The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 53

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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 Ghost Bride, Episode 53

When Lirith looked at Leopold with eyes that seemed to ask “Why are you saying that?”, Leopold grasped the situation.
“Ah, well, you see, His Highness has been quite occupied showing us around the Empire lately, so I haven’t had the time. I’m terribly sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused the young lady.”
“……Hmm, I see.”
Fortunately, Lirith stopped regarding Leopold as strange.
“Then, would you mind sparing me the rest of the evening?”
Lirith promptly linked her arm through Lucian’s. Leopold’s jaw tightened. Before Leopold could make matters worse, Harry stepped forward first.
“Of course. Please, my lady, do as you wish. We’ve arranged the Royal Box Seating—would you care to share it with us?”
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
Lirith gently tugged Lucian’s arm, silently pressing him to escort her.
With so many eyes around, Lucian had no choice but to offer his arm to Lirith.
To ensure Lucian’s identity didn’t slip, Harry followed close behind.
Dio, hanging back slightly, glanced at Leopold’s expression.
“……She’s your fiancée, isn’t she?”
Leopold, who usually wore an easy smile, dropped his expression for the first time, his face hardening—and that was far more frightening than if Lucian had shown anger.
“Lucian’s such a talented actor, after all! So the fiancée must’ve just been fooled too.”
“…….”
“Come on, let’s hurry after them.”
Dio pulled Leopold’s arm and hastened after their friends.
The moment Leopold saw Lucian speaking warmly to Lirith, his feelings grew complicated.
Surely, he was only the one who’d suggested this—Lucian was merely imitating him—so why did his insides twist this way?
He found himself wishing that Lirith would see through the deception.
Even if it meant Lucian might be dragged away for Disrespect to the Royal Family.
Though Lucian wore his own face, Leopold couldn’t shake the feeling that Lirith was cozying up to some other man.
Lirith sat right beside Lucian in the front row, while the other three took seats behind them.
Harry approached Leopold, wiping his forehead anxiously.
“Fortunately, Lucian is handling it well. And it doesn’t seem as though Lirith suspects anything.”
“……Yes.”
The darkness of the theater kept Harry from noticing how rigidly Leopold’s face had set. Soon the performance began, and all eyes turned toward the stage.
But Leopold’s gaze remained fixed on the back of Lirith’s head.

* * *

This is suffocating.
Even as the performance hurtled toward its climax, Lucian couldn’t focus on anything onstage.
From the moment they’d entered, the woman beside him kept taking his hand or speaking to him, forcing him to remain tense every moment.
“That actor is supposedly rising in the theater world these days. I was looking for someone to patronize, and I think he’d be a fine choice. What do you think, Your Highness?”
Situations exactly like this one.
Lucian swallowed a sigh that threatened to spill over and looked at the actor Lirith indicated. He was a handsome man with refined features.
“It sounds as if you’ve already made up your mind. Why ask me?”
“I’m curious what Your Highness thinks.”
Her smile was warm, but her eyes held something probing—not suspicion of his identity, but rather a test to see what answer he would give.
He’d thought Leopold and she were close because she clung to him, but apparently that wasn’t the case.
‘A woman who can’t even recognize her own fiancé.’
Since he had to answer, he opened his mouth.
“If it were me, I’d patronize that woman instead.”
Lucian pointed to one of the female extras onstage. There were so many performers that she wasn’t particularly noticeable.
“Do you mean the actress with the crimson hair?”
When Lucian nodded, Lirith’s eyes widened in confusion.
‘Is this really the Leopold I know?’
She hadn’t genuinely expected an answer when she asked.
Usually, when she posed such a question, ninety-nine men out of a hundred would praise her discerning eye or remark on her interest in patronizing artists, treating her as an intellectual woman.
No one had ever countered her or listened seriously. So she’d assumed Leopold would be the same……
“May I ask why?”
“Her lines aren’t extensive, but her Diction and delivery are notably better than the others. And in the parts where everyone sings together, her voice stands out distinctly. The man you mentioned, on the other hand—he’s not bad, but he’s hardly exceptional. He’s popular because of his handsome face, that’s all.”
When Lirith listened to Lucian’s words and focused on the woman, she could indeed hear her voice ringing out more clearly than the others’, her presence gradually becoming apparent.
“……That’s impressive. You picked her out at once from all these performers.”
“Anyone could see it if they paid a little attention.”
His blunt tone didn’t come across as arrogance, and she found that appealing.
“Following Your Highness’s advice, I should try approaching that woman. I do hope she’ll become a great talent, as your eye predicts.”
“Don’t put too much stock in it. I was just taking a guess.”
He was showing humility? She really was beginning to wonder if this was the Leopold she knew.
He was far better than the men who scrambled to impress her, bragging and putting on airs.
“Do you have an engagement for this evening?”
At Lirith’s question, Lucian turned to look at her. Her eyes weren’t alight with excitement—they were calm and emotionless, and that emptiness moved something in him.
“Would it be possible to dine at the Imperial Palace this evening, with His Majesty and Her Majesty?”
The mention of the Emperor and Empress made Lucian’s hand flinch.
“Of course, it would be improper not to make prior arrangements, but His Majesty mentioned before that we should dine together whenever possible. Please, grant me the honor of joining you at tonight’s supper.”
“……As you wish.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Lirith beamed with a rosy blush, but the look in Lucian’s eyes as he watched her had turned ice-cold.
The moment the Emperor and Empress were mentioned, blood drained from his entire body and his stomach twisted. He no longer wanted to continue this charade.
Lucian stood abruptly.
“……I’m going to step out for a moment.”
Lirith, unbothered, turned her attention back to the stage. As Lucian left the box, he tapped Leopold’s shoulder.
When their eyes met, he jerked his head toward the outside.
They slipped into the corridor, and Leopold followed shortly after.
“Let’s stop. We’ve had our fun.”
They went straight to the Restroom and changed clothes away from prying eyes.
As Leopold was carelessly putting on the Wig and Hat he’d worn, a small voice came from behind.
“……Did you enjoy it?”
“What?”
At the loaded question, Lucian turned around to find Leopold’s face had hardened.
“What did you talk about with Lirith?”
“Lirith? Who’s that—oh, the young lady?”
At Lucian’s indifferent response, Leopold’s fists clenched tightly.
“……Lirith is my fiancée.”
“I know.”
“She’s quite beautiful, true, but I’d be in trouble if you fell for her. I don’t want to lose a friend this way.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Oops. Had that been too harsh?
The curse had slipped out before he could stop it, and Leopold simply stared at him, his expression deadly serious.
So that’s why he’d been so quiet—his fiancée was the reason.
“You don’t need to worry. I won’t fall for her, and I certainly won’t. Besides, I’m already married.”
“……What?!”
“My wife is a hundred—no, a thousand times prettier, kinder, and more capable than the young lady, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Leopold’s jealousy evaporated in an instant, replaced only by bewilderment.
He wasn’t about to tell Leopold that Lia was his bride. Too much hassle.
Watching Leopold gape silently, Lucian reached over and straightened his crooked Necktie. Only then did Leopold close his mouth.
“……So you really haven’t fallen for Lirith?”
“She was never my type to begin with.”
Leopold’s lips curved upward slightly. Seeing him return to his usual self, Lucian let out a quiet laugh.
“I’ll tell you what the young lady said a moment ago.”
To prevent any miscommunication, he recounted the conversation he’d had with Lirith.
“Oh, and……she asked whether you could have dinner with His Majesty and Her Majesty this evening.”
“Lirith said that?”
Leopold’s eyes widened in shock, and he murmured, ‘She’s never done that before……’
“We nearly had a disaster. Thanks for telling me.”
“……Wouldn’t you get in trouble for showing up unannounced?”
“Normally, yes. But Father and Mother adore Lirith, so it should be fine. Besides, they’re not particularly strict—they’re rather kind, actually.”
As Leopold went on extolling his parents, Lucian felt overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion.
“……You said you wanted a younger sibling, didn’t you?”
“Hm? Yes, I did.”
“Have you ever mentioned it to His Majesty? That you wanted a younger sibling?”
“Of course I have. I’ve said it every year since I was eight. But he just says he’ll try, and then……nothing.”
Which meant Leopold had never been told—not once—that he had a twin sibling.
Lucian’s fists clenched as he felt his teeth grind involuntarily.
“Hey! If you get the chance later, come visit the Imperial Palace! I’ll extend an invitation. Of course, you’ll be shocked when you see us, so I’ll give you some hints beforehand. My parents will be amazed too.”
“No. Don’t.”
The refusal came without a single moment of hesitation, and Leopold faltered. Seeing his confused expression, Lucian relaxed his stiffened body.
“Harry mentioned it before, didn’t he? That I look so much like you there could be some kind of danger. My life might even be at risk.”
“What? That’s not acceptable!”
“So don’t tell anyone. Especially not His Majesty.”
“……Ugh. I understand. I can’t put you in danger.”
Leopold checked the time and said they should hurry back, as they were running late.
Lucian followed behind him as he led the way.
The smile gradually faded from his face, replaced by shadow.

* * *

“I’m back.”
[You’re late.]
Lia set down the book she’d been reading and approached Lucian.
[Your clothes are different from this morning? Where did they come from?]
“……Leopold bought them for me. We were playing at being Aristocrats today.”
[What’s that supposed to mean?]
“Just extravagantly spending money, I suppose.”
Muttering that he was tired, Lucian rubbed his sore shoulders as he headed toward his room. Lia watched him silently, sensing something was off about his mood.
[Did something happen?]
Lucian’s demeanor and expression seemed unusually subdued.
Sure enough, Lucian stopped short, his lips pressing together. She hurried to stand before him.
[Why do you look so sad? Did someone say something cruel to you?]
“……Leopold mentioned his parents today.”
Lia froze involuntarily. In Lucian’s eyes swirled both despair and sorrow.
“I tested the waters without meaning to……and it really does seem like my parents intentionally hid me.”
[……Lucian.]
“I gave up on my parents long ago, haven’t even thought about them, but I don’t know why I feel like this. Every time Leopold talks about his parents, my chest feels so heavy.”
When he heard Leopold speak of his parents, he could tell how much the Emperor and Empress loved him, how surrounded by affection he’d grown up.
And that made his own abandonment all the more vivid and miserable.
“Am I such a worthless person? Is that why I feel this way toward Leopold?”
[That’s not possible.]
At her firm words, Lucian lifted his head from where he’d buried it in his hands.
This was different from the time he’d once wept and vented his rage. Now he seemed diminished somehow, like a candle flame that would go out with the slightest breath.
[It’s natural to feel this way. If you’re in pain, let it out. Suffering in silence won’t solve anything.]
“……But Leopold doesn’t know anything. I don’t want to direct my anger at someone who’s innocent.”
[Our Lucian, you’ve grown so much. I’m amazed you can say such things.]
“Don’t treat me like a child.”
But even as he protested, Lucian allowed himself to be held by Lia. The child who once rested his head at her chest now buried his face against her neck.
[What do you want to do going forward?]
“……I’m not sure.”
Part of him wanted to spill out all his feelings and rage, but another part wished not to disturb the peace, so he thought it best to bear it alone.
[Then, what are you most afraid of?]
Lucian held Lia tighter around the waist.
“……That Leopold will be disappointed in me.”
More precisely, it was his fear of Leopold’s reaction when it was revealed that he was his twin sibling.
Leopold had wished for a younger sibling, but perhaps not a twin who shared his face.
[So Leopold has become someone precious to you?]
Lucian’s hands trembled slightly.
“……Have I?”
[Yes. At first, you only wanted to drive him away. If you were still that person, being hurt by Leopold wouldn’t matter to you at all.]
That was certainly true. Somehow, Leopold now occupied a large part of his everyday life.
[There will be more days like today ahead. Leopold doesn’t know the truth, so he’ll wound you unintentionally. When that happens, hold it in three times, and if you really can’t bear it anymore, call for me.]
“This time you’re not telling me to speak up?”
[You don’t want to hurt Leopold, and you don’t want to be hurt by him either. You can’t go on the offensive then. Everything has its proper moment.]
“……So I really do have to bear this alone?”
[No, Lucian. I’m here.]
Lucian’s eyes shimmered. Lia traced her fingers gently across his eyelids.
[I said it before, didn’t I? I’m on your side. Whenever you face something difficult or painful, I’ll always be beside you. I’ll share your suffering. So whatever you can’t tell anyone else, tell me.]
Lucian stared blankly at Lia’s face before offering a faint smile and pulling her close with all his strength.
Even wrapped in Mana throughout her form, she was a spirit—he should only feel empty air in his arms—yet Lucian could not bear to let her go.
But soon he lifted his gaze from Lia’s face, looking down at her from a newfound height.
“……Lia, when did you get so small?”
[It’s not that I grew smaller—you grew taller. It’s been nearly two years since we last held each other like this, so I suppose you didn’t notice.]
When he said it felt good to hold her after so long, Lucian’s face flushed. She wondered if he was embarrassed and shot him a glance.
[I’m happy you’re acting childish again. Lately you just push me away, saying you’re not a child anymore.]
“But I’m not a child……”
[You still have three years until you’re a legal adult.]
As he pouted, Lucian burst into laughter. Pleased at the sight, she too smiled.
“Thank you, Lia. I feel at peace now. I’ll try to do as you said.”
[Yes, but remember this: if you really can’t hold it in, don’t force yourself to keep it buried. If you endure too much, it only invites greater disaster.]
“I will, I promise.”
Lucian was smart enough to figure it out on his own. The real test going forward would be Leopold’s response.
She could only wish and pray that the path ahead for these two pitiable brothers would be smooth.

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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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