If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 67
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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 67
After confirming that Merlin had left, I grabbed the madeleines and excitedly went to visit Leonhardt’s room.
“Leon, did you sleep well?”
Since I had a purpose, I greeted him more warmly than usual, and Leonhardt chuckled softly.
“Yeah.”
After casually brushing off Leonhardt’s greeting, I naturally claimed the table and chair in someone else’s room like I owned the place and carefully unwrapped the madeleines I’d received from Merlin.
Before I knew it, Leonhardt had sat across from me and pulled out madeleines in the same packaging as mine.
“Should I give you this too?”
“Yeah.”
Leonhardt doesn’t like sweets anyway.
‘Merlin knows that I usually eat Lionel and Leonhardt’s portions of snacks too!’
After boldly commandeering the madeleines, I asked Leonhardt to keep watch for anyone coming, then quickly devoured the madeleines.
After eating nothing but bland patient food, the madeleines tasted incredibly delicious.
Leonhardt was already watching me eat.
He was looking at the madeleines so contentedly that I wondered if his tastes had changed as he got younger, so I offered him one.
“Want some?”
Leonhardt smiled and shook his head.
“No.”
After gently declining the madeleine, Leonhardt brushed the crumbs from the corner of my mouth.
“Ahem.”
Embarrassed by the thought that I’d acted like a child again, I ate the rest of the madeleines with the elegant attitude of someone attending a formal dinner.
After finishing off Leonhardt’s portion of madeleines as well, I calmly hid the wrapper in a vase with not a single crumb on my face.
Leonhardt laughed quietly at my shameless behavior.
“I can’t get caught, so cooperate with me.”
There was a reason I’d specifically come to Leonhardt’s room to eat.
My snack ban was still in effect.
Leonhardt, still smiling, pointed out something I hadn’t thought of.
“Didn’t Lionel and Lester receive some too?”
“Ah…!”
I hadn’t thought of that.
After thinking for a moment, I pulled the wrapper back out of the vase and pushed it toward Leonhardt.
“Then let’s say you ate them.”
When I winked like a mischievous older sister, Leonhardt laughed out loud and nodded.
“Sure.”
Relieved, I asked jokingly.
“Maybe visiting us was just an excuse and she actually made these for Lionel?”
Leonhardt played along with my joke.
“That’s quite possible.”
By now, weren’t the two of them sharing madeleines and being lovey-dovey?
Imagining their innocent romance made my lips curl into a smile.
“Ah, when will I ever have a romance like that?”
Whether it was because it was such a random comment or because he took it as some kind of indirect criticism, Leonhardt looked flustered.
‘Well, it’s not really something to say in front of an ex-husband.’
Since I’d acknowledged that Leonhardt had tried his best to be good to me during our four years of marriage, I felt a bit sorry.
I belatedly added like an excuse.
“I mean, it’s not like we were the type to have a romance or anything.”
Leonhardt remained silent with a heavy expression before agreeing.
“The period from engagement to marriage was too short.”
Even though I knew it was the kindest answer Leonhardt could give, I felt secretly disappointed.
Because I knew that even if we’d married later, nothing would have changed.
I firmly suppressed the disappointment that was rising again and made a resolution.
‘This time I’m going to have a sweet romance with a gentle and kind man.’
But that was a story for about 15 years from now.
My body’s age was still that of a snotty little kid, far removed from sweet romance.
‘Ugh!’
But it wouldn’t make sense to date someone in their twenties based on my mental age either.
‘Sigh, I need to grow up first.’
I suddenly understood why Leonhardt had said he wanted to grow up quickly.
While the children were recovering their health, the adults did what adults had to do.
Among those tasks was dealing with the aftermath of the kidnappers.
Roderick’s knights did their best to get revenge.
As a result, they managed to catch all the kidnappers who had scattered and fled.
However, these were people who had been prepared to be discarded anyway.
Even after repeated interrogation and questioning, they knew nothing.
Even though they already suspected who the culprit was, there was no evidence to hold them accountable.
Aimers, his expression hardened by repeated helplessness, emerged from the underground prison reeking of blood.
“Duke, the carriage has been prepared.”
The aide who had been following cautiously informed him of the next schedule.
Since it happened to be a meeting with the Emperor, Aimers showed his displeasure openly.
‘I don’t want to see his face right now.’
The Emperor would seem not like a friend and lord, but like the father of the Crown Prince who had nearly gotten his daughter killed several times.
The Emperor was weak but not an evil person.
He believed the Emperor hadn’t been involved in the series of incidents.
Besides, he still had no evidence that the Crown Prince was the culprit.
He briefly considered postponing today’s meeting and first getting his emotions under control if he couldn’t act naturally, but Aimers soon changed his mind.
‘A child’s faults are the parent’s faults.’
Even if he was the Emperor, shouldn’t he take responsibility for failing to properly educate his child?
Aimers headed to the Imperial Palace with cold, flashing eyes.
“Welcome, Aimers.”
However, the Emperor’s expression as he greeted him was also unusual.
“Thank you for welcoming me, Your Majesty.”
The two men’s gazes crossed in the air.
As befitted people who had known each other for a long time, Aimers and the Emperor both sensed that they had important things to discuss with each other.
“It seems you have something to say, so please go ahead.”
Aimers yielded the floor to the Emperor, unable to suppress his sharp mood.
He didn’t know what the Emperor’s business was, but it seemed better to listen first before saying what he had to say.
As if he’d been waiting, the Emperor asked.
“What on earth are you thinking?”
When Aimers only narrowed his brow and remained silent at the question that came out of nowhere, the Emperor elaborated.
“I’m talking about Leonhardt. Why didn’t you inform me that he had awakened his Divine Blood?”
“I thought you already knew.”
Aimers answered calmly.
The Emperor’s reign had exceeded ten years by far.
The Emperor had become quite skilled at political rhetoric, but he also knew it wouldn’t work on Aimers, who had known him since childhood.
After glaring at Aimers for a few seconds, the Emperor’s tone returned to normal.
“I know. I know. But what do you think my reason was for pretending not to know?”
Toward the Emperor who was honestly expressing his emotions, Aimers also answered informally.
“I thought you were avoiding it as usual.”
“What?”
The Emperor clearly showed his displeasure.
However, Aimers had no intention of backing down at all.
What he said was right, and right now he was standing there not as the Emperor’s subject, but as Miela’s father.
Though he was a friend and guardian as well, Aimers had always been faithful to his basic position and had never crossed the line as a subject until now.
Sensing something unusual, the Emperor extended his hand first.
“You’re not simply trying to upset me… what do you really want to say?”
It was a nuance that he would tolerate it for the sake of their past friendship, but Aimers felt the same way.
Aimers suppressed his desire to confront the Emperor about whether he even knew what his son was up to, and answered.
“The day before the New Year’s Ceremony, Miela and His Highness the Prince were kidnapped.”
It was a matter of mobilizing the Knight Order within the capital.
Naturally, a report had gone up to the Emperor as well.
It could have been considered treason if handled poorly, but the Emperor had paid attention even while busy with New Year’s Ceremony preparations and helped cover up the incident.
Since the Prince had also been kidnapped, it could be said to be natural, but it was certainly a response born from goodwill.
“Didn’t they say both the Princess and Leon returned safely?”
When the Emperor asked worriedly, Aimers, who had been aggressive throughout, softened a bit.
He could sense that the Emperor had no idea about the full story of this incident and was genuinely worried.
“They did return safely, but.”
When he answered like a sigh, the Emperor asked with apparent puzzlement.
“I heard all the kidnappers were caught too?”
His tone was full of confusion about why Aimers was acting this way when the matter seemed to be resolving well.
That attitude was enough to reignite Aimers’ dying anger.
“Because it wasn’t simply a kidnapping for ransom!”
In the end, Aimers couldn’t hold back and raised his voice.
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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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