Daddy, I Don’t Want to Marry! Vol. 3: Daddy, I Don’t Want to Marry, #3

By Hong Heesu

A looming crisis. A romance veiled in lies. An uncertain future.

 

Despite Jubelian's grand plans, her "relationship" with Max did not deter her father's alleged schemes for her marriage. In addition, she had unwittingly attracted the attention of the man who might cause her demise.

 

Scrambling as she is to avoid her doom, Jubelian remains unaware that Max is none other than the very man she fears. While Max is desperate to reveal himself as Prince Maximillian, he must first fix her impression of his royal identity. His methods, however, might only cause more trouble.

 

As the coronation ceremony draws nearer, tensions rise and stakes get higher. The chessboard is set, and the pieces are already in motion. The Empire is festering with power struggles and political turmoil, and Jubelian is caught in the chaos. In this treacherous realm of royalty, Jubelian must tread carefully, lest a misstep lead to a deadly fall.

 

In a game of love and power, the stakes are as high as the rules are deadly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WordExcerpt
• Release date: Mar 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798890470324

Book preview

PART ONE

LET'S PART WAYS

CHAPTER 1

SURPRISING NOTE FROM THE CROWN PRINCE

Upon arriving home, I washed up and changed into something more comfortable. Finally, I could breathe freely, and I sank into my bed, cocooned in plush sheets. Just as I was about to drift off into the comfort of slumber, the day's events suddenly raced through my mind like a vivid panorama. Among them, the most striking memory was the appearance of the crown prince, the man I had dreaded encountering.

Honestly, the crown prince was not as dreadful as I had anticipated. In fact, I felt at ease walking with him down the dimly lit corridor. The gentle way he held my hand and matched my pace was surprisingly considerate. It was true that I had not committed any notorious crimes yet, perhaps why he treated me with courtesy. I decided to revise my opinion of the crown prince from a terrifying psychopath to someone who was still wicked but didn't concern me as long as I stayed out of trouble. My thoughts then shifted to the royal princess. I had a hunch that the banquet for her coming-of-age ceremony would proceed smoothly if I remained silent.

At that moment, a tapping sound echoed from my window. Max had mentioned he would visit me after the banquet, so I rose and walked towards the window. However, I couldn't help but sigh when I remembered my peculiar thoughts while with the crown prince, continuously comparing him to Max. I supposed it was because Geraldine and Max were the only men in my immediate vicinity.

The tapping noise repeated, urging me to approach the window quickly. Without much thought, I unlocked the latch and gently pulled the window open. I peeked outside but froze in shock. It was another pigeon, even worse than the previous one. While the previous pigeon had been white, this one was gray, reminiscent of the bird that had caused chaos in the convenience store. Terrified, I quickly slammed the window shut and stepped back. The bird continued to peck at the window, glaring at me. There was no way it should have entered the room unless I had left the latch unlocked. I attempted to approach the window again, but it was too late.

In no time, the pigeon had entered my room and was now staring at me.

Although it was customary to send letters the day after the banquet, Max couldn't wait that long. He was eager to convey to Jubelian that the crown prince was not the figure she should fear. So, he stood beneath a large tree in the garden, gazing at the brightly lit window on the second floor of the Floyen mansion with a sense of anticipation.

Feeling anxious, Max reflected on the contents of his letter. Since it was a pigeongram, he had kept the message concise rather than lengthy. Still, he was confident that his letter alone would provide Jubelian with some comfort. As these thoughts swirled in his mind, he began to envision a future filled with hope and promise. He believed that once his message reached her, he could reveal his true identity to Jubelian, overthrow the emperor and empress, and welcome her as the queen.

For these dreams to come true, the pigeon perched on his hand needed to fulfill its duty flawlessly. Although Fresia had praised the bird as the smartest she had ever raised, Max couldn't help but remember the incident that had occurred during his previous attempt.

This is an important letter, understand? There will be consequences if you fail.

While the bird couldn't comprehend human words, it could sense the man before it exuding an intimidating aura. Realizing the gravity of the situation, the poor creature began to coo.

Off you go, Max declared, ignoring the pigeon's desperate plea for assistance.

He watched as the messenger bird made its way toward Jubelian's window, believing it to be clever enough to deserve Fresia's accolades.

However, Max squinted as he noticed a hawk approaching his pigeon. This was a rare sight, as hawks typically inhabited mountainous regions rather than the vicinity of the capital.

Fearful for his little messenger, Max's bird frantically flapped its wings to return to him. Anxious about his letter being ruined, Max crouched down, gathered momentum, and leaped to catch the pigeon safely in his hand. Irritated by this unexpected obstacle, he attempted to seize the hawk by its neck with one hand while holding the pigeon with the other. It was then that he noticed the Floyen household's seal on the hawk's tail.

...Jubelian won't be pleased if I kill this one.

Max hesitated, and the hawk extended its talons and opened its beak, as if to pose a threat. However, Max effortlessly grasped the hawk's thin, leathery legs and tossed it into the air. The hawk momentarily plummeted toward the ground before regaining its balance and flying away as if it had learned not to tangle with this particular human.

Having dealt with the irritating hindrance, Max muttered to the bird still nestled safely in his hand, You better get it right this time.

The bird cooed once more, sounding more confident than terrified this time. Perhaps it had been saved by the very person it once considered an enemy, and now it seemed determined to fulfill its duty. The pigeon took flight, its wings spread confidently like those of an eagle, unlike its earlier attempt.

Max's lips curled upwards as he saw the tiny creature land on the familiar windowsill. However, his expression soon shifted to a frown. Normal individuals couldn't see from such a distance. As a transcendent, Max could discern Jubelian standing on the balcony with a frightened expression.

It's impossible for her to know this message is from the crown prince... Could it be something else?

Just then, Max witnessed Jubelian staggering back from the window. Cursing silently upon realizing the reason behind his previous letter's delivery failure, Max scowled as he observed the pigeon eventually finding its way into the frightened lady's room.

Jubelian! he shouted as he barged in through the veranda.

He had assumed she would respond calmly despite her aversion to birds, but the sight before him was entirely unexpected. The noble lady, who typically remained composed, trembled like a terrified child in front of his small messenger.

M-Max, she called tearfully as she sought refuge behind him, then implored, P-please chase that away.

Max couldn't help but find it amusing. It was hard to believe this was the same woman who had remained unfazed when he had thrust a blade toward her neck. In fact, after that incident, he had thought Jubelian was incapable of feeling fear. However, she was now clinging to him, trembling like a leaf.

Hurry up, would you? she urged.

But Max was enchanted by this newfound aspect of Jubelian. Instead of viewing her as pitiful for panicking over a bird, he found her rather endearing. A smile gradually spread across his face as he replied, All right, all right.

Even after that, Jubelian tugged on Max's sleeve and insisted, Look! I-it's shedding feathers in my room! Stop it right now, please!

She clung to his arm, confirming his suspicion that she was afraid of birds. Tempted to leave the bird alone to witness her tearful expression a bit longer, Max eventually realized that she seemed on the verge of collapse from shock.

Recognizing the need for immediate action, Max cautiously approached the creature. Come here, he ordered, and the pigeon obediently advanced toward him.

Perhaps rescuing the little fellow from the hawk had been a wise choice. With the pigeon now safely in his hand, Max turned around, assuming that Jubelian had calmed down. To his dismay, she remained on high alert, standing about a foot away from him.

Max had effortlessly caught the pigeon, but I couldn't relax.

Hurry and t-take it o-outside...! My words stumbled out due to my urgency to remove the troublesome creature from my room. In case he didn't understand me clearly, I frantically pointed toward the balcony.

However, Max remained still, observing the bird.

This pigeon is a little peculiar, he remarked. There's something tied to its ankle.

Only then did I notice a small strip of paper attached to its scaly leg. There were typically only two reasons someone would send a letter via carrier pigeon: either they wished to remain anonymous or communicate in secrecy. Nobles usually exchanged formal letters to establish or strengthen friendships, assuming the contents were acceptable.

In any case, a message from a carrier pigeon indicated the sender wanted me to receive it directly without intermediaries, and I had a pretty good idea of what the note contained.

It's probably a threat.

Given my tarnished reputation, I was certain the note contained insults aimed at me. Although the note was tiny, a few derogatory words could leave a lasting impact.

Wanting to maintain a peaceful life, I suggested, I think it would be better not to read it.

In response, Max furrowed his brow slightly and inquired, Why do you say that?

Oh, it's just... It might contain offensive language about me, you know?

Has anyone done such a thing in the past? he asked, his tone suddenly serious, and his expression hardening.

However, the menacing aura he typically exuded was softened by the pigeon resting peacefully on his hand. In fact, the bird appeared quite content with its eyes closed. The unusual scene made me wonder if the two had somehow become friends in such a short time.

I asked you a question, Max insisted, his intimidating voice pulling me back to reality from my thoughts.

Well, not exactly... But as you know, many people despise me.

Following the royal banquet earlier in the day, I had learned that my past misdeeds still made me abhorrent to some, regardless of my efforts to change. While I tried not to let it affect my mood significantly, the lack of social interaction during a grand event was a bitter reminder of my terrible reputation.

Still, why don't you just check what's written? It could be someone who genuinely wants to communicate with you, Max suggested, prompting me to recall someone specific.

Could it be... Bea?

Bea had a strained relationship with her family, making it challenging to have an official letter sent through a servant, as that would expose our connection. Ignoring the message would likely hurt her fragile heart.

Taking deep breaths to calm my nerves, I asked, Could you hand me the note?

Without hesitation, Max removed the paper from the pigeon's leg and passed it to me. I kept my gaze on the bird, worried it might become agitated. As I accepted the message, I reassured myself that the letter wasn't a threat but simply an innocent message from someone I had met earlier that day.

Don't fret too much about it. I'm sure it's good news, Max reassured me, his kind words taking me by surprise and eliciting a smile. It was hard to take him seriously with a pigeon peacefully perched in his hand.

With renewed courage, I opened the note, hoping it was indeed positive news, as Max had suggested.

It was true that I sometimes let self-doubt and concern about others' opinions get the best of me. Hoping for the best, I unfolded the piece of paper.

Maximillian Casein Assiette?

My eyes widened in astonishment as they landed on the uppermost left corner of the note. A carrier pigeon, sent by the crown prince himself, had arrived for me. Though fear coursed through me, I couldn't resist reading the message contained within, only to feel my blood run cold. It was indeed a concise note, as I had anticipated, yet it held an unfathomable depth of meaning.

I won't kill you, the note stated.

A shiver ran down my spine as I realized I must have committed an offense worthy of the death penalty in his eyes. I retraced my actions during today's banquet, unwilling to accept that I was the intended recipient of this message. It felt as though I were being unjustly targeted for an unknown reason, but then the memory of the events in the dark, abandoned room flashed before me. I had trespassed into that forbidden chamber, intervened when the crown prince approached Bea, dared to speak back to him, and, finally, displayed ungraceful behavior by stumbling and falling while he escorted me.

Ordinary individuals might have overlooked such transgressions, but to the capricious crown prince, these actions likely provided a pretext for my execution. I lamented my lack of decorum at the royal event when I heard an innocent voice beside me.

What do you think? I was right, wasn’t I?

Furrowing my brow, I cast a glare at the man who still held the pigeon. This was far from being good news; it was a veiled threat, just as I had suspected. The crown prince had gone through the trouble of sending me a private warning, indicating that, in his eyes, I was nothing more than a doomed victim.

He must be biding his time, waiting for me to make the slightest mistake, so he can carry out my execution. That meant I had to devise a plan to avoid his gaze at the upcoming coronation in two weeks.

CHAPTER 2

PLAYING HARD TO GET

Confident that Jubelian would react positively, Max had originally planned to reveal that he was the crown prince tonight. However, the lady stood before him with a dissatisfied expression, her brows slightly furrowed, trembling as she had when she encountered the carrier pigeon. To some degree, she even appeared frightened.

I thought she would be relieved… so why does she look so taken aback?

Nevertheless, he refrained from voicing his questions, fearing her response.

Max, Jubelian called with a weary voice.

Instead of responding, Max fixed his gaze on the lady.

Sighing heavily, Jubelian confessed, I think… the crown prince has his eyes on me.

No way. Did she realize from that short letter that I…

Max shuddered as he recalled the events at the evening's banquet.

Come to think of it, I did make it a little obvious—escorting her back to the palace and staring at her the whole time on our way back…

Max's heart fluttered with anticipation, desiring to reveal his true identity as the crown prince at this moment. However, he opted to remain patient and inquired calmly, What do you mean by that?

I think I’ve done something to anger him, Jubelian replied quickly.

Frowning, Max once again retraced his memories. No matter how much he pondered, he couldn't recall a single moment when he was even close to being angry—in fact, he had spent a rather pleasant time with her. Even if Jubelian had succumbed to the rampant gossip about the crown prince, it didn’t concern Max, as he dealt with such rumors daily.

Perplexed, Max sought further clarification from the lady. Why? Is there something you've done to upset him?

Sighing, Jubelian shook her head and said, Even if I tell you, you won’t understand.

Hoping to hear her thoughts, Max protested, Whether I will understand or not is not for you to decide, so—

I’m tired, Max. Could you just let me rest? I don’t have the energy to talk anymore today.

Realizing that his plan had been thwarted, Max searched for an excuse to linger and listen to Jubelian's thoughts. The corner of his lips twitched when he thought of protecting her from the pigeon, but this idea was swiftly dismissed.

Jubelian soon sighed and added, And I would appreciate it if you could send that pigeon out of here as well.

Max couldn’t believe her callous words. He had even organized the banquet just for her! At his side, his loyal messenger pigeon cooed, as if to console him.

From the moment Max had left the imperial palace to send the letter, Victor had stood in for the crown prince in the banquet hall until its conclusion. Berating his master for ruining his chances of making Lady Janet’s acquaintance—a noblewoman he admired—Victor began to curse Max's potential romantic encounters in the future.

Just then, the window to the bedroom opened, and the crown prince entered.

Welcome—gah! Victor squealed, startled by the sudden appearance of a pigeon. I-isn’t that Lady Fresia’s p-pigeon? Why is it here?

Shut up, Max muttered under his breath.

Realizing that his master was in a foul mood, Victor wisely kept quiet. A heavy silence filled the room until the crown prince finally spoke again.

The word is that you’re the best womanizer in the military, is it?

Gritting his teeth, Victor inwardly protested, I. Am. Not. A. Womanizer! It’s just that my relationships tend to be short-lived!

In any case, Victor lacked dating advice since he was constantly entering and exiting relationships. Moreover, he was always the one who got dumped, so he couldn't fathom why rumors labeled him a player.

But admitting all this would bring him nothing but misery, so Victor suppressed his emotions and chuckled, Please, Your Highness, refer to it as having considerable dating experience.

Same thing, Max responded indifferently.

Victor struggled to contain his simmering frustration. The role of the crown prince's aide was indeed challenging. To outsiders, serving the heir to the throne seemed enviable, but Victor gained no real advantages from his proximity to Max—his duties primarily involved serving as a body double. The sole reason Victor remained loyal was Max's past act of saving his life.

I'll endure until His Highness ascends the throne. That will be enough to repay his kindness,

Considering that even a life as a commoner might be more appealing than his current position, Victor prepared to take his leave. However, the crown prince stopped him.

Sit down; I have something to discuss with you.

Victor's heart raced. He couldn’t believe the crown prince was seeking a conversation. It had been six years since Victor began his service in the palace and two years since he had been promoted to Max's aide. Throughout this time, Victor had longed for an opportunity to confirm that the crown prince placed trust in him, as Max had never sought his advice or shared his concerns.

Imagining that he would finally serve as an aide and a close confidant, Victor felt an overwhelming sense of joy. Swiftly shelving his complaints, he made a solemn vow, I, Victor, pledge to serve Your Highness to the best of my abilities.

The crown prince appeared somewhat flustered by the gravity of Victor's words, and he spoke softly, In truth, there is... a lady I have in my thoughts.

Victor couldn't believe his ears. The fearsome crown prince, who was rumored to make babies cry in the northern land of Norwin, was pursuing a lady! A memory from a few days ago, during the battle at the southern border, flashed through Victor's mind.

Forgive my curiosity, but could she be the owner of the handkerchief?

Max, startled, gazed at his aide for a moment before slowly nodding. Yes. I see you're quick to notice, as expected from a charmer.

Victor failed to understand the connection between being a charmer and the knowledge about the handkerchief since all of the crown prince's aides and advisors were aware of it. Ignoring the subtle jab, he inquired, So, what has transpired with the lady that is causing you such distress?

Max fell silent for a moment, a furrow creasing his brow, before finally admitting, I must have done something amiss, but I can't quite pinpoint what it might be.

Well, pleasing the ladies can be challenging, but once you grasp the fundamentals, Your Highness, it's simpler than you think.

Simple?

"Yes, all you