Brooke's Priority
Chapter 22's

My second priority. I am Shin Yoo Ri who was reincarnated as Brooke Cohenherb. I decided to change my priorities by deleting ‘forgetting my identity as Shin Yoo Ri’ and replacing it to ‘living my life as a Brooke according to Shin Yoo Ri.’'s will

There is a reason why history can never be separated from the whole of human life.

I thought it would be better if I forgot my old life and started a new one. Without regret and without wanting to return. I finally knew it was impossible for me to do. I will still depend on my old life, that's what made me strong until now.

There was a life in the years I spent as Shin Yoo Ri.

In order to live a new life that was better than my old life, I decided to find a man who fit my taste without caring about the love debate that was fixed only on Carlo. My mind is much stronger than Brooke's body is mine. I will fight against this curse of love (that is how I call my present situation).

“You look happy,” Carlo stopped his footsteps. “Are you thinking of a task from Sir Frank again?”

I was driving Carlo around.

“Ah, the task is complicated,” I replied. I wonder how Carlo could think that Sir Frank's assignment was something that made me happy. However, he must also be astonished because I constantly daydream and ignore him. “Sorry, it seems I'm thinking a lot.”

“Many thoughts? Me too,” Carlo smiled a little and I was starting to get nervous again. “I envy you who can join the hunting event.”

“You can join the slave group. I'll protect you, Your Highness.”

“Wah, I'm so glad to hear that,” Carlo let go of his deathly smile again and started walking.

Stop smiling, please.

Carlo's smile tormented me. I seemed to be fascinated by her every time she smiled and kept trying to take control of my rationality. I admit Carlo was very handsome with his bright blonde hair, his lips were perfect, his height was above average and his shoulders were wide.

“You can count on me, Your Highness.”

Charles smiled again. This time, his smile seemed to harbor a bit of sadness that he could not describe. Carlo reminds me of the story of him being poisoned when he was ten. From then on, Carlo was unable to train as physically strenuous as most boys. Carlo has the same weak physique as Darshan.

“I'm so envious of you,” he said. “Lucas is also great.” I then let Carlo talk while adjusting my footsteps to him. “I never received a handkerchief during a hunting event. They're afraid of offending me.”

Charles was not allowed to attend any hunting events and received his formal education at court.

“I'll have Grace make one for you,” bargain.

“It is not necessary until such,” Carlo rejected my offer. “How about you just embroider it?”

“Hamba is not good at embroidering, Your Majesty,” I replied honestly.

“Call me Carlo.”

“Good, Prince Carlo.”

Carlo smiled happily as I called his name. I watched him for a while and then stopped my footsteps.

“Sorry if I am presumptuous,” I said half hesitated to continue my words. “But is Prince not tired of smiling constantly all day?”

In the eyes of the people, Carlo was nicknamed the smiling Prince. And I don't know why I'm uncomfortable seeing that even though my heart is happy (there are two opposite feelings in me that I believe are Brooke's feelings and my rationality).

Carlo did not immediately answer me and looked at me for a long time. I immediately apologized once again for my inappropriate question.

“I'm just surprised. You ask the same thing with someone I know well.”

“Prince must be close to him.”

Hearing Carlo's answer, I guess they must be very familiar. Friendship between men can be considered close if they look like a lover (often causing misunderstandings) or a couple who want to divorce (often causing unnecessary commotion).

“Prince befriends a good person.”

“We take it for granted,” Carlo said as he looked up at the blue sky like his eyeballs. “I'm so jealous of your great Father. Duke Cohenherb.”

“What?”

Since then, I don't care if he's jealous of me or Lucas. It is only natural that we envy people whose age is not much different from ours. Carlo left me at a loss for words when he said he was jealous of my father.

“Your father is a war hero. The one who ended the war. And guess who started the war? That's my great-grandfather.”

I understood and said nothing for a while. I feel less good at entertaining others.

“You do not need to blame yourself for it, Prince.”

Destiny chose them as your parents. So it wasn't your fault.

I could not speak such words of comfort directly.

“The people who made me so,” Carlo said in a soft voice like I was muttering but I could hear it. “The last war also happened due to my father's greed. I'm jealous that your father managed to overcome the mess my family always caused.”

I know the King who is now incompetent and disrespected by his people. Shaeviro takes this opportunity to expand his power while making the King like a puppet.

“I'm also weak. The people must hope I don't become the next King.”

Somehow that statement made me sad. “You are wrong, Prince Carlo. If you think so, you just have to win the hearts of the people. I know you won't cause a war like your Grandpa or Dad. The Prince only needed to act differently from the previous King. I will continue to support you.”

I remember the night I had my first dream about Brooke's life. When I saw Carlo cry, I saw myself crying in a previous life. Weeping over the tragic lifeline that was destined in a weakling like us. I also realized that we had one thing in common. We are not blessed to have a good family.

My father in the past gave the same wound that Carlo received.

Afterwards, Carlo chuckled. “Your words comfort me. Thank you, Miss Brooke.”

I am grateful that Carlo considers my loyalty as a word that can comfort his tired heart. “Ya, Prince,” sahutku. “I also want you not to envy my Father, Prince. If I were him, I would do anything to stop the war. My Father and I have no ambition for a power that does not belong to us.”

“I get it, Miss Brooke.” Carlo then turned his back to look at the two bodyguards who were following us while keeping a certain distance. “You can leave me here. I want to go for a walk alone.”

I say goodbye at Carlo's orders.

“Oh yes, Miss Brooke,” Carlo said suddenly. I turned around after two footsteps. “After a time, it's good we talk casually instead of formal talk like this.”

I nodded in agreement.

Carlo was looking at Brooke who was stepping away from him.

“It turns out he's very character. I want to eliminate it more and more.”

Carlo holds a principle. Kill before it becomes more troublesome.

*****