The Crown Prince’s Courtesan - Chapter 100

“When only I was allowed to come this time, do you know how jealous Freya was? That child truly has a special talent for the piano, and despite being so busy, she pouted for ages because she wanted to come to the palace as well.”

Thinking of her adorable little sister, with her rosy cheeks puffed out in protest, naturally brought a smile to Marie’s face.

When Freya had asked whether she could go back to sharing the same family name as her older sister, Marie had barely managed to answer. She had reminded her to think about the sincerity with which she had spoken of her new adoptive parents—how kind and loving they were. Freya had looked genuinely happy.

And that was enough.

“I invited you because I missed you so much, Auntie. But I didn’t invite you here so I could burden you with all my worries and troubles. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course. And even if you did place some of those worries on me, that would be perfectly fine. You know that too, don’t you?”

A warm, comforting atmosphere settled between them.

After looking at her family, who seemed considerably more at ease, Marie cautiously spoke again.

“To tell you the truth, Auntie.”

Brushing a hand across her cheek, Marie smiled.

“I think he’s going to propose to me.”

“Oh my.”

At those softly whispered words, her aunt’s eyes widened.

Fidgeting with her fingers, Marie lowered her gaze.

She had not wanted to notice before he said anything, but Marie had always been perceptive.

The maids and attendants were clearly more nervous than usual. And Russell himself had been acting just awkwardly enough that she could not ignore it.

Soon, it would be Marie Alphrose’s birthday.

“Oh, my goodness. Marie, I can tell just by looking at your face what your answer will be. Would it be all right if I congratulated you in advance?”

Her aunt still looked dazed.

Becoming the Crown Prince’s lover was one thing. Even carrying his child was one thing.

But becoming the Crown Princess, and one day the Queen of this kingdom, seemed to have been a possibility too distant for her to truly imagine.

Ah, no. This won’t do.

Bringing her warm conversation with her family to an end, Marie decided that she had to go see him immediately.

To her lover, whom she could now visit whenever she wished, without asking anyone’s permission.

To her gentle Alpha. To her beloved Crown Prince.

Marie, her cheeks faintly flushed pink, whispered to the person who had been waiting while thinking that his pheromone scent filled the entire palace.

“Please send word to His Highness. Tell him that I wish to see him right away. And if the Crown Prince is surprised and asks why… tell him it’s because I miss him. Because I miss him very, very much.”

Ah, would Russell be pleased? It would be the first time she had gone to see him of her own accord without any prior arrangement.

She looked on with slight nervousness, only to see the head maid smiling more brightly than anyone else.

“I shall inform His Highness at once, Lady Marie.”

That smiling face would surely be the same as Russell’s answer.

* * *

He knew without even seeing her. The emotions of others felt close enough to brush against his fingertips. Marie was happy.

Perhaps spending time with her family truly brought her joy. Or perhaps life in the palace was slowly wearing her down.

He could not tell Marie this. Despite being the very one who had invited her family to the palace so she could see them, whenever she spent time with them, he became so anxious that he could no longer concentrate on his work.

How laughable. How pathetic.

Whenever Marie’s emotions and condition, which had gradually been improving, sank back into melancholy these days, Russell found himself at a complete loss.

What if her anxiety and sadness were because of him?

The arrogant Crown Prince, who had once feared nothing, had now come to fear many things: Marie’s slightest frown, the uneasy fluctuations in her pheromones, even the nightmares that made his Omega cry.

And after some time had passed…

“Your Highness, Your Highness. No, Lady Marie says she wishes to visit you. How shall I respond?”

Russell was taken aback.

Wasn’t Marie spending time with her family? Besides, she had never sought him out first in broad daylight before, always seeming reluctant to interrupt his schedule.

Suspecting something serious had happened, his heart nearly dropped. At that very moment, the attendant, who had been closely watching his expression, hastily added,

“B-Because she misses you! She says she wants to come because she misses you!”

It felt as though his thoughts had stopped halfway.