IDMH - Chapter 27
I Decided My Husband
"Why me?"
Rainwater fell from his jet-black hair and ran down his thin cheeks. Perdes asked in a muttering voice that had just become hoarse.
"You could probably find a better husband. Why are you offering me that?"
"What I want is not a good husband."
"Then?"
A smile as cold and cold as a piece of the moon appeared on Adele'slips.
"Revenge."
The voice that flowed from those lips was eerie. When Perdes looked at me in surprise, Adele smiled brightly.
"Is this enough of an answer?"
It was beautiful and deadly, like a poisonous dark red rose. He couldn't take his eyes off.
In particular, the word 'revenge' flew like an arrow and stuck in Perdes' heart.
He really liked it because it was the word he most envied and longed for. It didn't matter who Adele was seeking revenge on.
"When that revenge is over, will you give me complete freedom?"
"Sure. I will open the cage door wide and I don't care where you fly."
The important thing was freedom, and Adele confirmed that she would guarantee it.
I wondered if I could believe what she said, but it didn't last long.
"... Please take care of me."
Even if he was deceived by her, it would still be better than being in this damn imperial palace. Perdes decided so and took Adele's hand.
***
When it was time for the 5th Prince to give Jack medicine, I asked Sir Aldor to keep an eye on him and notify me immediately if the 5th Prince approached.
As expected, the 5th Prince approached Jack and gave him a strange medicine.
Part of me wanted to stop him from taking the medicine, but I couldn't stop him because the 5th Prince was watching with his eyes wide open.
Instead, they gave allergy reliever to Jack, who had a seizure as soon as the 5th Prince left and moved him to the old lodgings they had found in advance.
And I asked Sir Aldor to bring Perdes here.
After a while, Sir Aldor extended his hand again to Perdes, who had been brought with him.
"If you refuse again this time, I will never extend my hand to His Highness the Prince again."
I encouraged him with a little strength to keep him from worrying, and he immediately grabbed my hand.
I finally got my hands on him. It was only the beginning, and I was happy as if I had accomplished everything even though I had just crossed the starting line.
It's been a month since I came to the imperial palace. It was time for the Emperor's patience to run out.
In fact, perhaps out of impatience, the Emperor scolded the 2nd and 3rd Princes, and as a result, their visits to me became more frequent. The number of times I was summoned to the Emperor increased.
Therefore, we had to discuss future plans with Perdes as soon as possible and work together.
However, there were several problems, including the fact that Jack's condition was still not good enough to do that right now, and all of Perdes's attention was focused on him.
One of the problems was that I had sneaked out of the Spring Palace. I had to hurry back before the maids caught me.
Perdes will also need time to properly prepare his mind.
"Once the man's condition improves, we'll talk properly."
I said to Perdes as I put on my raincoat.
"It is difficult to call a doctor because people will notice, but I will continue to procure medicine through Sir Aldor."
Perdes nodded slightly.
"I will never forget this grace."
"I hope you keep those words."
I left the shabby accommodation and headed straight to the Spring Palace. To avoid being caught, I walked around towards the back gate, which had less traffic, rather than the main gate.
On the terrace connected to my room, there was a large tree with its arms outstretched. It was a tree planted to provide shade to prevent too much sunlight from hitting the terrace, but it was also useful when secretly leaving or entering a room.
I returned to the room safely, showing off my tree climbing skills that I had honed since I was young.
Sir Aldor followed me into the room.
It was only then that I realized that Sir Aldor's expression was quite bad. Until I got to the room, I was so focused on my surroundings that I didn't even see that face.
"What's wrong, Sir Aldor?"
"... It's nothing."
"Isn't this the expression of someone who is nothing?
"Tell me what's going on."
When I urged him to continue speaking, Sir Aldor reluctantly opened his mouth.
"Just... I was just a little shocked."
"Shock?"
Sir Aldor nodded and said,
'Your Highness the 4th Prince.'
Come to think of it, Sir Aldor didn't know that Perdes was acting like an idiot, really.
"I forgot to tell you in advance. I'm sorry, Sir Aldor."
"... It's okay."
Sir Aldor's words and expressions don't really match today. Well, it's surprising to see Perdes's normal appearance without knowing anything. Fully understanding his feelings, I took off my wet, sticky raincoat and handed it to Sir Aldor.
"Take care of it."
"Yes."
I gestured for him to leave, saying that he was done with his business, but Sir Aldor looked at me blankly as if he still had something to say.
"If you have something to say, say it quickly."
"... Is it him?"
"How can I understand if you say that? Don't just cut off the subject and object, ask them straight."
Sir Aldor closed his mouth so tightly that the tendons at the corners of his lips were visible, and then asked again.
"Is the person you will marry the 4th Prince?"
"That's right."
He must have heard it all right then and there, and it wasn't something I had to hide, so I answered obediently. Then, for a moment, Sir Aldor's expression fell.
That expression is like...
"Miss....!"
It was similar to the expression he gave me in my second life right before I was killed by the assassin sent by the Emperor.
***
Why did Sir Aldor make that expression?
I was surprised and worried because it was the same expression I saw right before he died, but I quickly forgot about it because there were many things to worry about.
First, Chernoseo and Ian were used to prevent the 5th Prince from touching Perdes anymore.
"I was passing by the other day and happened to see His Highness the 5th Prince, and he was handsome. I'm very excited about the future."
That one word was enough. The two Princes decided that it would be difficult if I fell in love with the 5th Prince, so they prevented the 5th Prince from going anywhere near the Spring Palace. Since the stables and lodgings where Jack worked were near the Spring Palace, he was naturally able to prevent the 5th Prince from approaching Perdes.
I was worried that Jack's shellfish allergy was worse than I thought and the medicine wasn't working properly, but fortunately, after taking another medicine, his condition improved so much that he was able to go about his daily life.
After confirming the fact through Sir Aldor, I immediately made an appointment to meet with Perdes.
10 o'clock tonight, in my room.
Since we had to meet without the employees knowing, we brought Perdes into the room through the terrace.
Sir Aldor, who had gone to fetch him, also entered my room through the terrace.
Perdes, whom I saw for the first time in three days, seemed to be in better condition than before. It seems that blocking the 5th Prince's approach helped.
Thank god.
"Good job, Sir Aldor. It's okay to just leave now."
"It's not possible."
"Hmm?"
You say no? When an inexplicable answer came back, I looked at him in confusion. Sir Aldor said with his eyes fixed on Perdes. There was a hint of wariness in his gaze.
"I can't stand by and watch you at night knowing that you are alone in the room with a man you don't know."
So you're saying you can't go out because you're worried that Perdes will do something strange to me?
"Phew."
I burst out laughing at my somewhat absurd worry, and Perdes looked at Sir Aldor with puzzled eyes and asked.
"You are saying the wrong thing. Rather than worrying that I might do something strange to Lady Leopold, shouldn't I be worried that something strange might happen to me?"
"Your Highness is saying the wrong thing too.”
I said to Perdes, puzzled in a different way than before.
"There is no way I would do something strange to Your Highness."
"You don't know what people do."
"No. I know. His Royal Highness is not my type."
Was it my mistake that Sir Aldor seemed to be laughing happily at that moment?
"So don't worry about such nonsense."
Regardless of my tastes, Perdes was the son of an Emperor.
Even if he helped me get my revenge, I had no desire to do anything with the person who inherited the Emperor's dirty blood.
Perdes pouted his lips.
"I'm so glad we don't like each other."
"I know, right."
When I truly sympathized, Perdes narrowed his eyes and looked at me, then looked back at Sir Aldor.
"That being said, I think you can just put aside all unnecessary worries and go out."
"But that doesn't work."
"It's really okay, you can go out, Sir Aldor."
"But..."
"This is not an invitation, but an order, Sir Aldor."
Neither I nor Perdes would be able to talk comfortably if Sir Aldor was there, so I forced him out. He was the one to leave, so not being able to share our conversation was one of the reasons for letting him go.
After Sir Aldor left, Perdes asked me.
"It seems like he is your favorite escort, is it okay for you to treat him so coldly?"
"It's because I cherish him."
"What does it mean?"
"There is such a thing."
There was no way Perdes would understand even if I explained it to him.
I didn't have enough time to talk about things that had nothing to do with my future plans, so I just gave up and sat down on the sofa.
It was quite impolite to sit before the royal family. If Perdes, even implicitly, thinks that he should be treated as a member of the royal family, he would react disapprovingly by knitting his eyebrows at my actions.
Now, how will you come out?
I watched Perdes' expression with great curiosity.
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