The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 11

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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 11

The girl’s cheeks were flushed red with excitement, as if she had been quite startled.

“Oh dear, sorry.”

Looking at her up close, she was a very pretty child with sparkling eyes and a cute nose. Judging by her features that resembled a proud cat, she would likely become quite a beauty when she grew up.

“By the way, I saw you pulling weeds in the garden quite diligently. You’re not being exploited for child labor, are you?”

“I’m 16, you know? And when did you see me working?”

“Ah, I’m staying near your house for a while. I didn’t peek on purpose.”

Asians were quite rare in Bernhardt.

Perhaps because of this, he couldn’t gauge an Asian person’s age and saw her as much younger than she actually was.

“But why is your face like that? It must hurt… Who hit you?”

“I wasn’t beaten, I fought.”

“But fighting is bad, isn’t it?”

“There are fights in this world that can’t be avoided, little one.”

At those words, the girl made an expression as if she was hearing all sorts of strange things.

Damien picked up the book she had dropped on the ground, dusted it off with a few taps, and handed it to her.

Glancing at the book cover, it was Ernest Hemingway’s ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls.’

“Hemingway, who wrote this book you’re reading, was also a violent macho man. Don’t you know there are rumors he beat up a film director?”

“I’m not reading it because I like Hemingway, but because of summer vacation homework. Hemingway uses simple words, so he’s easy to read.”

The girl frowned and muttered, ‘I have no idea what Faulkner is talking about.’

Come to think of it, the girl’s English accent was slightly awkward. She didn’t seem to be a native speaker.

“You don’t seem to be American. Where are you from?”

“Ah, I’m an exchange student from Korea. I’m staying with a host family since it’s summer vacation now.”

“I see.”

“What about you?”

“I’m actually a prince from Europe.”

Oh no, why did I say that?

Having said it with his own mouth, Damien felt slightly regretful.

What if she bothers me asking for autographs or to take pictures?

But contrary to his thoughts, the girl’s pupils seemed to dilate for a moment before she burst into bright laughter.

“Hahaha! Ah, that joke just now. It was funny.”

“…”

“Then I’m the Queen of England. Queen Elizabeth III.”

She laughed so much that tears were about to form in the corners of her eyes.

Damien stared at the girl who couldn’t stop laughing, completely dumbfounded.

Beyond not recognizing him, she was treating him like some weirdo with delusions of being a prince.

But well, thinking about it, that wasn’t so bad either.

He was sick and tired of girls who put up pictures of him, the prince, on their walls and fantasized about marrying him someday.

Just as he was having these various thoughts.

A chime bell sound began to ring from somewhere, and an ice cream truck appeared around the corner in the distance.

Children from houses began running out one by one with money in their hands.

As if enchanted by the Pied Piper’s flute.

Right. In this boring suburb, the ice cream truck that comes in summer would be the only joy for the kids.

Damien looked down at the girl. Come to think of it, isn’t she a kid too?

He looked into the girl’s clear eyes and said.

“Want some ice cream? It’s fate that fellow royalty met in this countryside. I’ll treat you specially, Elizabeth.”

* * *

It was humiliating.

Damien, who rarely had occasion to buy things directly, had forgotten that his wallet contained only Bernhardt currency.

He tried offering it just in case, but the ice cream truck owner only smiled awkwardly as if troubled.

In the end, the girl bought the ice cream.

To think he was getting treated by such a little kid.

Really, it was no way for a prince to maintain his dignity.

Anyway, the two returned under the tree, each holding ice cream.

Damien took out a handkerchief from his pocket and shook it out in the air with a snap. Then he spread the handkerchief on the ground and gestured for the girl to sit.

The girl giggled and muttered ‘What a gentleman.’

After sitting side by side on the ground, Damien took a bite of his ice cream and asked.

“By the way, if you’re studying abroad, don’t you miss your family?”

At that question, the girl hung her head as if deflated.

“I don’t know. My dad is always busy, and my mom only takes care of my younger brother.”

“…”

“I was practically kicked out of the house to study abroad. Sometimes I feel like I’m an uninvited guest to my own family. So it’s actually more comfortable being alone.”

The moment he heard those words, Damien’s heart stirred strangely.

“I’m similar.”

At those words, the girl’s eyes widened with worry as she exclaimed.

“It’s not domestic violence, is it?!”

“Hey, let me make one thing clear. I wasn’t beaten one-sidedly, I got like this fighting bad guys.”

“…I’ll believe you.”

“…”

“Still, it’s a bit less sad when outcasts gather together.”

“I’m more of someone who voluntarily goes around alone rather than an outcast, but well. I understand what you mean.”

“I’ll say that’s the case.”

“You’re a funny little one.”

Damien bit into his hazelnut-flavored ice cream and lifted the corners of his mouth.

Soon the girl licked her ice cream and asked with innocent eyes.

“By the way, how did you get up in the tree earlier?”

“Haven’t you ever climbed up?”

“I tried a few times, but I kept slipping. It’s too high for me.”

“I’ll help you.”

He put the entire cone of his ice cream in his mouth, then extended his hand toward her.

“Really?”

“I should at least pay back for the ice cream I got treated to.”

At the offer to help, the girl quickly stuffed her ice cream in her mouth and took his hand.

Instantly, a tingling current flowed through his palm.

He was slightly flustered by the sensation he was feeling for the first time, but tried not to show it.

Holding the girl’s impossibly soft hand, he knelt down.

“Come on, step on my shoulder and climb up.”

“Is it okay? My shoes will be dirty.”

“It’s fine.”

After hesitating for a moment, the girl used his shoulder as a stepping stone and grabbed the tree branch above her head.

“That’s right, like that. You’re doing well.”

When Damien helped lift her legs, the girl quickly climbed up the branches.

Once the girl settled into position, Damien also climbed the tree and sat beside her.

“Come closer to me. You’ll fall like that.”

With an anxious feeling as if the girl might blow away in the wind, he pulled her close to his side.

The girl nestled into his arms without hesitation and said.

“Wow… The view is really amazing! I would never have known if I hadn’t climbed up here.”

“Right?”

“Thank you.”

The girl smiled beautifully at him.

At that, Damien stared at her intently with an expression as if he had received some kind of shock.

“Why? Is there something on my face?”

Only then realizing he had been staring at the girl for too long, he awkwardly pretended to brush off an imaginary blade of grass that wasn’t even on her face.

“There, all done.”

Damien withdrew his trembling hand and turned his gaze forward.

Then he saw the pink sunset that was already coloring the village.

It was strange.

Somehow, it felt as if his heart was being dyed the same color.

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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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