I've Returned But My First Love Is Suspicious

Chapter 1

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Become the heroine to save the empire.

The lost national treasure of the Artuzen Empire was found in the sovereign state of Scandar and an inconceivably high compensation was discussed in exchange for repatriation. The only thing that was desired by Scandar was full independence.

However, Artuzen couldn’t let go of the thousand-year-old state, while Scandar wanted to be promised full independence. That promise was conveniently arranged into a political marriage.

However, there was no Imperial Princess in the Imperial family, and the daughters of the Duke were either married or not old enough. Aside from that, Scandar didn’t have the justification to look for a candidate from the marquis, and the others seemed to have valid reasons to refuse such as being anti-independence or anti-rebellion….In any case, each of them had a reason to reject.

Thus, because the closest family who had served the imperial family for generations was the family of Count Palatine, that misfortune fell upon the Young Lady of Count Palatine. The Count could enjoy most of Duke’s authority because he was the general of the government administration. And since Count Paladin was considered as a family of the imperial family, the Lady of Count Paladin gained the status of a semi-princess.

***

Demetrian could not escape this strange feeling from that day.

He’d be lying if he didn’t know this day would come, but it was reality….

On the day when his mother hosted a tea party and all the noblewomen were flocked in the Duchy, even though he was doing the homework given by his teacher, he couldn’t turn away from the green eyes that were snooping around him.

While holding his hand tightly, that girl said, “ I don’t want to go home! I want to marry Demi!” He patted the tangerine-haired girl even though he knew why the adults laughed vaguely.

Marriage.

He knew that his father, the Duke of Crevel, had sworn in the temple to wed his children to the Grand Duke of Campo’s children because of their close relationship. That was the calling of the heir of Crevel. However, since there were only boys of the same age in the Campo family, there was nothing to be done about that.

But when he was eight years old, the daughter of the Grand Duke of Campo was born late, and at Chloe’s stubbornness, the adult began to firmly answer, “Demetrian will marry Princess Campo later.”

Little Chloe, who knew nothing, kept pestering him. Demetrian always stroked her head, but one day, she began to say this.

“I’m sorry, but let’s play again next time.”

It’s always I’m sorry, I’m sorry….

Demetrian, who had been steadily living his life as a successor, did not know how to deal with these strange feelings.

After a month, Chloe was more beautiful and slender than ever. Was it because they hadn’t met for so long? In the meantime, Chloe, who had been attending customary royal bridal classes and went back and forth to the palace, seemed to be exhausted.

The skin that would have been tanned healthily while enjoying horseback riding with him was as white as jade. And the cheeks that used to be chubby when enjoying refreshments with him were as thin as they could be.

Watching Chloe, Demetrian could do nothing except calm his strange feelings.

“Should I just say that I have a hidden lover?”
“…I know that you don’t want to leave Artuzen. But still.”

Chloe knew well that she couldn’t monopolize Demetrian no matter how much she liked him. She knew that this would eventually happen in the distant future…but she never thought that it would come this fast.

Chloe did not fall in love with the young prince of Scandar, and Scandar was too far away. To the point that she could never see someone for the rest of her life.

“But still, if I said that I had a lover, they wouldn’t be this hasty. What the hell? It’s like it was already set up beforehand.”
“It’s not a good idea.”
“I know…”

She didn’t know what kind of expression to make at a time like this. She never thought that it had to be Demetrian, but now she thought so.

In twenty years of her life, she believed that one day, Demetrian would marry the Lady of Grand Duke Campo, and she would marry another amazing man. It was a reasonable conclusion of this exclusive friendship.

But, if only the Duke of Crevel didn’t make that promise….

Chloe couldn’t spit out any of the thoughts she had. But she couldn’t hide her emerald eyes that shone in despair and disappointment.

Demetrian gave no answer.

If he truly didn’t know the hidden meaning behind her trailed off words, he wouldn’t jump out to meet her, who suddenly came, nor would his heart tremble so hard. And every word she said about not wanting to go to Scandar wouldn’t be so painful to hear, and he wouldn’t be saddened for the sinking afternoon sun.

Even when he heard the news about her marriage deal from his father, not even once did he not care about her, and he certainly gave the greatest part of his heart to Chloe. Though, he never realized it until now.

Nevertheless, Demetrian had nothing to answer. Because everything was already too late.

After a long silence, all he had to say was this.

“I don’t know if it was a few years ago, but…”

It was the last day Chloe met Demetrian.