Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 67
* * *
Belinda, whom he properly faced for the first time in over ten years, had changed significantly.
A dry expression.
A harsh tone.
An unconditional and impartial malice towards others.
Just as people gossiped, she was like a rose with thorns.
But all those evaluations lost their meaning in an instant with just one word from her.
“Mikha.”
For a very long time, no one in this palace had called Mikhail by that name.
Mikhail, who had been staring sullenly into the darkness outside the terrace, suddenly bowed his head deeply and let out a groaning sigh.
“Embarrassing.”
To be rejected so bluntly after speaking so confidently.
The Crown Prince, who had cooled his face with the cold wind, barely lifted his head.
Unfortunately, the Grand Duke was right about Belinda.
“What do you think of Belinda?”
He thought he would say something trivial about her appearance. But then…
“…I think she is someone who is very insincere.”
The Belinda that Mikhail remembered was too bold and mischievous to be so insincere.
However, upon reflection, perhaps the Grand Duke’s words might have been right after all.
“From now on, there is nothing between me and Your Highness.”
If he had realized at that moment that those words weren’t spoken sincerely, would things have turned out differently?
Mikhail could only smile bitterly at the Grand Duke’s words, which seemed to see through Belinda more accurately than he did.
“She said she had never met him, but the Grand Duke seems to understand Bel quite well.”
Mikhail’s expression, which had been caressing his cheeks cooled by the night wind, gradually grew heavier.
When Belinda asked about his beliefs, the Crown Prince himself was surprised at his response to her question.
He had become someone who would say he would kill his only childhood friend for the sake of his beliefs.
However, contrary to his words, he would never actually bring himself to execute Belinda.
“As a wedding gift, I have one more request. Recently, I discovered an orphanage that had embezzled royal funds.”
“I wish for the punishment of the orphanage director. Furthermore, please send an administrator once a month, no, once a week, to ensure that the country’s support funds are being used beneficially.”
“Unless Bel steps forward to kill that child, there won’t be any conflict.”
Moreover, what are the chances that the child she would kill is the ‘Star of Heroes’ that he was so desperately seeking?
Mikhail thought about the extremely slim possibility and couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
* * *
As I stepped out onto the terrace, the dance music was still in full swing.
From this floor, I had a clear view of the dance hall, where the colorful, luxurious skirts of the dresses rose and fell like flowers in bloom, creating quite a spectacle.
I leaned on the railing and looked down at the hall.
I needed the synchronization progress to reach 50% to obtain the second fragment of memory.
Just before reaching my goal, I felt completely drained.
‘I’m tired.’
The talk with the Crown Prince was that exhausting.
I wanted to put off filling the remaining 4% and just go home.
More than anything…
‘I miss Leo.’
At times like this, if I could just hug Leo tightly once, all my energy would be restored.
After imagining my unattainable wish several times, I missed Leo’s peacefully sleeping face terribly.
The ball was still in full swing, but I had decided to leave.
“Bel, are you leaving already?”
Someone blocked my way with a gentle voice.
I didn’t hide my annoyance as I called out the person’s name.
“Sybel.”
“You’ve only danced one song. Won’t you give this brother a chance to dance with his sister?”
Why is this guy acting so annoyingly flirtatious in front of me?
Moreover, he was not alone.
He was accompanied by five or six young nobles as if they were his followers.
They were the sons of prominent noble families, the same shameless faces who had sent me proposals.
However, among them was one person who could not be ignored.
“……Greetings, Your Highness.”
The youngest among the group, standing beside Sybel.
Unlike the Crown Prince, whose very presence announced his status, this person signaled his status with everything he wore.
His attire was so overly elaborate that it seemed to obscure his essence.
“The lady may lift her head.”
As I straightened my lightly bowed waist, I saw a youthful face marked by arrogance.
He seemed to be around Vivian’s age.
As the son of the queen, the prince was closely tied to the royal bloodline and physically resembled the crown prince, but otherwise, he didn’t seem to share any traits with him at all.
“Indeed, you’re worth more than a million gold.”
If he weren’t a prince, I would have smacked this brat’s head right away.
I responded with a conspicuous smile.
“My father must have thought the same when he set my dowry. Isn’t that right, Sybel?”
I could feel everyone’s gaze turn towards us at my words.
Sybel stepped forward and asked again.
“So, Bel. The dance?”
Only then did I see Sybel’s ploy.
He was a leading figure among the nobles who supported the prince.
Not only had I participated as the Crown Prince’s partner, but I had also spent private time with him on the terrace, which must have worried the surrounding nobles.
A brother supporting the nobles, and a sister supporting the monarchy.
And the sister had a substantial dowry. It was obvious what the nobles, who were nervously watching to see which side to support, would think.
Sybel had requested a dance to reassure his supporters.
To show that I was still under his control.
I looked at Sybel with disdain and turned to leave, but I felt a peculiar pressure on my dress.
Looking down, I saw one of Sybel’s followers stepping on the wide hem of my dress as if by mistake.
‘Bastard.’
They were determined to make sure I reached 50% synchronization here today.
Now, whatever Sybel’s intentions were, it didn’t matter.
It wouldn’t go as he planned anyway.
I smiled conspicuously and gracefully placed my hand in Sybel’s.
“Gladly.”
Good thing I wore gloves today.
I wouldn’t have to touch Sybel directly.
I entered the ballroom with a joyful heart, watching Sybel’s face twist in displeasure.
Since becoming Belinda, the third dance was unsurprisingly the worst.
Sybel’s lead was rough, and I was desperate to avoid colliding with him as much as possible.
As we spun around, Sybel whispered softly.
“If there’s a man among them you fancy as a husband, let me know. I’ll gladly arrange the marriage.”
“Is that thing on your shoulders just for decoration? You seem to have forgotten that a marriage without my consent is invalid.”
“It’s unfortunate you think that way. You still don’t realize that even such basic rights require at least some power to demand. Or at least, you should have no weaknesses, Bel.”
It was a simple threat, yet strangely, in that moment, a chilling unease squeezed my heart.
Soon, as the dance reached its climax.
“You will eventually marry according to my will as the head of the family. That’s the only thing women can do for their family.”
Sybel’s black eyes shone maliciously like a snake’s.
I stared straight into them and gracefully bowed with the final move.
When I straightened up again, a smile as precise as if painted with a brush was on my lips.
“We’ll see about that.”
I turned away from him and stepped out of the center.
As I left the stage hall, a crowd of people swarmed around Sybel and me.
Among them were not only Sybel’s followers but also families who had sent me proposals, watching cautiously.
They seemed to have assigned some special meaning to our dance.
Perhaps, from a distance, our dance looked quite affectionate.
Standing beside Sybel, who was leisurely engaging with people, I smiled as gently as I could.
“This is perfect timing.”
All eyes that had been on Sybel turned to me. I continued, memorizing each face.
“Most of the young men who proposed to me are gathered here, so it seems like the right time to reveal the truth. In fact, I have already accepted a proposal and am informally engaged.”
Finally, my gaze landed on Sybel right next to me.
I could almost see the anger hidden beneath his calm smile.
Translator
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Ela devia ter dado um tapão nele logo, nojento
Thanks for the update 🇧🇷 😸 🥰