Unrequited Love is Over, Fend for Yourselves (5 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 34
As time passed, Sola and Hana gradually began to struggle. Even though they stayed at inns, the beds were hard and the food unappetizing.
Moreover, without maids to assist them, doing everything alone was exhausting. The men felt the same, too—though not as much as Hana and Sola, they still found the journey difficult.
Yet not everyone was suffering. Etienne had seemed exhausted on the day they departed, but since then showed no signs of fatigue; on the contrary, she brimmed with energy.
The items Etienne had prepared shone throughout the journey. The torches she bought proved useful on nights spent outdoors, and the blankets she provided helped maintain their body heat.
Fernando also didn’t struggle much. Though he hadn’t prepared anything like Etienne had, his natural stamina allowed him to endure the trip without issue.
Perhaps because he followed Etienne around, he’d also bought the necessary supplies.
“This much should be enough to see the outlines, don’t you think?”
Though barely five days had passed, the group was gradually splitting into two clear types. Reinhart’s eyes gleamed with amusement at the sight, while Alex stared at the Crown Prince as if he were strange.
“Isn’t it premature to judge based on what we see right now?”
“But it’s obvious, isn’t it?”
Alex shook his head.
“Which side do you think His Highness belongs to?”
“Me? Hmm…”
Reinhart pointed alternately at Etienne and Fernando before finally choosing someone—neither Etienne nor Fernando…
“Heishi.”
“I picked Bazon.”
“You really don’t know how to read people.”
Though Reinhart teased him, Alex wasn’t offended—he simply believed he was right.
“We need to do something soon.”
Seeing Reinhart practically vibrating with curiosity, Alex stepped away from him.
“You do realize you’ve got a genuinely bad personality, right?”
“Me? Surely not.”
“Is it normal to count matching the spy planted by the Second Prince as part of a bet?”
“It’d be boring if I just kept doubting without acting.”
They were discussing who the Second Prince had turned to his side. Reinhart had chosen Heishi, while Alex picked Bazon.
“Anyone can see Bazon’s the most suspicious—he’s overly curious, overly interested, and smiles strangely.”
“Really? Still, I say Heishi.”
“What’s your reason for suspecting Heishi?”
“He’s too quiet.”
Alex shook his head. Compared to Nick or Sola, who constantly complained, Heishi was practically invisible—so unobtrusive he was almost pitiful.
Now, caught up in the Crown Prince’s schemes and already suffering, he was even being suspected.
“Just wait and see. I’ll be right.”
“Well, if that’s what you believe, prepare to grant my wish when I win.”
Since they’d agreed the winner of their bet would get one wish fulfilled, Alex pretended otherwise but was certain he’d win.
“We’ll enter the Duchy soon. We won’t rest—head straight there, so I’m telling you in advance.”
“That’ll cause quite a bit of discontent.”
They’d traveled nonstop and wouldn’t even stop at the Ducal residence—already, complaints seemed inevitable. Yet Alex calmly unrolled the map and took down instructions.
“If they let discontent stop them from preparing, it’ll only get harder.”
“We’ve finally reached the last trial.”
“Yes.”
Alex glanced at his lord’s profile. The Crown Prince had suddenly declared he was dead one day. Thinking it a joke, Alex was stunned when Reinhart revealed he’d lost all his abilities.
He claimed to have rewound someone’s time with his power, and now could only glimpse a few scenes of the future—otherwise, he was no different from an ordinary man.
Yet he showed no despair over losing his power overnight. Instead, he seemed eager and delighted to discover whose timeline he’d altered.
If it were me, could I do the same? It might be different if I’d never had such power from birth—but to lose something I once held? Could I truly go on smiling day after day like this?
Perhaps that’s why Reinhart’s laughter and jokes had increased—it felt strange, yet Alex accepted it.
Since he couldn’t fully grasp the Crown Prince’s heart, all he could do now was match his mood. That was the best comfort he could offer.
“I’ll go deliver the message.”
Alex bowed slightly and withdrew. Reinhart’s gaze stayed fixed on his counselor’s retreating back.
“Counselor Alex.”
Reinhart, leaning against the carriage, laced his fingers behind his head. His posture more relaxed than before, his smile now carried an air of ease.
“I’m perfectly fine, actually.”
He’d spent his whole life tangled in time. Back then, unable to distinguish past from future, the concept of “now” hardly registered.
Time-related abilities had worn him down.
Then, overnight, that power vanished. Soon after, he dreamed he’d gathered all his remaining power and given it to someone.
[Take all that I have. Use it to prevent my death.]He’d even seen his future self muttering those words before waking. Everything changed after that. The future of anyone he looked at no longer surfaced, and the splitting headaches that felt like his skull was cracking in half disappeared.
Thus, Reinhart’s days grew peaceful. Had his future self spoken the recipient’s name when transferring his power, he might have known who it was—but he hadn’t heard it.
Still, it didn’t matter. Piecing together the few clues he had to uncover something new was thrilling and fun.
Only now could he truly focus on someone living in the present and share the same moments with them.
“Of course, assuming I don’t die.”
If I die, it’s all over anyway.
Reinhart smiled to himself.
[This is the timeline separator]‘We should rest before leaving.’
Even Etienne sighed wearily at the grueling schedule. They’d just arrived at the Duchy, yet the Crown Prince insisted on heading straight to Mitri.
That meant another full day’s travel—a prospect that was far from welcome.
“Why is His Highness in such a rush that we can’t even rest before leaving?”
“I don’t even have clean clothes to change into anymore.”
Hearing Nick and Sola’s complaints, even the others had to agree this time. More grumbling followed.
Unable to bear their talk about not understanding the Crown Prince’s motives and wondering how much longer they had to endure this, Etienne stepped outside.
She sat on a rock where the breeze blew pleasantly, pulling her coat closed and wrapping her arms around herself.
“Sigh.”
Honestly, her body wasn’t that tired on this journey. She’d worn the lightest, most comfortable clothes and shoes, and took care not to lose body heat or fall ill.
But others weren’t so fortunate. Especially Sola and Hana—their bulky outfits must have made things hard.
Everywhere they went, their skirts dragged on the ground, forcing them to hold up their hems constantly. Even in the carriage, their tight dresses kept them from sitting comfortably.
Though she pitied them, their stubborn refusal to dress like her made it impossible to persuade them otherwise. They must have expected to rest once they reached the Ducal estate.
“Are they doing this just to be disliked?”
“Who? Me?”
Etienne turned her head and saw Reinhart standing there. Despite clearly enduring the same hardships, he looked as pristine and untroubled as on day one.
“Everyone’s exhausted.”
“So am I. Right now, I’m craving marigold tea—but there’s none to drink. Should I have smuggled some along?”
“This isn’t the time for Your Highness to be longing for flower tea. Everyone’s worn out because we’re heading straight to Mitri without rest.”
“Only worn out? I’d expect far worse complaints.”
Reinhart sat beside her as he spoke.
“You know that well. Then why are you doing this? Is there a reason you must arrive even a day sooner?”
“Time doesn’t matter. I just think someone will grow impatient the sooner we arrive.”
Etienne stared at him, confused, but Reinhart remained silent.
“Then have you figured out why you started this journey?”
She was indirectly asking if he’d recognized her.
“Well…”
Reinhart tilted his head.
“Roughly?”
“…Who?”
Etienne asked softly. It felt absurd to ask directly, yet the Crown Prince had been the one to speak to her first—so perhaps she could?
“I’ll tell you when I’m certain.”
Reinhart’s silence deflated her slightly, and she turned to face forward again.
“But I’ll give you one hint.”
“A hint?”
“Yes. Something I’ve realized during this journey.”
She didn’t grasp his meaning right away. A realization from the journey?
“There are no escort knights, no attendants—aside from Alex and me, it’s almost like a group of peers traveling together. Even those with travel experience likely haven’t had a trip like this, so it’s more fun exploring.”
Etienne frowned.
“But as you can see, not everyone’s struggling, right?”
Reinhart asked with a smile, stealing the smile from Etienne’s face before rising with a refreshed look.
“Then I’ll go race toward the end.”
“Your Highness.”
Etienne reached out to stop Reinhart as he walked away. In the brief moment he paused and turned back, her mind raced.
His words about not everyone struggling implied someone had prepared, knowing what this journey would entail.
Was the Crown Prince now suspecting her—and perhaps even Fernando?
“Aren’t you thinking too simply?”
“Too simply?”
“Wouldn’t someone who knows the future try even harder to hide it?”
She asked, trying to disrupt his train of thought.
“You’re trying to find that person, while they’re trying to conceal the future. Isn’t this a battle of wits between the two of you?”
She worried her words might backfire. Honestly, this might make him suspect her even more—but if she was already under suspicion, she had nothing to lose.
The longer Reinhart stared at her, the harder Etienne’s heart pounded. Before, she’d had good reason to hide her identity from him—but now, she couldn’t remember why.
She’d simply decided to conceal it once, so no matter what, she couldn’t let him find out.
“…Is that so?”
Fortunately, the Crown Prince believed her.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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