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Chapter 106 – I’m the Crown Princess, right?
Shortly before Kiehl’s big announcement, the ladies gathered around Bella and exchanged greetings among themselves.
“When is Miss Hailey going?”
“I plan to go the day after tomorrow. Since my parents’ house isn’t close, I’m going to stay for a few more days while I’m back at the Imperial Palace.”
There were many ladies like this. Facilely, the Imperial Palace also understood their intention and gave them a few days to prepare for their departure.
‘When is Rosanne going?’
There was no way Rosanne knew about the novel, but in a way, Bella took away her destiny, so she felt a little sorry.
‘…If she fails to use the potion, she should have told me right away.’
So she tried to rationalize her sorry feelings.
‘Thinking about it, she kicked her own luck.’
As she thought, Bella slowly put her thoughts back together.
‘Wait, now that I think about it… it seems so out of the blue.’
If he hadn’t mistaken it for a potion, would they have never kissed?
Bella had been suppressing the thought of wanting him out of jealousy. To Kiehl, she had been with him since she was young, so she must’ve been like a sister and also a mother, so what made him kiss her?
She thought, biting her fingernails.
What Kiehl said before their kiss was apparently…
— “…Pretty.”
Then, the reason why Kiehl kissed her.
“…Because I am pretty?”
Bella felt the sudden silence around her and slowly lifted her head. It was full of voices just a moment ago.
‘…Why are they so calm all of a sudden?’
Most of those gathered were doubting their ears. Was it that Lady Cruel was really ‘pretty,’ in her own words so that she was worthy of being the Crown Princess?
Bella pulled herself back and asked Jenkins quietly.
“What’s wrong with the atmosphere?”
“…Miss answered.”
“What?”
Duke Merken held his daughter’s hand tightly and glared at Bella.
“If the Crown Princess was simply chosen because of beauty, they should have held a beauty contest in the first place.”
Only then did Bella roll her eyes and grasp the situation.
‘Ah… they were talking about me.’
Jenkins poked Bella in the side.
“Ugh, Miss if you answer like that, it would only damage the Young Master’s image.”
“Are you on my side or Kiehl’s side?”
Bella coughed a few times and raised her hand.
‘Wait…’
She didn’t know what it was, but she had to fix it.
“I think you misunderstand.”
At that moment, Kiehl and Jenkins exchanged glances with each other and pondered. Was it better to leave her or stop her?
“Of course, it’s true that my beauty is beautiful enough to be bewitched.”
Saying so, Bella smiled seductively as she brushed her hair back.
“I was saying that my heart is pretty.”
“Miss, that’s a bit—”
Jenkins sighed and shook his head. He thought, ‘It’s ruined.’ However, surprisingly, the ladies who followed Bella came out in support of her words.
“Of course. Lady Bella understands others’ feelings very well.”
Not really. She was just pretending to listen.
“She consults countless ladies and is one with a broad heart. Of course, her looks are also outstanding!”
Iwer did all the love counseling, and Bella just said, ‘Break up.’ Even in life counseling, she only consistently said, ‘Just do what you want to do.’
“That’s right, all the ladies who participated in the contest would agree if Lady Bella became the Crown Princess.”
Whatever the truth, Bella rubbed her hand under her nose as her allies chatted beside her.
‘They’re more reliable than I thought.’
Nevertheless, Duke Merken did not stop and accused Bella.
“However, no one would accept a person who does not know the realities of the empire as an empress.”
And then, Kiehl cleared his throat a few times, telling them to be quiet. When everyone was silent, he spoke in a low voice.
“Didn’t you guys hear the answers she gave during the first competition? Is there anyone more objective than Lady Cruelle?”
“That…”
“The same goes for the nursery school in the Empire. You guys weren’t even aware of it at all.”
“But then, to His Majesty…”
“Besides, she saved my life. What more can I say?”
When the topic of saving Kiehl’s life came up, Duke Merken had no choice but to keep his mouth shut.
“And I think you guys are misunderstanding something…”
As he continued, Kiehl smiled though his brows furrowed slightly.
“…I decide on my own wife.”
Everyone became solemn. Did the Crown Prince choose from among those who had been sifted through the second contest in the first place?
Bella also nodded her head.
‘Yes, the person to marry has to decide. Who are they to tell him what to do?’
She crossed her arms and glared at Duke Merken.
“Lady Bellatrice Cruelle.”
Bella was startled when Kiehl suddenly called Bella.
“Come this way, you’re now supposed to be next to me.”
As Jenkins pushed her from behind, she huddled over to Kiehl.
‘Ah… I am the…Crown Princess, right?’
As she moved closer, Kiehl gave her the same smile he always had. Bella was embarrassed to see his face again, so she glanced the other way and wiggled her fingers.
‘Ha… I’m not even Rosanne.’
It was always frustrating seeing Rosanne being passive, but now that she was in a similar situation, it made her go crazy.
“Bella.”
“Huh?”
“Why are you avoiding me?”
He held her hand tightly and tried to clear his throat, pretending to be calm.
“Me…?”
“Look at me.”
Bella turns her head to Kiehl, but her gaze keeps turning.
“Look at me.”
“No, because the trees over there are very green.”
“….”
“How interesting. The trees are green…”
“There is something more interesting.”
“What, what is it?”
“Last night…”
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Bella quickly put her hand up to cover Kiehl’s mouth.
“I’m not curious.”
However, as he only smiled and blew a breath on her palm, Bella had goosebumps all over her body.
‘Driving me crazy…’
…Someone please save me from this awkwardness.
Perhaps her wish was granted, a person wearing the Fire Kingdom’s traditional garb greeted them.
“His Highness Kiehl. Greetings.”
“Do you want some refreshments?”
While Kiehl responded, Bella quickly put her hand down and wiped her palm on her dress.
“Greetings, Crown Princess.”
“…Bella, greet—”
“Ah, yes. nice to meet you.”
She didn’t know the person was talking to her because they awkwardly called her Crown Princess instead of her first name.
“I am very glad to hear that you have lived in the Fire Kingdom.”
The people of Fire Kingdom praised this and that a few times before carefully bringing up the main topic.
“Could the Crown Princess investigate the cause of the magic explosion in the Fire Kingdom?”
It was not difficult to investigate.
“Hmm…. If you don’t mind me, I’ll help.”
When Bella finished saying so, Rohan, who magically appeared, interrupted.
“Then, in your capacity as Crown Princess, please organize the Palace’s finances. Since Her Majesty’s death, His Highness Kiehl has been in charge of it.”
On top of that, people around her started adding words one by one.
“Ah… Lord Rohan, it seems that the palace attendants will also need a personnel change.”
“Then, is Her Highness in charge of planning the annual event now?”
“What a relief. Since His Majesty was involved in an explosion not too long ago, he is frequently fatigued.”
Bella stared at them a little blankly as they poured out their words.
‘…What is this?
“No… isn’t it only after we get married? I’m not the Crown Princess yet. Do you want me to start working?”
When she got a little angry, a woman courageously raised her hand.
It was the chief maid Jamie.
“Actually, His Highness Kiehl did all the work, so there was still a shortage of workers. I’m sorry… can you work first?”
At those words, Bella looked straight into Kiehl’s face, whom she had been avoiding. Similarly, Kiehl didn’t think that such a proposal would come out, so he was perplexed as well.
“So this was the purpose.”
“N, no…”
“To pamper me…”
He tried to make an excuse, but Rohan stepped up.
“If you don’t want to do it or if you can’t do it, I won’t stop you even if you quietly say that you’re quitting now.”
Kiehl bit his lip and glared at Rohan. He made it obvious that he didn’t like Bella regardless. At the same time, he grabbed the edge of Bella’s dress lightly, afraid that she would run away because she didn’t want to do it.
Fortunately or unfortunately, Bella fell prey to this provocation.
“Who said no?”
Bella snapped her index finger.
“Bring on everybody
As if to scare her, Rohan said, ‘If you can hold on, hold on,’ before listing the things the Crown Princess had to do.
“…You should do this.”
“Is it done?”
“There are more, though that’s all we need right now.”
“Well, this is nothing. Bring it all to my room later.”
Bella glanced at Rohan with disdain, and then she headed towards the chocolate fountain.
‘…Crazy guy.’
She needed a party.
In the middle, Kiehl kept telling Rohan to stop, but the more he did, the more Rohan laughed at Bella, saying, “It’s only this much?”
‘He was really looking forward to it, that b*stard.’
Nonetheless, that was fine. Bella had Jenkins, a 300-year-old slave.
‘It’s impossible if I’m alone, but I’ll work with Jen.’
She skewered the last of the marshmallows on a stick and dipped them into the chocolate fountain.
“Lady Bella.”
Hearing the call, Bella was spooked up and dropped her marshmallow.
‘…D*mn it.’
She turned around, a little annoyed.
“In the end, Lady Bella became the Crown Princess.”
As soon as she saw Rosanne’s face, she couldn’t be angry.
“…Yes.”
Looking at her swollen eyes, her sorry heart bloomed.
“By the way, Lady Bella.”
Rosanne paused, lowering her gaze slightly before she continued her words, “…Why did you say those things to me yesterday?”
“…Those things?”
“Your Highness doesn’t like Iwer. You said I was his destiny.”
For a moment, her sorry feelings disappeared like fog, and Bella gazed at Rosanne coldly.
‘With what mind did I give her the potion…’
Bella was the one who wanted this novel to go the way it was originally, so she was sorry for taking away her destiny. However, in the end, she thought she had no right to be angry.
“Lady Bella… do you like His Highness?”
Rosanne raised her firmly and stared at her with blazing eyes.
“I… I learned that the Crown Princess is in a position where they must distinguish between public and private affairs.”
Bella told her exactly what Kiehl had said to her.
“Then, don’t like him.”
Rosanne’s eyes which were gentle like a sheep gave off a venomous look.
…Surely she was not going to turn black like this?