After I Died, He Died After Me Too - Chapter 18

Chapter 9.2

“Don’t worry, everything has been discussed already. You can invite them to the imperial palace, so if you want to see them, feel free to use the drawing room.”

“So, I have to stay in the imperial palace all the time?”

“Yes, it means you must stay by my side. They will show Lady Astri where to stay.”

Bianca looked at Erlan as if resigned. Then, she stood upright and spoke to Dexter.

“Please inform me once the candidates are chosen. I hope there are many candidates.”

“I hope so as well so that you can leave me comfortably after the contract is over.”

The sight of him propping up his chin and curling his lips into a smile sent chills down her spine.

̊ · : * ✧* : · ̊

Dexter flicked the curtain with his fingers and looked outside. He could see Bianca heading towards the garden with Erlan as if she might be going for a walk.

His gaze was relaxed as he looked at Bianca, who was walking quickly as if she was angry at this sudden turn of events.

‘I’m curious to see how long she will hold out.’

The duration of the awakening fever varied from person to person, lasting as short as a day or as long as a week. Judging by her physical condition, it didn’t seem like it would end quickly for her.

Dexter’s expression hardened as he stared at her back. The words that came from her lips, reminiscent of Edith, irritated him.

How could she utter something like that so casually?

“Because I don’t want to do that with someone I don’t love.”

Love. Was she someone who knew such an emotion?

The word ‘love’ didn’t suit her. Edith was someone who was busy sacrificing herself for her country. Even if Mikhail offered to imprint for her, she refused.

She just kept repeating the words that there would be those who needed him.

Even though he showed affection towards her, she blushed and didn’t know what to do every time she received guiding from him. She refused to imprint. Since the matching rate was high, a kiss on the back of the hand and a light hug were enough guiding.

However, the way she looked at him, wanting more guiding, drove him crazier.

He acted kind and harmless because he knew that if he revealed his true feelings and showed any other emotions toward her, she would undoubtedly push him away. They remained as nothing more than colleagues performing the same tasks who needed each other. He behaved meticulously to ensure she wouldn’t push him away and could keep her by his side.

‘…Bianca Astri.’

He finally found someone who resembled her. She was more likely to be her and not just someone who looked like her.

A 98% matching rate was something he had never seen before. Even in his previous life, 89% was considered high, so it was safe to say that 98% was unprecedented. Nonetheless, despite such a high matching rate, she didn’t desire him.

Why was it not him then or now?

It was better back then. She didn’t want anyone else but him. But this time, it seemed like she wanted someone other than him. It was truly a ridiculous statement to say that she would stop guiding when she would have someone she loved.

‘Love?’

Had she ever loved someone else?

There was nothing Dexter didn’t know about Edith. However, there were many things he didn’t know about a woman resembling Edith, who might even be her.

“Look into the Astri family.”

When Lancelot emerged, the startled Guide grabbed his pounding chest and gasped.

“H-How long have you been here?”

“You can assume that wherever the Crown Prince is, I will be there as well.”

“I see. Your presence… Ah. It can’t be helped, I suppose.”

The Guide nodded with an expression of understanding.

“You want me to find out about Bianca Astri of the Astri family?”

“That’s right.”

What Dexter was curious about wasn’t the Astri family, but Bianca, who was born and lived in that family.

It was everything to her.

He slowly got up from his seat while keeping his eyes on the garden. It seemed that she had vanished from view as she walked into the garden.

Dexter checked his watch and smiled.

“Lancelot, do you think she can hold out?”

“… It’s probably going to be difficult to endure, but I think Lady Astri will endure even if it means death.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Since she’s mentioned love, her resolve wouldn’t be shallow.”

“Ah, I see.”

He wanted to see if that resolve could stand strong in the face of instincts. The reason he was so upset was because of the word ‘love’ she uttered. He wanted her love more than anyone else. If he couldn’t have it in his previous life, then he would simply obtain it in this one.

Not a love forcibly taken, but the love she willingly gave to him.

A love that was entirely his own.

Didn’t they say that love came with hardship? So, from now on, what he intended to do was merely a hardship for true love.

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