The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 48

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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 48

* * *

Inside the car, Damien’s barrage of questions continued.

How she had ended up meeting Lucien, what kind of conversation they had. Whether Her Majesty the Queen had made things difficult for her.

He tried to understand every detail of what had happened today.

Fortunately, since Lancaster was driving, Bada could relay the facts as they were without worrying about anyone eavesdropping.

“Her Majesty the Queen seemed displeased with our engagement, as expected. Oh, and she seemed worried that I might be pregnant before marriage. It’s fortunate that it’s just a one-year fake engagement.”

At those words, Damien looked somehow uncomfortable. He muttered quietly to himself, “…Fake. Right, it’s fake,” then sighed deeply and said.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For making you go through that.”

“What are you talking about. That’s all part of the contract too. When I worked at the company, I saw much worse things than this. This is nothing.”

“…What kind of company did you work for exactly.”

“The kind where office politics ran rampant, where people smiled on the outside while sharpening knives inside? The kind of jungle where an executive who attended a board meeting just yesterday could have their desk disappear overnight.”

It was true. Now that she thought about it, compared to that, Her Majesty the Queen’s attitude was practically genteel.

“By the way, what’s your relationship with Sir Lucien? The atmosphere seemed strange earlier when I saw you two. Did something happen?”

“It’s a family tradition.”

“Huh?”

“Cousins competing, backstabbing, and killing each other. That’s just our family tradition.”

“….”

What on earth was he talking about now.

At Damien’s words, Bada couldn’t help but imagine two people in silver armor, locking each other in towers and pushing each other into moats to claim the throne.

Meanwhile, Damien turned his head away as if he didn’t want to talk about this topic anymore.

* * *

When they returned to Windswood House, dusk was already falling.

After exchanging greetings with Damien on the landing, Bada dragged her tired body into the bedroom.

At that moment, an intense floral fragrance hit her nose. Looking around, she saw dozens of bouquets placed throughout the bedroom.

Just then, a servant appeared from the corridor carrying a bouquet and greeted Bada.

“Good evening, Lady.”

“What is all this?”

“These are gifts sent to you by the people of Bernhardt. Gifts have been pouring in from everywhere since the interview. We politely declined expensive items and mainly brought flowers and letters.”

“My goodness.”

Bada couldn’t hide her amazement as she touched the bouquets. Blue hydrangeas and white peonies, lavender and white roses. It looked like an entire garden had been transplanted here.

“Here are also cards that the people sent to you, Lady. Most of them are from children attending nearby prep schools.”

The servant held out a large box filled with dozens of cards.

Still bewildered, Bada took the box and sat on the sofa to begin reading through the cards.

The covers of the cards were carefully decorated with glitter glue, colored paper, and dried flower petals.

Some had drawings of Bada and Damien wearing crowns, drawn with crayons.

『Welcome to Bernhardt, Princess Baba(?). And congratulations on your engagement to Prince Damien! With love, from Luca.』

『Hello Princess!

I drew a picture of you after seeing your photo. The clothes and shoes you wore during the interview photos suit you very well. I hope you like my drawing. 【3 <3</p】

-From Luiza.』

『Weren’t you nervous when you appeared on television? I was very nervous too when I had to present about my future dreams at school. But my teacher said I did well and gave me an apple sticker. I’ll give you an apple sticker too, Princess! – Rose Dream.』

『Welcome from far away Korea! I really want to visit Korea too. I’ve grown to love it recently after watching animations. – Written by Calum.』

Bada had been smiling at the innocent children’s letters, but when she opened the next card, her eyes welled up with tears.

『Even grown-ups sometimes say mean things. But please remember that there are many people who welcome you, Princess.

I can’t hold your hand, but instead I’ll pray with both hands together tonight.

P.S.: My prayers come with a guarantee, so don’t worry. – Anton Dream.』

‘He must have heard bad rumors about me and written this letter to comfort me.’

The children’s letters healed her wounded heart in an instant.

But at the same time, her heart grew heavy. Wasn’t she just a one-year fake fiancée after all.

Even if it wasn’t intentional, the fact remained that she was deceiving the people of Bernhardt.

‘Maybe I don’t deserve this kind of welcome and love.’

Bada swallowed her bitterness as she gazed around the room full of bouquets. Not only that, but small gifts from various local governments were also placed on the nightstand.

Rosé wine, lavender honey and handmade cheese, and even porcelain teacups.

‘How can I repay them?’

After being lost in thought for a moment, Bada got up and sat at the desk.

When she opened the drawer, cream-colored stationery with the Duke of Wexley’s crest and a fountain pen were neatly arranged.

Bada took out the stationery and fountain pen and began writing replies.

『Thank you so much for welcoming me, Luca. I’ll treasure the wonderful picture you drew for me.』

『Hello, Luiza. I’m glad you liked the clothes and shoes. Actually, my fairy godmother made them for me. Shh, this is a secret just between you and me, Luiza. Promise!』

『When I get nervous appearing on TV in the future, I’ll remember Rose’s apple sticker. By the way, what is Rose’s future dream? I’m curious.』

『Thank you for welcoming me from Korea. I can already picture Calum traveling to Korea! Where will you visit first?』

『You can’t imagine how much Anton’s comfort helped me. Your prayers must really be effective. I’ll pray for Anton today too. – With love, from Bada.』

Though they were short replies, she tried to write each one with sincere care.

Her wrist ached, and her fingers were covered with fountain pen ink. But since she had started, she felt greedy to reply to every single one without missing any.

How much longer had she been writing letters? When she checked the clock on the wall, it was already 1 AM.

‘Hah… I think I need to write for about another hour. Should I rest my eyes for a bit?’

Bada blinked her tired eyes and briefly buried her face on the desk. Perhaps exhausted from the long day, heavy sleep washed over her.

Meanwhile, Damien, who had been working in the study, was gazing at the light flowing from Bada’s room until this late hour.

What could she be doing to stay awake until now?

Worried, he walked through the quiet corridor toward Bada’s bedroom located on the opposite side of the building.

Her bedroom door happened to be slightly open.

He stood in place holding the door handle and looked inside the room.

Then he saw Bada sleeping soundly with her head down on the desk and cards piled up like a mountain.

“….”

His blue eyes deepened as he watched that scene.

* * *

After that day, quieter days than expected continued.

Public interest in Bada grew day by day, but Damien tried his best to limit her external exposure.

He only allowed interviews and photo shoots with verified media outlets.

In contrast, Damien seemed so busy that it was difficult to even catch a glimpse of his face.

Luncheon meetings, parliamentary visits, and in the evenings, meetings with state guests.

Since his schedule generally started at 5 AM, it wasn’t easy to even share breakfast face-to-face.

So much so that she saw his portrait hanging in the corridor more often than his actual face.

It truly felt like nothing more or less than a business relationship.

Bada sometimes felt the suffocating frustration of being like Rapunzel trapped in a tower.

Since even going out was restricted, she often spent time idly within the house.

Even in such circumstances, she tried her best to adapt to the environment.

She studied the artworks in Windswood House one by one, helped with work in the organic vegetable garden behind the mansion, went into the kitchen to chat with the servants, and constantly kept herself busy.

Through this, she naturally came to understand the workings of Windswood House.

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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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