If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 31

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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 32

 

Eyes that resembled Leonhardt’s, different only in color, began to shake mercilessly.

 

‘So he’s not completely without conscience. I can tell he’s feeling guilty.’

 

Having achieved everything I had intended, I stood confidently with my shoulders and back straight.

 

Though I would probably get scolded by the Emperor for being rude from now on, it had been worth it.

 

Father, who had been looking back and forth between me and the Emperor, finally stepped forward.

 

“I apologize, Your Majesty.”

 

However, Father’s apology wasn’t about what I had said.

 

‘It’s more like a moral apology since fact-based violence is still violence.’

 

The Emperor, who had known Father much longer than I had, couldn’t have failed to notice this.

 

The Emperor forced the corners of his mouth up into a smile with his pale face.

 

“It’s just something a child said, so what of it.”

 

His attitude of not lashing out after hearing words that were true but bitter to the ears wasn’t bad, but I could sense that typical adult bravado.

 

‘Pretending to be fine when he’s not. Acting like it’s nothing when he’s been dealt a huge blow.’

 

It reminded me of myself from the first life.

 

‘I’m glad I became a child again. This time I can try to become a truly decent adult.’

 

But that aside.

 

I secretly pitied the Emperor and interrupted just as Father was about to respond to the Emperor’s words.

 

“Father, can I go see the Prince now? I’m already an hour late for our appointment.”

 

Neither of them was in the right state of mind to scold me, so there was no need for me to stay here, right?

 

Fortunately, the Emperor’s pretense of being fine was still holding up.

 

“Oh my, you’re late for a prior engagement because of me. You may go now, Lady Roderick.”

 

The Emperor dismissed me with his still poor complexion.

 

“Yes! Farewell.”

 

I left a perfunctory greeting and skipped out of the drawing room.

 

I could feel the gazes of Father and the Emperor following me from behind, but I pretended not to notice.

 

When I arrived at the Separate Palace, Leonhardt was waiting for me.

 

“Hello, Lady?”

 

He seemed to have gotten quite used to acting like a child now, as Leonhardt smiled and waved his hand when the door opened.

 

“Hello, Prince.”

 

While we exchanged greetings, the maid who had guided me to the drawing room quietly excused herself.

 

Leonhardt, who had been sitting lazily on the sofa like an unfocused child, straightened his posture as the door closed and asked.

 

“Why were you late?”

 

“Just because.”

 

Aware that I had caused trouble, I gave a vague answer, and Leonhardt asked with a serious expression.

 

“I heard His Majesty summoned you?”

 

“Why are you asking when you already know?”

 

I countered Leonhardt’s question with a sulky one of my own.

 

The Chamberlain had indeed delivered the message, as Leonhardt already knew why I was late for our appointment.

 

Leonhardt had waited for an hour after receiving only a unilateral notice that I would come after meeting with the Emperor.

 

The situation called for at least a brief explanation of what had happened, but I didn’t feel like it.

 

I was emotionally agitated enough not to regret having directly criticized the Emperor.

 

If I opened my mouth now, sharp words would come spilling out.

 

‘Even so, he’s still Leonhardt’s biological father, so it would be wrong to badmouth him in front of him.’

 

Seeing me remain silent, Leonhardt seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere.

 

Leonhardt closed his mouth and began watching my mood.

 

‘He has developed some awareness. I can see he’s learned to wait until I’m ready to speak.’

 

I was definitely an emotional person.

 

So when my emotions were stirred up like this, I needed time alone to calm them down.

 

If someone bothered me at times like this, I would act so irritably that even I thought it was too much.

 

‘And then I would regret it once my emotions settled.’

 

Leonhardt was probably the one who suffered most from this flaw in my personality.

 

Perhaps because Leonhardt was the taciturn type, whenever he did say something, he was the type to only throw fastballs.

 

I chuckled as I recalled the frequent conflicts from the first life.

 

‘We really don’t match in personality.’

 

Leonhardt wasn’t someone I could just cut ties with because we didn’t get along.

 

Like family or friends made in very early childhood, even different aspects could be understood.

 

‘Still, since I’ve even regressed, I should become a better person. I should get along well with Leon too.’

 

The Emperor had served as an excellent negative example for me.

 

With time helping me feel somewhat better, I opened my mouth.

 

“You can ask now.”

 

With the permission granted, Leonhardt asked as if he had been waiting.

 

“Is this about what happened at Jeffrisian’s birthday party last time?”

 

Leonhardt looked at my complexion with worried eyes.

 

The perpetrator who had called his follower to try to humiliate Leonhardt was the Crown Prince, and Leonhardt was the victim.

 

In other words, if the problem was what happened at the Crown Prince’s birthday party, there would be no reason to worry about me, who would have been called as a witness or reference at most.

 

‘You should at least worry about yourself. The Emperor is treating that day’s events as if they never happened.’

 

Feeling unnecessarily upset, I spoke reproachfully.

 

“What did I do wrong that day?”

 

And I regretted it a little after saying it.

 

‘Leon didn’t do anything wrong either.’

 

But Leonhardt, who was familiar with me, laughed off this level of irritability as nothing serious.

 

“That’s true. You’re right about that. Then why were you summoned?”

 

Leonhardt gently took my hand and met my eyes as if coaxing me to tell him.

 

It was quite amusing to see him making such a caring, almost loving expression with his characteristically round and soft childlike face.

 

This very small trigger improved my mood.

 

At least enough to bring up the unwelcome topic again.

 

“Well, to summarize, I’d say it was a meeting to confirm whether I had any intention of marrying the Crown Prince?”

 

Though it was closer to a sneer, something resembling a smile appeared on my lips.

 

However, this time it was Leonhardt’s expression that hardened upon hearing my answer.

 

“Miela, surely you didn’t…”

 

I quickly answered before Leonhardt could start lecturing.

 

“Of course I refused.”

 

If I had really been six years old, I might have fallen for the Emperor’s sweet talk, but I wasn’t, was I?

 

“You did well. His Majesty can’t force Duke Roderick either.”

 

Leonhardt nodded seriously.

 

As if I had properly carried out something that was only natural.

 

‘If I do get married in this life, I’ll bring in a gentle man as a live-in son-in-law.’

 

Of course, it was a plan I had made by myself.

 

‘Come to think of it?’

 

I suddenly remembered something and added.

 

“His Majesty kept appealing that the Imperial bloodline is handsome and generally faithful, making them good husband material, so I told him that in that case, I’d rather marry you.”

 

Pleased with what I thought was excellent quick thinking, I reenacted what I had said like it was a heroic tale.

 

“Couldn’t you have left out the ‘rather’ part?”

 

Leonhardt chuckled and said jokingly.

 

Leonhardt and I weren’t the type to share jokes well.

 

‘I have severe mood swings and Leonhardt is too serious.’

 

Thinking that our sense of humor had aligned for once in a long time, I cheerfully responded to Leonhardt’s words.

 

“You’re right, since the comparison was with the Crown Prince, it would naturally be you.”

 

‘Why am I getting butterflies?’

 

Leonhardt’s heart began pounding wildly at Miela’s playful words.

 

So intensely that anyone watching might think he had just received a marriage proposal.

 

Leonhardt carefully took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down.

 

‘The opponent is Prince. This isn’t something to be happy about.’

 

It was like choosing between poisonous mushrooms and food you could eat but didn’t particularly want.

 

‘But this is the first time Miela has said she wants to marry me.’

 

Leonhardt’s heart arbitrarily edited Miela’s statement and rejoiced.

 

His heart pounded as if he had drunk several cups of very strong tea in succession, and warmth spread all the way to his fingertips.

 

Slightly elated, Leonhardt carefully brought up words he had been hesitating to say for a long time.

 

“Still, you married me because you thought I was the best husband material you could choose from. Right?”

 

“Well, that’s true.”

 

Miela, being generous toward the younger him, readily agreed.

 

Leonhardt smiled shyly yet brightly, as if he had received a surprise gift.

 

He didn’t even dare hope for her love.

 

If only he could be Miela’s best choice in this life as well.

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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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