I Quit Being The Male Lead’s Rival

Why People Change (5)

(3rd person pov cont.) First of all, they were fortunate not to be caught during the black market fiasco. Carlon had thoroughly cleaned it up. The Marquis of Abedes was one of the families that secretly invested in the black market.

He didn't even know that Robert would find out and crack down on it, and he didn't expect that he would break it up so easily without any sacrifice on his end.

Now, fortunately, it didn't even affect them, but Robert's advance was bad news for them regardless.

"Maybe more than Ian Wade…"

Ian had been friends with Robert for a long time, but so far had not shown any political movement.

In the meantime, the Dukes of Wade have maintained their neutrality in most matters despite their great wealth and power.

There was a high possibility that Ian would not openly side with Robert in the future.

But Annabelle…

"What's that stupid, sloppy thing? Besides, there have been no cases of commoners and imperial families getting married until now. Even Prince Robert wouldn't let such an event happen."

Richard responded sharply to Elburn's words. "So that's the problem." "Huh? What?" `If you give her a little bit of kindness, she will become the best hunting dog that wags its tail." Since Robert gave Annabelle permission to complete the paternity at once, she would have owed him a great deal.

Richard, who does not know where Reid was, was expecting that she had assisted Robert in cracking down on the black market.

"And if you have that skill… Hounds are more dangerous than lovers.'

Elburn, who immediately understood Richard's words, asked seriously.

"Is Prince Carlon paying attention to this fact?" Carlon was now on his way to the Duke of Edison. Since he contacted him through a letter, the speed was bound to be slow.

"Prince Robert mentioned the names of Ian and Annabelle openly in that damn speech, so how can he not pay attention?'

Because of 'that damn speech', he gained support from the common people as well as the lower aristocrats, and Robert's honor was on the rise these days.

Richard clicked his tongue, as if he was offended by just the thought of Annabelle.

"She was like a fool who didn't know the original subject and kept chasing Ian Wade." According to recent rumors, it was a reasonable guess. "As you said, there is no precedent for commoners and the imperial family."

"Should we wait and see? Will it be a hindrance in the future?'

"Well, first of all, it's true that Annabelle did something that bothered us."

As Elburn murmured, Richard smirked and took a cigarette.

"The Crown Prince will return soon. Then we can discuss in earnest. Perhaps he will be more outraged if he directly checks the popularity of Prince Robert among the common people."

Richard's blue eyes shone brightly.

(Annabelle's pov)

Robert's invitation had already arrived when I returned home from the Wade mansion with Aaron.

The content was very simple.

Since I made a brilliant contribution to the crackdown on the black market, he wanted to invite me to the imperial palace to pay for my hard work.

When they heard us coming back home, my parents ran out of their respective studios.

They looked at the invitation in my hand and exchanged their eyes with an uneasy look.

Indeed, it could have been burdensome for ordinary people to be entangled with the complex imperial family.

So I carefully opened my mouth.

"Don't worry too much. No matter what political intentions he has, I'll figure them out and avoid them."

But my words didn't seem to work.

My father said with his eyes flashing while holding a knife, perhaps because he was in the middle of a study of the new menu.

"No matter how it is, it's not unconditionally good. You may be deprived of your freedom for no reason and have to live like a doll. At some point in time, I can't agree.'

Even the flashing eyes had tears in them.

"I… If Annabelle has a hard time… I just want you to be happy."

My mother also answered carefully, unconsciously spinning a sewing knife.

"I agree with you. In addition, the imperial family and commoners have never been married. We can't let her get hurt."

Aaron, who had just arrived, also held his sword in his hand and nodded his head as he released it.

"I didn't say my opinion earlier because I was at the Duke of Wades, but I'm against it. The imperial palace is not a fun place for my sister."

Seeing everyone holding sharp weapons and shaking their heads heavily, I was stunned and opened my mouth slightly.

`So everyone is serious about Robert and I right now?'

"But Prince Robert and I have nothing to do with each other!"

In the end, I had no choice but to step up and deny it to break this brutal atmosphere.

"Of course, we had a meal, went to the opera together, got permission for paternity examination quickly, and he was willing to do this a few times…" The gazes of distrust were immediately caught in, so I quickly added.

"There's really nothing going on. It's like a relationship between a pine tree and a bag of bread .. Why would Prince Robert like me?"

"What does that mean?"

My mother suddenly got angry and threw the cutting knife that she was holding unintentionally.

Even though I was in second place at swordsmanship in the empire, it was so quick that I flinched.

Mother's sharp knife accurately pierced in the middle of the table.

She was a professional worker in the dressing room, but at home she was a formidable tyrant

"What's wrong with you? Of course, there are some problems, but what the hell is a bag of bread?!"

"Maybe that some of the problems are the lack of…"

"In any case, if the two of you have a good atmosphere, but it turns out that you are a commoner, you are in a difficult situation…"

Tears welled up again in my father's eyes.

"My brother said that he bought the title in a province, but should we do that? But there's no one in the capital who doesn't know that we're commoners…"

I heard that titles were sometimes bought and sold between poor aristocrats and wealthy commoners but it was still a story that was only possible in remote al eas.

They say that they were just 'distant relatives' and that they were listing it in the genealogy and selling the mansion, but I heard that it was a transaction that they knew each other even in a small and insignificant estate.

The capital aristocrats probably valued history and tradition, so it was rare.

But it was the first time I had heard of something more important than that.

"Dad, you have a brother?" "Ah." Father blinked his eyes and made a bombshell remark. "He's my twin." "…What?" "I was abandoned with my brother who looked the same as me." So it was only now that I found out that somewhere there was a man who looked just like my father. To be precise, he could be seen as my uncle.

"My brother also grew up in an orphanage, but he ran away early. He said he likes money and power. I stayed with your mother to live a small life, but…"

Father looked around him and sighed in remorse.

"I also learned the value of money after losing you in a public hospital. Thanks to that, we hired the best doctor and gave birth to Aaron at home."

"Then why didn't he visit?"

"My brother and I are busy. We knew that money was more important than each other, so we didn't feel sad for each other."

This meant that the twins eventually became slaves to capitalism.

Judging from the previous mention of 'a province', it was said that dad might not know where he bought the title.

In the end, it meant that there would be no contact in the future, so it seemed that we would never meet.

"I heard that my brother went crazy for power and went down to the provinces to buy the title… I thought about that too. In any case, I thought I was going to follow my brother unconditionally."

"If you were in the countryside, you wouldn't have met me."

I simply cleared up the situation.

"Besides I repeat, the prince and I have never been like that, and I have no feelings at all.'

"However…"

It seems that there had been too many rumors circulating in the meantime.

Even if there wasn't, I couldn't believe it easily.

So, in the end, I had no choice but to say these last words.

"I'd rather marry Ian Wade than be successful with Prince Robert!" The power of those words were great. "Phew. I can let my mind go." (din: LMAO WOW) Aaron immediately sighed in relief. "Yeah, I guess. Then you're just going to go get compliments, aren't you?" Mother's expression also brightened. And she turned the topic at once to something else that was far more important to her.

"What dress are you going to wear tomorrow? Since it is the imperial palace, it would be better to wear something glamorous and luxurious."

Dad quickly wiped away his tears and headed to the kitchen.

"I am relieved now that you are really not in a relationship. Wait, Annabelle. I'll make you a simple late-night snack."

While my father was preparing a late-night meal and my mother worrying about my clothes for tomorrow, I suddenly felt happy.

It was very reassuring to have a family that only cared about my happiness.

It was not a good thing just because the newly found family was rich.

It was nice to have people saying, 'even if your partner is a prince, your happiness is more important!'

So I changed quickly, quite a lot.

Maybe it was because of love.