It’s Trouble Because Unrequited Love Is So Fun - Chapter 68

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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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At the Emperor’s words, Raphael nodded his head.

It was as if the secret of all the puzzles was finally being revealed.

Meanwhile, I was inwardly mulling over the information I had heard.

‘I already knew about the blueprints being discovered and the Princess having divines, but…’

The fact that traces of divines were found in the Princess’s Palace blueprints was news to me. While hiding my surprise inwardly and looking up at the Emperor, he spoke.

“The Grand Duchess is also from the Rosemary Family, and built quite decent structures in the North, didn’t she?”

“…”

“Yes. If possible, I’d like to entrust the Duchess with exploring what’s hidden in this manor as well.”

The Emperor’s wrinkled face seemed full of regret. It looked like the tears of one who could no longer communicate with his own daughter.

“My daughter might still be alive, so I can’t give up.”

A face that must have once been dignified and imposing.

However, the current Emperor had become somewhat aged and shabby-looking.

“…I heard that Grand Duchess Serenthia already has a godfather. It would be difficult for me to become your godfather. But if you just find the key to the Princess’s Palace, in addition to Perilde Mine, I could give you compensation equivalent to that.”

At those words, my eyes lit up. However, the Emperor soon brought up the next condition.

“However, I made the same request to Max Rosemary… So let’s do this. I’ll give Perilde Mine to whichever side finds the key first.”

I immediately smiled wickedly.

“That sounds perfect to me. So I just need to explore the Princess’s Palace and find the key? By when?”

“I’ll give you a total of one week. After one week, I’ll check at the lakeside of the Princess’s Palace. …If you find it before then, you may summon me.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

In the future I know, Max obtains the key to the Princess’s Palace and wins the Emperor’s favor.

The Princess is ultimately never found, but the Emperor becomes satisfied and grows fond of Max just from the fact that Max opened the Princess’s Palace.

But…

‘The future exists to be changed.’

***

The main gate of the Princess’s Palace opened majestically.

The courtyard had an unusual structure that embraced a small lake.

While Serenthia was investigating the geology of the lakeside for quite some time.

Raphael stared intently at his own reflection shimmering on the lake’s surface.

Long, long ago, there had been a little girl at this lakeside.

A very small child who used to run and play in front of the rippling water…

A baby Princess with silver hair and blue eyes, intelligent and faithful.

Raphael remembered that little one.

The Youngest Princess was the first female member of the imperial family born in ten generations.

Naturally, the Emperor raised his daughter like a precious jewel.

The Emperor cherished her so dearly that there wasn’t a single person who could properly meet that lovely girl.

The girl grew up practically confined within the manor, overprotected.

But whether it was good luck or bad luck.

On the day Raphael discovered the Princess’s Palace.

The boy was able to encounter that small child by chance, as if by fate.

Because he had nearly drowned in this lake.

“What? Are you stupid?”

“Th, that’s…”

“Or were you trying to die?”

Raphael himself, coughing up water pathetically at the lakeside like a drowned rat.

And the face of the tiny Princess who had grabbed his hand.

‘I thought I wanted to have her.’

Raphael suddenly recalled the look in his own eyes directed at that child.

‘Though it means nothing now.’

That was the end of his encounter with the Princess.

His peaceful childhood was shattered by something like the power of death, and with the Princess also going missing, he would never meet the Princess again.

Raphael’s expression became slightly distorted.

While very old melancholy was consuming his memories.

Serenthia, who had been strolling beside him, also muttered in a heavy tone.

“Raphael. This place is really…”

“…”

“…It’s really a perfect proportional lake. The sign says the young Princess designed it herself – was she a genius?”

…No, it wasn’t a heavy tone at all.

Raphael looked into Serenthia’s eyes.

Sparkling.

They were shining as if stars had been embedded in them.

“Proportional lake?”

“Yes. Ah! This lake maintains perfect proportions like Raphael’s body proportions.”

That damn flirting never gets skipped even today. At this point, flirting seemed to be part of her daily routine.

Raphael let out a hollow laugh.

No, there should be limits to distorting wistful memories.

However, even though this woman had completely tangled up his memories, he wasn’t angry.

Only the intensity of his gaze staring at Serenthia deepened without him realizing it.

“Then.”

“Yes.”

“Did you learn anything from the proportional lake?”

“Hmm…”

Serenthia made a thoughtful expression, then walked a few steps while looking around the lakeside.

Walking in step with Serenthia, Raphael suddenly thought.

…Come to think of it, what was the safe distance with this woman again.

Instead of remembering such things, only Serenthia’s subtle fragrance brushed against his nose.

“I did find a clue, but I think I need to go further inside. Tomorrow, let’s investigate properly.”

Raphael looked at Serenthia’s profile and whispered softly.

“Let’s do that.”

“Then how about having dinner with me tonight? I know you usually eat separately, but…”

A woman who works hard to obtain Perilde Mine while never missing a chance to flirt.

Just when I wonder what kind of woman she is.

“…I had a restaurant in the capital reserved.”

He would be fine with just military rations, but he had no idea why he had done that.

***

“Say ah~!”

“I won’t.”

Raphael glared at the spoon Serenthia held out.

It contained bright yellow soup that he hadn’t eaten in a long time.

“It’s the appetizer soup!”

The rich and sweet aroma of butternut squash wafted into his nose.

Raphael had controlled even sensations like hunger and starvation. But facing the spoon she offered, he suddenly had the illusion of feeling hungry.

He quietly took the spoon and said.

“I’ll eat it. …With my own hands.”

“It’s disappointing, but next time I’ll feed you with my own hands…!”

Raphael quickly ignored her words.

Then, he tried a sip of the soup.

The first taste was heavy, the second was bitter, and the third was sweet.

A completely different taste from the military rations he always ate.

It was also a different realm from the sweet desserts Serenthia had given him.

At the feeling of his five senses coming back to life, he closed his eyes and then opened them again.

“…Lord Raphael?”

Serenthia smiled brightly as she took a spoonful of soup.

“Wow, this is really delicious! You’re impressed too, right? Should we bring this chef back to our North?”

While he quietly ate a bowl of soup, she chattered away as she devoured everything—the soup, the pre-meal bread, and even the main course.

But for some reason, he felt full.

‘My delusions are getting serious. I feel full even though I haven’t eaten.’

But Serenthia truly looked satisfied.

“They served all my favorite course dishes. How did you know about this restaurant?”

“I came here long ago.”

Though back then, he had never actually dined at this restaurant.

Serenthia nodded at Raphael’s words.

“Then we must come again next time!”

Raphael didn’t respond to those words. But instead, he was thinking about other course meals on the menu.

“Next time, I’m definitely going to eat the fish dish. Absolutely!”

Serenthia spent over five minutes describing the golden-grilled fish dish.

Her description was so enchanting that it even stirred the appetite of someone who believed he had no sense of taste.

That day, Raphael learned about Serenthia’s food preferences.

They were trivial preferences.

That she liked sweet flavors and disliked bitter ones.

That she would scrunch up her face at sour tastes.

Just that much he learned. Nothing particularly special. And after all the meals were finished, Raphael realized something surprising.

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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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