TAPGB - Chapter 131

TAPGB - Chapter 131

The Abandoned Prince's Ghost Bride

Lucian and Leah, who came to check on Leopold, looked at him, unable to hide their embarrassment.

“You want to go for a walk?”

“Yeah, it’s so frustrating to just be here.”

Leopold stamped his feet and whined that he wanted to get out.

"But... Because I have eyes to see, I haven’t been able to leave my room.”

It is a top secret that Leopold and Lucian are twins. After Leopold woke up, the number of people who learned of their relationship increased, but they all remained loyal to the imperial family.

“But bro, I can’t go out like this.”

If Leopold leaves his room and walks through the palace garden, many people will be confused when they see him.

A month has passed since he woke up.

Leopold recovered so quickly that he did not look like a man who had been unconscious for five years. Although he needs someone to support him when he walks, he has quite a strong gait, and his physical strength has improved a lot.

Above all, he had been skinny, but now he had gained quite a bit of weight, to the point where he looked a little gaunt.

“So here’s what I thought! The two of us will change shape for a moment!”

“...What?"

“We did it a lot in the past. Changing roles!”

Also known as the Prince and the Pauper game. It refers to a game in which, when they were immature, they couldn't overcome Leopold's obsession and pretended to be each other by switching clothes with him.

“You’re staying here while I go for a quick walk. Of course, I will change into your clothes and go outside.”

“Then won’t people be suspicious?”

“In times like that, Leah is there to help me!”

Leah was taken aback when she was suddenly singled out.

“Leah, I heard you know how to use magic. Then, wouldn’t it be possible to change my appearance to some extent like Lucian?”

"That...”

It's definitely possible. Currently, Leopold has gained quite a bit of weight, so with just a little magic, he will become indistinguishable from Lucian.

“Wait a minute, does that mean you want to go for a walk with Leah?”

"Huh."

“If that’s the case, you'd rather go with the Princess.”

Lucian pointed to Lilith, who had been in the same room from the beginning. Lilith kept her mouth shut despite Lucian's pointing.

“Lucian, I heard you have a bad relationship with Lilith.”

Leopold narrowed his eyes at Lucian and he flinched.

“Everyone in the imperial palace knows that your relationship with Lilith is bad, but if you leave Leqh behind and suddenly become friendly with Lilith, people won’t be very suspicious.”

“...But if my brother comes here, you will marry the Princess someday.”

"Yes. Still, if we show a friendly side right now, there will be people who look at us strangely. Wouldn't it be better if I stayed with Leqh to avoid suspicion? Isn’t that right, Leah?”

Leah was dumbfounded by Leopold's smiling face. When she glanced at Lucian, he seemed conflicted about what to do.

“Not all day, just one hour. Can’t you do that too?”

When Lucian could not make a decision easily, Leopold eventually sulked. Lucian thought it was a mistake.

“...Yes. Let’s do that.”

“Leah.”

"Oh yeah!"

When Leah, who was inferior, agreed, Lucian was embarrassed, and Leopold cheered.

“He says it’s only for one hour. And Leopold must be very frustrated as he stays in his room all the time. It’s something that will have to be done someday, so let’s think about rehearsing it in advance.”

“...That’s true, though.”

“So, should we do it right now?”

As if he had been waiting, Leopold got up from the bed, dragged Lucian with him, and tried to change his clothes with him. While the two were arguing in the bathroom for a while, Leah, who was left alone with Lilith, covered her mouth.

An awkward silence fell in the large room.

“...Excuse me."

But Lilith broke the silence. Leah looked puzzled and turned her head.

Lilith looked at Leah with an uneasy expression. Leah frowned as it didn't suit her at all.

“Just in case Leopold..."

"Ta-da! I changed my clothes!”

However, while Lilith was hesitating over her words, Leopold and Lucian completed their return.

Since they changed their clothes like this, there was not much difference in the appearance of the two even without the use of separate magic. Of course, you can tell them apart by their mood or facial expressions.

“How long has it been since I last went out? Leah, let’s go quickly!”

"Uh? Uh...”

Leopold touched her hand without hesitation and Leah awkwardly accepted his treatment.

Just before she left, Lilith's eyes met hers. Her eyes wavered. And Leah noticed that there was a bit of fear mixed in there.

But before she could even wonder about it, she had no choice but to follow Leopold's lead and come out.

“Jordi is here. Now I am Lucian, so Dio will escort me.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Leopold's bodyguard, Jordi, was still seated in front of the room, and Lucian's bodyguard, Dio, followed him.

“Where would you like to go, Your Majesty?”

Dio, who roughly understood the situation, matched Leopold's rhythm. Then Leopold changed his smiling expression.

In an instant, his mood changed to that of Lucian. Even Leah and Dio, who knew everything, momentarily thought that what was in front of them was Lucian.

"Hmm...First of all, shall we go to Leah’s favorite garden?”

Lucian himself had a moderately expressionless face, with the corners of his eyes slightly folded and the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

‘The way they speak is the same.’

It was so surprising that Leah couldn't continue her words for a moment.

“Leah?”

It was only when Leopold tilted his head and brought his face closer that Leah came to her senses.

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s go to the garden.”

Leopold smiled and held Leah's hand tightly.

It felt strange because it was more intimate than the skinship she usually had with Lucian.

So the three left the palace and headed to the garden.

Meanwhile, Lucian, who was left in the room, put on Leopold's pajamas and roughly sat down on the bed. Lilith was sitting quietly in the spare chair next to him.

As the uncomfortable silence fell, Lucian felt that the current situation was somehow strange.

‘You’re not talking to me?’

He felt more uncomfortable being in the same room with Lilith than switching roles with Leopold.

Because it was obvious that she would cling to him no matter what.

But contrary to expectations, Lilith did nothing. So much so that he is suspicious.

He found it strange that she didn't say a word, didn't even look at him passionately, and just looked at her lap like she was a doll.

Lucian, who felt uncomfortable, was the first to open his mouth.

“...It seems like you come to see my brother often. Have you made up your mind now?”

“...Now I know how difficult one-sided love is.”

Lilith then raised her head. However, her eyes looking at Lucian were a little duller than before.

‘No, it’s something a little different than that... .’

“What’s going on?”

Lucian chose to ask directly rather than speculate. Then, Lilith's eyes changed, as if ripples were forming in her. She looked as if she was going to cry.

“...How much do you trust Leopold?”

“...What?"

However, as Lucian heard the next words, the sympathy he felt for a moment disappeared in an instant.

“What do you mean by saying that? Are you trying to drive a wedge between me and your brother?”

“That’s not it, I... !”

“What’s wrong?”

The door opened and Jordi peeked his head out. It seems that the voice was loud.

“It’s nothing.”

“If you need anything, please let me know.”

Jordi politely closed the door. Lucian sighed and looked back at Lilith. But she pursed her lips.

She looked as if she was scared. Feeling strange, he tried to talk to her again, but Lilith moved away and was far away from Lucian.

It was obvious that she didn't want to talk. Lucian looked at Lilith with suspicious eyes. 

***

“Ah, I guess I’m finally going to live.”

It's already been 30 minutes since I walked around the garden. Leopold sat down on a bench to rest for a while.

The way he stretched was clearly Lucian.

During the 30 minutes, we walked together in the garden, not for a single moment did he feel like Leopold.

“You’re really good at acting.”

"Huh?"

“No, you really look like Lucian. I don’t think anyone will be suspicious even if I don’t have to use magic.”

“Haha, is that it?”

“Are you acting better than when you occasionally played the Prince and the pauper in the past?”

Dio, who was nearby, agreed. Leopold made a proud gesture, saying that acting was also a talent.

“Leah, don’t do that either, just sit here.”

At that time, Leopold held my hand who was standing in front of him. The skinship was so natural that I hesitated for a moment, then took my hand away from him and took a seat next to him.

“What is it about Lucian that Leah likes so much?”

“... Another question like that.”

“As an older brother, I’m curious.”

Every time he asked what I liked about Lucian that we were dating.

At first, I thought it was because he was curious about his younger brother's love life, but now...

‘It’s so blatant.’

To say it was just curiosity, the questions were the same every time.

After studying Leopold's expression for a moment, I decided to honestly share my feelings this time.

“I’m just glad it’s Lucian.”

“Hey, you say it like that again. Other than that, specifically...”

“No, I’m really serious. I like him only because he is Lucian, not because of anyone else.”

Leopold stopped and looked at me. It seemed like the mask-wearing Lucian's mask was slightly cracked.

“It was Lucian who soothed my lonely soul for 300 years, it was Lucian who taught me the reason for my existence, and it is thanks to Lucian that I have this body. To the point where it's burdensome, Lucian is killing his own feelings for me. How could I not love a child like this?”

Until now, Leopold's questions had been glossed over or not answered seriously.

But at this moment, I spoke out the truth in my heart. Before I knew it, a natural smile appeared on my lips.

“What do you like about Lucian? I should ask the opposite. Is there a place you don’t like about Lucian?”

“...”

“There isn’t a single thing I dislike about Lucian. I like him because he is Lucian. Was my answer sufficient?”

I grinned and looked at the frozen Leopold. It was Dio, not Leopold, who responded.

“Wow, if Lucian heard that, he would have jumped up and down on the spot.”

"Yes?"

“Yeah, I’m sure he won’t be able to work properly after thinking about those words for a few days, right? He becomes a fool only when it comes to Leah.”

Dio briefly remembered Lucian's broken body and trembled, saying he was horrified.

I burst out laughing at the reaction from one of my best friends.

"Ha ha ha… … It's a passionate confession. Everyone who hears it is surprised.”

Then, Leopold finally responded. He laughed, saying he was jealous, but I didn't miss the momentary wince I gave him.

“Ugh, I can’t live because I’m jealous of someone. From now on, I won’t ask questions like this.”

“Then it’s good for me. It was difficult because you asked the same questions every time.”

“Tsk. Should we stop walking? There are only 20 minutes left.”

Since the promised time was only 1 hour, Leopold started walking again, saying he would make good use of the remaining time. I willingly offered my shoulder to support Leopold.

But the seeds of doubts had already sprouted in my mind. 

Thank you so much Kawiyas for providing me the raw for this series so I can continue translating this series! GBU 😊

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