The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 50
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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 50
When moments came where their questions left her speechless, she would share cookies she had brought from the kitchen.
She didn’t realize how adorable it was when they would quickly quiet down after putting the rich-flavored cookies in their mouths.
While passing through the corridor following Bada’s guidance, the female students began showing interest in a decoration hanging on the wall.
“Is there something interesting here?”
Following the students’ gaze, a cricket bat hanging on the wall caught her eye.
“Wow, girls. Look at this. It’s the first cricket bat used by Alexander II. It looks quite different from the ones now, doesn’t it?”
“Ooh, it looks just like a hockey stick, doesn’t it?”
The female students began showing great interest in the old cricket bat. Watching their sparkling eyes, Bada quietly smiled.
“You all seem to like cricket matches?”
“Of course we do! Because we’re all members of the school cricket team. Last time, we even won the championship representing Cavendish.”
“Wow! That’s really amazing! I know well because I was also a member of the lacrosse team when I was in high school. Winning championships isn’t easy, you know!”
“Oh, really? Girls, the Lady also played lacrosse during her school days?”
“There are few things as enjoyable as team sports. Practicing with teammates every day, living together during training camps, working closely together, and that sense of solidarity you feel when you finally win the championship cup! Having lived through it, there’s no greater joy in life.”
Bada was lost in reminiscence for a moment. During her school days, she had been the ace of Agatha Hall’s lacrosse team.
Her friendship with Caroline had deepened because they played on the same team.
‘It was the most passionate time of my life.’
Then, a female student standing in the group holding cricket equipment said with a mischievous smile.
“Girls, shall we take this opportunity to test our fiancée’s cricket skills?”
* * *
After finishing his work and returning to Windswood House, Damien sat on the windowsill with a cigarette loosely held between his fingers.
At that moment, a strange sight outside the window caught his eye.
It was Bada in the courtyard, dirt smudged on her cheeks, swinging a cricket bat.
‘What is she doing?’
She had rolled up her shirt sleeves and pant cuffs, wearing sneakers while absorbed in the cricket game.
Her luscious hair was tied tightly with a yellow ribbon identical to those of the female students.
A group of female students burst into laughter watching her.
“Hahaha! You made a complete full swing! Bravo!”
“Now run toward the wicket, Lady! Quickly!”
After swinging the bat to hit the ball, Bada began running around like a sprinter. Her expression was as serious as if her life depended on winning the game.
When Bada scored, the female students immediately ran over, surrounding her and giving high-fives.
They were so delighted that it seemed a trophy should be awarded right then and there.
Damien lit his cigarette, drew the smoke deep into his lungs, then slowly exhaled it.
While enjoying the view of Bada through the smoke, Reginald, who had approached beside him, spoke.
“The aide scheduled to conduct today’s house tour got food poisoning, so the Lady conducted the tour instead. I was worried at first, but as you can see, the female students’ reaction is very positive.”
Unlike Reginald who showed a pleased expression, Damien’s face was rigidly hardened. Noticing something was amiss, Reginald asked.
“…Your Highness, do you have something to say?”
Tapping cigarette ash into the crystal ashtray, Damien spoke.
“Cancel the house tours for the time being.”
Before Reginald could feel puzzled by the Crown Prince’s unexpected order, Damien continued.
“And stop my fiancée from replying to each and every letter from the citizens.”
At the cold command, Reginald was flustered, unlike his usual self.
The Lady had conducted the house tour quite excellently, and the letters she sent to citizens had received quite good responses.
Such actions by the Crown Prince’s fiancée would be quite helpful for improving his own image as well.
Why was he ordering her to stop these activities?
Reginald stared at the Crown Prince’s expression, trying to understand his intentions. But seeing his tightly pressed lips, it seemed he didn’t want to explain the reason.
Eventually, Reginald closed his mouth and bowed respectfully.
“Yes, I will carry out your orders, Your Highness.”
* * *
A few days later.
While drinking tea in the morning room and reading news articles on her tablet PC, an article caught Bada’s eye.
【Crown Prince’s Fiancée and St. Mary’s School Female Students’ Surprise Cricket Match!】
Bada clicked on the article with slight nervousness.
It seemed that one of the female students who participated in the house tour that day had filmed a video and posted it on social media, which had become a minor topic of discussion.
‘The female students who participated in the house tour that day mentioned having a delightful time teaching cricket to the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
The sight of Lady Yu passionately playing with dirt smudged on her cheeks even evokes a strange sense of emotion.’
Contrary to her worry that being filmed covered in dirt might be criticized as undignified for a Crown Prince’s fiancée, the reaction was very positive.
Her unpretentious appearance, not putting on airs as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, seemed to have won great favor with people.
‘That’s a relief.’
After finishing her media review, Bada got up and headed to her room. Then she sat at her desk to reply to letters.
But something was strange. The bundle of letters that was usually delivered to her desk every morning was nowhere to be seen today.
‘Did someone accidentally put it away while cleaning?’
Bada opened all the desk drawers to check. But the bundle of letters was nowhere to be found.
Eventually, Bada visited the secretary’s office where Lea was on standby and asked her about the situation.
Then Lea said with a troubled expression.
“…Actually, His Highness the Crown Prince ordered that the Lady should no longer reply to citizens’ letters. He also said to cancel the Windswood House tours for the time being.”
“Why?”
“…There was no separate explanation about the reason.”
No matter how much she thought about it, Bada couldn’t hide her bewilderment.
Replying to letters people sent was the only thing that gave her a sense of fulfillment these days.
Unable to understand Damien’s order, Bada eventually headed to his office that afternoon.
When she knocked, his voice came from beyond the door.
“Come in, Reginald.”
“It’s me, Damien.”
Damien seemed a bit flustered by Bada’s unexpected appearance. But he soon shifted his gaze back to the documents he was reviewing and spoke in a businesslike tone.
“What is it? I’m busy right now, so if it’s not urgent, let’s talk later.”
“It’s not urgent, but… I wanted to ask you something. Why did you cancel the house tours? And I’m curious why you don’t want me to reply to letters people send.”
After a long silence, he met her gaze and slowly parted his lips.
“Because it’s all pointless work.”
“Pointless work?”
Bada was startled because her voice came out sharper than she had intended.
But she couldn’t understand Damien’s words that what she was doing was pointless work.
Hadn’t he received reports that the citizens’ reactions were positive?
More than anything, she felt hurt that all her efforts seemed to be completely negated.
Eventually, Damien put down his pen and rubbed his brow. Then he spoke in a voice that seemed tired.
“If you reply to people individually, at some point they’ll take receiving replies for granted. Then if you stop replying, they’ll actually curse you instead.”
“…Hey, aren’t you thinking too negatively?”
“Let me ask you. What’s the reason for cutting into your sleep and replying to all those letters until dawn every day?”
“Well, I’m grateful for their feelings. And who knows? If I show a good image, it might help your approval ratings.”
“My approval ratings are none of your concern.”
“…”
“And don’t get the wrong idea, Bada. People don’t even know what kind of person you really are, nor do they care. They’re only interested in the title of Crown Prince’s fiancée. Even if it weren’t you in that position, they would have written the same letters.”
At his cold statement, Bada finally came to a realization and swallowed dryly.
‘Ah. This is just a contract, but I was acting like I’m really the Crown Prince’s fiancée, which made him uncomfortable?’
A temporary substitute just filling an empty spot.
Just do the basics as instructed. Why cause unnecessary trouble.
Is that what he means?
Damien picked up his pen again with a stoic expression and began signing documents.
Scratch, scratch.
In the silence, the sound of the fountain pen tip scraping against paper was particularly grating to the ears.
Feeling a surge of emotion at his cold attitude, Bada found herself speaking in a sarcastic tone without realizing it.
“Right. A one-year fake pretending to be real must have been irritating for you to watch.”
“….”
“I understand your position well, so I’ll try not to overstep from now on. Happy?”
After finishing her cold words, she spun around sharply and left the office with angry steps.
* * *
Even after Bada left the office, Damien silently focused on signing documents.
Scratch scratch scratch. The sound of the pen tip scraping paper gradually became more irritated.
“Damn it.”
Finally, he slammed the fountain pen down on the desk as if throwing it, then stuck his fingers between his tie to loosen it roughly.
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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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