When Etienne touched the pottery, she immediately felt warmth. But before she could fully register the sensation, a strong recoil flung her hand back.
“Ouch.”
As Etienne grabbed her recoiled hand with the other, Fernando approached her worriedly.
“Etienne!”
Fernando moved to hold her hand but hesitated, fearing it might hurt her. Etienne silently massaged her hand, realizing the object’s reaction.
‘It repels touch.’
She remembered after experiencing it.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.”
Apart from a tingling sensation in her hand, she was fine. The object clearly indicated she was not its owner.
‘Not me, then.’
She had harbored a slight hope. In her previous life, she had only heard about this object, so she thought, perhaps, she could be the owner.
But clearly, that wasn’t the case.
Count Pigmen chuckled mockingly at her attempt. Fernando looked at the object, about to reach for it when Etienne grabbed his arm.
“Trying to touch it?”
“You said we’d all try. So I should too.”
“But…”
Reluctant to burden him, she didn’t release her grip.
“Etienne.”
Sensing her concern, Fernando looked her in the eye.
“I’ll be fine.”
His earnest gaze made Etienne let go.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t deprive Fernando of this opportunity.’
If Fernando turned out to be the owner of the pottery, it could swiftly resolve everything.
With her hand removed, Fernando confidently touched the pottery. Like Etienne, he wasn’t the owner, but his preparedness for the reaction prevented him from being flung back as much. Only Etienne and Fernando had tried when Count Pigmen intervened.
“That’s enough, isn’t it?”
“Not yet.”
Countering Pigmen, Etienne gestured towards Lani and a knight of the Clare family, implying they should also try.
However, Pigmen’s gesture sent his men into action, escalating the situation.
“No more leniency.”
Count Pigmen, having already given Etienne and Fernando a chance, cut them off decisively.
‘This won’t do.’
If Raehwan is wronged, the grief Lani would feel was immeasurable. Not just for Lani, but the thought of a child paying for a crime was distressing.
“Then take the pottery and that thief…”
“Not yet.”
That’s when a pleasant voice interrupted Pigmen. Entering the warehouse was a figure who hadn’t been there before.
“Crown Prince.”
At Pigmen’s words, everyone kneeled towards the newcomer.
“That’s enough formalities… I didn’t come for that.”
Lehart positioned himself naturally in the warehouse, displeasing Pigmen. It was obvious he intended to intervene, an unwelcome prospect for Pigmen.
“I should check if I’m the owner too.”
“Your Highness.”
“The result is predictable, but I’d like to try.”
His last remark, almost a mutter, went unheard by others, but Etienne caught it clearly, realizing its implication.
‘The prince knows.’
He knew he wasn’t the owner of the pottery. But then a question arose.
‘He said he reversed someone’s time. So, that person knows the future while he doesn’t.’
How does the prince know about the future then?
“Let’s start with this.”
Distracted, Etienne refocused on Lehart’s hand. The object had no owner previously, so likely the same would happen again. How could she use this situation to her advantage?
“It hurts when it repels.”
“What do you mean? Have you tried touching it before?”
Etienne feigned ignorance and urged Lehart with her eyes to touch the pottery. Lehart slowly extended his hand.
As everyone focused on the Crown Prince’s hand nearing the pottery, he suddenly withdrew it.
“Isn’t that too much?”
Lehart suddenly addressed Etienne. She blinked in confusion.
“Earlier, you stopped Fernando because you were worried he might get hurt. I saw that…”
“Ah…”
Etienne, realizing her actions, glanced at Fernando’s hand. She had indeed stopped him, but her intention was different.
Fernando didn’t need the added burden, she thought. But before she could explain, Lehart clicked his tongue.
“I thought you might stop me too, but it seems you have no such intention. It’s not right to discriminate.”
“When did I ever discriminate against you?”
“You chose Fernando over me at the party, and now you don’t even care if I get hurt.”
“Why are you bringing up the past?”
Etienne’s voice rose involuntarily in disbelief.
“You hate me, that’s why.”
“When have I ever hated Your Highness…”
It was absurd. She chose Fernando for a reason unrelated to Lehart, and this situation was different.
‘Why didn’t I stop Lehart from touching it?’
She pondered briefly but concluded she hadn’t discriminated between Fernando and Lehart. Lehart had willingly stepped forward, knowing he wasn’t the owner.
Etienne thought he was prepared for the pain, so she didn’t stop him. Her feelings weren’t different for Fernando.
Almost swayed by Lehart’s words, Etienne was about to confront him when she heard Fernando’s voice.
“Etienne.”
She turned reflexively towards Fernando and flinched. His cheeks were flushed.
“Why is your face so red?”
“Of course, he’s happy. You’re only nice to him. Who wouldn’t be?”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
