Lady was also entering the palace and said he’d like to see her face, even briefly.”

The Chamberlain at this point hadn’t been in the position for very long.

As a result, he was less shameless than he would be a decade later, and his evasiveness was obvious.

“So he suddenly ordered me to enter the palace – this is what he was aiming for.”

When Father muttered as if for the Chamberlain to hear, the Chamberlain’s awkward smile deepened.

“This way, Young Lady.”

Perhaps feeling embarrassed, the Chamberlain focused only on me and began guiding the way.

Father sighed softly but obediently took my hand and followed the Chamberlain’s guidance.

“Father, but what about my appointment with His Highness the Prince?”

I had thought I should meet the Emperor at some point, but since I didn’t like the method, my tone became a bit sharp.

“We’ll have to let him know that something suddenly came up and we’ll be a bit late.”

Father spoke to the Chamberlain while pretending to answer me.

“Yes, of course. I’ll be sure to convey the message.”

The Chamberlain responded obsequiously to the father-daughter pair’s indirect complaint.

And not long after, we arrived at the drawing room where the Emperor was waiting.

“Your Majesty, Duke Roderick and the Young Lady have arrived.”

After a light knock, the Chamberlain announced our arrival, and permission to enter was immediately granted.

Just before the Chamberlain opened the door, Father spoke to me in a small voice.

“His Majesty is an easygoing person, so don’t worry too much.”

He was saying this in case I was nervous about meeting the Emperor for the first time.

“Yes!”

I gave him a spirited smile in return.

Father smiled back at me and slowly entered the drawing room, matching my pace.

“Welcome, Eimerus. And Lady Roderick.”

The Emperor, who retained boyish features despite being in his thirties, greeted us with a casual tone.

“Hello.”

I lifted my skirt hem and curtsied with a slight bend of my knees.

It was an informal greeting for addressing the Emperor, but the Emperor didn’t mind at all.

“It’s been a long time since I saw you when you were very young. Hello.”

It was truly an informal reaction, as if he was happy to meet an old friend’s daughter.

‘True to his easygoing nature.’

He was more suited to being a wealthy, well-born playboy than an Emperor.

‘If there had been other options, he would never have become Emperor.’

Father glanced at me briefly, then asked the Emperor in what seemed to be their usual casual tone.

“Why did you summon us?”

The Emperor answered with a languid smile.

“I’ve seen the two young masters often, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen the young lady, so I called for her. I was curious if she was growing up well.”

“Now that you’ve seen she’s growing up well, I’ll take her back.”

Of course, it didn’t work on Father at all.

“How cold.”

The Emperor grumbled as if for us to hear and offered us seats.

“It wouldn’t be proper to jump straight into business without any pleasantries. Sit down.”

Father didn’t seem intent on damaging the Emperor’s dignity, so he obediently took his seat.

A maid brought out adorable desserts that were clearly prepared with me in mind.

Father cut the desserts into bite-sized pieces and placed them on my plate, just as he did at home.

The Emperor laughed out loud as he watched Father carefully arrange the pastries with attention to presentation.

“I’d heard that you’re a doting father, Eimerus, but seeing it firsthand is even more remarkable.”

“Your Majesty, who doesn’t have a daughter as adorable as Miela, would naturally find it remarkable.”

When Father boldly countered the half-teasing remark, the Emperor’s laughter grew even louder.

“So you plan to keep your precious daughter by your side forever?”

After calming down, the Emperor asked playfully.

Everyone present knew why the Emperor was asking such a question.

‘He just pretended not to notice what happened to Leon.’

The previously light atmosphere became somewhat serious, but Father answered as if it were no big deal.

“Yes. That’s what I intend to do.”

“That would be troublesome.”

The Emperor made a groaning sound with a smile at the unwavering response.

“I hope the friendship between the Imperial Court and House Roderick will continue.”

It was a suggestion to reconsider the engagement with the Crown Prince.

“Lionel and Lester will become reliable vassals to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

However, Father rejected the Emperor’s proposal once again.

The Emperor clicked his tongue lightly, as if he had known Father wouldn’t be easily swayed.

“What do you think, Young Lady? Jeffrisian is a good boy, though I say so as his father.”

Then, as if trying to win me over, he directed obviously flattering words about Jeffrisian toward me.

I muttered inwardly without showing it.

‘Like hell.’

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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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