Please Marry My Son (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
“Ahh—”
At William’s request, Eric hesitated and glanced at Alicia.
“I’m fine. Please take your time, Your Highness. I’ll excuse myself first.”
“Alright. Let’s meet again later, privately and at ease.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I’ll be right back. Don’t go far.”
“Understood.”
Embarrassed at being treated like a child in front of the prince, Alicia shot him a reproachful look and quickly left the spot.
“What did you wish to discuss?”
“Getting straight to the point so suddenly? It’s a bit awkward, but fine—I don’t want to drag out business talk either.”
[This is the timeline separator]“You’re not listening to me, are you?”
“Huh? What did you say?”
William finally spoke up, his voice laced with irritation, toward Eric, who had been utterly unfocused.
Yet, shamelessly wearing not even a hint of apology—just an indifferent expression—was very much like Eric.
“Do you even know what ‘insulting the royal family’ entails?”
“That came out of nowhere and makes no sense.”
“You little brat. It’s because you’re completely ignoring me! Am I not your superior?”
At William’s threat, Eric stared at him for a moment, then turned and started walking away.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“It doesn’t seem like you have anything important to say, so I’ll go to my fiancée now.”
“Is that for real?”
William, who had been grumbling behind Eric, finally gave up and let out a soft chuckle.
“Yeah. If there’s something you want to protect, you shouldn’t let it out of your sight.”
[This is the timeline separator]Separated from Eric, Alicia intended to hole up somewhere deserted and finally take a real rest.
‘Is there a good spot somewhere? Somewhere quiet where I won’t be disturbed.’
As Alicia walked alone in search of a place to rest, noble young ladies who had been watching for an opportunity approached her.
“Hello.”
“Oh, hello.”
Though startled by the sudden greeting, Alicia quickly smiled and returned the greeting.
“Do you need something from me?”
She asked kindly, but they only stared at her without replying.
Just then, a beautifully adorned young woman appeared behind them.
“Hm?”
“Hello. I’m Kate O’Brien.”
Her attire was splendid, and her appearance equally radiant—a truly lovely young lady, like a fully bloomed flower.
Alicia silently thought she was probably the person best suited for this flower-themed banquet today.
Although Miss Kate O’Brien didn’t seem particularly cheerful.
“Pleased to meet you, Miss Kate O’Brien.”
Alicia had heard the surname ‘O’Brien’ before.
A friend in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs often mentioned that the Foreign Minister’s surname was definitely O’Brien.
“So, you’re really engaged to Earl Russell?”
“Huh? Yes.”
“But you haven’t even held the engagement ceremony yet, right?”
“My father is abroad for research. We’ll hold it once he returns.”
“Why didn’t Countess of Lancaster come? Was she not invited?”
“My mother is in frail health and rarely goes out. Of course, she did receive the invitation.”
Despite the barrage of impolite questions, Alicia maintained her polite demeanor and answered gently.
Then, her eyes met Kate’s, who had been standing behind the group. Kate lowered her gently fluttering fan and spoke.
“Did you know what kind of person Earl Russell is before getting engaged?”
“Hm?”
“He has a rather bad reputation—haven’t you heard anything?”
“Reputation?”
Seeing Alicia’s genuinely confused expression, Kate’s lips curled into a mocking smile.
“So you didn’t know. Well, that explains why you got engaged to him.”
Kate folded her fan and fixed her gaze on Alicia.
“I’ve also heard about the young lady of the Lancaster earldom. Earl Lancaster is staying overseas long-term, and the Countess is in poor health, so their daughter hardly participates in society.”
“Oh.”
“So that’s why you didn’t know what kind of man Earl Russell really is.”
“Hm?”
“But since you’re getting married, shouldn’t you know these things? It’s not too late yet.”
Alicia quietly asked Kate, who was speaking with an air of condescension, as if doing her a favor.
“Then, what exactly are these rumors I should know about?”
“There are quite a few.”
“I see. Since you brought it up, I’d appreciate it if you told me everything. As you said, I rarely attend social events, so I’m quite ignorant.”
“……”
Alicia’s unexpectedly calm attitude and expression made Kate frown slightly, but she soon smiled again with composure.
“Have you heard Earl Russell’s nickname—’Britannia’s 3%’?”
“Britannia’s 3%?”
“It means he’s met 3% of the unmarried noblewomen in the Britannian Empire.”
Alicia couldn’t recall the exact number of noblewomen in the empire, but it was certainly a large figure.
‘So he wasn’t uninterested in women after all—no wonder his manners are so polished.’
Alicia felt annoyed.
“Moreover, his personality is supposedly terrible, and his mouth even worse—he apparently treats hurting others as nothing.”
‘He isn’t exactly gentle, and his words can be sharp—but he’s never said anything truly hurtful to me.’
She somewhat agreed, yet hearing such harsh words about Eric from strangers she’d just met wasn’t pleasant at all.
‘What exactly has this man been doing? How could he earn such a reputation? He doesn’t seem like that kind of person.’
“Of course, things are fine for now. Honestly, Earl Russell has excellent credentials—it’s an enjoyable situation, and I understand why you’d like him. But—”
Kate added, fanning herself with a pitying expression while covering her mouth.
Even though her lips were hidden, it seemed as if she were sneering.
“I wonder how long it will last?”
‘Well, until the contract period ends, obviously.’
She silently replied, recalling Kate’s words.
‘But do I really look happy? Do I seem like I’m enjoying myself?’
For a moment, Alicia began reflecting carefully.
Honestly, it wasn’t bad. She even thought it was quite nice. Sometimes, even enjoyable.
‘No, what am I even thinking about now? This isn’t the time. Now more than ever, I need to fulfill my contract diligently.’
Alicia composed herself, quietly smiled, and looked steadily at Kate.
Kate raised one eyebrow, puzzled.
“Thank you for telling me, even though it must have been uncomfortable.”
“Huh?”
“I understand you meant well out of concern, but I still want to trust him. At least, the man I know isn’t like that.”
What Alicia told Kate was sincere.
Whether the rumors were true or not didn’t matter—after all, theirs was just a contractual relationship.
But it was still unpleasant to hear baseless gossip about Eric from someone who didn’t even know him.
Perhaps that was why, despite her smile, Alicia’s cold gaze made Kate flinch involuntarily and bite her lip.
“If I get hurt later, I suppose there’s nothing to be done. He’s the one I chose, so I’ll have to bear it myself.”
“……”
Behind the silent Kate, Eric, who had been listening with his arms crossed, gave a faint smile.
‘How admirable.’
He’d been watching over her, thinking it good for her to make friends among her peers, but was startled when the rumors came up.
He’d grown anxious when she stayed silent upon hearing them, and felt relieved only after hearing her reply.
Even if it was just part of her diligent contract fulfillment.
Eric quickly strode toward Alicia.
“Sorry to interrupt your pleasant conversation, but I’d like you to kindly return my fiancée to me now.”
Startled by Eric’s sudden appearance, the young ladies quickly stepped aside. The moment he reached Alicia, Eric held out his hand.
Alicia was equally surprised, but she smiled and immediately placed her hand in his.
“Weren’t you supposed to take longer? What about His Highness?”
“I hurried because I missed you. His Highness readily understood.”
Eric grinned, pulled her hand toward him, and kissed the back of it.
Flustered by his sudden words and actions, Alicia whispered,
“What are you doing?”
“I’m showing the side of a fiancé who can’t bear to be apart from his fiancée, even for a moment.”
“Oh, I suppose that’s exactly the image needed right now.”
“Hm?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Alright.”
At Alicia’s gentle scolding, Eric placed her hand on his arm and linked arms with her.
“Shall we go?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Ladies, we’ll take our leave now.”
“Thank you for your advice. I hope we meet again when the opportunity arises.”
Alicia and Eric exchanged final greetings and left the spot.
Watching the two walk away, Kate gripped the hem of her dress.
“They seem awfully close, don’t they?”
“Yeah. They say Earl Russell has lost his senses—looks like it’s true.”
Zzrit.
When Kate glared, the whispering young ladies immediately fell silent.
‘Just what makes that girl so special?’
Meeting Alicia in person, she didn’t seem particularly remarkable.
She looked elegant and dignified—but that was true of any noble young lady.
The Lancaster family might be old and prestigious, but their fortunes had clearly declined.
There was no reason for her to lose to Alicia in any aspect.
Hurt pride made Kate bite her lip.
[This is the timeline separator]“Had quite a bit of fun, I see?”
After walking far enough to a spot with few people, Eric stopped and asked.
‘Fun? What nonsense is this man talking about.’
Though momentarily upset, Alicia smiled and replied,
“Did it look that way? Yes, they told me some rather interesting stories.”
Smiling, Alicia gently smoothed Eric’s tousled hair along his face.
“This sudden physical affection violates our contract.”
“It’s a perfectly normal gesture for a fiancée. After all, my fiancé looks disheveled right now.”
“I see.”
“Then tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“‘Britannia’s 3%’?”
“Oh, that.”
He stopped her from turning her head away and made her look at him.
“Hmm, is this kind of physical affection also considered normal because I’m your fiancée?”
“If you dislike it, shall I slap your cheek? That would be physical affection too.”
“Just stick to the kind of physical affection normally acceptable for a fiancée.”
“I think this is the kind of physical affection a fiancée might show upon learning her fiancé has an outrageous past.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Eric grinned, took Alicia’s hand from his face, lowered it, and pulled her closer.
The moment Alicia found herself suddenly near Eric and flinched in surprise, he whispered in her ear,
“Could it be… you’re jealous?”
“It’s the kind of reaction a fiancée might normally have upon hearing about her fiancé’s past.”
“Oh, right. I didn’t expect you’d fulfill our contract this well.”
“I wish you’d fulfill it a bit more diligently too.”
“How so?”
“Explain things proactively—like a proper fiancé should.”
At those words, Eric lifted his head and met Alicia’s gaze.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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This is quite the cute exchange. I hope he doesn’t turn into one of those ml’s that get grabby and possessive.
That’s a rude question, kiddo. And it’s also none of your business.
*sigh* I did get my hopes up. It would be lovely if Alicia had women her age on her side early on. (because so many stories isolate the fl, perhaps subconsciously on the part of the author.)