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Chapter 19
A Fairytale for the Villain,
“Why didn’t Her Majesty make the prince the crown prince?”
The countess asked, staring at him as if enchanted.
“Probably because of the High Priest’s prophecy.”
The curse-spouting, drug-addled man who had declared that if he ascended the throne, the empire would fall.
That’s why his only younger brother was made crown prince, leaving him to live out his days in the back room like an old man.
“Thanks to that, I get to meet you like this, so it’s not all bad.”
Prince Edwin smiled faintly as he kissed the back of the countess’s hand.
“By the way, how’s the Count’s business going? I hear you’re quite skilled with your hands.”
“Oh, the supply lighters? Now everyone uses them instead of matches.”
The count had invented a device that produced flames with cheap gas instead of expensive oil. This revolutionary invention brought prosperity back to the Count’s household.
“Count Gepetto is truly a brilliant man.”
Indeed. A useful man, wholly focused on his business, oblivious to his wife meeting another man.
“So, as I said, you spread the rumor?”
“Of course, Your Highness. I casually let it slip to the match sellers.”
A rumor that a foreign princess coming to the empire would bring misfortune. Poor match sellers would become angry if their sales dropped, and that anger would eventually reach the duke and the princess.
“The rumor has already spread all over the empire… Ah!”
The countess cried out as she touched her head.
A small, cute bird had dropped a worm right on top of her head.
“This is troublesome.”
The prince personally removed the worm for the flustered countess.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“It’s nothing. I’ll look forward to our next meeting.”
He smiled warmly at her and took his leave, walking lightly toward the carriage waiting outside the forest.
Inside the carriage sat Flute, adorned beautifully.
“Have you taken care of your work, Your Highness?”
She tried to keep a naive smile, but deceiving the prince wasn’t so easy.
He removed his gloves, which had touched the worm, and tossed them outside the carriage.
“Flute, take it easy.”
His tone, polite with the countess, became light again.
Flute liked it. It felt as if she alone had become his sanctuary.
“But it was something I could have handled on my own, Your Highness.”
“I know that, my Flute.”
The prince opened his arms.
Flute, shyly lowering her head, nestled into his embrace.
Anyone who knew her true identity would be astounded at how adorable she appeared now.
“But a man’s nature is to desire to conquer what he cannot obtain, Flute.”
Shush—see? The prince patted her back gently.
Flute nodded cautiously, careful not to smudge her heavy makeup on his clothes.
“When we reach Duke Vashke’s territory, I’ll arrange a separate lodging for you.”
“Lodging?”
“Collect all the rumors circulating in the duchy while you’re there.”
In truth, it was just an excuse to keep her close.
‘If she meets Princess Isabelle, it’s bound to be troublesome.’
Even thinking that, the prince didn’t lose his dazzling smile.
Flute closed her eyes in his arms like a little rabbit.
After finishing her treatment, Cheimon left the reception room, leaving the duke and Isabelle behind.
They sat across from each other at the table.
“Did you have Hook’s watch, Princess?”
The duke asked matter-of-factly.
“I don’t recall that.”
Isabelle had to repeat what she told Cheimon. How could she know what the previous Isabelle had done before possession?
“But the tower master said the watch’s energy is in my heart.”
She tapped her solar plexus.
“Did you use it?”
Isabelle couldn’t immediately answer no. The ticking of the watch echoed in her mind from each reincarnation.
If she had really possessed this body because of Hook’s watch and experienced four reincarnations…
‘What if I used up all my items?’
The ticking had always counted down with each return.
The last tick she heard had been only once.
Isabelle glanced at the duke, pretending to look surprised.
No, don’t panic. Did I do it, or did the original Isabelle?
“Princess, I asked if you’ve used it.”
The duke repeated the question while taking her wrist.
Unconsciously, she had been biting her nails badly; bruised blood clung to their tips.
Isabelle hid her hand and replied calmly:
“I have my suspicions, but I’m not sure.”
Saying she was the real possessor and that this was her fourth life would get her nowhere. She remained guarded.
“May I check, Princess?”
“How…?”
“I will infuse my energy. If it’s genuine, it will respond to me.”
The duke rose and sat very close to her, making Isabelle too flustered to ask why it should respond to his energy—was he Hook?
He placed his hand over her heart without hesitation.
Instinctively startled, Isabelle leaned back slightly, but his hand was faster.
‘Too close.’
She shivered and turned her head.
Through golden hair, her white neck and fragile teal eyes were visible.
The duke was momentarily lost in it all.
“Duke?”
Isabelle’s voice brought him back.
“Close your eyes.”
His low voice trembled slightly.
Obediently, she closed her eyes.
Perhaps it was surprising that a woman, usually as sharp as a cat, would follow willingly.
Frowning, he applied his energy relentlessly.
Gasp! Isabelle’s lips parted.
Her heart felt like molten lava, warmth coursing through her veins.
Then,
A familiar sound filled her ears.
No way! Isabelle, who had been suppressing a moan, opened her eyes wide.
The golden watch she had seen at every death floated in the air like a hologram.
‘What is this?’
She reached out, but it could not be touched or made to disappear.
“The watch… it’s—”
“The watch?”
The duke tilted his head, then infused more energy.
Ouch, enough already. That hurts.
The energy coursing from his hand turned her heart into a furnace, spreading heat through her body.
Sweat beaded on her forehead and nose.
<Do you wish to terminate the contract?>
“I hear a voice asking if I want to terminate the contract from this watch.”
Isabelle pointed at the golden watch, but the duke couldn’t see it.
‘What would happen if I canceled it?’
A fragile hope sparked.
Thump.
Her heart raced like tiny lights turning on in her head.
‘Could I escape the fate of dying?’
Paradoxical, since she had accepted death so calmly before.
Whenever a rope descended from the sky, she always desperately grabbed it.
Now, she grabbed the man’s wrist in front of her.
She wanted to try everything.
“Are you alright, Princess?”
Feeling the rapid beating under his palm, the duke frowned.
His face was close to hers, one arm supporting the sofa where she was half-reclined.
“I want to terminate the contract.”
Was he the only one aware of their proximity? Isabelle’s focus was entirely on the watch.
“Do you know what you’re doing if you terminate the contract?”
“I don’t, so I have to try.”
But why is there no choice button? There should be a yes/no option. Perhaps it’s voice-activated.
“I want to terminate the contract.”
She shouted at the watch, but nothing happened.
Touchscreen, maybe?
Having lived a tech-savvy past life, Isabelle tried swiping and tapping, but still no reaction.
“This isn’t working. Put more energy into it.”
Fearing another command might be heard, she urged the duke.
Her body was soaked in sweat.
“You may feel pain, Princess.”
“I said try again!”
Focused on the act, they didn’t hear someone knocking at the reception room door.
Snow escorted his master into the room.
Cheimon flopped on the sofa instead of the fine bed, sticking his tongue out at Snow as he left.
“You ungrateful wretch! Look at you, abandoning your heaven-like master!”
“I was raised well enough to be served, but not to serve, Master.”
Then rest properly?
Snow grinned and quickly left for the corridor, heading to the reception room where the duke was.
‘Hmm? The front of the reception room seems quiet.’
Snow looked around and knocked lightly. No answer.
Instead, moaning sounds leaked through the door crack.
‘No way!’
Sensing something suspicious, Snow pressed his ear to the door.
He heard the princess urging her partner to try something, and the duke concerned for her safety.
‘Usually, she’d notice someone at the door immediately.’
But she was so focused, she didn’t even notice.
‘Our lord has truly become a man.’
Snow wiped under his nose and stepped away from the door, feeling a baseless sense of pride.
“Hey, you.”
He called a passing servant.
“Yes, Mr. White?”
“Tell the chef to prepare grilled eel for tonight’s dinner.”
Eel is best for energy.
“Eel…? The duke dislikes fish dishes.”
But the duke loved meat. Even on long voyages, he insisted on bringing meat, and now eel?
The servant shook his head, thinking he wouldn’t eat it.
“Today he will. Prepare one for the princess as well.”
“For the princess too?”
“Hmm… give her more than him.”
Judging from their conversation, she probably should eat more than the duke.
White shook his head and returned to the kitchen.
