AFRPR 51

AFRPR

Posted by jasmine, Released on August 10, 2025

Episode 51

Duren tilted his head.
“You mean… who I like more?”

“Yeah!”

Of course, they all thought he would pick them.

“Dudu likes…”

Gulp.

The children swallowed nervously.

And then—

“I like my mom the most!”

Just thinking about his mom made Duren’s eyes sparkle with happiness.

“When I grow up, I’m going to marry my mom!”

“What? You can’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“My mom told me you can’t marry your mom. I wanted to marry mine too, but she said no!”

“But I want to.”

“I told you, you can’t!”

“My mom will say it’s okay.”

“But… but…”

The other child was older than Duren, but only by two or three years—not enough to argue logically.

While he was struggling to think of a comeback—

Clap clap clap!

The music ended, and a loud round of applause filled the room.

The children turned their heads, surprised at the noise.

Under the sparkling chandelier, they saw the Duke and Duchess of Winterlen standing close together like a loving couple.

It looked like a scene from a fairy tale.

The children gasped.

“She’s so pretty—like a fairy!”

“No, a princess!”

“What are you talking about? She’s obviously Queen Berry!”

They argued, but when someone mentioned “Queen Berry” from a popular kids’ show, they all nodded in agreement—no one was prettier than Queen Berry.

“Duren, does your mom have a boyfriend?”

Duren looked confused. “Huh? What’s a boyfriend?”

“A man friend!”

“Nope!”

“Then instead of marrying her, you can be her boyfriend! My mom says a husband and a boyfriend are different!”

“You even defeated that scary black monster! You can do it!”

“Yeah! You can do it!” The children cheered for Duren.

After dancing a performance that made everyone remember they were “husband and wife,” Estelle and Lennox…

“…”
“…”

…became awkward with each other. The closeness they had just shown disappeared, and now there was a space between them big enough for Duren to stand in.

Was I too much? Lennox wondered.

In his past life, even when he attended parties with his then-wife, they had never danced together. He hated even brushing against someone’s sleeve, so he would never have asked someone to dance first.

I must have lost my mind.

He knew it had been half an impulse. He told himself it was to avoid suspicion from the princess, but really… that was just an excuse.

The truth was simple—he just wanted to dance with her.

…Yep. I’m crazy.

Lennox touched his ear—it felt warm.

“Your Grace.”

“Huh? Yes? What is it?”

Did she notice how unnatural he was acting? Or maybe she realized she’d been tricked?

“Here.”

Estelle held out a white handkerchief.

A handkerchief?

“You can use this to wipe yourself,” she said quietly. “You don’t like touching other people, right? And since there are many eyes on us, you can’t make a scene. So, I thought this might help.”

Lennox was speechless.

Yes, he hated being touched—but it wasn’t because of hygiene. He just didn’t want any trace of Magi on him to touch others.

It was true he didn’t feel as much discomfort with her… but a handkerchief?

When he didn’t answer, Estelle took it another way.

“I also brought these—just in case.”

She pulled out a sealed pair of gloves—big white ones that were obviously his size.

“They’re clean! I told them to wash and seal them right away.”

Lennox felt strangely unsettled. He couldn’t even explain to himself why.

“Are you angry?”

“Do I… look angry?”

“Yes. If you think I crossed a line, you can tell me. I’ll be careful from now on.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“Then what?”

Normally, his actions always had a clear reason. But this time, the only explanation he could think of was, I’m crazy.

When he met Estelle’s clear gaze, all those thoughts vanished.

“No, thank you for thinking of me. I’ll use them well.”

He took the gloves and handkerchief, putting the gloves on to wipe his hands—then started putting the handkerchief over them.

“Your Grace.”

“What?”

He didn’t seem to realize what he was doing. Estelle was about to point it out when—

Ding! Ding!

A clear bell sound drew everyone’s attention.

“I’m glad so many have come to celebrate my daughter’s birthday,” the Emperor said.

He stood on the platform with Princess Alice, his hand on her shoulder, showing his deep affection.

“My beautiful daughter, is there something you want as a gift?”

“I’d like anything you give me, Father,” she answered coolly.

It was just a formal question—they had already discussed what she wanted.

“You’re as kind as you are beautiful. Who could ask for a better daughter?”

Everyone agreed politely.

Smiling proudly, the Emperor presented a tiara—and then a necklace as well.

“She’s getting so much attention from him lately,” someone whispered. “He never used to celebrate her birthday like this.”

The reason was no secret—after losing his son, the Emperor doted on his only remaining child.

“And the temple has come to bless you as well.”

“Really?” Alice pretended to be surprised.

“Let them in.”

The doors opened, and a tall priest in black robes entered. His golden hair shone under the chandelier, and his gentle face made people gasp in admiration.

But Estelle felt her blood run cold.

Helios.

As he entered, Lennox stepped in front of her protectively.

“If you want to leave, you can go now.”

“I’m fine,” she said, standing beside him and looking at Helios, who wore his priest’s robes as if he’d been born in them.

“May the Princess always have the blessing of God,” Helios said as he gave Alice a blessing with a warm golden light.

It wasn’t much power, but the crowd was impressed.

“He’s glowing—he must be a high priest.”

“There’s no glow…” Lennox muttered.

The “glow” was just people being dazzled by Helios’s looks.

Even Alice looked unmoved.

The gift-giving continued, but Lennox showed no interest.