If I Were Reborn, I Wouldn’t Marry You - Chapter 99

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 99
‘Who started this rumor?’
I wanted to slip gold coins into someone’s sleeves as a reward.
My plan to naturally marry Leonhardt by staying glued to his side seemed to be progressing very successfully.
I smiled with satisfaction.
The butler, visibly relieved, continued guiding us quietly.
We arrived at the Drawing Room of House of Noyen.
The Marquis and Marquise Noyen were waiting for us, along with Emilian, dressed in formal attire for a young gentleman and wearing a sullen expression.
“Good day, Marquis and Marquise.”
“Welcome, Prince. And Miela.”
We exchanged warm greetings, but Emilian merely mumbled a perfunctory response.
His vacant eyes suggested he was mentally wandering through his laboratory in the Basement somewhere.
‘You’re having a rough time too.’
Officially, we had come to House of Noyen at Emilian’s invitation after his long absence abroad.
Thanks to this, Leonhardt was able to come with me, but the problem was Emilian’s attitude. Having invited us, he was reluctant to fulfill his role as host and showed no sign of being prepared to receive guests. He was making it painfully obvious that he had been forced into this invitation.
‘Will this work out?’
As expected, the Marquise’s expression was displeased.
The cold glint she directed at Emilian felt distinctly like a “we’ll talk about this later” warning.
Even someone as oblivious as Emilian seemed to understand the Marquise’s threat.
His demeanor shifted abruptly to become more agreeable.
Finally seeing her son display some semblance of dignity befitting a guest, the Marquise let out a sigh.
She looked utterly exhausted.
Leonhardt and I politely pretended not to notice the Marquise’s sigh.
‘If you weren’t an only child, you’d have been struck from the family tree long ago.’
The combination of the Marquise, who valued propriety and preferred strict adherence to principles, with Emilian was simply dreadful.
Compared to the version of Emilian before regression who had at least regained some sense, seeing him now in his most socially inept phase frustrated even me.
The Marquise must be feeling it even more.
‘Should I really let him meet Lady Kellion in this state?’
According to Emilian’s endless chatter about “Niea’s story,” Lady Kellion did have a slightly eccentric side to her.
‘Still, she’d be far better off than with Emilian as he is now.’
Would Lady Kellion even like this version of Emilian?
It was definitely uncertain.
I worried I might be disrupting a timeline couple unnecessarily.
However, securing the support of the Marquis and Marquise Noyen was crucial for Leonhardt’s ascension to Emperor.
Though Leonhardt’s standing had risen considerably thanks to his awakening of Holy Blood and various activities, there were still more supporters backing the Crown Prince.
Because of this, winning over Marquis Noyen, the leader of the Neutral Faction, was absolutely essential at this point.
‘Actually, since Marquis Noyen tends to follow his wife’s lead, I only need to persuade the Marquise.’
I already knew the method of persuasion.
The Marquise Noyen, who was both rigid and frugal, had one wish she repeated like a mantra: Emilian getting his act together.
‘She said she would do anything if someone could properly tutor Emilian in his duties as heir.’
Just as in the first timeline, the best way to win over Marquise Noyen was to use Emilian.
Using the power of love as I normally would didn’t seem like it would work.
But Emilian needed to regain his senses first.
Leonhardt appeared to be caught in a similar dilemma.
I’ll trust you, Leon.
I focused on the rye trade while hoping Leonhardt would come up with a good solution.
Fortunately, House of Noyen proved to be a conscientious trading partner.
They offered a fair price from the start, so there was no need for negotiation.
I knew this would happen because of House of Noyen’s pride.
The rye I was purchasing now would be distributed to the Estate’s residents either free of charge or at reduced prices.
So I didn’t attempt further negotiation and simply accepted their proposal as it was.
The transaction was nearly complete.
“Then I’ll have the steward convey the detailed arrangements separately.”
Marquis Neuien naturally began to dismiss us.
Since they were in a position where they had to defer, he had accepted Leonhardt’s presence, but he seemed uncomfortable discussing such detailed matters in this setting.
The way he issued the dismissal right after the main business concluded made that clear.
But our business wasn’t finished yet.
Since winning over Marquis Neuien was fundamentally more important than the rye trade itself, I couldn’t simply stand up and leave.
Leonhardt, who had been quietly contemplating while I conducted the trade, finally spoke.
“By the way, how long will Emilian Noyen be staying in the Empire?”
It was a somewhat abrupt question, but it was also awkward to avoid or defer answering it.
Above all, Leonhardt was the Prince.
Marquise Noyen answered with a smile that seemed to carry some bitterness.
“About six months, I’d say.”
Whether intentional or not, when the Marquise directed her gaze toward Emilian, he flinched noticeably.
He clearly had gotten himself into serious trouble.
Ah, so that’s why he came back.
In the first timeline, Emilian had been suspended from the Academy around this time.
He had apparently blown up an entire Academy building during an experiment.
In the first timeline, he had somehow managed to cover it up and his parents never found out, but this time it seemed he’d been caught and dragged back.
No wonder the Marquise had been unusually cold today.
Serves him right!
Though I inwardly scolded him, we tactfully refrained from asking why Emilian would be staying in the Empire for six months.
The Marquise seemed pleased with our discretion and offered a kind smile.
It was simply because my mental age was in my twenties, so I could act maturely.
Thanks to that, the dismissal was smoothly averted.
Leonhardt naturally continued with what he was saying.
“The Young Lord has enrolled in the Foreign Academy, so he probably doesn’t have many friends in the Empire.”
Emilian looked at Leonhardt as if he wanted to say he hadn’t had many friends even before enrolling in the Foreign Academy, but upon catching the Marquise’s gaze, he closed his mouth politely.
He seemed to be treading carefully, probably because he had caused trouble and returned home.
There was no benefit to Emilian inserting himself at this point.
Well done, Leon!
Having guessed why Leonhardt would say such a thing, I sent him silent encouragement.
“I don’t have that many friends myself, you know.”
The Marquis and Marquise Noyen seemed to be catching on to Leonhardt’s intentions by now.
However, since Leonhardt and Emilian becoming friends meant more than a simple friendship, they looked troubled.
Leonhardt smiled as if he understood all the worries of the Marquis and Marquise Noyen.
It was a smile that could be called innocent and pure.
Then he added subtly.
“Since my ability is intimidation, everyone tends to fear me, making it difficult to make friends. But it’s quite useful when dealing with someone lazy or particularly ill-tempered.”
The eyes of the Marquis and Marquise Noyen sparkled.
Leonhardt’s ability was optimized for maintaining discipline.
It was the perfect condition to straighten out the lazy and indolent Emilian.
The Marquis and Marquise Noyen exchanged glances briefly, communicating silently.
The neutrality their family had maintained for generations momentarily took a backseat to the hope that their son could be set straight.
The Marquis Noyen asked carefully.
“Your Highness, I am grateful that you view my lacking son favorably, but the boy must return home in six months. Would that be acceptable?”
He was asking if it would be possible with only six months given.
Leonhardt answered with an easy smile.
“Of course it is.”
At last, the Marquis and Marquise Noyen’s support completely tilted in his favor.
“Please take good care of Emil, Your Highness.”
“Think of my home as your own and visit often.”
Only then did Emilian, noticing the situation turning against him, attempt to resist.
“W-well, there’s an age difference between us and our interests seem different, and I think I’m fine as I am!”
However, no one heeded Emilian’s words.
‘And whose fault is it that you blew up a building?’
I had sold off almost all the rye, and with the Neutral Faction’s Marquis Noyen now secured, it was a transaction that benefited me in many ways.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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