The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 42
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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 42
As he recalled how he had reflexively acted cold toward her to hide his own anxiety, self-loathing overwhelmed him.
A pale shadow instantly fell beneath his eyes.
If you were to find out that I’m involved in Charlotte’s death.
If you realized that it’s as if I killed Charlotte myself.
Then what expression would you make? Would all your high opinions of me change completely?
Perhaps she might leave him forever.
At that thought, his fingertips froze cold as ice.
‘I must never be found out.’
Exhaling a trembling breath, he raised his gaze to look at the ceiling.
If she were to learn that the thick patchouli and fragrant oil scents wafting through the palace were meant to mask the nauseating smells seeping from the disgusting secrets the royal family was hiding.
Could she really handle all of that?
Damien lifted a strand of her hair with trembling hands and brought it to his nose.
Then he closed his eyes and breathed deeply, as if the scent emanating from her was his only source of oxygen.
* * *
The next morning.
Bada, who had woken up early, got dressed and sat on the sofa in one corner of the bedroom.
On the coffee table lay major daily newspapers along with a tablet PC.
Like someone awaiting exam results, she anxiously turned on the tablet.
Then she carefully read through articles related to their engagement.
@Bernhardt_Daily
Modern Cinderella from Far, Far Away captures the Crown Prince!
@The Guardian_Bernhardt
Destined love comes to fruition…
Prince Damien announces surprise engagement!
@The Gary Show
Prince Charming’s fairy tale love story!
The entire nation is enthusiastic about true love that transcends borders, backgrounds, and race!
@Europa Chronicles
The Crown Prince’s fiancée confessed she fell in love after seeing his human side.
This man who makes omelets himself, reads Harry Potter, and treasures photos of his comrades in frames.
Is he really the same person as the cold, inhuman Crown Prince we knew?
Somehow, he feels closer to us now.
The reactions in the comments on the articles were mostly positive too.
– Why watch Netflix? Reality is more entertaining than dramas.
– Royal news has been gloomy and unwatchable since Princess Charlotte’s death. Finally, the world is turning properly again.
– The fiancée looks like she’d sing with squirrels and birds on a balcony.
– I never knew the Prince had such a side to him. I see him differently now.
After checking the reactions, Bada finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Moreover, the dignified Crown Prince and model-like fiancée were enough to capture people’s attention.
Photos and interview videos of the two had already been made into shorts, achieving millions of views and dominating the internet.
One daily newspaper even predicted a rise in Prince Damien’s approval ratings.
‘The Crown Prince’s approval rating, which had remained at low levels, is predicted to rise dramatically by more than 5%.’
A smile spread across Bada’s face as she read that passage.
‘If things go well, I might actually be able to help Damien?’
However, not everyone had a positive perspective.
As she scrolled down, the title of an internet article caught her eye.
@Cavendish Telegraph
Foreigner, suspicious family history, alien background.
Rampant rumors surrounding the Duke of Wexley’s fiancée.
The article mocked the fact that Bada was an unprecedented ‘foreign fiancée’ in royal history.
It openly expressed concern about whether a woman from a country with no connection to Bernhardt could fulfill the duties of Crown Princess.
Even more cruel attacks followed regarding Bada’s family history.
Her father’s sudden death from myocardial infarction was described quite mysteriously, almost like suicide due to mental illness.
Bada’s younger brother Kang-san Yu, who had failed in business ventures consecutively, was portrayed like a vicious scammer, and their mother, who had once been a B-grade celebrity, was described as someone too lowly to become the future King’s mother-in-law.
Unfortunately, Bada had to admit that part was true.
‘When did they even dig up all this stuff?’
Bada was portrayed as a strange woman who had undergone full-body plastic surgery to seduce the Crown Prince and then orchestrated a seemingly coincidental meeting in Bali.
“Do people really believe this kind of thing?”
It was so absurd that she couldn’t even laugh.
But what concerned her most of all was the next paragraph.
@Cavendish Telegraph
It should be noted that this engagement was conducted solely by the Crown Prince without official royal approval.
Isn’t there some reason why the engagement was rushed to the point of ignoring proper procedures?
For reference, at the press conference, the Crown Prince’s fiancée wore an A-line dress that didn’t clearly show her waistline.
‘What? They’re speculating that I might have gotten pregnant before marriage? Disgusting.’
Bada put down the tablet and lifted her heavy body.
She knew she couldn’t expect to hear only good things. But she didn’t want to be a hindrance to Damien’s future at least. She was worried.
She desperately needed a strong cup of coffee.
Leaving the bedroom, Bada went down the stairs toward the dining room. Just as she reached the landing.
For some reason, there was commotion near the entrance from early morning.
When she looked over, she could see several black sedans parked outside the window.
‘Who could it be?’
Suddenly, the front door burst open and a middle-aged man with a solemn atmosphere appeared.
With neatly swept-back gray hair, a sturdy build, and a somewhat arrogant-looking impression.
He was definitely King Richard III.
Startled, Bada instinctively hid behind a pillar on the stairs.
Soon, Richard, who had barged in with his aide, shouted at the servants of Windwood House.
“Where is Damien?”
“He, he’s in the dining room, Your Majesty.”
Richard immediately moved with angry steps. As he entered the dining room, the door closed with a loud sound.
But raised voices could be heard clearly through the closed door.
The servants standing in the corridor were also exchanging bewildered glances.
It seemed the King, enraged after reading the articles, had come here to confront Damien.
“Eek.”
Bada, who had crept down the stairs, lingered around the dining room area.
* * *
Meanwhile, Damien, who had been enjoying his breakfast, put down his cutlery at Richard’s appearance.
Unlike the furious Richard, he appeared remarkably composed.
Damien elegantly dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin and said.
“I expected you to show up last night, but it took longer than I thought? You should fire your informants.”
Damien’s nonchalant attitude only added fuel to Richard’s anger.
“It’s one thing to mock the royal family by lying about being in Monaco, but now you’re announcing your engagement without the royal family’s permission? What were you thinking with this outrageous behavior!”
“I was simply fulfilling my responsibility as crown prince by respecting the people’s right to know.”
“What?”
“I really don’t see what the problem is. You kept urging me to get married, so I brought you a bride. What more do you want?”
“Do you think that woman is worthy of the royal family’s dignity? With all those fine daughters from noble families available, you bring some foreign woman of unknown origins.”
“I prefer love marriages, you see.”
“What?”
“Besides, aren’t Bernhardt’s upper class and the royal family intricately intertwined? Strictly speaking, that would be incest.”
“Shut up! How dare you spout such sophistry! The royal family has no intention of tolerating your unilateral actions. Call the journalists immediately and cancel the engagement announcement.”
“I refuse.”
Damien folded the napkin he had used to wipe his mouth and placed it on the table, then stood up from his seat.
Then he looked down at his father with an intimidating gaze.
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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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