The Reason Why She Can’t Get Married - Chapter 84

Schedule: Thurs and Sun

Chapter 84

“There’s no one in the world who doesn’t want what they desire. I wouldn’t do something so foolish.” Maximilian opened his sculpted lips and spoke as if declaring something. “I have to obtain what I want, no matter the cost.”

“.…”

“How can you prove such an abstract feeling as love if you don’t possess the other person in the first place?”

His eyes held a cynical glint as deep as his low voice. So, instead of arguing back, Selena replied lightly, her tone as natural as flowing water. “Someday, when you meet a woman you love so much that you give up even that thought, Your Highness will understand.”

“.…”

“The feeling of willingly leaving because you love someone so much that you don’t want to ruin them.”

No matter how much she explained it now, it wouldn’t compare to experiencing it firsthand. Of course, she doubted such a woman would ever appear for this selfish and self-centered crown prince…

As long as it’s not me.

As long as the misfortune of marrying him didn’t befall her, Selena decided that was enough. After all, her hourly rate for relationship counseling was quite high. She’d given him enough free advice. “We should get going too.”

“…If you run… just stop.”

“Pardon? What did you say?”

Selena tilted her head, looking at Maximilian, who was muttering something softly to himself with a shadowed face. “Leave.”

“…?”

However, Maximilian simply turned sharply and walked out of the warehouse with an indifferent expression. Selena, bewildered, followed him out. Rio had made one last request of Selena.

“Could you perhaps help Belle in my stead, my lady? I hope her life will find peace.”

He offered her a large sum of money, which Selena politely refused. She was already concerned about Isabella’s situation. She wanted to help Isabella, not for the money.

“I’m not that heartless. You can return home without worry, Your Highness.”

“Is that so? Lady Irving, you’re a truly good person.”

Rio smiled faintly. He seemed to understand Selena’s unspoken message of ‘I’ll handle it, so go.’

“Do you have a first love, my lady?”

“That’s… a trade secret, so I can’t tell you. I’m sorry.” Selena feigned ignorance with a brazen face. Her first love was a prince from a childhood picture book. He didn’t exist in reality yet, so it was a complete secret.

“Whether you do or not, I hope your first love has a happy ending. I’ll be rooting for you.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Though her first love is a paper doll and already doomed. Still, Selena smiled brightly, touched by Rio’s kind heart, wanting to cheer on someone else’s first love despite his own having failed. As their conversation continued to flow, Maximilian, who had been watching from afar with disapproval, finally couldn’t stand it anymore and interrupted.

“Stop that and get in the carriage. Rio, you’ll be late even if you leave now. Unless you’re planning to settle down here, hurry up.”

“Ah, right. I’ll be going then, my lady. It was truly a pleasure meeting you.”

“Safe travels, Your Highness. It was an honor meeting you.”

Urged on by Maximilian’s sharp prodding, the two exchanged farewells and parted ways. And just as Selena was about to greet Maximilian, who was, after all, the crown prince— Thud.

“.…”

Maximilian got into the carriage and closed the door heartlessly. Even though he had clearly seen her turn towards him to greet him. Honestly.

‘Not surprised. Not surprised at all.’

Selena simply shrugged at the crown prince’s unsurprising, immature behavior. She soon boarded her own carriage and departed for the Irving Marquisate. Since she had been up and about since dawn, she planned to go home, get some sleep, and then head back to the Serenade office.

* * *

Simply paying off Isabella’s debts wouldn’t completely solve her problems. Isabella herself felt burdened by the financial help. So, Selena decided to address the root cause of her troubles. “Lemon, can you find someone for me?”

“Yes, please tell me.”

“Find out where Isabella’s father is.”

Her father had left home long ago, sending a new debt collector every quarter as a sign of life. If left unchecked, he would continue to burden Isabella with quarterly debt collectors until he died. “I’ve found him, Lady Selena.”

“Really?”

Pathetically, Isabella’s father was found passed out drunk in an underground gambling den. When Lemon informed her of his location, Selena smiled brightly and said, “Have him taken directly to a rehabilitation center.”

“Yes, Lady Selena.”

Thus, Isabella’s father was forcibly admitted to a medical facility specializing in treating alcohol and gambling addiction. Of course, Selena had obtained Isabella’s consent beforehand. “He won’t escape, will he?”

“It’s a place with strict patient management and tight security, so it’s impossible.”

“That’s good. Thank you for your help, Lemon.”

“You’re welcome. I’ll do anything for you, Lady Selena.”

Lemon, who had personally found a good rehabilitation center, replied calmly. Selena sank back into the sofa and murmured, “I hope this brings some peace to Isabella’s life.”

“I hope your heart finds peace, Lady Selena.”

“Honestly, you’re incorrigibly kind and loyal.” Selena chuckled, finding Lemon endearing for thinking of her first even in this situation. “Anyway, the biggest twist in this case was that Isabella knew His Highness’s true identity.”

Selena reached out and fumbled for a cookie on the table.

“No wonder Isabella didn’t feel any sense of betrayal even though she knew who he was.” Lemon stood up, placed a cookie in her hand, and sat back down.

“If it were me, I think I would have been disappointed and felt betrayed that he hid his identity.”

Crunch. The sound of Selena chewing the cookie followed her words. Snap. Then came the sound of Lemon, startled by her words, accidentally crushing the cookie in his hand.