DSFL | Chapter 10

~Chapter 10~

A dry, harsh laugh escaped Ricardo’s lips.

Something had changed. At first, it had just felt good—relief, maybe. She had always been an exhausting woman. But now, her attitude has changed. That was definitely a good sign.

The stubborn woman had suddenly become different.

There was a time when her pure love had been too much for him. It had made him feel like he was suffocating.

And now she was saying she supported his love?

Who did she think she was? What did she even know about him?

Her confession had felt like a loss for him.

He had been deceived, and it only made him feel smaller and smaller.

Ricardo ran a rough hand over his face.

…Bianca, you’re too difficult for me.

You’re like a puzzle I’ll never be able to solve.

I really don’t know how I’m supposed to deal with you.

Ricardo furrowed his brow slightly. Frustrated, he put a cigarette in his mouth—but didn’t light it.

He fell deep into thought again, then eventually took the cigarette out.

Knock knock—

“Duke, it’s Elia. A letter has arrived for you. It seems urgent—”

“Come in.”

It seemed he was truly sick. How could he be thinking about her so much? The remnants of the past had become a thick, sticky swamp that he couldn’t escape.

“It’s a letter from Roygin.”

Elia carefully handed him a letter.

“…Is it from the Marquis?”

“I’m not sure. A messenger came from Roygin… it was a woman wearing a robe.”

Ricardo rubbed his face, feeling tired.

“What a rude family.”

They never sent proper notice, and now they were sending a message this late at night.

Sighing deeply, Ricardo stood up and walked to the terrace. He leaned on the railing and looked at the letter.

Under the bright moonlight, the seal of Roygin glowed beautifully.

With a dull expression, Ricardo opened the envelope.

But the moment he saw the handwriting, his eyes narrowed.

It was familiar.

Bianca?

He read the letter, and read it again, unable to believe his eyes.

…Is this really the Bianca I knew?

---

[ …I’m sorry to contact you so suddenly at this late hour.

But I don’t think I can wait any longer.

Today, you said I was the same as before. And maybe… you’re right.

It’s been ten years, like you said. I’ve had countless chances to apologize. But I never said a word.

I want to apologize for everything I did to you in the past.

There’s no excuse for any of it.

I’m truly sorry.

Same with what happened today. I think I raised my voice because I was desperate not to waste your time.

I haven’t forgotten the past. I still carry it with me. I still stand in that same place, facing you.

I don’t know if the “me” from the future can reach the “you” from the past, but I’m sorry it’s so late.

…I’m sorry. ]

Ricardo moved his lips as if to say something.

Even though the moon had shifted in the sky, he stayed frozen in place, staring at the letter.

…She apologized?

She’s facing the past?

He remembered clearly how it all began.

She had always smiled brightly and reached out her hand to him.

And now, once again, she was reaching out.

He felt like he was slowly sinking into the words she had written so tightly on the page.

There was no space left between the lines—

Yet, strangely, he didn’t feel like he was suffocating.

---

Of course, Ricardo didn’t send a reply.

But that was fine. Bianca hadn’t expected one.

If he wanted, she would apologize over and over again.

And if he didn’t want her apology, then she’d simply let the engagement be broken quietly. That was her goal.

Besides, there was something more important right now.

“Miss…”

“Looks perfect, right?”

“Well… I can tell you embroidered something, but what does it mean?”

…It’s a rose.

Bianca collapsed onto the table in frustration at Emily’s response.

Seeing this, Emily clenched her fist and cheered,

“You’ll get it right soon! And come on, who wouldn’t love a handkerchief embroidered by you, Miss?”

There are a lot of people like that, Emily…

I parted my lips to speak, but instead let out a long sigh.

The problem was the hunting competition.

Like in any typical hunting event, the lady was expected to gift her champion a handkerchief to wish him safety.

Yes.

This whole hassle I was going through—it was all because of that useless tradition.

I stared blankly at the clumsy embroidery and sighed again.

What do I even do with this…?

Even I could tell it was pretty bad.

---

At that moment.

Ricardo was tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep. After a completely sleepless night, he suddenly got up.

A letter he had placed carefully on his pillow fluttered to the ground.

With a dazed expression, Ricardo murmured,

“…Why can’t I sleep?”

---

A few days later.

I stood in front of the Sun Shop, taking a deep breath.

[Please visit the shop sometime tomorrow morning.]

That was the letter I had received yesterday.

It was a short note, but I could tell right away who it was from.

Thank goodness—Peril’s awake.

Nervously, I opened the shop door.

Ding

“Welcome—”

The woman who greeted me with a smile quickly stiffened the moment she recognized me.

“…So you came.”

She looked just as nervous as I was. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke carefully.

“Before we talk, I need to ask you one thing.”

“What is it?”

“How did you know Lord Babe had woken up?”

Because I read the original novel.

“It was just a feeling.”

“…So you don’t intend to tell me.”

I wish I could, but you’d think I was insane.

“So, what did Babe say?”

“I haven’t seen him yet either. But I heard he was very angry.”

…This is bad.

I started to worry about my future.

“I don’t know how much you know about him, but he’s not as impressive as you might think.”

If someone lived for a thousand years, I’d say that’s very impressive…

But she clearly thought I didn’t know that Babe was the master of the magic tower. She spoke with a biting tone.

“He’s just a regular man surviving by selling ornaments to get through each day.”

“There are people who barely get by selling time—and they’re the ones who need his help.”

She bit her lip, then changed the subject.

“…You know the hunting competition is coming up, right?”

“Yes.”

“Lord Babe will be attending, too.”

I froze at her words.

That wasn’t what I expected.

In the original story, Peril hadn’t attended the hunting competition. That episode was about Erkisian and Ricardo fighting over Idette.

…Is something changing because of me?

“He said to meet him there.”

“Is that information reliable?”

I asked again, not quite believing it.

Peril was supposed to be someone erased from this world. He wasn’t allowed to participate in public events like that.

Of course, he had secretly visited Idette in disguise before…

Which meant that if Peril was attending the event, he’d probably be in disguise again.

“Yes. He said it himself, so it’s certain.”

“…Thank you.”

“I just hope you don’t upset him in any way.”

The woman gave me a faint smile.

…That almost sounded like she wanted me to get on Peril’s bad side.

But maybe that was just my imagination.

---

Time flew, and the hunting competition was right around the corner.

It was hard to find anything good about the event, but I did manage to find one upside:

I didn’t have to wear a dreadful dress!

I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled with satisfaction.

The pants, designed for mobility, were unbelievably comfortable.

If only every day could be a hunting day!

“Young lady, it’s time to leave!”

Emily urgently called out to me as I wandered in front of the mirror.

Ah, is it that late already?

Snapping back to reality, I hurried out of the room. Standing by the front door was Cedric.

“…”

I expected him to scold me for being late, but surprisingly, he didn’t say a word.

…Could he be nervous too?