I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 134
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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 134
I deliberately answered in a coy manner.
“If Your Highness would permit me to call you Joshua as well.”
At that, the Crown Prince’s face brightened radiantly.
“Of course. I was wondering when you might call me Joshua… Huk.”
The Crown Prince, who had been rambling in an excited voice, suddenly swallowed his breath and looked at me.
But it was already too late.
I had heard all of that adorable concern.
Eventually, a sound like air escaping flowed from between my lips.
“Pfft.”
The Crown Prince turned bright red and bit down firmly on his lower lip.
His face was so red that if I brushed it with my hand, red paint would probably come off.
After giggling for a while, I asked teasingly.
“So, you wanted me to call you by your name? Joshua.”
“…”
The Crown Prince looked at me with a resentful gaze, then silently nodded instead of answering.
Even in the midst of all this, that man who wouldn’t say ‘no’ was so lovable.
“You know, Joshua.”
I asked in a subtle voice.
“May I sit next to you?”
The Crown Prince instantly froze up.
He opened his lips, then closed them again, then covered his face completely with both hands.
“Do you really need to ask… such things.”
Finally, a voice like a sigh flowed out.
‘Ha, what should I do.’
He’s too cute, really…
I tried not to laugh, but laughter kept leaking out between my lips.
I got up from my seat and headed toward the Crown Prince.
When I sat down gently on the sofa, I could see his body reflexively stiffen.
“Do you dislike me coming close?”
“…”
At my playful question, the Crown Prince looked back at me with an extremely wronged expression.
“How could I possibly dislike it?”
At that answer, my smile deepened a little more.
“You’re giving permission?”
I sat down right next to the Crown Prince.
When I leaned my head completely against his shoulder, I could feel the touching shoulder tense up tightly.
‘Ha, when he reacts to every little thing like this… I can’t stop teasing him, can I?’
Just as I was wearing that pleased smile once again.
An arm that had quietly extended wrapped around my shoulders.
‘Huh?’
I reflexively lifted my head up.
Our gazes met.
“….”
“….”
The Crown Prince’s face was still dyed bright red.
Even so, he didn’t seem to have any intention of releasing the arm that held me.
Rather, I could feel his grip tightening.
‘W-whoa.’
Somehow feeling my face burning hot, I buried my head down.
I clasped both hands tightly on my knees for no reason.
‘What is this, what is this boldness?!’
What should I do?
My mouth went completely dry.
At this rate, that man will hear the sound of my heartbeat!
* * *
That evening.
Joshua, who was crossing the long corridor of the imperial palace, let out a deep sigh inwardly.
‘Really, I only showed foolish behavior again today.’
But Elodie was partly to blame for this too.
How could one not be flustered when she closed the distance so suddenly like that?
Actually, nothing particular happened after that.
They had simply continued to lean against each other quietly,
But even just that much was enough that Joshua had to desperately struggle not to lose his grip on reason.
Reminiscing about that moment, he bit his lower lip tightly.
‘My heart… felt like it would burst.’
That small frame that had fit snugly into his arms.
Those lovely blue eyes that had looked up at him so gently.
‘Joshua.’
That soft voice calling his name…
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Just then, a voice calling him rang out.
Joshua, who snapped back to his senses, lifted his gaze.
An attendant was bowing his head respectfully.
“What is it?”
“There are nobles requesting an audience.”
In an instant, my head went cold as if doused with ice water.
He asked back with a sharp voice.
“Who?”
“Marquis Bartsen and Duke Laventess, along with Count Polsen and Count Morris.”
At the same time, Joshua’s eyes darkened deeply.
A combination of his uncle and Duke Laventess.
Somehow I had a bad feeling about this.
“They’ve been waiting since this afternoon.”
“Since I was away, couldn’t you have told them to come back later?”
“Of course I told them that, but they said there was an urgent matter to discuss. They said they would wait until you returned.”
…Such an urgent matter?
After pondering for a moment, Joshua eventually nodded with a displeased expression.
“I understand. Let them into the audience chamber for now.”
A moment later.
Joshua entered the audience chamber with impatient steps.
The nobles who had been waiting in the audience chamber greeted Joshua by bowing deeply.
“We greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Duke Laventess, Marquis Bartsen, and the two counts as well.
They were all central nobles.
They were also among the nobles known to be quite conservative.
“My, what brings such busy people to seek me out?”
Joshua smiled brightly.
However, his following voice was razor-sharp.
“Just how urgent could this matter be that you’ve been waiting like this?”
“It’s about the upcoming Noble Council meeting.”
Marquis Bartsen spoke up as their representative.
“Will Lady El… no, will Marquis Lucerno be attending?”
In an instant, Joshua’s eyebrows twitched and hardened.
And for good reason, since it was obvious he had deliberately used the wrong title.
When Joshua didn’t respond immediately, Marquis Bartsen added more words.
“Is there really a need for her to attend?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t most proper female heads of house send representatives to the Noble Council meetings? Because they know well that this is what’s responsible for their houses in the long term.”
Joshua’s expression hardened stiffly.
The marquis continued speaking in a benevolent voice, as if he were doing Elodie some great favor.
“Moreover, since Marquis Lucerno has only recently inherited her title, it would be difficult for her to present policies at the Noble Council meeting yet. It would be better for her to study the relevant matters first…”
“No.”
Joshua shook his head decisively.
“Attending the Noble Council meetings is the legitimate right and duty of each family head. Why are you trying to decide that?”
“Your Highness, but….”
“Do you all really think this is an urgent matter?”
Joshua didn’t hide his incredulous expression.
“To think you’ve all been camping out in the imperial palace all day just to say such nonsense—you must all have time to spare.”
“….”
“….”
The mouths of the nobles who had been about to protest snapped shut.
That was only natural, since it was extremely rare for Joshua, who was usually gentle, to speak so sharply.
The nobles looked around at each other with troubled faces, reading the room.
Joshua, who had been watching this spectacle, once again drove the point home firmly.
“From now on, do not request audiences for such ridiculous matters. Do you understand?”
With those words, Joshua left the audience chamber without even leaving a farewell.
Only then did the nobles begin to speak up one by one.
“Really, is this something to get so angry about?”
“Even if women can become family heads, this isn’t right!”
Particularly Duke Laventess, David’s anger reached the heavens.
“So we really have to watch that bitch Elodie attend the Noble Council meetings?!”
While everyone was getting worked up like this.
Marquis Bartsen alone had a quiet expression.
‘Yes, I knew he would react like that.’
If Joshua was going to act like that, then he had his own thoughts too.
The Marquis spoke in a calm voice.
“Everyone, please calm down.”
“How can we calm down?”
David exploded in frustration.
“At this rate, we’ll have to see that bitch’s face at the Noble Council meetings!”
But the Marquis still had a leisurely expression.
After looking around at all the nobles, the Marquis twisted up the corners of his lips.
It was a sinister smile like a snake’s.
“I have an idea.”
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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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