If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 32

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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 33

 

“Hah, the wine tastes especially sweet today. Is it because life is so bitter? Aimers.”

 

‘Dessert wine is naturally sweet though…’

 

Aimers swallowed the words he wanted to say as he watched the Emperor drinking dessert wine—which even young ladies fresh from their debutante balls drank like a beverage—as if it were strong brandy.

 

Since the Emperor had a low alcohol tolerance, Aimers could understand his feelings as he gulped down even the low-proof dessert wine like that.

 

‘Our daughter is too smart, kind, and honest for her own good.’

 

Aimers sighed inwardly and held out his empty wine glass to the Emperor.

 

Since the Emperor was upset because of his own fault, even if he couldn’t comfort him, he thought he could at least keep him company while drinking.

 

The Emperor, whose eyes were already half-glazed, somehow managed to fill Aimers’ glass to the brim without spilling.

 

Aimers took just one sip of the wine that was poured almost to overflowing and set it down.

 

‘I’m full.’

 

To Aimers, who had a high alcohol tolerance, the 5-proof dessert wine felt like water.

 

Having shared 7 bottles of it, rather than getting drunk, he just felt bloated with liquid.

 

Fortunately, the intoxicated Emperor didn’t notice Aimers’ little trick.

 

Instead, he just sighed and filled his own glass to the brim, drank it all at once, then gasped for breath in distress.

 

Then, in a voice that clearly wanted Aimers to take his side, just like he often did when they were young, he asked:

 

“Aimers, do you also think I was wrong? That I was a father worse than trash?”

 

“Our Miela never said Your Majesty was like trash.”

 

Aimers first clearly corrected the Emperor’s error, then added:

 

“Yes, you are a bad father to the Second Prince.”

 

Aimers was someone who had distinguished right from wrong even when the Emperor was a prince getting beaten by his ill-tempered older brother and pouting for someone to take his side.

 

Back then, the Emperor was the victim in most situations, so Aimers was on his side, but this situation was different.

 

The Emperor, who had been hit with consecutive truth bombs by the father-daughter duo, laughed helplessly.

 

It felt like what little buzz he had managed to build up was flying away.

 

The Emperor fiddled with the stem of his wine glass and made excuses in a low voice.

 

“That was the best choice at the time. Everyone thought Leon was cursed and said the newborn child should be killed. For me, even keeping that child alive was a difficult choice.”

 

Hearing the Emperor’s excuse, Aimers’ eyes glinted coldly, just like Lionel’s when Lester caused trouble and made excuses to avoid getting scolded.

 

“Your Majesty.”

 

The Emperor flinched momentarily at the chilled voice.

 

Just as Aimers thought of him as a somewhat clumsy younger brother, the Emperor also thought of him as a stern older brother.

 

When the Emperor’s excuses stopped, Aimers spoke reproachfully.

 

“I thought confining the Second Prince to the Separate Palace was your choice as Emperor.”

 

The Emperor’s position hadn’t been very good to begin with.

 

Though he had succeeded in wearing the imperial crown with the help of House Roderick and heavenly fortune, he had no one who could be called his own faction.

 

He even had a considerably weak personality.

 

Though Aimers had helped, there were limits, and the Emperor was precarious in his early reign.

 

Just as he was struggling to establish his position, the Second Prince was born with red eyes.

 

The nobles who had been engaged in a power struggle used the Second Prince’s red eyes as an excuse to attack the Emperor, and ultimately the Emperor abandoned the Second Prince.

 

It wasn’t a choice Aimers could approve of, but it was understandable.

 

The position of Emperor was inherently like that.

 

But that didn’t mean he could stand by and watch the Emperor justify his own choice.

 

‘Of course, I was also a bystander, so I can’t be entirely righteous either.’

 

The Emperor, who understood everything Aimers wanted to say just from his expression, smiled bitterly.

 

The Emperor moved his lips several times as if wanting to make excuses, then filled his glass again and drank.

 

Aimers, feeling sorry for him, gently pushed a plate containing dried figs and nuts toward the Emperor.

 

Then, watching the Emperor repeatedly wash his face dry to try to clear his head properly, he spoke up.

 

“Do you know why I chose Your Majesty?”

 

The Emperor answered sullenly while chewing dried figs.

 

“Because I was easier to handle than my brother, I suppose.”

 

Even now, more than ten years after the Emperor’s ascension, the noble faction still disparaged the Emperor as Duke Roderick’s puppet.

 

When in reality, Aimers was his subject who knew his own position better than anyone.

 

It was quite a spicy joke, but Aimers didn’t laugh.

 

“Because Your Majesty was a better person than Delron.”

 

Aimers avoided the Emperor’s wavering gaze, flustered by this very rare praise, and added:

 

“Including the fact that you know your own faults and try to correct them.”

 

At his words, the Emperor made a small grunt and fell silent, lost in thought.

 

Aimers pretended to drink his wine—which he had only taken one sip of and set down—while waiting for the Emperor to finish thinking.

 

Any further involvement in imperial family affairs would be overstepping his bounds.

 

Fortunately, it was proven once again that the choice Aimers had made, staking even his family’s future, was correct.

 

The Emperor, whose eyes had become much clearer from the alcohol-induced haze, straightened his posture and spoke.

 

“The Princess is right. Leon is already four years old, yet the Empire is more peaceful than ever. At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that curse of red eyes is just nonsense from legends. If that’s the case, then it’s right to return that child’s rightful share even now.”

 

Aimers quietly listened to the long preamble that the Emperor seemed to have brought up to encourage himself.

 

“So Aimers, please become Leon’s guardian.”

 

But as soon as the Emperor reached his conclusion, Aimers lost his composure.

 

“Why does the conclusion turn out that way? A guardian, you say. Do you clearly understand what that means?”

 

Aimers asked “Are you in your right mind?” as indirectly as possible.

 

However, the Emperor, who caught the true feelings clearly conveyed through his tone and expression, laughed loudly.

 

“Hahaha, I know. I know that the nobles and the Crown Prince will think this choice is meant to shake the succession structure they’ve worked so hard to solidify.”

 

The Emperor’s expression showed no sign of joy as he said this while laughing.

 

“Would that be all? Many people will see Your Majesty and the Second Prince as overlapping.”

 

Aimers’ first connection with the Emperor had been similar.

 

The previous Emperor had asked him to become a guardian to protect his second son, obtained late in life.

 

“That would be so. But wouldn’t that be the only way to achieve balance?”

 

The Emperor answered, erasing all his usual playfulness.

 

In the end, Aimers nodded with a heavy expression.

 

It was the day after visiting the Imperial Palace.

 

“It’s not even Sunday, so why are we all having breakfast together?”

 

Lester, who seemed to have stayed up late and was still obviously sleepy, grumbled.

 

Since it wasn’t Sunday when he would clear his entire morning schedule, he seemed displeased that breakfast was earlier than usual.

 

“There must be something important that we all need to know.”

 

Lionel maturely soothed Lester.

 

Lester’s complaints stopped there, as he was just grumbling from fatigue and didn’t actually dislike having meals with his family.

 

Shortly after, our parents entered the dining room with serious expressions and sat side by side.

 

‘What is it?’

 

Though Lionel had hinted at it, I quietly fell into thought at the atmosphere that seemed more serious than expected.

 

‘There wasn’t anything major around this time.’

 

I had caused a small incident yesterday, but Father had called me aside at night and said it would be fine.

 

I wasn’t the only one reading our parents’ mood.

 

Lionel and Lester also quietly waited for our parents to speak.

 

Mother and Father kept exchanging glances like people who had to say something very difficult.

 

“I’ll say it, Bianca.”

 

In the end, it was Father who spoke up.

 

Father sighed with an expression that was hard to describe, then opened his mouth.

 

“Well, it seems we’re going to have a new family member.”

 

Right when he finished saying that, Lester jumped up and pointed.

 

At Mother’s belly!

 

“Huh? Huh? Don’t tell me we’re getting a sibling?”

 

As if wanting to confirm his guess, Lester’s gaze turned to each family member.

 

‘That’s not it.’

 

I started to sigh softly, then hesitated.

 

‘Is it really not true?’

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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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