Reincarnated As My Husband's Mistress-Chapter 38: [] Newly discovered truth

*Noticed*

- The translation isn't accurate and the language used is considered informal or "messy".

- It's recommended to add this to your reading list to stay updated.

- Readers are encouraged to support the original creators by purchasing the official version when it's available.

- There are links provided to support the translator financially.

- Readers are asked to enjoy the fan translation quietly and avoid causing any trouble or seeking attention.

That's all, happy reading everyone!

*********************************************

After a draining tea party, I was granted permission to leave the Crown Princess's palace. It was the first time I had engaged in such intense social activities in my new body, and it was mentally exhausting. However, it was undeniable that I had achieved a significant result. While I couldn't say that I had completely gained Doris's trust, the fact that I could enter Grand Duke Trovika's residence with legitimate authority was a step closer to my goal.

I was about to return to the mansion and send a letter to Roan with this news, but with a light heart, I quickened my pace towards the Second Prince's residence. Since I was posing as his new lover, my visit wouldn't be too awkward. As I took a shortcut, recalling my childhood memories, I stopped in my tracks at the sight of a shining blonde head of hair.

"Roan!"

At the end of a dark and gloomy open corridor, Roan was standing blankly in front of a massive portrait. And the subject of that portrait was Empress Retina. It was because this place was connected to the old Empress's palace. I stood there silently, watching his back as if I were hypnotized. Despite his strong physique, he looked somehow lonely. He didn't seem to notice me approaching. Usually, he would quickly notice my presence. I didn't know why I was approaching him. It was obvious why he was standing in front of his mother's portrait. And suddenly, I realized that Roan always longed for the "dead." Seeing him longing for his dead mother, rather than just seeing him longing for Adrienne, I felt an indescribable pity for him. I wondered if there was anyone in this world who was as unfortunate as me. But seeing Roan's sparkling and sad back, I couldn't help but feel that way. I felt an urge to approach him and comfort him.

"...Your Highness?"

His back, which had been in the darkness, paused, and half of his face was illuminated.

"!"

I stopped breathing for a moment. His perfectly sculpted face was terribly distorted. It was a face so stiff that I would have quietly avoided it if I had seen it head-on. But since I had already spoken, I couldn't just turn away.

"Are... you alright?"

"..."

He tried to erase his distorted expression and looked at me. I felt an urge to bring him out of the dark shadow and into the sunlight where I was.

"If you're okay with it..."

"Go on your way."

But he spoke coldly, as if he already knew what I was going to say.

"What's wrong?"

I couldn't leave him easily. I didn't know why. Was it just that I saw myself in his suffering? Was it because I saw the figure of Grand Duchess Adrienne, who had wished for someone to pull her out, in him? The thought of making him feel a little better dominated my mind. The eyes that looked at me were as cold as a piercing wind, but on the other hand, his eyes were red and hot. They were eyes that were crying without tears.

"If you need my help..."

"What can you give me?"

"!"

I was momentarily speechless and looked up at him. His cold gaze felt like an ice crystal on my heart.

"It's cold and painful. As you said, I can't give you anything right now."

Thinking about it, I've never done anything for him, even though I've always received help from him.

'Just like when I was Adrienne, I couldn't do anything for Noebian.'

The situation where I had such a healthy body but couldn't give anything to someone I was grateful to suddenly felt painfully real. Roan and I's gazes were entangled in confusion. Adrienne, whom he loved so much. And what was he thinking about seeing Blie, her rival? Contempt. Hatred. Anger. Rejection. I felt like the shield I had surrounded myself with with the truth that only I knew was disappearing. That's right, I was just Blie Acacia to him. It was probably too early to make him forget Adrienne. And it's natural that he would find my pathetic pity ridiculous.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness."

I said something that I thought I could easily say to him. His bright red eyes were still fixed on me.

"I just... I just wanted to help because you didn't seem well."

"..."

"Please forgive my rudeness."

I bowed my head, showing him the utmost respect. I couldn't bring myself to look up at his face and quickly left the place. Tears, which I didn't even know I was holding back, streamed down my cheeks. The thought of being hated by the person I had come to rely on the most in this new body made me feel incredibly lonely. I don't deserve to pity him. It's not him who's desperately lonely, it's me. As he said, Blie Acacia is a woman who, despite having a healthy body, can't give anything to the people she's grateful to. And the realization tore at my heart.

***

Blie Acacia left. Roan stood there, his outstretched hand still in the air. After a long time, he lowered his hand and buried his face in it.

'I took my anger out on the wrong person.'

He felt a deep sense of self-loathing. He had been drawn to those green eyes that had asked if he was okay, and he had almost blurted out that he wasn't. The woman standing in front of him might have hurt Adrienne. The thought of her being his uncle's mistress had flown far away. He was about to tell someone who had unexpectedly offered unexpected comfort that he wasn't okay.

'That's absurd.'

Before he realized that she resembled Adrienne, Roan had already started to develop feelings for her.

"That's absurd."

The words he uttered aloud dissipated into the air before reaching his ears.

'Hey, are you okay?'

'The ballroom is that way.'

'Is something wrong?'

Every year, there was a New Year's masked ball. After his mother's funeral, he had no desire to attend, so he had been sitting alone and crying right here.

'Can I help?'

A boy with disapproving green eyes had offered him a hand while passing by with another boy. It was the same boy he had seen at the academy. The girl didn't recognize him under the mask, but he recognized her immediately. Even though it was just a flimsy mask that covered her eyes, the girl was undeniably Adrienne.

'Can I help?'

Roan recalled the feeling of the whole world brightening up at that time, and at the same time, he poured out his deep sorrow. He buried his face in his hands, which were now grown-up and distorted. And he rested his head against his mother's portrait and burst into tears. He had run away in shame when he saw Adrienne reaching out to him. And now, seeing Blie's eyes reaching out to him in the same place, his heart felt like it was falling. He couldn't forgive either of them.

'Help me...'

It was so hard to say those words. It was so hard to even reach out a hand.

'Hey, are you okay?'

'Are... you alright?'

He wasn't okay. Something was seriously wrong. Roan wasn't okay at all.

Read latest chapters at freёweɓnovel.com Only.

***

Wandering aimlessly through the vast palace, I eventually found myself at the familiar "little forest," a place I frequently visited. Although I had a mountain of tasks waiting for me back at the mansion, I couldn't stop myself from coming here. There was nowhere else that could comfort me.

As I was about to enter the forest, I heard a noise coming from the secluded palace where no one was supposed to be, and I hid behind a vine.

"You little brat! You should go back the way you came! His Highness won't be here today!"

"Woof! Woof!"

"Don't talk back! I walk you more often than your master and feed you too, and you're being ungrateful..."

"Woof! Woof! Yip! Yip!"

"Because your master is acting strange, you too...! Damn it! Hey!"

I heard a man's voice being dragged along with the sound of a large dog whining. Peeking out, I was surprised to see a familiar face.

"...Neil?"

It was Roan's aide, Neil. It seemed he had been walking around the palace with a large dog on a long leash.

"That's the same dog from that time...?"

"Woof! Woof!"

As Neil's figure moved away, the dog started barking wildly and ran towards me.

"Oh, oh-? Hey!"

Neil, who had let go of the leash in surprise, chased after him with wide eyes, but I just stared blankly at him and slowly backed away.

"Woof! Woof!"

The dog with fur that resembled Cowan's was running towards me with its tongue lolling, looking quite cheerful.

"Oh, oh? Be careful!"

Neil ran towards me at full speed, but it was too late. The four-legged creature was faster and jumped on me. I sat down with a thud and could only blankly hold the dog that was licking my cheek frantically.

"Oh, damn it! Cowan! Cowan!! Stop!"

An unbelievable name came out of Neil's mouth.

"...Acacia, ...Countess?"

My heart was beating so fast that I couldn't hear him calling my name.

"What did you just call the dog?"

"Are you okay? No, Cowan is not usually like this... He's usually very gentle, but I don't know if he's gone crazy in this cold weather, he suddenly dragged me to this secluded palace..."

Neil, who usually looked at me with a wary eye, was so flustered that he quickly picked up Cowan's leash and muttered to himself.

"Is the dog's name Cowan?"

"Yes...? Yes, it's Cowan. Even though he's this big, he still thinks he's a puppy... Are you hurt?"

It couldn't be. Although it had the same golden fur, Cowan was a thin, unsightly puppy with a limp. Noebian had told me that Cowan was sent to the Trovika estate! I finally looked into Cowan's dark eyes, which seemed to be filled with tears.

"Cowan...?"

"Woof! Woof! Woof!"

The dog sat up and waved its front paw, seeming delighted that I recognized it. It was definitely Cowan. Definitely. Its fur had grown quite long and its once dull coat now gleamed golden. Its black eyes sparkled, and it had grown into a healthy adult dog.

"Isn't this the dog that was at the Trovika estate? Did the Grand Duke of Trovika bring it here?"

"Excuse me? What do you mean?"

Neil, who had extended his hand to help me up, tilted his head in confusion. Taking advantage of the loose leash, Cowan had managed to stand up and was now whining as it rubbed its cheek against my skirt.

"Cowan has always been our dog... or rather, His Highness Roan's dog. I don't think he's ever left this palace since His Highness took him in. Perhaps you're mistaken?"

I gently removed my hand from Neil's. The golden fur felt incredibly soft against my fingertips. As soon as my hand touched its fur, the dog began to lick it, whining. But I felt nothing. It felt like all the blood in my body was draining out rapidly. My body began to tremble uncontrollably. I clenched my fists tightly, trying to stop the trembling. A tingling sensation, indescribable in words, shot through me from head to toe. The little forest, the Cowan I raised, Cowan's owner Roan. A truth that was nothing but confusion pierced through me like lightning.

***********************************************

Cheer me on 😍🤗🤩!!!!!!!!

Your votes, comments, and treats will really motivate me. You can treat me via

Trakteer: trakteer.id/gurujadul/tip

Saweria: saweria.co/ibuibujadoel

Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/guru_jadul