The Crown Prince’s Courtesan - Chapter 31

Russell was unusually talkative today. Even the startled look on his attendant’s face made it clear that this wasn’t like him.

But Marie didn’t mind it. His low, soft voice was like melted chocolate — rich, smooth, and addictive. She found herself wanting to hear more.

And so, in a surprisingly pleasant mood, she made a point to respond actively whenever he spoke to her.

“Tell me if there’s anything bothering you.”

“What sort of things do you mean, Your Highness?”

“There must be plenty.”

He looked angry, like a sulking child, but in the end, he was asking for her opinion. No one else in the palace had ever asked her if there was anything bothering her. In that sense, it was the first kindness she’d received.

Still, it was laughable, wasn’t it? To be this happy over a passing moment of attention. Marie swallowed the rising joy and shook her head.

“Everything is wonderful. As I mentioned before, everything in the palace feels new to me. The lavish meals, the soft, beautiful clothes, the glittering accessories… they’re all things I never imagined having in my life.”

“They’re not yours.”

“Of course, I’m aware.”

“And yet you say you like them?”

His smile curled, cold and distorted, as if daring her to believe such things had truly been bestowed upon her.

But Marie smiled back.

“They’ll be mine to wear and use while I stay here, won’t they? Thank you for allowing me the convenience.”

“Is it that you have no greed, or that you’re simply stupid?”

“If I may, I’d rather be judged as the former. Because once I get used to having things… it’ll only hurt more when they’re taken away. As Your Highness warned me before, I’m well aware of my place.”

“Ha. You really don’t let a single word go, do you?”

“Was I being argumentative?”

Russell looked at her like she was impossible — like he wasn’t sure whether to laugh or throw his drink at the wall. Marie had to bite her lip to stop herself from smiling.

If she laughed now, he might very well storm out of the dining room.

But she wanted to see more of him like this — talking to her, really talking. It made her realize how long it had been since she’d had a conversation that felt like it mattered. Maybe that was pathetic, but she didn’t care. Her heart was beating in a pleasant rhythm.

And then, just as she thought things might settle, Russell raised his hand. The attendants bowed and quietly filed out, leaving the vast dining hall empty except for the two of them.

“Your Highness, what are you doing…?”

The silence pressed in, thick and suffocating.

A terrible thought struck her: Was he going to do something here? In the middle of the day, in this room? Her heart threatened to burst. His pheromones, rich and overwhelming, were already brushing against her ankles, curling around her feet. She curled her toes without meaning to.

“Marie Alphrose.”

Thankfully, it seemed Russell’s intentions weren’t what she feared. Though he had deliberately let his pheromones slip, his eyes roved over her with a look of vague dissatisfaction.

“What’s the deal with your pheromones?”

So he’d known she was a defective dominant Omega but not the reason why. Marie froze for a moment, then decided there was no need to hide it.

She smiled faintly.

“My mother.”

“What about her?”

“She drugged me. That’s what damaged my pheromone glands. I stopped going into heat and as a result, I can’t conceive.”

Russell’s perfectly arched brows rose, as if the answer was something he hadn’t even considered. Marie dipped her head slightly, confirming his suspicions.

“Your mother gave you d***s?”

Her smile didn’t waver.

“Yes. But I believe it was the only way she knew how to protect me.”

Russell suddenly scowled.

“Bullshxt. Who calls that protection? Are you out of your mind? That’s the kind of thing you get angry about. You curse it. You resent it. You scream until your throat tears.”

His firm tone had a sharp edge to it, like he was angry on her behalf, and didn’t quite know what to do with that.

Marie stared at him, listening quietly. Still, she couldn’t help but offer a soft defense.

“But I understand. She was afraid. I don’t remember everything clearly, but… my father was the kind of man who’d put her in a corner. She must’ve been desperate. It must’ve been hard. And blaming her now won’t change anything.”

“Tch. I suppose you’d forgive the enemy who tries to kill you too, wouldn’t you? But…”

Why was he so upset? The way he spoke — it almost sounded like he was on her side.

It felt strange. As if something fragile had wormed its way into her chest and started squirming there.

“What do you mean, you ‘don’t remember everything clearly’?”

“Ah. Well…”

Marie hadn’t meant to say all this. She rubbed the corner of her mouth, flustered. He wasn’t the talkative sort, nor a kindly confidant, so why did her words keep spilling out?

She gave in, feeling like she’d already lost.

It wasn’t even a real secret.

“I don’t have any memories from before I was ten, so I don’t really know what my father was like before then.”

“What?”

“It’s not just hazy like most childhood things. There must’ve been some accident… but I don’t remember anything from before that age. I think my mother was quite worried about it too.”

“…”

She’d assumed the crown prince would simply nod, perhaps raise an eyebrow at most, but instead, his eyes flew wide in what looked like genuine shock.

As if it was wrong for her not to remember.

As if she was the one forgetting something he needed her to remember.