If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 51

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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 52

 

Upon hearing my question, my parents exchanged glances.

 

They seemed to be pondering how much they should tell me.

 

‘Do you really think I’m the type to just quietly stay ignorant if you don’t tell me?’

 

Fortunately, my parents knew this tendency of mine well.

 

Father, who let out a small sigh, began his explanation.

 

“It was misfortune upon misfortune.”

 

“Someone dropped a broken fireworks toy, and the fire breathed by an angry Ignis Salamander happened to fly in that direction and exploded.”

 

My parents only explained up to this point, but this was enough information for me to guess the context.

 

‘That someone must be Kairon… Then it’s exactly as I suspected – something the Prince orchestrated.’

 

Accidents or coincidences were among the excuses the Prince frequently used.

 

But when accidents or coincidences overlap, they become intentional.

 

And from the fact that my parents were hiding Kairon’s involvement, I learned one more thing.

 

‘Mother and Father also suspect that the Prince orchestrated this incident.’

 

He just happened to bring a broken fireworks set and dropped it, and he just happened to bring an Ignis Salamander thinking it was a salamander lizard, and the angry Ignis Salamander just happened to breathe fire in that direction?

 

Selling Ignis Salamanders disguised as salamander lizards was rare but occasionally happened, and the other two variables also weren’t impossibly unlikely.

 

The probability of all three overlapping simultaneously was extremely low but not impossible.

 

But what if both people involved in this incident were the Prince’s associates?

 

‘From here on, it reeks unbearably, doesn’t it?’

 

This was an incident where dozens of high-ranking noble children nearly died at an event prepared by Duke Roderick’s Mansion.

 

There was no way Father would overlook even the slightest suspicion in such a situation.

 

‘Of the two causes of the fire, the fireworks set was common enough that tracing its source would be difficult.’

 

But the ‘salamander lizard’ side was different.

 

‘I don’t know how many hours I was unconscious, but it would have been enough time for Father to track down all salamander lizard transactions within the Empire.’

 

Of course, Father would have found the Prince in those transaction records.

 

Two of the three variables originated from the Prince.

 

‘At this point, it would be reasonable deduction to assume the remaining variable that’s hard to verify was also the Prince’s doing.’

 

In other words, trying to create an escape route had backfired and left too many clues instead.

 

However, all of this was built from accumulated circumstantial evidence, with nothing that could serve as definitive proof.

 

Intent is an ‘internal fact’ – a psychological and mental phenomenon existing within the actor’s mind – so it couldn’t be confirmed unless the Prince confessed.

 

‘For now, I’ll have to bury it and watch while staying on guard.’

 

“Yaaawn.”

 

Perhaps from using my young brain too much, drowsiness began washing over me helplessly.

 

“I shouldn’t sleep… I need to go check if Merlin and Leon are okay.”

 

My thoughts must have slipped out, as my family smiled softly.

 

“They’re both fine.”

 

“But if Miela wants, we’ll go check on them again.”

 

“Mm-hmm.”

 

I nodded slowly and ended up falling asleep just like that.

 

In my sleep, I thought I felt lips touching my left cheek twice and my right cheek twice.

 

Merlin had no injuries but was in a state of exhaustion.

 

She was also anxious from the sudden awakening.

 

The couple sent Lionel and Lester to Merlin, who was still somewhat afraid of adults, and headed to Leonhardt’s bedroom.

 

“Oh my, you’re awake?”

 

Bianca was slightly surprised to see Leonhardt awake, expecting him to be asleep from the severe internal injuries that made him cough up blood.

 

“You should sleep more to recover quickly…”

 

Worried nagging flowed out, but Leonhardt didn’t seem inclined to lie back down.

 

“Perfect timing.”

 

Rather, as if he’d been waiting, he offered seats to the couple.

 

Leonhardt waited in silence until the two had placed chairs side by side and sat down, then opened his mouth.

 

“Do you know who’s behind this incident?”

 

The red eyes that Miela had praised as gem-like took on a serious light as they looked at the two.

 

Caught off guard by his direct hit to the point, the two had to struggle to manage their expressions for the first time in a long while.

 

“Do you mean the Ignis Salamander?”

 

“…Dear.”

 

Aimers stopped Bianca from trying to deflect and move on.

 

While not knowing things that weren’t good to know was a child’s privilege, what Leonhardt wanted now was the truth.

 

And his capacity was more than enough to handle the truth.

 

Bianca looked reluctant but respected Aimers’ choice.

 

“Yes, we know.”

 

At Aimers’ honest answer, Leonhardt smiled approvingly.

 

He was only four years old, even smaller than their youngest daughter, yet for a moment they felt the dignity of a ruler.

 

Even the current Emperor, who had been on the throne for over ten years, couldn’t carry himself so composedly before Duke Roderick.

 

A strange sense of unease briefly ran down their spines.

 

But before Aimers could identify what that unease was, Leonhardt spoke.

 

“Are you going to let this slide?”

 

His voice, as if condensed with cold fury, stirred fighting spirit like war drums announcing battle.

 

“Of course not.”

 

Aimers answered, revealing the anger he’d been suppressing out of concern that the children might worry.

 

Not only his three irreplaceable precious children, but dozens of innocent lives had nearly been lost.

 

“No matter how childish and malicious the act, I’ll make sure he pays the proper price.”

 

Once unleashed, his anger was uncontrollable.

 

Aimers spoke with a trembling voice from emotions he couldn’t contain.

 

“Everyone’s safe. It’s okay, Aimers.”

 

Bianca patted Aimers’ hand comfortingly.

 

But even the relatively calm Bianca’s expression turned coldly rigid at Leonhardt’s next words.

 

“Do you really think it was a childish malicious act? That Prince thought it was a salamander lizard, but it happened to be an Ignis Salamander so simple fire play got out of hand… something like that?”

 

Leonhardt, who had accurately pinpointed their reasoning, sneered.

 

“You mean that’s not what happened?”

 

Bianca asked back in shock.

 

Surely not… No matter how twisted, Prince was only eleven years old.

 

Just trying to set fire because he didn’t like House Roderick’s actions was already sufficiently vicious.

 

“Was there only one salamander lizard purchased by the Crown Prince’s Palace?”

 

Leonhardt spoke as if he’d already seen the data they’d just received.

 

“That’s…”

 

Leonhardt was right.

 

The Crown Prince’s Palace had been steadily purchasing rare animals, including several salamander lizards.

 

This was under the pretext of the Prince’s hobbies being hunting and animal dissection.

 

Though they called it a hobby, it was closer to a means of satisfying his desire to see blood, which they’d been keeping quiet about.

 

“Salamander lizards and Ignis Salamanders look quite similar. But for someone with relevant knowledge, they’re not that hard to distinguish.”

 

Leonhardt spoke as if driving in the final nail.

 

“So do you think Prince would have confused a salamander lizard with an Ignis Salamander?”

 

It felt like their hearts were turning cold.

 

Reason said they couldn’t simply believe a child’s words, that verification was needed, but instinct already knew the conclusion.

 

That Leonhardt’s words were accurate.

 

Aimers gritted his teeth.

 

Being so angry made him feel calmer instead.

 

‘If all this is true… The Prince is insane. Such a person must not be allowed to become Emperor.’

 

But replacing the Prince required not just such suspicions but solid justification.

 

And someone to replace him with.

 

Aimers’ gaze unconsciously turned toward Leonhardt.

 

Perhaps noticing the assessing look, Leonhardt revealed his hand.

 

“I’ve awakened divine blood.”

 

Chills ran down Aimers’ spine.

 

It was a miracle bestowed by the gods for the Empire’s future.

 

The sensation he had felt when choosing the current Emperor was being reproduced.

 

It was as if moonlight illuminated only the path that must be taken beneath a dark world.

 

The moment Aimers finished his judgment, Leonhardt made his proposal as if he had been waiting.

 

“Choose me again this time, Roderick.”

 

Though it was a proposal, there was no need to hear an answer.

 

As long as those they must protect were the same and those they must cut down were the same, they were already in the same boat.

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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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