âIâve said it before, but I never intended to marry anyone in my life. Our marriage was merely a contract, and even now that itâs over, my thoughts havenât changed.â
It was an expected and fully anticipated answer. Nevertheless, he couldnât help but feel a chill in his heart at her declaration.
Daryl opened his mouth with a cracked voice.
ââŠI know. That. I didnât wish for a reunion with you either.â
Right. It was something he couldnât dare to hope for. How dare he, by what right.
Eleanor looked at Daryl for a moment, then continued.
âSo what do you want from me?â
ââŠWant. Thereâs no such thing.â
âReally?â
At Eleanorâs question, Daryl had a slightly flustered look.
âReally. I donât want anything from you. As I said, as long as youâre happyâŠâ
âThen why did you overdose on drugs to the point of losing consciousness?â
ââŠThat was, a mistake.â
âAnd why did you refuse to eat? Why did you stay locked in your office for days without coming out?â
ââŠ..â
Daryl closed his mouth with a dispirited expression.
Eleanor narrowed her eyes. It was incredibly awkward to see him make such a face. Even though she was watching him right in front of her, she couldnât believe it. It was the same with the fact that Daryl had had special feelings for her for such a long time. How could such deep feelings arise to the point where a person changes so drastically, where everyday life completely collapsesâŠ
ââŠWhen was it?â
âWhat⊠are you talking about?â
âYou said you loved me. When was it?â
Darylâs pupils shook. He quietly lowered his eyes.
ââŠI donât know. I clearly realized it three years ago, the day you left this mansion⊠but I think the feelings must have arisen much earlier than that. I just didnât realize it myselfâŠâ
âWhy?â
ââŠâŠâ
âWhy did you say that I was just a nuisance and an eyesore to you? You actually locked me in the mansion for a long time and didnât even look at me.â
Darylâs expression clouded again.
ââŠIâm sorry. It was my fault.â
âIâm not asking for an apology. I just donât understand. You hated me so much, why did you turn the tables, thatâs what Iâm curious about.â
Daryl fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.
âI donât know either. Thatâs too far in the pastâŠIâve loved you for so long now, itâs just natural.â
ââŠBut there must be a reason or a trigger.â
âDo I need such a thing to love you?â
âHuh?â
Daryl raised his head and stared at Eleanor. It was the first time today that he had looked at Eleanor so directly.
âYou are more beautiful, wise, and affectionate than any woman in the empire. You are strict with yourself but infinitely generous to others. Yet you never compromise on things that go against your principles. You have a shining artistic talent and, even though you earn a lot of money with it⊠you only use that wealth to give to others. Who wouldnât love you?â
ââŠâ
It was a dizzyingly enormous compliment. Eleanor felt her cheeks heat up helplessly. Despite the passionate confession, Daryl didnât seem desperate or heated. It felt like he was stating an extremely obvious fact.
âActually, everyone else in this mansionâŠloved you too. Layla, Herbert⊠they were on your side before I even realized my feelings. After you left the mansion, it felt like an empty house. Iâm sure I wasnât the only one who felt that way. Iâm willing to bet. Everyone really⊠missed you.â
ââŠâ
She remembered when she visited the mansion a while ago, Layla and Herbert had welcomed her surprisingly warmly. Layla even shed tears apologizing for scolding her in the past. They had both been kind to Eleanor before, but she thought it was just humanitarian kindness. There was no way Eleanor, the protagonist of the scandal, would look good in the eyes of the people of the Dukeâs house.
She thought it was inevitable that Layla initially disliked Eleanor, and that the servants, including Emily, were cold to her. She thought it was natural that they couldnât accept her as Darylâs wife and the mistress of the Dukeâs house. Herbert had been kind to Eleanor from the beginning, but she thought that was because he was a man of great character. She never dreamed that Layla had become friendly with her because she genuinely liked her.
Of course, Daryl was out of the question. So when she fulfilled her one-year term and left the mansion, she thought she was the only one who was happy and excited. She thought everyone would be glad that the fake duchess was gone. Itâs been almost three years since she left the mansion, but sheâs still thinking and accepting it that way. Everyone loved and missed her. She couldnât believe it.
âI amâŠâ
Eleanor opened her mouth with a confused expression.
âI donât know. Everything⊠I canât believe it. It all seems like a lie.â
ââŠItâs not unreasonable. The one who acted in such a way that you couldnât think otherwise was none other than meâŠIâm really sorry. From your point of view, it must seem brazen for me to say this nowâŠâ
ââŠ..â
Eleanor was silent for a moment, her eyes downcast. She had resented Daryl for a long time. It was painful and hateful to even think of him, let alone face him and talk to him. It was like that until just a few days ago. She had a hard time deciding to come here today.
It was that hard to believe. The fact that Daryl loved Eleanor. That it was a desperate emotion that ruined his life. Even now, she hadnât fully accepted that fact. Of course, she hadnât forgiven Daryl either.
But.
After a while, she opened her mouth in a slightly subdued voice.
ââŠWhether what you say is true or not, whether I believe it or not⊠in the end, nothing will change. I canât accept your feelings⊠and there wonât be a day when I return to the mansion.â
ââŠYes, I know.â
âBut I donât want your life to be ruined because of me.â
ââŠâ
Eleanor had a calm face. The face that was most familiar to Daryl in his old memories, like the quiet moon on a clear night, calm and silent.
âWeâve been divorced for almost three years now. During that not-so-short time⊠I heard you had a very hard time. To the point where people around you were worried. The reason you locked yourself in your room, overdosed on drugs, refused to eat⊠was it because of me? Was it because I told you never to hover around me again?â
ââŠâ
Daryl couldnât say anything. But it was clear that his silence was as good as an affirmative answer.
ââŠYou canât die.â
âThereâs no need to worry about that. I have no intention of dying.â
âYou say you have no intention of dying, but if you continue to live like this, youâre essentially shortening your own life.â
ââŠâ
âPromise me. Youâll eat three meals a day, get enough sleep at a set time, and even go outside to get some sun.â
ââŠWhyâŠ?â
Daryl asked blankly. Eleanor gave a faint smile.
âIs it so surprising that Iâm worried about you?â
ââŠâ
âI told you. I donât want your life to be ruined because of me. So live properly, live right, so you donât worry the people around you. If you keep this promise, Iâll cancel what I said before.â
âWhat are you⊠talking about?â
âThe part where I told you not to hover around me anymore.â
ââŠâ
Darylâs eyes shook.
âThat doesnât mean itâs okay to deceive me or do anything behind my back like youâve been doing. If you do something without my knowledge like last time and get caught, I really wonât forgive you.â
Eleanor said with a cold expression. But even that seemed merciful to Daryl at this moment, like a goddess.
ââŠReally, really⊠is it okay?â
Daryl stuttered again. There was a faint moisture in his eyes.
She needs to know about her father’s death, everything his father did, everyone needs to know. I don’t believe his regrets if he doesn’t tell the whole thruth.
Let’s see how much mercy she can spare for this terrible family. Benefactor my ass.
Pelo menos ela tem sido consistente…. firme como uma rocha….