The Crown Prince’s Courtesan - Chapter 91

It was hard to believe that those handsome lips had once done nothing but utter words as sharp as blades. Now, he was thoughtful and gentle.

‘To be honest, even back then, you were the only person who ever looked out for me.’

Although Russell would never admit it, she had not fallen for him because of his coldness, but rather because of the fleeting moments of kindness that slipped through despite it.

The offhand remarks he had made.

The anger born of concern.

The moments when he had become angry for her sake.

The fact that he was the accomplished Crown Prince and an exceptionally dominant Alpha had never been particularly attractive to Marie.

Even his dazzling appearance, while remarkable, had not been enough to make her fall for him.

‘He wasn’t always at his worst.’

It might have been the first time she had begun to waver because of him—when he had become angry on her behalf, insisting that what had been done to her, the destruction of her Omega pheromones by her mother, had been unjust.

In truth, Marie and Russell were still not the sort of lovers who spoke to each other often.

That was because they had spent far more time communicating through glances and exchanged pheromones than through words or overt displays of affection.

She knew that he was trying.

And so Marie, too, was gradually, little by little, letting go of the days that had wounded her and joyfully embracing the choice she had made to settle by his side.

She would be happy. She knew that she would be happy enough that tomorrow no longer frightened her, but instead filled her with anticipation.

“My lady, shall we go? His Highness is waiting for you.”

Escorted respectfully by the knights, she arrived at the place where he was waiting.

There, beneath the radiant moonlight, stood a man slowly smiling at her.

‘He’s beautiful.’

Once again, she was reminded of just how extraordinarily handsome he was.

Was that appearance the reason why Arwena had become so obsessively fixated on him and committed such madness? Not that Marie had any desire to understand the woman.

“Please, your hand.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Beneath the black hair he had brushed back, there was something almost sculptural in its perfection. Marie felt as though she were falling in love with her lover all over again.

And because of that, she felt a little regretful.

Thanks to their half-imprinting, he could undoubtedly feel every bit of the excitement fluttering inside her heart like that of a young girl.

The thought embarrassed her, and at the same time made her envious.

‘I wish…’

Marie bit her lip.

I wish I could feel your emotions too.

“…”

The moment she realized she harbored a desire she had never known existed, heat surged through her. She felt his hand tighten around hers.

The lingering gaze fixed on her undoubtedly meant that he had read the longing that had just surfaced in her heart.

As though enduring something, he furrowed his brow ever so slightly.

In the past, that tiny change in expression would have made her misunderstand, wondering if being with her had displeased him, and she would have fallen into despair.

But not anymore. Now, Russell was…

‘I think I know, even without being imprinted on you.’

He was restraining the heat rising within him.

Because the place his burning gaze lingered on was her lips.

As though he wanted to pounce on her and kiss her at any moment. Marie squeezed her eyes shut.

‘Ah. Okay.’

She felt dizzy. The clear scent of a verdant forest brushing past her nose seemed especially strong today.

Conscious of the Alpha’s cool gaze resting on her lips, a shiver ran down her spine of its own accord. Her fingers tightened instinctively.

‘N-No. I need to pull myself together.’

They were about to enter the ballroom. It felt as though his heat might spread to her as well.

How important was today, after all? This would be the first time she stood proudly at his side—not as the courtesan who had once been mocked, but as Marie Alphrose.

As Marie steeled herself and shook her head, her faithful Alpha understood her feelings perfectly.

With such flawless control that she had no idea when he had done it, he completely withdrew his pheromones.

She felt a slight pang of disappointment at the absence of even the faintest lingering trace of that forest scent.

“Shall we go, Marie?”

“Yes. I’m ready.”

“That’s reassuring.”

With slightly unsteady steps, she moved to his side. Beyond the bright lights and the doors swinging open wide was the very ballroom she had once entered in the past, armed with falsehoods and trembling with unbearable anxiety, lay right before her.