The Baby Isn’t Yours

Chapter 11:

His golden gaze had settled calmly, and no emotion was visible in his chilly look.

Simon muttered in a dry voice,

Rejection.

He took off his monocle that he had placed on the bridge of his nose and put it in the pocket of his shirt.

As if he didnt want to take a closer look, Simon lazily cast his eyes downward and stared at Luina while standing on the stairs.

Im not sure why I should hear the word rejection from Princess Luina. What relationship do you claim we have?

Luina felt a shiver in the barren gaze, but she straightened her back, insisting it was a misunderstanding.

She believed that no man could resist her allure.

In that sense, had Simon Terroan not ignited a flame for her?

She raised her chin even more to hide her shriveled self and spoke confidently,New novel chapt𝒆rs are published on novel(b)in(.)com

No. We have met before. During the last naval battle in Oceania, you saved me, didnt you? And we met again yesterday.

Ah, did we? I had no idea.

Simon squinted his eyes and laughed as if he was hearing it for the first time.

It was a twisted smile that didnt feel warm at all.

But what does that have to do with me?

It matters. I must marry you. And this proposal wouldnt be bad for you either, right?

Whose thought is that?

Its my thought, but I believe you would think so too.

This woman named Luina had an absurd ignorance of the atmosphere.

She raised her chin arrogantly and confidently responded.

Simon looked at the woman who had made him lose all his arrogance in just 10 minutes with a mix of curiosity and disdain.

Such a woman thinks the world revolves around her.

Even though she was a soldier of the enemy country, she was miles apart from Kalia who had once offered him water as she was dying in front of him.

It felt like a waste of time to deal with her.

Simon despised wasting his time on something that wasnt even enjoyable.

He felt that if he continued to speak any longer, it would be an insult to the wonderful moment he woke up a while ago.

I apologize for being rude, but I dont see the need to continue this conversation. Since you visited rudely, I wont see you out. Now if youll excuse me.

Simon turned around leaving the Princess, who was trembling her lips in shock.

As he lazily yawned and leisurely climbed the stairs, Luina shouted from behind him,

Duke Terroan! Arent you curious why I came to propose to you?

Not at all.

Upon hearing Simons firm reply, Luinas face turned beet red in an instant.

Ha!

Watching Luinas face turn red and blue in disbelief, Simon let out a laugh resembling a giggle.

Just when he was about to shrug his shoulders and climb the stairs again, he seemed to recall something and asked Luina.

Ah, I did have one thing I was curious about.

Hmph! Im not in the mood to answer anything obediently.

Luina turned her head away with her arms folded, and Simon asked as if it didnt matter.

You said you saw Kalia this morning, but did Kalia also see you?

I dont understand why youre curious about that.

Of course, Im asking because Im worried.

Simon reassured her in a very soft voice, despite the princesss contorted face.

I just wonder if youve been telling her unnecessary things like you did to me.

He coaxed in a sweet voice as if he was a man begging for a response to his confession of love.

Princess Luina, would you answer me?

How absurd. You have no interest in my proposal, yet youre curious if Kalia saw me or not?

Her slightly lowered voice was filled with suppressed anger.

Oh Did you notice? Youre right. The thing Im most curious about in this world is her.

Simon replied with a regrettable voice and expression.

Embarrassingly so.

He added with a chuckle, his demeanor so unexpectedly gentle and kind that Luinas gaze wavered slightly.

But that didnt mean her anger had subsided.

Biting her lips, she hastily gathered the book she had brought, stood up abruptly, and attempted to recover her fallen pride by raising her chin high.

In the most arrogant voice she had ever heard, she said.

Ha! If youre so curious, why dont you ask her yourself? It didnt seem like you two are particularly close

With a cold sneer, Luina bent her knees lightly, then straightened them.

Well then, Ill take my leave.

With a firm salute, she slammed the door shut with a loud bang.

* * *

In front of the Crown Princes office.

Before opening the heavy door, Simon stood still in front of it, frowning and rubbing his chin.

No matter how clueless and foolish she was, only knowing battles, even after reconsidering, that was Kalias mistake.

Sending an apology note saying Im sorry to the man she spent the night with!

Even thinking about it now, Simon felt a surge of rage.

In the years that he had known her, this was the first time he was so angry at Kalia.

Im sorry? Im sorry? Sorry? Its as if

As if the two of us did something we shouldnt have done. Kalia.

As if she had done something she should be sorry for.

He bit the inside of his lips bitterly, and massaged the furrow in his brow with his fingers.

Sigh.

Even now, when he thought about her words, he sighed.

He didnt know how to wake up this dull woman.

He admitted it.

In the past, he was stupid. He was dumb, arrogant, and lazy.

Even when he was at the academy, Simon was busy denying that he liked her.

He constantly wanted to see Kalia, dreamt of her, and even when he had his first wet dream, he thought he was cursed.

To fall in love with a woman who had no hint of delicacy, who was incredibly rough!

But thinking about it now, it seemed that he had loved her from the moment he first saw her.

But it took me 5 years to realize that, 1 year to deny it, and 1 year to admit it, wasting a total of 7 years.

But after acknowledging that he loved Kalia, just like discovering a wound in a part he didnt know was hurting, he was only conscious and concerned about her.

He loved Kalia.

I love Kalia No, do I really love Kalia this much?

It was a surprise and at the same time, an extremely interesting self-discovery.

Simon wanted to tell Kalia how much he loved her.

If only that damned Salt War hadnt broken out!

Another 7 years!

Because Kalia was always placed at the forefront, Simon always volunteered to be at the forefront too, and he returned as an unexpected war hero.

Just, solely, purely to protect Kalia

Starting with the Salt dispute with the island nation of Tolia, the war with the pirates in the Oceania Sea, and the invasion by Nathan taking advantage of the situation.

For 7 years, wars broke out incessantly, and if he let his guard down for even a moment, she would come back covered in blood.

In such a situation, a confession of love was a luxury.

Every time Kalia shed blood, Simon was focused on ending this damned war even a day sooner.

Kalias safety was far more important than the Empires.

Thanks to the monster-like warrior, General Kalia, and the overwhelmingly talented silver haired Archmage participating in the battle, the war could end with minimal bloodshed in 7 years.

People said that a war that could have lasted 100 years ended in 7 years thanks to them.

So what, the man who hears an apology the next day.

Simon muttered cynically, and the eyes of the guard who heard his words turned towards him.

Regardless of the guards reaction, Simon glared at the closed door, persistently biting into the lingering unease.

It seemed like Princess Luina said something to Kalia but what exactly did she say?

Even when he asked Kalia if she had met the princess last time, Kalia looked a bit strange but didnt show any particular disturbance.

He was relieved for a moment at Kalias words that they just greeted each other.

Simon, I think Ive done something really terrible to you. Ill apologize again for what happened that day

Before Kalias words could finish, his eyes rolled back and he was busy shooting fireballs again, so he didnt ask in detail.

Simon, who was often told to be cold and calm, lost his rationality when it came to Kalia.

All his nerves were focused on her, so he got excited easily and became hot easily.

I need to fix this irritable temperament first. And reduce teasing Kalia No, but does that happen as I want it to? Its really tricky Should I try to be more indifferent?

Somehow, when he thought about Kalia, he felt like he should reduce this craziness a little bit.

If he resolved and tried, wouldnt this intense concern for her lessen a bit?

He furrowed his brows and solemnly shook his head, then opened the door to the closed princes office.

But his cousin, who he thought would be immersed in work until late, was sitting on the terrace railing drinking whiskey.

In this unusual atmosphere, Simon squinted and asked.

Whats wrong?

Louismond glanced at his beautiful cousin.

Without saying anything, he beckoned Simon over with his hand.

Why is he doing this?

Come here, lets have a drink.

What? Why are you like this all of a sudden, Your Highness?

Louismond shrugged without answering.

At his somewhat disturbed gaze, Simon stood by him in silence and then asked sharply.

Did you have some bad conversation with Kalia?