Chapter 85
Even after hearing his answer that he’s happy, I couldn’t shake off my unease.
“Aren’t you going to eat? It’s the last piece.”
The fork he held had the last piece of cake on it.
The plate now had nothing but the smeared white cream from the cake and the strawberries that had adorned it.
I looked at the piece of cake on the fork he offered, then quietly opened my mouth and accepted it.
“It’s delicious.”
Then, I picked up a strawberry with the fork and brought it to the corner of his mouth.
He, too, accepted the strawberry without any resistance.
What would others think if they saw this?
Would they see us as a perfect couple, or even spouses?
Or maybe…
His actions were indeed very natural.
Suddenly, a thought came to mind.
Has he ever been like this with someone else before?
Was the reaction I saw earlier just embarrassment?
Should I ask?
Would he answer?
‘Could it be Veronica?’
Ever since the conversation about Veronica during the tea party, her name had frequently resurfaced in my mind.
Previously, she was just the protagonist of “Lady Crown”.
As the narrator and heroine of the book, she was just a character living somewhere in this world, someone I could never meet.
But now…
I couldn’t help but think that she might have been someone who could have married Amoide.
“You seem to have thoughts.”
“Me?”
“You seem to be thinking of something else.”
With his chin in hand, he looked at me.
His eyes, shining blue, scrutinized me as if examining every detail.
Whenever he looked at me like that, I felt like I might spill out everything I knew.
“You seem to be having different thoughts.”
“Different thoughts? There’s nothing like that.”
I quickly denied it.
It wouldn’t make sense, but I felt embarrassed at the thought that if he could read my thoughts, it would be truly embarrassing.
“I’m just zoning out. Not thinking anything special.”
“Just a passing comment, why is the explanation so long?”
He raised the corner of his mouth as if finding it amusing.
Well, because I felt stung.
Every time I looked at Amoide, I couldn’t help but think of the fate of “Lady Crown”.
His tragic ending and mine.
No, Veronica would be happy as she’s alive, so according to the original story, it wasn’t a tragic ending.
‘He almost got engaged to such a heroine.’
Such words were never mentioned in the book.
Well, it wasn’t even an engagement, and if it was almost an engagement, it wouldn’t be mentioned.
After all, the book was written from Veronica’s perspective.
She already had a husband and prince who was a high-ranking nobleman, so why bother mentioning her previous connection?
Even I wouldn’t want to disclose such details in my memoirs.
…That’s why I was even more curious.
What was the backstory?
Marriages among nobles became more stringent and rational as the status of the family rose.
It was considered natural for a man to marry a woman from a family of equal status and understanding, who would also be beneficial politically.
The Lotrange family, to which Veronica belonged, was undoubtedly one of the highest-ranking noble families in the empire.
Especially for producing excellent diplomats with outstanding diplomatic skills who worked for the empire’s interests in various countries.
The emperor, who highly appreciated their contributions, elevated the family’s status even higher, and the Lotrange family solidified its position by forming alliances with even higher-ranking families.
Veronica was the illegitimate daughter of such a family.
Her father had desperately hoped for a son, but in the end, it didn’t happen.
“Throughout my upbringing, I bore the weight of my father’s expectations. As a noblewoman, I received various teachings such as dance, music, etiquette, arithmetic, politics, diplomacy, foreign languages, and more.”
“Fortunately, when I showed talent in various areas, my father abandoned his desire for a son and devoted himself to my education.”
In short, she was my dad’s friend’s daughter.
With her natural beauty and talents, everyone loved her.
I became extremely curious about the link between such a person and Amoide.
“Can I ask something?”
In the end, I couldn’t hold it in.
“When did you ask for permission before?”
“No.”
I shook my head and added, “Other than the woman you met, was there anyone else you almost got engaged to?”
Suddenly, his expression changed.
“…How did you know?”
“Your mother said so. I heard that you almost got engaged before. It was a story I heard at the tea party.”
“My mother told you that?”
“Yes.”
For a moment, an incredulous smile passed over his face.
After exhaling shortly, he replied, “It was an agreement between the adults. When the time was right, we were supposed to get engaged and married.”
His response ended quite abruptly.
“….”
“That’s all.”
“…That’s all?”
I was dumbfounded.
Really, really? That’s all?
“But still, you had marriage in mind. There must have been some interaction before that.”
“You heard it too. I almost got engaged. I collapsed just before the engagement ceremony.”
He spoke matter-of-factly, as if telling someone else’s story.
“They wanted to annul the engagement because it was an inexplicable illness,” he continued.
“Do you not know Veronica separately?”
“What do you want to know?”
“Just curiosity. The ladies said she was incredibly, incredibly beautiful and talented.”
I observed his reaction as I spoke.
Could there have been feelings for her, or was there something else between them besides the family’s discussions about marriage?
“Why?”
“Are you asking about Veronica’s relationship?”
“No!”
I inadvertently raised my voice, then quickly covered my mouth with my hand.
As I looked at him with my mouth covered, Amoide strangely seemed pleased.
‘Why?’
Why, why.
It’s not a sin to be curious.
I regained my composure and quickly smoothed out my voice.
“I’m just curious about this person named Veronica because everyone says she’s incredibly beautiful.”
I fidgeted with my fingers unnecessarily.
I could feel his gaze following my gesture.
“How beautiful and talented must she be for your mother’s friends to praise her endlessly…”
I rambled on, feeling somehow ridiculous.
I took a gulp of tea to quench my thirst and continued.
“She’s supposed to return from the Rilos Kingdom soon. She might have already returned.”
“She returned?”
He straightened up from leaning back against the chair.
“That’s what I heard. She might have already returned.”
“I see.”
He had a thoughtful expression.
Was he thinking about Veronica?
Was he imagining how much more beautiful she might have become, or reminiscing about the time spent with her in the past?
So, Veronica…
…Let’s stop thinking about that.
My mind was filled with the name Veronica.
At this rate, if I were to meet her, I might act as if we’re old friends, even though we’ve never met.
“Why are you like this? Do you know your face keeps changing?”
He asked as if he found it amusing that my expression kept changing.
“How can someone’s face change like that?”
I hurriedly pressed my palm against my face.
“Why are you so curious about Veronica? You haven’t even met her yet.”
“Just curious. I just thought about it.”
“What thought?”
“If you had been healthy, would that engagement have remained intact?”
“…”
“If that had been the case, you wouldn’t have had to marry a woman chosen by your mother, like me.”
The reason his expression froze in horror every time he looked at me after our first meeting at the mansion and the fake tea party.
Now I understand.
My very existence must be painful for Amoide.
To him, I symbolized his ailing body, a body sold for money to a woman rumored to be incomplete, who was expected to bear his children.
A reminder that haunted him from time to time.
“No, not necessarily Veronica. You could meet another… woman you like and marry her…”
His penetrating gaze made me stumble over my words.
“So, if you get better, everything will work out.”
I said brightly, but his expression became subtly nuanced.
“You still haven’t given up on that goal?”
“Of course not. I’ll definitely make it happen.”
He seemed resigned now.
“If you want to, go ahead. I won’t stop you.”
Was it that kind of feeling?
“…If you’re done eating, let’s go.”
He had a look as if he had something to say, but he didn’t utter a word.
“Okay.”
I stood up with him.
Clang.
As I rose, I suddenly felt his gaze on my earlobe.
When I touched my ear, I felt the smooth, cool texture of the silver crescent moon earring.
It seemed like he was admiring the earring.
‘Is he fascinated by earrings?’
As I pondered, I remembered the day he brought me this earring himself.
“Amoide.”
I called him back, turning to face him.
“This, I’ll cherish it. Thank you for finding it for me.”
I smiled broadly, and he looked at the earring for a moment before saying,
“It suits your name.”
“Mine?”
