That Piece Of Trash Was Me - Chapter 183
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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 183
“Are you on bad terms with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
I asked Benjamin while standing on the dance floor. Our voices couldn’t be heard by those around us.
A lively song was already enveloping the banquet hall.
Benjamin wasn’t surprised at all by my unexpected question, one that could perhaps be taken sensitively as a diplomatic issue. He didn’t even show the slightest hint of being startled.
“I’m seeing him for the first time today, my lady.”
“Right?”
It’s not like your DNA has genetic factors engraved in it that make you desperately want to tear each other’s hair out, right?
Benjamin hesitated slightly before asking.
“Did I put you in a difficult position earlier?”
Rather, I was slightly surprised by his counter-question.
It was because of the strangely awkward tone that subtly permeated Benjamin’s voice.
So, somehow it made me want to laugh a little.
Right. Even though he had grown tall, even though he had ultimately seized the position of crown prince of that wealthy kingdom.
Benjamin was still that small boy from his childhood.
The wounded child I wanted to care for more.
As an adult who had witnessed his childhood wounds, whenever I looked at Benjamin, my heart would just endlessly soften.
Naturally, my smile relaxed a bit more than before.
“That’s not it, but I hope you two get along well.”
“Why is that?”
Hmm, just because it looks nice to see a handsome man and another handsome man together?
…I can’t say that, so.
“You’re both crown princes, aren’t you? For those of us with blue blood, isn’t it natural to wish for those who will ascend to the throne to be at peace together?”
Wow. The words flow so smoothly.
Well done, well done, Tulia.
Compared to when I first became Tulia and immediately face-planted in front of Grandfather, isn’t this quite remarkable progress?
I also realized something.
The language of noble aristocrats is simply about taking nonsense and making it not sound like nonsense by expressing it in a long and elegant manner.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll do so.”
But when such a straightforward answer came back.
…I felt strangely embarrassed for no reason.
“Th-thank you. Um. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Benjamin maintained a faint smile throughout. I thought his appearance was so perfect I could just devour him.
Countless nobles who kept glancing over while dancing were already staring at him in fascination.
What about me, looking at him right up close?
“Come to think of it, you said earlier that you had a lot you wanted to say. What was it?”
“I had something I wanted to ask.”
“What is it?”
Benjamin’s playful smile deepened a bit more. He didn’t answer right away and just gazed into my eyes.
Along with a puzzled feeling, thoughts of white dye came to mind like a chain reaction.
‘Is he going to suggest we do business together?’
There’s a saying in : ‘Secrets make male leads even more like male leads.’
Benjamin Fluas also had a hidden story of being ‘the owner of a secret merchant guild.’ It was even a guild he had established himself.
‘When I was playing the game, I just thought of it simply as a male lead buff.’
But when I actually became Tulia and received daily reports about Benjamin, I couldn’t help but be inwardly amazed.
Benjamin had literally driven himself like crazy.
For a young prince with no support base, where abuse was daily routine, becoming the secret owner of a merchant guild was absolutely not easy.
It certainly wasn’t guaranteed to succeed either.
‘He said sleeping three hours a day was sleeping a lot.’
While secretly preparing, growing, and hiding the guild.
And also solidifying his own meager position and earning the king’s trust.
That young boy often slept only one hour a day. Because he had so little to begin with.
But thanks to that, this tall young man standing before me now came to own a merchant guild said to shovel gold, and even seized the position of crown prince of the Sorsen Kingdom.
‘If we’re talking about male lead buffs, maybe it’s the physical condition that allows him to grow so tall despite sleeping so little?’
Just then, the melody suddenly drew an intense curve, and my body spun around in time with the rhythm.
“Tulia.”
Even while stumbling, I was relieved that I didn’t step on Benjamin’s foot again, which I had already stepped on three times.
“I want to ask what kind of man you like.”
At the following words, there was no way I wouldn’t step on his foot in the next step.
Startled with a gasp, I hurriedly apologized.
“Are you okay? Sorry…”
“It’s fine.”
Benjamin answered briefly in an utterly calm voice, then asked again.
“So, what kind of man do you like?”
“…Why do you ask that?”
At my counter-question, Benjamin blinked several times instead.
“There’s only one reason a man asks a lady such a question, isn’t there?”
He’s entirely splendid, yet everything he says is so straightforward.
“Because I want to win your heart.”
“…”
For a moment, I unconsciously drew in a sharp breath.
A beat late, I realized that Benjamin’s way of addressing me had changed from ‘my lady’ to ‘you.’
‘Right… Didn’t he also call my name just now?’
I had been staring blankly at his honey-colored eyes, and only after the steps changed several times did I finally look away from him.
I was so curious I couldn’t stand it.
Just how much.
‘What’s his affection level?’
How high must it be for him to say such things?
It felt like running under the scorching sun for a long time and then discovering a glass of cold water.
Why was that?
Why did I feel such desperation in that moment?
Even though there was no reason for it when I thought about it.
I had steadily raised the Male Leads’ affection levels, and perhaps as a result of that effort, Benjamin was expressing his interest in me.
Even though there was no reason to be urgent, the moment I heard Benjamin’s words, my heart started racing wildly. Like someone who had just been running for a long time.
I wanted to check Benjamin’s affection level right away, but the arrogant words ‘Cool Time’ kept blocking my pounding heart.
Should I use it?
Or not?
‘No, let’s just use it now. I’m going crazy with curiosity.’
I didn’t know what kind of trick Kim Ddongbyeol might suddenly pull later, but I simply couldn’t stand it.
Right. If it hadn’t been for the sight of one woman that caught my eye at that moment, I would have immediately checked Benjamin’s affection level.
An elegantly dressed old lady was watching us with a serious expression.
Since it was an imperial banquet and a victory celebration banquet, there were many high-ranking guests, so naturally there were many elderly nobles too. Many old nobles who preferred tea parties over banquets had also participated.
The elderly ladies, dressed in large jewelry that would be too much for young ladies to handle and dresses in dignified colors, looked full of worry unlike the many ladies with flushed, excited expressions.
‘It must be because of Ferdinand.’
This heir to the imperial throne with overflowing legitimacy, whose weaknesses had all been eliminated at once.
Their hearts weren’t trembling because of the Crown Prince’s handsome appearance, but rather because they were afraid of the past days when they had sided with Empress Carmi and pretended not to know the Crown Prince.
But the old lady who had been looking at us fondly just now didn’t seem to be a noble of the Briyang Empire.
So she would be enjoying the banquet with a pure heart like that.
Seeing the old lady smiling gently as befitted the banquet reminded me of something.
Another content that never failed to appear in Sir Trini’s report letters that I had sent to take care of young Benjamin.
-He particularly tries to be loved only by middle-aged ladies or elderly ladies.
Being meticulous, I even suspected whether the prince had sexual preferences in that direction, but writing down even such details in detail might shock our Frazier princess, no, my master young lady, so I’ll just hint at it vaguely.
I just want to say that the prince is particularly uninterested in ladies his own age, just that much.
And oh, this is really awkward to report, but King of Sorsen’s Fifth Concubine tried to forcibly kiss the prince and failed…
Again, such reports are too high-level, so I’ll just hint at it and stop.
Anyway, young lady, this Sorsen Royal Palace is, in my opinion, insane in many ways…
‘Where is the vague hinting in that?’
After writing it all down?
Anyway, perhaps now might be the opportunity to ask about the truth of that matter.
“Prince. No, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Call me Benjamin.”
“Benjamin. I heard that in the Sorsen Kingdom, you had absolutely no interest in ladies your own age.”
“Did such rumors spread too?”
“Countless rumors always follow handsome men.”
“Then this rumor must have spread too.”
Benjamin still wore a smile.
“The rumor that I wag my tail only to middle-aged noble ladies or elderly ladies like a mistress sold for cheap.”
“…It didn’t go that far.”
Sir Trini, who stayed by Benjamin’s side, just slightly added a comment about having strange sexual preferences.
“Anyway, it’s true that you showed absolutely no interest in ladies your own age.”
“Then why are you showing interest in me?”
Depending on the circumstances, it was also a difficult question to answer.
But Benjamin’s expression remained as leisurely as it had been from the beginning. Just a smile he kept wearing as if he had met a spring breeze.
“When I was a young, powerless boy, there was someone who secretly sent people to help me, and I guessed alone that person might be an old lady.”
“Why?”
That was me though?
“Because all I had back then was a pretty face. I knew well as a royal person that there were secretly old ladies with a taste for coveting pretty boys.”
“…Th, um. Prince.”
“Benjamin.”
The voice correcting the title was a bit firm.
I’m actually someone who wants to speak casually to everyone except Father and Grandfather, so I just changed it right away.
“Yes, Benjamin.”
Benjamin’s smile deepened a little as he gazed at me.
“Yes. Tulia.”
“No matter what kind of taste… No, how old was Benjamin back then for an unknown benefactor to have such thoughts?”
Do you know how much salary I gave to Sir Trini?
How could you have such a terrible misunderstanding?
The injustice I couldn’t confess stuck in my chest. I was quite dumbfounded and honestly felt a bit sorry too. Such mixed feelings swirled around.
“Back then I really had nothing but that. I just thought I had to repay by appearing in a way that suited an old lady’s taste. So I had neither the thought nor time to look good to ladies my own age.”
Listening to it, something seemed a bit strange.
“Then why did you ask me to dance?”
“Because you are her.”
“…”
“Sir Trini’s master.”
At that moment, I clearly felt it.
The force that momentarily entered Benjamin’s hand that was holding my right hand.
“Did I grow up well to suit your taste?”
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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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Akir
Yeah go get it Benjamin!
Venussss
que isso benjamin?!!