I BECAME THE WIFE OF THE HIDEOUS CROWN PRINCE

CHAPTER 6

He didn't have time to do that even if he wanted to. Looking back at his hands, Richard recalled what had happened in the palace. The cursed inscriptions that covered the Crown Prince's hand remained the same. Perhaps it was not that he had used some power, but simply the energy that sprouted from the curse.

"Richard, she's no longer a Lady. She's the Crown Princess."

Blake glared at Richard and proudly expressed his intention. The Crown Prince had changed. Something fundamental had changed, along with his use of power. Was it because of Ancia? Did Ancia's presence affect the monster?

At that moment Richard's crimson eyes flashed with a deep possessiveness.

Interesting...

Richard thought of himself as a man without greed. He had never been interested in anything except for wanting to become the Emperor ever since he was young. But today.

'Ancia. I want her.'

***

The next day, Richard sent me a gift with a letter saying he was sorry.

'What's wrong with him?'

Did I look like I was worth using? Was he trying to seduce me, making me a spy of the Crown Prince?

I had to refuse more firmly, so I sent his presents and letters back.

Melissa said it was not polite to refuse the letter too, but it seemed that that arrogant son of a bitch would only give up if I sent his letters back too.

However, another gift arrived the next day, and the day after. I kept refusing. Rather than stopping the gifts, the scale grew bigger.

"Your Highness, Richard has sent you another gift,"

"No need to tell me everytime. Just refuse them directly."

He was attacking me with gifts every single day.

"I tried to, but I heard it's a valuable treasure."

"Treasure?"

"Yes. It's a ring made of mermaid's breath."

He was crazy. I almost spat out a curse without realizing it.

'The breath of a mermaid' was a mana stone with the power of the sea, a jewel that looked like a pearl.

In the original story, Richard gave Diana 'The Breath of the Mermaid' a rare treasure, but why was he giving this to me instead?

His mind must've become muddled just because he wanted to plant a spy in the Crown Prince's palace.

To be honest, I wondered what 'The Breath of the Mermaid' looked like. It was a jewel that was praised for its beauty in the novel.

"I don't need it. Tell him not to send anything again because I won't accept any of them."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Hans went out with a big smile. He told me that the present had arrived, but he seemed happy to refuse.

***

Hans felt good.

The days had only been happy since Ancia came.

Warm light began to pour into the Crown Prince's palace. Although he was nervous for a moment because Richard showed interest in the Crown Princess, she flatly refused all of Richard's gifts and letters.

Rather than conceding to the rare treasures, Ancia was rather annoyed. She passed her days peacefully, devouring various books, and making delicious exotic dishes.

At night, she'd fall asleep holding the Crown Prince's hands tightly. She'd also help the Crown Prince bathe and didn't pay any attention to Prince Richard's blatant courtship.

Hans, Melissa, and Edon saw that and vowed once again to be loyal to her.

'But I didn't think she'd refuse 'The Breath of a Mermaid'.'

I couldn't believe that she didn't even look at the treasure. There would be less than thirty of them found, even if someone searched the whole world.

Hans prepared refreshments for the Crown Prince with a heart full of emotions.

He cracked a smile as soon as he saw the boy.

"Your Highness, what brings you to the kitchen?"

The Crown Prince rarely came out of his bedroom. The Emperor was not interested in Blake and the courtiers despised him for being a monster.

But Blake never got angry. Nor did he resent his cursed fate. He just stayed in the bedroom alone with empty eyes, like a person who couldn't feel sadness, anger, loneliness, or even pain.

He spent each day expressionlessly, as if he wouldn't care even if he died under the curse.

Though hidden, his mind seemed to already be dead. But now, the Crown Prince had changed. Laughter, tears, surprise, embarrassment, he started revealing his feelings to the fullest. His eyes used to be dim and covered with despair, unlike a normal eight-year-old boy.

"Hans."

"Yes, Your Highness."

After marrying Ancia, Blake began to call the courtiers by their names. Before that, he gave orders, but did not call out their names or build relationships with anyone.

Blake had distanced himself from the people around him as if he would disappear at any moment. But now, it was different.

"When is Ancia coming?"

Blake hesitated and opened his mouth. Hans had a warm smile on his lips.

"She went to the blacksmith. I think she'll be back soon."

Ancia went to the blacksmith's, saying she'd make a 'cauldron.'

It was her first outing since she got married.

"It's been two hours, ..."

"She's been outside for a long time. I think she stopped by somewhere else in pasing."

"There's a lot of dangerous people in the square.."