Episode 6
Lionel disliked Adora.
That was something she had sensed immediately during their very first meeting.
Later, when she had been assigned as his temporary guard, he had sharply declared that he didn’t need protection and had made no effort to hide how much he wanted to keep his distance from her.
The Fourth Prince she knew had always been honest about his emotions. He had never bothered concealing his displeasure toward her.
And yet that same man was now hiding his true thoughts and proposing marriage to her.
Adora simply couldn’t believe this proposal had no ulterior motive.
“And you dislike me as well.”
“……”
Adora lowered her gaze.
She didn’t deny it.
Half-blood prince.
That was the title most commonly attached to him, though he had many others.
Officially, people claimed the nickname referred to his frail health—that he lacked the qualifications expected of royalty.
But the truth was different.
It was because of his bloodline.
His birth mother, Anais, had originally been a princess of their enemy nation.
Back when relations between the two kingdoms had still been peaceful, the young king had visited the neighboring country and fallen in love at first sight with its princess.
For a man whose life had always been dictated by duty as a king, it was the first spring warmth he had ever known.
But she was a foreign princess.
And the king already had a queen.
Naturally, their love was not meant to be.
When Winternight’s king realized the Glorious king’s feelings, he offered several specialties from his country—and Princess Anais herself—as a “gift” to maintain diplomatic relations.
A princess had been treated like merchandise.
The king was furious.
But given his position, he had no choice but to endure it.
And he also couldn’t ignore Anais, who stood there silently enduring such humiliation.
In the end, he accepted the proposal and brought her back to his kingdom.
That was how Anais came to live in Glorious.
Since the king already had a lawful wife, she was essentially treated as a royal mistress.
Not long after, it was revealed that Anais was actually the former king’s illegitimate daughter.
Worse, her mother had been of low birth, meaning she had never been truly recognized as royalty even in her homeland.
In other words, Winternight had simply dressed up a troublesome burden as a diplomatic gift and sent her away.
As a result, Anais’s treatment in Glorious wasn’t much better.
She had arrived alone, without even a single maid.
The king was her only ally.
Though he couldn’t make her queen, he did everything he could to ensure she lived comfortably.
Eventually, she became pregnant.
And that sparked even more hostility.
People feared that if the child in her womb were born and later sought the throne, it would create chaos.
Those already worried about unstable relations with the neighboring kingdom openly expressed their dissatisfaction with her existence.
They claimed that one day, she and the child she carried might become the source of disaster.
But the king married Anais to Count Leonic, one of his loyal subjects, and ensured the unborn child would be recognized fully as a citizen of Glorious.
He then firmly warned everyone never to question their bloodline again.
Anyone who disobeyed would face severe punishment regardless of status.
And soon after, she gave birth to a son.
Prince Lionel—who inherited her beauty perfectly.
Thus, Anais Winternight became Anais Leonic.
And according to the law that gave illegitimate royal children both parents’ surnames to distinguish them from legitimate heirs, the prince became Lionel Leonic Glorious from the moment he was born.
Yet despite being the king’s son, he was still treated as incomplete.
Outwardly, he carried the blood of Glorious royalty.
But no one could ignore the fact that the other half of his blood came from Winternight royalty.
Combined with his fragile health, it pushed him to the edge.
Then, when Lionel turned nine, Anais died due to health complications following childbirth.
That brought some degree of closure to the issue.
Though the Fourth Prince remained an eyesore to many, no one could openly harm him.
After all, he still carried the king’s blood.
That didn’t mean his treatment improved.
And Adora—who had lost her precious family to enemy spies—had naturally hated Prince Lionel as well.
“If I were truly aiming for the throne,” Lionel asked, “what would you do?”
“We have no intention of involving ourselves in the succession struggle.”
“A wise choice. If you get involved carelessly, you’ll likely die a meaningless death.”
Adora couldn’t tell whether he was trying to ease the mood…
or warning her.
As he watched her expression grow increasingly troubled, Lionel spoke again.
“Don’t worry. Even I’m not foolish enough to chase impossible dreams.”
Then why propose to me?
Adora felt even more frustrated.
He kept easing her concerns—
while refusing to answer the one question she wanted answered most.
As she opened her mouth to press him again, Lionel suddenly asked instead:
“Am I truly so undesirable as a marriage partner?”
If Adora had been drinking tea, she would have spit it directly in his face.
She stared at him in disbelief.
How could she have ever considered him as a marriage prospect in the first place?
Ever since deciding to marry, countless unexpected things had happened—
but nothing had been more unexpected than receiving a proposal from the Fourth Prince.
Does this situation genuinely make sense to you?
Do you seriously think we got along well?
She desperately wanted to ask.
But before she could speak, Lionel let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“Then again… perhaps everything about me is unappealing to you.”
His beautiful face darkened with bitterness, making Adora frown.
“What are you talking about?”
“You don’t need to worry about my feelings. I’m fully aware of my reputation.”
He smiled bitterly.
“Who would want to marry someone like me?”
“I’d be lucky if you don’t consider receiving my proposal an insult.”
“An insult? Of course not!”
Oh, heavens.
Had this prince come here to destroy her family?
Did he have no idea how dangerous his words were?
No matter how poorly he was treated, he was still royalty.
Insulting him could easily be interpreted as insulting the royal family itself.
And that could destroy House Alfred.
Adora needed to stop him immediately.
“Your Highness, I have never thought such a thing. Not once. Please don’t misunderstand.”
“You don’t have to lie.”
He gave a sad smile.
“I understand. I know how shocking this must be for you.”
“I know how greedy I must seem.”
“If you reject my proposal, that would be entirely natural.”
“From the beginning, I was never on equal footing with your other suitors…”
He lowered his gaze.
“Perhaps I was never even qualified to compete.”
The more he spoke, the weaker his voice became.
His shoulders drooped.
His long lashes lowered.
His expression grew increasingly sorrowful.
Adora felt dizzy.
Why is this conversation going in this direction?!
“At least you didn’t throw me out immediately.”
He smiled bravely.
“That alone is enough for me.”
He looked like a tragic young man determined to endure a miserable life.
Adora felt a headache coming on.
“Your Highness, please listen to me.”
She waved her hands frantically.
“I have never thought you were unfit as a marriage partner.”
“And I have certainly never found this proposal humiliating.”
“Absolutely not.”
“No matter your reasons, you thought well enough of me to propose in person.”
“That alone is something I’m grateful for.”
Lionel’s eyes brightened instantly.
“Then will you give me a chance?”
“I will seriously consider your proposal.”
Adora answered firmly before he could say anything even stranger.
At once, Lionel’s face lit up.
All traces of sorrow vanished.
The transformation was so sudden that Adora realized—
he had deliberately acted pitiful to manipulate her into giving the answer he wanted.
She nearly laughed in disbelief.
What exactly are you doing right now?
And then she remembered something she had long forgotten.
His reputation wasn’t the issue.
His personality was.
That might be the real problem.
“I’m delighted that you’re considering my proposal positively.”
He smiled brilliantly, looking as though sunlight itself was shining down on him.
Adora stared at him with exhaustion and drank her water.
Then she realized something.
When exactly did I say I was considering this positively?
“What do you value most in a marriage partner?” Lionel asked smoothly, changing the subject.
It was an annoyingly familiar question.
And unfortunately, Adora remembered her earlier answer.
“…Why are you asking that?”
“Because I want to impress you.”
He smiled softly.
“If there’s anything I lack, I’ll do my best to improve.”
Adora briefly had a very dangerous thought.
Improve… with whom exactly?
Naturally, she couldn’t say that aloud.
“Well…”
She cleared her throat.
“First, I have an obligation to lead House Alfred. Whoever marries me would need to come live with my family.”
“That’s not difficult.”
His answer came immediately.
Adora hesitated before continuing.
“I don’t intend to spend excessive money on the wedding.”
“As I said before, my family is only moderately wealthy.”
“I can’t accommodate extravagant demands.”
“And any exchange of benefits between our families should remain minimal.”
“I’d rather build the rest together after marriage.”
“Understood.”
“And…”
She continued carefully.
“I have no intention of holding a grand ceremony.”
“I’d prefer a simple wedding.”
“And I’d like it done as quickly as possible.”
“Very quickly.”
“If it’s going to be simple anyway, there’s no reason to drag things out.”
“That makes sense.”
Lionel nodded.
“We’ll do as you wish.”
“……”
“If you want, we can get married tomorrow.”
Adora stared at him in alarm.
Tomorrow is way too soon.
