I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 119

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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 119

 

“Pardon?”

 

I asked back in confusion.

 

The Crown Prince hurriedly continued speaking.

 

“I’m not suggesting this with any strange intentions. It’s just that finding a townhouse would be financially burdensome and difficult in many ways. The imperial palace has plenty of spare guest rooms anyway…”

 

“But wouldn’t there be no reason for me to stay at the imperial palace?”

 

The Crown Prince hesitated at that question.

 

I continued speaking gently.

 

“It would also look rather strange to other people. If someone were to misunderstand the relationship between Your Highness and myself…”

 

What if scandalous rumors started spreading?

 

That’s why I was careful with my behavior at Marcel Bakery earlier.

 

The childcare facility is a place I manage directly, so I can keep people’s mouths shut there.

 

“That’s fine.”

 

What?

 

My eyes shook violently for a moment.

 

The Crown Prince continued speaking resolutely.

 

“I don’t care about such rumors at all. Rather, I hate seeing Lady suffer much more…”

 

But that was only momentary.

 

The Crown Prince’s face, which had been serious all along, turned as red as a ripe tomato.

 

At the same time, he squeezed his eyes shut.

 

“…Please, forget what I said.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I was too hasty. I didn’t mean to put you in a difficult position, Lady.”

 

This is the first time I’ve seen the Crown Prince so flustered.

 

I nodded in bewilderment.

 

“Of course, don’t worry about it.”

 

Just then, the carriage came to a smooth stop.

 

We had arrived at the hotel.

 

The Crown Prince, who had tried to compose his expression and appear nonchalant, extended his hand to me with an elegant gesture.

 

“Allow me to escort you, Lady Elodie.”

 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

After helping me out of the carriage, the Crown Prince fled the scene as if escaping.

 

I pondered over the Crown Prince’s words with puzzled feelings.

 

I mean, really.

 

Although he did ask me to forget what he said.

 

‘How about staying at the imperial palace instead?’

 

‘I don’t care about such rumors at all. Rather, I hate seeing Lady suffer much more…’

 

How could I possibly forget completely after hearing something like that?

 

And that face turning bright red too!

 

This… does it mean what I think it means?

 

Is it really ‘that emotion’ I’m suspecting?!

 

* * *

 

That evening,

 

Richard looked at Joshua, who was sitting on the opposite sofa holding his head in his hands, with an expression of utter exasperation.

 

It was quite an irreverent expression to show toward the Crown Prince, who was his lord before being his friend, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

Because Joshua really was pathetic.

 

The story goes like this.

 

Earlier, Joshua had suddenly come to find Richard and immediately grabbed his old friend.

 

‘Listen to my story.’

 

And thus began the lament whose subject was ‘Elodie.’

 

More precisely, it would be ‘How stupid was I in front of Lady Elodie?’

 

“I shouldn’t have mentioned the townhouse…”

 

For reference, this was the fifth time hearing this.

 

“What if Lady Elodie finds it burdensome?!”

 

This was the seventh time.

 

“I think I was too clingy. I really didn’t mean to be like that…”

 

This would be the eleventh time.

 

Richard opened his mouth without hiding his fed-up expression.

 

“Why did you act like such an idiot today? You don’t usually make mistakes like that.”

 

“Id, idiot…”

 

At his friend’s harsh evaluation, Joshua raised his head with a hurt expression.

 

It couldn’t be helped.

 

After all, the more clearly you state facts, the more painful they become.

 

Joshua muttered like a sigh.

 

“Right, I don’t know why I become stupid every time I’m in front of the Lady.”

 

To make excuses, he really hadn’t planned to suggest that Elodie ‘stay at the imperial palace.’

 

But as soon as he heard that Elodie was looking for a townhouse.

 

The words just popped out of his mouth on their own.

 

“I just didn’t want the Lady to suffer…”

 

Joshua groaned once more.

 

How should he put it, this seemed to be the first time seeing Joshua, who was always composed, being so restless.

 

Richard, who had been staring at his friend, suddenly threw out a question.

 

“Are you that concerned about Lady Elodie?”

 

“Yes.”

 

It was an immediate answer.

 

Richard was left speechless.

 

Unwavering, calm violet eyes gazed directly at Richard.

 

“If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t react to every single one of her actions like this.”

 

As a friend who had been with him for a long time, he couldn’t help but know.

 

Right now, Joshua was being sincere.

 

His chest stung as if he had swallowed a handful of glass shards.

 

He bit his lower lip firmly for a moment.

 

“Then, is a Crown Princess finally entering the imperial palace?”

 

Richard asked mischievously on purpose, trying to hide his agitation.

 

Joshua’s face turned bright red in an instant.

 

“N-no. Not to that extent yet…”

 

“I support you. What joyous news for the Empire.”

 

To that playful response, Joshua replied by grabbing a cushion beside him and throwing it.

 

However, Richard skillfully dodged the cushion with just a slight tilt of his head.

 

Thud!

 

The cushion that hit the wall slid down to the floor.

 

Joshua raised his voice in frustration.

 

“Ah, stop teasing me!”

 

Meanwhile, facing the thoroughly excited Joshua, Richard finally steeled his resolve.

 

‘Yes, this is right.’

 

Joshua was a very precious person to Richard.

 

A lord he respected.

 

The only friend he could be open with.

 

He didn’t want to give up the friendship he had maintained for so long because of a momentary rational attraction.

 

Indeed, it was right to bury his feelings for life.

 

However.

 

“The Ladies of the capital will be in tears for a while.”

 

“What?”

 

“Among the Ladies of the capital, few haven’t harbored feelings for Your Highness in their hearts. What a pity it has become…”

 

“Ah, why do you keep doing this?!”

 

While nimbly dodging another flying cushion, Richard smiled bitterly.

 

Well, since he had made such a big concession first.

 

Shouldn’t Joshua at least put up with this much mischief?

 

12. A Wish Already Fulfilled

 

The long winter had passed and early spring had finally arrived.

 

Light green buds were sprouting here and there on the bare tree branches.

 

As the warm sunlight gradually melted the snow that had accumulated in various places.

 

Along with the spring breeze, there was one piece of joyful news that suddenly arrived.

 

‘Did you hear?’

 

‘The explorers, they’ve finally returned!’

 

The explorers had finally succeeded in pioneering the New Continent.

 

The fleets that had embarked on the long voyage returned with tremendous harvests.

 

Massive amounts of silver and tobacco, as well as fragrant tea leaves that entered the Empire for the first time.

 

There was also Quiloa, a high-grade spice called black gold.

 

And so, while the Empire was in a festive mood day after day.

 

I was facing a man.

 

“Welcome, Lady Elodie.”

 

The Crown Prince, who had risen from his seat to greet me personally, offered a gentle greeting.

 

That’s right.

 

Since the New Continent pioneering had succeeded, it was time to fulfill the contract we had made before.

 

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

After offering a light courtesy, I glanced at the Crown Prince sideways.

 

‘When we parted last time… wasn’t the atmosphere a bit strange?’

 

But the Crown Prince now had a very calm expression.

 

He was so composed that the flustered Crown Prince I had seen before felt like an illusion.

 

‘A bit disappointing.’

 

I paused as I unconsciously clicked my tongue.

 

‘Wait. Disappointing?’

 

Why?

 

This was as if I was hoping the Crown Prince would be a bit more shaken by me…

 

“Lady Elodie?”

 

“Ah, yes!”

 

I quickly came to my senses and hurriedly looked at the Crown Prince.

 

The Crown Prince asked me a question with a puzzled expression.

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

 

Feeling my face flush for some reason, I pretended to be nonchalant and composed my expression.

 

The Crown Prince shrugged his shoulders and offered me a seat.

 

“Please sit over here.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

I quickly took a seat.

 

The Crown Prince, sitting across from me, placed a thick bundle of documents on the table.

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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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