If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 97

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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 97

The Emperor asked in a tone that treated me like a child again, as if he had never been serious at all.

“I heard the Young Lady likes gems. Do you like ruby mines too?”

I do like them, but…?

I was puzzled by the Emperor’s attitude, as he seemed certain that I would like gems.

Of course, I liked gems as much as anyone else, but I had never hoarded them like a crow.

But recently, starting with Lionel, other family members had been giving me rare and historically significant gems as gifts, or even mines – it was chaos.

‘Father even gave me the exclusive purchasing rights for black pearls produced in the Kingdom of Defia.’

When my family did this, I thought it was just a trend within House Roderick.

But when even the Emperor asked if I liked gems, I definitely felt there was some inside story.

‘Why?’

Even tilting my head, nothing came to mind.

However, my questioning was brief.

‘It’s not right to refuse what adults give you.’

Especially things like mines.

“I love them!”

When I answered with a beaming smile, the Emperor smiled contentedly.

“There’s an imperial ruby mine in a place called Nekra, and I’ll give that to you as a gift. Of course, this is separate from the reward for the goodwill shown by House Roderick and the spirit contractors.”

As expected, the Emperor was generous.

To think that a gift given for being praiseworthy would be the largest ruby mine on the continent.

I’ll gratefully accept it!

Even though I’m Lady Roderick, a ruby mine in Nekra was quite a significant gift.

‘I do have opal mines, emerald mines, diamond mines, and one each of gold and silver mines by type, but this is my first ruby mine.’

I was delighted by the nice additional income, but then I was startled and corrected my thoughts.

‘I decided to thoroughly fleece the Emperor, but I’m satisfied with just this much.’

My problem is being too modest.

“But Miela prefers pink over red?”

I said casually while blinking with an utterly innocent face.

I said this with the Emperor’s pink diamond mine in mind.

Considering the rarity of the mineral, this one was more valuable.

‘I did receive it from Leon as a first wedding anniversary gift, but it would be better to get it in advance.’

It was brazen behavior, but I was confident the Emperor wouldn’t be displeased.

Sure enough, the Emperor laughed heartily as if I had acted cute.

“Really? I happen to have a pink diamond mine that the Young Lady would like. I’ll give that as a gift too.”

I thought he would change the ruby mine to a pink diamond mine, but he’s giving me both.

Yes!

When I couldn’t hide my joy for a moment, the Emperor laughed as if he found me adorably irresistible.

The goofy feeling was so strong that it overlapped with the smiles my family members made.

‘At this point, it seems like he likes me more than his own children?’

The Emperor did play a decent parental role to the Prince, but he was quite a strict parent.

‘I don’t know what it was like when he was younger, but ever since suspicions arose that the Prince might have been involved in the annex fire incident or kidnapping incident, he’s definitely been strict.’

He still regarded the Prince as his only heir, and seemed to be relaxing a bit as the Prince was being cautious and well-behaved, but compared to the first round, the difference in attitude was stark.

‘But why is he being so friendly to me?’

Even though I’m generally popular with adults, the Emperor’s attitude was particularly friendly compared to others.

It hadn’t even been a minute since I became suspicious.

The Emperor once again revealed his inner thoughts by talking to himself quite loudly.

“It’s really a shame. It would have been good if Prince and the Young Lady had gotten along well back then.”

The Prince and I were in a relationship that showed no signs of getting along well.

Although the Emperor’s arbitrary dramatization was unpleasant, I didn’t have enough enthusiasm to argue about it.

I tilted my head as if wondering why he suddenly said such a thing and retorted.

“Isn’t the Crown Prince engaged to Lady Perington?”

I threw out my intention of why he was trying to pair me up when Elody was there, but in a very softened way.

Then the Emperor sighed lightly and whispered as if telling a secret.

“That’s true, but I liked the Young Lady better than Elody.”

When I received the ruby mine and pink diamond mine, even though we’d only met twice, I had no complaints about his friendly behavior.

However, when he tried to pair me up with the Prince, I couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied.

‘Should I bring Leon into this again?’

But the Emperor’s mouth opened first.

“But I do have one more son.”

Though it was a remark disguised as a joke, the Emperor couldn’t hide his embarrassed expression.

He seemed to regret having said something unnecessary.

As if it was just something that came out unconsciously because his heart had softened strangely while talking with me.

While the Emperor was indeed being shameless, it was still better than treating Leonhardt as if he didn’t exist like before.

I responded appropriately with a smiling face.

“And I still prefer younger men.”

Fortunately, my joke seemed to work as the Emperor smiled with a much more comfortable expression.

“That works out well.”

Even winking.

The atmosphere that had almost become tense was fortunately resolved well.

I had a bit more casual conversation with the Emperor.

‘Since I received two mines!’

When the conversation went on longer than expected and I was about to get tired, the Chamberlain outside carefully signaled that there was a next appointment.

“Oh my, time has already passed like this.”

The Emperor openly showed a regretful expression.

Then, ignoring the Chamberlain’s hints, he stepped forward saying he would personally see me off.

“The young Lady’s legs must be tired.”

Then he allowed House Roderick’s carriage to enter an area that only carriages carrying imperial family members could enter.

‘Of course, this is a privilege granted to Father too. But it’s only granted to Father.’

It was an attitude that showed how favorably the Emperor regarded me.

‘Would he even tolerate this?’

While walking holding the Emperor’s hand, I casually asked.

“Your Majesty, you know what? Could you keep my gift of rye a secret for just a while?”

The Emperor showed curiosity at the somewhat unexpected remark.

“What’s the reason?”

It felt like he would listen if there was a reasonable cause.

I whispered while pretending to have an innocent face.

“Actually, my competitor is Viscount Perington.”

If he knew that the imperial court had purchased sufficient relief food, Viscount Perington would give up and just dump his stock.

He would also be concerned about the Emperor’s reaction, and when the imperial court began relief efforts in earnest, the price of the grain he had stored would drop tremendously.

‘Then we’d have a price war.’

Viscount Perington had to hold out until I finished selling all my rye first.

‘That’s how he’ll go bankrupt.’

The Emperor’s expression hardened very briefly but soon relaxed.

‘He does know that Viscount Perington is hoarding grain.’

That’s probably why he contacted me.

But the Emperor didn’t seem to have any intention of cutting off Viscount Perington, or more precisely, the Prince, yet.

‘I didn’t think he’d strike him down already.’

I carefully observed the Emperor’s complexion and added.

“I want to succeed in this business, you see? But if people know I gave Your Majesty a gift, I’m worried others might ask for gifts for themselves too.”

It was somewhat brazen to say this when I had just received two mines worth several times the value of the grain from the Emperor.

However, the Emperor brushed even this aside with a smile.

“I’ll do that for you. We’ll just say it was imported from a foreign country.”

He even went so far as to create an excuse for me.

‘It seems he can’t let go of the Crown Prince yet, but he won’t just stand by and watch Viscount Perington either.’

Seeing how openly he’s backing me so I can win.

It meant I would pretend to be swayed while fully understanding his shallow intentions.

I pretended not to notice the Emperor’s intentions and just smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

Either way, he helped me, didn’t he?

And I got the mine too.

At my polite bow, the Emperor also smiled and bid his farewell.

The Emperor and I smiled brightly while hiding our respective schemes from each other.

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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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