Märchen For A Villain - Chapter 19

Chapter 19

*****

 

“Why didn’t the Empress appoint the Prince as Crown Prince?” 

 

The Countess looked at the Prince’s face as if possessed, and muttered, “Probably because of the  High Priest’s prophecy.”

 

Some junkie cursed that if the Prince succeeded to the throne, the empire would be destroyed.

 

So, his only brother was appointed Crown Prince, and the Prince was pushed to the background.

 

“It’s not bad to be able to meet the Countess here thanks to that.”

 

Prince Edwin smiled as he kissed the back of the Countess’s hand.

 

“How’s the Count’s business going?”

 

“Ah, supply lighters? Now everyone is using them instead of matches.” 

 

Instead of expensive oil, the Count invented something to make a flame with cheap gas, and with the breakthrough invention, the Count entered a period of revival.

 

“Count Geppetto is truly a talented person.” (*Geppetto in Pinocchio)

 

“Yes, he’s a really useful talent. A clever man who doesn’t know that his wife is dating a stranger and focuses only on business.”

 

“So, did you spread the rumors as I said?”

 

”Yes, Prince. I spilled it on the match sellers.”

 

Rumor has it that a bad Princess from a foreign country gets married to the Empire and her luck is lost. Poor match sellers will be very angry if business is not good, and it will flow directly to the Grand Duke and the Princess.

 

“Rumors have already spread in this empire….Ah!”

 

The Countess touched her hair and screamed.

 

A cute little bird had dropped an earthworm on the Countess’s head.

 

“Hey, that’s going to be difficult.”

 

The Prince removed the earthworm from the Countess, who was making a lot of noise.

 

“Thank you, Prince.”

 

“This is nothing. Then I look forward to the next meeting.”

 

The Prince smiled sweetly and said goodbye to the Countess.

 

And he walked lightly to the carriage parked outside the forest.

 

Inside the carriage was a lovingly adorned Flute.

 

“Did you see the work, Prince?”

 

She had a bright smile that knew nothing, but it was difficult for her to deceive the Prince.

 

The Prince took off his glove that had touched the earthworm and threw it out of the carriage.

 

“Flute, take it easy.”

 

His tone, which had been polite to the Countess, became lighter again. Flute liked this. She felt like she was his only refuge. 

 

“But it was something I could do too, Prince.”

 

 “I know that, my Flute.”

 

The Prince spread his arms out.

 

Flute lowered her head shyly and hugged him softly.

 

If anyone who didn’t know her identity saw her now, it was so lovely that it could be deceiving.

 

 “But it is a man’s nature to want to conquer what he can’t get, Flute.”

 

The Prince patted Flute on the back. Flute nodded cautiously, careful not to let the heavy makeup get on the Prince’s clothes.

 

“When you arrive at Grand Duke Bashke’s estate, I will give you a separate lodging.”

 

“A separate lodging?”

 

“Let’s collect all the rumors floating around in the Grand Duchy.”

 

In fact, he didn’t need it. It was just an excuse to keep Flute away.

 

‘If you meet Princess Isabelle, you’ll do something annoying.’

 

Even with such thoughts, the Prince did not lose his dazzling smile.

 

Flute closed her eyes in his arms like a little rabbit.

 

***

 

After completing the treatment, Chaiman left the parlor, where the Grand Duke and Isabelle remained.

 

The two sat facing each other at the table.

 

“Did you have Hook’s watch, Princess?” 

 

The Grand Duke confirmed the truth in an emotionless tone.

 

“I have no memory of that.”

 

Isabelle had to repeat what she told Chaiman. How would she know what the original Isabelle had done before she possessed her?

 

“But the tower lord says that the energy of the clock is in my heart.”

 

Isabelle tapped her forehead.

 

“Did you use it?”

 

Isabelle could not immediately say no to the Grand Duke’s question.

 

She remembered the sound of the clock that she heard every time she regressed. If she possessed this body because of the “Hook’s watch” and repeated four regressions…… 

 

‘I used up all the items. What should I do?’

 

 

The sound of the second hand diminished like a countdown with each regression.

 

And the last time she heard the second hand sounded only once.

 

Isabelle pretended to turn her head and glanced sideways at the Grand Duke.

 

‘No, don’t be scared. Did I do it? The original Isabelle did it.’

 

“Princess, I asked if you’ve ever used it.” 

 

The Grand Duke asked the same question and grabbed Isabelle’s wrist.

 

It must have been that I bit her thumb badly without realizing it. A lump of blood was visible on the tip of her fingernail. Isabelle hid her hand behind her back and answered calmly.

 

“I can guess, but I’m not sure.”

 

He wouldn’t believe it even if she said something like, “I possessed Isabelle, this is my fourth return.”

 

Isabelle was as quiet as she could be.

 

“Can I check it, Princess?”

 

“How….what?”

 

“It will be helpful. If it were real, it would respond to my energy.”

 

The Grand Duke got up from his seat and sat close to Isabelle. Isabelle, bewildered by the action, couldn’t ask why it would respond to his energy, or if he was Hook.

 

Without hesitation, he reached out near her heart.

 

Instinctively startled, Isabelle pushed her upper body back, but the Archduke’s hand was faster.

 

‘Too close.’

 

Isabelle shook her shoulder and turned her head.

 

White neck exposed through sunny blonde hair. Blue-green eyes that look dangerous.

 

The Grand Duke was instantly captivated by the sight of the close-up Princess.

 

“Grand Duke?”

 

When Isabelle called the Grand Duke, who was in a daze, he spoke belatedly.

 

“Close your eyes.”

 

The low-pitched voice trembled slightly.

 

Isabelle meekly closed her eyes.

 

Was it surprising that the woman who had set her thorns like a cat would follow his instructions obediently?

 

The Grand Duke, with a frown, said that she might feel sick, and poured out his strength mercilessly. 

 

Ah! Isabelle’s lips parted.

 

It felt like her heart heated up, and lava was rushing through her veins all over her body.

 

At that time,

 

 

A familiar sound was heard in her ears.

 

No way! Isabelle, holding back her moan, opened her eyes.

 

Every time she died, the gold watch she had seen floated in the air.

 

‘What’s this?’

 

Isabelle reached out her hand in the air.

 

The watch, which floated in the air like a hologram, did not touch her hand and did not disappear.

 

“Now, the watch… .”

 

“The watch?”

 

The Grand Duke tilted his head and gave more strength.

 

“Oh, stop it. It hurts.”

 

“It’s only good power.”

 

The energy that flowed through his hand ignited Isabelle’s heart, and hot blood spurted through her body.

 

Sweat was forming on Isabelle’s forehead and the bridge of her nose. 

 

 

“I hear the watch says, ‘Do you want to cancel the contract?’ Here.”

 

 Isabelle pointed to the gold watch in the air, but it seemed invisible to the Grand Duke’s eyes. 

 

‘What will happen if I cancel it?’

 

An uncertain hope sprouted.

 

Thump. Thump.

 

It felt like little light bulbs were lit in her head every time her heart beat.

 

 ‘Isn’t it possible to get out of the setting where I have to die?’

 

It was very contradictory. She thought she had accepted death calmly.

 

When a rope comes down from the sky, her hand rushes to grab it every time. 

 

Isabelle grabbed the rope and the wrist of the man in front of her.

 

She wanted to do anything.

 

“Are you okay, Princess?”

 

The Grand Duke frowned as he felt a peculiar beating under his palm. All of a sudden, his face was too close to Isabelle, and one of his arms supported Isabelle’s back who was half lying.

 

“I want to cancel the contract.”

 

Was it only the Grand Duke who was conscious of the distance from her? Isabelle’s attention was focused on the watch.

 

 

“I don’t know what it is, so I’ll have to try it.”

 

No, but why is there no select button? If it was asked if you want to cancel the contract, shouldn’t there be a ‘yes or no’ button?

 

Maybe voice recognition?

 

“I want to cancel the contract.”

 

Isabelle shouted at the watch, but nothing happened.

 

Is it a touch activation?

 

Isabelle, who had lived a smart past life, turned the watch sideways and clicked it, but it still did not respond.

 

“I can’t do it. Put in more strength.”

 

Another command may be heard, Isabelle urged the Grand Duke. 

 

Isabelle’s body is drenched in sweat.

 

 “I think the Princess is going to be sick.”

 

“Try it one more time!”

 

Was it because she was concentrating on the action?

 

They didn’t even hear someone knocking on the door.

 

****

 

Snow took his master to his room and left him there.

 

Chaiman lay flat on the sofa instead of the bed. And he spoke as Snow left.

 

“Hey, you ungrateful b*stard. You don’t even treat your heavenly master well.”

 

“I was raised to be respectable, so I can only receive hospitality; I don’t know how to be hospitable, Master.”

 

Then feel free to take a good rest.

 

Snow grinned and quickly ran out into the hallway.

 

And he headed to the parlor where the Grand Duke would be.

 

‘Hmm? Somehow, the parlor is so quiet.’

 

Snow looked around and knocked on the door. No answer came back. Instead, a groan escaped through the crack in the door.

 

‘No way?!’

 

Sensing a suspicious atmosphere, Snow quietly put his ear to the door. He could hear the voice of the Princess telling him to keep doing something and the voice of the Grand Duke worried about the Princess’s well-being.

 

‘The Grand Duke would know right away that someone is standing outside the door normally.’

 

However, he didn’t seem to care at all, perhaps he was too focused.

 

‘Our lord has also become a real man!’

 

Snow swept under his nose, moving away from the door. 

 

(*He is crying happy tears because he thought his boss is having s*x with the Princess 😂)

 

And he wiped his eyes with a sense of baseless pride.

 

“You, there.”

 

Snow called a servant passing by.

 

“What’s going on, Sir White?”

 

“Go to the chef and tell him to grill eel for dinner.” 

 

Eel is the best way to recharge energy.

 

“Eel…? The Grand Duke doesn’t like fish dishes.” 

 

The Grand Duke enjoyed eating meat. Eel for those who always bring meat even on long voyages.

 

The servant shook his head saying the Grand Duke wouldn’t eat it.

 

“He will eat today. So, prepare something for the Princess, too.”

 

“Meal for the Princess?”

 

“Hmm, give more to the Princess.”

 

Based on the noise the two made in the parlor, the Princess should eat more food to recharge.

 

Snow White shook his head and went back to his room.