The Abandoned Prince’s Ghost Bride - Chapter 88

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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 Ghost Bride — Episode 88

‘Brother! Are you really going to accept that woman?’
‘Is there a reason not to?’
‘She called herself a Witch! Someone who kills people ruthlessly and bathes in blood every day — that Witch!’
The two brothers standing before Aria were at odds with each other.
The elder wanted to accept Aria as an ally; the younger opposed it.
Either way, there were only the two of them to begin with, so it hardly mattered.
They whispered at some distance from Aria, but the forest was so quiet that she heard every word.
‘Besides, they say Witches are stronger than Mages and their power is sinister. To look at her, anyone would think she could bewitch people — how can you bring her into our ranks?’
‘That’s too much to hear. Talking about someone like that right in front of them.’
Aria, who had been watching quietly despite her younger brother Odell’s fierce objection, stepped forward.
‘I don’t know where you picked up such nonsense, but to set the record straight — I’ve never killed a single person in my life. And why would I bathe in blood? I’m not insane.’
Odell’s words stuck in his throat, and he worked his lips silently.
‘It’s true that Witches are stronger than Mages — that’s just our species trait. But the sinister ones are Dark Mages, not us. We’re different. There are few people as pure as we are.’
‘How are you going to prove that? If you’re approaching with ill intent——!’
‘Then have you ever seen me kill anyone?’
‘That’s——’
‘The more I think about it, the more it irritates me. What do you even know about me?’
Aria strode over and grabbed Odell by the collar, making him flinch.
But the moment his face flushed, Aria’s expression turned exasperated.
‘So that’s why you were going on about me beguiling people, is it?’
Odell clamped his mouth shut, struck at the heart.
‘That’s enough now.’
Rion, who had been watching, stepped between them. Aria withdrew without resistance.
‘I apologize if my brother spoke out of turn. He’s always been cautious by nature, so I hope you’ll understand.’
‘…Are you two brothers?’
‘Twins.’
‘Twins are rare indeed. But how can two born at the same time and date be so different? One of you is timid and weak-kneed.’
‘Wince! Wouldn’t you be the same! Some girl suddenly announces she’s a Witch and brazenly asks to join in!’
‘Not brazenly. I’ve been watching you both these past few days. And the direction you’re heading — it’s similar to what I’m pursuing. That’s why I asked to join. Besides, with only the two of you, isn’t even one ally precious? And I’m a Witch, after all.’
Aria lifted Rion’s clothes into the air with a gesture of Magic.
The two brothers, seeing Magic in action for the first time, opened their eyes wide.
‘With this much power, I’d be more than helpful. If anything, you two should be the ones begging me to be your ally, shouldn’t you?’
Odell had no rebuttal to such a reasonable argument. Meanwhile, Rion was already captivated by Aria’s ability.
‘Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Rion. This is my twin brother, Odell.’
‘Brother!’
‘Odell, Aria’s not wrong. Right now we’re in desperate need of even one ally. Why object when someone this capable is willing to join us?’
‘But we don’t know what kind of person she is——’
‘If you go about it that way, you’ll never gather anyone. This time, follow my lead.’
Rion decisively overruled Odell’s objection and began conversing with Aria.
Odell bit his lip as he watched the pair. When Aria’s eyes met his, she stuck her tongue out at him when Rion wasn’t looking.
A vein throbbed on Odell’s forehead.
Their first meeting was anything but smooth.

.
.

Lia opened her eyes slowly, feeling a bright light beyond her closed lids.
Before her lay the Canopy of the bed she’d grown familiar with these past few days.
She’d been dreaming. She didn’t remember all of it, but the end lingered vaguely in her mind.
“…Lucian?”
She called out the name of the man she’d seen in the dream. He resembled Lucian so closely that his name spilled from her lips unbidden.
“Did you call me?”
And just like that, the real Lucian appeared.
Lia turned to look beside her, her eyes still drowsy. Lucian’s wet face came into view.
His white hair was still damp with water, and as her gaze followed the droplets trickling down, she could see his chest and abdomen — loosely wrapped in a robe — rippling with muscle, utterly exposed.
‘Good grief, his body——’
She’d thought Lucian’s form impressive when he’d just come of age, but now he was practically a sculpture.
“Lia?”
As Lucian’s voice broke through, she snapped to attention, her gaze still unable to leave his perfect form.
Lia coughed awkwardly out of embarrassment.
“Ahem! Why aren’t you dressed?”
“Why does it matter? You’ve been seeing my body since we were children.”
She wanted to cry out that back then he hadn’t had *this* body, but Lucian couldn’t know what she was thinking.
Since he seemed so unbothered while she was the one overreacting, Lia muttered to herself.
“Before, you complained when I came in without knocking, made a fuss about me seeing your body without permission. Now you’ve become completely brazen about it…”
Mutter, mutter—
As Lia grumbled with the blanket drawn up to her nose, glancing sideways at herself, Lucian, who had been facing away, felt the corner of his mouth tremble.
The fact that he had come dressed like this on purpose, deliberately, was something she would never in her wildest dreams discover.
Lucian suppressed his twitching lips and spoke casually.
“I need to wash before getting ready for the day. I just came by so we could have breakfast together.”
When Lia made no objection and clamped her mouth shut, Lucian nearly burst out laughing.
“Now get up. Go wash your face.”
Lucian pulled the lying Lia upright. As her upper body was forced to sit, she made a sullen expression, but then his still-damp hair caught her eye.
Some things never changed from the old days.
Lia let out a soft sigh and grasped his arm. Lucian looked bewildered, then broke into a smile when their eyes met.
Lia’s expression turned reluctant at that.
“Turn around.”
“Oh.”
Realizing this wasn’t what she’d meant, Lucian turned to sit sideways, a bit flustered. Lia then gently dried his hair with the Towel hanging from his neck.
It was unexpected, and Lucian’s body froze without his knowing.
“I’ve told you countless times to dry your hair properly. What will you do when you’re grown?”
“……”
“From now on, dry your hair completely. You could catch a cold. Lucian, are you listening to me?”
Noticing he was unusually quiet, Lia glanced forward slightly. Then she smiled faintly.
‘This is unexpected.’
Since coming here, Lucian had subtly initiated contact, making his affection obvious.
Lia, still finding him unfamiliar, had felt a bit burdened each time he approached. But this time, it seemed he hadn’t been scheming after all.
Not when his earlobes and neck had turned bright red.
Somehow it felt like she’d gotten one over on him this time, and that pleased her.
As Lia hummed to herself, Lucian, unable to control his flushed face, hung his head low.
Embarrassed… but happy.
In this moment, it felt as if they’d returned to those carefree old days without a worry in the world.
Lucian wore a quiet smile as he felt the warmth of her touch without reservation.
A soft breeze drifted through the open window.

* * *

“This way.”
Following Lucian’s direction, Lia entered the room where Leopold was.
The moment she stepped inside, a chill hung in the air. It had the characteristic gloom of a Sickroom.
Lucian dismissed the knights stationed there, allowing Lia to see him freely.
“…Leopold has grown so much. They say that even with Twins, things change a bit as they grow, but you two remain identical.”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed.”
“He’s a bit thin, but… once he recovers his strength, he’ll surely become as fine a young man as you are.”
Lucian smiled faintly at her kind words.
“I hope so.”
“By the way, what’s with this room’s atmosphere? Are you ventilating it regularly?”
Lia scolded Lucian, throwing open the curtains that had kept out the light, and opened every window to let air circulate.
“In a situation like this, environment is everything. At least ventilate once a day.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Lia opened the last window and turned around. Lucian sat on the edge of the bed, unable to tear his eyes from Leopold.
His gaze had grown dull and sunken. Noticing Lia’s look, Lucian smiled belatedly, but she didn’t like it.
“Whenever something was difficult, you always came here and spoke to your brother.”
That the Aristocrats wore him out with their pointless power games today.
That Ruber and Serena’s expectations and attention felt burdensome.
That he wanted to abandon it all and go to Lia.
Words he couldn’t confide to anyone else. And now he understood anew the hidden meaning behind Leopold’s habitual words — that he was grateful to have a brother.
“The Emperor is a beautiful facade. Everything — clothing, sleep, food — is the finest in the Empire. Yet on the other hand, he must always be wary of others, engage in power games with Aristocrats who covet his throne, and remain confined to the Imperial Family for his entire life.”
The emotion Lucian felt most while standing in Leopold’s stead was loneliness and longing.
If James, Dio, Harry, and Aige hadn’t been there, he wouldn’t have made it this far. He surely would have deserted in the middle.
“Since your brother was placed in such circumstances from childhood, he needed someone to share his feelings with freely, someone to confide in.”
Lucian brushed Leopold’s hair back. For a moment, he appeared small and fragile — like a candle that would be blown away by the faintest breath.
Lia approached Lucian and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Was it very hard?”
“It would be a lie if I said it wasn’t.”
Lucian pressed his forehead against Lia’s belly and closed his eyes.
“But for my brother’s sake, I can endure this much.”
She understood well what Leopold meant to Lucian — the family who had first shown him what familial love was, who had acknowledged his existence.
“And now… I’m okay because you’re here.”
“Me?”
“Didn’t I tell you yesterday? That I can only be whole when you’re present. Just having you by my side gives me strength.”
Somehow she felt she could understand the meaning behind his words.
‘I was struggling when he wasn’t around too.’
Those five years of waiting without knowing when he would return.
All she did was clean the empty Mansion and wait for Lucian, yet it had been more than she could bear.
But only after meeting him again did she find her will to live. Like rain after a long drought.
Was it the same for Lucian?
‘No, if anything he had it worse, not better.’
Forced to part from her just after coming of age, he had to shoulder all this burden alone.
“Leopold will surely recognize the effort you’ve made.”
Lucian’s eyes widened for a moment, then he smiled and buried his face in her embrace so she couldn’t see.
Yes, this small comfort was what he’d wanted.

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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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