I Became Crown Prince's Wife
The Road to the Palace (9)

We looked around the square again. Many new stalls were built for the festival, but existing stores were also busy preparing for the festival, decorating storefronts, and setting up special events.

We went to the bookstore.

Unlike other places, the bookstore was relatively quiet. Since I was not used to reading yet, my attention was of course drawn to fairy tale books.

I picked up the fairy tale book closest to me.

It's called "Blessed Daughter."

I opened the book, and quickly regretted it.

On the first page are pictures of a blonde girl and a boy with an animal face, on their wedding day.

—A long time ago, a blessed princess and a terrible prince from a neighboring country were married.

It's a fairy tale about me and Blake.I tried to return the book, but I accidentally saw the last page.

Prince, freed from the curse, and become a handsome man. But in return, the blessed princess lost her life. The fairy tale ends with a scene where the prince is left alone as tears run down his face.

The shadow of the boy crying alone was so similar to Blake that my heart was sad.

"What books are you reading?"

I hurriedly shook my head and hid the book.

'It's okay. Come out.'

Other fairy tales also feature many titles like Beato or Monster.It's all about us.

"Yes, let's get out."

We left the bookstore. After walking silently for a while, Blake pointed somewhere.

“How about we go there?”

Blake's designated spot was a famous jewelry store that handled the most expensive jewelry in the empire.

I shook my head in a hurry. When I came to the palace, Blake had given me a lot of clothes and jewelry.

I tried to reject him back then, but I had no choice but to accept him because he had already paid for everything.

'I've told you before.I don't need jewelry.'

I'll keep going, and jewelry is a burden.I don't want to leave my mark behind. I just want to disappear secretly.

“Let's just see.”

'No.'

That's lies. As soon as we get in, he'll try to buy me whatever he wants.

“I want to buy a gift. Help me choose.”

'Gift?'

"Yes. Gift for a woman.”

The servants said the rumors about Blake and Diana's wedding were fake.

Blake's been with me ever since we got back to the palace. He stayed with me, except when he had to help the Emperor with his affairs.

If that were true, there would be a lot of things to be prepared for the wedding announcement, but there was no such thing.

So I made the vague assumption that it might really be a false rumor like the waiter said.

I was sure it was a false rumor when I came to the square with him today, but when I heard that he wanted to give a gift to another woman, I thought that I might have misjudged.

'...you want to give it to a woman?'

“I don't have a fiancee. This is for my wife.”

Blake answered immediately.

'...are you married again?'

“I've said it before. My wife's name is Ancia. Ancia Raelle Geracillion.”

He looked at me as he declared in a stern voice,

“There won't be anyone else.”

“……”

Blake grabbed my hand as we went inside.

No need to give gifts to his wife. As I was wondering what to say, I saw various rings in front of me.

There were already more than 10 rings in front of me, but the jewelry store staff continued to carry more and place them in front of me.

It was a luxurious ring decorated with diamonds, and the first time it looked like a wedding ring.

"Rose, what do you like best?"

Blake used to touch my ring finger a lot and he still does it today.

After entering Ser's body, my wedding ring disappeared. Now that I don't wear anything, he often draws a circle where the ring used to be with his fingers.

But I can't let him buy me a ring. I shook my head quickly.

'No.'

"Nothing?"

'Yeah, let's go back. It's late.'

If this was really a gift for someone else, he wouldn't have asked me to choose, but I couldn't say it either.

However, choosing a gift while pretending not to know is a bad thing.

"good. Then I have to buy everything.”

Blake looked at the owner and said so.

"All…"

He would really buy everything! I stopped him in surprise.

"Why?"

"You can't."

"You said you couldn't choose."

'That doesn't mean you have to buy everything!'

“Then, go ahead and choose. I wonder which ring Rose.” will choose

She smiled beautifully.

Is he really going to be like this? I never raised Blake to be like this!

I wondered but gave up immediately.

It's always been like that. I didn't teach him well because I couldn't bear to see him sad.

I always give her whatever she wants. Sometimes he's picky, but that's all. And there was never any reason to scold him.

When I remember the past, I glanced at the grown-up Blake. Blake tilted his head slightly to the side and looked at me innocently.

"Rose, pick one for me."

“…….”

"If you don't like it, will we go somewhere else?"

"No, I'll choose."

***

They said they would make a new ring and send it to the palace. This is why I didn't want to go to the store in the first place.

Blake forced me to go to a lot of stores when he tried to buy me something.

"I want to return the favor, because you helped me choose a gift."

Blake won't be out of the store until he gives me a gift.

'It's okay. That's late. Let's return.'

The purchase of the ring alone had already weighed on my mind. I don't want anything else.

"good. Let's go back."

Blake took my hand again.

***

"Where is Your Majesty, Melissa?"

Hans asked Melissa.

"Miss Rose and Her Majesty went to the square."

"Your Majesty is in the square?"

Hans surprised.

Blake going to the square came as a surprise to him.

Except for important events, political affairs, and information about Ancia, she never went out for personal reasons. Did he go to show Miss Rose around the square?

Whatever the reason, he was very happy.

Hans was actually very worried.

Blake is told that the door of darkness has disappeared so he heads towards the valley of chaos.

Just then, Blake's face was pale as he stood before her, right before she left the palace.

She looked similar to when she heard that Ancia went missing seven years ago.

And the Crown Prince had not returned to the palace for more than three months, so Hans was worried he would fall into deeper despair.

But now Blake was in the palace, and he was smiling broadly.

Of course, the only time he smiled like that was when he looked towards Rose, but Hans remained happy. Besides, he went to the square today.

Is His Majesty finally conscious?

But unlike Hans who was happy, Melissa's expression was grim.

"Melissa, are you worried about something?"

"Hans, does Your Majesty have a heart for Miss Rose?"

"Maybe."

Melissa sighed as she recalled Blake and Rose.

The Crown Prince suffered for a long time.

Only when his curse was lifted did he escape the insulting gaze.

But he didn't even enjoy it properly, and spent his entire days searching for Ancia until now.

Like Hans, Melissa also wants Blake out of her grief. They wanted to see Blake smile again.

A lot of time has passed. Now, they want Blake to forget about Ancia, meet a good woman and live happily.

But Miss Rose is not the right person.

“I think Miss Rose is a good person. I understand why he's so nice to her but.”

“We don't know his identity, and he can't speak. Not to mention, the scar is severe. If Blake chose it, people would definitely gossip about them.”

Even Professor Kendall, who was highly educated and treated students fairly regardless of whether they were nobles or commoners, was verbally abusive when she saw Rose.

Not to mention anyone else. It was clear that he would be ridiculed as a monster because of his appearance,

If Blake chooses to be with Rose, everyone will pretend to be worried but gossip about the recurrence of the curse.

"I want him to live well."

Melissa hoped Blake would no longer be ridiculed and suffer under the insults of the people.

He doesn't hate Rose. Rose is nice and beautiful.

He had no idea what Rose had experienced before, but he felt sorry for her because she was unable to speak and even suffered severe burns.

But if Blake chose Rose, His Majesty would definitely go through a lot of things that he did not have to go through.

“Hans, I'm too selfish..”.

When Blake is cursed, he thinks that the person who discriminates against looks is bad.

But now he disapproves of Rose because of her appearance.

"I know what's upsetting you."

Hans touched her shoulder as he comforted her.

"It's a good step if Your Majesty is here."

“We don't want more than that..”.

When Blake's curse is lifted, Hans, a servant, is honored for his contribution to the crown prince. Melissa is also his wife.

Edon was also given his own title.

But they can't be happy. The Crown Princess, who was loved by everyone, was not here. Ancia's void remained a huge wound not only to Blake but to others as well.

If Ancia did not disappear, they would become a couple that everyone envied.

Melissa sobbed as she imagined the shadows of Ancia and Blake if they became adults together.

Melissa thought Ancia had died, so she hoped Blake would meet another woman and find happiness again. But when he saw her being nice to another woman, he was angry for Ancia.

"Actually, I haven't been able to forget Your Majesty."

Melissa realized her feelings and wiped away the tears flowing with her handkerchief.