Chapter 3 – 【 His Princess 】 (Part 2)

Yuria turned her back on Lahen completely. Anyway, Lahen was busy dealing with the delegation and wouldn’t come over easily.

“It’s been a while, Yuria.”

“Yuria, sister.”

But Yuria had five other siblings besides Lahen and Cristal. Second brother Varen and youngest sister Evelyn approached Yuria first. Since Lahen and Varen didn’t get along well, it probably wasn’t Lahen who sent them.

“Yes, it’s been a while, brother. You still drink a lot, I see.”

“This is the only joy in my life, what can I do?”

Varen was already quite drunk, even though the banquet had just started. Varen was a troublemaker in the royal family, but Yuria understood him. Their father and Lahen forced him to live quietly.

If Varen had been a stronger person, he might have opposed their father and brother, but he couldn’t. Varen’s greatest rebellion was living in a drunken stupor and getting divorced. Yuria, who almost became the second royal to get divorced, felt some sympathy for him.

“Still, you should cut back a bit. For your health.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Varen answered half-heartedly while exchanging glances with Cedric. Meanwhile, Yuria turned to the youngest. She generally held resentment towards her family, but the youngest was an exception.

Three years ago, Evelyn was a twelve-year-old with soft downy hair. Now, she had grown so much that she could be called a lady.

“You’ve grown a lot, Evelyn.”

“You look better, sister.”

Evelyn’s sparkling eyes lingered on Yuria’s earrings and necklace. Yes, she’s at the age to start adorning herself. Yuria smiled bitterly, looking at Evelyn’s simple jewelry.

The royal finances weren’t abundant. The war that broke out 15 years ago and the pirates blocking the southern trade route had impoverished the royal family day by day. Meanwhile, there were seven princes and princesses to take care of.

With limited resources and many children, the king and queen felt the need to prioritize. Most resources were concentrated on Lahen, the future crown prince, and Cristal, the flower of the Kingdom of Leusen.

The rest received barely enough budget to maintain appearances. It wasn’t as good as being born into a wealthy family. Even Yuria lived much more abundantly after marrying Cedric.

“I plan to give unstrung pearls to Mother as a gift. Ask her to make a necklace for you with them.”

Yuria had brought leftover pearls from making her necklace and earrings, as well as imported tea leaves and a tea set not yet available in the Kingdom of Leusen, as gifts for the queen. Since she attended the king’s birthday celebration, she couldn’t come empty-handed, so she brought various things.

“Do you think any of that will come to me? It’ll all go to Cristal. Mother is reworking all her jewelry to make sure Cristal isn’t looked down upon in other kingdoms.”

Well, that makes sense. Seeing Evelyn, Yuria remembered her younger self, worrying about not having enough jewelry for balls. Cristal had new jewelry for every ball, but Yuria had to reuse the few pieces she had.

“Then please visit our townhouse sometime tomorrow.”

Feeling sorry for Evelyn’s situation, Yuria nodded, and Cedric, who had been listening, interjected.

“Were you lacking jewelry? I was just about to call a jeweler.”

Call a jeweler? 

Yuria tried hard not to show her surprise as she glanced at Cedric. The statement about bringing too few pieces of jewelry was a lie. She had brought enough to change throughout the banquet and still have some left over.

“Since I wouldn’t be much help in choosing jewelry, wouldn’t it be nice if Princess Evelyn came to help you?”

He meant she could pick some for herself as well. Yuria was about to give Cedric a look for speaking without consulting her, but she closed her mouth when she saw Evelyn’s face light up. She couldn’t bear to disappoint those expectant eyes.

“Wouldn’t I be a bother?”

“Not at all. Come and keep me company.”

Evelyn silently cheered with her expression. Varen chuckled as he sipped his drink.

“They say you two don’t get along, but that must be a false rumor.”

“What? What are you talking about, brother?”

“There’s a rumor that you have several lovers. Didn’t you know?”

“Brother!”

Evelyn bit her lip and lightly hit Varen’s arm. But it was impossible to stop the mouth of a drunken man once it had started.

“Be honest with this brother of yours. Haven’t I always been on your side? Did you really leave a lover hidden by the seaside?”

“That’s not true.”

A firm answer came from above her head.

“It’s a baseless rumor.”

Cedric wrapped his arm around Yuria’s shoulders, who was at a loss for what to do. Varen, the one who had dropped the bombshell, casually picked up another glass of wine.

“Well, the count is still a man. Would he buy such an expensive necklace for a cheating wife?”

“Brother, you’re drunk. Go outside and get some fresh air.”

A pale-faced Evelyn pushed Varen on the back. Varen insisted he wasn’t drunk at all.

“…Cedric, I feel a bit dizzy.”

It was Yuria who needed the fresh air. She whispered without even lifting her head. Until now, she thought people were staring at her because of the pearl necklace. She never dreamed that rumors of her infidelity from the southernmost part of the country had spread this far.

The lecherous curiosity in the glances directed at her made it hard to breathe. Cedric almost hid the pale Yuria in his arms as he led her to the garden.

Since the banquet was still in full swing, the garden was quiet. Cedric took Yuria to the pond and sat her on a flat rock. Even then, Yuria couldn’t lift her head and trembled slightly.

He had asked the Crown Prince to keep things under wraps, but what exactly was he doing? Cedric glared at the banquet hall, specifically at Lahen inside. Yuria, who had been smiling just a moment ago, now felt utterly humiliated. She must be feeling embarrassed. Having a jealous husband forcefully dominate you is one thing, but having that preference exposed to others is quite another.

Even Henry, who preferred an audience to get aroused, restrained himself outside the duchy. Even perverts care about their social reputation. Of course, Yuria wasn’t caught for her preferences but for her infidelity, which was still humiliating.

Cedric didn’t know how to comfort Yuria. How could he know when he had never comforted a woman before?

“Shall I lift you high again like before?”

“…What?”

“You said it was fun being lifted high.”

Is this not it? 

Seeing the bewildered look on Yuria’s face, it seemed like the wrong approach.

“Don’t worry about what people are saying. The rumors will disappear after today.”

“Thanks to the pearl necklace?”

A pearl necklace expensive enough that no sane man would buy it for a cheating wife. Yuria wondered if he had given her the necklace to quash the rumors. Even if that were the case, she didn’t blame him.

Yuria had been hiding in Ritano, unaware of the rumors. But Cedric, who often visited the capital, had to endure those rumors alone. Even if he denied them, some people wouldn’t believe it, and Cedric’s pride must have been hurt in the process.

So he bought her the necklace, made her a dress, and coaxed her to attend this banquet. But she didn’t hate him for it. How could she hate a husband who gently coaxed his wife, who had been unfaithful for three years and carried scandal after scandal, by giving her jewelry?

“I’m sorry.”

Yuria felt only regret. She never thought the rumors would reach the capital.Even if she had known, she would have continued her reckless behavior at the time, but she still felt sorry.

“There’s nothing to apologize for, Princess. It’s just a baseless rumor that will soon disappear.”

“It’s not a baseless rumor.”

Cedric was momentarily taken aback. He had no intention of blaming Yuria. Everyone could have private sexual preferences. The problem would be if she fulfilled those desires with another man, but Yuria only indulged her desires with Cedric. When Cedric satisfied her needs, she didn’t cheat.

He now firmly believed that Yuria’s behavior was relatively healthy.

“…It’s a thing of the past, so it’s as good as a baseless rumor. Don’t worry about it.”

“Did my rumor cause any trouble for your business?”

“I’m too competent for that.”

Yuria finally let out a small laugh at his confident answer. A look of relief appeared in Cedric’s eyes as they met hers. Suddenly, Yuria was curious. 

Why was he so good to me?

He had no reason to be kind to her. She was nothing but trouble for Cedric. She wondered if it was because they were sexually compatible. She had heard that was important to men. Perhaps he developed feelings for her. They had done it enough times for that.

Could it be, by any chance, that Cedric…?

“Yuria.”

“…Crown Prince.”

Yuria’s thoughts were interrupted by an unwelcome voice. She stood up from the rock and turned towards the voice.

“Addressing me so formally makes it seem like we’re very distant. Don’t do that.”

Despite his kind words, Yuria’s expression remained stern. Her complexion was still pale, showing that she hadn’t yet recovered from the shock of Varen’s reckless words.

“I heard from Evelyn. Varen said something unnecessary.”