TAPGB - Chapter 87

 TAPGB - Chapter 87

The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride 

"Ah."

Just before going out, Lucian stopped and turned his head.

"Don't even think about approaching Leah. I really won't forgive you then."

"Is that woman so precious?"

Lucian paused at Ruber's words. His hand holding the doorknob tightened.

"She is the person who made me who I am today. It goes without saying that it is more precious than my life."

Bang!

Ruber and Serena's deep sighs lingered in the space left behind after Lucian left.

"People say there are no parents who can beat their children... We are just that pair."

"Unfilial child. He doesn't hesitate to threaten his parents."

But even as he said those words, Ruber's face showed more bitterness than anger.

"From the looks of it, it doesn't seem like we're breaking off the engagement. What should I do? Shouldn't we at least give the Duke of Sevans a word? He can't misunderstand."

Duke Sevans is one of the few people who knows that the current Emperor is Lucian. Ruber sure if he tells him the situation, he will understand.

"Well, I don't know if he will understand and hand it over."

"Yes? What do you mean by that?"

Half a year ago, when Lucian flatly rejected the marriage proposal that came with the succession to the throne, the Duke of Sevans' reaction was a bit unusual.

Later, when Leopold regained the throne, he added that they should get married right away....

'Something about the reaction was strange.'

It's like a subtle reaction that welcomes the suggestion but also makes Ruber feel uneasy.

The reaction of his friend, who was laughing awkwardly, suddenly came to mind.

***

It's midnight, a dark night after the day's work is over.

After finally finishing his work, Lucian massaged his sore eyes and headed to the bedroom.

Ruber and Serena came and went in the afternoon, so Leah left the office right away.

Although Harry had explained it well, Lucian was afraid that Leah might have been a little disappointed in him.

"She must be sleeping."

Since Leah spends half her day sleeping these days, he is sure she's sleeping. 

Lucian glanced at the room next to his where Leah was staying and carefully headed to his own room. When he let out a tired sigh and unbuttoned his stuffy shirt.

"You're late."

A voice that he shouldn't have heard pierced his ears.

Lucian froze in the same posture he was about to enter. Leah was sitting lazily on the sofa in his room.

"Leah, how could you...." 

"If you open that door, it's my room."

What Leah pointed to was a small door in the wall. The rooms are definitely connected to each other....

He had only passed by when he went to see Leah, but this was the first time she had come over here in person.

"Is the work over now? Or did you come late on purpose because you didn't want to run into me?"

"Well, it's over now..."

"Well, I'll trust you."

What was he going to do if Leah didn't believe him? The words rose to the top of his throat, but Lucian struggled to keep his mouth shut.

He came next to Leah, crouching like a criminal.

Leah said without looking at Lucian.

"I heard about it from Harry. You have a fiancee, right?"

"She's not my fiancee! She's Leopold's!"

"I know. I heard about it. Just sit here and talk."

Leah pointed to the seat next to her. Lucian noticed her expressionless face and somewhat cold attitude.

"Leah, are you angry?" 

"No? Why me?"

Lucian blinked at the unexpectedly refreshing answer.

"People said you had no choice but to continue the engagement because of your role as a double. No, isn't it inevitable? Anyway, as long as you two don't have a big relationship. It's okay."

"Then I'm glad...."

Why does he feel so bad? 

It's scary when Leah gets angry, but Lucian is upset that she isn't even jealous.

"What on earth were you thinking of bringing me here?"

"Huh?"

Lucian, who was muttering to himself, raised his head when he heard Leah's next words.

"My position right now is quite ambiguous. I know that you made me your partner, right?"

“Leah...”

"Am I wrong? Everyone knows you have a long-time fiancée, but you suddenly bring a girl from somewhere and take her by your side. From what I heard from Harry, it seems like you've been trying to keep my presence from leaking out, but that's not the case anymore, is it?"

Lucian wanted to say no, but everything was true so he couldn't say anything.

"Besides, I've been staying in the room next to you until now." 

The room that Leah is currently staying in is not just a guest room, but the Empress room used by Empresses.

That is why there is a door between the Emperor's chambers. Even though the room was empty because there was no Empress yet, it was very undeserved treatment for Leah. who was a mere guest?

"Thank you for turning me into a human, but it's not like you really need to bring me to the imperial palace, right? I can stay in the mansion and you can come and go. Now that I think about it, why bother? T here shouldn't be just one or two things that come to mind."

"..."

"Try saying something."

As Lucian kept his mouth shut like a dumb fool, Leah glanced at Lucian.

Then she could see his expression, which was clearly sad. Leah's eyes widened at the unexpected reaction.

"I just don't want to be away from you anymore... Am I the only one who thought that until now?" 

He met Leah when he was 8 years old, they lived together for 10 years, and since then they have been apart for 5 years.

It could be said that he was away from her for half the time he spent with her, but during that long time, Lucian felt like he was walking through a tunnel with no end in sight.

"I have never forgotten you. I think about you every day, miss you, and feel lonely. So when I turned you into a human, I brought you in because I never wanted to be apart again.. Is that so wrong?"

Leah was embarrassed by the voice that went beyond being depressed and even felt depressed.

"No, that's....”

"Didn't you miss me? Is it annoying and annoying to be stuck like this right now?"

Lucian's golden eyes suddenly sparkled. Leah hurriedly waved her hand away, looking as if she was about to shed tears.

"Well, I didn't mean it that way! Then tell me why you brought me here!" 

"Even if you're at the mansion, I can't go there every day."

It's one thing to not be jealous when someone tells you that he has a fiancée, one thing to ask why he brought you here, and another to casually say that it's okay to see him sometimes.

Lucian was disappointed because every word she said seemed like it would be easier to stay away from him.

"I just wanted to spend time with you like every day and have you within reach anytime, anywhere. Am I asking for too much?"

"Lucian."

"Or is it annoying now that I'm all grown up?"

"That can't be possible. I'm just afraid that I might be a burden to you "

"Why do you think like that?"

"Yeah... No matter who sees me, I will only be a hindrance to you."

When I realized that Lucian had a fiancee and looked at my position, I felt shabby.

No matter how much I have raised Lucian since he was young, I have nothing to show off now that I am human.

It's not that I'm rich. I'm not from a good family, or I have a lot of people behind me.

I came here simply because I was loved by Lucian, but I was afraid that others would see me as pathetic.

No, more accurately, it would be closer to the fear of looking shabby when I stand next to Lucian.

"Leah."

I suddenly realized that Lucian's tone of voice had lowered.

When I looked at Lucian, I saw that his eyes were red from tears.

"Some bastard says something like that."

"...huh?"

"Who told you that you stay with me without having anything?"

Lucian was angry. For a moment, I was dumbfounded.

"No! No one said that!"

"But why do you think such nonsense?"

"Well, because it's true....."

"Leah, listen carefully. You are the one who made me who I am today."

Lucian caused a stir in my anxious heart.

"Without you, I wouldn't exist now, and only when you are by my side can I be complete. You don't have anything? No, that's what I'm saying. Because without you, I am nothing."

The tip of my nose felt sore without my knowledge as Lucian immediately blew away the feeling of self-destruction I had been subconsciously feeling.

"So don't put yourself down. You are perfect just the way you are."

"Ha, haha, as I live, there come days when I am comforted by you. Aren't you overestimating me?"

"It's true. From the beginning, in my eyes, Leah, you are the most perfect."

Instead, Lucian grumbled that I had no idea he would think like that. Thanks to this, all the lingering pain and negative emotions disappeared.

Seeing me bursting into laughter, Lucian suddenly laughed along with me.

Lucian slowly walked next to me and leaned his head on my shouldeг.

"Normally, when I like this, I would have avoided you."

'Well, I'll just look at it this time." 

Lia blushed brightly and left Lucian hanging around. 

"Ah, but please give me a different room starting tomorrow."

"Why......?"

Lucian made an expression as if the world was falling apart. 

"As expected, there are people around me who talk nonsense..."

"It's not that, it's because I care. When I heard it, it was said to be the empress's room. There's no way in such a huge palace there wouldn't be a guest room, so I can't use it. I am not your mistress."

"Leah!"

Lucian was startled by the word mistress. It was a negative word, so it was natural.

"I heard Harry was also against me being here. Why on earth did you put me in the Empress's room among so many other rooms?" 

"That's because there are no separate guest rooms in this palace."

"Eh? Nonsense."

"Really. Why would I lie?"

This time, Lucian confessed the situation, saying that it was truly unfair.

As I said, the imperial palace is indeed very spacious and there are guest rooms scattered throughout, but there is not a single sleeping place in the imperial palace except for the room where the Emperor and Empress stay.

Isn't he the Emperor? There was no way the palace he lived in had a guest-only room.

"I don't know about other palaces, but this palace is made up of only my people. So it's easy for me to take care of them and I can get them admitted quickly. Plus, the room is right next door, so it's great to check on your condition."

"Surely....."

It's not wrong. But why does it feel like such an important fact is missing?

"And what about Caesar? Where does Caesar live?"

Lucian trembled. He rolled his eyes and spoke half a beat late.

"Caesar. I was able to find a separate room in the palace right next door, but it doesn't seem to work well. It's uncomfortable or something....."

My eyes narrowed. Lucian broke into a cold sweat at my blatant gaze

"I can definitely find another room."

"B-but Caesar and Leah are different!"

"What's different? It's the same guest! Get another room starting tomorrow. Otherwise, I'll just go back to the mansion."

“Leah!”

Even when Lucian attacked my face with a tearful expression. I remained resolute.

"If you can't make that face, you can't do it."

Tsk-

Lucian erased his expression of regret and clicked his tongue.

'Look at this guy?'

It was my fault for pretending not to know even though I knew he had dark intentions.

"More than anything, I hate being misunderstood by people. No matter what the truth is, you have a fiancee now."

"Haha, it's like a fucking doable."

"You're swearing in front of someone right now."

When I glared at him with sharp eyes, Lucian curled his lips back. 

"Besides, this is not polite to your fiancee. That person thinks you are Leopold. Shouldn't you at least avoid any strange misunderstandings until you hand over the position to Leopold?"

"Leah..."

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, that's okay."

Harry said that his fiancée, who must be a Princess or something, doesn't know Lucian's identity.

"No matter how crazy I am about you, don't you know the truth? This is all for a reason."

My eyes widened at the next words.

"Really?"

"Huh. That's why I hate her. She's very disgusting."

Lucian's face twisted and his eyes filled with contempt.

"So you don't have to misunderstand. I won't let you and that woman run into each other, and if she hears something strange somewhere and has a squire who starts a fight with you, I will take care of it."

"....If you say so, I will believe it."

"Yes, I will take care of everything."

"But don't roast useless people."

Lucian grinned. Why am I so anxious...

"Now that I think about it, I haven't seen Leopold even once. "/Can I see Leopold too?"

"Hmm... "

Lucian looked a little worried but soon nodded.

"Okay, come see me tomorrow. Age said he would wake up soon, but I don't know what it will be like."

Lucian mumbled that he wanted Leopold to wake up quickly and hugged me. I listened to him and I was lost in my thoughts for a moment.

'Couldn't I cure Leopold?'

I recovered my body to some extent and was able to use magic.

Normally, it is common to only use the mana within the body, but when a ghost does not have a body, it tends to draw on external mana.

However, even now that I have regained my body, it is no different from when I was a ghost. No, on the contrary, it was much easier to use magic because I could even use the mana in my body.

Is there any way to wake Leopold with my magic?

I hoped that my magic would work.

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