The Man’s 101st Bad Ending

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“…Aren’t you very different from the rumors?”

“In what way?”

“You’re rather bold with a princess. You didn’t even ask for permission… You just called it ‘something bad’ and went ahead.”

Miragen, her upper body covered by a blanket, spoke.

Robert, clad in a robe, chuckled.

She hadn’t exactly resisted, had she?

He touched his stinging back and frowned, seeing a trace of blood.

“You seemed to enjoy it. More than I expected, actually.”

“That’s because it hurt. It was my first time.”

“It was my first time as well. I’ve never been with my fiancée.”

He wasn’t lying.

He hadn’t been intimate with Theresa. It was ironic.

They had declared their love for each other countless times, yet they had never slept together.

This was Robert’s first time, and it was with Miragen.

Why was he so experienced? He dismissed the thought.

Perhaps it was just good…compatibility.

He stared at the bite marks on her neck, and Miragen quickly pulled the blanket up to her chin.

She was wearing undergarments.

Why was she so shy? They had already seen everything.

It had been sudden, but their relationship had undeniably changed.

He had confirmed his feelings. This wasn’t a fleeting infatuation. They were in love.

Miragen and Robert.

Their relationship had started with a brief encounter, but that didn’t matter.

It was ironic, considering Robert had initially approached her with ulterior motives.

“Well, it’s over now.”

“What’s over?”

Robert sat down on the bed and patted Miragen’s shoulder.

She was no longer hiding under the blanket. She was wearing a robe.

She flinched at his touch and looked at him.

What did he mean, it’s over? Did he mean their relationship was over because they had slept together?

Her heart pounded nervously.

Robert looked at her and spoke.

“The…love play. We can’t just keep dancing around our feelings, can we?”

“…What do you mean?”

His words sounded like he wanted to end things, just as she had feared.

Her hand, gripping his sleeve, trembled.

She opened and closed her mouth several times, speechless, then pushed his hand away.

“Miragen?”

“Are you breaking up with me?”

“…Yes. We can’t go back to how things were. It’s only natural.”

It wasn’t natural at all.

Miragen frowned.

Robert realized she had misunderstood and chuckled softly.

He had phrased it poorly. He hadn’t meant to break up with her.

He had meant…to take their relationship to the next level.

Miragen was on the verge of tears.

Robert grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a hug.

He held her close until her struggles subsided, then stroked her hair and sighed.

“I seem to have caused a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to say I wanted to forget what happened. I meant…”

“You meant what?”

“I want us to officially date. We said we liked each other, but we’re not actually dating, are we?”

Miragen blinked, nestled in his arms.

Had she heard him correctly? He wanted to officially date?

Her anger melted away, replaced by a fluttering in her chest as she realized she was in his arms.

“Officially date…”

“I probably won’t be able to announce it publicly right away. There are things I need to do first, and…well, His Majesty won’t be pleased if we start dating openly.”

“That’s…true.”

“I want to be in a position where I can be open about it. I want to earn my family’s approval, and ideally, the Emperor’s and the Crown Prince’s as well.”

His words were so earnest.

Miragen met his gaze, then quickly looked away, flustered.

She hadn’t expected him to suggest they officially date. She couldn’t stop herself from smiling.

She pushed him away gently and stepped back, trying to compose herself.

She had been prepared to be angry, but now…she didn’t know what to say.

“I didn’t expect you to say that.”

“That’s why you were about to get angry.”

“How many women wouldn’t misunderstand after being told their relationship is over? You phrased it strangely.”

“I realize that was a mistake. I didn’t want to surprise you by suggesting we date right away. But look at you, your face is all red. You’re making me embarrassed.”

She hadn’t realized she was blushing until she saw her reflection in the mirror. Her face was crimson.

It was difficult to hide her feelings.

If even Robert struggled with it, how could she be any different? She touched her cheeks and turned away.

Robert chuckled, shrugging.

He always found her flustered reactions amusing.

Even in this situation, after he had, in a sense, taken a princess’s virginity – a rather significant and potentially dangerous act – he felt strangely at ease.

He had briefly had a crush on Theresa, but he wouldn’t call it his first love.

It had been one-sided.

So, what were these feelings for Miragen?

He decided not to dwell on definitions and instead, stepped closer to her.

He embraced her from behind, resting his chin on her head, and whispered.

“I look forward to it. I might be a bit clumsy, but please bear with me. It’s my first time.”

“…Are you sure it’s your first time? You mentioned your fiancée.”

She grumbled, but there was no real anger in her voice.

She wouldn’t be upset about his past engagement. She was the one whose feelings had deepened since their first meeting, with each encounter.

She wouldn’t waver now.

“It’s not my first time loving someone, but it is my first love.”

Few women could resist such a line.

Miragen burst out laughing, and Robert chuckled softly.

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Now what? He had given a lot of thought to what would happen after they officially started dating.

He had been the hunter, but he had become the prey.

Still, he had achieved his initial goal of becoming her lover.

He had thought long and hard, but ultimately, he had to act. Robert’s subsequent actions were swift and decisive.

It took him a few months to solidify his position within the Taylor family.

He readily agreed to Theresa’s request for a broken engagement.

Rumors of his relationship with the princess spread even before the broken engagement was finalized, but Miragen took care of it.

All eyes were on them, the princess and the son of the Taylor family, a family not exactly on good terms with the imperial family.

Miragen stood alone on the dais and spoke.

“I would like to address the rumors regarding my relationship with Robert Taylor.”

Initially, they had agreed to keep their relationship secret.

Public knowledge wouldn’t benefit either of them and could be used against them.

Robert’s engagement to Theresa was a potential problem, so they had agreed to be discreet until the matter was resolved.

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But Theresa was gone now.

Robert was no longer engaged, and there was no reason for him not to date anyone he chose. And if being a princess was a problem, Miragen would use the full authority of the imperial family to silence any opposition.

The stage was set.

Why not make their move?

They had agreed that if they ever revealed their relationship, they would do it in a way that everyone would know.

A relationship known throughout the empire, a love story discussed even by commoners. If the Emperor tried to deny it, he would only lose the people’s favor.

“In other words, it’s unstoppable. If he wants to deny it, he’ll have to deny the hopes and dreams of the entire empire.”

People were drawn to stories of fated love. Especially a love story between a princess and a non-royal, both sharing similar circumstances.

How many would oppose them?

Miragen looked at the crowd, then smiled and spoke.

“We are…”

She imagined the ripple effect of her next words.

A thrill ran through her.

“…officially dating.”

This was just the beginning.

The story of Robert and Miragen, the lovers, had only just begun.

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[Translator Notes]

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