The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 39
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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 39
“Well. It might actually be true if you look into it.”
At those words, Bada frowned as if she found it absurd.
“Right. I don’t know everything about you, but at least I know you’re not some pervert who displays watches you’ll never wear just to drool over them.”
He gazed at her quietly with a thoughtful expression.
“And they say your favorite music is Debussy’s Moonlight. When your taste is actually metal where long-haired guys scream like demons.”
“That’s probably content spread by the public relations office.”
“The only accurate information in this article is that you’re a Scorpio and the brand of black tea you drink.”
A languid smile spread across Damien’s face upon hearing those words.
‘That’s an accurate analysis.’
Suddenly, he had this thought.
Perhaps Bada was the only person in this world who knew his true self.
His status and name were all fake, but everything else was completely real.
The side he had shown her, the words he had said to her, and his feelings for her. All of it.
And he too knew some aspects of Bada that others didn’t know well.
She liked action spy films and, being from an investment bank background, judged everything by numbers.
Though she seemed strong on the surface, she hid affection deficiency and a strong need for recognition inside, and the jokes she occasionally threw out were actually coping mechanisms to hide anxiety and wounds.
Bada continued speaking.
“Besides, the gossip category is an even bigger festival of nonsense. The royal family lobbied to make you win at polo matches? Does that even make sense? It’s obviously malicious comments written by someone eating chicken in their room with greasy fingers dripping oil.”
Bada began getting angry as if it were her own business.
She had no idea how furious she felt when encountering malicious articles about Damien.
To tabloid magazines, Damien wasn’t a person but merely a tool to be used for making money.
They acted as if they secretly hoped for Damien’s life to fall apart.
Like people with fire in their eyes, just waiting for him to make a mistake.
The role they wanted from Damien was just one thing. A problematic prince who would make Charlotte, the heir to the throne, shine brighter.
Whenever she thought of this, a thousand fires blazed in Bada’s stomach. No matter how much Damien was a public figure, tormenting him this cruelly was going too far.
“I want to meet these people face to face and have a conversation. Just how boring must their own lives be to spend energy on this kind of thing? And what about the rumors regarding Princess Charlotte? Were there always this many conspiracy theorists in the world?”
The moment Charlotte’s name was mentioned, the smile instantly disappeared from Damien’s face.
As if he had really killed Charlotte.
Bada, who had been continuing to speak, realized she had made some kind of verbal mistake when she faced his pale expression.
“…Sorry. I said something unnecessary.”
Bada, who had been moving her lips, carefully placed her hand on his forearm.
“I only recently learned that such a thing had happened. Is it… very difficult?”
He subtly pulled his arm away and spoke in a blunt voice.
“It’s not something you need to worry about.”
“But…”
Then Damien ran his hand through his hair and spoke in a tone that seemed to put up walls.
“You’re my fiancée, not hired as a therapist.”
Bada could only move her lips without being able to continue speaking.
“You look ready to offer a handkerchief next time. Don’t waste energy on useless things and I’d appreciate it if you’d focus on finishing the press conference well.”
Her blood ran cold from bewilderment at his suddenly changed attitude.
It seemed the wound he had received from Charlotte’s death was very deep indeed.
‘Did I cross a line? But I just wanted to comfort him since the topic came up.’
That could be it.
Even knowing it was a sensitive issue, the hurt feelings wouldn’t easily fade.
A knock broke through the heavy silence. Then the secretary’s voice was heard from outside the door.
“Your Highness, it’s time to move to the press conference room.”
Damien took long strides without even glancing at Bada.
Soon the door opened and the two walked side by side toward the reception room.
A cold atmosphere still lingered between them.
Throughout walking down the corridor, Bada’s heart wouldn’t calm down at all.
Nervousness about the press conference, and discomfort from seemingly touching his trauma unnecessarily.
‘This isn’t the time for this. I need to pull myself together.’
When they arrived at the reception room door, Damien sent a signal to the secretary with a chin gesture.
Then the secretary knocked on the door and called out.
“His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and his fiancée.”
When the door opened, dozens of journalists who had been waiting in the reception room all stood up at once and flashes burst from everywhere.
Bada tried to straighten her spine and put on a gentle smile, but her mouth twitched from nervousness.
On the other hand, Damien skillfully led her as if he was accustomed to such situations.
He naturally seated the nervous her on the sofa positioned in the center of the reception room. Then the aide spoke.
“We will now begin His Royal Highness the Crown Prince’s fiancée announcement and press conference.”
Then the journalists’ curious gazes stuck to her thickly.
Bada forced a smile and swallowed.
* * *
The press conference proceeded in a calmer atmosphere than she had worried about.
After Damien explained the purpose of the press conference, he introduced Bada to the journalists.
“My connection with Bada goes back 11 years. At that time, while I was touring the United States, I met her in Pennsylvania.”
Bada was quite flustered by Damien’s unexpected words.
‘Such a lie? Is he doing that to package our meeting as fateful?’
He should have told me in advance if this was the plan. I was going to answer that we met in Bali.
But looking at Damien’s composed expression, no one would even imagine he was lying.
“…”
After the speech ended, a Q&A session followed. Although journalists competitively threw questions, Damien skillfully and smoothly fielded them.
He even intercepted questions directed at Bada and answered them himself like a capable spokesperson.
Unable to stand watching this, one journalist spoke directly to Bada.
“We would like the Lady to answer this question.”
For a moment, an expression of displeasure appeared on Damien’s face, but the journalist continued speaking regardless.
“We understand that the Lady has lived a relatively ordinary life in Korea. It’s expected that adapting to a foreign royal court with different culture and language won’t be easy, so we’re curious if you have any concerns about this burden.”
Bada smiled at the journalist and said.
“Thanks to His Highness’s deep love and consideration, I’m spending happy days every day. I’m also earnestly learning about the heavy responsibility of this position, so please give me your support.”
It was an ambiguous and concise answer, just as she had learned in media training.
When the journalist tried to ask another question, Damien suddenly interjected and added.
“Lady Yu is a very strong and resolute person. I have no doubt that she will provide new vision for the development of the royal family in the future. I hope you will look forward to the better future we will create together.”
After that, formal questions and formal answers continued to be exchanged.
Then, a journalist who had been watching this with disapproving eyes suddenly threw out a question.
“I have a question. It appears that your engagement has progressed very quickly. Some people are curious whether there might be some strategic purpose of the royal family hidden in relation to this. What does Your Royal Highness think about such opinions?”
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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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