【Chapter 25】
“Congratulations on your marriage, Lady Karinen and Sir Farroy.”
Esadian, who entered the hall, exchanged congratulations with Sister Juella and Gideon. Then, for a moment, Esadian looked at me and our eyes met.
No, that’s what I thought. He immediately unfolded a scroll and handed it over to my sister.
“This is a congratulatory gift from His Majesty the Emperor.”
The Emperor and the Crown Princess indeed fulfilled their grand promises by sending remarkable gifts. The Emperor sent a ruby mine, while the Crown Princess crafted an ink bottle made from a diamond so large that it was challenging to grasp with one hand.
“Indeed, they have great generosity.”
“I wonder what the relationship is like between the Imperial Family and the Karinen family. I suppose this level of gift is only natural.”
Everyone applauded and exclaimed in admiration, but my face remained stiff and unyielding.
‘I can’t do this.’
It was a beautiful day. Although I knew it in my head, I couldn’t help it. Lafesch smiled like a blooming flower, and Esadien’s attitude toward her was very courteous.
‘To you…. My confession was just a lie, like that.’
“How can…. you can be sure.”
The moment I heard those words from Esadien, the sound of everything I had built up in my mind crumbling echoed in my ears. It hurt, even though I knew that confessing and saying “I love you” wouldn’t guarantee a painless outcome. In fact, it hurt even more deeply.
“Minuelle, relax your expression.”
“….”
“Minuelle.”
“Huh? Yeah?”
Thanks to Ramande’s whispered words from behind, I was finally able to take a deep breath and look around. Except for Sister Juella, who was standing in front and facing Esadien, all the other family members and Farroy household members were discreetly observing my reactions.
‘Did I show that much for a moment?’
I felt embarrassed and my cheeks flushed.
‘It’s okay. It’s okay.’
As we made eye contact and smiled at each other one by one, the atmosphere finally became more relaxed.
“Well done. After it’s all over, I’ll listen to you talk as much as you want, so just hold on a little longer. Okay?”
Ramande whispered and gently patted my shoulder, encouraging me to stay strong. He knew that nothing was alright, but it was a gesture of telling me to gather my strength.
“….yes.”
A refreshing aura of divine energy emanated from Ramande’s hand. It was only after that power quelled the heat within me that I realized my emotions were simmering beneath the surface.
“Thank you, Ramande.”
As I regained my composure, I was able to smile naturally once again. Additionally, having a friend who could reflect upon my heart like a mirror helped me stand tall with confidence.
“Good job, our Minuelle.”
The violet eyes shimmered beautifully.
“You look even more beautiful today. The most beautiful in the world.”
Wow, I can’t understand why that person, who always used to say that all of Flendena’s children are beautiful, is acting like this.
“Hey, I shouldn’t be prettier than my older sister.”
As I tapped him on the shoulder, Ramande reacted with a natural and playful response.
“The bride is out of the question.”
“Fair enough.”
Seeing me laughing like that, Ramande spoke reassuringly.
“Now that you’re feeling better, I’ll go over there. The Third Prince is coming.”
As Ramande left, Esadien approached and extended his arm, as if passing a baton. Meanwhile, Lafesch was making her way to the Celeste family’s seat, greeting the people around her. It was a lively and joyous atmosphere. Occasionally, I noticed some curious glances directed toward our direction.
“Minuelle.”
Quietly, Esadien called my name. When I didn’t raise my hand to his, he looked at me with a puzzled expression. And that was it. Esadien’s face, as I looked up at him, remained as composed as ever.
“It’s not time to move yet. It’s okay.”
I smiled on purpose.
I smiled knowingly and managed to refrain from asking the reason why Lafesch had come along with him as soon as our eyes met.
“Is that so.”
He looked at my lips tightly shut, with his beautiful ocean-blue eyes. Normally, just facing Esadien would make me happy. It felt strange, indeed.
‘Ah… I feel irritated again.’
I was urged to grab Esadien by the collar and interrogate him immediately. Even if it meant putting myself in a vulnerable position, I didn’t care in that moment.
“Just hold on a little longer. Okay?”
However, I managed to redirect my thoughts when Ramande’s voice, which had been comforting me, came to mind.
“…Have you been doing well all this time?”
“It doesn’t seem like that’s what you were trying to say.”
“No, really. I was just asking about your well-being.”
“I see. Okay.”
What do you mean, “Okay”? What the hell.
Though my heart was bubbling with irritation, I forcibly held them back and greeted the arriving guests with a smile, suppressing my true feelings.
“I should start preparing for other things now. Your Highness, please take a seat in the designated area over there.”
As the meal was about to begin and Sister Juella and Gideon made their entrance, I had to prepare the children who would scatter flowers in front of them. It was a convenient excuse to leave. With a relieved heart, I moved towards Sister Elga and Theodore, who were engaged in conversation.
“Whew.”
“Minuelle.”
“Gasp.”
However, it seemed like Esadien, who had been silently observing from behind, was now coming after me directly.
‘No, why are you following me?’
Today, Esadien felt unfamiliar. I tried to quicken my pace, but with the difference in stride, he caught up to me easily.
“Minuelle.”
In the deserted corridor, along with the sound of our footsteps, Esadien’s voice echoed.
“Why, why did you come?
“As expected, you’re angry.”
“Why would you think so?”
Sure. Let’s hear why you think so.
“Because you didn’t call me by name. And, your look…..”
Esadien, who seemed to be about to add something, hesitated and then closed his mouth.
“Look? And?”
Report? Bogota? Or did I mishear ‘pufferfish’?
I tilted my head in confusion, but Esadien didn’t answer and changed the subject.
“No, it’s not that. Anyway, why are you angry?”
Why can’t you just tell me everything? Normally, I would have been able to accept anything, but strangely, now I feel like I don’t even have the energy to get angry.
“Well, it’s not so much that I’m angry, but rather I’m not feeling very good.”
“Why? Isn’t it a happy day?”
“Yes, you’re right. I’m happy, really happy.”
I flashed a smile and started walking again. Not wanting to lose sight of me, Esadien quickly caught up and walked alongside me.
“But why….”
“Your Highness.”
I took a step back from Esadien and spoke quietly. He tried to approach me, but I raised my hand to stop him.
“You pushed away my feelings, Your Highness. And then, without any particular reason, you came with Lady Celeste, who had no reason to come to the imperial palace today.”
I said it firmly and resolutely.
“In front of your fiancée, His Highness himself escorted her, not Theodore.”
“…….”
“How am I supposed to accept that?”
“There was… there was a reason behind it.”
That’s true. There’s a saying that there are no graves without excuses in this world.*
[T/N: “There is no grave without excuses in this world,” people often make excuses for their actions or circumstances, even in the face of death or serious consequences. It implies that individuals will find or create justifications for their behavior or avoid taking responsibility.]
“Yes, perhaps it was a reason that couldn’t be told to me in advance. Is that right?”
“……”
Once again, there was silence. I let out a sigh.
“You’ve always been like this, Your Highness. You never show everything to me.”
At first, I was delighted just to express my feelings to Esadien, and I gained strength from witnessing him gradually change because of me. But the moment someone else interfered in our relationship, I could no longer pretend not to know or turn a blind eye.
My feelings for Esadien had grown so immense that I couldn’t claim to not care about his heart. I thought my feelings had reached their peak from the beginning and wouldn’t grow any further, but that wasn’t the case.
“Sorry. Even though you said there’s a reason, I just can’t bring myself to believe that your heart is with me.”
“Manuelle, you…”
With wavering eyes, Esadien, who had endured my gaze, finally spoke up. From between his lips escaped a sigh-like voice.
“You are too fast. It’s too burdensome for me.”
Echoing behind Esadien’s words, a phrase I had heard before lingered in my mind like an auditory hallucination.
“I cannot return the same amount of emotion that you show me.”
Like getting wet in a drizzle? It was all just a delusion. Our relationship had not taken a single step forward since then. No matter how much I expressed my love, Esadien never echoed it back. He simply absorbed it like a sponge.
‘I should have realized it from the beginning.’
I stumbled back, barely managing to steady myself, and took a couple of steps back. Tears welled up, blurring my vision, but I mustered the strength not to let them fall. A smile formed on my lips. I am Karainen, the one blessed by Flendena. I could never degrade myself by shedding tears.
“I understand. So that is the answer you give me, Your Highness.”
I gracefully grasped the edge of my skirt.
“I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused during all this time.”
And I walked away, maintaining a straight posture. Even though I could hear Esadien calling from behind, I didn’t respond.
“No, wait a minute. Minuelle.”
“……”
Then, Esadien, who had chased after me, grabbed my shoulder and turned me around.
“Minuelle, please listen to me a little more.”
“Is there anything more you would like to deny about me?”
“No, it’s not that. I just… I…”
‘Why are you doing this?’
I have never seen Esadien so unsettled before. He told me not to cry, looked up at the ceiling, grabbed my collar, and gently touched my trembling neck. After all that, Esadien took a deep breath and spoke again.
“I can’t help but keep thinking of you, and I don’t know what to do about it.”
I was so surprised that my teardrops could have easily vanished. It was a completely new experience for me.
“Yes?”
All I could do was question it blankly.
All I could do was stare blankly and mutter to myself. And as my tears dried up, I could see Esadien’s figure clearly with slightly clearer eyes.
“No matter where I go, thoughts of you… appear.”
Esadien was avoiding my gaze and looking down at the floor.
“I feel like I’ve become strange.”
From Esadien’s neck to his forehead, and even the hand covering his mouth, everything was flushed red. Seeing that sight, I could be certain that I hadn’t misheard. In a moment of certainty, I impulsively reached out my hand toward him.
“At first, I was simply trying to seek advice from Lady Celeste….”
“Esadien.”
I grabbed Esadien by the collar, removing his hand covering his mouth, and looked into his startled eyes. Our lips met, closing the distance between us to zero. The sound of our hearts, whose beats belonged to either of us, filled my ears completely.
💧
Thank you for reading!
