Chapter 31

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Chapter 31

“If you don’t like the honorifics, I can go as usual.”

“No. The Lady is here too, so please give minimal respect.”

The Crown Prince wasn’t uncomfortable, as if he had been interacting with Lennox like this for a long time.

‘Come to think of it, the Crown Prince knew that I was an Epure.’

In the original novel, the Crown Prince and Lennox were not this close. However, they were neither hostile nor uncomfortable with each other.

To be exact, there was no mention of their relationship at all.

I inconspicuously observed Edwin.

He was the only person that helped Olivia in the original story. But at the last minute, without realizing that her soul was exchanged, he became the decisive person to drive her to death.

Edwin Roam Balkan was perhaps the biggest variable in my future.

“Let’s get to the point,”

Lennox declared as he took a document out of his arms. It was the marriage contract in question that made us come to the imperial palace together.

“There’s no need to say much. This is where I need your seal.”

He was so confident that I was embarrassed.

We were here to get a marriage approval from the Crown Prince. It didn’t mean that he had to say something disappointing.

‘This man is really…!’

I poked his side. However, my husband’s expression did not change an inch, let alone shift.

“You must’ve heard the news right away. I came as you wanted, so don’t say anything unnecessary and approve it.”

Edwin clicked his tongue.

“Why are you in such a hurry?”

“I’m busy.”

“Why are you so busy?”

“Marriage preparation.”

“Your assistant will do everything, anyway.”

The way he spoke to Lennox without missing a beat felt like a boy playing pranks on his much older brother.

And Lennox played with his immature little brother on the top of his palm.

“The Crown Prince of such a large empire seems to be free while conducting background investigations on others. Do you want me to make you work?”

It was such a neat threat.

Edwin shook his head, changing his expression like he had realized that he had chosen the wrong opponent.

“It was my fault to ask the Duke.”

He blatantly entered the beehive, but couldn’t find any honey. So his next target was none other than me.

“By the way, how did the Lady end up with the Duke?”

“Um…”

I wanted to choose the right words for the answer when,

“I fell in love at first sight.”

Lennox hit the play button.

“You?”

Edwin opened his mouth as if he had just heard a shocking thing, and I was also embarrassed.

You fell in love at first sight?

With me? Lennox?

If someone else found out about what he said, they would’ve burst out laughing.

‘What are you talking about!’

I protested with my eyes, poking his arm harder.

However, Lennox gracefully picked up the teacup with a carefree expression as if he had no problems.

In the midst of the stir that he caused, he was the only one who was relaxed.

Edwin pouted for a while, but managed to spit out a few words.

“So, the Duke… is in love with the Lady?”

Edwin’s wide-open gaze flitted between me and Lennox.

“You heard it right.”

Finishing the tea, Lennox slowly put down the cup on the plate. Even those movements of his were smooth.

“I knew well that Prince Balkan had no hearing problems, so now I want you to do what you have to do.”

Lennox tapped the marriage contract with a long index finger.

“I want to get married. Do you need more reasons than this?”

The way this man spoke was light in a good way and too unfriendly in a bad way.

Nevertheless, it was natural, despite being rude.

Only he can do that.

The arrogant and relaxed attitude I witnessed throughout the day was an aura left only by those who reigned at the peak of a long time.

Everything seemed so natural.

“…”

Edwin looked at Lennox with a blank expression for a moment before suddenly bursting into laughter.

“Who dares to object to Duke Kravant’s marriage? You’re being unnecessarily forceful.”

“You must know I’m forcing you.”

Lennox was still indifferent. There was an unspoken pressure to get the seal done instead of having small talk.

“But I’m curious.”

Edwin’s blue eyes sparkled with interest.

“Why did the Duke, who had been single for so long, suddenly decide to marry?”

“Edwin Roam Balkan,”

Lennox warned in his low voice. But Edwin took no care.

“Who broke through the barrier and took the seat next to Lennox Kravant, whom no one could shake? Wouldn’t you have been curious?”

“So?”

“It’s obvious. I guess you probably found the Epure.”

I was surprised to hear that sentence.

‘I thought Lennox already told the Crown Prince that I was an Epure.’

Edwin might have known Epure’s existence, but he didn’t know who it was.

Then, the article came out about Lennox searching for an Epure as his marriage partner.

As a result, his guess was correct.

‘Plus, he confirmed it when he saw me release the energy.’

I glanced at Lennox, who was sitting beside me. He silently stared at Edwin with cold eyes.

He looked as if watching how far it would crawl.

Recognizing the beastly gaze, Edwin flinched and turned to me.

“But seeing the Lady today, I wonder if the Duke actually proposed because he fell in love with her beauty.”

Making a joke, Edwin winked at me.

“That’s a big compliment, Your Highness.”

Edwin looked a little embarrassed when I briefly answered in a cold tone. I could have responded moderately, but I didn’t want to.

‘You’re tiring.’

I didn’t like him asking difficult questions even though he knew that Lennox was displeased.

From what I observed so far, he didn’t seem like a bad person, but I didn’t intend to completely let go of my suspicions.

Edwin finally took a step back, perhaps noticing my uneasiness.

“I shouldn’t have been so careless to the Lady. I ask for your generosity to forgive my rude behavior.”

“Your Highness should apologize to the Duke, not me.”

His eyes grew wide in surprise. Perhaps he thought I would accept his apology.

‘The original Crown Prince wasn’t like this.’

Edwin, the male protagonist of “Reversed Lady”, used a more serious tone in the story. Above all, in various episodes, he showed reliable aspects for Olivia to rely on.

If you had to compare it directly, he was like Lennox.

“It’s fine, so just get the seal.”

The moment I remembered Lennox, his voice awakened me from my thoughts.

Thanks to him, the tension surrounding the parlor was also broken.

“Yes. It isn’t polite to make the Lady wait longer.”

Immediately convinced, the Crown Prince took the chance to move on.

Soon after, the Emperor’s tensile ring was pressed on the red wax.

The sentence of the Imperial Family of Balkan was clearly stamped on the marriage contract.

The marriage was now officially established.

Edwin, who took the seal, smiled playfully at Lennox.

“Congratulations on becoming a married man, Duke.”

Now that the purpose of coming to the imperial palace had been achieved, it was time to give way.

Lennox would not have accepted the invitation just because the Crown Prince called him.

It was probably because of Carinne.

“Under the Imperial law, performing sorcery is a felony and the performer can be executed immediately after discovery.”

Soon, Edwin would learn that a sorcerer was still alive and steadily revealing their powers.

I didn’t even know if that person was Carinne herself.

Anyway, if Edwin found out, he wouldn’t sit by this.

‘Good for me. At least that could hold Carinne back.’

I stood up when the atmosphere was moderately ripe. I made an excuse that I had to return because I wasn’t feeling well.

Lennox, sharp as always, quickly realized the reason for my actions.

He whispered in my ear,

“I’ll come to the palace separately, so let us leave together today.”

“It’s okay.”

“What if you run into evil spirits?”

“Now that I can control my energy, I won’t be exposed as easily as I used to be.”

“Still.”

Those red eyes seemed worried. It seemed like it bothered him to let me go alone.

“Then I’ll wait for you in the carriage. And I’m not alone, so don’t worry.”

Winking, I pointed to the window.

Ash, who had traveled around the imperial palace, was snooping his head over the window.

Walking along with an attendant leading me to where the carriage stood waiting, I glanced sideways occasionally.

I could see the beautiful garden outside the round arch of the open corridor.

And Ash, hiding through the trees, was following me closely.

‘It’s the imperial palace, so no wonder everything is luxurious.’

The exterior of the buildings was milk-white accompanied with designs of gold. Thanks to this, the palace was shining under the sunlight.

The garden, which began after the corridor, was also beautiful. Well-maintained grass neatly cut to a certain height, shrubs and flowers all over the place entertained my eyes.

The water from the fountain, where angels blew trumpets, broke the light into seven colors like a prism.

Each of the statues adorning the garden was a piece of art.

“Huh?”

It was then that I saw a strange sight in my eyes while enjoying the shape.

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