The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 100

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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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The Forsaken Prince’s Phantom Bride — Episode 100

To the rhythm of the Violin, Lia moved awkwardly through the steps, catching what beat she could.
“Right from here, yes, that’s it.”
“Now the left foot. You’re doing well.”
“Better than most people, Lia.”
“Stop flattering me.”
She was clearly stumbling—there was no reason it should look good—yet this man was nothing but praise, as if he’d been blinded by love.
Sure enough, Lucian was smiling with his eyes, a faint chuckle escaping him.
Lia opened her mouth to protest, but the moment she saw his face, she closed it again.
‘He looks like someone else.’
She’d thought she’d grown used to the sight of adult Lucian in the month they’d spent together, yet in this moment it felt like she was starting from scratch. The glimpses of young Lucian that used to surface had vanished entirely, leaving only a man—unmistakably, wholly a man—before her eyes.
The realization alone made her feel strange, so she rushed to change the subject.
“How was your Birthday Celebration? Did you get many congratulations from people?”
“Got plenty.”
“I could see the gifts piling up more with each passing day. I’m glad there are so many people to wish you well now.”
It was meant kindly, but for some reason Lucian’s expression soured slightly.
“What use is it if I can’t hear it from the one person I actually want to hear it from?”
“What?”
“I don’t need anyone else. What I like is hearing you say happy birthday the moment I open my eyes in the morning, Lia.”
Lucian drew her closer, burying his face in her shoulder. At the sudden closeness, Lia caught her breath—but seeing the white hair tickling her cheek, she averted her gaze elsewhere.
“Still, we ended up spending it together in the end.”
Lucian lifted his head slightly to look at her, then smiled softly.
“If I’d known this would feel this good, I should have asked for a gift sooner.”
“Wait! Speaking of gifts—why did you let me hear about your birthday through someone else? If James hadn’t told me the date, I would have let it slip right by!”
“Oh. Didn’t I mention it?”
“You only get one birthday a year, yet you say it with all the excitement of reciting the weather. That’s what’s strange about it.”
“Well, the people who came to the Birthday Celebration weren’t really there for me—they came to congratulate Leopold. So I don’t feel like it’s particularly my birthday.”
Lia fell silent at the unexpected answer.
Lucian spoke flatly, as if the thought meant nothing to him, but his words struck deeper.
“But you know that Kaiser and I—we do everything for you, right?”
“Of course, naturally.”
Lia beamed and spun in a slow circle. As the hem of her Dress caught the light and swirled around her, Lucian felt a moment of vertigo.
During the five years he’d served as a stand-in, Lucian had danced with quite a few young ladies, Lirlis included.
But he could say with certainty that not once had he felt anything like this.
Even when matched with Lirlis—praised by everyone as beautiful—he’d only wanted the time to pass quickly.
He’d never felt this satisfaction before.
“I wish I could give you so many things, but since I don’t have anything, I could only make you Cake. I’m sorry it’s just this—is it enough?”
Lucian, who wanted this perfect moment to last forever, was amazed by her words.
“Lia, you yourself are a gift to me. You’re always beautiful, but right now—you’re more beautiful.”
“…Don’t say things like that!”
“But it’s the truth?”
She couldn’t tell if he was being playful or sincere. Lia’s cheeks flushed crimson as she pouted.
Lucian leaned close to her ear and whispered.
“Do you know what wish I made just now?”
“What?”
“That you’d feel the same way about me. That you’d fall for me too.”
He said it so smoothly, without changing his expression at all, that Lia was shocked. Then Lucian chuckled.
“But here’s the problem—I think I’m falling for you even harder before you can fall for me.”
“Stop it! No more of that!”
If I keep listening, I’ll feel even stranger!
A strange reversal unfolded: Lucian, who’d confessed, was less flustered than Lia, who’d received the confession.
The onlookers found the sight heartwarming, but two figures standing nearby felt a sudden chill.
“Sigh… life…”
“…I suddenly want a drink.”
Harry and Dio spoke despondently, patting each other’s shoulders in sympathy. Meanwhile, Kaiser stood with his arms crossed, his narrowed eyes fixed on Lia and Lucian with a dark intensity.
James, noticing this, ventured carefully, “Is something troubling you, Kaiser?”
“…Nothing at all.”
That expression said anything but nothing. Could he be jealous? James grew concerned about a lovers’ quarrel breaking out over Lia—but Kaiser’s eyes narrowed even further.
His gaze wasn’t actually trained on Lia and Lucian themselves.
It was fixed on the Bushes, not far from where they stood.
In that darkness, a figure was watching them.
Though difficult to see clearly in the gloom, a blue-eyed woman was watching Lucian and Lia, her lips curling in a bitter line.
‘I will never give up.’
Kaiser caught the faint whisper and instantly recognized who she was.
‘His Fiancée, then.’
Lucian would never have brought her here of his own accord. She must have come on her own.
Piecing together the rumors that had been circulating through the Imperial Palace and the conversation he’d overheard between Lucian and his Fiancée, it was certain—this woman loved Lucian.
That’s why he’d deliberately put the two of them in each other’s path: to make Lia aware of her own feelings.
‘But this… this is different.’
From that slender woman, he sensed unmistakable killing intent.
When he realized her target was Lia, Kaiser’s expression darkened with something like a cold smile.
Silently, he watched the figure in the Bushes disappear.
“Let’s see how this plays out then.”
As long as he was present, she would never so much as lay a finger on Lia.
Kaiser decided to keep watch over the situation that would unfold.

* * *

‘Ha ha! So what happened next?’

Five paces ahead, two figures walked together, their conversation bright with laughter.

It had been ten days since Aria joined them.
Because he’d opposed her joining at first, their relationship hadn’t been particularly warm.
When Odel showed such obvious resistance and wariness, Leon had eventually stepped in.
‘Odel, take it easy. If you drive away a valuable ally like this, what will we do?’
‘But brother, I really can’t trust that woman.’
‘Odel, we’re going to have to lead many people and enact reform. Are you going to spend every moment just being suspicious and refusing to give people a chance just because you don’t like them?’
‘…’
‘This time, trust my judgment.’
Leon and Aria became close without any real effort, but Odel still felt a distance from her.
Nothing had happened so far, but…
Whenever he looked at Aria, he couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
Just then, their eyes met. She saw his wavering gaze and smiled faintly before continuing her conversation with Leon.
For a moment, Odel felt a surge of irritation.
‘What’s with the mockery?’
He’d barely started grumbling to himself when—
Crunch.
He felt something strange beneath his foot, and the ground gave way.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
‘Aaaahhhhh!’
As Odel screamed, Aria and Leon, who’d been walking ahead, spun around in alarm.
‘Odel!’
Leon rushed over urgently while Aria followed, her expression grave.
Leon peered into the pit where Odel had fallen. It was easily four meters deep.
‘Odel! Are you all right? Say something! Odel!’
The ground collapse had kicked up a cloud of dust. Desperate, Leon shouted down.
‘Wait.’
Aria stopped Leon just as he was about to cry out again.
Cough, cough.
A small cough echoed from the pit. Leon’s plummeting heart steadied.
‘U… ugh…’
‘Odel! Are you okay?!’
“U-ugh… I’m… I’m okay! I think I twisted my leg though…”
‘Phew, thank the gods. We’ll find a way to get you out—just wait a moment!’
‘Okay!’
Odel brushed the dust from his eyes and looked around.
The earth was soft enough that he hadn’t been badly hurt.
‘Hm? What’s that?’
But then something caught his eye—a hole large enough for a person to crawl through.
Odel grabbed his throbbing leg and crawled toward it.
Whoosh.
Wind flowed from within.
‘…A Cave?’
‘Odel! Can you get up?!’
After some time with no response from below, Leon called down.
‘I think I need to stay down here with Odel! Let’s meet up like he said—at the Cave!’
‘It’s not an injury I can’t treat?!’
‘Still, he needs to see a healer!’
‘Understood! Let’s meet by tomorrow at the latest! Odel! You need to be careful!’
‘Okay, brother!’
The sound of Leon rustling about and moving away was heard. He’d set off to find the Cave entrance. The two below looked up, then at each other.
‘Well then, shall we head into the Cave?’
Aria extended her hand to help him up. Odel looked at it for a moment, then took her hand.

From the beginning, Leon found Rope and Vine already in his possession and twisted them together, lowering them into the pit. Odel looked down at his own throbbing leg.
‘Brother! Even walking is hard for me!’
‘…This is a problem. What do we do?’
‘But there’s a Cave here! Brother! There was a Cave near here, remember?’
‘A Cave?’
At Odel’s words, Leon tilted his head uncertainly, and Aria pulled out a Map.
‘I think I saw it on the Map.’
Aria located a Cave four kilometers away.
‘Why don’t we meet at our Cave instead? It’s hard to climb up, but I think I can crawl inside!’
‘Do you know what’s in the Cave?! You’re injured, so don’t be reckless! Wait—I’ll come down and—!’
‘No! Don’t come down!’
When Leon prepared to descend despite Odel’s protest, Aria grabbed him.
Meanwhile, focused on the Cave, Odel surveyed the shadowy interior.
Footstep.
Hearing movement behind him, Odel turned.
‘Brother, don’t come down—wait, Aria?’
‘Let me see your leg.’
He’d thought it was Leon who’d come down, but it was Aria.
Without hesitation, Odel watched her examine his leg.
‘Ugh!’

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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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