The Prince Seduces Me with His Body Chapter 135

“…You have no talent for jokes, Duke. But since I can tell you tried, I’ll let it slide this once.”

 

Rebecca forced a smile, but Duke Findlay remained silent, meeting her gaze steadily. If he had protested, claiming it was a joke, or if Diana had gotten angry, insisting it couldn’t be true, Rebecca might have reacted differently. But the fact that Duke Findlay remained silent without offering any excuses drove a nail into the tiny crack that had already formed in Rebecca’s heart.

 

“Kill the first prince and his wife, Dian. For me.”

 

“But, Your Highness. They’re…”

 

She had changed. The girl who once seemed like she would obey even an order to die with a smile had changed. When did it start? Was it when she ordered to kill the first prince couple? Or even before that?

 

“Dian, you…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“…Never mind. Go and rest.”

 

Rebecca had tried several times to ask while preparing for her coronation. She wanted to know why Diana had been distancing herself lately. But each time, she suppressed her doubts, convincing herself it was just a misunderstanding. She knew better than anyone that Diana Sudsfield loved Rebecca Bluebell blindly. She had to.

 

“I’m your person, Your Highness. You made me human.”

 

The light in Diana’s eyes when she said that had been sincere. That blind faith and devotion had infected even Rebecca.

 

From the beginning, Rebecca had brought Diana in as a ‘pawn’ to be used for her ambition to seize the throne—someone disposable. But as time passed, and as Diana smiled at her more often, those feelings piled up, eventually transforming Diana from a pawn into ‘her person.’

 

“You’re getting too attached to a mere illegitimate child.”

 

“Shut up, Lubi. Even you should know I’ll cast you aside if you mistreat Dian.”

 

Rebecca, in her own unusual way, grew fond of Diana and kept her close, paying attention to even unnecessary details. Yet Diana gradually distanced herself from Rebecca. And as much as Rebecca cared for her, she couldn’t miss the changes in Diana, even if they were as subtle as sparks in the wind.

 

“Your Highness, I’m… not feeling well. I think I’ll head back early.”

 

Worried about Diana’s health, Rebecca even left an important event, where she was supposed to assert her presence, to follow Diana. Duke Findlay and Ludwig tried to stop her, but she ignored them.

 

“But I’m sincere, Lady. Whenever you change your mind, let me know. Take care.”

 

But when Rebecca finally followed her… What she saw was Diana standing closely with Kayden, her eyes wavering at his words.

 

At that moment, a tiny crack appeared in the once solid trust and affection Rebecca had held. She had been trying to ignore it, insisting it was just a small crack. But the poison that Duke Findlay had presented—clearly made with Diana’s power—seeped through the crack like a flood.

 

Does she really still love me?

 

Her trust in Diana began to waver at its core. Rebecca, unused to feeling so shaken, retreated to calm her turbulent thoughts. Buried in her bed, she covered her ears, closed her eyes, and thought over and over.

 

“…I should ask her.”

 

Then came the day of the trial. Rebecca, having barely regained her composure, steeled herself as she was dressed by her maids. She resolved that if Diana proclaimed her innocence, even with just a single word, she would believe her and cherish her as if the crack had never formed in her heart.

 

“Why did you do it?”

 

But what returned to Rebecca was cold silence. Diana lowered her head without answering Rebecca’s question. Seeing this, Rebecca instinctively tightened her grip on the armrest, nearly shouting in frustration.

 

Why aren’t you saying anything? Why… are you lowering your head as if all their accusations are true?

 

The crack in Rebecca’s heart finally shattered. It was a devastating sense of loss and betrayal, unlike anything she had ever experienced. Rebecca let out a bitter laugh without realizing it.

 

You’re the one who has finally broken me.

 

“You don’t even make excuses.”

 

“…”

 

“Enough. Take her away.”

 

Rebecca held her head high until the moment Diana was dragged out of the courtroom by the guards, gripping the armrest so tightly that the veins bulged on her hand. That was the last bit of pride she had left.

 

It was betrayal and also heartbreak.

 

 

* * *

“…has come to visit.”

 

The muffled voice faintly reached her ears, which were burning from fever. Rebecca blinked her blurry eyes as she lay on her side. It felt like I was dreaming… She could barely recall the details, only the lingering emotions. It felt as if she had been left alone in a foggy forest.

 

A basin of cold water and a towel sat on the bedside table, along with medicine prepared by the imperial doctor. Her hearing gradually cleared, and her vision brightened, indicating that her fever was subsiding.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

A calm voice, which only made her dislike it more, reached her ears.

 

Gritting her teeth, Rebecca tried to sit up, driven by the instinct to keep her enemy close. But Kayden gently pressed her shoulder, causing her to fall back onto the bed with a soft thud.

 

Rebecca glared at Kayden from where she lay, her fierce gaze undiminished despite her illness. “What are you doing?”

 

“It seems you’re not fully recovered yet, so please stay lying down. I’m only here to deliver a message.”

 

Rebecca lashed out, but Kayden ignored her. As he spoke calmly, she scoffed, baring her teeth in a bitter smile.

 

“You act like you’re already Emperor. How arrogant…” She tried to continue her mocking, but a sharp headache forced her to clench her teeth, cutting off her words abruptly.

 

Kayden watched her silently for a moment as she struggled to catch her breath, then spoke suddenly. “Duke Findlay… no, the traitor, Xavier Findlay, has locked himself in his estate and is staging a revolt.”

 

“…”

 

“He has released the mutated monsters he created around the estate, making it difficult to approach. I plan to go there personally with the guards. Duke Wibur will remain here to protect the capital.”

 

Though not directly involved in the emperor’s assassination attempt or the monster experiments, Rebecca was, for all intents and purposes, a criminal.

 

This is why one should be cautious when aligning with others. If your partner puts a hole in the boat, you sink together, as Rebecca was now experiencing. And when you lose your power, all the things that had been swept under the rug by that power come crashing down like a giant wave.

 

In that sense, Rebecca’s current confinement in the tower was almost luxurious. Perhaps it was Kayden and Diana who had pulled her from the wreckage.

 

It was already unbearable enough that they had saved her from such a fate, but why had Kayden come here to give her this lecture? Was it to show off, to demand that she bow her head in gratitude for saving her from ruin?

 

Rebecca wanted to frown in confusion, but she forced herself to keep her expression composed. Maintaining her pride to the end, she sharply interrupted Kayden. “…So what is it you want? You didn’t come here to explain how you’re going to dismantle my support base, thinking I’d cower and beg you for mercy, did you?”

 

Rebecca thought Kayden would be offended by her words, but once again, he surprised her.

 

His low voice continued. “Join the fight.”

 

“…What?”

 

“If you have even a shred of pride left as a member of the imperial family, join the fight with us. Capturing Duke Findlay to lessen your crimes is the most dignified path you can take.”