I feel like I was forcibly ejected from a sweet dream.
“Did you postpone the execution for me?”
I looked at John with a tense face.
“…Why are you telling me this?”
“About our parents’ execution?”
“Yeah. It was actually yesterday that the Duke and Duchess of Libertan were executed. You probably didn’t know because I tried to hide it as much as possible.”
In the original story, the Duke and Duchess of Libertan died quite publicly.
They were burned at the stake while all the citizens threw stones at them. John, a black magician, didn’t let the Duke and Duchess of Libertan die easily.
“He resurrected them in a state where they couldn’t die by black magic.”
It was possible because he cast a curse during the torture at the palace.
All of this was revealed, and I was supposed to be shocked upon discovering that the Duke and Duchess of Libertan, unable to die, were still alive.
“But I haven’t heard anything about it now.”
The only thing I knew was that the execution was going to happen; I didn’t know the specific date or that it had been postponed.
“John must have thoroughly controlled the information.”
“…Why are you telling me this?”
“…Good question.”
John gave a mysterious smile as if he too was curious.
“Want to guess?”
Honestly, I don’t know anything.
“…Are you worried I’ll be upset?”
It was an answer I couldn’t even comprehend myself. John furrowed his brows and pressed his lips under his chin.
“That’s probably it.”
“If not, then what?”
I subtly pushed John away with an innocent face.
“I told you our parents committed a grave sin. That’s why they couldn’t avoid the execution.”
“That’s right.”
“But suddenly, they postponed it because of me, and I don’t understand anything.”
John then took my hand that was pushing him away and kissed each finger.
“I don’t think their sins have been fully revealed yet, so they’re still alive.”
John’s red eyes flashed.
Somehow, that seemed to be about me.
“What kind of sin is it?”
“It’s too uncertain to say right now.”
John leaned in slightly with a light smile.
“But I’ll give you a hint.”
The chair cushion was pushed all the way to the wall. My feet were still submerged in the basin.
“It’s about you.”
There was no way to retreat further from John.
My mind was in complete chaos.
“Me…?”
Thinking that way made everything seem even stranger.
‘Does that sin include what he’s done to me?’
Abuse is definitely a sin.
But I don’t know if the sin John is trying to uncover is related to my wounds.
Since my abuse isn’t the kind of troublesome thing he needs to uncover.
He was a part of a grand revenge.
‘So, he was trying to get revenge on me.’
To stay close to John for a long time, I had to keep myself well-controlled. If I made a mistake, I’d have to go back to a state where I couldn’t even have expectations.
“Honestly, I don’t know. In fact, I didn’t even know that my parents committed treason before I met John.”
“…”
“When I ask about the Libertan family, I don’t know much either.”
Now I know because of the original story, but originally, I was supposed to know nothing.
‘Maybe this is also why John hates me.’
At that moment, John’s gaze turned a bit colder.
“Didn’t you tell me anything about the Libertan family?”
“I heard there are many scary things. I asked him to tell me, but…”
I added, subtly implying that I had no will of my own, to how he knew me.
But John reacted unexpectedly.
“How can you not tell me anything?”
“I did learn a lot of other things. I can handle things like ladyly manners or ancient languages.”
I tried to defend myself, worried John might misunderstand.
But every time I did, John’s eyes grew colder.
“Still, that’s not enough. You’re not just a member of the family, you’re… no.”
John composed his expression and smiled kindly.
“Don’t worry. It’s okay if you don’t know anything.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be of help.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I can just fill in the gaps with things about the Blanchet family instead of the Libertan family.”
“What kind of things?”
“History, tradition?”
John patted my head.
“Just don’t run away thinking it’s boring.”
“I won’t. I’m a diligent student, after all.”
“I know that well too.”
John’s red eyes gently scanned me.
“How hard you’re trying.”
Strangely, I found it difficult to meet John’s gaze. I hurried to stand up.
The problem was that one of my feet was still submerged in the basin.
My slippery foot wobbled and I nearly lost my balance.
The basin with the flowers floating inside also tipped over. It contained water that nobles mostly kept with their perfume.
The water inside suddenly surged, soaking everything around. Petals fluttered down, some spilling out.
Not only I but John’s entire body got soaked.
“Oh no, John!”
My clothes, soaked in water, revealed my figure clearly.
He had immediately pulled me into his arms to protect me as the water surged.
It seemed instinctive.
‘Like protecting me from a threat.’
If I call this a threat, it’s a bit funny.
But John also seemed to consider the pouring water as a danger to me.
With my body trapped in John’s embrace and my face very close, his neat appearance was even more decadent when wet.
His scent grew stronger as it soaked into him.
Drops of water clung to the tips of his long eyelashes.
“I need to wipe this off.”
John took off his soaked outer shirt. His bare skin was revealed naturally. Muscles moved along the elegant and well-formed lines.
“You’re not hurt, right?”
“It’s overprotection. This is fine.”
“You only say you’re okay, so I have no choice but to do this.”
John used a towel nearby to wipe my face and wet hair.
Look at this.
‘He’s wetter than I am.’
His tender, meticulous hands gently stroked me.
‘Why is he so good to me?’
Every time John’s hand touched me, my body hairs stood on end.
‘I want to believe it’s genuine.’
“I’ll go change right now.”
Just as I was about to stand up, John stopped me. His touch was strangely commanding.
“If you don’t dry off immediately, you might catch a cold.”
He dried the water off my bangs with the towel.
“I can do that myself.”
“But I want to do it for you.”
“Why?”
I mustered the courage and looked directly at him.
“Why do you want to take care of me?”
“…”
“Are you usually this caring for everyone?”
John silently looked at me, gazing steadily.
The lazy afternoon sunlight streamed through the window. A heavy silence settled around us.
“I only do this for you.”
My slightly water-sticky hair, seductive eyes, elegantly raised nose, and pretty lips. John quietly smiled with a small wink and slowly approached.
“Especially, I feel this way only for you.”
His warm, soft lips brushed my forehead lightly.
“Even if I try to avoid you, I just can’t. My gaze keeps drifting, and I get greedy.”
Soon, his lips gently descended and carefully rested above my eyes and the tip of my nose.
John playfully bit the tip of his nose lightly, then pulled away, looking at my face with a greedy, intense gaze and a mischievous smile.
“Where do you think it will be next?”
…In a very sleepy voice.
Our lips met.
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
The Loyem estate was bustling with people.
Compared to Crown Prince Loyem, Miryu, from a poor baron family, was seen as a less promising bride.
Queen Isabella, the regent, held daily parties so Miryu wouldn’t shrink back before the wedding.
Miryu’s friends came to congratulate her, soon to become the crown princess.
“Miryu, I’m so glad everything’s going so smoothly. I guess it’s true — you have to live kindly.”
“They say Prince Hesen is so kind to you. I wonder when I’ll meet such a good man.”
“There’s no one like Prince Hesen — handsome, strong, caring, and even said to love only you, Miryu.”
Most of all, Miryu was a very well-regarded, gentle young lady, so everyone deeply rejoiced in her good fortune.
As Miryu said goodbye to her friends, Diana asked her.
“Sister-in-law, you’re fiddling with your ribbon again.”
“Oh.”
Miryu’s eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly let go of her ribbon. Diana looked at her with concern.
“You’re still having a hard time, aren’t you? You haven’t even received an apology from the perpetrator.”
“…No. I’ve decided to forgive her now.”
Miryu forced a smile through her difficulty.
“It’s been a long time. Anyway, she’s probably forgotten everything, and it’s strange that I keep holding onto it —”
“You shouldn’t. Take this opportunity to get an apology.”
“But she’s the Duchess of Blanchet.”
The Duke of Blanchet was one of the most powerful figures in the empire.
It’s not a person to be taken lightly—even in Loyem.
“That’s why we need to tell her the truth. It’s ridiculous that her sins were buried because she didn’t debut in society. And now, it looks like she’s about to step into society.”
Diana took Miryu’s hand firmly.
“If the Duke of Blanchet is a decent person, she’ll be angry at her wife once she finds out the truth.”
“I don’t want to pressure her. I think bringing up such an old issue might be wrong.”
“You should do it. Or I’ll bring it up first. I’ll take all the responsibility.”
Seeing Miryu so self-reproachful only made Diana angrier.
‘My sister-in-law is so kind.’
Despite being adopted and of high status, she was tormenting the noble sister-in-law who had caused scars—Estelle.
‘I can’t forgive her.’
Diana, a princess with a knightly title, was a just person.
As a knight, she had a duty to protect the weak.
“Anyway, I’ve invited all my friends to this party. They all know your situation and will help keep that woman from escaping.”
“Thank you, Diana.”
Miryu, touched, pretended to cover her face with her palm.
See? Even if she’s a duchess, she’s useless at what she does.
A faint smile crept up Miryu’s lips behind her palm.
With this, she thought, she could marry safely.
Loyem, the core of the United Kingdom.
After the wedding, Queen Isabella declared that she would succeed the throne as king after the crown prince.
Once married, she would immediately become queen.
‘Me, a queen…’
The wealthy and powerful Loyem Kingdom.
A handsome prince who only has eyes for Miryu.
Her in-laws who spared no support for her.
Now, all that remained was to enjoy her happiness.
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
The kiss that just happened was, in a way, an accident.
“This, this—”
It was an unforeseen natural disaster. The moment I turned my face away and looked at him.
“Estelle Libertan.”
John’s face was expressionless.
It was a cold look, devoid of emotion, yet I felt he was extremely nervous.
‘This is really John.’
John gripped my chin and asked.
“Why didn’t you dodge?”
“…Did you think I would dodge?”
“…”
John’s Adam’s apple moved slightly.
“Don’t provoke me further.”
A languid yet tense atmosphere coexisted. I was painfully aware of every blink.
“Before doing something stupid to you.”
“What stupid thing?”
“Things you can’t even imagine.”
Wet. Close contact. His warm, cold gaze seemed sincere.
John’s both hands cupped my cheeks. He smirked and smiled.
“When I’m with you, I forget everything.”
“…”
“Do you want to forget? Should I forget everything?”
In that moment, I just wanted to drown everything and forget. Is it okay to also urge John to give up his revenge?
The only right choice for me was to pretend I knew nothing and forget everything.
“No, don’t forget anything.”
“You know what I mean?”
“No. But… John, who wants to forget everything—”
I moved my lips as I looked at John’s reddened, trembling eyes.
“You seem so miserable.”
“…”
“I’ll keep remembering instead. Whatever it is.”
John looked at me, clenched his fists, then relaxed them. His empty hands seemed to grasp something.
“You… don’t know anything, but act as if you do. Do you really know, or don’t you?”
His icy, white fingers brushed over my lips.
“What are you hiding?”
“John.”
“Why can’t you tell me?”
John’s gaze grew more tender. He whispered as he looked at me.
“You were about to call that kiss a mistake just now, weren’t you?”
My eyes widened.
“That…”
“It’s a mistake.”
Surprisingly, John smiled lightly.
“When the saintess arrived, it was just a disguise or something.”
His words hit exactly what I was thinking. I nodded awkwardly.
John then caressed my earlobe and pressed his lips to it.
“This isn’t just an accident.”
I asked him with a flushed face.
“Then what is it?”
“My hidden intention.”
John’s red eyes shone arrogantly.
“Prepare yourself.”
“…”
“No matter what, I need to know.”
John whispered with an obsessive tone.
“Even the things you want to hide, things you didn’t even realize, even a single strand of hair you shed—all of it.”
I stared blankly at his face.
‘Somehow, I feel like John loves me.’
All the words John had spoken to me sounded like confessions of love.
~·~·*· . ·*· . ·*· . ·*·~·~
The next day, Princess Diana of Loyem sent me an invitation.
~·~·*· . ·**##^^##**· . ·*·~·~
Hey there, It’s Green Rose 😉
Since I human I might have make some mistakes while translating so please if you find them let me know here in the comments or in the Discord group so I can correct them and be careful in the future so they do not repeat.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
~~~Next Chapter~~~
Next chapter will be released Tomorrow.
See you then!!
