Unrequited Love is Over, Fend for Yourselves (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 19
The banquet ended with meeting the Second Prince in the stables. Etienne returned home immediately and merely managed to wash and fall into bed with her exhausted body. Yet, something strange happened when she woke up in the morning.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince?”
“What’s the matter?”
Etienne glanced around at Reinhart’s leisurely reply as he savored his fragrant floral tea.
The curtains the butler had mentioned were freshly changed, the new decorations the butler had recently brought in, and the enormous crest carved into the wall—this was unmistakably the House of Marquis Claire.
In other words, it was her own home. If it truly was her home, why was someone else acting like the master of the house?
Etienne had woken up that morning, changed her clothes, and stepped into the drawing room only to find Crown Prince Reinhart there.
“Are my parents…?”
“The Marquis and Marchioness left early this morning. They said they’d be back late. The Marquis is so diligent—that’s why their house remains so prosperous.”
“Did you meet them?”
“I happened to run into them just as they were leaving when I arrived.”
“I see.”
Though she replied like that, Etienne tilted her head in confusion. Why did he seem so utterly at ease?
“The butler of this house is quite capable.”
Etienne’s gaze fell upon the cup in the Crown Prince’s hand. The tea, dyed a deep scarlet, was different in color from the tea she usually drank.
“He gave me this right away—it’s a blend people rarely seek out.”
“Letin the butler is indeed capable.”
A butler was someone who could look into your heart and always had exactly what you needed prepared. She didn’t even know why she felt happier when the butler was praised than when her father was.
Etienne, who had been smiling faintly, abruptly wiped the smile from her face and asked Reinhart.
“Did you come here because you had something to tell me?”
“It’s both yes and no.”
Reinhart set his teacup into its saucer with a precise click. After the clear, delicate sound of porcelain meeting porcelain, he spoke again.
“This is my first visit here, but I intend to examine things one by one.”
“Examine what?”
At Etienne’s question, Reinhart let out a brief, amused laugh.
“I’m touring the noble houses that might stand with me.”
“Oh…”
Only then did Etienne grasp his meaning, and as she lifted her teacup, she pondered.
‘The houses that support Crown Prince Reinhart.’
As the Emperor’s health steadily declined, the princes had begun their covert maneuvers for the throne.
The nobles were splitting into factions supporting either the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, and it seemed the Crown Prince had started seeking out those among the nobility who would pledge loyalty to him. But still…
‘Isn’t the real movement supposed to start next year?’
She wondered why the Crown Prince was already acting so soon. She’d been meeting him occasionally ever since she was seventeen…
While Etienne remained lost in confusion, Reinhart suddenly spoke.
“There’s someone I need to find.”
“Who’s that?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Reinhart shrugged and leaned back against the sofa. Watching his relaxed posture, Etienne narrowed her eyes.
‘Now that I think about it, we don’t necessarily have to wait until next year.’
Her family had earned the Second Prince’s deep enmity after the Crown Prince died violently. Perhaps if she prepared well in advance this time, she could help the Crown Prince avoid that deadly fate—and everything would turn out fine.
But though the thought crossed her mind, Etienne didn’t rush to decide. It seemed pointless to act now solely on the fear of a future accident that might never happen.
Reinhart watched her, lost in thought, with an expression of quiet amusement.
He’d deliberately come first to the House of Claire, where Etienne resided. He couldn’t even count how many times he’d smiled at the mere thought of seeing her again.
‘Was it since that first impression of mine?’
After being told he looked like a statue relieving himself, he’d gone around asking others about their first impressions of him—but nothing ever surpassed Etienne’s answer.
Reinhart leaned forward, studying her face intently.
Etienne’s first impression of him had been a crimson rose. This girl, as splendid as a blooming flower, struck one as both beautiful and strong—and yet her words came out with surprising playfulness.
He’d expected her to be prickly, but she turned out delightfully odd; he’d thought she never smiled, yet she laughed with radiant warmth.
The more unexpected sides she revealed, the stronger his curiosity about her grew.
“Etienne.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
He liked even her audacity—the way she pretended innocence despite having just been daydreaming right in front of him.
“I’ll tell you who I’m looking for, so listen carefully.”
“You’ll tell me?”
“You asked.”
This was a question beyond his expectations.
“Well, yes—but don’t you usually keep things like that secret?”
“Then I suppose we’d become confidants sharing the Crown Prince’s secrets.”
“In that case, it’s fine. You don’t have to tell me.”
Etienne answered firmly with a bright smile.
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t want to share another secret. Secrets are for sharing only between close friends.”
She wished for the Crown Prince’s ascension and supported him—but just as she had no intention of revealing her own secrets to him, she had no interest in his either.
To be perfectly honest, she was simply being cautious, fearing to get entangled in rumors—much like with that floral tea.
“That’s rather disappointing…”
Reinhart tapped his cheek lightly, then tilted his head slightly as he gazed steadily at her. Etienne frowned a little.
“Don’t you want to know me?”
“I’m sorry, but please drop that look. What kind of gaze is that to give a girl who isn’t even of age yet?”
“That’s hurtful. I’m barely eighteen myself, you know.”
“You’re already an adult.”
“Ha! To think you’d discriminate over just two years.”
Reinhart sounded exasperated. Moreover, her refusal to accept his secret irritated him enough that he blurted out,
“A person who sees the future.”
“…”
Etienne pressed her lips tightly together, afraid her racing heart might leap right out of her chest. What on earth was he talking about?
“Or someone who acts as if they know the future.”
“What do you mean by that?”
Ignoring her pounding heart, she feigned confusion, as if hearing something absurd.
“I’m looking for such a person.”
“Does such a person even exist?”
“Yes.”
Reinhart studied Etienne’s expression, then sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
“The Schupraher bloodline possesses the power over water, correct? I heard Fernando is training to awaken his ability—do you know about that?”
Though Reinhart suddenly brought up Fernando, Etienne remained silent.
“It’s said the House of Marquis Claire holds restorative powers, though that’s only speculation, so it can’t be confirmed. Oh, I read that in a book from the Imperial Secret Archives—no need to be surprised.”
How could he say something so startling and then tell her not to be surprised? Etienne didn’t even know how to look at Reinhart anymore, so she avoided his eyes.
“There are only a few houses with such extraordinary abilities. Though few in number, those who possess these powers truly hold the strength to move the world—don’t you agree?”
“Why are you suddenly talking about this?”
“But the royal bloodline is different. Even those who inherit the same blood manifest entirely different innate abilities.”
Such special powers appeared only in a select few. Sometimes they ran through entire bloodlines; other times, they emerged unexpectedly in a single individual.
Yet for those bearing imperial blood, the manifestation of some ability was guaranteed—whether great or small.
“But I have no ability at all.”
“…Your Highness?”
Etienne couldn’t hide her bewilderment at his words.
“The ability I once had was entirely spent saving someone’s life. That’s why I have none left now.”
Reinhart seemed to be explaining kindly—but none of his words made any sense to Etienne.
“I used to have the power to see the future. But one day, I realized I was destined to die. So I used all my power to alter the fate of someone from a house loyal to me. Now he, in my stead, must know the future.”
“…Why are you telling me this?”
Etienne asked again, almost echoing her earlier question.
“I want us to become closer.”
Reinhart gave an unexpected answer—and smiled.
“Seeing how close you are with Fernando made me want to grow closer to you too. Sharing secrets makes people intimate, right?”
“So that’s why you’re telling me?”
“Yes. Since you’ve heard it anyway, you might as well help me look for that person. I was supposed to figure out who he is, but I couldn’t.”
I’m really careless, he added, openly admitting his own inadequacy.
“How could you not know who it is—even though you saved that person, Your Highness?”
“It was something my future self did, so I don’t know who it was. That’s why I have no choice but to search for him myself. If I find him, we can devise a plan together to escape the crisis that would lead to my death.”
“Then why didn’t you just arrange to return if you were to pass away?”
“That might be one way—but I don’t fully understand why my future self chose this path.”
From the way he shrugged, it seemed he had some suspicions. In any case, putting his words together, Etienne now understood why he’d been visiting so many noble houses.
“Well? Now that you’ve heard everything, don’t you suddenly feel like helping me search?”
“No.”
At Etienne’s swift refusal, a deep look of disappointment crossed Reinhart’s face.
“That’s cruel.”
“I never said I wanted to know your secrets.”
“You said secrets build intimacy—”
“Please stop using my own words as an excuse.”
Etienne cut off his persistent reasoning.
“I have a lot to do.”
“Something to do? Are you going to save the world or something?”
“I won’t save the world—but I might just save someone’s heart.”
When Reinhart looked at her with curiosity, Etienne pulled out a folded piece of paper from her pocket.
“Granting wishes. I’ve decided to fulfill one wish for each person working in the marquisate.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I want them to be happy.”
Though Reinhart still looked baffled, Etienne continued calmly.
“In any case, I’m busy—so you should go make another intimate connection.”
“How unfair.”
With that, Reinhart rose to his feet without pressing her further, as if realizing it was time to leave.
The moment he stepped out and the door closed behind him, Etienne’s body collapsed sideways.
Her body, which had appeared perfectly composed in front of Reinhart, now trembled violently. She tried taking deep breaths and even attempted self-hypnosis to steady herself—but nothing worked.
After trembling for a long while, gasping for breath, Etienne muttered in stunned disbelief.
“So it was the Crown Prince who turned back my time?”
Just what was the future Crown Prince thinking when he poured all his power into me?
Top Celebrity Younger Brother Bears Her Child (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: Forced to live stream romance with a top celebrity in a female-dominant world.
Yan Jin transmigrated into a brothel, with a fellow transmigrated junior beside her.
Hearing the obscene words coming from outside, the unfortunate junior covered his ears tightly, his cheeks flushed red, and whispered to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I will definitely help you escape.”
“Don’t worry, I will definitely defend your chastity.” Yan Jin looked at the flawless and delicate features of the unfortunate junior and gently comforted, “Because we have transmigrated into a female-dominant world.”
※※※
Top celebrity Yu Shu suddenly fell into a coma during a concert.
Research scientist Yan Jin fainted in the lab after working overtime.
Two people with no connection were rushed to the same hospital.
Three days later, neither of them had woken up.
Suddenly, the entire nation discovered that a live streaming app had been forcibly installed on their phones.
Upon opening it, they heard the two discussing how to escape from the brothel.
The entire internet was in an uproar.
After the two successfully escaped from the brothel, Yu Shu’s fan group rushed to make a banner and sent it to the hospital overnight.
“Big sister bravely took action to defend the chastity of our idol!”
※※※
When Yu Shu was diagnosed with pregnancy, Yan Jin stared at his belly for a long time.
Covering his stomach, he muttered gloomily, “If you don’t like it, I’ll go get an abortion.”
“It’s not that I don’t like it.” Yan Jin hugged Yu Shu and said softly, “I just feel like I’m not human.”
Yu Shu comforted Yan Jin, “I was already an adult when we got together.”
Yan Jin hesitated, “But you won’t be of legal marriageable age even after giving birth to the child.”
At the same time, a flood of bullet comments appeared in the live streaming room that the two couldn’t see.
[Although it’s inappropriate, I also want a young and handsome boyfriend to have my child.]
①Male pregnancy (highlighted)
The female lead is five years older than the male lead, and the male lead is already an adult when he appears.
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