I Became the Wife of the Monstrous Crown Prince

Chapter 17 – I’ve met a real beast (10)

Translator – Zimming

“I was going to ask you to a dance after getting a little used to it, but I haven’t made any progress in ten days.”

Ever since I decided to attend a ball and dance with the emperor, I want the first dance to be with Blake.

In fact, I was going to suggest him as a practice partner later if I learned it quickly, but my dancing skills are not progressing.

“You don’t have force yourself if you don’t want to.”

Blake’s eyes were slightly moistened. I didn’t mean to make him cry…

“I might step on your foot.”

“You can step on it. Nothing hurts when Ancia steps on it!”

“Lies.”

That was nonsense. How come it wouldn’t hurt.

“It’s not a lie. Ancia’s a fairy. You’re very light.”

“Am I…a fairy?”

“Yes, you’re a fairy.”

Blake smiled brightly. It’s kind of embarrassing for me to hear that. Still, I didn’t hate hearing it.

“Let’s get started then.”

I stretched out my right hand and held his hand. At that moment, Blake froze.

His face turned red, and he seemed quite nervous.

“Are you embarrassed?”

Are you still embarrassed even though we hold hands every day?

“No-, no.”

Even though he seemed embarrassed, he still held my hand firmly.

And the first dance for both of us began.

“Ah! I’m sorry!”

As soon as I started, I stepped on Blake’s foot.

Of course, I didn’t step hard on it because I took it right back when I felt my feet touched him. Still, it must have been painful.

I followed the steps correctly, but it wasn’t easy to match the intervals as I dance with my partner.

“Well, I’m not good at dancing.”

“It’s your first time. Ancia can do it!”

Blake cheered me on. Yeah, it’s probably because it’s my first time doing it with a partner. I can do it!

I took his hand again. However, I am not yet at the level to practice with a partner.

I feel like I’m going to push Blake while I’m doing the steps, but if I push him, we’ll be too far apart, it’ll be harder to balance, and my legs will be twisted. I couldn’t count my steps correctly.

But Blake gave me a good lead. Even if I made a mistake, he took control lightly and continued the next move gently.

“Your Majesty is good at dancing. Have you been taking dancing lessons?”

“I only saw what Ancia are taught.”

“Ah…”

Blake watched my dancing practice. Even the person who only watch it is so good, so why am I like this?

“You’ll do much better with a little relaxation.”

He comforted me lightly as if he had read my thoughts. Blake was sometimes like a reliable husband.

We continued to practice and managed to dance a waltz to the end. Of course, I only do the steps I learned, and the movements taken were like a broken robot.

Not long after, the sun had set and the night had fallen. We sat side by side and looked at the moon through the window.

“We danced a full song. It’s all thanks to you.”

“Don’t feel too much pressure. Ancia dances much better than I do. You won’t make any mistakes.”

Blake stared at me.

“You’ll be beautiful. I’m sure they’re all enchanted. Seeing you—….”

He stopped his words. But I could guess what Blake was trying to say.

He wanted to say that he wanted to see me himself. I wanted to go to the ball with Blake too.

It doesn’t have to be a big party. I wanted to go to a party with Blake and dance in front of everyone. I just wanted to make memories with Blake.

But it was impossible.

For Blake to come out, the curse must be lifted. All that curse needed is Diana.

Blake will grow up healthily, attend the ball and dance normally. But it wasn’t me who was next to him then.

I took his hand.

“You’ll be able to attend the ball when you grow up.”

“Yes. I’ll escort Ancia by then.”

“… I’ll look forward to it.”

I smiled, knowing that his words would not come true.

***

I visited the Emperor at least once a day. The emperor didn’t hate it either.

“Ta-da! Guess what I made today, Father?”

I showed off my new dish, the red pepper paste stew. Then Tenstheon looked down at the red soup with a stiff face.

“You are very gutsy. Trying to poison the emperor right in front of his eyes.”

“It’s not poison!”

“That’s what everybody says.”

The emperor casually spoke and scooped up a spoonful of red pepper paste stew.

I like spicy food. But Blake was still young, and no servants could handle spicy food.

However, I didn’t want to cook it in a cauldron and eat it alone. Then, I found a way.

Tenstheon ate spicy food well.

I was delighted to learn that there is a spicy food comrade in this world, and whenever I wanted to eat spicy food, I ate it with the emperor.

Tenstheon became quite familiar with Korean food, so it was very natural for him to eat it with rice.

“How’s the taste?”

“It’s delicious.”

“That’s fortunate, I was afraid it wouldn’t suit your taste, and you wouldn’t eat it.”

“That’s a useless worry. It’s the food that my daughter-in-law gave me, should I not eat it?”

“You said it was poison before.”

“Even if it is a poison, I’ll eat it.”

Tenstheon spoke bluntly and put red pepper paste stew in his mouth.

Aren’t you acting too much for your daughter-in-law?

“You can’t eat poison! When Your Majesty is ill, Blake will be sad!”

“That kid?”

Bitterness spread around the emperor’s mouth.

“Yes, he’ll be sad.”

“What did I even do for him?… I’m just glad he doesn’t hate me.”

“Your Majesty, the Crown Prince doesn’t hate you.”

In the original story, Blake did not hate his father.

Even when Blake is struggling with loneliness, there was no resentment against his father.

“Your Majesty is the light of the Empire. Your health should be a top priority for the Crown Prince and your people.”

Blake was not the only one who became unhappy after Tenstheon passed away.

Arnold was arrogant and incompetent, as his sons quarrelled over the throne, the empire was neglected.

Not only Blake but also for the sake of the entire Empire, Tenstheon could not die in vain.

“Sir Collin told me you stayed up late last night. Working is important, but health is a top priority.”

“Stop nagging.”

He always says that whenever I told him to rest. He’s a terrible workaholic. Hence, whether it’s through small talk or not, I want to help him a little.

I started to eat rice with spicy stew.

“You’ve treated me to a delicious meal, I’ll give you a present.”

What else are you going to give me? I had so many gifts that I had no idea where to put them.

“It’s all right. The gifts I’ve received so far are too much.”

“I’ll give a greenhouse in Amoria Palace.”

“Really?”

I was delighted.

The Crown Prince’s palace had the name “Amoria,” meaning love, but there was very little space, it was old and desolate.

The palace had a small garden, but it was not adequately furnished, and it was hard to see a single flower in winter.

“Yes. I’m going to fill the lake and build the greenhouse above it.”

After Ancia fell into the water, a large fence was put in haste around the lake. I thought they’ll only put the fence there temporarily, but in the end, the lake will be gone entirely instead.

“It’s okay if it’s because of me. Back then, I was not familiar with the place, so I fell in by mistake, and I’m never going to make that mistake again.”

“I can’t just leave the lake that made my daughter-in-law suffer.”

A cold gaze flashed in Tenstheon eyes.

***

“His Majesty will fill the lake and build a greenhouse above it.”

I passed on the conversation with the emperor to Blake.

Blake has lived in this palace ever since the curse appeared. The lake might be precious to him.

Whether it was a greenhouse or a lake, Blake was going to choose what he wanted.

“Is it okay to fill the lake?”

Blake smiled with no hesitation.

“Yes. It’s the lake that dropped Ancia! It deserves to be gone!”

Blake said firmly. The pair of father and son was similar in some way.

Although they are slightly different in appearance, and their personality was the opposite, there were times when I realized that they are related by blood.

What on earth did the lake do wrong?

“Are you really okay?”

“Yes! I wish I could fill it up right now!”

With this, the greenhouse was confirmed.

“It would be enormous if they turn the lake into a greenhouse. What does Ancia want to plant?”

“A cabbage.”

“Cabbage?”

“Yes, it’s a vegetable from the East. You can make kimchi with it.”

“Kimchi?”

“Yes, my favourite food.”

If there is kimchi, there will be more dishes that can be made. Just the thought of kimchi stew and kimchi fried rice made my mouth water.

“I want some too!”

“You can’t eat it because it’s too spicy.”

“I can eat it!”

“Hmm, no way. Eat it when you’re older.”

“I’m all grown up!”

“Oho, is that so?”

I pinch Blake’s cheeks. These days, he gained enough weight, so he has been very plump and cute.

“I’m all grown up…”

Blake felt unfair for some reason.

“I’ll plant spinach so that my husband can grow up fast.”

“…Spinach?”

“Yes. And I want to plant beans, perilla leaves, peppers, and pumpkins!”

Blake, who was listening carefully to me, shook his head.

“What about flowers?”

How can you plant only flowers in a greenhouse? The flowers are pretty, but it’s better to get something to eat.

“Then, Your Highness, do you have any flowers you want to plant?”

“Rose!”