I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 92

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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 92

I snapped back to my senses and raised my voice.

“Yes, please come in.”

Click.

The waiting room door opened.

Along with it, a young man strode purposefully toward me.

“Princess Laventess.”

It was the Crown Prince with his usual refreshing smile.

He wore snow-white ceremonial robes that sacred flame bearers dressed in.

His appearance was so magnificent that it created the illusion of a halo shining behind him.

‘Oh no, I can’t be doing this.’

I quickly regained my composure after being momentarily captivated by the Crown Prince’s beauty.

“Elodie von Laventess greets Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

When I bowed politely, the Crown Prince also gracefully lowered his eyes.

“Please take care of me today.”

“I should be the one asking that of you.”

After that.

I trembled nervously thinking about the sacred flame ceremony that was approaching.

The Crown Prince also didn’t particularly start any conversation.

Thus the waiting room naturally became quiet.

‘Am I the only one who’s uncomfortable? Really?!’

Usually enduring this kind of silence wasn’t particularly difficult for me.

Why is it that only when the Crown Prince is beside me does every single action of mine become insanely self-conscious?

Of all times, there was still quite a bit of time left before the ceremony would begin!

I unconsciously glanced at the Crown Prince from the corner of my eye.

At the same time, I stiffened my shoulders with a start.

And for good reason.

“Do you have something you’d like to say?”

The Crown Prince was already looking straight at me!

‘No, I don’t have anything to say.’

……I definitely intended to answer like that.

“Why did you assign me the role of sacred flame bearer?”

The question that had been tickling my throat burst out on its own like a sneeze.

Really, this is all because of the ridiculous rumors circulating in high society.

Even so, I couldn’t stop asking questions.

“Until now, you’ve always made your entrance with Countess Rotson.”

Countess Rotson.

A distant female relative of the Crown Prince who rarely inherited a count’s title in a woman’s body.

The person who had been in charge of the sacred flame ceremony with the Crown Prince for nearly 7-8 years.

That meant.

If he entered with the Countess, the Crown Prince would be free from unnecessary rumors just like always.

Yet why did he choose me as the bearer, willingly accepting the inconvenience?

“Because I wanted to become closer with you, Princess.”

“……”

For a moment, I felt completely deflated.

Excuse me, isn’t that a bit too nonchalant an attitude?

This is like a child asking ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we all became friends together?’!

……But why is it?

Now that I think the Crown Prince doesn’t particularly mind me, somehow my insides feel turned upside down.

Is this what they call a contrary spirit?!

That’s probably why it happened.

The reason a sulky response popped out without me realizing it.

“I thought we had already built up sufficient friendship.”

“Well, being close is rather subjective, after all.”

The Crown Prince shrugged his shoulders and glanced down.

His vivid purple eyes looked straight into mine.

“What if I said I wanted to become the person closest to you, Princess?”

“Pardon?”

I blinked my eyes blankly.

The Crown Prince seemed to smile with his eyes, then glanced toward the door.

“It seems the ceremony will begin soon.”

Then he extended his arm to me.

It was the perfect etiquette of a gentleman escorting a lady.

“Shall we go?”

“……Ah, yes. Let’s go.”

I placed my hand on his arm while looking at the Crown Prince with a mysterious expression.

But my mind was completely jumbled.

Why does that man keep acting so enigmatically?

Making people confused!

‘As if he’s going to be Isabel’s man anyway.’

I furrowed my brow in frustration.

* * *

White marble columns stretched endlessly beneath the dizzyingly high ceiling.

Colorful light fell beneath stained glass depicting the forms of gods.

On the altar sat an elegantly crafted brazier.

It was the brazier where the sacred flame burned, which had never been extinguished even once since the Empire’s founding.

“You two shall receive the sacred flame torch.”

The high priest conducting the ceremony spoke in a solemn voice.

Along with that, the chief priest assisting the high priest respectfully held up the sacred flame torch with both hands.

Elodie and the Crown Prince reached for the sacred flame torch side by side.

‘Ah.’

Their fingertips brushed slightly.

Elodie reflexively pulled her fingers back.

‘Get it together, Elodie. How many eyes are watching this moment?’

It was really strange.

The spot where they touched felt hot as if it had been burned by fire.

……Even though that couldn’t be possible.

“Princess?”

Just then, the Crown Prince holding the sacred flame torch called her with a puzzled tone.

“Ah, yes.”

Elodie clenched her fist tightly then opened it again.

She tried to compose her expression and grasped the lower part of the sacred flame torch that the Crown Prince was holding.

“Transfer the flame of the sacred fire to the sacred flame torch.”

Following the high priest’s words, the two people tilted the sacred flame torch side by side and brought it to the brazier where the flame was burning.

The flame spreads with a whoosh.

“Now please transfer the sacred fire’s ember to the outer altar.”

Elodie and the Crown Prince walked side by side across the center of the grand temple.

People lowered their voices and whispered.

“We’re finally seeing those two carrying the sacred fire together.”

“Indeed. I thought Count Rotson might carry it for his entire lifetime.”

“Speaking of which, about His Highness the Crown Prince and the Princess.”

The last whisper was mixed with faint laughter and curiosity.

“Don’t they look quite well-matched?”

That voice pierced intensely into the ears of Richard, who was standing nearby.

Richard drew in a short breath.

His pale gray eyes gazed intently at the two people walking side by side.

‘His Highness the Crown Prince certainly…’

Complex emotions crossed over Richard’s refined face.

‘He seems to have an interest in the Princess.’

Having been close friends for so long, he could tell.

Joshua had been forced to dive into state affairs from childhood, and had obsessively avoided anything that might cause political problems.

And that applied to romantic matters as well.

But the current Joshua showed none of his usual firm boundaries with the opposite sex.

Eyes as soft as down feathers.

Even an affectionate smile he couldn’t quite hide.

That was clearly… the look of someone harboring romantic interest.

‘So it comes to this after all.’

Meanwhile, as Richard struggled to compose his complicated feelings.

“The Duke must be truly delighted.”

Beside him, an oblivious nobleman was striking up conversation with David.

“The Princess has finally been chosen as the sacred fire bearer, hasn’t she?”

“Yes, well, that’s right.”

David nodded while trying to hide his peculiar feelings.

Well, carrying the sacred fire was indeed an honor.

It meant respecting the bearer’s family, so from the Duke’s House’s perspective, there was nothing bad about it.

However.

‘The problem is that the other party is Elodie.’

David subtly gauged Marquis Bartsen’s reaction.

Though his expression appeared gentle on the surface, he definitely looked somewhat displeased.

‘Damn it.’

David ground his teeth inwardly.

And sadly, David’s guess was accurate.

‘Does Joshua really have an interest in the Princess?’

Though he was chuckling good-naturedly on the outside, the Marquis couldn’t possibly feel at ease inside.

The Marquis clenched his molars tightly.

‘Just when I thought I’d found a woman suitable for me, what is this…!’

Why did Joshua suddenly have to appear!

Honestly, the Marquis knew it too.

In age, appearance, status, and even wealth.

Joshua was a far superior marriage prospect than himself.

‘It’s fine. The Princess seemed to have good judgment despite her young age.’

The Marquis clenched his fists tightly to hide his anxiety.

While desperately ignoring the fact that he secretly harbored an inferiority complex toward Joshua.

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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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