I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 159
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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 159
After Isabel left like that.
Joshua quietly revealed himself.
His face looked somewhat sheepish.
“Oh my, I didn’t know Count Delaney was here. I was being tactless.”
“That’s right, you were tactless this time.”
I deliberately nodded my head mischievously.
“To interrupt the intimate time between women. You know very well how close Isabel and I are, don’t you?”
“….”
At those words, Joshua glanced at me cautiously.
“…Still, I’m closer to you than the Count, aren’t I?”
Pfft.
I let out a short laugh and shook my head.
“Well, that’s a bit different, isn’t it?”
“Elodie?”
At that answer, Joshua looked as if he’d been struck.
Though he was trying to act nonchalant, his inner shock was obvious.
‘It’s because of such cute reactions that I keep teasing him.’
But if I went any further, Joshua might really get sulky.
So I approached Joshua with light steps.
Rising on my tiptoes, I brought my lips close to his ear.
And then.
“Among friends, I like Isabel the most, and among men….”
As if telling the world’s greatest secret, I lowered my voice and whispered intimately.
“I only like you.”
“….”
For a moment, his violet eyes widened.
Then his eyes curved prettily like crescents.
That sweet gaze proving he cherished and loved only me.
Without either of us taking the lead, we embraced each other.
Our lips met.
After a series of light kisses like bird pecks.
“I want to stay alone together just a little longer….”
Joshua whined softly while holding me tight.
I patted his back.
“Still, we can’t keep His Majesty the Emperor waiting.”
“If I ask Father for understanding….”
“No.”
I answered strictly while keeping my smiling face.
“Yes, I understand.”
Unable to hide his disappointed expression, Joshua kissed my forehead with a smacking sound.
We headed to the Imperial Palace side by side.
* * *
“Elodie Lucerno pays respects to His Majesty the Emperor.”
I had an audience with His Majesty the Emperor after a long time.
The Emperor welcomed me with a bright smile.
“Come in, Duke Rucerno.”
Then Joshua deliberately made a disappointed expression and playfully teased his father.
“Don’t you see me, Father?”
“I see you every day.”
I watched the father and son exchanging jokes with a pleased feeling.
When he had just awakened from his coma, he couldn’t move properly due to lying down for so long.
But His Majesty the Emperor had recovered much of his health now.
He ate well and sometimes even went out for walks.
The Emperor looked at me with a gentle face.
“So, have you made up your mind about the title issue?”
I quietly nodded.
“I will inherit the title, but I want to change the family name.”
“The family name?”
“Yes. I’m prepared to take responsibility for Laventess’s territory and vassals, but separately, the name Lucerno is also very precious to me.”
It was my family that I had earned through my own strength.
I didn’t want to neglect that title because of the old family.
The Emperor nodded.
“Very well, if that’s what you want, so be it.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“You’ll be called Duke Lucerno from now on. I’ll contact the Nobility Council as well.”
With the title issue settled like that.
The Emperor, who had been looking back and forth between me and Joshua, suddenly smiled slyly.
“Come to think of it, there’s something I want to ask.”
“Please ask, Your Majesty.”
“I hear you two are lovers who can’t live without each other?”
A moment of silence fell.
“….”
“….”
Our faces turned red as ripe tomatoes.
Startled, Joshua raised his voice.
“F-Father?!”
“I have ears too. I heard you showed great affection for each other at Port of Calais this time.”
At that moment.
The events from when I confronted Marquis Bartsen flashed through my mind like a panorama.
I had rushed into Joshua’s arms and made a crying scene in front of the security officers….
‘I’m crazy.’
I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again.
Ah, but I had no choice then!
In a life-or-death situation, how could I have remained calm!
“Actually, Joshua has never met a woman before. While I was asleep, he only handled state affairs….”
The Emperor continued speaking in a subtle tone.
“So, as a father, my honest wish is for him to meet someone good now.”
“Y-Your Majesty?”
“Of course, I don’t intend to burden Duke Rucerno. However.”
A warm smile spread across His Majesty the Emperor’s face.
“I like the Duke very much. I hope you’ll remember that.”
“….”
My heart suddenly felt warm.
Those words meant that His Majesty the Emperor approved of my relationship with Joshua.
It’s natural to want to make a good impression on your loved one’s parents.
I bowed my head respectfully.
“I am grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”
“You say such things. Please continue to take good care of our Joshua.”
His Majesty who spoke those words had the expression of a father who truly cherished and loved his son.
I smiled brightly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
* * *
After that.
The Emperor said he would rest for a while and entered his bedroom.
Joshua and I withdrew outside.
And.
“You don’t need to worry about what Father said.”
Joshua suddenly declared this with a resolute face.
‘Huh? What’s this about now?’
I, who had been quietly looking up at him, suddenly threw out a question.
“Why?”
“Pardon?”
Joshua seemed to have not expected at all that I would ask ‘why’ back.
He blinked quietly.
Also, the longer his silence continued, the sharper my eyes became.
“Why don’t I need to worry about it? Do you perhaps dislike spending your whole life with me, Joshua?”
“No, that’s not it!”
Joshua raised his voice loudly.
His voice was so loud that the palace servants passing by glanced over at us.
He stiffened his shoulders in surprise and hurriedly lowered his voice.
“I, I just. I was worried it might be burdensome for Elodie. I thought if Father said something like that, it might feel like pressure to Elodie…”
Joshua, who had been trailing off, suddenly looked at me with clear eyes.
“…However, I want you to know this for certain.”
“Yes?”
“The only person I want to spend my whole life with is Elodie.”
He concluded his words with emphasis.
I was momentarily speechless.
Those upright eyes that looked only at me.
His unwavering, calm tone.
That appearance itself was a kind of proof.
I couldn’t help but know how much that man loved me…
Since this was the Imperial Palace with many watching eyes, we couldn’t engage in affectionate acts like when we were alone together.
So instead, I firmly grasped his hand.
“Elodie?”
Joshua’s eyes widened.
I opened my mouth while pretending to act nonchalant.
“It’s not that it isn’t burdensome.”
While putting strength into our clasped hands, I whispered softly.
“But I like you enough to endure that burden and more…”
At those words, Joshua’s expression also brightened cheerfully.
At the same time, I was certain.
If I walked into the future hand in hand with this person, each coming day would surely be something to look forward to.
So I.
‘I want to spend my whole life with Joshua.’
Of course, not everything will be easy.
Various storms may come our way in the future.
But if I’m together with this person, I believed that eternal happiness would be waiting at the end.
I dared to be certain of it.
– The End –
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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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helloworld15
Thank you for the TL!!