Chapter 155 (1/2)

Chapter 155: Chapter 155

“Hey.”

“Huh?”

“Are you upset?”

“Huh? What the hell are you talking about suddenly? ”

When I looked at him curiously, his blue eyes stared at me quietly. He looked at me silently for a long time and said in an unusually serious tone, “I mean the crown prince. As you know, the noble faction is hellbent on making Duke Jena’s daughter the crown prince’s wife.”

“Well, I think…” I slurred, trying to avoid his eyes.

I felt sorry for the crown prince when he asked me not to shun him, but even after my return and now, I had no intention of being his wife.

Even now, there was no way to stop Jiun from being the crown prince’s wife unless I replaced her. I was worried about the consequences on my family and the pro-emperor faction if Jiun became the crown prince’s wife, but I could not live with the painful memories of my past, which kept coming to my mind.

“Why do you look like that again? Are you still bothered?”

“… No, nothing.”

“Hmm.”

Let me ignore his question. Carsein grinned at me, while looking at me carefully as if he examined something. Then he asked with a puckish sense of humor, “Then how about me?”

“Huh?”

“You know, I’m from a great family and I’m competent. Just look at only one person. You don’t know much about me, but I can reassure you I’m a first-rate bridegroom candidate.”

“… What the hell are you talking about?”

I giggled at him and stroked the silver cat asleep on my lap. First-rate bridegroom? I felt Carsein didn’t match the image of a first-rate bridegroom. Of course, he had a point when I looked at it objectively, but I felt such a mix was rather awkward.

How long was it? I felt the wagon stop. As soon as the door was opened, Luna, rubbing her golden eyes at the sound of raindrops, pricked her ears.

Lightly clicking his tongue, Carcein said, watching Luna fluffing up her fur with wary eyes.

“Anyway, she resembles her master. Hey, give me the umbrella. I will open it. ”

“Oh, thanks, Sein.”

When I held Luna tightly with both hands, he unfolded the umbrella, got out and wrapped my waist with the other hand. I stepped on the ground with caution, relying on his strength.

The heavy rain soaked the hem of my skirt. I felt warmth from Luna and Carsein who got close to my body as well as the cold rain.

When I was about to walk away, trembling with cold, a familiar voice was heard from behind.

“Oh, you’re back now, Tia. It’s been a long time, Sir Carsein. ”

When I turned my head, I could see my father getting wet in the rain. He was wearing a uniform.

I rushed to him, forgetting that I was holding Luna. The silver cat was soaked to the skin, crying sharply.

“Hey, she got wet because you rushed to him! ”

Carsein hurriedly came running to me and put an umbrella over me. Looking at him, my father said, with a light smile, “Let’s go inside. Ah, Sir Carsein, why don’t you come in for a minute? I have something to tell you. ”

“Yes, sir.”

Since the rain came after a long drought, it was pouring down. We got soaking wet during the short movement from the door to the porch of the mansion.

By the time I entered the porch, water was already dripping from my wet clothes. Luna was trembling after jumping from my arms.

I took a towel from the butler on standby, and dried my face with a towel.

I gave him instructions, “Butler, please prepare warm bath water. Then, send a man to Duke Lars to bring some clothes for Sir Carsein. Also, get meals ready as soon as we’re done taking a bath.”

“Okay, my lady.”

“Then I’ll go up first, Daddy. See you later, Sein. ”

Coming back to my room, I took off my wet clothes with Lina’s help. When I soaked in the warm water, my cold body got warm, and I felt relieved at last.

Come to think of it, I experienced the same thing last fall.

One day during the National Founding Day festival I was soaked in the sudden autumn rain, so I rushed to the palace with the crown prince. Although I refused, he had the attendant prepare bath water ready for me, so I could warm myself. He also asked me to take a break instead of attending the banquet.

I shook my head strongly. Did I get sentimental because of the rain? Why do you keep thinking of him today?

‘I can’t live with him anyway. I can’t open my heart to anybody.’

I closed my eyes with a bitter smile. The warmth of heated water wrapped around me. How nice would it be if this warmth could spread to my frozen heart? If so, I might have a little hope that I might be able to love someone. In that case, I might be able to revive the buds of hope which I thought sprouted but disappeared soon.

I was submerged in the water until the lavender scent attached to my body, then I came out at Lina’s nagging. When I changed my clothes and entered the dining room, the two men who were chatting looked back at me.