The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 149

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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 Abandoned Prince’s Spirit Bride, Chapter 149

‘Now that I think about it… I’d forgotten.’
Marriage. Because of how Leon had tentatively broached the subject before, Lia was thinking seriously about marriage to Lucian for the first time.
Back then, the word “marriage” felt too foreign to consider carefully. Above all, she hadn’t been in a state of mind to think about it peacefully.
But now all the chaos had settled, and she no longer had to live in anxiety. Ahead lay only days of living quietly and peacefully with Lucian—
Lia fidgeted with her fingers as she glanced sideways at Lucian.
She’d thought he’d be as flustered as she was, but Lucian had his face set firm, deep in serious thought about something.
A chilling sensation shot through her heart—had he been avoiding her when she’d asked last time if he didn’t want to marry? Was that why he looked like that now?
If Lucian said he had no intention of marrying…
‘I hate it.’
She couldn’t imagine a life without Lucian anymore. It was something she’d thought before, but now it carried a different meaning than it once had.
In the past, it was about watching over his future and being a reliable presence at his side.
Now, she wanted to greet the morning with him, eat together, share the small moments of daily life, and see the same scenery.
She wanted to share all his days and find happiness in them.
Not merely as a guardian or friend, but as a companion walking together into the future.
Going through this crisis had taught her something.
She would no longer hide her heart, nor turn away from it—only face it head-on. And with that, she would seize what she truly wanted.
Lia, having resolved firmly, swallowed and opened her mouth.
“So… um…”
“Lia, listen…”
But Lucian also had something to say, and their words overlapped.
The two looked at each other, eyes widening, before they both burst into quiet laughter.
“You go first.”
At Lia’s words, Lucian hesitated and avoided her gaze.
For a moment, Lia wondered if she should have spoken first instead. But only for a moment—Lucian opened his mouth.
“Actually, I’ve been debating whether to tell you this…”
At his words, which carried an edge of tension, Lia swallowed hard.
“I think my past life might have been Odel, Lia.”
But at what followed, Lia’s eyes grew wider.
“It makes me happy to learn my past self was your lover, but at the same time it unsettles me. I worry—what if you like me only because I’m Odel’s reincarnation?”
It was a doubt and unease he’d harbored ever since realizing his past life had been Odel.
‘What if she was drawn to Odel’s soul, not to me?’
There’s that saying about destined lovers, isn’t there.
The romantic notion that souls connected to each other are reborn connected still—
But Lucian wanted to deny such romantic talk.
The moment he accepted it, it felt like he was saying that from the moment he met Lia to loving her as they love each other now, it was all because of a bond from his past life.
‘These are purely my feelings.’
He didn’t want to cover every moment with Lia under the name of Odel.
But the question remained whether Lia thought the same way he did. If Lia said she liked him as his previous self feared—because of a bond from her past life—
‘What would I even do then…’
“What are you talking about?”
Lucian, who’d had his eyes shut tight, blinked at the bewildered tone that came back. When he turned his head, Lia was making an incredulous expression.
“Of course I like you because it’s you. Why would Odel come into this?”
“…So you like me regardless of Odel?”
“Lucian, did you forget I liked you before I even regained my memories?”
“But if you were drawn to the same soul…”
“That makes no sense. When you first came to the Mansion, I was thinking about how to kick you out.”
At hearing this for the first time, Lucian flinched.
“My peaceful Mansion was suddenly invaded by people, you insisted on holding a Spirit Marriage Ceremony with me out of nowhere, and then you—just a child who couldn’t even fry an egg—were left alone. Honestly, it was nothing but a hassle.”
“A hassle…”
“But at some point, I started to care about you. Sure, at first it was pity.”
Yes, it had begun with pity—caring for Lucian’s meals, looking after his comfort.
“But before I knew it, affection had taken root, and I couldn’t even imagine a daily life without you.”
Each day spent with Lucian—crying, laughing, chattering—became precious beyond measure.
“The reason I came to love you is solely because we spent time together.”
The person she loves now is Lucian.
“…Did you know I was Odel’s reincarnation?”
“Yes, I learned it after regaining my memories.”
She recovered all her memories when she woke in the Throne Chamber after being captured by Leon.
At that moment, all the memories she’d been unable to recover came flooding back, and when she saw Lucian coming to save her, Odel naturally crossed her mind.
“But I would have loved you even if you weren’t Odel’s reincarnation. I’m certain of that.”
Learning that he was Odel’s reincarnation changed nothing. Now as before, she loved Lucian sincerely.
Watching her soft smile and the violet eyes brimming with love, Lucian felt the anxiety lingering in the corner of his heart melt away like snow.
He bit his lip hard, then wrapped his arms around Lia tightly.
“I love you, Lia.”
At his whispered words, Lia broke into a bright smile. The two locked eyes naturally, and their lips met without thought.
At first it was a playful, butterfly-light kiss. But somewhere along the way it deepened.
Feeling a shiver run down her spine, Lia gripped the edge of Lucian’s shirt firmly.
She realized her back had met something soft. When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying on the sofa, trapped in Lucian’s arms.
Before her eyes, she could see his golden ones, lowered and bright with heat.
Those golden eyes rippled with desire.
Lucian carefully cupped Lia’s chin. Her trembling lashes fluttered closed.
Admiring the beauty of her face, Lucian slowly let his own eyes fall shut. Just as their breaths were about to mingle—
“Behold, I make my entrance!”
An uninvited guest shattered the moment.
Lia’s brow twitched as her eyes remained closed, while Lucian buried his face in her neck, moving past her lips.
“What are you two doing?”
Kaiser sauntered over, lazily picking at his ear.
“What kind of position is that? Lia’s probably uncomfortable. Get up.”
Kaiser forcibly yanked up Lucian, who’d been draped over Lia. Lucian found himself separated from Lia unexpectedly and shot him a look of disbelief.
Lia felt the same way.
“Our dear red lizard, did you leave all your sense of timing in the Lair?”
“What? Red lizard~? You’re human now, not a ghost, aren’t you? Don’t you value your own life?”
Kaiser jested that someone like him could be disposed of with a single finger.
What followed was naturally a blow from Lia. Watching the two start bickering, Lucian let out a deep sigh.
The mood had already been ruined; there was no point in continuing.
Lucian rose from his seat with a cold expression.
“Hey, where are you going!”
“The bathroom.”
Watching Lucian disappear, Kaiser cocked his head, wondering why he was acting that way.
Meanwhile, Lia, who’d been watching Lucian leave, tugged at Kaiser’s sleeve.
“Kaiser, I need to ask you for one favor.”
“Hm?”
Lia covered her mouth, and Kaiser naturally leaned in to listen.
After hearing Lia’s whisper, Kaiser’s eyes gleamed with intrigue.
“Oh…?”
“It’s a decent idea, right? Of course, it might be a burden for you…”
“No, it’s fine. Actually, this could help put to rest all the idle rumors that have been spreading. So when should we do it?”
Lia smiled meaningfully, her lips curving up.

* * *

Time passed, and Lucian’s Title Investiture Ceremony as Grand Duke was held.
Leopold moved swiftly to prepare it, and the ceremony proceeded without delay; unable to resist the Imperial Family’s pressure, nobles attended in great numbers.
Furthermore, outside the Imperial Palace, a festival was in full swing to celebrate the birth of a new member of the Imperial bloodline.
The Empire’s citizens were delighted by the festival the Imperial Family was hosting, yet some could not hide their unease.
“I’m not sure this is the right thing to do. Twins are inauspicious, aren’t they?”
“Even if we’ve defeated the Dark Sorcerer…”
“Perhaps the Dark Sorcerer’s appearance was itself because of the twins.”
There were not many who welcomed Lucian’s ascension to Grand Duke.
But those with twins in their families secretly hoped for Lucian’s investiture.
It was a golden opportunity to overturn the deep-rooted discrimination against twins.
The divide in sentiment among the Empire’s citizens was little different among the nobility.
Conservative nobles, if anything, were no less vocal than the common people—perhaps more so.
Lucian, having changed into his ceremonial attire and waiting, watched the nobles visible through the window and sighed.
Though he couldn’t hear their conversation, their displeased expressions told him exactly what they were discussing.
“I’d rather just get through this and be done with it. I’m sick of all this nobility and royalty nonsense.”
“But this is an auspicious day—having your name entered into the Imperial Family registry. You shouldn’t say such things.”
“You’re right, Lucian. It’s a good day. Smile.”
Lucian raised one eyebrow, watching James adjust his clothing and Dio snickering across the way.
Having grown lax during his time at the Mansion, the formal attire he’d worn for five years now felt stifling.
“Where’s Lia, anyway?”
“No idea? Haven’t seen her since this morning.”
“…Is that so?”
Lucian fingered the small box in his pocket, expressing his disappointment.
The truth was, he’d planned to propose to Lia once the investiture ceremony ended.
Though he hadn’t asked her outright about marriage last time, he’d become certain her love for him was unshakable when she spoke of their past lives—it had given him the courage to try.
‘I hope she’ll say yes.’
Thinking of the diamond ring in the box, Lucian smiled faintly.
“The time has come, sir.”
“Let’s go.”
A servant announced the ceremony’s beginning. As James and Dio fell in behind him, Lucian proceeded to where the investiture would take place.
Late autumn, with winter not far ahead.
Though slightly chilly, the sky was brilliantly clear—as if cheering on Lucian’s new beginning.
“His Excellency Lucian Odelion enters!”
As Lucian’s arrival was announced, the nobles stopped their murmurs and turned to look at him. Their eyes searched—more akin to those of someone casting out an outsider than showing goodwill.
But Lucian was not one to be intimidated by their gaze. Rather, he held his head high with deliberate pride and advanced confidently.
As he passed, whispers followed, but he ignored them all and looked toward Leopold, who greeted him with a welcoming smile.
The two brothers exchanged eye-smiles before quickly returning their expressions to formality.
Leopold raised his hand, quieting the murmuring nobles, and spoke words of congratulation and blessing.
“…Thus do we formally enroll Lucian Odelion into the Imperial Family and bestow upon him the title of Grand Duke, along with the Tillan Territory of the west.”
Lucian, who’d been bowing, suddenly lifted his head. This was not part of what had been agreed upon.
“The Tillan Territory, no less.”
“A fertile land with abundant harvests every year, isn’t it?”
“One of the Imperial Family’s most cherished territories, and yet they’re giving it to twins…”
The Tillan Territory was a region that brought in revenues substantial enough to greatly benefit the imperial treasury.
It was, so to speak, a goose that laid golden eggs. Yet to give such a territory away was an extraordinary gesture.
Lucian stood speechless, his lips parting slightly, but Leopold and those behind him—Ruber and Serena—wore pleased smiles.
It was a matter already settled among them.
Leopold stepped forward and pulled Lucian into a tight embrace.
“You’ve endured much, brother.”
“…This is too generous, brother.”
“You more than deserve it. So smile. We need to give those thick-faced nobles something to think about, don’t we?”
Leopold held Lucian’s shoulder and beamed brightly toward the nobles, who had no choice but to applaud.
Lucian looked around. Most gazes were still discontent, but Sebastian and Habier, who’d come to the ceremony, Dio who stood nearby, and Harry and James all wore genuine joy for Lucian.
Lucian felt an inexplicable swell of emotion and gripped his chest tightly.
Screeeeeee—!
Then a piercing cry, sharp enough to make the very heavens ring, rang out.

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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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