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Published at 17th of May 2023 08:58:13 AM


Chapter 17.2

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17. Let me help you, Kelly (2)

Joshua, who was watching her chew them, suddenly lowered his head and settled his mouth over hers.

She felt his hot, moist tongue brush against her lower lip and it made her harden her jaw.

So-hee stopped chewing her food immediately.

“Why the hell did you kiss me?” She stuttered in surprise but the man, who did such strange things, remained unaffected.

Joshua pinched his blushing earlobes and gave her a nonchalant reply. “You told me they’re delicious.”

“What? I told you to taste the macaroons—-”

“I tasted them. I tasted the one on your lips.” He answered calmly.

So-hee was dumbfounded at his behavior but the man simply smirked.

Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

It was another one of his pranks again.

“God, you’re so annoying!”

Nevertheless, So-hee didn’t hate the laughter that followed her declaration.

Colorful roses surrounded the table where their dinner was arranged.

Crystals hanging from above the windows made the wooden pillars glitter down below.

So-hee’s gaze captured the warm scenery reflected on its glass.

It was that of a large handsome man embracing a small, petite figure seated on his lap.

Both of them had eaten until their appetites were fully satisfied.

This moment felt so good that she wanted to live like this forever.

As expected, an uninvited guest had rushed in while Joshua and So-hee were currently enjoying the wonderful atmosphere.

“So, you were having dinner with her.” Empress Bianca McKinley began.

Joshua nodded in response.

So-hee noticed that Kelly was sitting right next to the Empress.

“If I knew I’d see this happen right in front of me, I wouldn’t have eaten with you.”

So-hee shuddered at the thought of that.

She couldn’t even turn her head to look at Kelly considering the atrocities she had committed.

Ariad’s mother-in-law, who was standing behind them, opened the simple table they were holding.

On top of that, it appeared like they were preparing for their teatime in full swing.

Why did she have to sit and face the Empress in this garden every single time?

“By the way, Joshua. It’s a little tacky.”

Bianca’s eyes flashed at Ariad resting in Joshua’s arms.

“A lot of people are watching here. You better keep your dignities intact.” She continued as she sat down in her chair.

The Empress might have pretended she was addressing Joshua but from the way she was glaring at her, she knew that was directed at Ariad.

The contemptuous glances were so obvious that So-hee could only avoid her gaze.

Joshua was silent for a few seconds before he inserted a macaroon inside Sohee’s mouth.

“You’re not one to show off your meal in front of everyone, are you?” He recited gravely.

Bianca, who was lifting her tea cup to her lips, laughed.

At one point,conflicting stares were scattered in different spots.

Kelly and the Empress had a meaningless conversation about the plants blooming in the greenhouse garden.

Sometimes, So-hee would find Bianca’s eyes on them as she continued to talk to Kelly.

As the four of them had finally settled at the garden across the street, So-hee and Joshua resumed eating their dinner.

Forgetting the tense atmosphere, So-hee happily hummed a song as she chewed the macaroon in her mouth.

Her bandaged legs shook in excitement as the pastries’ sweetness reached the tip of her toes.

Joshua smiled as he glanced down at her.

The corner of his lips curled as honey continued to drip from his intense stares.

“Hahaha.”

Bianca threw her head back and laughed.

“You’re crazy.” She murmured.

Kelly didn’t ask why because she knew too well where those keen gazes were headed.

* * *

Bianca could not stand her son’s insanity and escaped from the greenhouse garden.

Kelly couldn’t stand it either and followed her wake.

The wind had set in, making Kelly feel a bit cold.

As she clutched her thin coat tightly, she couldn’t quite recognize if this weather wasn’t normal or if the icy breeze had already seeped into her bones.

Don’t you like Ariad, Your Highness?” Kelly asked her out of the blue.

Frown lines marred Bianca’s forehead as she tilted her head sideways to look at her.

“It’s not that I don’t like her. I hate her!”

The sharp response relieved Kelly, for some reason.

It meant that hating that b*tch was justifiable.

“How did that dirty fox manage to seduce my precious son? I’ve been having a hard time because of that girl, Kelly.”

Kelly listened as Bianca continued expressing her feelings.

The Empress’, Kelly’s, and Joshua’s burning heart didn’t seem much different.

“The Emperor had committed a grave mistake in setting Joshua in an arranged marriage. I don’t care how much money the Pearsons have and how abundant their lands are, but I feel sorry for my son’s current situation. It’s as if his father had sold him in exchange for material things.”

These aristocrats’ situations weren’t that different from each other because their wealth and honor were traded under the guise of marriage.

It would make sense that not many people would experience true love.

Bianca’s smile was one of pity.

“Joshua is so nice for obeying His Majesty without resistance. Not only that. He is also a good son to you, Your Highness. When I heard about Ariad’s vulgar rumors, I wanted to ask your son to divorce her.”

The Empress’ forward gaze turned to Kelly.

“I like you very much, Kelly. I’m not forcing you. But I want you to marry one of my two sons.”

The Empress’ two sons.

Kelly trembled at the face of the other person depicted vividly in her mind.

She shook her head to forget the terrible memory she didn’t wish to recall anymore.

Kelly listened to Bianca again.

“Joshua has been named as the next Emperor, and it is about to be announced. I think you look great in the seat next to him.”

“That means…”

“Let me help you, Kelly.”

Kelly’s steps faltered.

Her blue eyes widened in shock at the Empress’ offer.

Why on earth would Her Highness help her?

Bianca stopped along with her.

“Joshua and Ariad’s marriage was purely political. It’s a relationship that Joshua could simply throw away once you’ve done what you need to do.”

Bianca said with determination that it sent sharp, icy needles to prickle on Kelly’s spine.

“We will weaken the Pearson’s power and make your family rise, Kelly.”

Kelly could feel the heat wrapping around her cold, rigid heart.

“It’s not a bad idea to screw it up.”

The crown princess next to Joshua will soon become the Empress.

Kelly trembled as the impossible things she could ever only dream of entered her vision little by little.




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