If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 40

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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 41

 

I naturally turned my eyes away as if I hadn’t noticed Leonhardt’s feelings, and regretted it.

 

‘Was I too harsh with my words?’

 

It was childish, but for men, the label of never having been in a relationship was quite devastating.

 

‘Well, Leon’s situation didn’t really allow him to date freely.’

 

I gently patted the back of Leonhardt’s hand with a comforting heart.

 

‘This time, you’ll be able to have a proper relationship too.’

 

Leonhardt was a prince and handsome.

 

The label of the red-eyed curse would soon fall away too.

 

His personality was a bit prickly, but even that seemed to have improved lately, so it was fine.

 

‘Someone like Leonhardt would be quite good as a romantic partner.’

 

As I nodded as if adding conviction to my thoughts, Leonhardt, who didn’t know the context of my thinking, asked with a puzzled look.

 

“What did you just do?”

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

I smiled benevolently at Leonhardt and then resumed eating.

 

It was a little later when Leonhardt, who had been looking at me with suspicious eyes, picked up his utensils again.

 

The outside commotion finally reached the Duke’s Residence, which had been as peaceful as the eye of a storm.

 

It was thanks to the Crown Prince, who had been silently watching the situation, finally deciding what to do.

 

On a rare evening when everyone’s schedules were free and the family had gathered, the Crown Prince’s attendant came to visit.

 

The pretext was to invite Lester to a horseback riding gathering with his followers, who could be written as close friends but read as lackeys.

 

‘At this hour? And for next week at that?’

 

Such invitations should be sent at least two weeks before the gathering, during daylight hours as a matter of courtesy.

 

This behavior was quite rude, even for the Crown Prince.

 

‘It’s a warning being sent to House of Duke Roderick.’

 

Father, who had only become a guardian at the Emperor’s request and had no intention of interfering with the imperial succession structure, clearly showed his displeasure.

 

The attendant rambled on, saying it was the Crown Prince’s message, and though it was somewhat outside of protocol, it was to strengthen the friendship between Roderick and the imperial family.

 

After pondering for a moment, Father offered some pleasantries.

 

“Tell him we gladly accept the invitation. Also say that our second son loves horseback riding and is greatly looking forward to it.”

 

Whatever the intention, it seemed he planned to yield once.

 

Though he pretended to be calm on the surface, the attendant seemed inwardly tense and showed great relief as he returned to the palace.

 

“I thought I wouldn’t have to go this month!”

 

Lester, who was the subject of the invitation but had been excluded from the conversation, grumbled with his lips pushed out as soon as the attendant left.

 

“Lester.”

 

Mother glanced toward Leonhardt and called Lester’s name.

 

Lester’s complaints stopped at the warning tone in her voice.

 

“Have a good trip. Behave dignifiedly as befits a member of Roderick.”

 

Father patted Lester’s shoulder, whose lips were still protruding, as he spoke.

 

“Yes.”

 

Lester nodded, albeit with a sullen face.

 

Fortunately, Lester tended to behave quite normally when outside.

 

Relieved by his obedient response, our parents exchanged glances briefly before speaking in artificially bright voices.

 

“Now it’s time for the children to go to bed. Your Highness should also retire for the night, shouldn’t you?”

 

The timing of suggesting bedtime was unnatural.

 

Thanks to this, everyone noticed that our parents had something to discuss without the children present.

 

“Then I’ll get up first.”

 

Starting with Leonhardt, Lester and I took turns giving goodnight greetings and rising from our seats.

 

Except for Lionel.

 

Father smiled at Lionel, who sat upright as if he wasn’t included in the ‘children’ our parents had mentioned, and said.

 

“Lionel, you need to sleep early to grow tall, don’t you?”

 

“Father, I am the next Duke Roderick! My situation is different from Miela’s and Lester’s.”

 

Lionel felt wronged at being grouped with us and treated like a child.

 

But Father was firm.

 

“Even the next Duke Roderick needs sufficient sleep and regular meals when young.”

 

At his gentle but stern expression, Lionel finally gave up and stood.

 

“Good night.”

 

Though he probably thought it was childish to show his hurt feelings, he maintained a fairly composed expression, but his footsteps leaving the family drawing room were louder than usual.

 

“Let’s go together, brother!”

 

Lester also looked back and forth between our parents and Lionel before heading to his room.

 

‘Let’s go out too.’

 

I poked Leonhardt’s side to signal him and quietly left the family drawing room.

 

I was deliberately walking slowly to let Lionel and Lester get farther away, when the oblivious Leonhardt looked at me puzzledly and asked loudly if my ankle hurt.

 

And quite loudly at that.

 

“Be quiet! You fool.”

 

I whispered my reproach to Leonhardt and then covered his mouth.

 

Fortunately, Leonhardt’s voice didn’t seem to reach either Lionel and Lester who had gone ahead, or our parents in the family drawing room.

 

I let out a sigh of relief and pulled Leonhardt into the adjacent room stealthily.

 

“Even if we had stayed, we wouldn’t have heard anything proper. Lionel is still a child after all.”

 

When I spoke like a monologue and smiled wickedly, Leonhardt, who grasped the situation, widened his eyes.

 

“You’re going to eavesdrop?”

 

“And you were going to obediently go to sleep? At this important moment when the future of House of Duke Roderick might be decided?”

 

When I spoke with an even more exaggerated surprised expression, Leonhardt seemed to think he had been too obedient and reversed his attitude.

 

“That’s true.”

 

“Good, then.”

 

I grabbed Leonhardt’s arm and approached the fireplace while quickly explaining.

 

“If you get near this fireplace, you can hear voices.”

 

We simultaneously put our ears to the soot-stained fireplace.

 

“I can hear them.”

 

Leonhardt whispered.

 

It seemed they had just started an important conversation.

 

We listened intently, even holding our breath as if we had made a pact.

 

“…Ever since the mining development permit issue, His Highness the Crown Prince’s wariness toward Roderick has been getting worse.”

 

Mother’s tone was sharp, as if she had been suppressing her displeasure.

 

“Isn’t this something we prepared ourselves for? Roderick isn’t a place that would be shaken by such things.”

 

Father soothed Mother with a calm voice.

 

However, Mother’s mood didn’t seem to improve with just that.

 

“It’s not like it’s House of Perington, so I didn’t expect this from His Highness the Crown Prince’s side. If he had a brain to think with, he’d know what intention His Majesty had when asking us to become the Prince’s guardian.”

 

Mother’s tone, which was even caustic, seemed to only feel endearing to Father.

 

After a soft laugh was heard, Father’s voice came through.

 

“I didn’t know his character was small enough to feel threatened by an opponent who started far behind and couldn’t even get a proper start. Even if they didn’t grow up together, he is his blood brother.”

 

“That’s right. Even if inborn tendencies improve, they don’t change easily, I suppose.”

 

Mother let out a big sigh and whispered in a low voice.

 

“But even if that’s how it’s been until now, what do you plan to do if similar things happen in the future? Aimers?”

 

“Well…”

 

From listening and inferring through the parts that weren’t clearly audible, it seemed House of Duke Roderick would maintain a conciliatory attitude close to neutrality for the time being.

 

‘Prince is the officially recognized heir after all.’

 

The Crown Prince’s cruel nature, which would be a serious flaw, was currently a secret known only to a very few, so it was a natural choice from our parents’ perspective.

 

Of course, a conciliatory attitude didn’t mean bowing down to the Crown Prince.

 

Our parents’ conversation about future action plans shifted to everyday matters at some point.

 

“I’m craving wine today.”

 

“Since the children went to bed early, shall we have a drink?”

 

‘Eek.’

 

Knowing my parents’ relationship well, I quietly pulled Leonhardt along and left the room.

 

From now on, it would be a conversation that wouldn’t be particularly pleasant to overhear.

 

‘I’ve heard all the important parts, and I’ll find out the rest soon enough.’

 

My mother and father aren’t the type to be easily swayed.

 

And my guess turned out to be correct.

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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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