The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 79
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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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Episode 79
After briefly watching Louis being dragged away, I arrived at the Imperial Princess Palace following Anais.
It was because of our scheduled discussion about Anais’s perfume preferences. While we were at it, we’d also talk about the compensation money.
‘There are a lot of people here.’
The atmosphere was more crowded than when I had visited last time.
I had barely started looking around when Anais casually wrapped her arm around my shoulder.
“Don’t be intimidated, Miss Berry. There’s no one in this Empire who would dare disrespect or harm my guest.”
Since I wasn’t really a commoner, I wasn’t particularly intimidated, but I nodded silently.
“There’s a hunting competition next month. That’s the only reason they’ve all come to the Imperial Princess Palace.”
“Ah, I see.”
Come to think of it, a hunting competition was scheduled for the near future.
The hunting competition, which took place over about three days, involved young nobles hunting prey released into the forest using rifles, as was customary.
Not all young nobles participating in the hunting competition actually hunted prey; those with ambiguous positions would help royalty or high-ranking nobles with their hunts, trying to gain their favor.
‘Right now is the time when young men are competing over who can catch more prey, and young ladies are scheming about who will give their handkerchief to whom.’
Just as I finished that thought, someone approached us.
“I greet Your Highness the Princess.”
“Ah, Sir Kazelrkan.”
The man with a dark and sharp impression had an excellent physique.
When Kazelrkan’s gaze turned toward me, Anais introduced me.
“This is a commoner I called regarding compensation for the port city business. You remember what Count Chadde suggested before, don’t you? The system of giving compensation to commoners during construction periods. It seems to have many problems, so I’ve stepped in as the Princess.”
Kazelrkan seemed to lose interest at the mention of ‘commoner’ and immediately looked away from me, getting to the main point.
“It’s nothing major, Your Highness. The hunting competition… *cough*, the guard list… *cough*, *cough*.”
Then he started coughing repeatedly.
His skin, which had been pale enough to feel cold just moments ago, suddenly turned red as if he had developed a fever.
When Kazelrkan coughed so much he couldn’t properly state his business, Anais asked.
“Are you alright, Sir?”
“…Yes, *cough*… I’m fine. I’ve shown discourtesy to Your Highness, *ahem*.”
“Oh my, it seems you’ve caught a cold.”
Kazelrkan only nodded slightly and continued with the main topic.
“The guard list, if Your Highness would…”
However, not only the occasional coughs, but also his increasingly hoarse voice as he spoke couldn’t be hidden.
‘It doesn’t seem like a cold though?’
Just as I tilted my head in confusion, Kazelrkan quickly finished what he had to say and bowed his head.
“Then I shall take my leave, Your Highness.”
“Yes. Go ahead, Sir.”
Kazelrkan moved his feet quickly, as if he wanted to hurry away from this place.
Just as he passed by my side.
His indifferent gaze turned toward me.
More precisely, toward the Clark Flower decorating my clothes.
“…”
Kazelrkan visibly became agitated, then urgently covered his mouth and nose while coughing loudly.
I turned my head slightly to watch Kazelrkan’s retreating figure.
‘…Hmm.’
Since I still had lingering regrets about not finding my client at the Founding Festival, I had continued to decorate my clothes with Clark Flowers ever since.
Whether it was a rare allergy, no one had reacted to this flower until now…
I frowned and asked Anais.
“Your Highness.”
“Mm?”
“Who was that knight, if I may ask?”
Even as I asked, I hoped it wouldn’t seem random or suspicious. I just wanted to appear like a commoner who was interested in the upper class without knowing their place.
“Ah.”
Fortunately, Anais answered without concern.
“Recently… or maybe not so recently? Anyway, he’s a knight employed by the Archduke’s family around last year.”
“…”
The Archduke again.
‘If he had an allergic reaction because of the Clark Flower, that would explain everything.’
The Archduke’s family didn’t participate in the Founding Festival.
So if this person called Kazelrkan also didn’t appear at the Founding Festival, it would make sense that Ransel and I didn’t see anyone react to the Clark Flowers we wore that day.
‘Hmm.’
Somehow the Archduke was becoming more and more suspicious.
***
A few days later, at the Crown Prince’s Study.
“Ahahahahahaha!”
Enrif burst into laughter.
‘Stupid fool.’
Could it really be resolved this easily?
‘Walking right into death on his own?’
During hunting competitions, royalty would have some noble children assist with their hunts in addition to guards. It was a position usually taken by emerging nobles with ambiguous standing.
But…
“Hmm.”
Enrif smiled slyly as he checked the list of those who would be attached to the Crown Prince.
Ransel Idiz Arviente. A name he hadn’t expected was written there.
It was work that even ordinary marquess family children wouldn’t bother with. Though called assistance, it was no different from serving royalty.
Yet a prestigious family heir had volunteered for such work.
‘Perfect, you bastard.’
Of course, Ransel couldn’t have volunteered without some intention.
But did that matter?
This bastard was going to die during the hunting competition anyway.
‘It’s a shame there’s only one opportunity though…’
Louis Chartinez, that scoundrel.
Because of that bastard, the Viscount Chartinez family’s financial situation had recently deteriorated.
Since he couldn’t expect Seria’s help for the time being, Enrif had only one chance to get rid of Ransel.
-What’s this?
Just then, Eve appeared out of thin air and tilted her head while looking at the list.
“Perfect timing, Eve.”
Enrif grinned as he explained about the hunting competition.
Since Eve hadn’t been showing herself much lately, he hadn’t had a chance to discuss this.
-Mm, I see…
After the explanation ended, Eve didn’t seem particularly pleased.
Why is she acting like this? Enrif raised his eyebrows.
Eve’s obsession with the Arviente Duchy was indescribably intense.
Enrif’s own conflict with the ducal family was entirely because of Eve.
-But, don’t you think he volunteered like this because he has some purpose too?
At her voice that somehow even carried disdain, Enrif snorted.
“Ha, of course I expected that. But well, whatever scheme this bastard tries to pull, I just need to kill him before then, right?”
-Ah… I see.
It was a bland reaction.
Eve continued speaking with a face that now showed pity beyond mere disdain.
-Yeah, well… I don’t care if you ruin yourself doing this. Mm-hmm, this demon servant will be watching carefully from where you can’t see.
“…You little bastard, I’m doing this because of who, and you just…”
-What? Who said what? I said I’d watch carefully, didn’t I? I’ll cheer you on.
At the sarcastic words, Enrif crossed his arms.
“Ha, let’s see what happens after the hunting competition ends, Eve. By then our relationship will be completely reversed.”
Even letting out a snort, Enrif looked at the list again and burst into laughter.
‘Hmm, what should I do about that idiot…’
Eve, who had been watching Enrif while spinning around in the air, soon shrugged his shoulders.
Whether Enrif got caught by the scruff of his neck or not, there was no way those lowly humans would notice a demon servant’s existence.
Contracts with the Demon Clan were punishable by death, so there was no way Enrif would reveal his true identity even if caught.
‘Well, I might as well enjoy some interesting entertainment.’
Hehehe, hehehehehe… Eve giggled for a while before turning into smoke and disappearing.
***
It seems I underestimated the Crown Prince too much.
“…”
Watching Ransel being supported back to camp covered in blood, I had that thought.
Certainly, when the hunting competition had just started…
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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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