If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 42

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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 43

 

We only departed after seeing Lester’s carriage pass through the main gate of the Duke’s Residence.

 

We stopped by a weapon shop that catered to young nobles to order a sword for Lester, then headed to the commercial district.

 

The plan was to get clothes fitted at a dress shop that had maintained its fame for decades, then dine at a restaurant currently popular among nobles before returning home.

 

‘These are perfect places to create plenty of witness accounts that will circulate through noble society.’

 

When we arrived at the dress shop, our second destination, the shop owner came out personally to greet us.

 

“It is an infinite honor to have you visit our Florabelle Atelier.”

 

We had come without prior notice, maintaining the pretense of a spontaneous family outing, yet there was no surprise whatsoever in the shop owner’s eyes.

 

Rather, it felt like ‘I’ve been waiting for you, I’ll serve you properly.’

 

‘It seems they obtained information somehow. From the weapon shop perhaps?’

 

It was shrewd business acumen, but since I had chosen this dress shop precisely because they were quick-witted and knew what to say and what not to say, my parents’ reaction wasn’t bad.

 

‘Even after seeing Leonhardt’s red eyes, their business smile didn’t falter at all, and they’re treating him properly as a prince.’

 

Most importantly, while it was an unspoken rule to clear the dress shop when high-ranking nobles visited, the fact that they continued operating despite knowing of our visit in advance was what I liked most.

 

‘Really quick on the uptake. Very good.’

 

Since this was a place specializing in women’s clothing that Mother had used often, she dealt with the shop owner.

 

“We came out for a family outing, but our clothes got dirty.”

 

Mother gestured toward the hem of her dress where she had deliberately spilled some juice as an excuse.

 

“Ah, I see. As it happens, the outfit you ordered last time is almost finished, so I’ll complete it quickly. Could you wait just a moment?”

 

The shop owner smoothly recited what seemed like a prepared response and guided us to the waiting room.

 

Though the waiting rooms were designed as independent spaces for clients’ privacy, in high society even the walls have eyes.

 

As we walked down the corridor, I could feel subtle gazes with every step.

 

“By the way, could we look at children’s clothing while we wait? His Highness the Prince and my daughter have grown quite tall, so it seems we need to have new clothes made.”

 

Mother spoke in a loud, clear voice as if announcing who she had visited with.

 

“Of course. While our Florabelle Atelier is known for specializing in women’s clothing, we actually have quite an excellent children’s clothing lineup as well.”

 

The shop owner answered good-naturedly and promptly brought design books and fabric samples.

 

“Shall we start with the young gentleman first?”

 

Even with children’s clothing, there were more varieties of girls’ clothes and they looked more glamorous, so usually more time was spent looking at girls’ clothes.

 

Having accompanied me a couple of times when I got clothes fitted and knowing this well, Leonhardt nodded obediently.

 

True to Leonhardt’s nature of having no particular preferences, choosing clothes was finished quickly.

 

‘Since he just nodded at whatever was selected for him.’

 

If he had needed fewer clothes, it might not have taken even 10 minutes.

 

‘Well, I had fun since I slipped in a bow tie and pink formal wear.’

 

Next was my turn.

 

The atmosphere was quite different from when we were choosing Leonhardt’s clothes.

 

Even Lionel and Father, who had only offered light advice during Leonhardt’s turn, were now sparkling with excitement.

 

‘Everyone… looks like they’re having fun.’

 

But since I also loved pretty clothes, I was very cooperative.

 

Thanks to that, our stay at the dress shop was getting longer than planned.

 

“Doesn’t this bonnet suit her well? We’ll take this too.”

 

“Our daughter looks lovely in pink, cute in yellow, and angelic in white – what should we do?”

 

“Miela, how about this one?”

 

Along with my family’s doting, the shop owner’s smile stretched from ear to ear as the order forms piled up generously.

 

My young body was getting just as tired.

 

‘Changing clothes is quite exhausting work after all.’

 

This was after trying on dozens of outfits and holding hundreds of fabric pieces against my body.

 

I was starting to want to stop now.

 

I was looking for the right timing to wrap things up when I suddenly made eye contact with Leonhardt, who had been staring at me blankly.

 

‘Was he bored?’

 

Come to think of it, compared to my family’s voices that had been like background music, Leonhardt’s side had been quiet the whole time.

 

I felt a bit sorry, thinking I might have kept a child who didn’t even like shopping for too long.

 

‘We’re almost done.’

 

I whispered with just my lip movements, then asked.

 

“Your Highness, which of these two looks better?”

 

It seemed better than not asking anything at all.

 

‘Come to think of it, even though we’ve lived together for four years, this is the first time we’ve chosen clothes for each other.’

 

The two times Leonhardt had accompanied me, we had quietly spent our time separately like now.

 

Even for formal wear for banquets that required couples to attend together, I would choose mine first, then Leonhardt’s attendant would select something suitable for Leonhardt.

 

Perhaps thinking of something similar, Leonhardt gave an ambiguous answer.

 

“Both are pretty.”

 

“Then I’ll take both of these too.”

 

I liked both anyway, and I hadn’t expected a particularly insightful answer from Leonhardt.

 

When I cheerfully declared I’d take both, the shop owner and Leonhardt simultaneously smiled with satisfaction.

 

‘Why are you smiling?’

 

I was puzzled, but since there were still many clothes to try on, the thought quickly scattered.

 

After spending longer at the dress shop than expected and getting into the carriage in a slightly tired state, I immediately felt hungry.

 

Since this was the first time I had missed a meal since my regression, it seemed to feel even more difficult.

 

‘Ugh, young bodies really have no patience.’

 

I leaned back against the carriage seat listlessly.

 

“Father, is the restaurant far?”

 

“Oh my, our Miela must be very hungry.”

 

Seeing me suddenly deflated, Father instructed the coachman to hurry as much as possible.

 

“Normally snacks before meals aren’t allowed, but shall we have just a little?”

 

Mother quickly took out snacks that were in the carriage.

 

It was just crackers and fruit preserved in honey, but perhaps because I was hungry, it looked so delicious.

 

“Yes.”

 

After receiving the snacks from Mother and taking a bite of the honey-preserved fruit first, my adult thinking finally returned a bit.

 

‘Leon must be hungry too.’

 

While I was the one who had used more energy changing into various outfits, Leonhardt was younger than me.

 

“You, no, Your Highness should have some too.”

 

I belatedly offered snacks to Leonhardt.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Leonhardt didn’t refuse and accepted a cracker.

 

Though Leonhardt usually displayed dining etiquette that could be described as elegant, his cracker eating was a bit more hurried than usual.

 

‘You’re also finding it hard to live in a child’s body.’

 

As I was feeling this sad sense of kinship, I made eye contact with Leonhardt, who had a similar expression to mine.

 

The moment we recognized each other’s expressions, we both burst into giggles.

 

“Your Highness, you have something on the corner of your mouth.”

 

“Princess, your lips are shiny.”

 

We lightly bickered while amicably sharing the snacks.

 

Fortunately, as Father had promised, the restaurant wasn’t very far.

 

“Here, we’ve arrived.”

 

Father helped Mother and me down from the carriage in turn, holding our hands.

 

“This place is…?”

 

I hadn’t realized when I heard the explanation, but now that we had arrived, the building’s exterior looked familiar.

 

It was a place I had been to in my first life.

 

‘This is where Leon and I had our first fight…’

 

I still remember it vividly.

 

So it was about a year after we got married.

 

Leonhardt, who was the only person I could rely on in the Imperial Palace, was too busy, and the Empress’s crown was heavier than it looked.

 

It was the most serious period of attempts to tame the young Empress to their liking.

 

I, who wasn’t particularly strong to begin with, gradually crumbled bit by bit.

 

One day, I left the Imperial Palace to attend a salon gathering, but I really didn’t want to go.

 

I impulsively canceled my schedule and walked through this Commercial District alone.

 

As a minimal precaution, I had switched clothes with a maid, but my face was quite well-known, so that was nowhere near enough.

 

The gazes of people who noticed that the Empress was wandering the streets with only a few maids were drawn to me like crazy.

 

‘Wait, romance novel heroines feel liberated when they do stuff like this…’

 

I just felt embarrassed.

 

The place I entered to escape people’s stares was the restaurant right in front of me…

 

‘What did Leon say when he came to get me back then?’

 

Something about how being Empress was a position you could only escape through death, so I should have a sense of responsibility.

 

‘He wasn’t wrong, but still!’

 

Even thinking about it now, those were hurtful words.

 

I glared at Leonhardt for no reason.

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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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