The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 132

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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 132

“So I wasn’t the only one who felt it?”
“Something’s definitely off.”
That night, Lucian secretly summoned his people and recounted everything that had happened that day.
“But… we were certain it was Leopold.”
Harry denied the situation after hearing the account. His denial was understandable enough.
Honestly, everyone here was hoping this suspicion was nothing but a misunderstanding.
“…Now that I think about it, the knights standing guard outside Leopold’s room had unfamiliar faces.”
Dio’s position was that of a dedicated imperial guard. Though he didn’t lead the entire order of knights, he held a sufficiently important post and knew the faces of most of them.
Especially all those trusted by Lucian and Ruber.
“It wasn’t just Jordi. I’ve never seen the other knight who was on guard outside Leopold’s room yesterday either.”
“Jordi, I know him. He’s been Leopold’s guard since he was five years old. He’s not a bad person.”
Harry countered. Yet Dio wouldn’t let go of his suspicions.
“Then why hadn’t he been guarding Leopold’s room until recently?”
“That’s…”
“I’ve had only those who came through my hands and Father’s hands serve as guards. But it’s still strange. Father knows Jordi is Leopold’s dedicated guard.”
“I’ll look into that.”
“Check on the other knight who was on guard with him today as well.”
Dio nodded grimly.
“But Leopold aside, wasn’t the princess acting strange too?”
“Lia felt it as well?”
“Yeah, her atmosphere was different from usual. She always glared at me when she saw me, but today was different. It doesn’t make sense for someone to change so much in just a few days…”
“…I even thought she might try something when we were left alone, but instead she kept her distance.”
“Lirlis did?”
“Yes.”
It was such a bizarre string of events that even Harry was bewildered.
“All right, here’s what we’ll do.”
Lia, having collected her thoughts, told the three men what they would do tomorrow.
“He’ll probably want to go for a walk tomorrow as well. When he does, do as I tell you. Understood?”
“…”
“If it really is Leon, we need to avoid any situation where we’re left alone. None of us knows what kind of danger might be lurking.”
Silence fell at Lia’s warning. Seeing their gloomy expressions, she sighed.
“I don’t want to suspect him either. But I think you all know that if we let this slide, something far worse will happen.”
Everyone’s face fell, but they soon steeled their resolve, thinking of her sincerity.

* * *

When morning came, Lucian spent the day as he always did.
He enjoyed breakfast with Lia, attended to his morning duties, had a simple lunch, and at the usual hour, set out with her toward Leopold’s room.
“You haven’t forgotten what I said?”
“Of course not.”
“Dio must be off investigating?”
The guard following Lucian was not Dio, but someone else. However, he was someone who had often served as Lucian’s guard frequently enough that Lia knew his face.
“He went to investigate about guarding your brother. We should know something soon. Harry said he’s already contacted the Temple, and James is preparing in case something unexpected happens.”
“Good, then we just need to confirm things ourselves.”
Lia and Lucian exchanged glances, then entered Leopold’s room.
“Welcome! I’ve been waiting for you!”
As expected, Leopold greeted them warmly, while Lirlis sat beside him like a doll.
Everything unfolded as anticipated. Leopold said he wanted to go for a walk just like yesterday, and Lucian gladly handed over the clothes he’d brought beforehand.
“We’ll be back soon.”
Leopold linked arms with Lia and waved goodbye. Just before the door closed, Lucian exchanged a glance with Lia and turned away.
Lirlis had already moved far away from Lucian.
At this, Lucian rose from his seat and approached her immediately.
Lirlis flinched and looked up at Lucian.
“I think we have something we need to talk about.”
“…I have nothing to say.”
Lirlis stiffened and turned away from him. But Lucian clearly caught the trembling of her hands.
“What are you afraid of?”
“What would I be afraid of!”
She denied it, but fear was unmistakably threaded through her voice. Then, as the day before, the door opened and Jordi peeked inside.
“Is something the matter?”
Lirlis flinched at the sight of him and turned her head away. Lucian understood what she was afraid of.
“Does a mere knight open a door without knocking?”
Lucian lowered his voice and fixed Jordi with a hard stare. At this, Jordi hesitated, then bowed his head.
“If I’ve offended you, I apologize. I simply heard raised voices inside…”
“That gives you no right to open the door without knocking. Do so again, and there will be consequences.”
“I shall remember.”
Jordi bowed and closed the door. Lucian stared at it for a long moment, then swept his right hand through the air.
A Magic Barrier enveloped Lucian and Lirlis.
“Now no one will hear our voices.”
“…”
“Tell me honestly what you’re afraid of and what you were trying to say to me yesterday.”
“Is that an order…?”
After a moment of silence, Lucian shook his head.
“No. I’m asking you as a favor.”
Seeing those unwavering golden eyes, Lirlis finally broke down in tears, burying her face in her hands.
“A few days ago, Leopold proposed something to me…”
What followed was Lirlis confessing the absurd proposal Leopold had made. The more Lucian heard, the darker his expression became.

* * *

“Jordi? Well… I haven’t noticed anything unusual about him recently.”
“Though I used to see his face frequently when he served as His Majesty’s guard, he’s been scarce since about five years ago.”
“…Is that so?”
At the same time, Dio was questioning fellow knights about Jordi.
When he investigated the other person who had guarded Leopold’s room yesterday, it turned out he had once been one of the First Emperor’s guards. Though he’d only been a minor guard.
Yet Dio couldn’t easily dismiss what he’d learned.
‘The First Emperor was the First Emperor.’
Unease crawled up his throat.
“We wouldn’t know about that.”
“Very well. Thank you.”
Having drawn a blank, Dio turned to leave.
As he was lingering nearby, trying to approach another person, Dio suddenly felt hostile intent directed at him.
He was smart enough not to react immediately. He simply pretended to be oblivious, glancing about.
‘One, two… no, four.’
There were four sets of eyes fixed on him in total. Each from a different location, their gazes concealed yet blatant.
‘If it weren’t for being a Dragon, I wouldn’t have noticed this.’
Dio had become a guard simply because Lucian needed someone to be his hands and feet. His martial prowess was inferior to other knights.
Though he’d become a guard out of Lucian’s necessity, he couldn’t remain as he was, so Dio received separate training from Age.
With direct training from a Dragon, Dio’s martial skill improved by leaps and bounds.
At his current level, he could at least rival a commander of the order of knights.
‘Actually, this works out well. If they approach me, I might learn something.’
Dio decided to turn their surveillance to his advantage. As he resumed his investigation, an unexpected person approached him.
“Lord Albert, I greet you!”
“Spare me the stiff salutations.”
A man who could make even Dio—the Emperor’s right hand—nervous. He was Ruber’s dedicated guard and Dio’s direct superior.
He had learned that Dio was asking around about Jordi and brought him to his office.
“So you’ve been asking around about Jordi?”
The moment the door closed, Albert spoke. Feeling that his expression was slightly different from usual, Dio nodded.
“Yes, something has been bothering me. From what I’ve learned, he’s supposedly been guarding His Majesty Leopold since childhood… but I was curious why I haven’t seen him once during the five years His Majesty was incapacitated.”
Albert was quiet for a moment, then leaned against his desk.
“…Jordi was assigned elsewhere by order of the Former Emperor.”
“The Former Emperor Ruber, you mean?”
“Yes. The reason, they say, was his failure to protect His Majesty Leopold.”
When Leopold collapsed at the Temple, Jordi and the other long-serving guards of Leopold were present as well.
Jordi had made the excuse that he hadn’t participated in the ceremony and so didn’t know such things had happened inside. But a father who feared his son might die heard none of it properly.
“However, when His Majesty Leopold awoke this time, he called for them. The Former Emperor was displeased, but he had no choice but to grant His Majesty’s request.”
Learning the truth, Dio felt as though he’d been struck on the head.
‘…Jordi was with Leopold during the Temple ceremony?’
Then wasn’t he originally Leopold’s man, but rather a spy planted by the First Emperor?
The excuse Albert had given him was plausible, but Dio’s instinct told him it was false.
If his suspicion was correct—if Jordi and Leopold’s other guards were connected to the Temple or the First Emperor—then who was really calling for them now that Leopold had awakened was all too clear.
“Damn it!”
Dio cursed under his breath and hurried away. Seeing him suddenly urgent, Albert tilted his head in confusion.
“Lord Albert! Something grave may be about to happen in the palace. Just in case, please strengthen the guard on the Former Emperor and the Dowager Empress. Especially—ensure that only trustworthy individuals form their security!”
“What in blazes is going on!”
“It’s complicated to explain, but know that it’s an urgent matter. Please.”
At the gravity in Dio’s eyes, Albert swallowed. Normally, he wouldn’t have complied with such a demand without explanation…
‘Lord Dio isn’t the type to speak rashly.’
Over the past five years, whether they liked it or not, the two men had worked in tandem through many situations. The Dio he’d observed for five years was not someone to speak in empty words.
“I’ll do as you say. Those people following you outside—are they connected to this?”
“…They are enemies.”
“I see. Go handle your business quickly. I’ll see to the Former Emperor’s security myself.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
Dio bowed deeply and hurried outside. Then he rushed toward where his men were stationed.
‘Lucian, Lia…!’
Dio prayed—again and again—that nothing terrible would happen before he arrived.

* * *

“Being cooped up in the room really is suffocating.”
“Taking an hour walk like this each day would be good for your health. Why not propose it to Lucian?”
“I was already thinking of doing that. Eventually I’ll have to alternate with you anyway, so why not call it a practice run?”
Lia smiled, but her eyes remained sharp and cold as she scrutinized Leopold’s every movement.
He was even imitating Lucian’s stretches. So far, he’d shown no suspicious behavior.
In fact, what mattered now wasn’t Leopold, but the others.
‘If we pry too hastily and they realize we’ve caught on, they’ll hide and cause us real trouble.’
They mustn’t yet realize that they suspected Leopold of being Leon.
So for now, they would act as they always did, listen to Lucian and Dio’s findings tonight, and then decide their next move.
Since she’d been playing along without dropping her suspicion of Leon this whole time, it wasn’t difficult to smile and engage with Leopold as usual.

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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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