About Your Pride and My Prejudice

Chapter 43: It’s Going To Be Quiet Dramatic

It was a cold rainy evening.

My mother appeared a little late at the dinner table. Waiting for my mother, I and Mrs. Kerney were talking about meat and shopping cart prices that Mr. Greg brought.

My mother opened her mouth.

“So…”

I was definitely sitting in front of the table, but I was nervous all over as if I were floating in the air.

“When exactly are you going to the Principality?”

To the point where I even got a mild dizziness.

“It’s two months later, mom.”

“Two months…..”

A candle on the simple dinner table was dripping with wax as if it were weeping silently.  The flickering lights cast a faint shadow from time to time over my mother’s pale face

“Melissa.”

My mother’s voice sounded strangely uneasy.

“Now, I won’t laugh at you even if you’re scared. You—”

“I’m not afraid.”

It would be a lie if I said I was not at all afraid of a completely new challenge. However, I hurriedly replied because I thought I had to show a firm appearance to my mother who was worried about me studying abroad.

My heart was pounding hard because I wondered if I was caught in Mrs. Kerney’s eyes.

“No matter how my daughter is, I didn’t expect your to be selected at all.”

“…so do I.”

My mother’s words didn’t hurt me because I’m not young enough to be hurt by the obvious facts.

“But, since it happened……. I don’t think I should stop your dreams with marriage anymore.”

“…….”

I stared blankly at my mother with my lips open. She wasn’t always healthy, but her face seemed to be very thin. I realized once again that time flies frighteningly fast.

“I wrote a letter and sent it to your father’s unit. Your father…… Shouldn’t he know?”

“Yes…”

“I’m sure your aunt will be happy to hear it, too. We’ve been indebted to her for a while, so I’ll say hello.”

My mother cut the omelette in half, reciting in a low voice. Her voice was faintly filled with pride. I felt like she had mixed feelings.

“I’ll learn a lot as it’s a difficult opportunity to get. It bothers me that I have to leave home, but…… Time will fly by as quickly as ever, Mom.”

“Yes.”

“Even if I go to the Principality, I will live frugally so as not to ask for pocket money or anything else.….”

Clumsy words poured out. My mother looked at me.

“Don’t compromise, Melissa.”

“…….”

“Because the most important thing is to spend time there with no regrets.  It’s a precious opportunity that may never come back in your life.”

I was about to burst into tears at those words, but Mrs. Kerney, who was watching the mother and daughter with a nervous face, smiled.

“It’s also the most beautiful time for both body and mind.”

“What?”

I asked back awkwardly because I was somehow anxious about madam’s humorous tone. And without fail, my prediction was right.

“It’s okay if we suddenly have a Lunoain son-in-law! We would rather welcome him, Mel.”

“No, Madam, I’m studying……!”

“Originally, the Principality is famous for having a lot of stylish people. Right, Mrs. Collins?”

My mother, who took turns looking at the embarrassed me and the excited Mrs. Kerney, answered with a quiet smile.

* * *

There was nothing in the parlour of the detached palace that was not luxurious.

On the gilded ceiling, there were huge sacred religious paintings where you could feel the breath of a master, and countless candles were blazing brilliantly on a splendid chandelier reminiscent of a banquet hall.

The situation on the tea table with its delicate style was no different. The jade-blue teacup, which was clearly an item of the Hwa Empire, was flashing brilliantly.  A faint steam rose like mist from the fragrant tea.

“It’s been a while.”

Beyond that, the shape of her lips, like petals, curled up in a captivating way, caught Bentley’s attention.

“How have you been, your highness?”

“It’s thanks to you, Miss Elwood.”

Bentley adjusted his posture to sit down, while curling his eyes.

“I think it would be great if you could treat me a little more comfortably.”

“How could I?”

There was an oddly pretty and melodic  voice. In fact, everything about her was like that. Like a coveted flower that attracts both bees and butterflies.

Bentley couldn’t understand that Alan, a distant relative of Monica Elwood, seemed to have no interest in her. As Alan who doesn’t reveal his true feelings, he was half convinced that the two of them were already some kind of partner.

Not long ago, when he learned of the existence of an ordinary woman, he had to dismiss his suspicion.

I still don’t know if my close friend’s cold obsession with Melissa Collins is love, or some kind of sadism to play around with……

For him now, the most important thing is to focus on the reality ahead of him.

Monica was as beautiful as a flower and had enough culture to seem like she was the precious lady of a famous family, but she did not feel like a quiet woman at all. She didn’t even seem willing to hide that fact.

‘At least this night she came to me alone…….’

In fact, in recent years, the king’s surveillance of his deviant behavior has become severe. After sunset, the king’s servants surrounded the prince’s carriage. As a result, it has been a while since he couldn’t go on a ‘night walk,’ due to this he couldn’t stand it anymore.

The prince slowly crossed his legs, not taking his eyes off Monica’s plump lips.

“I think drinking alcohol at a night like this would be better than tea, Ms. Elwood. If you don’t mind—”

“No, your highness”

Monica smiled and whispered softly.

“I’ll drink next time.”

It was a clear rejection, but he was not offended by the attitude of promising the next time. Rather, he smiled leisurely. Thinking that he might finally be able to hug her next time.

“More than that, I want to tell you why I came here first..….I’m in a hurry.”

This kind of development was familiar. An explicit gaze like a hungry street cat, like when the street women who recognized him as a prince came to him lovingly, just to take advantage of him somehow.

Bentley laughed as if he had been waiting.

I’m willing to hang out with you and whatever it is, I am willing to give you as much as you want.

He was willing to be deceived again and again if he could just fill himself in those soft and fragrant arms of hers.

“As much as you want.”

“Your Highness…… Do you know where Alan is?”

But her answer completely deviated from the prince’s expectations.

“When I went to the office, they said he had already returned, and he wasn’t in the mansion. He said he got a villa.”

“Oh…”

The prince, who was a little embarrassed, let out a wide smile.

“What should I do about this, Miss Elwood. I don’t know where Sir Alan is either.”

“Aren’t you his close friend?”

“Are close friends as close as family?”

Monica had a somewhat resentful expression on her face as Bentley gracefully sipped his tea after he had finished speaking. Her teacup was left untouched.

“We’re not a family.”

“Ah, it’s true that you’re actually closer to him than others because you’re a distant relative. But Sir Alan said, you’re a family—”

“Your highness, I’m going to be his wife.”

Only then did the prince’s eyes, which had been curved as thin as a snake, open wide.

“So your highness has to help me. Did he ask you not to let me know about his new home?”

“…….”

I got it completely wrong.  

The prince smiled sadly and gently touched the tip of his sharp chin.

Looking at the situation, the woman in front of him seemed to be unilaterally courting Alan. Alan doesn’t seem to think of her as more than a family member, as he said earlier.

“There’s no woman who knows him deeply, no woman who can fully embrace him…… there’s only me in the world.”

It was an unexpected development, but there was no doubt that it was a very interesting situation. Due to Alan’s personality, he won’t look twice at something he doesn’t want so the red-haired beauty eventually will be the heroine of the tragedy.

It’s going to be quite dramatic.

“So you have to help me as a close friend, your highness.”

“Hmm.”

Bentley was lost in thought for a moment as he saw Monica, who seemed somewhat desperate. He was sure that she doesn’t know much about Alan’s new hobby, but should I tell her?

The prince thought for a moment, and when he saw Monica sitting in front of him and biting her lip, there was suddenly blood gushing. Before bringing up Alan’s story, she was so relaxed and noble, but now she’s pitiful.

If she is going to be the heroine of a tragedy anyway, I should side with Monica Elwood for now. 

It would be perfect if she was so heartbroken that she would gain comfort in the arms of the prince

No matter how great his interest in Alan Leopold was, the prince was also a man who was sympathetic to the eye-catching, seductive beauty. She’s no humble average woman.

‘He is not going to kill me if I say it. If you ask your family with a face that looks like you’re going to cry, a man’s heart is weakened,’

His pale lips drew a long arc that was covered by his hands.

“I want to help you. I mean it. Miss Elwood deserves to be with him.”

“…….”

“I don’t know where Sir Alan’s villa is, but I’ll tell you something else I know.”

Monica’s blue eyes suddenly widened.

“……If it’s something else.”

“It seems that my close friend has a new hobby. He often shows up with rosy hair that resembles you.”

Bentley’s dark gold eyes, who was holding the teacup, narrowed strangely. As if relieved by his words, the woman regained her fascinating smile.

“If it’s that wig, I gave it to him as a gift. As you can see, it looks just like me.”

“Indeed.”

“I wanted Alan to be free sometimes.  A whole new look. I don’t know if it’s possible since he is going to the Principality soon, but I don’t know how suffocating he is living here in the Kingdom of Sorne.”

It would be nice if he could come. Monica, who muttered in a gentle voice, lifted the teacup. It was a face that seemed to be thinking about something that was too lovely to contain to only her thoughts

Bentley was sad, but he felt the evil desire to see that beautiful face soaked in tears.

Because all beautiful things shine even more when they are hurt.

“Oh… Going for a walk in disguise is not his new hobby.”

The prince continued, pretending to be a little embarrassed.

“You know Miss Elwood, but he is very….because it’s special.”

“…Of course, your highness. With all due respect, even if you give me all the kingdoms, I will still choose him. So, what is his hobby?

“A person.”

“…..What?”

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Monica, who was sweeping her red hair, froze.

“Your highness, that kind of joke,”

“That’s too… She’s a woman.”

The prince added with his arms folded slowly. From now on, it was the most interesting scene.

“She has no resemblance to you at all.”