The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 10

* * *

After dropping Bada off at her house, River arrived at a massive villa on a cliff, far removed from the bustling center of Canggu.

After finishing his shower, he stood in front of the mirror with a towel wrapped around him, running his hand through his hair.

Thanks to the tungsten lighting illuminating the dark space, the muscles on his upper body appeared particularly pronounced.

Just as he was about to take a step, a large middle-aged white man appeared behind him from the darkness.

The man was Lancaster, his bodyguard and loyal retainer.

He spoke in a deep voice.

“Your Highness, I’ve taken care of the Devils’ Den gang properly.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

“There shouldn’t be any trouble, but you should refrain from conspicuous actions going forward. It was Your Highness who said to keep your presence here a secret.”

“That’s right. I’m sorry.”

After finishing his words, Lancaster bowed his head and disappeared.

He hadn’t used his fists much since getting involved in that assault incident in high school.

But the moment he heard those bastards insult Bada, he lost his reason.

When he came to his senses, he found himself having beaten down three men.

He stared at his blue eyes reflected in the mirror and muttered.

“…I need to be more careful.”

In fact, his real name was Damien Alexander Hastings. He was the Crown Prince of Bernhardt.

It had been several weeks since he had hidden his identity and slipped into Bali Island.

But fortunately, no one had recognized him so far.

This was because he wore his hair longer than usual and covered his face with sunglasses when going out.

Whenever he had to face someone other than Bada, he deliberately used the accent of the working class.

Most importantly, people couldn’t even imagine meeting a European crown prince in the back alleys of Bali, not Monaco or Portofino.

It was also easy to blend in since there were so many Western tourists in Canggu.

But in front of her, he didn’t bother to hide his accent or even the scar on his neck.

‘And yet she still doesn’t recognize me. How disappointing.’

With a self-deprecating smile, he recalled that day 11 years ago when he first met her.

* * *

11 years ago, America.

Damien, who was 18 at the time, was on a plane heading to the Bernhardt Embassy in Washington D.C.

The official reason for his visit to America was to promote diplomacy with an ally, but the real reason was different.

‘It’s essentially exile for image rehabilitation.’

Recently.

After the Crown Prince assaulted a college classmate, articles about him had been making headlines day after day.

Therefore, the Royal Family recommended that he spend the summer abroad in self-reflection until public opinion died down.

The options were either distributing meals at refugee camps or touring America.

Having visited a refugee camp once last year as punishment for getting into a big fight with paparazzi, he chose the latter this time.

Upon arriving in Washington, the ambassador to the US welcomed him warmly. However, the ambassador couldn’t manage his expression when he saw the Crown Prince’s face.

Damien’s face was literally covered in blood.

Bandages were wrapped around his broken nose bone with a splint, and band-aids were stuck here and there on his neck.

He even had an eye patch covering one eye.

When the ambassador stared at him blankly, unable to find words, Damien said.

“Don’t look at me with such pitying eyes.”

“Pardon?”

“The faces of the three men who got beaten by me look even more miserable.”

“…”

As if that was something to brag about.

The ambassador inwardly sighed.

It would be impossible to carry out the scheduled itinerary with that face.

The ambassador eventually canceled the schedule in New York.

Praying that the Crown Prince’s face would be somewhat restored to normal during the week.

* * *

A few days later, the problem prince was sent to Pennsylvania like a piece of luggage.

He ended up staying in a quiet two-story house in the suburbs owned by one of the counselors.

In other words, it meant he should stay quietly there and behave himself until his face looked presentable.

This place, where identical houses stood shoulder to shoulder, was peaceful and boring.

Moreover, due to security issues, he couldn’t move around freely, which was frustrating.

So Damien usually killed time by sitting by the window and reading books.

That day, while he was reading, he suddenly noticed someone moving busily in the yard next door through the window.

When he turned his gaze, there was a small Asian girl in the yard, pulling weeds with her tiny hands.

‘She looks a bit young to be working.’

But the girl seemed quite skilled at gardening.

Watering, organizing the flower beds.

She didn’t forget to sniff the lavender scent from time to time.

‘Is she a puppy or what.’

Just as he was observing the girl intently.

Whoooosh.

Suddenly, water from the sprinkler that had turned on began spraying in all directions, soaking the lawn.

The girl screamed “Kyaak!” and stood up from her spot. Then she suddenly opened her mouth and began admiring something.

Following her gaze, he could see a rainbow formed between the streams of water from the sprinkler.

“What’s so great about that?”

Damien let out a hollow laugh and rested his chin on his hand as he watched the scene.

Come to think of it, being here away from the world’s commotion didn’t seem so bad.

* * *

The next day.

Damien took a solitary walk through the quiet residential area.

Since everyone here moved around by car, there were hardly any people walking on the streets like him, making it peaceful.

Enjoying his freedom as he walked, he eventually arrived at a small garden.

In the center of the garden stood a large, magnificent tree.

Without hesitation, Damien climbed the tree and sat on a sturdy branch.

As he leisurely admired the view of the residential area, a cool breeze blew and ruffled his hair.

But the peace was short-lived.

His mother, Her Majesty the Queen’s, sharp mockery came to mind.

‘Yes. You’re doing your role as a spare very well. How admirable.’

He felt as if he could hear that voice that had mocked and scolded him right after the assault incident occurred.

Recalling that moment, his fists trembled involuntarily.

Spare.

He should be used to it by now. But every time he heard it, it still felt like a dagger piercing his heart.

Damien often thought he was no different from the porcelain dolls modeled after him sold in the Royal Family souvenir shop.

‘A shell that gleams and appears perfect on the outside but is completely hollow inside.’

His life as the second in line to the throne had been Charlotte’s backup from birth.

Like the spare button that comes when you buy clothes.

The kind of button that’s kept just in case it might be needed someday, but if the original button is sturdy, it will never be used in a lifetime.

He was always that existence—standing by like a shadow.

‘How frustrating. What should I do with my life from now on?’

Soon he would go to university, and he needed to start choosing his career path.

But as a member of the royal family, his options weren’t very many.

In his childhood, he had been a promising equestrian, but after puberty, as his build grew larger, he had to give up competition.

He switched to polo, but had to quit after tearing his rotator cuff during aggressive physical play.

‘I’ll probably have to enlist in the navy.’

Just as he was lost in gloomy thoughts, he heard movement below his feet.

Looking down, he was surprised to see the girl from next door.

She was sitting with her back against the tree, holding an open book.

‘What is she reading?’

When the girl didn’t notice his presence for quite a while, Damien eventually whistled to get her attention.

Only then did the girl suddenly look up and stare at him.

“Hello.”

The girl’s hazel eyes widened as they took him in, and then she began to scream.

“Kyaaaaaaaaaah!”

She was so startled that she even threw her book away.

Damien chuckled and jumped down from the tree.

Landing on the ground, he looked down at the girl, who still had a bewildered expression, and said.

“Why are you so surprised? Anyone would think you saw a ghost in broad daylight.”

“With all those bandages stuck to your face, anyone would be startled! I thought you were a mummy!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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