Belle Poupée_archive_chapter 2. The Cursed Prince

2. The Cursed Prince 

「Instead of being like a goldfish’s tail, you’re like ducklings, huh? The image that popped into my head was so cute that I couldn’t help but laugh. Close call. But—」

A piercing gaze, sharp as a needle, stabbed into me.

Gilbert’s voice had surprisingly carried, and all eyes in the venue were drawn toward us. It was incredibly annoying. If they were simply admiring beauty, I could tolerate it, but when they accompanied it with insults, it was nothing but unpleasant. Even if those words weren’t directed at me.

No, perhaps it was precisely because they weren’t aimed at me that it felt even more uncomfortable.

Poor Belle-sama. How is it that such a crude person is the second prince? Even though he can form a marriage alliance with the royal family, with that attitude, the Orlesian family is terrifying...

The murmurs of disgust were unavoidable.

Why did people feel the need to voice their opinions about others' affairs?

Leticia was overwhelmed with the desire to leave the venue quickly. Yet, Gilbert, completely indifferent, casually twirled his wine glass in his hand.

---

「Does he not care about other people’s opinions? Or is he just used to it? If he is used to it, it’s no wonder his personality is so twisted. Now that I think about it, he—」

"That cursed prince..."

Someone muttered it under their breath. The moment those words were spoken, Gilbert's face twisted in anger. He slammed the glass he had been holding onto the table, then silently started heading for the exit.

A dark stain began to spread across the pristine white tablecloth.

---

"Gilbert-sama!"

"I’m upset. I’m leaving. You can stay here and enjoy yourself if you like."

"Where are you going?"

"It’s a place women can never enjoy. If you’ve heard any of the rumors about me, you can probably guess. But if you insist on coming, I might—"

Before he could finish, Leticia grabbed his arm without hesitation.

---

"Hey, don’t tell me..."

This was exactly what she had been waiting for.

She was curious about the rumors of his visits to brothels. She had a chance to escape the tedious party and possibly solve the mystery at the same time. How could she not take this opportunity?

Ignoring the pained expression on Gilbert’s face, Leticia tightened her grip on his arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement, as though to say, I won’t let you go.

---

The Place That Wasn’t Meant for Women

Leticia had been prepared for anything when she was told this was a place women could never enjoy. But what she encountered was nothing like what she had expected.

「What is this place? It’s heaven! 」

She was absolutely thrilled.

The dimly lit, serene ambiance of the shop; the plush sofas; the delicious fruit; and, to top it off, the beautiful women sitting beside her, attending to her every need—it was an indulgent experience.

This was paradise. Hallelujah. There was no way she would not get lost in it. She understood, she really understood. The temptation was irresistible.

As she bit into the grape brought to her lips, a refreshing sweetness filled her mouth.

When she looked at the blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Alisha, smiling brightly at her, the women around them couldn’t help but gasp with admiration. So cute, next is me, Belle-sama, adorable, and a chorus of praise filled the air. Leticia couldn’t help but feel flattered.

As she was tenderly caressed, her head and cheeks stroked, wrapped in soft arms, she was pampered to her heart's content. It was an incredibly sweet experience.

If she married Gilbert, she could come to places like this freely. What more could she ask for? Perhaps going to brothels would now even be viewed as a virtue.

---

"...What are you doing here?"

Gilbert sat across from Leticia, with an irritated expression, his legs crossed. He didn’t touch any of the seductive women who surrounded him, instead surveying the room with apparent boredom.

The space they were in was secluded, blocked off by walls and plants, so it was hard to see them clearly. There were distant voices of guests laughing, suggesting that there were patrons, and occasionally, couples holding hands disappeared deeper into the establishment, indicating that it functioned as a brothel. However, most of the customers appeared to be enjoying conversation and food rather than anything else.

The room was impeccably clean, far from the decay she had expected. Though the atmosphere was distinctly adult, there was no feeling of corruption. The clientele seemed respectable enough.

---

"But why would someone like Belle Poupée be at a place like this?"

"My fiancée," Gilbert replied nonchalantly. "She was introduced today."

"Belle-sama is Gilbert-sama’s fiancée!?"

Alisha gasped dramatically, looking from Gilbert to Leticia, her eyes wide with surprise. The women around them also had mixed expressions of shock and concern.

It seemed they interpreted the situation as a devoted fiancée worried about her fiancé’s indulgences. In reality, Leticia was enjoying the place more than Gilbert, but her delicate, doll-like appearance allowed others to easily assume the opposite.

As expected of Belle Poupée—her charm was undeniable.

---

"Don’t worry, Belle-sama, Gilbert-sama has never once... been involved with the women here."

"Hey, don’t say unnecessary things. This engagement will be broken soon enough. There’s no reason for the Orlesian Doll Princess to marry someone like me. Unless someone’s instructed you to ‘deal with me,’ perhaps?"

Gilbert stood up, grabbed Leticia’s chin, and stared into her eyes, his gaze heavy with suspicion, searching for hidden motives. His red eyes, filled with doubt, flickered ominously.

It was almost as if she would be swallowed by those eyes.

Even in the dim light, those eyes shone with a noble gleam.

---

「Ah, truly, what beautiful eyes. 」

Leticia narrowed her eyes, entranced.

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