Chapter 157

Chapter 157

Translator: Yonnee

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Albert became busy. And I mean, extremely busy. At a time like this, I realized once again that I wouldn’t be able to see him right away just because I wanted to see him.

The attendants just kept repeating all the time that I wouldn’t be able to see His Majesty.

He needed to do his work as the new king, clean up the nobles, and also wind the hearts of the masses— all that wouldn’t be easy, sure. I could understand that, and I didn’t seek out Albert either. I wanted to meet him, but I endured and held it in.

We’re outside the tower now, I got myself some land, and I had a bright future ahead of me. Though there’s this slight problem: I can’t leave just yet…

Liam was making the preparations to send me away, and this included preparing the house at the northern town where I’d be staying.

As it turned out, there was a forest—and a lake inside that forest—at the fief. And I didn’t know this before, but apparently, it was rumored to be a resort spot amongst the nobles.

The blue lake, which did not freeze even in winter, was very famous.

Liam seemed to be determined about letting me out of Albert’s sight so that he would no longer look for me.

But I mean, I’m really not sure anymore whether that would still work,

My imminent departure was purely just a grace period for my sake. No matter how hard either Liam or I struggled, it was almost impossible for me to ever leave Albert’s scope.

“Rosé.”

Calling my name, he beckoned me to come to him as he was lounging on the sofa. It’s like I’m watching a painting move as he moved one finger while raising his gaze languidly to look at me.

I sat down on the other side and faced him.

“Why aren’t you sitting next to me?”

“Then I won’t be able to see your face, Prince.”

My eyes were focused on Albert’s face because it’s true that I wanted to look at him more. But, if I were perfectly honest with myself, I actually don’t know what would happen if I sat next to him.

Contrary to the attendants’ claims that I wouldn’t be able to see Albert, and in spite of how busy he was, he still visited me every evening. Consistently.

So far after leaving the tower, his attitude had not changed even a little.

Truthfully, he’d become more proactive ever since the contract was no longer in effect. Consistently, he would sit next to me. Consistently, he would touch me. And consistently, he would kiss me.

It was impossible to push him away.

Once it ever started, it felt so good that I’d lose any semblance of rationality. That’s why it’s better to keep a proper distance like this so that it wouldn’t start at all.

As if he was conscious of my grace period of one month, his touch never crossed the line. But then again, every moment I spent with him, we would just stick by each other’s side that it was so difficult to move away again.

“Then I should go to you.”

Albert had raised one eyebrow as if he didn’t like my words just now, then he got up from his seat and sat next to me in a blink of an eye.

I flinched a little, but he smiled and buried his face on my shoulder. The sound of his breaths brushed over my skin and tickled my heart.

“Do you have to go?”

Albert whispered in a low voice.

He seemed to be dismayed that I was still adamant about leaving his side for the moment.

I wonder if he’s just being mischievous with the way that he didn’t want me to part from him. I looked at the back of his head and murmured.

“…You’ve attached Mercy to my side already, and in the first place, you knew about all the plans I made with Duke Liam.”

“But you’re still free to run away. They’re all helping you, too.”

Albert replied. He didn’t seem to be trying to deny it.

…So he did know a lot about how I wanted to run away. I can’t believe this.

“Since it’s come to this, I hope you know just how much I can’t let you go.”

As Albert said this, I chuckled a little. He kept saying things that made it impossible for me to hate him.

…Apart from my initial reason of wanting to confirm Albert’s unchanging feelings, I really had another reason for needing to be away from his side now.

First of all, I didn’t want to interrupt his work.

I’m aware that Albert was someone who knew how to separate public and private affairs, but there was no reason for him to overdo it just for my sake.

“Liam is working hard on it, I see.”

“…Do you even know where I’m going?” I asked.

“No. I saw just how much Liam was suffering while trying very hard, so I decided not to dig into it anymore.”

“Thank you. Please don’t try to look for me. Otherwise, it’s really going to be meaningless.”

Above all, this was going to be my first and final time to escape Albert’s eyes.

I needed to find a way to properly conclude my contract with Blanc.

“I know. You’re going to regret taking an entire month to be away from me, so you’ll surely come back.”

Albert murmured as his face was still buried in my shoulder, and his words tickled my skin.

Soon, he raised his head. I saw that the corners of his lips were downturned.

That expression of his was designed to rouse the viewer’s sympathy. However, the problem right now was that he didn’t exactly look pitiable—rather, he simply looked like a beast who had his food served before him.