The Prince’s First Love Was Me Chapter 14

“Why are you asking me? The person who knows better than anyone is sitting right beside you.”

“I heard she was someone you used to date. I don’t want to hear that woman’s name coming out of Aaron’s mouth.”

If you say someone’s name, you think of them. If you think of them, their face comes to mind. And once you picture their face, you start remembering the good times! Before you know it, old feelings come rushing back, and you start getting all sentimental!

There was no way I’d let that happen.

“You’re really getting into your role.”

“I told you. I’m good at this.”

Aaron, who had been leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, chimed in with an amused smile.

I wasn’t sure whether it was a good or bad thing that they dismissed everything I said and did as acting. Either way, they could misunderstand me all they wanted. Just give me an answer.

Because I needed to hear it.

“Miss Siena.”

“Miss Siena?”

“Yes.”

I narrowed my eyes, looking displeased.

“Chris, are you acquainted with her?”

“No. We’ve exchanged greetings a few times, that’s all.”

“Then don’t call her so affectionately! You make it sound like you’re close!”

I suddenly raised my voice, and Chris stared at me in disbelief.

What exactly are you trying to do here?

His uncomfortable gaze seemed to say.

I’d asked for her name, so he’d told me. He probably couldn’t understand why I was making such a fuss.

I knew I looked strange, too.

But come on! Who would be happy if someone they cared about acted all friendly toward their partner’s ex?

Chris looked puzzled, but he decided to humor me.

“Miss Siena Olson, daughter of Count Olson.”

That was a thoroughly satisfying answer.

Perhaps that was why—

“Good!”

I accidentally blurted out the sort of praise you’d give a pet.

Good?

Chris furrowed his brow, repeated the word, and tilted his head.

I hurried to smooth things over.

“Good! Very good! That’s how you should say it so I can clearly understand which young lady from which family you’re talking about.”

Fortunately, Chris let it go without asking any more questions.

Come to think of it, neither the name Siena nor the incident where Aaron was hit in the face with a handbag by a supporting character named Siena had appeared in the original novel.

It seemed that once the main characters changed, even the details of the story began to unfold differently.

Sheesh, this is a problem. If things keep changing, I won’t be able to predict what happens next!

“By the way, why did you ask about Miss Sien—Miss Olson?”

“I was wondering what kind of remarkable young lady could leave a scratch on Aaron’s cheek. I was just curious.”

I couldn’t exactly tell him I planned to grab her by the hair if I ever ran into her, so I gave him a vague answer.

After that, the conversation died down. I kept sneaking glances at Aaron’s face, and before long, the viscount’s estate came into view.

The moment I saw the mansion, my head drooped forward.

I’d failed the plan and gotten myself injured on top of that. I had no face to show my family.

“I’ll walk from here. There are servants inside, and Aaron must be tired, too. It’ll be better this way.”

As soon as my feet touched the ground, I started shuffling forward. Aaron strode over and scooped me up again.

“You should think about efficiency, not appearances, Ronnie. I’m not patient enough to move at your pace.”

“Is that right?”

I immediately threw my arms around Aaron’s neck, as if I’d been waiting for him to say that.

Watching me change my attitude in an instant at Aaron’s words, Chris gave me a thoroughly disgusted smile.

“Wait outside.”

Aaron turned to Chris and approached the door. Since his hands were occupied, I knocked on the door for him.

“M-Master?”

The door opened, and the maid who first saw us froze in shock and stumbled backward.

She looked as though she had a thousand questions, but after realizing who the man before her was from yesterday’s conversation, she pressed her lips together and hurried away.

As we passed through the corridors, I noticed the servants’ bewildered expressions everywhere.

Just as the commotion began to grow, my parents and Lucy hurried over after hearing the news.

“Oh, my goodness! Ronnie!”

“Brother! What happened? Did you hurt your leg?”

Mother and Lucy rushed straight toward me.

Father stood behind them, looking just as shocked as he waited for an explanation. I tried to make it sound like no big deal.

“I pulled my back. I think I strained it by using too much force.”

“What would you need to use that much force for?”

Lucy asked with a puzzled expression. Then she suddenly let out a shriek and clapped a hand over her mouth.

“Don’t tell me you two…? When did that happen?!”

“Get your mind out of the gutter. It’s not what you think.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”

Lucy gave me a coy sideways glance.

Her expression clearly said, How do you know unless you read my mind?

Everyone here knows except you! Who was the one worrying about us getting too touchy during the entire family meeting?

Besides, if Aaron and I had spent the night together as Lucy imagined, that would mean my gender had already been exposed.

If that had happened, there was no way Aaron would be acting so calm right now.

He would have turned our entire household upside down by now.

But Lucy still wasn’t convinced. I could tell just by the way the corners of her mouth curled up.

“…Lucy.”

Could you please wipe that wicked grin off your face? You’re just as bad at hiding your expressions as I am.

Noticing the direction the conversation had taken, Aaron spoke with a faint smile.

“Don’t worry. Unlike when I’m working, I’m extremely gentle in bed, so there’s no chance I would have strained Ronnie’s back.”

His shameless reply made Lucy, the servants, and even my face burn bright red.

This man has absolutely no filter! Save that sort of thing for later, when you can demonstrate it to me in private!

My parents were at a complete loss for words. They could only stare blankly and watch the situation unfold.

“Where is Ronnie’s room?”

Aaron suddenly asked the maid nearest to him.

“You’re going to my room? Oh, dear! You’ll have to climb the stairs. That’ll be exhausting. Please put me down.”

“If it’s upstairs, then I should take you there all the more. How could I watch you struggle?”

His gentle tone disarmed me, and I found myself smiling sweetly before suddenly snapping back to my senses.

Ronnie, get a grip! Aaron is acting in front of our parents right now. Don’t let yourself get swept away!

Only then did I realize that I absolutely could not let Aaron into my room.

The room itself wasn’t much of a problem. Its interior was decorated mainly in white and brown.

The trouble was the sturdy, oversized vanity. It was covered with all sorts of makeup I no longer used, along with several wigs.

Even if Aaron didn’t open the wardrobe, all it would take was one glance at the wigs sitting in plain sight for my identity to be exposed.

As I fretted, I spotted Becky walking along the second-floor hallway. Judging by the time, she seemed to be on her way to change the bedding.

Keeping an eye on Becky out of the corner of my eye, I shouted loud enough to shake the entire mansion.

“Are you truly going to carry me! Up the stairs! And all the way to my room! Can your back even survive that, Aaron?!”

Creeeak.

I saw Becky make a hurried U-turn at my words.

Run, Becky! You’re the hope of the viscount’s estate!

Her skirts fluttering behind her, Becky dashed breathlessly into my room.

“I appreciate your concern, but…”

Aaron glanced upstairs after me, checked that there was nothing there, then looked back at me.

“Unlike someone I know, my back is always in excellent shape.”

What exactly does that mean? And how do you keep it in shape?

Come on, tell me!

I stared at him with burning curiosity, but Aaron merely smiled and started up the stairs.

Just as he took his first step, a series of loud crashes came from my room.

I could picture Becky fighting a desperate battle all by herself, and my eyes began to sting with tears.

I’m sorry, Becky. I’ll do my best on my end, too.

I dragged things out by dramatically crying out in pain every time Aaron climbed another step.

One step.

“Ah!”

Another step.

“Haaah… Could you go a little slower?”

One more step.

“Ahh!”

“Ronnie.”

Aaron suddenly stopped and looked at me with a furrowed brow.

I hadn’t meant to do it, but I was well aware that the sounds coming out of my mouth were incredibly embarrassing. I quietly avoided his gaze.

“If you keep this up, I might just make Miss Lucy’s imagination come true.”

That was a pretty fiery way of telling me to shut up.

I gave an awkward smile and obediently closed my mouth.

After climbing all the stairs, Aaron headed toward the last room, whose door stood wide open.

Becky, who had somehow finished her task, was waiting outside and greeted him politely.

Did she have enough time?

I anxiously looked around the room. To my relief, the vanity and bedside table had been tidied up neatly.

Aaron walked straight in and gently lowered me onto the bed.

“I’m really sorry about today. You made time to come see me, and all I did was cause trouble. I wanted to treat you to a delicious meal, too…”

I made a miserable face.

I genuinely had wanted to eat with Aaron. I wanted to sit across from him and share a meal at least once. After all, wasn’t sharing meals one of the ways people grew closer?

But I’d ruined everything with my pointless attempt to show off.

Suddenly, Aaron covered my eyes with his large hand.

“Stop worrying about pointless things and get some rest. We can eat together another time.”

With my vision blocked, I could hear Aaron’s voice even more clearly. I could fully appreciate how pleasant his low voice sounded and how gentle the meaning behind his rough words really was.

“I’ll be going now.”

Aaron stood up, asked Becky to apply a warm compress to my back, and left the room.

Becky waited until Aaron was well out of sight, checking several times to make sure he was gone, before rushing over to me.

“My lady! You really need to be more careful! How in the world did this happen?!”

“Just like Father said, I tried to show the prince how manly I was, and I overdid it. I should’ve stopped after the first attempt.”

They say if you’re not smart, your body pays the price. That was exactly what had happened to me.

“Anyway, how did you manage to clear everything away in such a short time?”