【 Prologue – The Hanging Prince 】
“Let’s stop dragging on.”
Esadien looked carefully at the woman who was sitting opposite him.
Although they had met countless times, he looked at her as if he were seeing her for the first time.
Her small face, small nose, plump lips, and light-colored eyebrows all suited her well.
‘She was like when we first met… There’s nothing else.’
However, her usually bright, sky-blue eyes were now squinting as she looked at him.
Just the thought that she wasn’t showing him the kind smile she gave to the attendant who brought their tea made his heart sink.
While Esadien swallowed his pain, his companion grew impatient and urged him on.
“Say something. I came out because the Prince kept asking me to meet, so we’ll have to wrap it up today.”
Just thinking about it again made her teeth grind. This damn prince followed her wherever she went, clinging to her annoyingly. He would occupy a seat at parties where he wasn’t even invited and wait until she stood up.
“Minuelle.”
Minuelle.
Upon hearing her name coming out of Esadien’s mouth, Minuelle Karinen, the youngest daughter of Duchess Karienen, let out a deep sigh openly.
“I’m sorry, Your Highness. We’re not on a first name basis, so please refrain from using my name like that. It makes me uncomfortable.”
“Why…. Is that so? You’re my fiancée, Minuelle.”
A tendon sprang up on Minuelle’s fine forehead for a moment. Subsequently, a delicate hand wrapped in lace gloves slammed on the table.
“That’s right! I’ve told you to break off the engagement, break off the engagement! Don’t you know what breaking the engagement means?”
Despite the fierce glare from Minuelle, Esadien steadfastly kept his gaze on her. He had long erased the word “breakup” from his dictionary. However, Minuelle was about to burst with frustration. She felt like she was just bamboo or something.
“Oh, really! Just do it youself! I don’t like the moment when I’m in a relationship with someone like you, let alone to marry you. Let’s break the engagement. Break the engagement! Break! The engagement!”
Minuelle spoke rapidly for a brief moment, like the sound of popcorn popping, and took a deep breath. Her shoulders moved up and down as she exhaled, and her light pink hair flowed down. As her hair fell, Esadien’s hand, which was about to brush it away, was firmly pushed away.
“Don’t touch me!”
Minuelle’s face, which looked at him coldly, overlapped with her former appearance.
“Wow. You’re so handsome. I can’t believe this person is my fiancé. I’m glad I’m still alive….”
On the day they first met, Minuelle blushed while looking at him as if she was possessed.
“Your Highness, today too, I miss you again.”
Minuelle smiled brightly.
“Your Highness, I love you!”
Minuelle who hugged him without hesitation. Why didn’t he realize the preciousness of that sweet affection at that time? Why did he push her away?
“Minuelle….”
Esadien’s voice trembled, unable to bear the weight of regret.
But Minuelle pulled out a piece of paper from her arms and shook it in front of Esadien’s nose, regardless of whether he regretted it or not.
“Stop calling my name and sign the engagement annulment paper. Now!”
“No.”
After hearing incomprehensible words, Minuelle’s head tilted to the side, unable to understand.
“What?”
“I said no.”
Minuelle’s head tilted in the other side. Having heard the same words twice, it didn’t seem like her ears were faulty.
Why? Why do you say no?
“Ha… why, did you break your arm or something? You look perfectly fine.”
As she made sarcastic remarks, Esadien asked solemnly.
“Will you forgive me if I break it?”
As she touched her forehead, Minuelle let out a tired laugh.
“What nonsense…”
However, the fleeting glimpse of Esadien’s face was more serious than ever before. As she had spent time observing him, Minuelle realized that it was not an empty promise and he made an effort to speak in a calm and composed voice.
“What are you saying like that? And even if you break your arm, I won’t fall for it.”
“Minuelle.”
“I told you not to call me by name.”
Esadien couldn’t stand his heart pounding and bit his lip.
‘What should I do to get your heart back? Will you forgive me for my mistake?’
Esadien leaned his upper body forward and approached Minuelle, his chest barely touching the top of the macaron tower that was stacked more than ten stacks.
“I like you.”
“What…”
The contract of engagement annulment fell from Minuelle’s hand.
“What are you saying now….”
While she was so surprised, Esadien continued to confess in a desperate voice.
“I love you. I realized too late.”
“Now I….”
Minuelle’s heart rose and fell greatly. It was once an unexpected word for her, but now the more she thought about it, the higher her blood pressure rose.
“How can you be so sure about that?”
“Sure?”
“I realized that what the Prince said was right. Love is an uncertain feeling. If you turn around, it’s over.”
Ah. Esadien, who was hit by the words he had thrown in the past, closed his eyes tightly. If possible, he wanted to go back to that moment and throw a stone at himself.
“But you told me about those feelings. And didn’t you even say you would wait for me until I was certain?”
“No, so what, is that my fault?”
I’m really listening, go on.
Just before Minuelle exploded again, Esadien shook his head quietly.
“You’ve tamed me, Minuelle.”
His ocean blue eyes, breathtakingly beautiful, became moist with desperation.
“So don’t abandon me…. Can you accept me one more time?”
His face slowly moved closer to Minuelle’s.
‘I mean, he’s damn handsome….’
It’s a thing of the past that she liked about Esadien. Saying “no” to him is not a word that would come from the depths of her heart.
However, even after her affection has faded away, his beauty still shines so brightly that it gives her goosebumps. For a moment, Minuelle was stunned, but when she saw his mysterious golden eyelashes fluttering, she suddenly snapped out of it.
“Don’t, don’t use your beauty!”
She pushed away Esadien’s face with the palm of her hand and expressed her irritation, which she couldn’t hide, at herself for being momentarily captivated by him.
“Did the carriage left? Really! How ridiculous!”
If she stays like this, she might get involved with Esadien again.
She was going to end it neatly, but at this point, it seemed that it would be better for her just to fold her mind neatly.
“Never mind. I won’t beg you to sign the engagement annulment paper anymore, so try living alone somewhere for the rest of your life!”
“……”
Esadien squeezed her little hand, which pushed him away. He buried his cheek in her hand and murmured lowly as if he didn’t feel humiliated.
“If I don’t agree to break off the engagement, you won’t be able to marry anyone else either.”
“Oh, I don’t care if I don’t get married. I’m going to scratch the handsome men from all over the country and live happily ever after.”
I’ll live my life in high society, build a mansion in a faraway place, and enjoy my life. I already have land picked out. Hmph.
Minuelle, who snorted, stood up from her seat, shaking off her hand.
“Oh, and I don’t like sweets? And yet, seeing the set up of this table…..”
Her sky-blue eyes scanned coldly over the macarons and chocolate pie. Esadien’s heart sank. It was a clear mistake. Minuelle had mentioned that she liked mango, so he had prepared a dessert with mango added.
“I can feel very well that the Prince is not very interested in me.”
“Minuelle, this is….”
“It’s okay, never mind.”
She didn’t want to hear anymore. Minuelle cut off his words at once and stood up from her seat. Despite her lovely appearance from head to toe, she was a person who wouldn’t change her mind once she determined. Her looks were just like her father’s, but her determination was inherited entirely from her mother, Grand Duchess Karinen.
“I’m leaving now. It’s been dirty, so please don’t contact me or anything again.”
“Minuelle.”
“Oh, don’t hold out at other people’s tea parties without an invitation anymore.”
Finally, Minuelle bowed her head and gave a cold farewell before turning away. However, she had to stop after a few steps. It was because she felt a hand grabbing the edge of her dress.
“Minuelle….please…”
Esadien’s voice that followed was wet as never before.
With a groan, Minuelle closed her eyes. It reminded her of her older sister’s friend who had secretly called her…… in other words, the request of Crown Princess Lumiere.
“I’m ashamed, but I have no choice but to ask you this because he’s my younger brother.”
‘I’m sorry, Sister.’
Minuelle muttered to herself.
“Please break up as gently as you can.”
The Crown Princess had asked her to do so, but she made the Prince cry and knelt.
With a sigh that she couldn’t count how many times she had done before, Minuelle turned around.
“Get up.”
Esadien lifted his wet face. A faint hope flickered in his eyes. He had thrown away his pride when he tore up the first engagement annulment letter. All that remained for him was the thought of catching Minuelle.
“Minuelle…..”
Despite being told to stand up, he remained on his knees and called her name. Which only raised Minuelle’s blood pressure.
When she pointed to the chair with a frown, Esadien hesitated for a moment before standing up and sitting in the chair.
“Wipe it.”
Minuelle also sat next to him and handed him a handkerchief. But to her surprise, just when she thought his tears had stopped for a moment, Esadien’s eyes became teary again. It was a moment when a deep sorrow exploded.
“No, why are you crying again? Wipe it off.”
Then, Esadien clung to her and kept calling her name, leaning his head on her shoulder.
“Minuelle, Minuelle…….”
“Oh, really.”
Minuelle gave up, did not push him further, only making a groaning sound.
The soft scent of rose like the color of her hair calmed him down. Esadien, who was a little relieved, slightly rubbed his face. One of the reasons he couldn’t give her up was this warmth.
‘I can’t afford to throw away my clothes. As soon as I get home, I will ask the maids to wash it twice.’
Warmth? Of course, it was a misunderstanding on Esadien’s part, not knowing about Minuelle’s inner feelings.
💧
Thank you for reading!
just my type of read… 😈