The Crown Prince’s Courtesan - Chapter 50

Russell’s gaze wavered. He turned his head sharply. And there she was. Marie Alphrose, standing as she always did: quiet, expressionless. And yet somehow, her face looked unusually pale.

‘Did she hear us?’

No, that was impossible. She wasn’t close enough to have heard the conversation from this distance. But she must have been startled by what she saw: how close he was leaning in toward Lady Arwena. That much was clear.

He saw Marie part her lips slightly, then begin to slowly turn away.

He almost stood up to follow her. In fact, he was already halfway out of his seat. Ridiculous. He had no explanation ready, no excuse he could tack on, but still, he very nearly chased after her.

“Your Highness!”

He might have done it, had Arwena not snapped to attention and seized his sleeve with a wild gleam in her eyes.

“You wouldn’t actually leave me here to go after that whxre, would you?”

It was infuriating. But there were still things to probe from this woman. If she retreated now, curled up and disappeared, it would become even harder to dig up the truth about what had happened ten years ago when all the evidence and witnesses had already faded into dust.

Yes, this was fine.

It was he who was being swayed so helplessly by that Omega. Marie was always calm, always quiet. She was the kind of woman who only cried beneath him and even then, knew her place with a precision that was almost irritating.

So it would be fine. She’d let it pass without even a flicker of jealousy. That, too, was its own kind of bitterness… but Marie Alphrose would do just that.

Russell turned his head away. He had chosen the noble lady again. Just as he had at the ball, when he left Marie behind and danced with Arwena.

“Of course not. Why would I leave you, Lady Dietrich?”

“I knew it. I’ve always been certain that your heart is the same as mine…”

And that was when the first misstep was made.

When the line between them, already layered with scars, began to crack.

This foolish Alpha never realized it.

* * *

Something felt wrong, Marie thought.

Am I running? No, am I crying?

There were no tears, as if her heart had dried up long ago, but still, Marie kept wiping at her eyes. She ran wildly. And then, at some point, her legs gave out in front of the fountain, and she collapsed.

If only he had offered her an excuse, a word of explanation. But Russell had been the same as always. That cold look when he saw her — it had clearly asked, Why are you here?

She hadn’t seen him for days, and had merely wondered how busy he must be. That curiosity had taken courage. But standing in front of him had been that woman.

The duke’s daughter. Unlike her, she was welcomed by everyone as the future crown princess. They looked so perfect together that Marie couldn’t even muster a bitter laugh.

All she could do was realize it. That she was the uninvited guest.

“Since when has it been like this…”

If only she hadn’t come to love him. Realizing a first love — what a painful thing. She’d thought it was just affection, but no. Now grief and jealousy wrapped tight around her chest.

I wish there were no other Omegas by his side. I wish I were the only Omega who could receive his pheromones.

‘I realized how I felt… just in time to be rejected.’

Unable to contain the swelling greed inside her, Marie finally shed a single tear. Just one.

“Why are you crying? That hurts to see.”

Marie startled. She thought she’d been alone, but a stranger stood nearby, gazing at her quietly. He held out a handkerchief and gently wiped the tear trailing down her cheek. Then, he smiled — soft and warm.

His bright smile didn’t match the broad shoulders and well-trained body. Who was this man?