Reincarnated Villainess Does Not Want Revenge - Chapter 92
Translated by: ShinigamiTori
The Beginning of the Ball
In a corner of the training ground, there’s a comfortable resting place in the shade of a tree.
Normally, I would head over to the place without any hesitation, sit on the chair that was set up for breaks, and eat my lunch.
But now I can’t take that step.
In my hand, I have my lunch box prepared for lunch,
And in my line of sight was Prince Risel,
With the black hair I was used to seeing.
When Risel-sama noticed me, he smiled and came up to me.
“Marie!”
“…. Hello, Prince Risel.”
Prince Risel stopped in front of me and smiled bitterly as he touched my long, braided hair.
“Marie. I told you to call me Risel, right?”
“But….”
“Hey. I want to be called by your voice.”
Before dying of embarrassment, I make a sound.
“Risel…. sama…”
“Yes. Well done.”
He smiles at me.
Lately, I’ve been unable to keep up with Risel-sama’s pace, and my heart can’t take it.
The day after receiving his confession.
Perhaps he had anticipated that I would be conflicted, wondering if I should have lunch at our usual spot, so he came out of his way to pick me up.
“I hope you can forgive me for not telling you that I’m the prince. If possible, I would like to continue having lunch together like this.”
He apologized as if seeking forgiveness.
I couldn’t bring myself to refuse and just nodded, leading to the present moment.
I learned from Risel-sama that his black hair is a wig, which he wears when he’s incognito.
Also, due to the recent incident where I was attacked, he mentioned that I would have guards with me for a while, even though they may not be visible.
I look around in surprise, but I have no idea where they are. It seems like they’re trying to eliminate their presence as much as possible because they think I’ll be conscious of them, but I don’t know if they really exist.
“If I could, I would protect you.”
“That’s not…”
“I know. But it’s still frustrating.”
Risel-sama says that it’s a shame that he can’t protect the woman he loves by myself, but I’m happy.
Honestly, after being attacked, I was scared to be alone. The fear of having your body suddenly seized by force is not something that goes away quickly.
So, even though I couldn’t see them, knowing that I was being protected provided some comfort.
“Oh right. I had something I wanted to give to Marie today.”
As if remembering, Risel-sama pulled out a small box from his chest pocket.
“Would you please accept this?”
“Yes….”
It came in a simple box, so I took it without thinking, and I came to regret it afterward.
That’s because when I opened it, it contained a necklace made of sparkling gemstones.
The flower that inspired my name, the marigold, is sculpted in gemstones. I wonder how valuable this decoration is.
“I can’t accept this!”
I instinctively handed the entire box to Risel-sama, but he just put it back in my hand.
“Please take it. And, if you don’t mind, will you consider wearing it at the ball?”
“At the ball….?”
“Yes. The ball is just a few days away, and I want to be your escort and share a dance with you.”
“….”
“However, I understand that it’s not possible. Instead, I just wanted to give you a token of my adoration for you.”
With just a few days left until the ball, the inside of the castle was bustling with activity.
There are rumors that even factions that have remained silent until now are making major moves at the ball where Prince Risel’s partner might be chosen.
I don’t know if the rumor that his fiancée will be decided at this ball is true, but there’s undoubtedly more activity regarding potential fiancées than ever before.
“I don’t want you to get involved in the engagement commotion, even though I haven’t received a response from Marie yet. But…”
Risel-sama gently takes my hand and kisses my palm gracefully.
I froze on the spot, letting it happen.
“Please don’t dance with anyone else but me. If I see you dancing with another man, I won’t be able to resist whisking you away.”
“Yes….”
I unintentionally let out a weird noise.
“Does that mean you agree? You won’t dance with anyone else?”
His lips trail along my fingertips.
“Yes, I agree…!”
It’s inevitable; I reply with enthusiasm this time.
“Thank you, Marie!”
If he looks at me so happily and with such a big smile on his face.
I feel like I can forgive him for anything.
Ah, this person,
He truly has Tia-sama’s blood in his veins…
Seducing the other party like a little devil.
The way he expresses his pure feelings,
Weak as I am, I couldn’t reject it.
And so, in no time at all, the day of the ball arrived.
“Look, Marie! It’s amazing! Oh, it’s truly incredible!”
“Niki, calm down.”
Niki was excitedly looking around the grand hall, her cute billowy light blue dress swaying.
Inside, there are many women. In addition, there were male servants and the figures of knights often seen at the training grounds.
It genuinely seems like a mix of celebration and appreciation, evident in the presence of servants. However, most of them were maids who had come as prospective fiancées.
Since it wasn’t a formal ball, there was no need for invitations or having names called at the entrance, nor was a male escort necessary, so after changing my clothes, Niki and I entered the venue together.
“Marie, you look incredibly beautiful.”
“Thank you. Niki is also very pretty. It’s a pity your lover isn’t here.”
“That’s true~ But it’s fine. I’ll reserve this look for him until the wedding.”
I laughed at Niki’s cute comment.
“Hey, Marie. Did you borrow that necklace from the royal palace?”
“Uhm… no. It’s a gift.”
Having the necklace I received from Risel-sama pointed out keenly, I instinctively touched my neck.
In the end, I’m wearing the necklace as requested by Risel-sama.
“It’s so beautiful that it caught my eye. I’ve never seen gemstones shaped like flowers before.”
“Yes, I was surprised too. It’s my first time seeing something like this…”
“Huh? Could it be that it’s from the person you’re interested in? The one you’re having lunch together with.”
Come to think of it, I did talk to Niki about it.
That was when I still wasn’t certain that Risel-sama was the prince.
“… Yeah, that’s right.”
“Well! If that’s the case, maybe he’s here today? How about dancing with him?”
“…. We’ll see….”
I somehow manage to smile back at Niki.
At that moment, a fanfare echoes throughout the venue.
It’s a signal for the entrance of the royal family.
All eyes were on the entrance. First to enter were King Gray and Queen Tia. Following them was the appearance of Prince Risel from behind.
Fiery red hair. Gentle sapphire eyes with a small, serene smile.
It was the first time I had seen Risel-sama as a prince up close.
The childish smile he always showed now appeared surprisingly composed, almost as if it were a facade.
When Risel-sama lifted his head, I felt like our eyes met.
I couldn’t help but gaze nervously, my heart pounding. However, after Risel-sama quietly offered a smile, he directed smiles to others as well.
?
It’s only natural for a prince to do such things.
But there was a certain hollowness lingering in my heart.
‘Even though I knew that.’
Instinctively, I clutched the necklace at my chest.
‘Even though I knew Risel-sama was the prince…’
Why am I feeling so much pain in my heart?
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