The Princeliest Prince of All - Chapter 27
“Sera… what are you….”
The rag that had clung to his face fell to the floor with a thud.
Dirty water dripped from his golden hair.
In disbelief, Leonard alternated between looking at his soaked clothes and the rag, then lifted his gaze to Sera.
Though tears welled up in her eyes, her brown eyes burned with fury as she glared fiercely at Leonard.
“You goddamn fvcker.”
With a final curse, Sera spun around and stormed out of the library.
She heard Leonard and Emily calling her name from behind, but she covered her ears and ran down the corridor.
What? Marry for the sake of the country?
How could he call that a proposal?
She was too angry to think about the consequences—she had to act immediately.
If they wanted to execute her, so be it.
She was so enraged that she felt she could say anything, even on the guillotine.
As she got farther from Leonard, Sera’s steps began to falter.
As the storm of anger subsided, sadness washed over her.
She wanted to go somewhere to vent her frustration with more curses, but sadly, she had nowhere to go.
Sera headed weakly towards the annex.
Sera had never fully accepted this life as a new one.
Suddenly finding herself in a new world, not knowing who she was, she had ended up in the imperial palace.
Even after realizing this place was from a book, nothing changed.
For the past five years, Sera had been nothing more than a tourist.
Family, friends—everyone had no connection to the current Sera.
That’s why, in a way, she might have enjoyed being with Leonard.
Judging by the sense of loss she felt now.
Sera entered the only space that felt like her own in this world.
Her small room was cluttered with piles of clothes, almost like a refuge.
There were heaps she hadn’t even opened yet.
These were all sent daily by the tailor on Leonard’s orders.
Was that what Leonard had been thinking all along?
Using Sera to bear an heir and secure the throne.
Sera didn’t care if the clothes got wrinkled as she flopped face down on the bed.
She didn’t forget to lock the door.
I want to go back.
She had never thought that before.
Considering the accident, it was clear her previous life had ended, so there was no point in longing for it.
She had decided to live this new life joyfully, believing it was a reward for her past kindness.
And she had enjoyed it, as if she had been invited to an amusement park.
Is it closing time now?
Everything felt meaningless.
Knock, knock—
The sound of knocking made Sera pull the blanket over her head.
“Sera…?”
Emily’s voice.
Come to think of it, she might have been scolded for losing the bucket.
Sera, who had intended to ignore whoever came, had no choice but to speak.
“Emily. I’m sorry about earlier. But… I want to be alone.”
“Sera, are you okay? His Highness….”
“Tell him I’m not coming, and don’t call me.”
“Well, the thing is….”
Sera buried her head under the pillow.
She had acted out, but what should she do now?
She pondered Leonard’s words again.
Marriage.
Even if Leonard didn’t execute her for throwing dirty water at him, maybe a royal marriage wouldn’t be so bad.
The terms were good, after all.
If she had to live in this world, she might as well enjoy the wealth and power and live happily.
If Sera had never expected anything from Leonard, she might have been happy to agree to the marriage immediately.
She might have started by buying lots of jewels and dresses.
Knock, knock, knock, knock—
The knocking continued.
“Sera, His Highness is here….”
“It’s fine. Go away. I’ll talk to her.”
The voice Sera least wanted to hear made her back twitch.
She hadn’t expected him to come so soon after she had drenched him with dirty water.
She’d hoped he’d faint and only wake up tomorrow.
She didn’t want to see him now.
“Sera. Can we talk?”
Leonard’s voice was calm, without a hint of anger.
Or maybe he was so angry that he was calm.
Sera reluctantly got up.
If she thought about it rationally, what had Leonard done wrong?
It was just that she had gotten ahead of herself and been disappointed by his less-than-ideal proposal.
Given that she had thrown dirty water on a prince who hated filth, she should be thankful if he didn’t pull out her hair or worse.
Sera staggered to the door and unlocked it.
Creak—
The old wooden door opened, revealing Leonard.
Thankfully, he had washed and changed clothes, no longer looking like a soaked rat.
Without a word, Sera went back to sit on the bed.
“May I come in?”
Why is he suddenly being polite?
This annex is part of the prince’s palace, after all.
Without looking at him, Sera nodded.
Leonard stepped into Sera’s refuge.
The pristine leather shoes polished by his attendant were now dusted with dirt.
The path to the busy annex was always a dirt road, with not a blade of grass.
“Please, sit over there.”
Sera pointed to a chair in front of the tea table two steps from the bed, cluttered with her belongings.
It was far too late for politeness, and besides, the only place to sit in Sera’s room, aside from the bed, was there.
Leonard hesitated before sitting in the chair Sera indicated.
He glanced briefly at the dirty clothes hanging on the back of the chair.
“I’ve thought about it and—”
“I’m sorry. For cursing and throwing water.”
Sera interrupted, still not looking at Leonard.
She wasn’t trying to dig a hole. It just seemed like the realistic thing to do.
Leonard had done his duty sufficiently.
It was Sera who had been walking a tightrope, and the prince, though swayed, hadn’t crossed any lines.
With a unique sense of responsibility, he had proposed marriage first, so she should have been grateful instead of throwing dirty water on him.
Hadn’t the empress also said that Sera had no choice in the matter, as it was an imperial command?
“You may have changed your mind, but if you still want to, fine. Let’s get married.”
What’s the use of refusing?
