Chapter 18 (1/2)

Annette wondered what Ludwig was apologizing for. For Ludwig it was something that happened only a few weeks ago, but for Annette, who had returned, it was something that happened five years ago. Perhaps that’s why Annette was able to look at him with an objective attitude as if it were someone else’s business.

“I, Annette….So, I’m sorry. I couldn’t send … your wedding present.”

“It’s all right, Your Highness.”

It wasn’t just an empty talk, it was really all right. Rather, if Ludwig, as her ex-fiancé, had sent her a wedding gift, it would have been disastrous. By the way, even in this situation, the only thing he could say to her was ‘I’m sorry I couldn’t send you a wedding present.’ Unlike before, Annette felt that Ludwig’s weakness was pathetic.

When Ludwig noticed the blatant criticism in her pink eyes, he bit his lips. With a character as delicate as his face, he hesitated for a while, unable to say something. Ludwig buried his face in both hands and confessed as if he was vomiting everything in his heart.

“No, I’m not actually sorry. I didn’t want to send a congratulatory gift to your wedding. So I didn’t send one on purpose. In this case, I know I should say sorry, but to be honest with you, I’m really not. I’ve been looking forward to see you. I.. I’ve always been sorry for that, Annette.”

Ludwig muttered without any remorse and buried his face even deeper into his hands. At this point, it was confusing whether he was really sorry or not. Now all that could be seen of Ludwig was his pinna that peeked out through his long silver hair. His ears were turning red and he whispered bitterly.

“What on earth should I do? To me, my only princess is you Annette.”

“Your Highness…”

Annette, hearing Ludwig’s confession, casted her eyes down in silence. She felt something hot coming up from inside her throat. Of course, it wasn’t because she was moved by Ludwig’s words. Annette was actually trying to contain her anger.

‘You didn’t do anything when I was framed.’

Thanks to this, Annette was expelled from the nomination of the Crown Princess, and Celestine became his new fiancee. Of course, in the process, Ludwig was restless and even appealed that it was Annette whom he loved. But that was just all of Ludwig’s “effort.”

Ludwig was always weak against King Selgratis. Ludwig, under the pressure of his father, finally stepped back and just watched her from a distance until she got married to Rafael. But now, he pretended to be remorseful and said, ‘My only princess is you.’

Annette was dumbfounded. If it hadn’t been five years ago, by now she would have been blinded by anger and grabbed Ludwig by his collar. Of course, if she had done that, she would be taken to the palace dungeon No. 503 for the crime of touching the body of the royal family.

Annette swallowed up her pent-up anger and reeled it in well. With a nonchalant smile, she poked Ludwig’s sore spot.

“Your Highness, don’t say that. Now you have Lady Celestine Keers, don’t you? She’d be so sad to hear that. She likes you very much.”

She did like Ludwig, to the point she dragged Annette through mud just to become a Crown Princess. Well, still it was just a family affair. Anyway, Annette’s prickly and amiable tone made Ludwig’s ears turn red. He couldn’t raise his head and buried his face between his palms. Painful sobs escaped out of his mouth.

“I’m sorry…I’m really sorry. Annette. But I can’t really love Lady Keers.”

“But she’s your fiancee now. Please try to get along with her well.”

“But Lady Keers is…. she’s so different from you. She’s too nervous and sensitive. I can’t even imagine a future with Lady Keers. Just being together with her makes me tired.”

After hearing Ludwig’s words, Annette was puzzled. Did Celestine Keers have such a sensitive personality? When they often met as crown princess candidates, she seemed relatively indifferent. She was quite fond of Ludwig, so there’s no way she’d be nervous around him.

But again,she didn’t know her very well. If Celestine was the one who drove out Annette and took the crown by making her own play, it would not be strange if her true character came out slowly after becoming the winner. Well, if she could plot to blame Annette like that, she could be quite a vicious woman.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t the time to rush anything. Seeing Annette remain silent, Ludwig’s head sank down more and more. Now the words coming out of his mouth resembled a gasp.

“I’m sorry, Annette. Because I’m this kind of man,…I’m just sorry for you.”

With his face hidden in his hand, the only thing she could hear from his serene figure was sounds of his breathing. His breathing began to get harder and faster.  Ludwig seemed to be sobbing and gasping. He was too weak to deal with stress and fell into a mild panic.