I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 133

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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 133

 

‘Good heavens.’

 

I was definitely the one who had intended to tease him, but somehow I felt like I’d been turned around instead.

 

I squeezed my eyes tightly shut.

 

Really, this was hopeless.

 

I was being swayed by every single word His Highness the Crown Prince said!

 

“Marquis Lucerno?”

 

But then.

 

The Crown Prince suddenly called out to me.

 

Startled, I quickly lifted my head.

 

“Y-Yes?!”

 

The Crown Prince was looking at me intently with a strangely worried expression.

 

“Your face is red.”

 

A large hand gently covered my forehead.

 

“You don’t have a fever, do you?”

 

For a moment, I even forgot to breathe.

 

Those violet eyes fixed solely on me.

 

That gentle attitude of genuine concern for me…

 

“You don’t seem to have a fever though.”

 

The Crown Prince, who had been muttering with furrowed brows, suddenly stiffened his shoulders.

 

It was because he belatedly noticed my gaze.

 

At the same time, he hurriedly withdrew his hand.

 

“Still, you must stay healthy. Don’t skip meals, sleep well. Get plenty of rest…”

 

“…”

 

I stared blankly at the Crown Prince as he rambled on with various words.

 

Gone was his usual perfect composure, replaced by that flustered man who didn’t know what to do with himself.

 

It was probably because he was conscious of me.

 

…Would I be a bit bad if I said I found that clumsy side of him endearing?

 

Knock knock.

 

Just then, another knock sounded.

 

I hurriedly tried to compose my expression to appear nonchalant and opened my mouth in a flustered manner.

 

“C-Come in.”

 

Click.

 

The door opened.

 

A maid who entered arranged refreshments and teacups neatly on the table.

 

Then she lifted the teapot to pour the tea.

 

Pale yellow tea water rippled as it rose into the teacup.

 

The Crown Prince, who had been sitting stiffly in his seat, suddenly widened his eyes.

 

“This tea is…?”

 

“That’s right. It’s tea that came from the New Continent this time.”

 

I nodded and turned to look at the maid.

 

“Thank you, you may withdraw now.”

 

The maid bowed politely and quietly closed the door as she left.

 

I took a sip of the tea.

 

‘Delicious.’

 

The nutty yet bitter taste gently enveloped the tip of my tongue.

 

It paired very well with the sweet pastries too.

 

Savoring the taste with a satisfied feeling, I opened my mouth.

 

“It’s been incredibly popular in High Society recently. I barely managed to get some.”

 

The exploration ships returned to the Empire, bringing back various crops including tobacco and tea.

 

Among them, this tea was particularly popular.

 

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince who heard my words suddenly looked regretful.

 

“Is that so? If you had told me, I would have gladly gifted you as much as you wanted.”

 

“Oh, it’s fine. I’m not so incompetent that I can’t obtain a single container of tea.”

 

I shrugged my shoulders and continued speaking.

 

“Come to think of it, these tea plants adapted well to the Empire’s climate, didn’t they?”

 

“That’s correct. They’re now being cultivated in earnest in the southern regions.”

 

The Crown Prince answered with a bright expression.

 

“The supply is insufficient now, but we should be able to stabilize the harvest in the future. I think we can set the price reasonably as well.”

 

“Then not just the nobles, but all the people of the Empire will be able to enjoy it widely.”

 

I smiled warmly at him.

 

“You must be pleased.”

 

“…”

 

For a moment, the Crown Prince was at a loss for words.

 

I looked at the Crown Prince with a fond gaze.

 

Because I knew.

 

How much this man cherished and loved his people.

 

How great a sense of responsibility he had toward the Empire.

 

A moment later.

 

The Crown Prince nodded firmly.

 

“Yes, I am pleased.”

 

Ah, how heartwarming.

 

As expected of a man who will become a wise ruler in the future, right?

 

But the Crown Prince’s words weren’t finished yet.

 

“Also, I’m very grateful to you, Marquis.”

 

Huh? Me? Why?

 

The Crown Prince smiled gently at me with my eyes wide with surprise.

 

“You’ve continued to trust me completely, haven’t you?”

 

He believed in me?

 

“I know. This New Continent development project has caused many people a lot of worry.”

 

The Crown Prince, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, soon slowly raised his gaze.

 

Looking straight into my eyes, he continued speaking gently.

 

“Still, the Marquis alone never once… never said I would fail.”

 

“…Your Highness.”

 

“That was truly a great source of strength.”

 

Facing that bright smile, I somehow felt a little sorry for the Crown Prince.

 

A man who always seemed perfect.

 

A man who seemed like he would never waver no matter what storm came his way.

 

But the Crown Prince was human after all.

 

Enduring countless doubts and distrust, challenging an uncertain future… it must have been difficult.

 

“I’m delighted that I could be a source of strength for Your Highness.”

 

Having answered thus, I placed my hand over the Crown Prince’s.

 

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened slightly.

 

“Please continue to walk the path Your Highness believes is right.”

 

Gently squeezing the hand that covered his, I concluded clearly.

 

“I will always support Your Highness.”

 

At those words, the Crown Prince’s smile deepened.

 

“How reassuring.”

 

After that.

 

The Crown Prince and I exchanged various conversations.

 

New dresses unveiled at Bella’s Dress Shop.

 

Various materials that had flowed in through the New Continent development.

 

…Even Marquis Bartsen’s solo exhibition, which was the recent talk of High Society.

 

“Come to think of it, Uncle seems to be frequently socializing with various nobles lately.”

 

The Crown Prince spoke with a furrowed brow.

 

“Of course it could be simple friendship, but… somehow the feeling isn’t very good.”

 

“The feeling isn’t good?”

 

“It’s about time for the Noble Council meeting to be held.”

 

The Noble Council meeting.

 

Hearing those words, the newspaper article I had seen earlier flickered through my mind again.

 

【Attention is focused on whether the Marquis will attend the Noble Council meeting to be held soon.】

 

…It certainly feels like political maneuvering.

 

The timing is suspicious, and he seems to be courting David, with whom I don’t have a good relationship.

 

Just then, the Crown Prince asked me.

 

“So are you planning to attend the Noble Council meeting?”

 

“Of course.”

 

I nodded without hesitation.

 

Of course, I still don’t know what people’s reactions will be.

 

Well, honestly, they probably won’t all be favorable.

 

When I received my title this time, the cold stares from several nobles were still vivid in my memory.

 

Still.

 

“The Noble Council is both a right and duty of a family head. Of course I’ll attend.”

 

At the same time, strength entered my voice.

 

“Above all, Your Highness has expectations of me.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You said you wanted me to change the rigid Empire, didn’t you?”

 

In that moment, the Crown Prince’s gaze rippled finely like a lake struck by a pebble.

 

I continued speaking calmly.

 

“Of course, I won’t be able to accomplish anything grand by myself. But if I walk forward step by step steadily, there will surely be things that change.”

 

“…That’s.”

 

“I’ll work hard.”

 

In that moment, a complex light settled in the Crown Prince’s eyes.

 

A gaze mixed with gratitude and regret.

 

‘There’s no need to make such an expression.’

 

While it’s true I want to meet the Crown Prince’s expectations, this is fundamentally a decision for myself.

 

Wearing a bitter smile, I playfully changed the subject.

 

“More importantly, Your Highness.”

 

“Yes?”

 

Facing the Crown Prince with his innocent expression, I gulped down dry saliva.

 

Actually, there’s been something bothering me ever since the night of the festival.

 

So…

 

“How long are you going to keep calling me Marquis Lucerno?”

 

“…”

 

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened.

 

I pretended to be nonchalant, holding my head high and meeting his gaze defiantly.

 

I mean, seriously.

 

How long has it been since we promised to become lovers?

 

How long do we have to keep calling each other ‘Marquis Lucerno’ and ‘Your Highness the Crown Prince’ so formally?

 

Couldn’t we become a little more intimate?!

 

“Th, then.”

 

Having heard my words, the Crown Prince looked down at me stiffly.

 

His expression was so tense that anyone watching would think I was about to devour the Crown Prince.

 

“From now on… may I call you Elodie?”

 

At the same time, I firmly swallowed the laughter that was about to burst out.

 

Watching this sculpture-like handsome man, as if crafted by a goddess, fidgeting and reading my expression.

 

‘How cute!’

 

This is bad, he’s so cute that it makes me want to tease him!

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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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