Chapter 70
Lucia fidgeted with her hands and stole a glance at Julian.
“Mother… are you happy now?”
“Of course I am. With such a lovely son and daughter, and a dependable husband, how could I not be happy?”
There wasn’t a trace of falsehood in Julian’s words. Even though they had married without love, if they were happy…
“Do you think… I can be happy too?”
“…I wondered why you suddenly asked about us, and now I see—it’s because you’re worried, isn’t it?”
Lucia nodded carefully.
“Do you… still like Herwin?”
Lucia stayed silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
“Even if I fall in love with someone someday, I don’t think I could ever love anyone as passionately as I loved Herwin.”
“…I’ve never loved someone with the same passion as you, so I don’t know what to say.”
“…You’ve never been in love?”
“Well… it may sound strange, but I never really liked anyone before I met your father. I’ve dated a few times, of course.”
“Is that even possible?”
Lucia, who believed that only someone you truly loved could be a proper partner, could not understand Julian’s words. Seeing this, Julian burst into laughter.
“I dated them because they liked me. I don’t think I ever liked anyone first.”
“So… you do love Father, then?”
Julian smirked as he watched his restless, rabbit-like daughter and whispered softly.
“Your father was my first love.”
Lucia blushed deeply, covering her mouth with both hands.
“But… at first, it didn’t matter if you liked someone else…”
“That was then. But as we spent more time together, I found myself loving him without even realizing it. But, Lucia.”
Julian gently took her hand.
“You can live happily even without love. Perhaps the love you’ll share with Marquis Casper will be different from what you felt for Herwin.”
“…I suppose so.”
“Of course. Marquis Casper isn’t someone who will make you unhappy.”
Lucia thought slowly of Bern.
‘I’m not sure if he will love me yet. But he promised to do everything he can to make me happy.’
Yesterday, Bern had held her hand and made that promise. She had seen the firm resolve in his golden eyes.
The face of Herwin, which had always been so vivid, gradually faded.
“Yes… I should trust him now.”
Seeing her daughter make what seemed like a decision, Julian gave a faint smile. Compared to how she had suffered from heartbreak, she seemed much better.
“So you’re both here.”
“Honey, you’re back?”
Johann appeared from behind with the sound of his footsteps. He planted a quick kiss on Julian’s forehead.
Though Lucia had always seen her parents display their affection, it felt slightly strange after hearing about what had happened between them firsthand.
“Why are you staring at me like that?”
Johann tilted his head when Lucia continued looking at him.
“Father.”
“Yes?”
“How much do you love Mother?”
“What?”
Johann was taken aback by his daughter’s sudden question.
“I love her more than anyone else.”
Lucia gave him a sharp glare and issued a firm warning.
“…If any tears appear in Mother’s eyes, Father will never forgive you. Understood?”
“What did I do to deserve this? Don’t just smile—say something.”
“Ahahaha! It can’t be helped. Our daughter found out about your past.”
“What… do you mean?”
Bern still looked confused, Julian couldn’t hold back his laughter, and Lucia pressed her lips together, glaring at her father.
Even so, seeing her parents act affectionately like a picture-perfect family, Lucia soon laughed.
As the two women laughed, Johann raised one eyebrow in confusion.
“It’s about time to set a date.”
Bern muttered to himself while looking at the calendar in his office.
At the last party, he and Lucia had confirmed their feelings for each other. Even if either of them had someone else in their heart, and even if they didn’t yet love each other, he felt they could face the future together.
“I need to settle my feelings now….”
During a year of seclusion, he thought he had fully sorted his emotions. But the moment he saw Celine, his resolve wavered.
He could no longer act impulsively under the sway of emotions. For his own sake, and for his family’s, he must take Lucia as his bride.
“She’s coming today… I should talk to her.”
Lucia was scheduled to come to his office today. He intended to discuss the engagement.
Up until now, meeting her had been awkward because he kept secrets. But now that he had revealed everything, he felt lighter.
“Maybe the engagement ceremony should be after summer.”
Knock knock—
While thinking about the engagement, a servant knocked on the door.
“Marquis, a guest has arrived.”
“I’ll go.”
Thinking it was Lucia, Bern smiled lightly and headed out.
“You’ve come sooner than expected. I suppose they were ushered into the reception room?”
“Yes, but….”
Bern strode confidently toward the reception room. Hesitating behind him, the servant spoke up.
“Madame Celine Lemario, Viscountess, has come to visit.”
Hearing the unexpected name, Bern’s light-hearted mood instantly grew heavy.
The servant, noticing Bern’s sudden change in expression, bowed immediately, feeling he had made a mistake.
“Who…?”
“I- I’m sorry, Marquis! Madame Viscount insisted she must see you… If you command, I’ll immediately send her away.”
“…She wants to see me?”
“Yes. She seemed urgent.”
Celine came here?
Just that thought was enough to shake Bern. It was the first time she had sought him out since they parted.
They had never contacted each other, except for that last party, and had not even accidentally crossed paths.
So why now—
‘At a time like this….’
Had she come after he had resolved to become engaged to Lucia?
The door in front of him felt impossibly far.
He could hardly believe Celine was on the other side.
“Should I send her away?”
Bern snapped out of his daze at the servant’s words.
“No. I cannot send a guest away. You may leave now.”
“Yes, Marquis. If you need anything, please let me know.”
After the servant left, Bern swallowed hard and opened the reception room door.
He saw the back of her crimson hair.
Even just from her back, his whole body began to tremble.
Not even ten minutes had passed since he had resolved to regain control of his mind… yet his senses were immediately drawn to the woman before him.
Celine must have heard the door open, because she turned her head.
Her soft green eyes, framed by gentle features, widened.
“…Bern!”
Celine sprang to her feet and ran straight to him.
Before Bern could move, Celine threw herself into his arms.
Acting as if they were lovers, Bern was flustered.
“Buh… Bern… Bern…!”
Bern tried to push Celine away, but when she started sobbing, he froze in place.
Each tear that fell from her eyes pierced his heart like a blade.
Instinctively, he reached to wipe her tears but immediately thought of Lucia and clenched his fists.
Suppressing his overwhelming emotions, he pulled Celine away.
“What are you doing?”
“Bern…”
“We both have our own partners. No matter our past, I hope you will refrain from such actions. Viscountess.”
“I’m no longer a Viscountess!”
Bern’s hands trembled slightly as he held Celine’s shoulders.
“Viscount… Lemario, died in an accident during a business trip. I no longer have a husband!”
“What…?”
“If a spouse dies within two years of marriage, the marriage is automatically void. Since it hasn’t been two years, I’m now free. I’m no longer a Viscountess!”
Before Bern could process everything, Celine had already delivered this shocking news.
The Viscount Lemario had died? Then nothing should be holding Celine back. She wasn’t anyone else’s property anymore. But what if she was lying…
Lost in a thousand thoughts, Bern looked down at her desperate face.
“I never wanted to leave you… but I felt I’d only hold you back… that’s why I said cruel things…”
Hearing her sincerity for the first time, Bern’s eyes trembled uncontrollably.
Her words from their breakup—accusing him of pursuing her for her wealth, asking if he truly loved her—still echoed in his ears. Yet all of it—
“…It was all a lie?”
Finally, Bern spoke, and Celine nodded through tears.
“I’ve never stopped loving you.”
Bern’s eyes widened further.
“From the moment we met, I’ve only loved you…”
His chest, still since their separation, began to stir again. Celine buried her face in his chest, trembling.
“I thought time would make me let go, but it was all my mistake. I regret every day not running away with you when I had the chance.”
Her sobs resonated with his own feelings.
Bern slowly lifted his arms and hugged her back.
“I won’t let you go anymore. I don’t want to lie to my heart anymore!”
Celine’s desperate cry struck his heart. Just knowing she felt the same way made all his past suffering feel worthwhile.
“I love you too…”
“Bern, please… can we meet again? I’ve broken up with Agnes, now be with me…!”
As he held Celine, ready to speak, hearing the name Lucia made his blood run cold.
He felt as if reality had suddenly snapped back. Trembling, he pushed Celine away and saw her tear-stained face.
“…Bern?”
“Ha… ha…”
Seeing his pale, guilt-ridden face, Celine’s lips fell.
“…Do you like Agnes?”
Bern gasped and stepped back. His every movement clearly revealed his feelings for Lucia.
Tears welled in Celine’s eyes, but she pressed her lips together and wiped them roughly.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Celine…”
“I know from experience. I need you by my side, no one else. That despair, that loneliness… once was enough. Even if you like Agnes now…”
Celine’s trembling hands gripped his collar tightly and she kissed him.
Feeling her soft, sweet lips, Bern’s eyes widened.
“I won’t let you go again.”
