Chapter 33
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The post-tournament banquet was, as the name suggests, a celebration that continued into the evening after the tournament ended.
Having overcome a major hurdle, Kaiden and I finished preparing and headed to the banquet hall.
If only Kaiden would stop trying to carry me.
“Seriously! Don’t overdo it!”
My face flushed as I quietly snapped at him. Kaiden, with a sulky expression but still appearing impassive to others, said,
“I don’t like your feet touching the ground.”
“Don’t say ridiculous things!”
Embarrassed, I glanced around and scolded him.
We were currently bickering in the palace corridor on our way to the banquet hall. Countless nobles were watching Kaiden and me with curious eyes. I lowered my voice as much as possible and said,
“And you’re not going to carry me all day! Why risk straining your arms?!”
“I can just imbue my arms with aura.”
“…Why would you use such a great ability for something trivial—“
I looked at him with a dumbfounded expression, and Kaiden got serious.
“What’s trivial? I’m carrying my wife.”
I covered my forehead with my hand to hide my increasingly red face.
At that moment, the nobles around us who overheard Kaiden chimed in with, “Oh my, Sir Marion is so lucky! Hehe,” and “If only my husband were half as good as His Grace.” But I was genuinely embarrassed.
I understood that Kaiden was immersed in his act. To others, his display of affection for his fiancée looked admirable.
But as the one on the receiving end, I was so embarrassed I wanted to run away. He was definitely enjoying teasing me.
At that moment, the Crown Prince approached from the corridor.
“Marion.”
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Kaiden and I bowed to him. The Crown Prince glared sharply at Kaiden before turning his gaze to me. Completely ignoring Kaiden, he said,
“Marion. The Archduke didn’t force himself on you, did he?”
“What?”
I looked at him in surprise at the sudden question, and the Crown Prince took a step closer. There was something strange in his eyes.
“If that’s the case, come to me. I have a plan…”
“Your Highness.”
Kaiden stepped in front of me. His neck was tense with anger.
“That’s rude.”
“Archduke, you’re the rude one. I’m asking Marion.”
“You’re casting a shadow on the happy future of a couple about to marry.”
I couldn’t understand why these two were about to fight in the palace corridor.
‘What in the world is going on?’
The surrounding nobles began to whisper.
It was only natural, with the Crown Prince and the Archduke glaring at each other, radiating hostility. I cautiously raised my hand.
“Um… I’m not so weak as to be forced into anything.”
The Crown Prince seemed to snap out of it, looking at me with an expression that suggested he had something to say, almost pleading. But I didn’t care and just said what I wanted.
“And His Grace isn’t that kind of person. We’re in love.”
As I defended Kaiden, the Crown Prince looked at me with an impassive face. His rapidly shifting expressions sent a chill down my spine.
“Since when? Not long ago, you were fawning over me.”
I froze.
I had clearly told him a few days ago that I no longer liked him.
But from his perspective, someone who had been chasing him for years suddenly changed their mind. It was understandable that he’d find it strange. But what could I do? That’s how I felt.
I decided to lean on the power of rumors.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness, but it was all an act. I pretended to like you to get His Grace’s attention.”
“What…?”
“But as always, Your Highness, busy as you are, you don’t need to concern yourself with it.”
In other words, when did you ever care about me?
Seeing the Crown Prince’s trembling eyes, I felt a pang of guilt. But I quickly steeled myself.
When I genuinely liked and followed Crown Prince Marius, how did he treat me? Like I was less than a passing insect.
Once, he dropped a snack on the ground.
“You, redhead. Pick it up and eat it.”
“Thank you!”
I was only thirteen, barely out of the slums.
How could a slum kid refuse a sweet, delicious treat offered by the Crown Prince of the empire, even if it had fallen on the ground?
Back then, I knew hunger all too well, etched into my bones.
Of course, Grand Duke Leopold scolded me harshly when he found out, but at the time, I didn’t understand what I’d done wrong.
My mood plummeted.
Now, having awakened to my past life, I realized how humiliating the Crown Prince’s actions were. Why in the world did the old me fawn over such trash?
Kaiden stepped in front of me, as if shielding me, and said,
“Your Highness, we’ll head to the banquet hall first.”
Without waiting for the Crown Prince’s permission, Kaiden led me away. I followed, relying on his hand. I didn’t care what the Crown Prince was doing.
“You okay?”
Kaiden asked with a concerned expression. I nodded.
“I’m fine.”
“…Marion.”
I looked up at Kaiden.
“I’ll cherish you more than anyone in the world.”
His sudden words caught me off guard. I stared at him, dumbfounded, as he continued.
“I’ll always be by your side. Let’s share all your worries and concerns.”
My mouth slowly fell open.
“Isn’t that what a husband and wife do?”
For some reason, I felt like crying.
I pursed my lips. Noticing my state, Kaiden hugged me tightly near the entrance to the banquet hall.
We stayed like that for a moment. I heard nobles passing by, saying things like, “Oh my, young love.” Then Kaiden cautiously asked,
“…Do you still like the Crown Prince?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
Snapped out of my emotional moment, I pulled away from Kaiden. Narrowing my eyes, Activation Failed!
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By Anna 💓
