When the Main Protagonists Broke Up

I terribly hated hearing Kane’s voice calling me over and over again in a pleading tone.

So I decided to stop waiting for Aiden and go first, so I started walking to the carriage.

But just in time, I saw Aiden coming out of the entrance of the prince’s palace.

Even from a distance, Aiden’s eyes met.

And he came quickly to my side.

“Belita, sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“No, let’s go.”

“Yes. Duke Maxius, then see you next time.”

I didn’t want to mix things up with Kane, so I just bowed my head instead of saying hello.

“Look at both of you…Go.”

Kane’s voice was terrifying.

He could tell just how angry he was.

But that was none of my business.

Because I was in a state of great anger as much as he was.

That’s how Aiden and I walked together to the place where our family carriage was.

I felt a warm gaze from behind, but I smiled proudly at Aiden.

“Didn’t Aiden come in a carriage?”

He looked a little bewildered as if he was surprised that I was laughing so broadly.

“Oh, I came on horseback because I was coming quickly.”

“I see.”

“Miss.”

The carriage was not far away.

After exchanging a few words and walking, I quickly arrived in front of the carriage, and Lian, who was waiting in front of the carriage, came calling me.

“Rian, let’s go back.”

“All right.”

Lian recognized Aiden, gave me a sneaky look, and bowed her head toward him.

“It seems that this child always follows Belita.”

“It’s my escort. And Ryan swore to follow me to the end. Yes?”

I asked Lian with a satisfied smile.

“Yes, that’s right. I am a lady’s knight for life.”

Originally, he was uncharacteristically sincere, but today I heard Lian’s voice resolutely.

“…Is that so.”

“Then let’s go now.”

“Yes, grab me and get into the carriage.”

Ryan held out his hand to me.

It was something Lian had always done when riding in the carriage, so I subconsciously tried to hold her hand.

“I will do it.”

“Yes?”

But suddenly, Aiden stepped up to escort her.

“It’s fine.”

“No. Step back, I will do it.”

Lian gave me a quick glance, then stepped back with a hard expression on her face.

Then Aiden took his place and reached out to me.

In front of his eyes, a hand as large as his body urged him to grab it.

I slowly put my hand on top of his.

A large hand warmly wrapped around my hand.

“Go up.”

“…yes.”

As soon as I felt a feeling I had never felt before, the answer came one beat slower.

Looking at his expression quickly, he didn’t seem to notice such a change in me.

As soon as I climbed into the carriage safely, Aiden immediately followed me into the carriage.

And the door was closed

I didn’t bring Mary because I was on a short visit to the imperial palace today.

So it was just the two of us in the carriage.

Aiden took his seat across from me and the wagon rattled away.

And the conversation that had been interrupted earlier resumed.

“I think you died riding a horse the other day. Do you like riding horses?”

“I like.”

“I like riding horses too. When I ride a horse and run, my heart opens up and I feel a freedom I haven’t felt before.”

“So do i. If you don’t mind, why don’t we go horseback riding together sometime soon?”

“Together?”

“Yes, there will be an equestrian competition soon, so it’s a horse for practice. I have to participate in an equestrian competition, so I think I will stay in the capital for a while this time.”

‘Ah, it’s an equestrian competition soon.’

The equestrian competition was the biggest festival of the empire, held every autumn, along with the Harvest Festival.

When harvest festivals and equestrian competitions were held, many nobles of the empire flocked to the capital.

If he won the equestrian competition, he became the most honorable person in the empire and monopolized the enormous prize money.

In particular, if the year was prosperous, the prize money was enormous beyond imagination.

The competition was held in a tournament format and lasted for several days as many people participated.

And in line with that time, the streets of the capital were bustling with harvest festivals and small festivals throughout the week.

‘It’s already autumn.’

I came back from my trip around summer, and time was passing by stride.

After pondering for a while on how to answer, I opened my mouth.

“Um, I’ll think about it.”

“Thought…you mean?”

I said I would think about it, but I turned it around and refused.

Aiden might have noticed, too, and there was a hint of disappointment on his face.

“I think I’ll be busy with the business I’m working on right now.”

To be honest, I wasn’t too busy.

I also had to practice because I had to compete in a horseback riding competition.

So we could have practiced together, but inside I kept whispering to keep a reasonable distance from him.

And I followed that.

“All right.”

Aiden was definitely different from Kane.

He didn’t make people suffer by being forced like Kane.

He gave up neatly in response to my answer.

I liked it very much, but it also felt strangely strange.

I didn’t like that I had such a strange feeling, so I immediately brought up another story to shake it off.

“How is Adela’s body?”

“…I thought it would get better if I rested a bit, but I can’t see any improvement.”

“Ah….”

I knew it, but when I heard that the disease was still severe, a sigh came out spontaneously.

Is it not easy to get better because of a mental illness?

At that time, hearing Kane’s words, he was shocked and collapsed, so there was a high possibility that the wound still hadn’t healed.

There was no mention of Kane in the letters we exchanged.

Adela hadn’t mentioned anything about Kane to me since then, perhaps because she went to visit her in the hospital and said it sternly.

“I heard that you and your sister are exchanging letters.”

“What about Adela?”

“Yes.”

Oh, Aiden knows I’m still friends with Adela.

It was a really good thing.

“I think I will visit the hospital one more time. I think it would be frustrating to be alone in the mansion.”

You’ve already had a taste of the outside world, but being stuck inside is like hell.

As he grew acquainted with Adela, the bad feelings he had for her at first gradually disappeared.

And instead, pity and pity for her accumulated in that empty seat.

Maybe it was natural and it was something I was determined to do.

However, I didn’t know that my emotions would change so quickly, so even I was embarrassed these days.

As I said that I was going to visit the hospital, I met Aiden’s eyes.

But for a moment, he made a strange expression and quickly disappeared from his face.

Then he replied with a slight smile.

“Belita is still sweet and kind.”

Why do these siblings praise me so highly when I do just one thing?

I had told him the other day, but I wasn’t the kind of person to be called sweet or kind.

It’s just that Adela and Aiden’s evaluation of me is too high.

Well, that wasn’t a bad thing, so there was no need to deny it.

As long as they, especially Aiden, know I’m not the one to harm Adela, then I’ll be fine.

So I smiled shyly and turned around.

“By the way, how are the children in the orphanage? I haven’t been able to see you lately.”

“I haven’t been able to see my children for a long time.”

“I see. Did you find the person you were looking for?”

I suddenly remembered a story I heard from him a year ago.

About the reason why he goes after the circus troupe.

“…no. I didn’t see the circus this time.”

A shadow instantly fell over his face.

‘Looks like you’re looking for someone very important.

Well, that means going after all the circus troupes.

“Ah…You will definitely find it. So cheer up.”

“Yes, I believe so too.”

“Yes, I will definitely find it. I asked at that time too, but if there is anything you need my help with, let me know.”

“Then I have a favor to ask of you.”

“What, what?”

The last time he said he would help me, he said it was okay, so I thought he would do it again.

So, I asked out of etiquette, but the words came out as if I had waited like this, so I was a little embarrassed and stuttered.

“Have you ever told anyone else that I was looking for someone?”

“No, no.”

So many things happened in the short time after returning from the trip.

So it was more accurate to say that I hadn’t even thought about telling anyone about it.

“Are you talking to your sister?”

“No, I didn’t tell you.”

It was the same with Adela.

Because there was no reason to do it, and there was no situation like that.

“Then I hope you will continue to do so.”

“That means…Is it a secret?”

“That’s right.”

“Okay, I’ll keep it a secret.”

It was not a difficult request, so I smiled and answered plainly.

Then Aiden looked at me strangely and asked me.

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“Are you going to tell me?”

“…no.”

“I knew that, so I didn’t ask.”

“Thank you.”

I responded with a smile.

After that, as we continued talking without realizing time passing, a carriage arrived in front of the mansion.

Like the last time, when the carriage stopped at the front door, Aiden got off the carriage and I followed him to see him off.

“Thank you for taking me.”

“See you next time.”

“Yes, be careful.”

“Yes, then.”

He climbed on his own horse that followed, took one glance at me, and then quickly walked away from me.

It was the time when he was about to get back into the carriage because he couldn’t be seen from behind.

“Miss.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Lian came up to me.

“Why? What do you have to say?”

“…No, no.”

Looking at her face, she seemed to have something to say, but she kept her mouth shut.

“Let’s go in.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll tell the carriage to come separately, and you’ll walk in with me.”

“But….”

“I want to walk a bit. Let’s go.”

So I started walking through the front door with Ryan.

I walked ahead and Ryan followed.

“Wow, the weather is nice.”

By the time the sun went down, it was cool and it was clear that autumn was coming.

“Come on.”

“Yes?”

“Come to the side.”

Wanting to talk to Ryan face to face, I turned around and flicked my hand.

Ryan stood next to me in one step.

“What do you have to say to me?”

“…no.”

“I think there is.”

“….”

There was definitely something there, but I kept hearing that it wasn’t there, so I was more curious.

“What are you and me hiding? I’m sorry to hear that you’ve grown up now.”

“Coming to think of it, it’s because I don’t think it’s something the lady cares about.”

“After hearing that, I will judge. So tell me.”

Even after saying this much, Lian’s face was still hesitant.

“Are you not going to talk? okay okay. Don’t do it.”

He put on an upset expression as if he was deliberately pouting.

“I will, lady. So relax.”

I raised my chin slightly to begin.

“…Should I step back if someone else offers to escort me like today?”

“Uh?”

If you think about it, it’s not a very difficult question, but a question so unexpected popped up that I was confused at the moment.

“Uh, so you’re asking about Aiden asking you to step down today?”

“That’s right.”

“Well, that is natural. Because he is a noble.”

“…yes.”

Lian’s answer seemed a bit shaky.

“Are you not feeling well? Did you feel like your job was taken away?”

“Not like that. Just a lady…no.”

“What. Talk comfortably.”

Looking at it, it seemed that this time, I would say something a little different from my expectations.

So I quickly prepared my mind and finished preparing to listen.

“My lady, when you held his hand, I felt like you were going to leave me alone.”

“I?”

No, and in such a situation?

How can you think like that?

‘Maybe it’s because he’s still young, but he has a very rich imagination.’

I was a little embarrassed at the moment I heard it, but soon I found Lian’s crazy idea interesting.

So, I immediately burst into laughter.

“How the hell can you even think like that?”

“….”

I’m laughing with a cool sound, but I think I’m the only one having fun.

“Oh, sorry for laughing.”

I tried to control my voice and hold back my laughter.

And as soon as he calmed down, Lian’s face came into his eyes.

Unlike me, Ryan was staring at me with an extremely serious expression.

Then, in an instant, the atmosphere became solemn.

I came to my senses and thought about what to say to him.

And after a short thought, he opened his mouth.

“I am not going anywhere.”

“….”

“I don’t know why I thought that, but I will always be here, here.”

“….”

“If you want to stay by my side, I will never let you go. Got it?”

“…All right.”

At my words, I could see that Lian’s stiff expression loosened slightly.

It was fortunate.

In order to lighten the atmosphere, I smiled playfully at Lian and opened my mouth.

“You are too serious about everything.”

“I am not very serious.”

“No, I’m really, really serious.”

I have repeatedly emphasized the word real.

“It’s because it’s about the young lady. Because you are the most important person to me.”

Anyway, what is it that makes you speechless?

“Okay, thank you. We ask well.”

Saying that, he went to Lian’s side and held out his hand.

“Now, quickly.”

I meant to shake hands, but he was staring at my hand, so I urged him.

Then Lian raised his head and met his eyes with cool green eyes reminiscent of a lush forest.

Ryan held my hand tightly.

Like I said earlier, Lian hadn’t let go of my hand for a while, enough to make me feel like I’d never let him go.

* * *

A few days passed.

Permission for the orphanage business was granted from the crown prince.

‘I must have thought of something wrong.’

Judging from the prince’s attitude, I thought things might not go well, but it wasn’t.

It was fortunate.

And now it seems to be very busy.

Since it was her first business as a princess of the Duke of Heitz, she wanted to do better than anyone else.

I wanted to prepare well one by one from the beginning.

In addition, I had to practice horse riding for the upcoming horse riding competition.

So, I sent a letter to the Duke of Bayern, thinking that time would not come soon.

As I told Aiden the other day, I wanted to visit Adela in the hospital.

And not long after sending it, a reply came from Adela.

It said that he wanted to see me as soon as possible, and that he could come anytime.

So the next day, I immediately prepared to go to the Duke of Bayern.

Then I remembered that Adela likes flowers.

I went to the garden and made a bouquet of the most beautiful and lively flowers that bloomed there.

And with a bouquet of flowers, he headed to the Bayern duchy.

When I arrived at the mansion and got off the carriage, Aiden was not there today.

‘Where did you go again for work?’

I think you said you would stay in the capital for a long time this time.

For some reason, I thought that he would be there, so I felt regret at the moment.

No, you’re a busy person.

I brushed off my thoughts and instead followed the butler into the mansion.

“Princess Heitz, before meeting Lady Adela, the duke said he wanted to see you first.”

The Duke of Bayern?

It must have been at the mansion today.

“Okay, guide me.”

“Yes, please come this way.”

After climbing the stairs, I took a few steps and stood in front of a black door.

It was a dark door completely different from Adela’s splendid and colorful visit.

“Duke, Princess Belita Heights has arrived.”

“Ask them to come in.”

“Yes, I understand. Please go in.”

The heavy door opened.

Upon entering, a middle-aged man was sitting in front of the desk.

The face was familiar because I had seen it before at a meal.

As I entered, the Duke rose from his seat and came toward me.

He said hello to him first.

“It’s been a while, Duke of Bayern.”

“Welcome, Princess Heitz.”