I’m Not Sorry But The Prince Will Marry Me Anyway
Chapter 136

Chapter 136: Chapter 136

"Oh, really! Even after getting hurt, you’re still saying that?"

"It’s fine. The injury isn’t too serious. I’ll just need to stay away from alcohol and dancing for a while."

"...."

"It’s a good thing you dislike dancing. Isn’t that right?"

Even in this situation, he’s joking around.

And strangely, a similar sentence slipped out of my own mouth.

"...I’ll practice."

"Huh?"

"Once you’re fully recovered, I’ll make sure to practice hard so we can dance together."

As I said that, I felt a ticklish sensation in my chest. It was like someone was tickling me, and I felt my face turning red.

Tristan, who had been leaning against the wall, sighed deeply.

"Hah... Then, I guess I’ll have to work my hardest to get better."

"Don’t work yourself to death!"

"...I see."

"Huh?"

"Hearing you worry about me makes me feel a bit happy."

"Do you know how bad that sounds?"

"I can tell you’re not actually being mean. That’s enough for me."

"You can say that once you’re actually better!"

I almost hit him on the back, but I stopped myself. Tristan found it amusing and kept laughing, clutching his stomach as he tried to suppress the pain.

He’s such an idiot.

...But I didn’t expect him to be this much of an idiot.

I grabbed his hand and placed it on my shoulder, speaking up.

"Your Highness. I’m just a friend of Rick, so you don’t need to worry about me. The past I learned about him, I believe, won’t affect our current friendship."

"I see..."

"I skipped a lot of details, but the most important thing is this. Thank you for saving my friend. And please, one more favor."

"A favor?"

"Please help my fiancé recover quickly as well."

"...Haha."

"I’m serious!"

"I know."

It’s ironic. Just a few hours ago, those two were at each other’s throats, and now I feel so relieved.

...No, honestly, it’s not just relief I’m feeling.

I took a deep breath, and as I opened the emergency exit door, Tristan smiled.

"If I’m going to dance with you, I’ll have to get better as quickly as I can."

The feeling of my heart racing, far from being ’comfortable’... it wasn’t bad at all.

Harvest Month, October. A busy time for farmers, priests, traders, and nobles, each with their own reasons.

The palace was also busy preparing for the annual festival, but the work heating up the palace right now was related to the assassination plot against the Prince of the Blue Atrium Lord.

There was enough evidence. From Tristan’s bloodstained, torn clothes, to our testimonies, and the criminal’s confession.

Rick had reported it to the King first.

"When Your Highness and Sir Arthur came to save the Blue Atrium, Count Braum asked me to drive Prince Tristan into a dangerous place. He said he would let me meet my grandfather if I did."

"I thought my daughter, Leyra, had run away because of an embarrassing pregnancy. It wasn’t until 20 years later that Count Braum told me 90% of it was a lie, and 10% was the truth. In fact, Leyra ran away because she was carrying Count Braum’s child, and he had wanted them to live in peace. But when Prince Tristan learned of Rick’s existence, he tried to sacrifice him, fearing Rick would interfere with his succession. So, he told me to take revenge!"

With this, some soldiers quietly left for the Blue Atrium to arrest Count Braum. Of course, Count Braum wasn’t foolish. He would likely run away as soon as he realized that Tristan was still alive.

That’s why a public notice was sent out to the nobility of the Blue Atrium, warning them that if they hid him, they would face punishment.

"Everything’s turned upside down because of one trashy guy."

Of course, things weren’t peaceful in our region either. Especially at our house.

My mother shouted.

"This isn’t the right color! The royal family and our family are uniting, so the royal blue has to be mixed in. It should look like just three drops of blue dye have been added! But right now, it looks like two drops!"

"Understood, my lady. I’ll order new curtains."

"We don’t have the money for that—! Ugh, never mind. Fine, order new ones. Are the silverware enough? Bring only the ones that are clean, with no cracks!"

It was chaos.

Anyone who saw this would think we were preparing for a wedding at our house.

"Mother, isn’t this preparation for a family gathering? It seems like you’re overdoing it."

"Not all relatives are on our side. If the relatives start saying, ’That family is a bit lacking to marry into the royal family,’ it’ll crush our pride. Remember that, Dory!"

"Yes. But about the curtains you mentioned earlier... wouldn’t it be fine to just order the curtain ties in blue to represent the blend of Redfield and royal family colors?"

"Oh... that might actually be a good idea. Alright, order new curtain ties instead!"

It seemed like I had helped. I leaned back on the sofa, chewing on a madeleine with a sense of pride.

But peace didn’t last long.

"Hey, Dory. Are you eating before getting the dress fitted?"

"Ah, sister."

Grace had come over to help Natalie with her wedding preparations.

She had been talking to Mother for a while, and then Father, and now it was my turn.

I dusted my hands off and spoke up.

"As for my wedding dress, since my wedding is still far off—"

"No, I mean the dress for Natalie’s wedding."

"Can’t I just wear an existing dress?"

Grace sighed. Even a sister who had her wardrobe raided by her younger sibling wouldn’t look that gloomy.

"Dory. This is your first marriage to the royal family, and it’s a gathering of people who will become your family in the future. Do you want to wear the same dress you’ve always worn?"

"I don’t think they’ll remember every single dress I’ve worn..."

"It’s a matter of mindset. And also, you were opposed to planting a new tree in the garden, right?"

"It’s autumn now. Digging up the garden would risk killing both the old trees and the new ones, which would be a waste. Father agreed with me."

"...Dory. Can I take a look at your room for a moment?"

"Huh? Ah, yes."

I led Grace into my room.

It was a modest room with few clothes and cosmetics. In one corner, there were scattered books, as if a squirrel had hoarded them.

I thought she might scold me for it, but instead, Grace brought up an unexpected topic.

"Dory. Have you heard how much your parents were asked for as a dowry by Prince Percival?"

"I don’t know. I only know it was quite a burdensome amount..."

"That’s why I’m here. They asked me to help lend some money."

"Are they struggling enough to borrow money?"

"It’ll take some time to liquidate the land, so it’s just to buy some time. It’s not too much of a burden."

"...Still."

"Your parents are trying everything to make this marriage work. But..."

Grace pointed at me.

"You don’t seem the slightest bit interested in this marriage."

"What are you talking about? I really do care about Natalie’s wedding!"

Even though my feelings were in opposition to my parents.

But unlike my parents, who probably didn’t think I would defy them, Grace surprisingly pierced straight to the core.

"You’re hoping this marriage doesn’t happen, aren’t you?"

"What? Of course not!"

"Even the way you’re trying to save money... It’s not so much for the family finances, but to stop money from being wasted on a marriage you don’t want."

"...."

"Honestly, I know you wouldn’t like someone like Prince Percival. Especially since he’s the complete opposite of the type of man you like, like Prince Tristan."

"I— I don’t like Prince Tristan—"

"You’d probably say you’d wait for him with undying loyalty. Always with that look on your face, like, ’You

"You’d probably say you’d wait for him with undying loyalty. Always with that look on your face, like, ’You all don’t understand anything.’"

The usual response I had prepared was blocked. In my panic, only nouns came out of my mouth.

"Sister..."

"Don’t pretend you don’t understand."

Grace’s gaze turned cold. It was all the more surprising since she had always been kind to the youngest.

But that sense of surprise wasn’t mine alone.

"Dory. You used to be cold sometimes, but... it seems like it’s getting worse lately. It’s like you’re observing us from the audience as we perform on a stage."

"..."

"I haven’t told our parents. I don’t want to be the sister who slanders their youngest daughter."

"Sister..."

"No matter what you think inside, there’s nothing I can do. But please, let us feel that you’re truly part of our family."

She patted my head lightly and left the room. It was such a light gesture, devoid of any affection.

...I felt a hollow ache, as if my chest had been carved out with a knife.

I think I understand what Grace meant.

Hadn’t I already felt the same way on the day of the horse race?

The bitterness of returning only half of the love my mother had for 21 years—though not in the way I had wanted—while she looked at me, and the bitterness of only being able to return half the love to her.

Grace, Mother, Father.

I wish I could love you too.

...And honestly, I know it.

I know that the 21 years of love you gave me will never truly be mine. That belongs to Dorys Redfield, the original, who left with just a few lines of setup.

I can’t make 21 years of time mine with just a change in attitude.

"What should I do..."

I know how to comfort myself.

Here, I’ve gained Natalie, Maria, Rick, and friends in the social circle. Isn’t that already enough of a valuable time?

Muttering to myself, trying to suppress the loneliness, my eyes landed on a book lying on the desk.

***