Received the Obsession of a Chaste Dark Lord - Chapter 21

Was she trying to look outside?

Surely Betty hadn’t made a mistake?

Even with just the gesture of approaching the window, my mouth went dry.

I clenched my fist tightly, anxious that we might be caught.

“It’s still chilly outside, Amelia. It’s fine for a moment, but it’s not good to leave it open while sleeping.”

He came back after closing the window, tilting his head slightly and reaching out his hand.

Then he gently placed his hand on my cheek and smiled softly, his eyes crinkling.

“Your cheeks are very red. Did you sleep in the middle of a desert?”

“Haha… I suppose there’s quite a temperature difference from the capital.”

I really felt like I’d aged ten years.

I slowly inhaled and exhaled, trying not to reveal my still slightly labored breathing.

While returning with Betty, I saw that Leoprick’s horse had just arrived at the lodging.

We had arrived at the lodging first.

But since we couldn’t enter through the entrance, we quickly went around to the back of the building.

We ran all the way to my room, and climbed up the rope hanging from the window.

As soon as I crossed the windowsill, Betty hurriedly collected the rope.

I hastily took off my robe and the clothes I was wearing, estimating the time it would take Leoprick to reach the room.

When Betty draped a shawl over my shoulders, leaving only the thin inner dress.

‘Amelia. Are you awake?’

Leoprick knocked on the door.

It was really, really close.

We almost got caught red-handed.

I gave an awkward smile towards him as he sat on the edge of the bed.

“Did your outing go well?”

“The outing itself went well, but nothing was resolved.”

Leoprick smiled bitterly at my question.

It seemed he had various conversations while out, but hadn’t found any leads.

That’s a relief.

While I feel sorry for his disappointment, it’s better if he doesn’t know what I’ve done.

I inwardly sighed with relief and put on a sympathetic expression towards him.

“If nothing unusual happened, it will be resolved soon.”

“I hope so…”

Leoprick, who had been looking gloomy for a moment, let out a small sigh.

He probably thinks he might not be able to find it.

While I understood his feelings, on the other hand, it also meant that the guild people had done their job well, so I had to suppress an unnecessary sense of pride.

“I’m sorry, Amelia. We wasted precious time and didn’t achieve any notable results.”

“No, no, Your Highness. It was something that had to be done anyway, and even on a honeymoon, we can’t completely set aside our duties.”

I would have done the same if it were me.

I added softly, smiling at him.

“And didn’t you catch an illegal auction house? I think that alone is a significant achievement.”

“…Thank you for saying that, Amelia.”

My words may not be a great comfort, but what Leoprick did was certainly not meaningless.

When I pointed this out, he nodded with a faint smile.

“You’re right. At least we accomplished one thing.”

“The initial goal wasn’t simply to retrieve the jewel. Since you’ve achieved one objective, from a different perspective, doesn’t it mean you have more room to think about the next step?”

As the Imperial Crown Prince, he had succeeded in catching an illegal auction house, which was reason enough for him to say he had done well.

And it wasn’t particularly good for me either if he focused too much on Isolde’s Tears.

I concluded with half a mind to divert his focus and half feeling sorry for his dejected state.

At that, Leoprick’s face brightened noticeably, unlike before.

“Your comfort gives me strength. Thank you so much, Amelia.”

It was rather I who was taken aback by his expression, which had changed so markedly from before.

When he rejoices so purely, doesn’t it make me feel sorry for speaking with an intention?

I blinked my eyes with a slightly flustered face.

“No, it’s not really anything to call comfort…”

“It’s more than enough comfort. Thanks to you, I feel like I have the leisure to think about the next step, as you said.”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

It was then.

The more I looked at that face, I had a feeling that thoughts of apology would keep floating in my mind.

Is it because he thinks I’m worried about him?

Or is it simply that what I said really was comforting?

Either way, his reactions always come out amplified, different from what I intended.

Enough to make me ashamed of my not-so-pure intentions.

“Y-You must be tired, so please go to sleep soon. Since today’s matter wasn’t resolved, you’ll be busy tomorrow too, won’t you?”

“Are you worried about me?”

Leoprick flashed a charming smile at my stammering words.

Somehow, it feels like he’s deliberately putting on an act again.

I glanced at that smile briefly, then hurriedly looked away, fiddling unnecessarily with the bedding.

“I think it would be good for you to go to bed early since you had a lot to do today.”

“I appreciate your concern, but it’s alright, Amelia. I don’t plan to be involved in this matter again from tomorrow.”

“…Pardon?”

Not planning to be involved in this matter anymore.

I turned my head sharply towards him as he spoke nonchalantly.

Does that mean he’s giving up on Isolde’s Tears completely?

Of course, it’s good for me, but so suddenly?

He lengthened the corners of his mouth again, perhaps finding my expression amusing, which seemed both bewildered and flustered.

I wonder if it’s my imagination that his smile seems to be one of satisfaction.

“I’ve instructed them to report only the details I absolutely need to know. From tomorrow, I need to focus on my time with you again.”

“Ah… But.”

The Leoprick I knew was someone who liked to check everything personally, and if necessary, would go to great lengths to find out.

Especially if it was something he considered important.

But just for…

…Just to leisurely travel with me, he handed that task over to someone else?

That means his priority has shifted from Isolde’s Tears to me.

He always prioritized tasks when he personally took action.

My mind whirled with the realization.

“It’s alright, Amelia. Right now, time with you is more important.”

As if sensing my confusion, Leoprick spoke softly, as if to soothe me.

When I looked up, his gentle gaze filled my vision.

As if saying it’s okay, there’s no need to be confused.

That I should just accept it as it is for now.

Of course, for him, this might not be a big deal, but…

“What benefit does this bring to Your Highness?”

“…Benefit, Amelia?”

For someone like me who already knows what kind of man Leoprick is, these changes of his feel unfamiliar.

I couldn’t hide my confused expression as I asked back.

What does he gain by making me his priority?

“I just thought it was important to get along well with you…”

“But Your Highness, you always said you were busy with work before the marriage. I even chose dresses, wedding gifts, and even Your Highness’s clothes with your aide.”

“…”

“And now you’re saying that getting along with me is important?”

I could see Leoprick was taken aback by my question, but I had no energy to care about that.

Both before my regression and now, Leoprick showed no interest in me throughout the wedding preparations.

He always sent his aide instead to coordinate opinions.

So I would negotiate and adjust opinions as if deciding on goods to bring into the guild, in a way that was purely rational.

Even though it was my once-in-a-lifetime wedding.

Even though I thought it didn’t matter since it was a loveless marriage, I wonder if I felt hurt because I always sought out Lloyd after the aide left.

And I used to say I felt like I was really being sold off.

Even after marriage, he never gave me a proper glance, so there must be a reason for this sudden change.

Am I strange for thinking there must be a reason?

Perhaps he knows something like I do, and that’s why he keeps trying to comfort and protect me like this.

“You can pretend to get along with me as much as you want.”

Either way, I didn’t like it.

His attitude that was increasingly deviating from expectations, and his actions and words that kept trying to mean something to me.

Either way, I didn’t want it.

“Even without us sharing anything, both Your Highness and I can easily maintain the appearance of a decent couple to others. So why?”

Why do you keep saying that spending time with me is important?

When I asked coldly, his face visibly hardened.

To think that the great Leoprick Reinhart, known for hiding his true feelings well, would make such an expression.

It must be embarrassing to receive such questions from a young woman who hasn’t even properly entered the political arena yet.

He must have realized by now that the manners and smiles that would have won over most women don’t work on me.

Whatever his true intentions were, I had no intention of complying with his demands.

After all, I’m someone who will maintain an appropriate distance from him and disappear at the right time, so there’s no need to play along with him.

So…

“I think you’re misunderstanding something, Amelia.”

As I was lost in my own thoughts, Leoprick quietly spoke up.

Saying that everything I had said was a misunderstanding.

“…It’s true that I was negligent in the wedding preparations.”

His face, which had visibly hardened, was gone, and he opened his mouth with a serious expression, his lips moving as if choosing his words carefully.

“At that time, I too thought marriage was just something that had to be done someday, and watching His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress, I thought meeting someone like that was as likely as being struck by lightning while walking down the street.”

And then, I learned that you weren’t very happy about this marriage.

Leoprick added with a bitter smile on his lips.

That expression looked so much like that of a hurt person that I almost apologized to him.

His words must mean that he had heard the social rumors about me harboring feelings for Lloyd.

He had grown up watching ideal parents.

Even though he said that, perhaps he naturally thought it would be the same with me.

So if he was shocked by the stories about me, and tried even harder not to face me throughout the wedding preparations…

“To be honest, I was secretly hoping. I had heard that you were an intelligent woman, and the few times I saw you at the parties I attended, you were beautiful enough to capture anyone’s gaze.”

“Your Highness, I…”

“So in fact, I thought that even if we couldn’t be like my parents, we could be good friends or companions. It was just my hope, though.”

Nevertheless, I should apologize unreservedly for my negligence, Leoprick said, bowing his head slightly.

His appearance looked so sincere and genuinely sorry that I reflexively bowed my head along with him.

“That’s… not true, Your Highness. I threw a tantrum without knowing that. If you heard such stories, of course you would feel uncomfortable.”

“No. I should have known earlier that I shouldn’t force my expectations on you. It was my fault for being negligent in the wedding preparations as if I had been betrayed by you.”

“No, I’m really fine…”

“I realized all this too late and ended up confusing you.”

As his story continued, I bowed my head lower and lower.

I felt terribly sorry for pointing fingers at him without considering my own situation.

As if trying to comfort me, he slightly met my gaze and smiled gently.

“So if it’s alright with you, I’d like to make up for it during this trip.”