The Prince Who Loved Me - Chapter 84
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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 84
* * *
Damien, who had been watching the race from the paddock, shifted his gaze to stare at the Royal Box.
There he saw Bada celebrating Sissi’s victory.
Surging with irritation, he downed his whiskey in one gulp, and his throat burned.
“….”
In fact, Damien already knew about Jacob’s existence.
He was one of the people he had learned about while conducting a background investigation on Bada for security reasons.
According to the unofficial report, Jacob McAllister seemed to be Bada’s first love. Then Sissi must be the pet name he calls her.
“How nice, first love. Fuck.”
Just how great was this love of theirs.
He ground his teeth and swallowed the ball of fire rising up his throat.
I’m suppressing my selfish desire to put a leash on you and tie you to my side, barely swallowing down my feelings for you.
I’m trying this hard.
But from his cousin to this fool from America.
These bastards who don’t know their place have good eyes, and watching them all exploit every opening made his blood boil.
He looked calm on the surface like water just before reaching boiling point, but in reality he was in a precarious state.
That was why he didn’t bring Bada into his bedroom.
Did she know that dark thoughts kept circling in his head—that if he planted the seed of an heir in her belly, the Royal Family would reluctantly approve their marriage?
At this rate, he might make a deliberate mistake.
‘That can’t happen. That’s why I’m barely holding back.’
Why provoke me.
Even in this situation, he couldn’t deny that Jacob McAllister was quite a decent man.
This was the conclusion he reached after reading the background investigation materials about him.
What was Bada thinking? Was she planning to go to that guy when the contract ended in a year?
One thing was certain: McAllister would welcome Bada with open arms if she came to him.
‘But would I really let you go quietly after a year?’
Suddenly, Damien’s brain drew an overly vivid blueprint of their future that he hadn’t even requested.
The image of Jacob and Bada enjoying a happy rural life raising horses at a mansion with a vast farm in the Southern United States.
Would they have about three cute babies that resembled both of them equally?
Would damn organic cheese and cherry pie be served on the table every day?
Bada wasn’t the type to stay still even after marriage, so she would run a resort with Jacob.
Since Bada was smart and wise, the business would flourish day by day.
A man who got such a bride would be no different from a winner in life, so he’d be utterly happy and satisfied.
Damien recalled the face of Bada in the picture he had drawn in his mind. Would she be smiling? Would she be happy? Much more than when she was by his side? More than in this palace that was like a golden cage?
‘Don’t smile.’
The deeper his imagination went, the more sparks flew in his eyes and veins stood out stiffly on the back of his neck.
As if he had become a man whose wife had been stolen before his eyes, he wanted to strangle Jacob right now.
Suddenly, strength entered his hand and with a sharp cracking sound, the whiskey glass he was holding shattered.
“Oh my! Your Highness, are you alright?”
“…Gasp. He did that with his hand.”
The people nearby were startled and looked at him. Meanwhile, Damien unhurriedly placed the glass shards in his hand on the table and smiled.
“I’m fine. I suppose I had too much to drink.”
But red blood dripped between his fingers. He asked a passing server to clean up the glass, then took out a handkerchief to wipe his bloodied hand as he walked away.
Suppressing his surging anger, he thought.
‘Then I’ll have to steal her away.’
Even if the worst-case scenario he had imagined in his head came to pass, he could just steal her back.
In today’s world, divorce was just a common life experience.
Even if the two had a child together, he could just adopt it as his own.
Half of it would be Bada anyway. Then it would be no different from my own child, so I’d personally give it the Hastings surname and raise it like my own.
No, thinking about it again, it seemed more accurate to say taking back rather than stealing.
Because Bada was his.
He didn’t care who Bada’s first love was. He would be the one lying side by side with her in the grave.
Do you know who’s more important than the person you dance the first dance with at a ball?
The person you dance the last dance with.
Having neatly organized his thoughts, Damien continued to quicken his pace.
Dark clouds were gathering above his head as if rain would soon pour down.
* * *
Due to Jacob’s interview, Bada couldn’t hide her confusion.
Could it be that Jacob also still remembered that night from several years ago?
As she was moistening her throat with a drink and shifting her gaze, she saw some man approaching her from a distance.
‘Is that person the aide who was next to Queen Beatrice earlier?’
The man who approached gave off a somewhat overbearing impression.
“Good day, Lady.”
“Yes, hello?”
“The Queen wishes to see you briefly now. She seems to have something to discuss privately.”
Bada reflexively shifted her gaze to the private box where the Queen was seated.
But her figure was nowhere to be seen.
Suddenly, an ominous feeling flashed through Bada’s mind. The Queen’s aide lifted his chin and shot her an impatient look.
“…I understand. Where should I go?”
“The Royal Stud Farm in Berkshire (a farm that breeds and raises excellent breeds of horses like racehorses). We’ll send a car, and she ordered that you come alone if possible.”
“Please tell her I’ll do so.”
“Then, I’ll have a car waiting outside.”
After the aide withdrew, Bada moistened her parched throat with a drink.
“Haah….”
She couldn’t know for now what intention the Queen had in summoning her. But one thing was certain: she was in no position to refuse the Queen’s summons.
* * *
Having left the racetrack, Bada rode in the aide’s car heading somewhere.
The place the car arrived at was the Royal Stables located a little distance from Evelheim Racecourse.
Getting out of the car, Bada followed the aide into the interior of the stables.
Then the smell of hay and earth, and the sweat of horses hit her nostrils.
The nauseating smell made her stomach churn.
In one corner of the stables, she could see Beatrice dressed in riding clothes with a scarf around her neck.
She greeted Bada with a rather benevolent smile.
“So, what are your impressions of watching the Derby?”
“Thanks to the Royal Family hosting such a wonderful event, I’m enjoying watching it very much.”
“Good, then that’s fortunate. Creating a Derby-winning horse requires astronomical investment and heaven-sent fortune. Do you know that the Bernhardt Royal Family is one of the most prestigious breeders in Europe?”
“Yes, I’m aware of that.”
“Good. But there’s a difference between seeing and experiencing something directly with your eyes and having shallow knowledge in your head.”
Queen Beatrice gestured toward a stallion and said.
“That boy’s name is Asterion. Isn’t he a beautiful boy?”
As the Queen said, the horse’s appearance was quite magnificent. Every time it moved, its oiled-looking glossy mane fluttered and its elastic thigh muscles rippled.
“Yes, he’s very magnificent.”
“Asterion’s sire is Eclipse, who won at Royal Ascot and the Sovereign Derby. His dam is a top-grade mare from the Cassia bloodline, unrivaled in terms of speed. According to genetic testing, his cardiopulmonary capacity and muscle fiber density are top grade, and his hoof structure is also nearly perfect as a racehorse. What comes to mind when you look at that horse?”
What kind of test was she trying to put her through? Bada answered without letting her guard down.
“I think he’s a horse born with the natural qualities to become a champion.”
“That’s right. He actually swept through European horse racing competitions and broke records. He’s retired now though.”
“He still looks like he’s in his prime, but he’s already retired?”
Beatrice laughed softly as if she had expected that question.
“Do you know why?”
Bada thought briefly about the intent behind the question, then answered honestly.
“Well, I’m not sure.”
Beatrice continued in an elegant tone.
“Asterion has already achieved all the glory that can be achieved as a racehorse. So rather than entering competitions again and risking injury, it’s more valuable to use him as a breeding stallion while he’s in perfect condition.”
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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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