I’m Done With Unrequited Love - Chapter 36

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 36
Sarubia finally exploded.

“It was right then that our savior—Lady Fidellia, rather—opened the door and came in.”
“Ah, I see…….”
I nodded.
Truth be told, I’d already guessed why Sarubia wanted Registry Removal.
Sarubia pounded her chest as if suffocating from frustration, pouring out her heart.
“I want freedom.”
“……Freedom?”
Diego’s brow furrowed slightly.
I could read his mind: *The freest spirit in the empire complaining about freedom?*
And fair enough—she had the status of the Emperor’s sister, the title of Grand Duke, wealth, and access to nearly anything.
But the freedom Sarubia spoke of wasn’t about power or the ability to do whatever she pleased.
“Diego, do you know what word I hate most?”
“What could it be?”
“Bloodline.”
“…….”
“Art is a line, and bloodline is a line too, isn’t it? Why shouldn’t I cut it?”
Sarubia made a startling declaration.
“That line binds my ankles. It’s a shackle that holds me fast.”
She pressed on in a biting tone.
“That’s why I want to sever that shackle completely. Even if I cross the continent and go to the far side of the world, even if I journey to the afterlife, that shackle will cling to me and never let go.”
But I want to fly.
“Can you imagine it? ‘Sarubia, born as the First Princess of Corbalyu, fled to the antipodes of the world and never returned.’ That’s how it will read in the Imperial Genealogy. I hate that.”
Sarubia’s face had grown dark as she spoke.
“I know. When I say things like this, nobody understands. They can’t even sympathize. But I don’t need any of that. Just accept that this is my position. What matters is one thing: I want to be struck from the Imperial Genealogy.”
Disillusionment settled across her beautiful features.
And a hint of mockery too.
“Besides, Bruno will sell me off in a Political Marriage someday. Just because I hold the title of Grand Duke doesn’t mean I’m no longer part of the Imperial House, does it?”
Frankly, I don’t even need the Grand Duke title—I just want to become a commoner.
Having said her piece, Sarubia finally exhaled with relief and smiled. She was back to her usual ingenuous self.
I’ve always supported and cheered for Sarubia. That was separate from the question of understanding or empathy.
But at this moment.
‘This doesn’t seem like something a child should be hearing.’
I was deeply worried about Prince Habier’s emotional state after hearing his father discuss selling his aunt off in a Political Marriage.
‘……Is he alright?’
When I glanced over at Habier, his expression was composed and familiar.
‘Familiar…….’
A chill ran through me.
There were many points of confusion.
Habier’s reaction, Sarubia’s words—all of it.
‘They seemed close.’
Emperor Bruno and Sarubia, I mean.
I still remembered how they’d pulled Ernan and me into the center of the hall at the coronation banquet.
Their faces had worn that characteristic playful expression as they conspired to tease us. They’d held each other and laughed.
Yet now Sarubia was saying she couldn’t bear her own bloodline—Bruno himself.
‘……Ambivalence?’
A state where familial love and disillusionment coexist.
For someone who’d lived in Korea, it wasn’t an unfamiliar story.
“Anyway, that’s why you need to be my lawyer. I looked you up—ninety percent win rate……!”
Sarubia started pestering Diego again.
In the midst of all that commotion, I kept my mouth shut. With nothing else to do, I fixed my attention on the infant prince sitting on the sofa across from me and sank into thought.
I had no idea why I’d come here with Sarubia. I wanted to ask how we’d gotten here, but Sarubia—who’d brought him along—was too busy bickering with Diego.
That was when Habier lifted his head.
‘Oh no.’
Our eyes met across empty space.
If I looked away now, I’d lose all adult dignity.
I gestured to the seat beside me.
“Care to join me?”
Habier’s eyes gleamed with sudden brightness.
He nodded enthusiastically from his seat, then slipped down and approached me.
Thinking it best to seat him between two adults, I placed Habier in the spot between Ernan and myself, and asked him a question.
“Isn’t it boring, listening to all this talk?”
“Well…….”
‘What am I going to do about this.’
I couldn’t just leave.
“…….”
‘Wait.’
No, actually.
I could simply excuse myself.
Today’s consultation seemed to be falling apart anyway…….
I turned to Ernan for his thoughts.
“Would you rather we schedule this for next time?”
There was still plenty of time before the hearing, so postponing one consultation wouldn’t cause any real problems.
‘Though it would certainly complicate my own schedule.’
Ernan checked his wrist watch and nodded.
“You’re right. Today isn’t the day for this.”
“Your Highness, what if you stepped outside with us for a while? As for the Princess……well, there’s no knowing when she’ll be finished.”
“How much will it take? How much? I can give everything I have!”
The way he was turning Diego over like stir-fried rice.
‘There is someone waiting outside who might be a bit of a complication.’
But the boy was bored, after all.
Habier nodded.
“Yes. It seems I wouldn’t be of any help to you here anyway, Aunt.”
‘He’s really ten years old?’
I couldn’t fathom how rigorous his family’s education must be to produce such formal speech from a child.
First priority was getting out of this room.
“Diego, if this isn’t urgent business, would it be alright if we visited another time?”
“However much it takes……! Ah, yes! Let’s reschedule!”
‘Hang in there.’
I offered silent condolences to Diego, who looked more haggard than ever, and ushered Ernan and Habier out.
That was the plan, anyway.
But as we tried to leave the office, Sarubia followed us.
“Wait! I’m coming too.”
Sarubia suddenly snapped to attention and called out.
Diego’s expression brightened. The shift was instantaneous.
“Please, go ahead. I’ll give some thought to the Princess’s matter.”
He spoke words he didn’t mean, desperate to peel away the persistent Sarubia.
“You really mean it? I can trust you?”
“……don’t hold your breath.”
“Why are you looking away?”
‘What can you say.’
I found the whole situation playing out like a farce.
The storm had finally passed.
We all slipped out of the second-floor office together and made our way downstairs.
“Hm? Who is this child?”
“…….”
Two members of the Imperial Bloodline and Kiara had just collided.
* * *
This was before we ever came to Diego’s office.

When I asked what she meant, Kiara explained that the dessert she’d eaten on her first day at this estate kept running through her mind.
She’d completely forgotten about it until we returned to the Capital residence, and then the memory came flooding back.

Kiara knew I was regularly visiting Diego’s office regarding the custody dispute over Rene.
A few days ago, when Kiara brought in a Corbalyu weekly paper and pointed to the dispute asking if it was real, I felt the world spin beneath me.
Kiara pressed me with detailed questions about Rene’s situation, and I had no choice but to assure her by revealing that I was directly involved in the matter myself.
“Just go to the office with me, and then we can hang out.”
“But if things at the office drag on, won’t Kiara have to wait a long time?”
“I don’t care!”
Faced with Kiara’s unwavering determination, I found myself outmatched and had no choice but to grasp her small hand and come all the way here.
‘Sanna seems busy with her doctoral studies at Romen University.’
Once Sanna discovered that my research had nothing to do with biology, she made her declaration.
“Then I’d like to step down as your assistant.”
“Just like that?”
“Unlike some people, I still love biology.”
So Sanna bustled about enrolling in graduate school, and as she grew busier, I—having paused my research to come to the Capital—took over Kiara’s care entirely.
“You have the same coloring as me? Red hair is rare enough, but golden eyes are even harder to come by.”
And so, here we were, facing precisely this situation.
“Why did you take so long?”
When we descended, Kiara was already perched on the carriage door frame, holding it wide open.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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