I Reincarnated, but I Think the Prince (Fiancé) Has given Up Chapter 3

T/N : Here you go! One serving of steamy hot romance, with a mixture of innocence, denseness, and jealousy, topped with a sprinkle of b*tchiness that will surely take you on a roller coaster of emotion!! (or at least that’s how it was for me)

Special thanks to Fkanzaki-san for helping me translate this chapter! ^^

The Duke’s Daughter 3

Fate is really mean

Christina put her chin on her hand while cursing the G.o.d of Fate.

Despite enduring her irritability during the tea party in the royal palace, after all it still ended with an impression as if Christina was blinded with jealousy and dirtied Clara’s dress.

Even though the Queen and Anna were watching from the beginning to the end, there was no guarantee that they would be able to explain accurately since they were in that kind of condition.

Rather than having a strange expectation, it was easier to think pessimistically.

As an evidence, since then, there has been no contact coming from Albert, no interaction at all.

In the one month time after that tea party, Clara and Albert have been steadily meeting over and over again, it was a period for raising his favorability rate. It was possible to visit the royal palace to study, and if she didn’t choose the wrong option during the conversation, she would be able to meet him by coincidence in the city and then have a short date.

If his favorability went up, Albert would start sending her presents, popular sweets, bouquet, and on top of that he would even give a jewel.

Christina who was unable to go on a date would start pulling some strings so Clara’s coach could not move, and to prevent them from meeting in the royal palace she would pay a visit the Prince on the same day. That was how it progressed inside the game, but of course Christina would not imitate such things.

Even if she did it, to make up for the unusable coach, the Prince were going to use the royal palace’s exclusive coach to meet her, and for the event of meeting in the royal palace, the Prince would choose Clara.

When Christina partic.i.p.ated in a tea party, sometimes, there would be talk about the Prince. A few days ago it was hair ornament, and on the other day  the present was confectionery. She would hear a very detailed information, which made people doubt whether someone was actually keeping a lookout on them.

Tonight, Clara would be invited by the Prince for a dance, and it was an evening party event where their relations.h.i.+p would be widely known. Later, on the terrace where she previously offered a drink to the Prince during the break, she would run into Christina. Seeing how they were alone together again, Christina flew into a rage, slapped Clara’s cheeks, then the Prince would nurse her, and their love would deepened more, that kind of melodramatic development.

Sitting beside the window and staring at the sky listlessly, Christina was softly called by the maid.

“Ojou-sama…… You should prepare soon”

Christina let out a sigh and gloomily smiled.

“You are right……”

The silver hair that glistened under the light coming in through the window, and the sorrowful amethyst eyes. Enlivening her white skin was a pair of coral lips, which contrary to her feeling, was gently forming an arc. Overflowing with charm, as if a perfect G.o.ddess has descended, her appearance could only be described as divine.

Overwhelmed by such beauty, the maid blinked and forgot to move, but she instantly remembered her own job and managed to prevent herself from being thought of as suspicious by her master.

 
According the regular practice, Alberto would come to the Duke Zariel’s house to pick up Christina.

After she was informed by the butler of his arrival and led to the entrance hall, there was Alberto, who was dressed in navy blue outfit today.

He quickly glanced at Christina from top of her head to the tip of her toes.

Today’s dress was using fabric weaved by silver and blue thread which seemed to gave off a peculiar l.u.s.ter. When seen, it would looked like a blue yet at the same time a silver dress. Since she has no time to do her hair, she let it flowed on her back, and chose a pearl hair ornament that she usually use.

He, with no different than usual, showed a gentle smile.

“Christina, it is a very beautiful dress today too……”

Looking at him, seemingly not remember anything about the tea party’s incident and kept his unchanging expression, she felt a burning sensation on her chest. During this one month, even though he could not make time to meet Christina even once, he repeatedly met Clara and sent her gifts.

How dare you put on such a refres.h.i.+ng smile

To prevent herself from making a ruckus out of it, Christina nonchalantly averted her gaze, and then did a curtsy.

“It is such an honor to receive your praise, Your Highness”

Now, she even hesitated to call his name. She couldn’t call the country’s prince, who eventually would be stolen by another woman, by his name as if he belong to her.

“…… Let’s go”

Alberto’s hand was held out in front of her eyes, and Christina gloomily took that hand.

Him who smiled while gazing down at Christina, who s.h.i.+ned like the Moon G.o.ddess, was not noticed by her at all.

Inside the carriage, were Christina and Alberto, as well as the maid and his attendant. The interior of the royal palace’s carriage was wider than the normal carriage, and even if four people rode on it, it would not be cramped at all.

Alberto, for some reason, made Christina sit beside him. Even though they would usually sit facing each other, which made the maid and the attendant a little surprised, but there was no sign to indicate that he care about such things.

The maid who wanted to sit beside her, criticized him ‘vulgar’, and from then on the mood worsened, although he previously would only sit beside her when she seemed to almost throw a tantrum.

Perhaps, he thought that Christina was in a bad mood.

She hated him, who might just neglect her if she was not in a bad mood and then engrossed himself with Clara, and to go to the party would only caused her to be depressed again.

Christina refused to meet his eyes and have any conversation, and s.h.i.+fted her attention to the scenery of the town seen from the small window.

“What did you do today, Christina?”

“…… There is nothing special”

When she replied curtly, a wry smile was heard. As if humored by a selfish lady, it was an adult laugh.

“Then, were you pleased with the flower I sent the other day?”

Come to think of it, a few days ago the butler told me that some flowers arrived.

When she asked whether there was any card attached to it, the answer was no, and after taking a glance at the flower she told him to remove it. The butler ask for a confirmation whether that was really okay or not, but her feelings had sunk after hearing the rumor that Clara was receiving such presents every week.

If the flower from Alberto were to be displayed in her room, she would cry from the bitterness and adoration of it. Therefore she feigned ignorance and requested for it to be displayed in a place that would not be seen by her.

Christina answered indifferently.

“Yes……”

“Really?”

“Yes……”

Suddenly she felt his breath close to her ear. When she tried to move away in surprise, his big arm circled around her waist, and pulled her closer instead.

Christina’s eyes were opened wide and stared at Alberto. The maid and the attendant also looked surprised.

“You Highness……?”

He charmingly smiled, and whispered softly at her ear.

“Do you remember, what kind of flower was it?

“…………”

Christina glossy lips, unable to answer, were slightly open. Moving his gaze to those lips, he muttered.

“I know it, I shouldn’t have sent flower……”

“──”

The petal-like lips were pressed tightly. Even if you regret sending the present, to express it like that, you are so cruel.

With a gentle looks, he gazed at Christina who suddenly paled.

“Next time, I will send you a different one, Christina. Just like what you love, a more expensive one.”

“── Did you think that as long as it is expensive I will be pleased?”

Everything that Christina who prefer the latest fas.h.i.+on chose certainly had high quality, however it did not mean that there were only expensive things. She never thought that something was good only because of its high price.

By Alberto’s way of speaking, it would seemed as if Christina was a fool who judged the value of a thing by its price.

He let out a chuckle and smiled.

Christina’s cheeks turned red and then she turned her face away. Her smooth white nape, was exposed in front of Alberto’s eyes.

Her silver hair was softly brushed away. Feeling the sensation of a finger touching her nape, Christina turned around, and in the next moment her body froze with a startle.

“You are such a bad girl…… To trouble me like this”

Alberto, while whispering in a soft voice, gave a kiss to Christina’s nape. The kiss on her nape was making a chu sound, and her body stiffened up from feeling this kind of sensation for the first time.

“Yo……Your Highness……? Ah……”

She tried to push his chest in a startle, but without minding it, he buried his face on Christina’s nape from the front. While being watched over by the attendants who were unable to react to the sudden situation, he kissed Christina on the back of her ear,  her nape, her neck, and her collarbone one by one, then finally to her who stiffened up and unable to react, he gave a kiss on her chest.

Looking at Christina who became bright red and kept on opening and closing her mouth repeatedly, he smiled bewitchingly.

“If you keep on being so cute……sooner or later, I’ll eat you, you know……?”

“…………Ye, yes……”

She didn’t understand what did he mean by eating her, but pressured by the black aura he emitted when he waited, Christina could do nothing but to nod in return.

When he kissed my chest, he nonchalantly groped my breast──                (T/N : Alberto……)

Although Christina was extremely in confusion, only the sensation of his touch on her breast was clearly vivid.

On the party, after she danced the first song with Alberto, as always she would dance with the other men.

Even though in the carriage he gave me kisses like a lover would, but as expected he is still interested in  Clara. Even now he, together with Emil, are chatting pleasantly with Clara.

She fell into a melancholic mood, lowering her eyes, she let out a sigh. Before her listless sigh and amorous expression, her dance partner gulped. When she heard a gulping sound, she raised her gaze and met his eyes.

To be preoccupied with another man while dancing, I have been impolite. Christina, with the intention to apologize, smiled gently.

The man opened his eyes wide and blushed.

It was a reaction that she often saw these days, but without minding it Christina kept on performing her dance steps. Somehow when they looked at me, the men will blush. Although she understand that it seems they are being shy, but she would also think even though I don’t have any intention to stare at them that impolitely, and each time, she would find it a mystery.

After dancing several songs, the tired Christina flawlessly refused her next partner and headed towards the direction of her friends. Cindy and Elena were looking here, but their attention were directed towards Christina’s rear.

“Oh dear, that person. She is still talking with His Highness”

“You are right. Even though the people who want to speak with His Highness are waiting around them”

Receiving a drink from the waiter, Christina turned around, and felt as if her insides were being gouged out.

This country’s prince, who possessed neatly jet black hair and gentle obsidian eyes, was completely mesmerized by Clara.

With her eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed, the beautiful girl who talked to the Prince with all her might was wearing a pink dress and a simple hair ornament today too

To the girl who spoke to him happily, Alberto was smiling gently and made agreeable responses. Although usually, if there were people waiting around, he would finish the conversation to a certain extent and move on to the next person, there was no sign of it today.

Christina tilted the gla.s.s and swallowed the sweet liquid.

“…… It must be a very pleasant conversation. There is nothing to mind. Moreover His Highness also looked very happy”

── Aah finally, Alberto-sama will be stolen away……

Even while she was seething with anger, Christina’s voice was not discomposed, and her manner was still as elegant as always. When she uninterestedly averted her eyes, the orchestra started playing the interlude for the next song.

Christina raised her gaze. Alberto was, in a very natural gesture, inviting Clara to a dance.

“Oh dear……”

“His Highness is the one that invite her for a dance……”

Her friends who raised their voices in a surprise, quickly held their mouths and awkwardly looked at Christina. Christina was elegantly smiling.

“It is not such an unusual thing. His Highness surely has times when he wanted to dance.”

Even though she showed a composed att.i.tude as if saying that there was nothing to be minded, her friends realized that she was only pretending to be tough.

He who never decline any invitation from the ladies, the first Prince of Noin Kingdom, Alberto. On the other hand, he was also famous for never inviting anyone for a dance himself. Other than Christina, he would never call out──.

For that kind of him to request a partner by himself, she must be a considerably important person for him.

Without looking at Alberto who was inviting that girl in the center of the hall, Christina turned her back.

“……I’ll go to enjoy the night breeze a little bit”

“Christy……”

Even though anxious voices were heard from behind, she didn’t turn around. If she turned around, even if she didn’t wish for it, her eyes would start searching for Alberto, and then she would be forced to see Clara who was dancing together with him.

── The cruel person who steal him away from me……

Clara who innocently beaming with smile. The young girl who did not know anything about the n.o.ble’s world and could only have naive thoughts that belong to the common people.

A person who is exactly the opposite of me──

For Alberto to be attracted to her was natural. As the prince of a country, he has always mingled only with the n.o.bles, and for that kind of him, she looked special. Since he didn’t know anything about the world of common people, her stories should all be enjoyable and interesting.

── It is not fair. The world she lived in is so different from me…

Since she was a child, Christina who was to be the country’s queen was trained hard at her education, etiquette, manners of the royal palace, pride as a n.o.ble to protect the people, as well as dignity. However, she still knew nothing about the life of the common people.

When she thought ── how do she become a queen who bring prosperity to her people, she eagerly studied, knew what state the country ought to be, even asked her father who was the Prime Minister to teach her. Even so, the field for the fight is different, and she was not reflected specially in those eyes.

If that’s the case, it is much better for me to just step aside.

The terrace connecting the garden and stairs of the mansion where the party was held,  was lit by outdoor light, and compared to the hall it was quite dim. However Christina was now grateful to the doubtfully visible light. Since my face surely is being distorted by jealousy right now.

Holding the gla.s.s with one hand, she gazed at the garden from the terrace’s railing, lovely pink flowers are blooming on trees and it was their best time.

“…… It is so beautiful……”

“Rather than thousands of blooming flowers, you looked far more beautiful”

Suddenly being called out, Christina looked up to the man standing beside her. He was a handsome man in his mid-twenties that possessed flaxen hair and amber eyes. His slightly drooping eyes, looked really gentle. Christina thought whether she has met him somewhere before, but she couldn’t remember.

Taking Christina’s feeling into consideration, the man laughed in a friendly way.

“I am the aide of Malt Company’s president, Franz Malt. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Christina-sama.”

“Ah……Have we exchanged greetings before……?”

Malt Company, presided by Count Malt, was a long standing shop competing for the t.i.tle of number one or two in Noin Kingdom. A shop dealing with various goods from jewels to rare fabric, today’s dress was also using that Malt Company’s product.

By naming himself as Malt, he might be the son, but Christina didn’t have any memory of meeting him before. However, if he has actually greeted her before, then she would have been discourteous to him. Lowering his eyebrows, he shook his head.

“No, today is the first time I greet you. I was often busy with the company’s matter, so I rarely attend this kind of evening party. Since the lady of Duke Zariel is extremely famous, I one-sidedly know you. I am really sorry to have impolitely called your name like that.”

His smile was very amiable, such that even if he called her name before she introduced herself, there was no unpleasant feelings.

Christina’s disturbed heart, was slightly healed, and she softly smiled.

“No, please do not mind it and just call out to me. My dress today was also the goods of Malt Company. I like it very much.”

He casually confirmed Christina’s dress and nodded.

“Certainly. That fabric is the one we handle, the latest product isn’t it? It is such an honor to have it worn by Christina-sama. But of course, in front of your beauty any dress will just go pale in comparison.”

As the famous first prince’s fiancée, Christina has a limited experience of being praised by an opposite s.e.x. The compliments she heard were only the praises Alberto said every time they met, and she had never heard any pick-up line before.

To that first experience, Christina’s cheeks were blushed.

“There is no such a thing……”

Since she didn’t know how to reply in the right way, she averted her eyes that openly showed bewilderment.

“My, I was only telling the truth, though. Even just now, seeing you gazing at the garden from this terrace, I reflexively called out to you. As you were illuminated by the moonlight, you looked like the Moon G.o.ddess herself”

“G.o.dd……”

To that exaggerated praise, Christina could only return an innocent reaction. When she blus.h.i.+ngly looked up, he nonchalantly combed Christina’s hair.

“This dress that was reflecting the moonlight, as well as your silver hair that was emitting faint light, created such magical spectacle. Even though I wanted to keep looking at that beautiful spectacle……I discovered your clear eyes were dyed in sorrow and I couldn’t just leave it alone, please forgive me”

“…………”

To that ‘sorrow’ word, she remembered her feelings.

When she thought of her beloved prince infatuated with Clara, her chest creaked. Christina’s eyes started to be blurred with tears. As she couldn’t show her tears in front of the man she was meeting for the first time, Christina turned her face towards the garden in a hurry.

“You really are…… an adorable lady……”

When she looked at him who muttered those few words, he gently smile and went away. When she thought that he who suddenly  went away was strange, on Christina’s field of vision, the figure of a black haired handsome man was reflected.

It was surely time for them to appear at the terrace. Alberto who was accompanied by Clara was walking this way. This was the scene where Christina, driven by jealousy, slapped Clara’s face.

Although she thought that maybe she should just behave like in the scenario, but when she saw Alberto’s gaze that stood still near to her, her face stiffened up.

A cold gaze that she has never seen even once before, was piercing Christina.

Clara who was beside him, with a gaze full of out-of-place expectation,  was looking at Christina.

“What are you doing……Christina?”

Even if she understand that she was being blamed, but she could not find out what was her fault.

Moreover, that person was unashamedly accompanied by a lady other than his fiancée.

Christina slightly knitted her eyebrows.

“Since I was tired after dancing, I was taking a rest here. How about you, Your Highness? To be together with such adorable lady, I really envy you.”

After saying it, her inner heart fl.u.s.tered oh no! She inadvertently spoke sarcastically. Alberto raised his eyebrows.

Alberto was trying to say something, but Clara opened her mouth faster than he could.

“Christina-sama. Who were you talking to just now? It seems you are very close with each other”

She who behave like a pure innocent girl, with voice devoid of any malice and adorable smile, let out words that would make others who heard it to misunderstand. Twitch, Alberto lowered his eyes to her.

Those words could only be taken as, Christina was having a secret meeting with man other than the Prince.

Christina sighed.

If that girl was a pure n.o.ble lady, Christina would judge it as a tactic to lower her reputation.

“……We were unable to greet each other the other day, weren’t we? My name is Christina Zariel”

To the sudden introduction, she repeatedly blinked in return.

“Errr……yes. Um, I am……Clara”

Between n.o.bles of the Noin Kingdom, even if they know the other party’s name, it was s courtesy to never call their name until they introduced themselves to each other. And properly speaking, until the person from higher court rank called out, the person from lower court rank must not speak first.

Whether that girl did not know such basic or maybe forgot about it, Christina forgave the fact that she was called out, however, that girl did not even give her family name.  Enduring the feeling of wanting to scowl at her, Christina showed an elegant smile on her face.

“Is that so, Clara-sama. Did you enjoy the evening party?”

“Ah, yes…… Errr, I was invited by His Highness for a dance. He was very good at it, and because it quickly end, I asked for another one. He seemed to be tired, so he invited me to the terrace.”

An adorable smile of a maiden in love was blooming.

I don’t like it.

To dare declare that you got to dance two songs with him to the fiancée who never dance with him for more than one song every time. Are you boasting yourself?

She looked to Alberto and smoothly averted her eyes.

Christina, for the sake of her pride, held her head high and flashed a smile.

I will never ── do such thing like slapping this girl.

“Is that so. I am glad you enjoy it. When he is talking with you, His Highness seems to loosen up. Thank you very much”

Clara repeatedly blinked.

“Errr…… Why is Christina-sama saying thanks……?”

── Does she not know, that I am his fiancée……?

Christina’s blood was boiling.

She couldn’t think of it as anything other than to purposely stirring up her feeling. If her innocent acts were all in order to show her as having no malice, what an unthinkable woman she is.

To endure her impulse to hit that girl, Christina tightly gripped her right hand with her left hand, and even so she still smiled.

“……You are right. For me to say thanks may be a bit weird. Your Highness too, please forgive my impoliteness”

While remembering that humiliation, she lowered her head to Alberto. After that she looked up, glared at Alberto who seemed to be slightly wide-eyed, and walked away. Stopping beside Alberto who put himself on guard, she then said.

“Because I’m feeling unwell, please excuse myself for leaving first. You Highness, please feel free to escort whoever you like”

“────”

As if having seen an unbelievable thing, he stared at her. Christina returned that surprised looks coldly and then turned her back on him.

I didn’t hit her. However with this, just like in the scenario, you will be able to escort her to her house.

──Fate, is really something that won’t always go as we want.

With eyes blurred by tears, Christina left the hall with a graceful step.